Merlin : or, the early history of King Arthur : a prose romance / edited ... by Henry B. Wheatley

CHAPTER XXXI.
ARTHUR'S GREAT FEAST AT CAMELOT; THE BATTLE BEFORE TORAISE, AND DEFEAT OF KING RION.

Whan the kynge Ban, and the kynge Bohors, and Merlin were departed from the kynge Arthur for to go in to theire owne contrey, the kynge a-bode stille at Cameloth, gladde and myri with the Quene Gonnore that moche hym loved, and he hir, and so thei a-bide in ioye and myrthe longe tyme, till it drough nygh the myddill of Auguste; and than seide the kynge to sir Gawein, his nevew, that at the feste of assumpcion he wolde holde court roiall, and that all sholde be sent fore

that were of hym holdinge londe or feo; ffor he seide he saugh neuer his hool power to-geder at no feeste that he hadde holden be-fore; "and therfore," quod he, "I will that alle be sent fore bothe fer and nygh bothe prive and straunge, and also I will that eche bringe with hym his wif or his love that my court may be the more honoured;" and sir Gawein seide that he hadde well devised, and that of gentell herte meved this purpos, "and ther-fore I be-seke yow that this be so don that it be to youre honour;" and the kynge seide, "Certes, feire nevew, I desire to do so that I haue ther-of honour, and that all the worlde ther-of may speke." Than sir Gawein lete write lettres and writtes, and sente hem to the Barouns, and to knyghtes of the londe, and comaunded hem alle as dere as thei hym loved that thei be on the assumpcion even at Cameloth, ffor than wolde he holden court grete and roiall, and euery man to bringe with hym his wif or his love; and the messagers wente to the princes and Barouns, and shewed hem theire lettres, and dide theire message thourgh the contrey; and the princes and the barouns made hem redy in [folio 218a] the moste roiall wise and com to the court as the kynge hadde comaunded, and euery man brought with hym his wife, and he that hadde no wife brought with hym his love; and than ther com thider so many that merveile it was to be-holde the nombre, ffor ther ne myght not the tenthe part in to the Citee of Cameloth, but loigged withoute in the feire medowes in tentes and in Pavelouns; and the kynge hem resceived with grete ioye and grete honoure, and the quene Gonnore, that was the wisest lady of the worlde, resceyved the quenes, and the ladyes, and the maydenes, and damesels with grete honoure eueriche of hem by hem-self as she that hadde more witte and curtesie than eny lady in hir dayes, and yaf to hem riche yeftes of golde and siluer, and clothes of silke eueriche after theire astate; and she demened hir so well that thei seide ther was not soche a-nother lady in all the worlde as was she; and the kynge departed to knyghtes robes and armes, and horse, and dide hem so moche worshippe that day and curtesie, that thei loved hym the better as longe as theire

life endured; and that shewed well after in many a stour, and in many a nede, as ye shull heren her-after.

Grete was the feeste that the kynge hilde on the euen of the assumpcion to the riche baronye that to hym were come. Whan the kynge and the barouns hadde herde euesonge at the mynster of seint Stephene, the tables were sette in teintes and Pavelons, ffor thei myght not alle in to the town; and on that othir side was the Quene Gonnore, and the ladyes and damesels with soche ioye that merveile it were to reherse, ffor in all the londe of Breteigne, ne in all the power of kynge Arthur, ne lefte mynstrall ne iogeloure ne oon ne other, but alle were come to that feeste; and at that soper were thei served so well as was convenient to so myghty a prince as was the kynge Arthure, and thus endured thei in ioye and myrthe till tyme was to go to reste till on the morowe. And on the morowe a-roos the kynge Arthure, and the riche barouns, and the Quene, and wente to hire masse at the mynster of Seint Stephene, and the servise was honorably seide in the worship and reuerence of that high feste, and grete and riche was the offrande; and the kynge Arthur and alle other kynges and Quenes that day bar crownes in worship of the day, and so ther were lx crownes, what of kynges and quenes; and whan the masse was seide, and the seruise ended the kynge Arthur lepe on his palfrey, and alle the other kynges after hym I-crowned, and so dide the quene Gonnore and alle the other quenes, and eueryche of hem a crowne of golde on theire heedes; and the kinge Arthur satte at the high deyse, and made alle the xij kynges sitte at his table downwarde a renge; and also in honour of the high feste of oure lady, he made the Quene Gonnore sitte by hym crowned, and so dide alle the other xij quenes by-fore theire lordes; and at other tables satte other princes, Dukes, and Erles, and othir knyghtes were sette richely thourgh the medowes in tentes and Pavelouns with grete ioy and melodye that neuer was seyn gretter in no Court.

