relinquished, and thitherward gan ride the strong mooded men and swift, of sloth devoid, until they came soon near to the fight.  Guitard and his knights there right forthright grasped their shields, knights most bold; and all the archers pressed them beside; and the men on foot gan advance; and all together they on smote, with their smart blows.  At the first onset the Romanish men fell; fifteen hundred to the ground; there was slain Evander, who was ere king full stern; Catellus of Rome forgot there his decrees!  Then made they there flight, who ere held conflict; the Rome-folk turned the backs, and fled.  The Britons pursued after them, and greeted them with mischief; and so many there they took, and so many there they slew, that the Britons’ host might not fell any more!  And the Romanish men, that there might escape, rode full soon to the emperor, and told him tiding of Arthur the king,—­for they weened in sooth that Arthur thither were come; then was the emperor and his host greatly afraid, whom the Britons had slain—­that to them seemed good.  Backward they (the Britons) then went, with bold booty, and came again to the place where the fight had been, and buried the dead, and the alive they gan forth lead.  And they sent after Petreius, whom they previously captured, and after his companions, that were previously taken, and sent them all full truly in to the burgh of Paris, and filled three castles, and fast them inclosed, after Arthur’s command, noblest of all kings.  All the Britons loved Arthur; to all of them stood dread of him that dwelt in the land, so did it to the emperor, of Arthur he had mickle care; and all the Rome-folk of Arthur were afraid.

Then was it in sooth found, what Merlin whilom said, that Rome should for Arthur fall in fire, and the walls of stone quake and fall.  This same token should be of Luces the emperor, and of the senators, who with him came from Rome; and in the same wise, they there gan fall; what Merlin in fore-days said, all they it found there, as they did ere, and subsequently well everywhere; ere Arthur were born, Merlin it all predicted.

The emperor heard say sooth words, how his men were taken, and how his folk was eke slain.  Then were in his army manifold sorrows; some lamented their friends; some threatened their enemies; some got ready their weapons—­mischief was given to them!  Then saw Luces, that evil was befallen to him, for each day he lost of his people, but he the harm felt, his noble men he lost.  He became then afraid wondrously much, and betook him to counsel and to some communing, that he would march to Aust, with all his host; forth by Lengres he would proceed,—­of Arthur he had mickle care!