The other made answer: “I pray you pardon me if I withhold my name for a time; the time serves not that I should make it known. May it please you to call me the Savage Knight, for thus I am commonly known.”
Sir Scudamore said: “This place seems to suit well the arms which you are pleased to wear. But tell me, have you any special purpose to serve that you abide in this place?”
“Sir,” replied the other, “be it known to you that a stranger knight did me but the other day a great shame and dishonour, and I wait till I can take vengeance on him.”
“Tell me,” answered Sir Scudamore, “who it is that wronged you.”
“His name,” said the Savage Knight, “is unknown, yet he himself is known to many, especially by the ebony spear which he carries. It was but the other day that with this spear he overthrew all that met him in the tourney, and reft from me the honour of the day; not only so, for of these things a knight may not complain, but he took from me the fairest lady that ever was, and withholds her still.”
Then Sir Scudamore knew that he spoke of Britomart, who, as he thought, had taken from him his love. All his heart was full of rage, and he cried out: “Now, by my head, this is not the first time of this knight’s playing an unknightly part, for I know him by this same spear which he bears. From me also did he carry away my love. If you purpose to take vengeance on him, I will give you all the help that I can.” So these two agreed to join together in wreaking their wrath on the Knight of the Ebony Spear, that is to say, on Britomart.
While they were communing together on this matter, they saw in the distance a knight riding slowly towards them, somewhat strangely attired, and bearing strange arms, whom approaching they perceived to be the very one of whom they were speaking.
Then said Sir Scudamore: “I beseech you, Sir Savage Knight, that as I was first wronged, so I may first take vengeance. And if I fail, then the lot comes to you.”
Sir Scudamore overthrown by Britomart.