[folio 218b] And as thei were in this ioye, and in this feste, and kay the stiward that brought the firste mese be-fore the

kynge, ther com in the feirest forme of man that euer hadde thei seyn be-fore, and he was clothed in samyte, and girte with a bawdrike of silke harnysshed with golde and preciouse stones, that all the paleys flamed of the light, and the heir of his hede was yelowe and crispe with a crowne of golde ther-on as he hadde ben a kynge, and his hosen of fin scarlet, and his shone of white cordewan orfraied, and bokeled with fin golde; and hadde an harpe a-bowte his nekke of siluer richely wrought, and the stringes were-of fin golde wire, and the harpe was sette with preciouse stones; and the man that it bar was so feire of body and of visage that neuer hadde thei sein noon so feire a creature; but this a-peired moche his bewte and his visage for that he was blinde, and yet were the iyen in his heed feire and clier; and he hadde a litill cheyne of siluer tacched to his arme, and to that cheyne a litill spayne was bounde as white as snowe, and a litill coler a-boute his nekke of silke harneysed with golde; and this spaynell ledde hym streight be-fore the kynge Arthur, and he harped a lay of Breteigne full swetely that wonder was to here, and the refraite of his laye salewed the kynge Arthur, and the Quene Gonnore, and alle the other after; and kay the stiward that brought the firste cours taried a-while in the settinge down to be-holde the harpur ententifly. But now we moste cesse of hem a-while, and speke of the kynge Rion.

In this partie the storie seith that whan the kynge Ryon was discounfited of the kynge Arthur, and of the kynge leodogan of Carmelide, he departed from that stour sory and wroth, as he that all hadde loste in that bateile, and repeired hom in to his contrey triste and sorowfull, and swor his oth that neuer sholde he haue ioye ne reste till he hadde distroied the kynge leodogan, and chaced hym oute of his londe, and sente writtes and letteres to alle the lordes and knyghtes of his reame in lengthe and in brede, and to alle the reames that he hadde conquered, and that were ix by a count, and assembled so moche peple that it was merveile to se; the first kynge that com at the comaundement of kynge Rion was the kynge

Palerens, and hadde in his companye xv^Ml men that were bolde and hardy; after com the kynge Tasurs with xij^Ml men; and the kynge Brinans brought xiiij^Ml men wele horsed and a-raied for to helpe theire lorde, and the kynge Argans brought xi^Ml men; and the kynge Taurus brought xi^Ml men whiche hadde grete corage to a-venge the shame of kynge Rion; after that com the kynge Arade de galoire with xv^Ml men in his companye; and the kynge Solimas brought xx^Ml men wele horsed; and the kynge Kahadins brought x^Ml; and the kynge Alipantius of the londe des pastures brought xx^MI men; whan thei were come and assembled at the comaundement of the kynge Rion, and he hem saugh alle be-fore hym he made his complaynt and his clamoure heringe hem alle, and seide to hem full sympilly, "Lordinges, ye be alle my liege men, and of me ye holde youre londes and youre fees, and [folio 219a] ther-fore ye owe to bere me feith a-gein alle men; and for I knowe youre hertes fin and trewe, and that ye wolde in nothinge a-gein me not erre, and therfore I yow pray and require that ye me helpe to a-venge my shame, nought only myn but alle youres; ffor he that doth to me shame or vylonye, he doth it not only to me, but to yow alle in generall, and therfore I pray yow and require be the oth that ye haue made to me that ye be with-ynne this two monethes be-fore Torayse a-gein the kynge leodogan of Carmelide that by his force hath me discounfited and chaced oute of the feilde, and therfore I require yow that ther on be take vengaunce;" and thei ansuerde alle with oo voice, and seide, "Of that it nedeth vs neuer to preyen, for this shall be don at youre plesier." With that thei departed and wente hom in to theire contrey, and made hem redy, and com at the day that was named with grete force be-fore the castell of Torayse; and the kynge Rion com with all his peple, and be-seged town all a-boute, and gadered the prayes in her comynge. But Cleodalis the stiward of Carmelide that was a noble knyght, and a trewe to his lorde chalenged it full fiercely of the forreyours, ffor he com out with xx^Ml men that he hadde with-holden to kepe the marches, and faught with hem fiercely,

