He put his hand on the thickest end and lifted it easily; inside he saw a more horrible and fiendish dragon than any he had ever heard of. As soon as it saw Lancelot, it spat fire so hot that Lancelot's hauberk and weapons were all burned, then it flew from the tomb to the middle of the cemetery, and all the bushes there began to burn from the heat of the fire. The townspeople all turned and fled to the upper windows to see what would happen. Lancelot lifted his shield in front of his face and, unafraid of any adventure that might befall him, headed towards where he saw the dragon. The dragon spat poison fire that burned the outside of his shield, but Lancelot struck it through the chest with his spear, leaving point and shaft embedded in its body. It began to beat on the earth with its wings like a dying creature; Lancelot gripped his sword and whacked at it wherever he could until he managed to send its head flying.

The Vulgate Cycle