الفصل الفصل 10 · Of the first war that King Arthur had, and how he won the

. Of the first war that King Arthur had, and how he won the

field.

Then King Arthur came out of his tower, and had under his gown a

jesseraunt of double mail, and there went with him the Archbishop of

Canterbury, and Sir Baudwin of Britain, and Sir Kay, and Sir Brastias:

these were the men of most worship that were with him. And when they

were met there was no meekness, but stout words on both sides; but

always King Arthur answered them, and said he would make them to bow an

he lived. Wherefore they departed with wrath, and King Arthur bade keep

them well, and they bade the king keep him well. So the king returned

him to the tower again and armed him and all his knights. What will ye

do? said Merlin to the kings; ye were better for to stint, for ye shall

not here prevail though ye were ten times so many. Be we well advised

to be afeared of a dream-reader? said King Lot. With that Merlin

vanished away, and came to King Arthur, and bade him set on them

fiercely; and in the meanwhile there were three hundred good men, of

the best that were with the kings, that went straight unto King Arthur,

and that comforted him greatly. Sir, said Merlin to Arthur, fight not

with the sword that ye had by miracle, till that ye see ye go unto the

worse, then draw it out and do your best. So forthwithal King Arthur

set upon them in their lodging. And Sir Baudwin, Sir Kay, and Sir

Brastias slew on the right hand and on the left hand that it was

marvel; and always King Arthur on horseback laid on with a sword, and

did marvellous deeds of arms, that many of the kings had great joy of

his deeds and hardiness.

Then King Lot brake out on the back side, and the King with the Hundred

Knights, and King Carados, and set on Arthur fiercely behind him. With

that Sir Arthur turned with his knights, and smote behind and before,

and ever Sir Arthur was in the foremost press till his horse was slain

underneath him. And therewith King Lot smote down King Arthur. With

that his four knights received him and set him on horseback. Then he

drew his sword Excalibur, but it was so bright in his enemies’ eyes,

that it gave light like thirty torches. And therewith he put them

a-back, and slew much people. And then the commons of Carlion arose

with clubs and staves and slew many knights; but all the kings held

them together with their knights that were left alive, and so fled and

departed. And Merlin came unto Arthur, and counselled him to follow

them no further.