CHAPTER XXXII.
MERLIN'S INTERPRETATION OF THE DREAM OF FLUALIS, AND HIS VISIT TO NIMIANE; THE KNIGHTING OF THE DWARF; THE EMBASSY FROM THE EMPEROR OF ROME; ARTHUR'S FIGHT WITH THE GIANT; THE BATTLE WITH THE ROMANS.

In this partie, seith the storye, as soone as Merlin was departed from the kynge Arthur, as ye haue herde, he departed from the Cite of logres so faste, that in all the worlde was noon so swyfte a horse that myght hym haue sewed, so Page  632 that alle that euer hym saugh wende he hadde ben oute of his witte; and a-noon he drof in to the foreste that was grete and depe, and come to the see, and passed ouer that no tyme wolde a-bide be see ne be londe till he come to the parties of Iherusalen, where ther was a kynge of grete puyssaunce that was named fflualis; he was a goode man of grete renoun as of his lawe, ffor he was a sarazin, and he hadde assembled alle the wise men of his londe, and of other londes as many as he myght gete; and whan thei were come all to the assemble be-fore hym in his paleys, he seide to hem so high that thei myght hym wele here and vndirstonde: "Lordinges," quod he, "I haue sente for yow, and ye ben come at my comaundement, and ther-fore I thanke yow, but ye knowe not the cause why, but yef I do yow to vndirstonde, hit be-fill that I slepte this other day in my paleys, and hilde the quene that is here in myn armes as me semed; and as I was in this a-vision com to me two serpentes, where-of eche of hem hadde two heedes, foule and hidouse, and of eche of hem com a grete flawme of fire wher-of all my contrey was light, and that oon of the serpentz caught me be-twene his feet by the flankes, and that other toke the quene be-twene myn armes, and bar vs bothe an high vpon the roof of my paleys that is so high; and whan thei hadde brought vs thider, thei rente of oure armes and legges from oure bodyes, and caste hem down oon here a-nother there; and whan thei hadde thus vs dismembred, ther com viij smale serpentes a-noon, and eche of hem toke a membre, and wente vp in to the heir a-bove the temple of Diane, and ther thei rente a-sondre oure membres in to smale pecis, and the two serpentes that hadde rente oure membres from oure bodyes [folio 224b] lifte vs an high a-bove the paleys, and sette fire on the paleis with-ynne, and brent vp oure bodyes in to aisshes; and the wynde a-roos, and gadered the powder and bar it ouer all the londe a this half the see, ne ther ne was no goode town, but ther-ynne lefte moche or litill. Soche was the a-vision that I saugh in my slepe, that me-semed was right perilouse and grevous; and ther-fore I haue yow hider somowned and assembled, and Page  633 therfore I pray yow and requyre in all seruises and guerdons yef ther be eny of yow that can telle the significacon of these thinges lete me wite, and here be-fore yow alle I graunte trewly to hym that telleth me ther-of the verite, that he shall haue my doughter to his wif, and all my reame after my deth, or yef he be maried he shall be lorde of me and all my londe alle the dayes of my life."

Whan the wise men herde the promyse and the wordes of the kynge, and thei hadde herde the a-vision, thei hadde merveile what it myght be-tokene, and oon seide othinge, and some seide a-nother, eche after that hym semed beste; and Merlin that was in soche semblaunce that noon cowde hym knowe ne sen, spake whan alle other hadden seide so high that alle that were ther with-ynne myght it here clerly, and seide, "Vndirstonde to me, and I shall telle the thy dreme;" and whan he hadde seide thus, thei loked aboute hem to se hym that hadde this spoken, and so dide all thei that weren in the paleis, but nothinge thei saugh, and yet hem semed it was a-myd monge hem that seide, "Vndirstonde to me kynge fflualis, and here the be-tokenynge of thyn a-vision. The two serpentes that thow saughest be-fore the in thi slepe that hadde iiij hedes, and of alle foure heedes casten oute fier and flame, thei ben foure cristin kynges that to the marchen, and shull sette all thi contre in fier and flame; and that the serpentes bar the and the quene in to the highest part of thi paleis, signifieth that thei shull haue all thi londe in bailly, euen to the yates of thi chife fortresse. Of that the serpentes raced a-wey the membres of the and thi wif, be-tokeneth that thow shalt forsake the euell lawe that is roted in thyn herte, and shalt caste it oute from the to come to the be-leve of Ihesu crist. Of that the viij smale serpentes toke the membres of thi body, and of the quene, and bar it a-bove the temple of Diane whider as thi men shull fle for socour; of that thei rente thi membres, and the membres of the quene thi wif, signifieth that thi cheldren that shull be thy membres, and thi flessh shull be slain with-ynne the temple of Diane; of that the serpentes lefte the on Page  634 high on thi paleis, and the quene also with the sooll be youre-self signifieth that thourgh the and hir shall cristin feith be encreced and strengthed; of that the serpentes brente the paleis vndir the signifieth that the shall not be lefte the valew of a peny of thinges that thow hast of this euell lawe; of that thow and the quene were brent in to aisshes signifieth that thow shall be purged clene of all thy synne by the water of baptyme; of that the powder of the fly ouer all the londe a this side the see signifieth that thow shalt haue [folio 225a] children in thi good creaunce that shull be bolde knyghtes, and hardy, and shull be worshiped thourgh alle the londes of the worlde. Now hast thow herde thyn a-vision that thow haste sein in thi slepinge, and shall be-falle the like as I haue the tolde."

With that departed merlin; and the kynge a-boode pensif of the voice that he hadde herde, and nothinge ther-of hadde sein; and Merlin wente a grete spede, that neuer he stinte, till he com to the reame of Benoyk, and yede to Nimiane his love that sore desired hym for to seen, ffor yet cowde not she of his art of that she desired for to knowe, and she made hym the grettest ioye that she myght, and ete and dranke, and lay in oon bedde; but so moche cowde she of his connynge that whan he hadde will to ly with hire she hadde enchaunted and coniured a pelow that she kepte in hir armes, and than fill Merlin a-slepe; and the storie maketh no mencion that euer Merlin hadde flesshly to do with no woman, and yet loved he nothinge in this worlde so wele as woman, and that shewed well, ffor so moche he taught hir oo tyme and other, that at laste he myght holde hym-self a fooll, and thus dide he soiourney with his love longe tyme; and euer she enquired of his connynge, and of his maistries, ech thinge by hit-self, and he lete her all knowe, and she it wrote all that he seide as she that was well lerned in clergie, and lerned it lightly all that Merlin hir taught; and whan he hadde soiourned with hir longe tyme, he toke his leve, and seide that he sholde come a-gein at the yeres ende, and so eche of theym comaunded other to god full tendirly; and than com Merlin to Blase his Page  635 maister, that gladde was of his comynge, and sore he longed hym for to se, and he hym also; and Merlin tolde hym alle the a-uentures that were be-falle seth he fro hym departed, and how he hadde be with Nimiane his love, and how he hadde hir taught of his enchauntmentz; and Blase wrote all in his boke. Whan Merlin hadde tolde to Blase his maister alle thinges as were be-fallen oon after a-nother, he soiourned with hym as longe as hym liked, and than toke his leve of hym and com streight in to the Cite of logres, where-as the kynge Arthur and Gonnore his wif, and resceyved Merlin with grete ioye, and a-noon as he was come. Ther com in a maiden to the halle dore, and a-light down from a mule, and hadde brought be-fore hir on hir sadell a dwerf, the moste contirfet and foulest that eny hadde sein, ffor he was deformed, and his browes reade and rowe, and his berde reade and longe, that henge down to his breste, and his heeir was grete and blakke, and foule medled, and his sholdres high and courbe, and a grete bonche on his bakke be-hinde and a-nother be-fore a-gein the breste, and his handes were grete, and his fyngres short, and his legges short, and his chyne longe and sharpe, and the mayden was yonge and of grete bewte, and thei were sore loked on of oon and other; and a-noon as she was a-light she toke hir dwerf in hir armes, and toke hym down of the horse swetly, and brought hym in to the halle be-fore the kynge Arthur that was sette atte mete at the high deyse, and than she salued the kynge right curteisely as she that was connynge and wele taught, and the kynge greete hir a-gein full debonerly, and than seide the mayden,

