And therewith he alighted down upon foot, and dressed his shield afore him and pulled out his sword.

Then the Knight with the Red Shield descended down from his horse, and dressed his shield afore him, and so he drew out his sword.
And then they came together a soft pace, and wonderly they lashed together passing thick the mountenance of an hour or ever they breathed.
Then they traced and traversed, and waxed wonderly wroth, and either behight other death; they hewed so fast with their swords that they cut in down half their swords and mails, that the bare flesh in some place stood above their harness.

And when Sir Palomides beheld his fellow's sword over-hylled with his blood it grieved him sore: some while they foined, some while they struck as wild men.

But at the last Sir Palomides waxed faint, because of his first wound that he had at the castle with a spear, for that wound grieved him wonderly sore.

Fair knight, said Palomides, meseemeth we have assayed either other passing sore, and if it may please thee, I require thee of thy knighthood tell me thy name.