and rescowed the pray, and brought it in to the Castell and made shette the yates; and the kynge Rion and his peple logged a-boute the castell, and sette vp teintes and Pavelons, and rested the firste nyght, and on the morowe thei assailed the town and the castell; and the kynge leodogan and Cleodales cam oute by a posterne that opened a-gein the river, euen right a-geins the teinte of kynge Solymas that was gon to the assaute of a yate, and the kynge leodogan drofe thourgh the teintes and Pavelouns, and with hym Cleodales, and caste down to the erthe all that vp-right dide stonde, and toke golde and siluer, and vesselles of golde and other Iuwelles, and brought in to the town, and in to the Castell by strengthe. Than were thei of the hoste full sory and wroth; and the kynge Rion seide all that sholde nought hem a-vaile, ffor he wolde neuer departe from the castell till he hadde it taken, and the kinge leodogan putte in his mercy; and than thei with-drough hem from the assaute, and so a-bide fyve dayes with-outen shotte or other dedes, and while that the kynge Rion lay thus at soiour, hit was tolde how the kynge Arthur hadde discounfited the saisnes, and chaced hem oute of the londe, and that at the assumpcion he sholde holde court roiall in the towon of Cameloth; and whan the kynge Rion herde thus, he seide, "Now lete hym feesten, ffor as soone as I haue the kynge leodogan in my bailly, I shall go vpon hym with so moche peple that he shall it not endure; and neuertheles yef the kynge Arthur come to me to aske mercy er I come vpon hym with myn hoste I will haue of hym pite, and suffre hym to regne, and of me holde his londe." "Sir," seide his men, "sende hym a message, and do hym to wite that it were better to hym to be-come youre man than to be distroied and his londe waste." "So will I do," quod the kynge Rion;" and than he lete write a letter, and it dide ensele with his seell, and than he cleped to hym a knyght in whom he moche trusted, and made [folio 219b] hym for to swere that he sholde take this letter to kynge Arthur in his owne hande, and he swor that in the same maner it sholde be do; and than the kynge Rion delyuered

hym this lettere, and a-noon he departed and rode forth the nexte wey toward Camelot, and with hym but a squyer; and the kynge Rion a-bode stille be-fore Torayse, and comaunded his peple to armen hem, and to assaile the castell, ffor he hadde grete dispite that soche a place with so fewe peple sholde a-geins hym holde day or houre, ffor hym semed he hadde mo knyghtes in his hoste than ther were men, and women, and childeren in the town, "and therefore it is grete shame to ley the sege, ffor we myght haue taken it at oure first comynge by force, and therfore shull we be the lesse preised in other contreis, and turne vs to reprof and cowardise, and thei that we shull werre vpon here-after shull haue of vs the lesse drede."

Whan the princes and the Barouns herde the kynge thus speke, thei were somdell a-shamed, for thei dredde leste he sholde holde hem cowardes, and ronne to theire armes in all haste, and be-gonne to assaile the castell strongly; and thei that were with-ynne hem deffended manly and casten out stones, and sharpe speres and dartes, and slough of hem I-nowe in the diches; and the kynge leodogan, and Cloedalis, and Guyomar his cosin, and hervy de rivell, and Males le bruns issed out armed vpon horse of prise couered with still, and smote a-monge the peple of kynge Rion that by force hadde take a barbican, and ledde a-wey xv sergauntes that were bolde and hardy, and of that harme hem thought shame; and Cleodalis smot the kynge Margant with a spere that neither shelde ne hauberk myght hym a-vaile, for the spere shaft shewed thourgh his bakke be-hynde, and he blussht down deed to grounde; and whan his men saugh hym falle, thei lefte the prisoners and ronne thider; and whan thei founde hym deed, than be-gan the cry and the noyse, and lefte the assaute, and Cleodalis and his companye rescowed the xv men, and brought hem in to the Castell, and closed the yates, and thei of the hoste also with-drough theire peple, and bar the deed kynge in to the tente of kynge Rion, that was therfore sorowfull and wroth. But now shull we leve hem makynge theire doell, and speke of the message that kynge Rion sente to kynge Arthur to Cameloth.

Whan this messager was departed from his lorde, he and his squyer rode forth till thei com to Cameloth on the day of the assumpcion, and a-light down of his horse, and com in to the halle as kay hadde sette the firste cours be-fore the kynge Arthur. This knyght saugh these kynges and these quenes that satte at the high deyse alle crowned for the high feeste, and saugh the harpoure crowned with golde, he was all a-stonyed, and for the dogge that hym ledde thourgh the paleis; and he asked of kay that served whiche was the kynge Arthur, and kay hym shewed a-noon right; and the knyght, that was wise, and well cowde speke, com be-fore the kynge, and seide so lowde that alle myght it vndirstonde, "Kynge Arthur, I grete the nought, [folio 220a] ffor I am not ther-to comaunded by hym that hath me to the I-sente. But I shall do the to vndirstonde what he doth to the sende; and whan thow hast herde his comaundement do as thow art a-vised, and yef thow do his will thow shalt finde ther-in profite, and yef thow wilt it nought do the by-hoveth to forsake thi londe, and fle in exile;" and whan the kynge this herde he be-gan to smyle, and seide, "Full sobirly a-vise the of thi message, ffor of all that thow art comaunded thou mayst say boldly all thy will with-oute eny encombraunce of me or of eny other;" and than he seide,

"Kynge Arthur to the sente me the kynge of alle cristin that is the kynge Rion of the yles, whiche is at sege be-fore Toraise in Carmelide, and with hym ix kynges that alle ben his liege men, and holde of hym theire londes and theire fees in honour, ffor he hath made hem alle enclyne to hym by his prowesse, and of alle the kynges that he hat conquered wher-of ther be ix, he hath flayn of theire beerdes. Now my lorde sendeth the comaundement that thou be-come his man; and that shall be to the grete honoure to be-come liege man to so puyssaunt a kynge as my lorde, ffor he is lorde from the east in to the west of all the londe;" and whan the knyght hadde thus seide he drough oute the letter of kynge Rion, that was seled with x seles roiall, and seide to the kynge Arthur, "Sir, do rede this letter that my lorde hath the sente, and

than shalt thou heren his wille and his corage;" and ther-with he delyuered hym the letter, and the kynge hit toke to the archebisshoppe, that was come thider, to vndirstonde the message, and he it vnfolded and be-gan to rede a-lowde that thei myght it wele vndirstonde that were in the halle.