[folio 225b] "Sir, I am come to yow from fer contrey, for the grete renomede that of yow renneth thourgh the worlde; ffor to aske and require of yow a yefte, ffor as the grete renoun of yow recordeth that no mayden shall faile of no request that she yow demaunded, and for that ye be holde the worthiest kynge of the worlde. I haue trauailed for to come to youre court for to aske of yow a request, and ther-fore loke ye graunte me nothinge but ye will it me parforme." "Damesell," seide Page  636 the kynge, "aske what yow liketh, for I am redy it to parforme, yef it be soche thinge that I may it do savinge myn honour and my reame." "Of that," quod she, "that I will yow require shull ye haue but honour." "Damesell," than seide the kynge, "sey your volunte." "Sir," seide the maiden, "I am come to pray yow, and require that ye of my love that is here, this gentill yonge lorde that I holde by the honde, make hym knyght, for he is ther-to digne and right worthi; ffor he is bolde and hardly, and come of grete lynage, and longe here-to forn sholde haue ben knyght yef he wolde of the kynge Pelles of lytenoys that is a full noble kynge, and a trewe; but my leife here will not, but hath made his oth that he shall neuer be knyght, but of youre hande, and ther-fore I pray yow, and require that ye make hym knyght;" and than alle thei that were in the paleis be-gonne to laugh bothe oon and other; and kay the stiwarde, that was an euell spekere, and scornfull of wordes, seide all smylinge, "Kepe well youre leef, and holde hym nygh yow that he be not take from yow of the quenes maydenes, for soone myght thei do yow that forfet for the grete bewte that is in hym." "Sir," seide the mayden, "the kynge is so good a man, and so right-full, that he wolde it not suffre, yef god will, that noon sholde do me that wronge." "Certes, damesell," seide the kynge, "ther-of be ye sure, and I it yow graunte well." "Sir," seide the mayden, "Gramercy. Now do than that I haue yow required." "Damesell," seide the kynge, "at youre plesier." With this worde entred in to the court two squyres vpon two rounsies stronge and swyfte amblinge, of which that oon bar a shelde with thre leopartes of golde crowned of azure, and the champ of the shelde was sable, and the gige orfrayed of golde harnysshed, and a swerde hanged at his sadill, and the tother brought a stede in his right hande that was feire shapen, and the bridill and the harneys of silke and golde, and the two squires drof be-fore hem a somer with two cofers, and thei a-light a-noon vnder the pyne tre, and tacched theire horse, and vn-lokked the cofres, and toke oute an hauberk as white as snowe, for it was all of fin siluer and Page  637 doble maile, and hosen of the same werk, and an helme of siluer and golde, and com in to the halle where the kynge and the Barouns were be-fore the maiden; and whan she saugh thei were come, than she seide to the kynge, "Sir, I aske of yow my request, for I a-bide here longe, ffor here is althinge redy that longeth to a knyght, ffor with these armes that ye se here shall my leef be a-dubbed." "Ffeire love," quod the kynge, "I shall do youre plesier and your volunte with goode will, but cometh to youre mete;" and she seide that she wolde neuer ete mete er hir lief were a knyght. Thus was the damesell in the paleis be-for the kynge, and euer hilde hir lief by the right hande; and whan the kynge hadde eten, and the clothes [folio 226a] weren vp, the damesell drough oute of an awmenere a peire of spores of golde that weere wounden in a cloth of silke, and seide to the kynge, "Sir, delyuer me, for I haue ben here longe." With that lepte forth kay the stiwarde, and wolde haue sette on his right spore; and the damesell hym sesed by the hande, and seide, "What is that," quod she, "sir knyght, that ye purpose to do." Quod kay, "I will sette on his right spore, and also make hym knyght with myn owne hande." "Of youre hande," seide the maiden, "shall it neuer be-falle, yef god will, for noon ther-to shall sette hande saf only the kynge Arthur, ffor he hath me graunted in couenaunt, and I truste that he will me not faile, yef it be his plesier, ffor so myght he me bringe to the deth and me be-traye. Ne noon ne ought to touche so high a persone as is my lief, but he be kynge or worthy prince." "So helpe me god," seide the kynge, "ye haue right, and I shall do all youre volunte." Than the kynge toke his right spore of the damesell, and sette it on the right hele, and the damesell sette on the lifte; and whan the kynge hadde don on his hauberk vpon the dwerf, the kynge girt hym with his swerde, ffor the maiden wolde not suffre noon to touche hym saf only the kynge; and whan he was all appareiled of all that longeth to a knyght, the kynge yaf hym the a-colee, and seide, "God make hym a good knyght;" and than the mayden asked yef he sholde do eny more. "Damesell," seide the Page  638 kynge, "I haue don that to me aperteneth." "Sir," quod she, "than now pray hym that he be my knyght;" and the kynge hym preide; and than wente thei oute of the halle, and com vnder the pyne tre; and the maiden made the dwerf to lepe vpon his stede that was so feire, and she hir-self henge the shelde a-boute his nekke that was of soche coloure as ye haue herde, and than she toke hir mule and than made the two squyres to take theire horse, and sente hem bothe home in to theire contrei, and she and hir knyght yede another wey in to the foreste that was grete and merveilouse; and the kynge Arthur a-bode stille in his paleis, he and Merlin, and sir Gawein, and his companye; and I-nough thei lough of the maiden that so hadde yoven hir love to the duerf. "Certes," seide the quene, "I haue grete merveile, fro whens this thought myght hir be-falle, for so foule a thinge, and so lothly ne saugh I neuer; and the damesell is full of grete bewte, that in foure remes sholde not be founden hir pareile, and I trowe verily that it be som fende or of feire that thus hath hir disceived." "Madame," seide Merlin, "she is not disceived, but for the grete lothlynesse that is in hym; ffor neuer in youre lif saugh ye so hardy a pece of flesshe as is this duerf, and he is bothe kynges sone and quenes." "Sir," seide the quene, "the damesell semeth well to be of high lynage, for she is right feire, and hir lief right lothly." "Madame," quod Merlin, "the grete bounte of hym shall a-bate the grete lothlynesse that ye se in hym, and that shall ye knowe hastely more verily." "Ffeire frende, Merlin," seide the kynge, "what is the damesell; know ye [folio 226b] hir eny thinge?" "Sir," seide Merlin, "I telle yow in trouthe that I saugh hir neuer be-fore, and yet I knowe well what she is, and what is hir name, and that she shall telle yow hir-self with-ynne short tyme, and so shall she be better be-leved than sholde I, and by the duerf hym-self shall ye knowe what he is soner than ye wene, and ther-of shull ye haue bothe ioye and sorowe." "Ye," seide the kynge, "therof I praye yow to telle me the verite." "Sir," seide Merlin, "it falleth not at this tyme that I sholde it sey, ffor Page  639 ye shull right soone haue other weyes to vndirstonde, ffor Luce the Emperour of Rome hath sent yow his messages, and thei be at the grees of the halle."

And as Merlin spake to the kynge Arthur, ther com vp xij princes full richely be-seyn, and clothed in riche clothes of silke, and com two and two holdinge eche other be the handes, and eche of theym bar a braunche of Olyve in his hande, and that was a signe that thei were messagiers; and in this maner thei com be-fore the kynge Arthur that satte at the high table in the paleis, and his barouns hym be-forn; and the messagiers com in and made no salutacion to noon that ther was, and than spake oon that was maister of hem alle, and seide, "Kynge Arthur, we be xij princes of Rome that be sente to the from Luce the Emperour." Than he drough oute a letter that was wrapped in a cloth of silke, and straught it to the kynge, and bad hym do rede the letter, and the kynge toke the letter and delyuered it to the Archebisshoppe that satte hym be-side, and comaunded hym to rede, and the archebisshop be-gan in this maner:

"I Luce, Emperour of Rome, that haue the powste, and the signiourie of the Romayns, sende to myn enmy the kynge Arthur in-as-moche only as he hath agein me deserued; and agein the power of rome, and it merveileth me sore, and I haue ther-of grete disdeyn, that he thourgh his grete pride leste to a-rise a-gein Rome as longe as he knoweth me on lyve, and this formednesse is come to the by fole hardynesse, and of malencolie whan thow durst euer a-rise a-gein Rome that hath the power and signiourie ouer all the worlde as thou thy-self hast well seyn and knowen, and yet shalt thou knowe and se a-pertly that thow hast don as a fooll that Rome durst wrathe, thou hast trespassed a-gein rightwisnesse whan thow hast withholde the seruise and the trewage of Rome, and takest oure rentes and oure londes that thow knowest aperteneth to the power of Rome; wher-fore dost thou that, or what right Page  640 hast thou ther-to, wite thow right wele yef thow holde it longe thow shalt be as wery ther-of as the lambe is of the wolf, ffor thow art a-gein vs as fooll hardy as the shepe a-gein the shepherd; ffor Iulius cesar oure auncestre toke it be force, and by his hardynesse toke bateile in the Breteigne, and trwys was hym yolden, and so it was of alle the yles ther a-boute; and thow woldest it vs be-reve thourgh thy folie, and thi grete pride, and the grete outrage that is in the; and I the comaunde as Emperour that thow do right, and with-ynne the day of the holy Natiuite that thow be by-fore vs for to a-mende that thow hast mysdon; and yef thou wilt not this do, I shall take from the all Breteigne, and all the londe that thou hast in bailly, and I shall passe mongin this first somer with so grete force of peple that thou shalt haue no hardynesse me to a-bide. Ne thou shalt not knowe [folio 227a] whider to fle, but I shall the sewe, and I shall take the, and bynde and caste the in my prison."

