excalibur fire

As soon as they had got up again, they ran at
each other; King Arthur drew Excalibur out of its scabbard,
his good sword that he had pulled out of the stone and with
which he had that day dealt many a fine blow. And as soon
as he had drawn it from its scabbard, it cast a very bright
light, as if it were a blaze of fire, and he covered himself
with his shield and struck a blow on the giant, before he
could shield himself, right on the head. And when he saw
the blow coming, he threw his shield up against it, for he
mightily feared a blow from the sword he had seen glowing
and throwing off fire; he well knew that it was of very great
worth. He raised his bludgeon against it, and King Arthur
hit it so hard with both hands that it flew into pieces,
although it was bound in iron. The blow was strong and
powerfully struck, and it fell on his shield and split it as far
as the boss and thrusting the sword back away from
himself he sent King Rion staggering; he was upset for
having lost his bludgeon.

The Vulgate Cycle