"I the kynge Rion, that am lorde of all the west, do hem alle to wite that these letteres shull seen, that I am at sege be-fore Toraise in Carmelide, and with me be ix kynges of my meyne, and alle theire peple of theire londes that armes may bere, and of alle the kynges that I conquere I haue theire suerdes be my prowesse, and also I haue made a mantell of reade samyte furred with the beerdes of these kynges, and this mantell is nygh all redy of all that ther-to longeth, saf only tasselles, and for the tassels faile I haue herde tidinges of thy grete renoun that is spredde thourgh the worlde, I will that it be honoured more than eny of the other kinges, and therfore I comaunde the that thow sende me thy beerde with all the skynne, and I shall hit sette on the tassels of my mantell for the love of the, ffor neuer be-fore this mantell be tasselled shall it not hange a-boute my nekke. Ne I will of noon other haue it made but of thy beerde, ffor a-boute the handes and the nekke ought euery prince sette the moste honorable thinges, and for thow art the most puyssaunt kynge as the renoun of the recordeth, I will that thow sende me thy beerde by oon or tweyne of thy frendes, and after come thou to me and be-come my liege man and holde of me thy londes in goode pees; and yef thou wilt nought thus don I comaunde the that thou go exiled and forsake thi londe, ffor as soone as I haue conquered the kynge leodogan I [folio 220b] shall come vpon the with all myn hoste, and make thy beerde be flayn, and drawe from thy chyn boustously, and that thou shalt knowe verily."

Whan the archebisshop hadde redde this letter be-fore the kynge Arthur, and be-fore alle the Barouns he delyuered the letter a-gein to the kynge that was full wroth and angry with this comaundement; and the messager seide, "Kynge Arthur, do that my lorde the comaundeth that I may

returne;" and the kynge seide he myght wele returne whanso-euer he wolde, and telle his lorde that his beerd sholde he neuer haue while he myght it diffende; and the knyght departed and com to his horse and rode forth, he and his squyer, till thei come to Toraise, in Carmelide, where he fonde the kynge Rion that assailede the Castell full fiercely; and thei with-ynne diffended hem full harde, that thei with-oute loste moche of theire peple, and therfore was the kynge Rion full wroth; and whan the knyght was come be-fore the kynge Rion, and tolde his ansuere from the kynge Arthur, he seide he sholde not so soone haue take the kynge leodogan, but a-noon he wolde come vpon hym with so grete power that he sholde not hem sustene ne endure, and now shull we speke of the kynge Arthur, and of his Barouns.

Whan the knyght that hadde brought this message from the kynge Rion was departed, the kynge Arthur lefte stille sittinge at mete in myrthe and in ioye; and the harpoure wente from oon place to a-nother, and harped myrily, so that thei be-hilde hym for a merveile bothe oon and other, and hem liked more the melodye of this harpour than eny thinge that this other mynstralles diden; and the kynge Arthur hadde grete merveile fro whens this man myght come, and yet he ought hym well to knowe, for many tymes hadde he hym seyn in other maner and in othere semblaunces; and whan thei hadde eten and the clothes were taken up, the harpour com be-fore the kynge, and seide, "Sir, yef it plese yow graunte me reward for my servise." "Certes, frende," seide the kynge, "it is reson, and ye shull it haue with goode will, and ther-fore sey youre will, for ye shull not faile yef it be soche thinge as I may yeve, savinge myn honour and my reame." "Sir," seide the harpour, "ye shull neuer haue ther-in but honour, yef god will." "Than sey youre volunte," seide the kynge boldely. Than seide the harpour, "I aske yow, and require to bere youre chief baner in the firste bataile that ye shall go to." "Ffeire frende," seide the kynge, "sholde that be worship to me and my reame; oure lorde hath sette yow in his prison; how myght