Whan the archebisshoppe hadde redde this letter in this maner as ye haue herde, in the paleis was grete murmur and noyse of hem that this hadde vndirstonde, and swor and seide thei sholde dishonour the messagiers that these lettres hadde brought, and a-noon thei sholde hem haue don shame I-nough, but as the kynge seide to hem full debonerly, "Ffeire lordes, lete hem be, thei be but massengiers, and be sent by comaundement of theire lorde; and ther-fore thei owe to sey that thei were with charged, and thei sholde ther-fore haue no doute of no man." Than the kynge cleped his princes and his barouns, and entred in to a chambre to counseile; and than spake a knyght that was bolde and hardy, and his name was Cador, and seide that "longe haue we be idill and in slouthe in deduyt a-monge ladyes and damesels in Iolite and wast; but on this day we be a-waked by these Romayns that come to chalenge oure londes an oure contrey; and yef thei do as the lettres speke thei haue grete prowesse and hardynesse that be in so fer contreyes." "Certes," seide Gawein, "full good is it to haue pees after the werre, for the londe is the bettere and Page  641 the more sure, and full good is the game and pley a-monge ladies and maydenes, ffor the druweries of ladies and damesels make knyghtes to vndirtake the hardynesse of armes that thei don." Than the kynge comaunded hem alle to sitte, and thei dide his comaundement, and he himself a-bode stondinge, and seide, "My frendes and my felowes in my prosperite, and in myn honour and traueile that ye haue me mayntened in grete bateiles, and in werres that I haue hadde seth I com to haue londe, and yow haue I ledde in many a grete nede bothe be see and by londe, and ye haue me helped, god quite yow, to conquere the londes that I haue wonne, that by youre helpinges beth alle to me obeysaunt, and ye haue herde the maundement that the Romayns haue sent that I-nough haue vs contraried. But yef oure lorde kepe me and yow thei shull nought haue ours but it be dere bought at the departinge, ye se here the message of the Emperoure, and ther-fore yeve me counseile in what manere I may hem ansuere moste auenauntly by honour and by reson; ffor oon ought to purveye er the stroke falle ther as is pereile, for he that seeth the arow comynge he ought to blenche that he be not smyten; ye se how the Romayns will a-rise a-gein vs, and therfore we ought vs so to appareile that thei vs not greve ne annoyen. Thei wolde haue trewage of Bretaigne, and of other yles that of me beth holdinge; and sein that Cezar hem conquered by force, and that the Bretouns ne myght hem not diffende a-geins hem but paide hem trewage, and force is no right, but it is pride and oute of reson, and he holdeth not of right that holdeth of force. Thei haue vs reproved by the shames and damages that thei haue vs don, and the traueiles, and the annoyes that thei haue do to oure [folio 227b] auncestres, in that thei a-vaunte hem how thei haue hem venquysshed, and that thei paide hem trewage, and so moche the more ought we to hate hem and to greve, and the more thei haue to restore, ffor we moste hate hem that haten vs, and for thei hadde trewage of hem thei wolde it haue of vs by heritage and by auncestrie; and by soche reson may we chalenge Rome, ffor Belyns that was kynge of Breteigne, and Brenne his brother, Page  642 conquered Rome and henge xiiij of her ostages in sight of her frendes, and after hem com Constantynus that was kynge of Bretaigne, and was Emperour of Rome; and also maximian was lorde of Bretaigne, and was lorde of Rome, alle these were oure auncestres, and were kynges of Bretouns, and eche of theym was Emperour and lorde of the Romayns, and therby may we knowe that I owe to haue Rome by heritage as I haue Bretaigne. Romayns haue hadde trewage of vs, and my parentes haue hadde trewage of theym. Thei clayme Bretaigne for theiers, and I clayme Rome for myn; and so this is the ende of my counseile that he haue the londe, and the rente that may it gete; ffor in this I se noon other rightwisnesse, but who that all may gete, all shall haue, ffor as for my part I will noon other-wise do but as I haue yow seide."

Whan the princes and the Barons herde the kynge thus speke, thei ansuerde with oon voice that he hadde well seide, and counseiled to sende for his peple fer and nygh, and assemble all his power, and go a-gein the Emperour of Rome, that thourgh his grete pride hadde sente outrage of crewelte and felonye, "and put the signiourie of Rome in youre powste, and remembre yow of the signiourie and prophesie of Sibile, that seide ther sholde thre Bretouns come oute of Bretaige that Rome sholde conquere be force, and ther hath ben tweyne that Rome hath conquered. The first was Belyn that was kynge of Bretouns, and the seconde was Constantinus, and thow shalt be the thridde that shall it conquere by force, and so shall the prophesie be fulfilled. Now a-vaunce yow to resceyve the honoure that god hath yow ordeyned." With these wordes the kynge com oute of the chamber, and the barouns and the knyghtes com in to the paleis, where as the massagiers that were xij princes were a-bydinge, and than spake the kynge, and badde hem returne to theire Emperoure, and telle hym that his ancestres of Bretaige hadde Rome in her bailly, "and therfore in-as-moche as myn auncestres dide it conquere, and were ther-of Emperours, and ther-of hadde trewage, I will hit haue of auncestrie and heritage, ffor that thei haue not done that thei ought do a-gein Page  643 me of right;" and with this ansuere they departed, and the kynge hem yaf riche yeftes and presentes at theire departinge, as he that was the moste curteise prince of the worlde, and full of largesse, and therfore he wolde not that thei sholde speke eny euell of hym ne vilonye; and thei returned in to theire contreye as soone as thei myght, and tolde Luce the Emperour the ansuere of kynge Arthur, and ther-of was the Emperour wroth and angry, and somowned his peple, and assembled his power, and passed the mountaynes of mongin, and com in to Burgoyne nygh a Cite that is cleped Oston, and sesed the londe in lengthe and brede. But [folio 228a] a-while we shull reste of hym, and speke of the kynge Arthur.

Now seith the storie than whan the xij Massagiers were departed from the kynge Arthur, the kynge and his baronye a-bide stille full wroth and angry, for the maundement of Luce the Emperour; and Merlin seide, "Sir, sende for youre peple hastely, for the Emperour appareileth hym right faste." "Merlin, frende," seide the kynge, "I shall mete with hym sonner than he wolde." "He shall you mete," seide Merlin, "to his damage; and a-bide here in ioy, for I go of make the message to the Barouns." With that he vanysshed, that Arthur ne wiste where he be-come; and Merlin wente first in to Orcanye and dide the message to the kynge looth, that with xv dayes he sholde be at logres with all his power; and he seide he wolde so with good will, and than Merlin departed, wher-for sholde I make yow longe tale, he warned alle the princes and barons that of the kynge arthur were holdinge to be the xv day at logres, saf only the kynge Ban of Benoyk, and the kynge Bohors of Gannes; and after that he returned a-gein, and fonde the kynge Arthur in his chambre, and seide, "Your message is don to alle the Barouns, and thei shull be redy her fro hens xv dayes." Whan the kynge this vndirstode he was gladde and ioyfull, and soiourned at logres till his baronye was come, and thider come the kynge looth first, and his companye with vj^Ml men, and the kynge Vrien with iij^Ml men, and the kynge Carados foure Ml men, and the kynge de Cent Chiualers iiij^Ml, Page  644 and the kynge ventres foure Ml, and the kynge Tradilyuans iiij^Ml, and the kynge Belynans iiij^Ml, and the kynge Clarion iiij^Ml, and the Duke Escam ij^Ml, and Gosenges and Nabunall his senescall iiij^Ml, and the kynge ydier iiij^Ml, and the kynge Aguysans iiij^Ml; and whan thei were alle assembled in the medowes be-fore logres, the kynge Arthur was gladde, and thanked hem hertely, and tolde hem the outrage that the Emperour hadde hym sente, and thei hym counseiled to haste that he were a-venged of the shame. Than was the navie appereiled and entred in to shippes; and Merlyn was be-fore, and stinte neuer till he com to Gannes, and fonde the kynge Ban and the kynge Bohors, and he badde hem thei sholde hem appereile, for the kynge Arthur is entred in to the see for to go vpon the Romayns, and thei seide thei wolde be redy hym to mete; and Merlin returned and com to the port er the kynge Arthur were londed, and whan he hym saugh he asked whens he com; and he seide he hadde ben at Gannes for to somowne bothe two kynges that shull be redy with yow to mete with grete companye of peple; of this thanked hym Arthur, and than thei issed oute of the shippes, and logged a litill from the port vpon the river in tentes, and in pavilouns for to take theire reste of traueile that thei hadde in the see, and slept that nyght; and as the kynge Arthur slepte hym com a vision, that a grete bere was on a grete mountayne, and as hym semed ther com a-gein hym a grete dragon from the Clowdes of the orient, and caste fire and flame thourgh his throte so merveilouse that all the contrey ther-a-boute ther-of was light, and this dragon assailed the bere full fiercely, and the bere hym diffended full wele; [folio 228b] but the dragon enbraced the bere as hym semed, and cast hym to the erthe, and hym slough.

