I know not if any harm
may come to me, but not from fear shall I fail to sally out
against them. And if any one assails me, I shall not fail to
joust with him. Yet, I am so sore and weary that it is no wonder
if I grieve. Now to meet them I must go, and do you stay quiet
here. Take care that no one see you, until they shall have left
you far behind." Behold now Guivret, with lance outstretched,
who espied him from afar. They did not recognise each other, for
the moon had gone behind the shadow of a dark cloud. Erec was
weak and exhausted, and his antagonist was quite recovered from
his wounds and blows. Now Erec will be far from wise if he does
not promptly make himself known. He steps out from the hedge.
And Guivret spurs toward him without speaking to him at all, nor
does Erec utter a word to him: he thought he could do more than
he could. Whoever tries to run farther than he is able must
perforce give up or take a rest. They clash against each other;
but the fight was unequal, for one was weak and the other strong.
Guivret strikes him with such force that he carries him down to
earth from his horse's back. Enide, who was in hiding, when she
sees her lord on the ground, expects to be killed and badly used.
Springing forth from the hedge, she runs to help her lord.
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