Intense on either side the champions stood, Shining as serpents that, with spring renewed, In gleaming scales, meet on a wild-wood way, Their angry tongues flickering at poisonous play. Then clanged a herald's trumpet: and harsh heels, Sharp-thrust, each courser felt; the roweled steels Spurred forward; and the couched and fiery spears, Flashed, as two bolts of storm the tempest steers With adverse thunder; and, in middle course, Crashed full the unpierced shields, and horse from horse Lashed, madly pawing.--And a hoarse roar rang From the loud lists, till far the echoes sang Of hill and rock-hung forest and wild cliff. Rigid the champions rode where, standing stiff, Their esquires tendered them the spears they held. Again the trumpet blew, and, firmly selled, Forward they galloped, shield to savage shield, And crest to angry crest: the wyvern reeled, Towering, against the griffin: scorn and scath Upon their fiery fronts and in the wrath Of their gem-blazing eyes: each figure stood A symbol of the heart beneath the hood.-- The lance of Accolon, as on a rock The storm-launched foam breaks baffled, with the shock, On Arthur's sounding shield burst splintered force; But him resistless Arthur's,--high from horse Uplifted,--headlong bore, and crashed him down; A long sword's length unsaddled. Accolon For one stunned moment lay. Then, rising, drew The great sword at his hip that shone like dew Smitten with morn. "Descend!" he grimly said, "To proof of better weapons, head to head! Enough of spears! to swords!"--And from his height The King clanged down. And quick, like some swift light, His moon-bright brand unsheathed. And, hollowed high, Each covering shield gleamed, slantwise, to'ards the sky, A blazoned eye of bronze: and underneath, As 'neath two clouds, the lightning and the death Of the fierce swords played. Now a shield descends-- A long blade leaps;--and now, a fang that rends, Another blade, loud as a battle word, Beats downward, trenchant; and, resounding heard, A shield's fierce face replies: again a sword Swings for a giant blow, and, balked again, Burns crashing from a sword. Thus, o'er the plain, Over and over, blade on baleful blade; Teeth clenched; and eyes, behind their visors' shade, Like wild beasts' eyes in caverns; shield to shield, The champions strove, each scorning still to yield.