Whan the kynge a-woke he merveiled sore of his dreme, and made Merlyn come be-fore hym, and praied hym dierly to tell hym the significacion of his dreme, and than he tolde hym all worde for worde to Merlin as he hadde seyn in slepinge; and than seide Merlin, "Sir, I shall sey you the tokeninge the bere, the bere that ye saugh signifieth a grete Page  645 monstre, a grete Geaunt that is here nygh in a mountaigne that is come oute of the ontrey of spayne in to this londe, and here he a-bideth, and doth the contrey shame from day to day ne noman dar hym a-bide for the grete force that is in hym; the dragon that ye saugh in youre a-vision that caste thourgh his throte fire and flame so grete that all the londe ther-of was light signifieth youre-self by the fire of youre hardinesse that is clier and feire shyninge by grace, and the dragon that assailed the bere so vigerously signifieth that ye shall assaute the Geaunte, of that the dragon enbrased hym and caste to the erthe signifieth that the Geaunte shall enbrace yow, but in the ende ye shull hym sle, of that be ye nothinge in doute." With that thei trussed tentes and pavilons, and ride forth on theire wey, but thei hadde not longe gon whan tidinges com to the kynge Arthur of the Geaunte that distroied the londe and the contrey, so that ther-ynne duelled nother man ne woman, but fledde thourgh the feldes as bestes disolate for drede of the Geaunte, and hadde born by force a mayden of the contrey that was nyece to a lorde of the contrey that was a grete gentilman, and he hadde born hir with hym vp to a mounteigne, where-as he repeired that was all closed with the see, and that monteigne is yet cleped the mounte seint Michel, but at that tyme ther was nother mynster ne chapell, ne ther was no man so hardy ne so myghty that durst fight with the Geaunte; and whan the peple of the contrey dide hym assaile, thei myght not a-gein hym endure neither on londe ne on se, for he slough hem with the roches, and made theire shippes to sinke; and the peple of the contrey fledde thourgh the wodes and forestes, and mounteynes with theire children in theire armes, and so thei lefte theire londes and theire richesses.

Whan Arthur herde how the Geaunte distroied so the londe, he cleped kay the stiward, and Bedyuer, and badde hem make hem redy armed a-boute mydnyght, and thei dide his comaundement, and com to-geder thei thre and two squyres only, and no mo, and rode till thei com vpon the mounte, and saugh a grete fire bright shynynge on that o side; Page  646 and on that othir side was a-nother mounte that was not so grete as that, and ther-on was a fire merveilouse grete, and thei wiste not to whiche thei sholde gon; than he cleped Bediuer, and bad hym go loke on whiche mounte the Geaunte was. Than Bediuer wente in to a bote that was full of the flos of the see, and whan he was come to the next monteyn he wente vp hastily on the roche, and herde grete wepinge; and whan he that herde he hadde doute, ffor he wende the Geaunte hadde be there, but he toke vpon hym hardynesse, and drough his swerde, and wente forth and hoped for [folio 229a] to fight with hym as he that for no drede of deth ne wolde be founde no cowarde, and in this thought he clymbed vpon the mountein; and whan he was come vp he saugh the fier that was clier brennynge, and saugh a tombe faste by that was newly made, and be-side that tombe satte an olde woman discheueled, and all to-rente hir heir, and wepte and sighed full sore; and whan she saugh the knyght, she seide, "Haa, gentilman, what art thow, what dolour hath brought the in to this place, ffor with grete dolour thou shalt ende thy life, yef the Geaunte the finde, ffle hens hastely as faste as thow maist, for thou art to vn-happy yef thow a-bide till that this deuell come that hath no pite of nothinge, fle hens as fer as thou maist, yef thou wilt thi lif saue."

Whan Bediuer saugh the woman so wepe, and so pitously regrated helayn sighinge, and bad hym to fle but yef he wolde dye, and he seide, "Good woman, lete be thy wepinge, and telle me what thou art, and why thou makest so grete sorowe, and why thou art vpon this mounte by this tombe, and telle me all the occasion of thy sorowe, and who lith here in this sepulture." "I am," quod she, "a dolerouse caitif that wepe and make waymentacion, for a mayden that was nyece to Hoell of nauntes that I norished and yaf souke with my mylk, and she lith vnder this tombe, and it was me comaunded hir to norish and to kepe. Now is ther a deuell that hir hath taken a-wey and brought hider her and me, and wolde haue leyn by the childe that was yonge and tender. But she myght hym not svffre ne endure, for he was moche and hidiouse, Page  647 and lothly, and so he made the soule departe from the body, and thus he be-rafte my doughter falsly and be treson, and ther I haue hir biried, and for hir wepe bothe day and nyght." "And wherfore," quod Bediuer, "gost thou not hens seth thou art left here a-lone, and hast hir loste seth that ther is noon recouer." "Sir," quod she, "I knowe well ther is no recouer, but for that I se ye be a gentilman, and ther-to so curteise I will kepe nothinge from youre knowinge, but I will telle yow the trouthe, whan that my dere doughter was entered, for whos love I wende wele haue loste my witte, and dyed for doel, the Geaunte made me to a-bide stille to haue his foule lecherouse lust vpon me, and he hath me diffouled by his strengthe that I moste suffre his wille whedir I wolde or noon, for I haue no myght a-gein hym, and I take oure lorde god to recorde it was neuer my will, and ner ther with he hadde me slain, ffor with hym haue I suffred grete peyne and gret anguyssh, ffor he is vn-mesurable grete, and he cometh hider to fulfille his lecherie vpon me, and thou art but deed, and maist in no maner ascape, for he cometh a-noon right, for he is ther a-bove in that mountayn where thou seist that fier, and ther-fore I pray the go hens thy wey, and lef me here to compleyne, and make my mone for my doughter."

