He charged at Perceval as fast as his horse could bear him, and Perceval charged too, and they struck each other on their shields with such force that they pierced them and smashed through them with the heads of their lances and rent their hauberks; Perceval struck the knight full in the chest and thrust a good two finger's lengths of lance into his flesh, and the knight made no mistake but thrust his lance right through Perceval's arm. The shafts flew into pieces, and as the knights passed they crashed into each other so hard that the mail of their hauberks stamped rings on their foreheads and faces, and blood burst from their mouths and noses and drenched their hauberks. They drew their swords in a rage and the knight with the white shield shouted to Perceval:

'I would like to know who you are and why you hate me so, for you have given me a grievous wound, and you are a fearsome opponent and a knight of great strength.'

But Perceval said not a word; he flew at the knight, sword drawn, and the knight came at him, and they gave each other such terrible blows on their helms that they saw stars before their eyes, and the forest rang with the sounds of their swords. The battle was fierce and terrible, and they both were great knights, and though the blood which poured from their wounds weakened them somewhat, the great rage that they bore each other and the ardour of their will had heated them so much that they were hardly aware of their wounds, and rained blows on each other unmercifully.

Perlesvaus