ye youre-self guyde that may nought se to bere a baner in bateile of a kynge that ought to be refute and counfort to alle the hoste." "Haa, sir," quod the harpour, "God that is the very guyde, me shall condite and lede that in many perilouse places me hath ledde, and wite ye well it shall be for youre prowe;" and whan the barouns it vndirstode thei hadde merveile; than be-hilde hym the kynge Ban, and remembred hym of Merlin that in the Castell of the marasse hym served in disgise of a yonge knyght of xv yere age, and thought it sholde ben he, and seide a-noon to the kynge, "Sir, graunte hym his request, for he semeth to be [folio 221a] soche a man that his desire ne ought not to be refused." "Why," seide Arthur, "trowe ye it sholde be to oure profite and oure honour that a mynstrall sholde bere oure baner in bateile, whiche may not lede hymself, though I hit with-sey I do nothinge a-gein right, for it is a thinge that I sholde not graunte lightly, but I knewe right well the persone that it sholde bere;" and a-noon as this worde was seide, the harpoure vanysshed a-monge hem that noon wiste where he be com. Than Arthur be-thought hym on Merlin, and was sory and wroth that he ne hadde it hym graunted, and alle that were ther-ynne were a-baisshed, for that he was loste so sodeinly; and the kynge Ban of Benoyk that well a-parceived it was Merlin seide to the kynge Arthur, "Certes, sir," quod he, "ye ought hym wele for to knowen." "Trewly," seide Arthur, "ye sey full trewe, but for that he hath made a whelpe hym for to lede that hath take a-wey fro me the knowinge." "Sir," seide Gawein, "what is he than?" "Nevew," quod the kynge, "it is Merlin oure frende." "Yee," seide Gawein; "so helpe me god, I trowe yow wele that it be he, ffor often hath he be disgised be-fore youre Baronye, and this hath he don to make yow solas and counfort." And as thei stode spekinge here-of, in the halle com in a litill childe, that semed of viij yere of age, and he was all naked and brecheles, and bar a staf in his honde and com be-fore the kynge, and seide, "Sir, appareile yow for to go a-gein the kynge Rion in bateile, and delyuer me youre baner for to bere;" and whan

thei that were in the paleys saugh hym in that aray, thei begonne to laugh harde; and the kynge ansuerde all in laughinge, as he that soposed well it was Merlin, "So helpe me god, ye owe it well to bere, and I it yow graunte." Gramercy, sir," seide the childe, "ffor in me it shall be wele employde;" and with that he comaunded hem alle to god, and wente oute of the paleis, and than a-noon he toke his owne semblaunce soche as he was wonte to haue, and seide to hym-self that now hym be-hoveth to somown the kynges hoste, and wente toward the see and passed ouer and com to Gannes, to Pharien, and to leonces of paierne, and badde hem to assemble theire power of all that thei myght bringe oute of the londe and come to Cameloth, and thei seide thei wolde do hys comaundement; and Merlin com to the see, and passed ouer and wente to the londe of kynge Vrien, and by the londe of kynge looth, and seid to the Barouns, and to other princes, that thei be with-ynne xv dayes afte oure lady day, the Natiuite in September be-fore Cameloth, and thei hym graunted alle; and than he departed from them, and com a-gein to the court er euesonge were all seide vpon the same day of the assumpcion, and the kinge of hym made grete ioye, and asked why he hadde hym so kept oute of sight; and he ansuerde that he ought hym wele to knowen. "Ye certes," seide the kynge, "yef in me were eny witte." Thus thei a-bide in feeste and ioye all that day.

On the morowe the kynge made alle his princes to assemble in his paleis, and ther also was Merlin; and the kynge Arthur seide how hem be-houeth to somowne all the power [folio 221b] that thei myght assemble, for he wolde socour the kynge leodogan that was fader to the Queene Gonnore; and Merlin seide how thei were alle somowned bothe at Gannes and at Benoyk, and thourgh alle the londes of the other barouns; and the kynge Arthur hym asked whan that was don, and he seide, "Seth yesterday after mete;" and whan the kynge and the other princes this vndirstode that he hadde this don, thei hadde grete wonder, and were ther in ioye and in feste till all here peple was assembled, and than meved the kynge Arthur and

his baronye, and rode towarde the reame of Carmelide; and the kynge graunted his baner to Merlin as he hadde promysed be-fore, and sped theire iournyes till thei come a litill iourney fro Toraise, where the kynge Rion had be-sege the kynge leodogan; and whan thei were nygh the hoste, Merlin seide to Gawein, and to sir Ewein, and to Segramor, "Loke ye be euer nygh a-boute me;" and thei seide thei wolde don his pleiser. "Now than," quod Merlin, "sueth after me softely, and alle thei of the hoste till we be in bateile, and ye shull smyte vpon hem of that other partye with-oute rennynge of youre bateile, and thinke euer to come nygh after my baner what wey that euer ye se me turne;" and thei ansuerde that so thei wolde with goode will, and so he seide to Arthur and to alle the othere princes, and wente forth till thei com in to the hoste of kynge Rion, and Merlin be-fore hem all so harde as his horse myght renne with the dragon in his hande that caste thourgh his mouthe fire and flame, that alle thei ther-of were a-baisshed; and Gawein that folowed hym next mette with the kynge Pharaon that with all his bateile com hym a-geins; and as soone as he saugh hem approche, Sir Gawein hym smote so, that shelde ne hauberk myght hym warante, but bar hym thourgh the body deed to the erthe; and than he seide in game, "He this is sworn to pees, for by hym shall neuer the kynge Arthur lese acre of his londe ne his beerd be flayn from his chyn;" with that assembled bothe hostes that oon a-gein that other, and grete was the noyse, and the fray of the people of kynge Rion, and of the peple of kynge Arthur; and ther dide Gawein, and Ewein, and Segramor, and Gaheries, and the knyghtes of the rounde table merveiles with theire handes; ffor whan bothe hostes were mette, ye myght haue sein many oon leide to grounde of oo party and of other, ffor thei were bold and hardy on bothe sides; and Merlin that bar the dragon drof in to the prees, and sir Gawein and his companye after, and smote hem so harde that thei metten that thei neded no salve, and the speres fly in peces; and that was a thinge that discounforted the kynge Rion and his peple, ffor thei wende verily that fendes

