here is many a worshipful man
slain, for an we had been together there had been none host under the
heaven that had been able for to have matched with us; this faiter with
his prophecy hath mocked me. All that did Merlin, for he knew well
that an King Lot had been with his body there at the first battle, King
Arthur had been slain, and all his people destroyed; and well Merlin
knew that one of the kings should be dead that day, and loath was Merlin
that any of them both should be slain; but of the twain, he had liefer
King Lot had been slain than King Arthur. Now what is best to do? said
King Lot of Orkney; whether is me better to treat with King Arthur or to
fight, for the greater part of our people are slain and destroyed? Sir,
said a knight, set on Arthur for they are weary and forfoughten and we
be fresh. As for me, said King Lot, I would every knight would do
his part as I would do mine. And then they advanced banners and smote
together and all to-shivered their spears; and Arthur's knights, with
the help of the Knight with the Two Swords and his brother Balan put
King Lot and his host to the worse. But always King Lot held him in the
foremost front, and did marvellous deeds of arms, for all his host
was borne up by his hands, for he abode all knights. Alas he might not
endure, the which was great pity, that so worthy a knight as he was one
should be overmatched, that of late time afore had been a knight of King
Arthur's, and wedded the sister of King Arthur; and for King Arthur
lay by King Lot's wife, the which was Arthur's sister, and gat on her
Mordred, therefore King Lot held against Arthur. So there was a knight
that was called the Knight with the Strange Beast, and at that time his
right name was called Pellinore, the which was a good man of prowess,
and he smote a mighty stroke at King Lot as he fought with all his
enemies, and he failed of his stroke, and smote the horse's neck, that
he fell to the ground with King Lot. And therewith anon Pellinore smote
him a great stroke through the helm and head unto the brows. And then
all the host of Orkney fled for the death of King Lot, and there were
slain many mothers' sons. But King Pellinore bare the wite of the death
of King Lot, wherefore Sir Gawaine revenged the death of his father the
tenth year after he was made knight, and slew King Pellinore with his
own hands. Also there were slain at that battle twelve kings on the
side of King Lot with Nero, and all were
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