Grete pite hadde Bediuer of the woman, and moche he hir counforted, and seth he com a-gein to the kynge, and tolde that he hadde sein, and seide how the geaunte was vpon the high hill ther he saugh the grete fier and smoke. Than the kynge made [folio 229b] his felowes go with hym vpon the mounteyne, and thei were come vpon the hill; than the kynge comaunded his felowes to abide, and seide that hym-self alone wolde go fight with the Geante, "neuertheles," seide the kynge, "loke that ye waite well vpon me, and yef it be myster cometh me to helpe," and thei seide thei wolde with good will, and thei a-bide; and the kynge wente toward the Geaunte that satte be-fore the fire, and rosted flessh on a spite, and kut of the side that moste was I-nough, and ete it; and the kynge wente to-ward hym with swerde in honde drawen a softe pas gripinge his Page  648 shelde, for he wende hym to haue supprised. But the Geaunte that was full false and maliciouse be-helde, and saugh the kynge come and lept up, ffor the kynge hadde his swerde in his hande, and the Geaunte stert to a grette clobbe that stode by hym that was grete and hidiouse of a plante of an oke that was a grete birthon for a myghty man, and caught it from the fire, and leide it on his nekke, and com fiercely a-gein the kynge as he that was of grete force, and seide to the kynge that a grete fooll was he to come ther, and reised the batte for to smyte the kynge on the heed, but he was wight and delyuer, and lept a-side, so that he of hym failed, and ther-with the kynge smote at hym and wende to smyte hym on tho heed; but the Geaunte that was bolde and hardy kept it on his clobbe, or elles hadde he be deed, neuertheles somdel he touched hym with Marmyadoise his good swerde, that he conquered of the kynge Rion, and touched hym be-twene the two browes that he wax all blinde, for the blode that ran ouer his yen, and that was a thinge that sore hym greved, for he myght not se where to smyte, and be-gan to scarmyshe and to grope a-boute hym with his staffe as a wood devell and sore a-baisshed, and the kynge hasted hym full harde but a-reche hym myght not, ffor the Geaunte caste a-boute hym grete strokes that yef he hadde hym smyten he hadde ben all to-brosed, and thus thei foughten longe, that the oon ne touched not that other, and therfore thei were sore anoyed; and than the Geaunte wente tastinge here and there that he sesed the kynge by the arme; and whan he hadde hym caught, he was gladde and ioyfull, ffor a-noon he wende hym to haue threst to deth, and so he hadde, but that the kynge was wight and delyuer, and wrast out of his gripinge with grele peyne, and than he ran vpon hym with his swerde, and smote hym on the heed and on the lifte sholdre that all the arme fremysshed, and so harde was the hide of the serpent that in the flessh myght it not atame; and the Geaunte myght hym not se, ffor his iyen were all couered with blode, and than he saugh the shadowe of the kynge, and than he ran that wey; but the kynge that wiste he was of Page  649 grete force durste not come in his handes, and so hath he gon vp and down that he stombeled on his clubbe, and it sesed and ran ther as he wende to finde the kynge. But the kynge blenched so that he myght hym not a-reche, and ther-fore hadde he grete sorow in herte, and than he caste a-wey his clubbe and tasted to chacche the kynge in his armes, and so he wente gropinge and frotinge his iyen till he saugh [folio 230a] the light and the shadowe of the kynge; and than he spronge to hym and caught hym by the flankes with bothe his armes that nygh he hadde with his gripes brosten his chyne, than he be-gan to craspe after his arme, for to take from hym his swerde out of his honde. But the kynge it well perceyved and threwe down the swerde, that in the fallinge he myght here it ringe cler; and than he griped the kynge with that oon hande, and stouped down to take the swerde with that other hande, and in the stoupinge the kynge smote hym with his kne that he fill in swowne, and than he lept to the swerde and hente it vp, and stert to the Geaunte ther he lay, and lifte vp the serpentes skyn, and rof hym thourgh the body with the swerde, and so was the Geaunte slain; and kay the stiwarde, and Bediuer made grete ioye of the kynge, and be-helde the Geaunte that so grete was that wonder was to be-holden, and thanked oure lorde of the honour and the victorie that he hadde yove the kynge, ffor neuer hadde thei seyn so grete a feende; and the kynge bad Bediuer smyte of the heed that it myght be born in to the hoste to se the grete merveile of the gretnesse of hym, and he dide his comaundement, and than com down of the mounteyne, and lepe on theire horse, and the flode was come a-gein that gretly hem disesed, and with grete peyne thei passed the greves and com a-gein to the hoste; and the Barons were sore a-baisshed for the taryinge of the kynge, for that thei wiste not whider he was wente, and thei were meved hym for to seche in diuerse parties, ne hadde ben Merlin that bad hem be nothinge dismayed, for he sholde come hastely.

While the princes and the barouns were in this afray, for the kynge Arthur, he and the stiwarde and Bediuer Page  650 com down in to his teinte, and hadde the heed of the Geaunte trussed at Bediuers sadell by the heir, and thider com alle the Barouns whan he was a-light, and asked fro when she com, for he hadde put hem in grete afray; and he seide he com fro thens ther he hadde foughten with the Geaunte that distroied so the londe and the contrey ther-aboute and how he hadde hym slayn thourgh the grace of oure lorde; and than he shewed hem the heed that Bediuer hadde trussed, and whan the barons it saugh thei blessed hem for the wonder ther-of, and seide that neuer in all theire lif had thei not seyn so grete an heed, and alle that were in the hoste preised god for the kynges victorie, and than thei dide vn-arme the kynge with grete ioye and gladnesse, and rested ther all that day, till on the morowe that thei trussed teintes and Pavilouns and ride forth the streight wey towarde Burgoyne, and spedde hem so in her iourneyes till thei com vpon the river of Aube*. [There is a blank in the MS.; the French MS. (fol. 206, col. 2) has "la riuiere daube."] and ther thei herde tidinges of Luce the Emperour was com a-gein hem, and than was the kynge Arthur gladde that he hadde founde hym so nygh, and sory for that he hadde so distroyed and wasted the contrey, and loigge his hoste by the river; and the same day com the kynge Ban and the kynge Bohors in to the hoste with vi^Ml [folio 230b] knyghtes and good men of werre. But Grascien and Pharien ne leonce of paierne were nought there, but dide a-bide to kepe and to diffende the londe a-gein the kynge Claudas de la desert, yef it were myster, and a-noon as the two kynges were come in to the hoste thei dide picche theire teintes be-fore the kynge looth, and he made hem grete cheir and feste, for he loved hem hertely, and ther thei a-bide till the kynge Arthur hadde fortefied a Castell that thei myght repeire to yef thei hadde mysteir; and than sente the kynge his messages to the Emperour Luce by the counseile of his barouns, and sente hym to sey that he was folily come vpon his londe, and but he wolde come to a-mendement he wolde hym chace oute of Rome; and on the message he sente sir Gawein, and Segramor, and sir Ewein, Page  651 ffor that thei were curteise and well I-taught, and ther-to hadden grete hardynesse and high prowesse; and the kynge seide to sir Gawein, "Ffeire nevew, ye shull go to the Emperour on my message, and bidde hym returne hom a-gein, and leve the londe, for it is myn, and yef he will not so, lete hym come to bateile, and prove whiche of vs hath right, ffor while I Live I shall it diffende a-gein the Romaynes, and conquered it by bateile, and prove it a-gein hym body for body, whiche of vs two shall it haue of right." Whan the kynge Arthur hadde seide these wordes the messagiers hem turned wele I-armed in stiell with sheldes hanginge at theire nekke, and girde theire goode swerdes, and in theire handes grete speres; and his felowes that were yonge and lusty bachelers counselled sir Gawein to do soche thinge er thei returned agein, that it myght be spoken of euer after, and that men myght sey the werre was well begonne "wherewith the Romaynes haue vs manased;" and thus thei ride till thei com nygh the hoste; and whan thei saugh the messagiers comynge thei lepe oute of theire teintes on all partes to se hem and be-holde and for to wite what thei were com to seche and asked what thei were, and fro whens thei com. But thei hilde with hem no ple ne wolde not stinte till thei com to the Emperours teinte and ther thei a-light and made theire horse to be holde with-outen. And than thei come be-fore the Emperoure, and tolde hym theire message that thei brought from the kynge Arthur.

"Sir," quod Gawein, "the kynge Arthur sente the to vndirstonde that thow voide his londe and his contrey for it is all his quytely and he defendeth the to be so hardy to sette ther-ynne foot, and yef thou wilt ought chalenge be bateile he shall it diffende, ffor Romaynes had it conquered be-fore tyme be bateile and be bateile shall he it conquere. Now lete it be proved by bateile whiche oweth to haue the signiourie and the poweste, and com forth to-morowe yef thow wilt the contre chalenge or elles go bak a-gein for here hast thow nought to do; ffor we haue take the londe, and thow hast it loste, and ther-fore yef thow be wise do after my counseile." Page  652

Whan the Emperour herde sir Gawein speke in this maner he ansuerde with-oute more a-bidinge full sory and full wroth, and seide, returne wolde he not, for the londe and the contrey was his, and therfore he wolde holde his wey forth, and he was well plesed with [folio 231a] soche maundementes, and yef he hadde his londe loste he wolde it recouer whan he myght, and that he trowed sholde be hastely. A knyght ther was that satte by the Emperour that Tutillius was cleped, and was the Emperours suster sone, he ansuerde full felliche, and seide that Bretou ns coude well manece but at the dedes thei were but esy, and therfore ought thei to haue the more reprof. But sir Gawein ther-with wrathed and drough his swerde, and lept to hym and smote of his heed, and than he bad his felowes go to theire horse lightly, and a-noon thei dide his comaundement, and Gawein lepte on his horse also with-oute other leve-takinge nother of the Emperour ne of the romayns, and than was all the court trouble and full of romur, ffor the Emperour cried, "Take hem and lete hem not ascape." Than thei cried, "Ore as armes." Ther sholde ye haue seyn peple arme hem in euery side and lepe to horse, and prike after the messengiers, and thei ride forth a grete randon, and the Romayns com after hem on euery side by the weyes thourgh the feldes here v, here iiij, here vj or vij. Oo knyght ther was that richely was horsed and passed alle his felowes, and cried to the massegers full fiercely, "Parde ye shull a-bide, for I shall delyuer yow to the Emperour." Whan sir Gawein this herde, he griped his shelde, and turned his horse and hym hitte so harde that he bar hym deed to the erthe; and than he seide, "Now is it werse for the that thyn horse was so swifte, for thou hadest ben better haue be a myle be-hynde, or a-biden stille in the hoste;" and Segramor lete renne to a knyght that com shovinge after hym, and he smote hym thourgh the throte that he fill deed vp-right; and than he seide, "Sir knyght, with soche morsels I can yow fede and myn other enmyes. Now be stille ther and a-bide hem that come after, and telle hem that this wey gon the messagiers of the kynge Arthur, that is theire rightfull lorde." Page  653

