In this way the battle lasted from the hour of prime until noon, when the knight of the tower grew very weary, and he greatly wondered who his opponent might be, for that morning he had felt so strong that he did not believe anyone could withstand him in battle as long as this knight had done. And it seemed to him that his opponent was now faster and more agile than he had been at the start, so he drew back a little and showed that he wished to rest. But Lancelot, moved by wrath and vexation because the battle had lasted so long and his opponent was scarcely less agile than at the start, rushed at him and gave him such a blow upon the top of his shield that he split it nearly down to the boss, and as he withdrew his sword he pulled the knight with such force that he brought him to his knees. But the knight sprang to his feet with such vigor and pulled his shield back with such force that he made Lancelot’s sword fly from his hand, leaving him empty-handed.

When Lancelot saw that he had lost his sword, he was deeply ashamed, but he was never dismayed by any
adventure that befell him. Now the knight, believing he had the upper hand, came running at him, his sword raised, thinking to strike him unhindered upon the head, but Lancelot turned aside, and the other, unable to hold back his blow, buried his sword in the ground right up to the hilt. Then Lancelot struck him so violently in the face with his shield that he knocked him to the ground completely stunned, ran to the sword, and pulled it from the ground.

Vulgate Lancelot