They advanced on each other in a fury, and exchanged such fearsome, weighty blows on their shining helms that they smashed off the golden hoops and stove the helms in deeply. Down came blades on shields, cleaving off chunks of wood and leather with every blow that landed, for they were holding nothing back. Up came the swords and down again as they rained blows thick and fast, till they were both exhausted, bathed in sweat and gasping for breath.

The Second Continuation of Perceval