On hearing this appeal the distracted knight knew not what to do. On one side his brother in danger of his life; on the other a maiden in peril of her honor.
"If I rescue not my brother he will be slain; and that I would not have for the earth. Yet if I help not the maiden, I am recreant to my vows of knighthood, and to my duty to the high order of chivalry."
Tears ran from his eyes as he stood in cruel perplexity. Then, with a knightly resolution, he cried,—
"Fair sweet Lord Jesus, whose liegeman I am, keep Lionel my brother that these knights slay him not; since for your service, and for Mary's sake, I must succor this maid."
Then he turned to the knight who had the damsel, and loudly cried,—
"Sir knight, take your hands from that maiden and set her free, or you are a dead man."
On hearing this the knight released the maiden as bidden, but drew his sword, as he had no spear, and rode fiercely at the rescuer. Bors met him with couched spear, and struck him so hard a blow as to pierce his shield and his hauberk on the left shoulder, beating him down to the earth. On pulling out the spear the wounded knight swooned.
"You are delivered from this felon. Can I help you further?" said Bors to the maiden.
"I beg you to take me to the place whence he carried me away."
"That shall I do as my duty."