Arthur gan step forth, sturdy-mooded warrior, until he came to the floor, where the fiend lay and slept.  Ever was Arthur void of fear; that was manifest therein, wondrous though it seem; for Arthur might there have hewed the giant in pieces, slain the monster where he lay and slept; then would not Arthur no whit touch him in his sleep, lest he in future days should hear upbraiding.  Then called Arthur anon, noblest of kings:  “Arise, fiend-monster, to thy destruction!  Now we shall avenge the death of my relative!”

Ere the king had this fully said, the giant up started, and grasped his mickle club, and weened with the blow to dash Arthur all in pieces; but Arthur drew his shield high above his helm; and the giant smote thereon above, so that all it gan to shiver.  And Arthur struck at him in haste with his sword, and smote off him the chin, with all the hair, and started him behind a tree, that there stood near; and the giant smote after quickly, and hit him not, but he smote the tree, so that his club brake all in pieces.  And Arthur quickly ran round about the tree; and so Arthur and the monster ran round it thrice about.  Then was the giant exceeding heavy, and Arthur was the swifter, and overtook the giant, and up heaved his good brand, and smote from him the thigh; and the giant down fell.

And Arthur stopt and beheld; then gan the fiend to speak:  “Lord, lord, give me peace; who is it that fighteth with me?  I weened not that any man in this world’s realm might me thus lightly defeat in fight, except it were Arthur, noblest of all kings; and nevertheless was I never of Arthur sore afraid.”  Then said Arthur to him, noblest of kings:  “I am Arthur the king, Britain’s darling.  Tell me of thy race, and where is their habitation; and who should be to thee father or mother accounted on earth; and from what land thou art hither arrived; and why thou hast destroyed with murder my relative?” Then answered the fiend, where he lay and beheld:  “All this I will do, and thy troth receive, on condition that thou let me live, and heal my limbs.”  Arthur him wrathed, wondrously much; and he called Beduer, his bold champion:  “Go near, Beduer, and take off from him here the head; and carry it forth with thee, down from this mount.”  Beduer came near, and deprived him of his head; and so they proceeded thence down to their companions.  Then sate the king down, and gan him rest; and said these words Arthur the good:  “Never fought I any such fight, upon this land, but when I slew the King Riun, upon the mount of Ravin!”

Afterwards they forth went, and came to the host; when that they the head saw, wondrous it seemed to them, wherever under heaven were such head begotten!  Howel of Britanny came to the king, and the king said to him all of the maiden.  Then was Howel sorry, and sorrowful therefore in heart; and took all his companions, and fared to the mount where the British maid lay buried in earth.  He caused there to be areared soon a church most fair, in Saint Mary’s name, the Lord’s mother; and afterwards he gave a name to the hill, ere he thence departed, and named it Helen’s Tomb,—­now it hight Mount Saint Michel.