they commanded the two troops that there were on foot.  The Earl of Chester, Cursaleyn, and the Earl of Bath, who hight Urgein, they commanded both the troops that were there beside; these should on two sides advance to the fight, with these two earls, that brave knights were,—­Arthur had troth the earls were true.  When all the troops were set as Arthur thought good, then called to him the King of Britain all his councillors, that were skilfullest in judgment; and thus said Arthur anon to his noble men:  “Hearken now towards me, my dear friends; ye have twice attacked the Romanish men, and twice they are overcome, and slain, and captured, because they all with wrong covet our land.  And my heart saith to me, through our high Lord, that yet they shall be overcome, both slain and captured.  Ye have overcome Norwegians; ye have overcome Danes, Scotland and Ireland ye have all won to your hand; Normandy and France ye have conquered with fight.  Three and thirty kingdoms I hold in mine own hand, that ye have won for me under the sun!  And these are the worst men of all men alive; heathen people!  To God they are loathsome; our Lord they desert, and to Mahoun they draw.  And Luces, the emperor, of God’s self hath no care, who hath for companions heathen hounds, God’s enemies; we shall them destroy, and lay them to ground, and ourselves be safe, with the Lord’s will, that ruleth all deeds!” Then answered the earls there:  “All we are ready, to live and to lie with our dear king!”

When this army was all prepared, then was it daylight; and Luces at Langres moved, and all his Rome-folk; he commanded his men to blow his golden trumpets, get ready his host, for forth he would march from Lengres to Aust, as his way right lay.  And forth gan ride the Romanish people, until they came a mile near to Arthur.

Then heard the Rome-folk hard tidings; they saw all the dales, and all the downs, and all the hills covered with helms; high standards, warriors them held, sixty thousand waving with the wind; shields glitter, burnies shine; gold-coloured vests, men most stern; steeds leap—­the earth stirred!  The emperor saw the king fare, where he was by the wood-shaw; then said he Luces, the lord of Rome, and spake with his men with loud voice:  “What are these outlaws, that have preceded us in this way?  Take we our weapons, and march we to them; they shall be slain, and some alive flayed, they all shall be dead, with torment destroyed!” Even with the words they seized their weapons.  When they were arrayed with their good weapons, then spake soon Luces, the lord of Rome:  “Quickly advance we to them; we all shall do well!” There were come with him five and twenty kings, heathen folk all, that held of Rome, earls and eke dukes, of the eastern world.  “Lordings,” quoth Luces then, “Mahoun be gracious to you!  Ye are powerful kings, and obey unto Rome.  Rome is my right, richest of all burghs; and I ought to be highest of all men alive.  Ye see here on the field those who are our foes; they