think to rule highly over our realm; hold us for base, and themselves become rich.  But we shall oppose them with bold strength; for our race was highest of all men alive, and won all the lands that they looked on; and Julius the strong marched into Britain, and won to his hands many kingdoms.  Now would our underlings be kings over us, but they shall buy it with their bare backs; never again shall they return to Britain!”

Even with the words then moved the army; by thousands and by thousands they thronged together; each king prepared host of his folk.  When it was all formed, and the army appointed, then were there right told full fifteen hosts; two kings there were ever comrades; four earls and a duke disposed them together, and the emperor by himself, with ten thousand champions.  When the folk gan to stir, the earth gan to din; trumpets there blew; hosts were arrayed; horns there resounded with loud voice, sixty thousand blew together.  More there sounded of Arthur’s companions than sixty thousand men with horns; the welkin gan to din, the earth gan to tremble!  Together they charged as if heaven would fall!  First they let fly, exceedingly quick darts all as thick as the snow down falleth; stones they let afterwards sternly wind through the air.  Then cracked spears; shivered spears,—­helms rolled, noble men fell;—­burnies brake in pieces, blood outflowed;—­the fields were discoloured, standards fell!  Wounded knights over all wandered over the weald, and sixty hundred there were trodden to death by horses!  Knights there perished, blood out ran;—­flowed by paths bloody streams,—­woe was among the folk,—­the harm was without bounds!  So all as say the writings that skilful men made, that was the third greatest battle that ever here was fought, so that at the last no warrior knew on whom he should smite, and whom he should spare; for no man knew other there, for the quantity of blood!

Then removed the fight from the place where they ere fought, and they began widely to rush together; and a new conflict began, narrowly contested;—­there were the Rome-people grievously treated!  Then came there three kings, of heathen land; of Ethiopia was the one; the second was an African; the third was of Lybia, of heathen land.  They came to the host at the east end, and brake the body-of-troops that the Britons there held, and anon felled fifteen hundred bold thanes of Arthur’s folk; then the Britons turned the backs soon.  But then came there riding two keen earls, that was, Beduer and Kay, Arthur’s cup-bearer and his relative; their Britons they saw hewed in pieces with swords.  There became enraged the earls most bold, and with ten thousand knights pressed to the fight, amid the throng, where they were thickest, and slew the Rome-folk very grievously; and went over the fight, after their will.  Then were they too daring, and ruled them too evilly; alas! alas! that they were not then wary; that they could not guard themselves against their