After hym com a knyght that was born in Rome, and come of high lynage, and was cleped Marcell, he satte on a stronge horse, and a swyfte, and hadde no spere for grete haste; he ouer-toke sir Gawein, and seide he sholde hym yelde to the Emperour, and Gawein loked and saugh hym come costinge his wey, and turned his horse at the passinge forth, and Gawein hym smote so harde in to the brain so depe that the swerde entred to the teth, and Gawein that seide, "Thow haddest to moche haste, thou myght better haue come be-hynde." Than thei turned alle thre, and smote down thre romayns deed. A knyght ther was that was cosin to Marcell, and satte on a stronge horse that was swyfte, and was sory for his nevew that he saugh ly deed, and be-gan to prike ouerthwert the felde, and sir Ewein it saugh and ran that wey, and smote hym so harde that he hadde no leiser to turne a-gein, for ther he loste his heed, and thre romayns brake theire speres vpon sir Ewein, and he smote of the heed of that oon, and the arme of the seconde, and smote the thirde vpon the helme that he fill from his horse to the erthe, and than he wente forth after his felowes, and the romains hem chaced till thei com to a wode that was nygh the castell that kynge Arthur hadde fortefied. But now we shull stinte a while of the messengers, and speke of the kynge Arthur.

[folio 231b] Whan Arthur hadde sente his message to Luce the Emperour he sent after hem vj^Ml men by the counseile of Merlin for to socour hem, yef it were myster, and thei rode till thei com to the wode, and ther thei a-bide on horsbak till thei saugh hem comynge, and after hem all the feilde couered with knygthes and horsemen that chaced the knyghtes that were messagiers, and whan thei saugh this thei spronge oute of the wode hem a-geins, and the romayns resorte a-noon right as thei saugh hem come, and many of hem were wroth that thei hadde chaced hem so fer, ffor the bretons than hem chaced full crewelly, and ther was many of hem taken and many slain. A knyght ther was of grette renoun, whos name was Petrius, ffor in Rome was not his pareill of prowesse and of hardynesse, and herde speke of this a-wayte that the Bretouns hadde made, and a-noon Page  654 he rode thider with vj^Ml men of armes, and as soone as he was come in to the stour, he made the bretons be fin force entre in to the wode, for thei myght not hym and his peple endure, but turned to flight, and the chace dured to the wode, and ther thei stode at diffence, and Petrius hem assailed full vigerously, but many he loste of his men, ffor the Bretouns slough of hem grete plente, and many ther were deed on bothe sides.

Whan Arthur saugh the messangiers taried so longe, he eleped ydier the sone of Vunde and comaunded hym to go after hem till he hadde hem founden, and he dide his comaundement and rode forth till he fonde bothe hostes that fought to-geder, and sir Gawein and his felowes dide merveiles and wele, and ydiers and his companye spronge in vpon the Romayns fiercely, and than com alle the bretouns oute of the wode, and haue recouered the felde; and Petrius that was a noble knyght, and bolde and hardy, relied his peple a-boute hym, and cowde well fle and returne at a vauntage, and well fight with his enmyes, and who that will mete an hardy knyght lete hym go to hym, ffor whom that he smote died hym be-houed, and the bretouns pressed to the bateile as thei that were desirous to Iuste and covetouse to do chiualrie, so that thei rought not how it yede so the werre were be-gonne; and on that other side was Petrius full dolent, and kepte his felowes clos a-boute hym, and Segramor of Costantinnoble wente thourgh the bateile smytinge down knyghtes and horse, and was war of Petrius that threwe down bretouns, and maymed and slough, and saugh wele by the merveiles that he dide that soone myght the bretouns have grete losse, but yef Petrius were deed or taken quyk, ffor by his prowesse all only a-boode alle the Romayns, and Gawein toke counseile of the beste of his frendes, and seide, "We haue be-gonne this stour with-oute the leve of kynge Arthur, and yef it happen vs wele he will conne vs thanke. And yef it myshappe we shull haue magre, and therfore it be-houeth vs to sle Petrius or take hym quyk and yelde hym to kynge Arthur, ffor otherwyse may we not departe with-oute losse, and therfore I pray yow do as I shall do, and foloweth me;" and thei Page  655 seide thei wolde with good will; and whan Segramor this herde he was gladde, [folio 232a] ffor he hadde well sein and parceyved whiche was Petrius.

Than Segramor shof that wey as he saugh Petrius, and alle his felowes after that neuer thei stinte till thei come in to the place ther Petrius gouerned his meyne, and Segramor spored his horse so nygh, that he caught hym in his armes that thei bothe fill to the erthe as he that trusted wele vpon his felowes, and he lay at the erthe, and griped him sore in his armes; and Petrius peyned hym sore to a-rise and turned wraste-linge; but all that availed not, ffor Segramor helde hym faste so that he hadde no power to meve; and whan the Romayns saugh hym falle thei pressed hym for to rescowe, and ther was harde stour and rough medle, and Gawein com thourgh the presse makinge wey with the trenchaunt suerde, wherwith he slough down right all that stode in his wey, so that ther was no romayn so hardy ne so myghty but he made hym wey; and ydiers the sone of vut made grete lardure of Romayns; and sir Ewein the sone of kynge Vrien so peyned hym to perce the presse, that eche of hem laboured for other so vigerously that thei haue remounted Segramor by force, and sette hym on horse, and take Petrius that sore was beten, and diffouled, and haue hym drawen oute of the presse be fin force, and delyuered hym to goode wardeynes, and returned a-gein in to the stour, and the Romayns that hadde no gouernour hadde loste theire diffence whan he was gon that hem dide condite; and the bretuons hem slough and caste to grounde so thikke that thei passed ouer grete hilles of deed bodyes to pursue hem that fledde, and thei slough many in the chace, and toke prisoners and hem bounden and presented the kynge Arthur, and the kynge hem thanked hertely; and than thei counseiled hym to sende hem in to the reame of Benoyk, and sette hem ther in prison till the Romayns hadde don his plesier, ffor yef he kept hem in the hoste thei myght hem wele ascape. Than the kynge cleped Borell, and Richer, and Cador, and Bediuer, that were gode knyghtes and hardy, and of grete perage, and comaunded hem to a-rise erly on Page  656 the morowe, and conveye the prisoners till thei were in saf warde; and here shull we reste of the prisoners, and of hem that shull hem conveye, and speke of the Emperour.

