emperor, and said
to him, Sir emperor, I advise thee for to withdraw thee; what dost thou
here? thou shalt win nothing in these marches but great strokes out
of all measure, for this day one of Arthur's knights was worth in the
battle an hundred of ours. Fie on thee, said Lucius, thou speakest
cowardly; for thy words grieve me more than all the loss that I had this
day. And anon he sent forth a king, which hight Sir Leomie, with a great
army, and bade him hie him fast to-fore, and he would follow hastily
after. King Arthur was warned privily, and sent his people to Sessoine,
and took up the towns and castles from the Romans. Then the king
commanded Sir Cador to take the rearward, and to take with him certain
knights of the Round Table, and Sir Launcelot, Sir Bors, Sir Kay, Sir
Marrok, with Sir Marhaus, shall await on our person. Thus the King
Arthur disperpled his host in divers parties, to the end that his
enemies should not escape.

When the emperor was entered into the vale of Sessoine, he might see
where King Arthur was embattled and his banner displayed; and he was
beset round about with his enemies, that needs he must fight or yield
him, for he might not flee, but said openly unto the Romans, Sirs, I
admonish you that this day ye fight and acquit you as men, and remember
how Rome domineth and is chief and head over all the earth and universal
world, and suffer not these Britons this day to abide against us; and
therewith he did command his trumpets to blow the bloody sounds, in such
wise that the ground trembled and dindled.

Then the battles approached and shoved and shouted on both sides, and
great strokes were smitten on both sides, many men overthrown, hurt, and
slain; and great valiances, prowesses and appertices of war were that
day showed, which were over long to recount the noble feats of every
man, for they should contain an whole volume. But in especial, King
Arthur rode in the battle exhorting his knights to do well, and himself
did as nobly with his hands as was possible a man to do; he drew out
Excalibur his sword, and awaited ever whereas the Romans were thickest
and most grieved his people, and anon he addressed him on that part,
and hew and slew down right, and rescued his people; and he slew a great
giant named Galapas, which was a man of an huge quantity and height, he
shorted him and smote off both his legs by the knees, saying, Now art
thou better of a size to deal with than thou were, and af