were fallen a-monge the hoste. But thei were so bolde and so chiualrouse that ther-fore thei wolde not be discounfited, but hilde bateile grete and merveilouse a-gein the peple of kynge Arthur, and made hem resorte bakke at hir first comynge, and therfore was sir Gawein and his companye full of dolour; and Merlin that rode be-fore hem cried, "What lordinges, what shall this be-mene, be ye now a-rested? sueth me yef ye will [folio 222a] youre loos encrese and your pris." Than these felowes smyten in a-monge hem of Irelonde that well hem resceyued with trenchaunt wepenes. But sir Gawein and his companye dide so well in armes that thei pressed thourgh the peple of kynge Rion, but first was ther many a hevy stroke yoven and resceived, and many a knyght straught deed to the erthe; and the kynge Arthur, and the kynge looth of Orcanye, and the kynge Ban, and the kynge Bohors were smyte in to the bateile on a-nother side, where thei dide merveiles a-monge theire enmyes, ffor a-gein theire strokes endured noon armure. But the peple of kynge Rion mette hem so fiercely, that thei smote down the kynge looth and the kynge Bohors from theire horse a-mydde the presse, and so thei myght soone haue hadde grete damage ne hadde ben the grete prowesse that was in hem bothe, for thei lept on foot full vigerousely with theire swerdes drawen, and be-gonne to smyte down horse and men so crewelly that ther ne was noon that hem saugh, but he hilde it for a merveile; and the kynge Arthur and the kynge Ban pressed that wey hem to remounte, and Merlin com drivinge with the baner in his hande that thourgh his throte caste fire and flame, and smote in to the grettest presse; and whan the peple of kynge Rion saugh the grete merveile of the dragon that so caste fire, thei hadden grete drede and forsoke place, and the two kynges on whom thei dide a-bide, and Merlin com to them and delyvered to euerich of theym a good horse and a swifte, for I-nowe ther were a-stray thourgh the felde, and thei a-noon lept vpon horse, and rode in to the bateile, and be-gonne to do so well in armes, and so dide alle theire companye. But the force of kynge Rion was so grete that thei of the reame of grete Breteigne

myght it not endure, but sholde alle haue be discounfited as to my felinge, ne hadde be the prowesse of sir Gawein and his companye, and the knyghtes of the rounde table, for these shewed merveiles wher thei com, ffor thei smyte down men and horse, bothe that alle that hem with-stode semed it were feendes.

On a-nother side of the bateile was the kynge Ventres, and the kynge Tradilyuans, and the kynge Vrien, and the kynge de Cent Chiualers that full fiercely faught a-gein the peple of the yles that kept hem short; ffor of the yles was many a vailaunt knyght, and bolde in armes, and hadde smyte down the kynge Tradilyuans of North wales, and hilde hym by the helme; and Merlin com to Gawein, and seide, "Now lete se what ye will do, ffor we haue loste the kynge Tradilyuans, but he have hastely socour; sewe me." Than wente Merlin that wey, and sir Gawein and his felowes folowinge till thei com to the kynge Tradilyuans that was in grete auenture of deth, and than be-gonne thei so harde bateile that wonder was to be-holde, so that thei that hilde the kinge Tradilyuans that were bolde, and hardy, and durable in bateile were all a-baisshed; but yet dide thei grete peyne hym to with-holde, and thei of the rounde table haue hym rescowed, and sette on horse, and were full wroth and angry, and be-gonne a-gein the bateile, and the medle that hidiouse was to haue seyn, ffor oon fill deed vpon a-nother, so that ther were grete mountayns of deed cors [folio 222b] thourgh the feelde ther as the bataile was; ffor sir Gawein hadde so many slain with his swerde, that bothe swerde and arme were all be-soiled with blode and brayn.