Whan the Emperour wiste of the damage that his men hadde resceived, he was full of dolour and wrath, and than com asspies that seide how the prisoners sholde on the morowe be ledde in to the londe of Benoyk; whan the Emperour herde this, he made x^Ml men lepe to horse, and traueile all nyght for to come be-fore ther the prisoners sholde passe, and hem to rescowe yef it myght be; and than the Emperour cleped Gestoire that was lorde of lybee, and the kynge of Surre that Euander was cleped, and Calidus of Rome, and Maus, and Cathenois. These v cowde skile of bateile, and moche thei knewe of werre, and the Emperour hem comaunded to condite these x^Ml, and than departed these v princes with alle these x^Ml men, and rode till thei come in to the wey ther as these prisoners sholde passe, [folio 232b] and ther thei a-bode stille in a delitable place that thei fonde nygh the wey. And on the morowe a-roos the meyne of kynge Arthur as thei were comaunded, and ledde the prisoners, and rode in two parties for doute of peple, and hem condited Bretell, and Richer, and Cador, and the companye ther the prisoners were made hem be ledde with theire handes bounden be-hynde at theire bakke, and theire feet vndir the horse belyes; and thei that wente be-fore blusht vpon the wacche of the Romayns; and the Romains spronge out hem a-geins so harde that the erthe trembled, and the bretouns hem diffended as peple of grete vertu; and whan Bediuer that com be-hynde herde the strokes resounde he made lede the prisoners in to a sure place, and comaunded the squyres hem to kepe, and than smote theire horse with the spores, and wolde not stinte till thei com to here felowes, and hem diffended with grete force and vigour; and the romains shof here and there, and hadde not so grete entente to disconfite the bretouns as for to rescowe the prisoners and hem to seche; and whan the bretouns saugh hem thus demended, thei departed in foure bateiles, and Cador hadde in his companye the peple of Cornewaile, Page  657 and Bediuer the peple of bediers, and Richer hadde a companye of his owne peple, and Bretell hadde hem of Galvoye; whan the kynge Evander saugh his peple turne to disconfiture, and that theire force be-gan to amenuse, he gadered hem a-boute hym clos; and whan thei saugh the bretons recouer, thei ronne vpon hem in ordre, and than be-gonne a stour right grete; and than hadde the bretons moche the werse, for thei loste grete plente of theire knyghtes, and ydiers le fitz vut was mette so sore with the kynge Euander, that he fill deed to the erthe, and ther-fore were the bretons sore dismayed, for thei loste moche peple at that shoofte, and alle thei hadde be deed or taken; but as Cleodalis the Senescall of Carmelide com with v^Ml men that the kynge Arthur hadde sent by the counseile of Merlin; and whan Bedyuer hem perceived, he seide to his companye, "Holde stille now, and fle not, lo here cometh socour;" and than thei cried the signe of kynge Arthur so high, that Cleodalis com with v^Ml men, and the Romayns entended to take the bretouns, and toke no tent to hem of Carmelide till thei were falle, euen vpon hem, and in theire comynge thei ouerthrewe a hundred of romayns that neuer rise after. And than the romayns were alle a-baisshed, ffor thei wende it hadde be the kynge Arthur, and his power; and so thei were dismayed that thei fledde toward theire herberges, for thei coueited noon other garison, and these hem chaced that cowde hem not love, and in that chace was slayn the kynge Euander, and Chachelos, and of other moo than two thousande, and many ther were taken prisoners; and than thei repeired in to the feelde of the bateile, and toke the erle bourell and other deed cors that lay thourgh the felde, and hem biried, and bar a-wey hem that were wounded; and these that the kynge hadden comaunded to kepe and conveie the prisoners thei ledde hem forth, and other that thei hadde taken in the bateile newly, and bounde hem streite, and sent hem thider as thei were comaunded; and Cleodalis and his companye returned to the kynge Arthur, and tolde hym how thei hadde spedde. But here a-while we shull reste of hem, and speke of the Emperour luce. Page  658

[folio 233a] Full of sorowe was the Emperour whan he knewe the discounfiture, and the grete losse of his peple, and wepte full tendirly for the kynge Euander, and for other that were deed and taken, and saugh well the myschef, and that dismayed hym sore, and was in doute whedir he sholde fight with the kynge Arthur, or he sholde a-bide his rere-warde that sholde come after; and than he hym be-thought and made his peple lepe to horse and come to logres with all his hoste, and loigge hym in the vales vnder the Citee; and whan the kynge Arthur wiste that, he wiste well that he wolde not fight, though he hadde more peple, and so wolde not he suffre hym soiourne ne sitte nygh hym, and made prevely his peple lepe to horse, and rode on the right side of the Cite be-twene the town and the hoste of the Emperour, and lefte the hoste on the left side, and that was to disavaunce the Emperour, and by-reve hym the wey to Oston, and laboured all the nyght till on the morowe, and com in to a valeye that was cleped Toroise, and that was the streight wey fro Oston to logres; and ther the kynge made to arme his companye lest the romayns com vpon hem, and that thei myght lightly put hem bakke; and the cariage, and the mene peple that hadde no myster of bateile, the kynge made hem to a-bide by an hill, and made a mustre of armed peple that yef the romayns hem saugh thei sholde be dismayed for the grete multitude of peple; after that the kynge sette in a wode vj^Ml kynghtes vij^C lxvj, and comaunded hem to the Erle of Gloucester to lede, whiche was bothe Duke and Castelein, and the kynge hem comaunded that thei sholde not meve thens in no maner till thei saugh the nede. "And yef I haue myster," seide the kynge, "I shall turne to yow, and yef the Romayns turne to discounfiture, loke ye hem not spare;" and thei hym ansuerde that so thei wolde do with good chere, and than tolde the kynge a-nother companye of knyghtes that were well appareile, and sette hem in a place, and hym-self was constable; and ther was his prevy meyne that he hadde norisshed, and made his dragon to be holde in myd wey for a signe; and than departed his peple in viij parties, and putte in each Partye ij^Ml knyghtes, and the Page  659 half were on foote, and half on horse-bak, and tolde to eche partie in what maner thei sholde hem contene, and also he putt to so moche peple, that in eche partie was viij^Ml and v^C, and so hadde the kynge Aguysans the first bateile, and that other ledde the Duke Escam of Cambenyk, and Belcys the Danoys kynge, and the kynge Looth of Orcanye ledde a-nother. And the kynge Tradilyuans of North walis, and sir Gawein was with the kynge Looth as he that was a kynge of grete pris; after these iiij firste bateiles that wente be-fore come iiij other after wele a-raied, of whiche the kynge Vrien ledde the firste, and with hym was sir Ewein his sone, and Ewein a-voutres, and the kynge Belynans, and the kynge Ventres, and hadde in her companye the peple of her companye and contrey. The seconde bateile of these foure ledde the kynge de Cent chiualers, and the kynge Clarion of Northumbirlonde, and the kynge Carados, and in theire companye the peple of theire contreyes. The thridde bateile ledde the kynge Bohors, and thei of his contre, and Cleodalis the Senescall of Carmelide, and thei that he brought oute of his contrey; the fourthe of these iiij, and the laste [folio 233b] ledde the kynge Ban of Benoyk, and hadde with hym alle the sergeauntes, and arblastiers, and iiij^Ml men wele horsed; and whan the kynge hadde stablisshed his peple and his bateiles devised, he seide to his barons and to his people, "Lordes, now it shall be sene how wele ye will do; ffor all that euer ye haue don in all youre lif is loste, but ye do well at this tyme a-gein these Romayns;" and the princes hym ansuerde a-noon with oo voice that lever hadde thei to die in the felde, but he hadde the honoure and the victorie; and whan the kynge Arthur herde this he was gladde and ioyfull. But now shull we returne to speke of the Emperour.

Here seith the book, that whan the Emperour was loiged in the vale vnder logres, he and his Baronye that were noble knyghtes and sure, that ther he lay that nyght, and on the morowe he departed from logres, and wende to go to Oston, and than com tidinges how the kynge Arthur hadde leide a-waite a-gein hym, and so he saugh wele that he moste nede fight or Page  660 elles returne, and that wolde he not do in no maner, ffor that sholde be holde cowardise, and yef he fledde his enmyes wolde hym chace on euery side, and do hym anoy and damage, and the two thinges myght not oon do lightly bothe to fle and to fight. Than he made his princes come be-fore hym, wher-of he hadde two hundred of hem that were of his counseile; and than he spake to hem and seide, "Gentill knyghtes, good conquerours, the sones of good auncestrie, that the grete honours and londes conquered, by theire grete prowesse and hardynesse is Rome the heed of the worlde; and yef this Empire falle in youre tyme it were shame to yow, ffor bolde and hardy were youre auncestres, and by reson of gentill fader ought come gentill issue, youre fadres vailaunt and worthi, and eueriche of yow ought to enforce hym to resemble his fader, ffor grete shame oueth he to haue that leseth the heritage of his fader, and that for slouthe lete falle that his fader conquered, not that ye be euell ne a-peired. Thei were bolde and profitable, and so I holde yow the same; and the bretons haue be-rafte vs the wey toward Oston, that we may not passe but by bateile; take youre armes and a-dubbe yow, and yef thei vs a-bide loke that thei be well beten, and yef thei fle we shull hem pursue by force, and peyne vs to a-bate theire pride, and distroie theire powestee."

