"Now shall I slay you," said Arthur.
"Do so if you will," said Accolan. "You are the best knight I ever met, and I see now that God is with you. But I promised to do this battle to the uttermost, and never to yield me recreant. Therefore kill me if you will, for my voice shall never ask for mercy."
Then Arthur, looking closer, saw something familiar in his face.
"Tell me who you are," he cried; "of what country and court."
"Sir knight," said Accolan, "I am of the court of King Arthur, and my name is Accolan of Gaul."
Arthur heard this with deep dismay. For there came into his mind the enchantment of the ship, and his heart sank with fear of the treason of his sister.
"Tell me this also, sir knight," he asked, "from whom had you this sword?"
"Woe worth that sword," cried Accolan; "I have gotten my death by it."
"That may well be," answered Arthur, "and I fancy have got no more than you deserve."
"Yesterday," said the knight, "Morgan le Fay sent me that sword by a dwarf, that with it I might slay the knight with whom I should fight this day! And she would also pledge me to slay King Arthur, her brother, for she hates him above any man in the world."