CHAPTER VIII
 
 How Accolon found himself by a well, and he took upon
 him to do battle against Arthur.
 
 NOW turn we unto Accolon of Gaul, that when he awoke he found
 himself by a deep well-side, within half a foot, in great peril
 of death.  And there came out of that fountain a pipe of silver,
 and out of that pipe ran water all on high in a stone of marble. 
 When Sir Accolon saw this, he blessed him and said, Jesus save my
 lord King Arthur, and King Uriens, for these damosels in this
 ship have betrayed us, they were devils and no women; and if I
 may escape this misadventure, I shall destroy all where I may
 find these false damosels that use enchantments.  Right with that
 there came a dwarf with a great mouth and a flat nose, and
 saluted Sir Accolon, and said how he came from Queen Morgan le
 Fay, and she greeteth you well, and biddeth you be of strong
 heart, for ye shall fight to morrow with a knight at the hour of
 prime, and therefore she hath sent you here Excalibur, Arthur's
 sword, and the scabbard, and she biddeth you as ye love her, that
 ye do the battle to the uttermost, without any mercy, like as ye
 had promised her when ye spake together in privity; and what
 damosel that bringeth her the knight's head, which ye shall fight
 withal, she will make her a queen.  Now I understand you well,
 said Accolon, I shall hold that I have promised her now I have
 the sword: when saw ye my lady Queen Morgan le Fay?  Right late,
 said the dwarf. Then Accolon took him in his arms and said,
 Recommend <114>me unto my lady queen, and tell her all shall be
 done that I have promised her, and else I will die for it.  Now I
 suppose, said Accolon, she hath made all these crafts and
 enchantments for this battle.  Ye may well believe it, said the
 dwarf.  Right so there came a knight and a lady with six squires,
 and saluted Accolon, and prayed him for to arise, and come and
 rest him at his manor.  And so Accolon mounted upon a void horse,
 and went with the knight unto a fair manor by a priory, and there
 he had passing good cheer.
 
 Then Sir Damas sent unto his brother Sir Ontzlake, and bade make
 him ready by to-morn at the hour of prime, and to be in the field
 to fight with a good knight, for he had found a good knight that
 was ready to do battle at all points.  When this word came unto
 Sir Ontzlake he was passing heavy, for he was wounded a little
 to-fore through both his thighs with a spear, and made great
 dole; but as he was wounded, he would have taken the battle on
 hand.  So it happed at that time, by the means of Morgan le Fay,
 Accolon was with Sir Ontzlake lodged; and when he heard of that
 battle, and how Ontzlake was wounded, he said that he would fight
 for him.  Because Morgan le Fay had sent him Excalibur and the
 sheath for to fight with the knight on the morn: this was the
 cause Sir Accolon took the battle on hand.  Then Sir Ontzlake was
 passing glad, and thanked Sir Accolon with all his heart that he
 would do so much for him.  And therewithal Sir Ontzlake sent word
 unto his brother Sir Damas, that he had a knight that for him
 should be ready in the field by the hour of prime.
 
 So on the morn Sir Arthur was armed and well horsed, and asked
 Sir Damas, When shall we to the field?  Sir, said Sir Damas, ye
 shall hear mass.  And so Arthur heard a mass, and when mass was
 done there came a squire on a great horse, and asked Sir Damas if
 his knight were ready, for our knight is ready in the field. 
 Then Sir Arthur mounted upon horseback, and there were all the
 knights and commons of that country; and so by all advices there
 were chosen twelve good men of the country for to wait upon the
 two knights.  And right as Arthur was on horse<115>back there
 came a damosel from Morgan le Fay, and brought unto Sir Arthur a
 sword like unto Excalibur, and the scabbard, and said unto
 Arthur, Morgan le Fay sendeth here your sword for great love. 
 And he thanked her, and weened it had been so, but she was false,
 for the sword and the scabbard was counterfeit, and brittle, and
 false.