And tell to me what I shall ask.
Say on, quoth Lancelot tho.[78]
Thou art, quoth Tarquin, the best knight
That ever I did know;
And like a knight, that I did hate:
So that thou be not he,
I will deliver all the rest,
And eke accord with thee.
That is well said, quoth Lancelot;
But since it must be so,
What knight is that thou hatest thus?
I pray thee to me show.
His name is Lancelot du Lake,
He slew my brother dear;
Him I suspect of all the rest:
I would I had him here.
Thy wish thou hast, but yet unknown,
I am Lancelot du Lake,
Now knight of Arthur's Table Round;
King Haud's son, of Schuwake;
And I desire thee do thy worst.
Ho, ho, quoth Tarquin tho,
One of us two shall end our lives
Before that we do go.
If thou be Lancelot du Lake,
Then welcome shalt thou be;
Wherefore see thou thyself defend,
For now defy I thee.
They buckled then together so,
Like unto wild boars rashing,
And with their swords and shields they ran
At one another slashing:
The ground besprinkled was with blood:
Tarquin began to yield;
For he gave back for weariness,
And low did bear his shield.
This soon Sir Lancelot espied,
He leapt upon him then,
He pull'd him down upon his knee,
And rushing[79] off his helm,