noon
-- `` but Sir Marhaus 's spear held ; and therewith Sir Gawaine and his horse rushed down to the earth -- '' `` Just so -- and brake his back . '' -- `` and lightly Sir Gawaine rose upon his feet and pulled out his sword , and dressed him toward Sir Marhaus on foot , and therewith either came unto other eagerly , and smote together with their swords , that their shields flew in cantels , and they bruised their helms and their hauberks , and wounded either other . But Sir Gawaine , fro it passed nine of the clock , waxed by the space of three hours ever stronger and stronger and thrice his might was increased . All this espied Sir Marhaus , and had great wonder how his might increased , and so they wounded other passing sore ; and then when it was come noon -- '' The pelting sing-song of it carried me forward to scenes and sounds of my boyhood days : `` N-e-e-ew Haven ! ten minutes for refreshments -- knductr 'll strike the gong-bell two minutes before train leaves -- passengers for the Shore-line please take seats in the rear k ` yar , this k ` yar do n't go no furder -- _ ahh _ - pls , _ aw _ - rnjz , b ' _ nan _ ners , _ s-a-n-d _ ` ches , p -- _ op _ - corn ! '' -- `` and waxed past noon and drew toward evensong . Sir Gawaine 's strength feebled and waxed passing faint , that unnethes he might dure any longer , and Sir Marhaus was then bigger and bigger -- '' `` Which strained his armor , of course ; and yet little would one of these people mind a small thing like that . ''