Then answered Walwain, who was Arthur’s relative:  “Belin and Brenne, both the brothers, Britain they possessed, and France they conquered; and afterwards they marched soon, and won Rome, and there they dwelt afterwards well many years.  When this was all done, then was Brenne emperor, and ruled Rome, and all the people.  And thus is Rome our right, that thou holdest in hand, and if we may live, we will it have, unless thou wilt acknowledge that Arthur is king over thee, and each year send him tribute of thy land; and if thou goest to him in amity, thou mayest live the quieter!”

Then sate by the emperor a knight of his kin, named Quencelin; noble man in Rome.  This knight answered before the emperor, and thus him said—­the knight was wicked:—­“Knights, return you back, and make known to your king, that the Britons are bold, but they are accounted worthless; for ever they make boast—­their honour is little!” More he thought to say, when Walwain drew his sword, and smote him upon the head, so that it fell in two, and he hastily anon ran to his horse; and they up leapt with grim countenance; and these words said Walwain the good:  “So help me the same Lord, that formed the daylight, if ever any of your men is so keen, that after us he pursue, I will him kill, he shall be cut in pieces with my broad sword!” Even with the same speech then called the emperor:  “Hold them! hold!  They all shall hang upon high trees, or with horses be drawn in pieces!” Even with this saying that the emperor said, the earls gan to ride, and spurred their steeds; they shook in their hands spears exceeding long; bare their broad shields before breast.  Soon gan to ride the bold earls, and ever the emperor loud gan to Call:  “Seize them! slay them!  They have us disgraced!” There men might hear, who were there beside, thousands of the people call:  “Hither, hither, weapons!  Go we after them!  Hither our shields; the men will escape!” Soon after them went weaponed warriors; there six, there seven, there eight, there nine.  And ever the earls rode quickly, and ever awhile looked behind them; and ever the knights of Rome quick after came.

And there came near a knight, riding swiftest of all, and ever he called most keenly:  “Turn again, knights, and defend you with fight!  It is to you much shame, that ye will fly.”  Walwain knew the shout of the Romanish men; he turned his steed, and to him gan ride; and smote him through with the spear, as if he were spitted, and drew to him the spear—­the man died soon—­and these words said Walwain the keen:  “Knight, thou rodest too fast; better were it to thee (haddest thou been) at Rome!” Marcel hight the knight, of noble lineage.  When Walwain saw that he fell to ground, soon his sword he out drew, and smote from Marcel the head; and these words said Walwain the good:  “Marcel, go to hell, and there tell them tales, and dwell there for ever, with Quencelin, thy companion; and hold there your communing,—­better it were to you in Rome; for thus we shall teach you our British speech!”