Tristano and Lancilotto drew somewhat apart from the other knights; then they began the cruelest of battles openly between themselves. Here no one could say they did not recognize each other, nor were they playing, for one would gladly kill the other; here the final decision on their prowess would be made. All the other troops dropped back out of exhaustion, and only Tristano and Lancilotto fought on the field. Not for anything would they take respite.

When their lances broke, before either had bent the other over the saddlebow, they took their iron maces in hand and gave each other such great blows that their helmets rang on their heads, and their shields broke on their arms, their flesh was bruised and their bones broken.

After this, they grasped their swords and struck at each other so vigorously that in a short time their hauberks were all smashed and their exposed flesh was livid with blood and sweat. They no longer had shields on their arms, but each one would rather die than be the loser. Constantly they said to each other, "You are Tristano and I am Lancilotto. Now we will find out for sure which one of us is the better knight!"

And each of them swore that if he lost he would never again bear arms. For all that, they were very, very tired and exhausted, but each one was afraid to ask for a rest.

And Tristano said, "Lancilotto, here is Tristano, who has attacked you neither privately nor secretly, as you did me in Gioiosa Guardia. I have not changed my insignia to keep you from recognizing me. Now defend yourself well, as best you can. By my faith, I will kill you, you may be sure!"

[...]

And then they gave each other such great blows it was a marvel, and impossible to watch, and they still fought with great vigor. Know that they both were wounded in some part, and the ground was stained with their blood, and their horses could no longer stand. As they fought on, Lancilotto wanted very much to rest, but Tristano would not agree to it. He wanted to finish the fight in that assault, that is, in the first. It was the second, however, which would show the better fighter.

Tristano said to Lancilotto, "We are in battle; defend yourself well. You may be sure that the end of the fight will come soon. I want our encounter to end thus: that in this first hour it will show which of us is the boldest and best able to harm the other."

Lancilotto, who was very tired and could hardly defend himself against Tristano, replied, "Truly, you are not warlike, but rather proud and crazy, and you are no courteous knight, when I ask for a rest, if you do not grant it to me. I protest: you should do no more to me until I have rested."

Tristano answered, "Lancilotto, the man of war is not crazy, but rather has an ardor which comes from the heart. Therefore defend yourself boldly, for I challenge you!"

And he struck him with new energy, and brought him to such a pass that it was all Lancilotto could do to defend himself. Lancilotto thought it certain he would have died had it not been for Sir Astore and Sir Briobris, Sir Bordo, Sir Brunoro, and Sir Lionello. They, seeing that Lancilotto was exhausted and that Tristano would not let him rest, and knowing that if the battle lasted much longer Tristano would kill him, were very worried and had great fear of losing him.

La Tavola Ritonda