Than the kynge leodogan saugh the bateile so crewell and so fell ther as he stode lenynge out at a wyndowe, and saugh the dragon that Merlin bar that caste fier thourgh his mouthe, so that the heyr was all reade; and he knewe it well, for he hadde it sein be-fore tymes, and knew well it was the signe of kynge Arthur; and than he called vpon his knyghtes and cried, "As armes, for my sone the kynge Arthur fighteth with oure enmyes, and is come me for to socour, god quyte hym;" and whan thei this vndirstode, thei ronne alle to armes

thourgh the castell, and com oute at the yate I-armed x^Ml, and moo of bolde men, and hardy, and smyten in to the hoste of the kynges of the yles full fiercely, and thei hem resceived, for thei were of grete hardynesse; and Cleodalis the stiward, and hervy de rivell, and her other felowes be-gonne to do merveiles of armes; and the bateile was so grete and so thikke on alle sides of the hoste of kynge Rion, that it was merveile so many ther were deed of oo parte and of other; and whan the kyng Rion saugh the grete mortalite and slaughtur of his peple, and also of the peple of kynge Arthur, his herte wax tender, and hadde ther-of pitee, and seide to hym-self that that mortalite wolde he no lenger suffre, and than he toke a braunche of sicamor in his hande, and wente be-fore the hoste to disseuer the bateiles, and wente forth till he fonde the kynge Arthur, and spake so high that he myght wele ben herde, "Kynge Arthur, wher-fore doost thow suffre thi peple to be slayn and distroied, and also myn; do thow now well yef ther be so moche worthinesse in the as the worlde recorded delyuer thy peple fro deth, and I shall deliuer also tho of myn, and we shull make oure peple with-drawe on bothe parties a-rowme, and thow and I shull fight to-geder body for body by soche covenaunt, that yef thow may me conquere, I shall returne to my contrey with the peple that is me be left on lyve, and yef I may the conquere thow shalt holde thi londe of me, and be my soget as ben these other kynges that I haue conquered, and I shall haue thy berde with all the skyn to make the tasselles of my mantell." "In the name of god," quod the kynge Arthur, "thow sholdest so haue the better part of the pley, whan thow sholdest repeire in to thy contrey all hooll yef I the conquered, and ne sholdest not be-come my man, and thow desirest that I sholde be thy man yef thow myght me conquere. But I will fight with the in this maner as thow hast seide that yef I the conquere, thow shalt be my liege man, and in the same wise I graunte it the yef thow me conquere." "Sir," seide the kynge Rion, that was so stronge that he douted no man body for body, and he hadde conquered so ix

kynges that alle were his liege men, "and I it yow graunte like as ye haue seide." Than thei sured theire feithes be-twene hem two to holde these covenauntes, and made departe the bateiles that were so horible; and the Barouns drough a-side that were wroth and angry with these couenauntes; and sir Gawein that was wrother than eny other come to the kynge, his vncle, and seide, "Sir, yef it plese yow graunte me [folio 223a] this bateile." "Now ther-of, require ye no more," quod the kynge Arthur, "nother ye, ne noon other; ffor noon other than I shall sette ther-to noon hande, ffor I shall do the bateile with the helpe of god, seith he hath me ther-to requireth."

Than bothe hostes were drawen a-side on that oon part and on that other, and the two kynges were armed full richely all that nedeth to a noble prince, and eche of hem toke a spere stronge and rude; and than rode eche of hem from other more than two but lengthe, and than smote the horse with spores and mette to-geder as tempest, ffor well ran bothe horse, and were of grete force, and the two kynges were fierce and hardy, and mette with so grete raundon with speres that were grete and shorte, and the heedes sharp I-grounden vpon the sheldes that thei perced; but the hauberkes were so harde, that thei fauced no mayle, and the horse were of grete force, and the knyghtes of grete prowesse, that the speres splindered in splyntes; and than thei leide hande to theire swerdes that weren of grete bounte, and smyten grete strokes vpon helmes, that thei breke the serkeles of golde and stones which weren of grete vertu, and to hewen the sheldes and hauberkes, and in the flessh so depe that the blood stremed after, and in short tyme eche of hem so a-raied other that ther ne was nother of hem but he hadde nede of a leche; and theire sheldes weren slitte and hewen that ther was not left of theym so moche that thei myght with hem couer; and than thei caste the renenaunt to grounde, and caught the swerdes in bothe hondes, and smyte pesaunt strokes at discouert, so that thei to slitte helmes and to-rente hauberkes, so that the flessh shewed all bare, and ther ne was noon of hem bothe, but he was wery for

traveile of yevinge of strokes and receivinge; and that was oon thinge that lengest hem hilde, ffor yef thei hadde ben fressh and newe to that thei weren with-outen sheldes, and theire hauberkes to-rente, and theire helmes to-quasshed, thei myght not haue endured, neuertheles ther ne was noon of hem bothe but he was sore hurt and wounded.