Than the romayns ordeyned theire bateiles, and theire sheltrons renged, and many a paynym medled a-monge the cristein peple that were come to deserue theire fees and theire londes that thei hilde of Rome, and many of hem on foote, and many on horse, and sette some on the hill, and some in the valey. Than sholde ye haue herde grete sown of hornes and trumpes, and mules and Olyfauntes, and thei ride forth clos holdinge till thei fill on the wacche of kynge Arthur, and than sholde ye haue sey shotte of arowes and quarelles fle so thikke that noon durste discouer his heed, and after that com thei to brekinge of speres vpon the sheldes; and whan the speres were spent thei gripe the axes, and gleves, and swerdes, and smyte sore vpon helmes and hauberkes, ffor ther was stour merveilous and sore fight; ther was no nede of foles ne of [folio 234a] cowardes, for Page  661 longe thei foughten to-geder and hurteled, that neuer the Romayns ne rused ne the bretons myght nought recouer vpon hem, ne noon wiste whiche hadde the better ne the victorie, till that the warde of kinge Vrien and kynge Ventre, and kynge Belynans frusshed a-monge the Romayns with all theire peple where thei saugh the thikkest presse, and the thre princes smyten in wonderfully, and kay the stiward that was in theire companye dide as a noble knyght; ffor the thre Princes seide, "Mercy god whiche a stiward is this;" and the same thei seide of Bediuer the constable, and ther was many a knyght leide to grounde, and many deed, and many grete strokes yoven and resceived, and kay and Bediuer dide merveiles, for thei trusted in theire prowesse, and hilde hem to-geder, and a-vaunced to fer forth, and mette a bateile that the kynge of mede dide bringe, and his name was Boclus, a paynym of grete prowesse, and thei medled with hem and her peple, and many thei slough; and whan the kynge boclus saugh the two knyghtes that dide hym so grete damage of his peple, he was sory, and hilde a grete short spere, and ran to Bediuer, and smote hym with so grete ire, that the stele heed passed thourgh the bouke; and yef he hadde touched hym a litill lower, deed hadde ben for euer, and neuertheles he bar hym down to the erthe out of his sadill all in swowne; whan kay saugh hym falle, he hadde grete sorowe at his herte, ffor he wende verily he hadde be deed, and com toward hym with as moche people as he myght, and made theym of mede resorten, and com to Bedyuer, and clipte hym in his armes, and wolde haue born hym oute of the presse from the horse feet for the grete love that was hem be-twene, and the kynge of Mede hym turned and smote kay with his suerde vpon the helme that he yaf hym a grete wounde on the heed so that he be-houed to lete Bedyuer ly stille, and bothe hadde thei soone haue be slain ne hadde be theire meyne that full stifly hem diffended; and a knyght spronge in to the presse that was cleped Segras, and was nevew to Bediuer; and whan he saugh his vncle so ly at erthe, he wende he hadde be deed, and he assembled his kyn and frendes that were well thre hundred, Page  662 and seide, "Seweth after me, and lete vs a-venge the deth of myn vncle." Than he lefte the Romayns, and a-spide the kynge of mede, and turned that wey, and cried the signe of kynge Arthur as a wood man oute of witte for angre to a-venge the deth of his vncle, and his felowes sewed after hym with sharp grounden speres wher-with was slain many a paynym; and whan Segars saugh the kynge Boclus that hadde smyte down his vncle, he smote hym on the helme with so grete ire, that he cleft hym to the teth that he fill deed to grounde, and than he light down and caught hym vp, and hym lede on his horse and brought hym ther as his vncle lay, and ther he hewe hym in to smale peces; and than he seide to his peple, "Sle these hethen houndes, that in oure lorde haue no creaunce;" and with that he herde his oncle sighe, and than was he gladde in herte, and toke hym vp softely, and bar hym oute of the presse to the harneys, [folio 234b] and than returned to the bateile that was full crewell and fell; and the kynge Ventres mette the kynge Alipatin, and the kynge Ventres was wounded thourgh the body, ffor the Romayns were of so grete powere that the bretouns be-hoved to rusen of fin force; and whan sir Gawein and hoell of the litill Bretayne saugh hem resorte, thei were wroth and sory. Than thei smote in a-monge hem, and the peple of the litill Bretayne hem slough euer nygh theire lorde, so that no presse myght hem with-stonde, and so wele thei dide that thei made them turne theire bakkes to hem and fledde, and ther was many slain and throwe to grounde; and in this wise thei hem demened till thei com to the maister Gawfanon of the Egle of golde, and ther was the Emperour, and the myghtiest men of the worlde, and the grettest gentles of Rome.

Ther sholde ye haue seyn stiffe stour and fell, and crewell bateile, and hermans that was Erle of Tripill was in companye of sir Gawein and hauell, but a knaue hym slough with a gauelok, and the peple of the Emperour smyte so on the bretouns that thei slough of hem two thousande in the self place wher-of was grete damage and pite, for thei were full worthi men and many noble knyghtes, and whan sir Gawein saugh his Page  663 companye thus dye, he spronge in a-monge the Romayns as a wood lyon a-monge wilde bestes, and he was of noble high prowesse, and was not wery to smyte grete strokes vpon eyther side till he com nygh the Emperour; and whan he saugh the Emperour he knewe hym wele, and he hym also, and a-noon that oon lete renne to that other, and smyten to-geder with grete myght, but thei dide not falle, for bothe were thei of grete force; and the Emperour was right stronge and hardy, and was gladde that he was mette with Gawein, for he knewe hym by his armes that men hym hadde devised, and the signes, and seide to hymself, yef I may ascape a-lyve, I may ther-of a-vaunte me at Rome. Than he griped his swerde, and couered hym with his shelde, and faught with sir Gawein full fiercly, and sir Gawein hym smote with Calibourne his good suerde, that he slitte his helme, and his heed down to the teth; and whan the romayns saugh the Emperour deed, thei ronne vpon the bretouns and yaf hem a dispitouse shour and crewell, and smyte down in her comynge moo than thre hundred; whan Arthur saugh the romayns recouer, and his peple so demene, he cried with an high voyce, "What lordinges, what do ye holde stille youre grounde, and lete noon of hem ascape, for I am the kynge Arthur, that for no man will forsake the felde; sewe me, and loke ye be not recreaunt, and remembre you of youre noble prowesses that so many remes haue conquered, ffor ther shall noon passe quyk oute of this felde, but I haue the victorie vpon these romayns, ffor this day shall I lyve or dye;" with that he spronge in a-monge the romains, and be-gan to smyte down knyghtes, and horse and men, that whom so he a-raught be-houed to dye, ffor he smote no stroke with his swerde, but he slough other man or horse, and in his wey he mette hestor the kynge lubye, and he smote hym so that his heed fill to grounde; and than he seide, "Cursed be thow that euer thou hider com to do vs soche damage to my men;" and after he smote Polibetes, the kynge of mede, that he fonde in his wey, that he fill deed to grounde; whan the barouns saugh the kynge Arthur do so wele, thei assailed the romayns, and the romayns hem vigerously, that Page  664 grete [folio 235a] damage dide to the bretons, and yef the Emperour ne hadde be slain, the bretouns ne myght not a-gein hem endured, for that discounforted hem alle; neuertheles thei contened hem so wele, that noon wiste who sholde haue the better. Than the vj^Ml and vj^C lxvj com down of the montaigne to whom the kynge Arthur sholde haue recovered yef he hadde myster, and thei com in to the hoste in soche manere, that the romayns were not war; and thei smyte on hem be-hynde so harde, that thei slitte the bateile in two parties, and so thei wente diffoulinge hem vnder horse feet and slough hem with theire suerdes; and after these were come myght the romayns not endure, but turned to flight, for sore were thei discounforted, for the Emperour that was slain, and the Romains and the sarazins fledde discounfited, and the bretouns hem enchaced, and slough of hem as many as thei hadde talant.

Full gladde was the kynge Arthur of the discounfiture of the Romains, and of the victorie that god hadde hym yoven, and than com in to the feelde ther the bateile hadde be and biryed the deed bodies in chirches and abbeyes of the contrey; and the wounded lete hem be ledde to townes, and serched theire sores, and after made take the body of the Emperour, and sente it to Rome on a beere, and sente worde to the romains that it was the trewage of Bretaigne, that he sent to Rome, and yef thei wolde aske eny more he wolde hem sende soche a-nother in the same wise; and whan he hadde don thus, he toke counseile wheder he sholde holde forth his wey, or turne a-gein in to Gaule, and the princes seide he sholde take counseile of Merlin. Than the kynge called Merlin, and seide, "Dere frende, how pleseth it you that I shall do." "Sir," seide Merlin, "ye shull not come at Rome, ne ye shull not yet returne, but holde forth youre wey, ffor ther be peple that haue grete nede of youre helpe." "How so," seide the kynge, "is ther werre in this contrey." "Sir," seide Merlin, "ye! beyonde the lak de losane, for ther repeireth, a devell an enmy so that ther dar nother a-bide man ne woman, for he distroieth the contrey, and sleth all that he may gete." "How so," seide the Page  665 kynge, "may ther no man hym endure, than is he no man as other ben." "No," quod Merlin, "it is a catte, full of the devell that is so grete and ougly, that it is an horible sight on to loke." "Ihesu mercy," seide the kynge to Merlin, "whens myght soche a beeste come?" "Sir," seide Merlin, "that can I telle yow."