Whan the kynge Rion that was bolde and hardy a-bove alle thoo of the londe, saugh the kynge Arthur hym contene a-geins hym he hadde ther-of grete merveile, ffor he wende that he sholde not a-gein hym haue endured, and seide to hym-self that neuer be forn hadde he seyn so goode a knyght, and than he douted hym sore, and seide, "Kynge Arthur! hit is grete harme of the, ffor thow art the beste knyght that I faught with euer be-forn, and I se well and knowe verily that thy grete herte that thow hast shall make the to dye, ffor it will not suffre the to come to my mercy; and I knowe well that thow haddest leuer dye than be conquered, and that is grete damage, and therfore I wolde pray the and requyre for the grete prowesse that is in the that thou haue pitee on thyself, and yelde the for outraied for to saue thi lif, thourgh the couenauntes that ben be-twene vs, so that my mantell were parformed in my live; ffor better I love thi lif than thi deth, and thow art come to thi fin that knowest thow well, and so don alle these barouns [folio 223b] here a-boute that here ben." Whan the kynge Arthur vndirstode the wordes of the kynge Rion he hadde grete shame, for so many a vailante prince hadde it vndirstonde; and than he ran vpon hym with his swerde in bothe handes as he that was full wroth and full of maltalente, and wende to smyte hym on the helme, but the kynge Rion blenched that saugh the stroke comynge with so grete ravyne, and neuertheles he a-raught hym vpon the helme, and kutte of the nasell, and the stroke descended and smote the stedes nekke a-sounder, and the kynge Rion fill to the erthe; and as he wende to haue rise, Arthur smote hym on the lifte shuldre in to the flesshe two large ynche, and the kynge Rion stombeled ther-with and fill a-gein to the erthe; and whan the kynge

Arthur saugh the kynge Rion falle a-gein to grounde, a-noon he a-light to grounde, and ran to hym lightly, and caught hym by the helme, and drough it to hym with so grete force, that the laces brast a-sonder, and he it raced from his heed, and than lifte vp the swerde, and seide he was but deed, but he wolde yelde hym outerly; and he seide that wolde he ne neuer, for he hadde leuer dye than live recreaunt; and whan Arthur saugh that he myght hym not ther-to bringe to holde hym for outraied, he smote of the heed in sight of alle that were in the feelde, and than ronne to the princes on alle parties, and made grete ioye, and sette hym on a horse, and brought hym in to the castell of Toraise, and hym vn-armed, and serched his woundes; and the baronye of kynge Rion com to hym and resceived of hym theire londes, and theire fees, and dide hym homage, and than returned in to theire contrey, and with hem bar the body of kynge Rion; and it biried with grete lamentacion and wepinge; and the kynge Arthur was at Toraise gladde and ioyfull of the victorie that godde hym hadde yoven, and soiourned in the castell till he was warisshed of his woundes that he hadde in the bateile; and whan he was all hool, he departed fro Toraise with grete ioye and feste; and the kynge leodogan conveyed hym on his wey, and after returned; and the kynge Arthur and his companye ride till thei come to Cameloth, where-as the Quene Gonnore and the other quenes were a-bidinge that of theire comynge made grete ioye; and ther soiourned the princes iiij dayes, and on the fifte day thei departed, any euery man repeired to his owne contrey, and ledde with hem theire wyves thei that eny hadden; and the kynge Arthur com a-gein in to the Citee of logres, and soiourned ther longe tyme with the quene, and with hym was sir Gawein, and the companye of the rounde table, and Merlin that dide hem grete solas and grete companye, and he com to kynge Arthur, and seide that from hens-forth he myght hym wele for-beren, ffor he hadde somdell a-pesed his londe, and sette it in reste, and ther-fore he wolde go take his disporte where hym liked.

Whan the kynge this vndirstode he was pensif and sory, for he loved hym entirly, and fain wolde he that he a-bood stille yef it myght be; and whan he saugh he myght hym not with-holde, he praied hym dierly that he wolde come to hym a-gein in short [folio 224a] tyme, and Merlin seide he sholde come a-gein all be tyme er he hadde nede. "Certes," seide the kynge, "euery day and euery hour haue I to yow nede and myster, ffor with-oute yow I can nought, and ther-fore I wolde we sholde neuer departe companye;" and Merlin seide, "I shall come a-nother tyme to youre nede, and I shall not faile day ne hour." And the kynge was stille a longe while, and be-gan to stodie sore; and whan he hadde be longe in this thought, he seide all sighinge, "Ha, Merlin feire swete frende in what nede shull ye me helpe, I pray yow telle me to sette myn herte in more ese." "Sir," seide Merlin, "and I shall yow telle, and after I shall go my wey. The lyon that is the sone of the Bere, and was be-geten of a leopart, shall renne by the reame of the grete Breteigne, and that is the nede that ye shall haue." With that Merlin departed, and the kynge be lefte in grete myssese, and sore a-baisshed of this thinge; ffor he knewe not to what it myght turne. But ther-of shull we cesse at this tyme, and returne to speke of Merlin.