teness of inhabitants, it far surpassed all other kingdoms. The
knights in it that were famous for feats of chivalry wore their clothes
and arms all of the same color and fashion: and the women also, no less
celebrated for their wit, wore all the same kind of apparel; and
esteemed none worthy of their love but such as had given a proof of
their valor in three several battles. Thus was the valor of the men an
encouragement for the women's chastity, and the love of the women a spur
to the soldiers' bravery.

AFTER A VARIETY OF SPORTS AT THE CORONATION, ARTHUR AMPLY
REWARDS HIS SERVANTS

As soon as the banquets were over they went into the fields without the
city to divert themselves with various sports. The military men composed
a kind of diversion in imitation of a fight on horseback; and the
ladies, placed on the top of the walls as spectators, in a sportive
manner darted their amorous glances at the courtiers, the more to
encourage them. Others spent the remainder of the day in other
diversions, such as shooting with bows and arrows, tossing the pike,
casting of heavy stones and rocks, playing at dice and the like, and all
these inoffensively and without quarreling. Whoever gained the victory
in any of these sports was awarded with a rich prize by Arthur. In this
manner were the first three days spent; and on the fourth, all who, upon
account of their titles, bore any kind of office at this solemnity, were
called together to receive honors and preferments in reward of their
services, and to fill up the vacancies in the governments of cities and
castles, archbishoprics, bishoprics, abbeys, and other hosts of honor.

ARTHUR COMMITS TO HIS NEPHEW MODRED THE GOVERNMENT OF BRITAIN,
AND ENGAGES IN A WAR WITH ROME

At the beginning of the following summer, as he was on his march toward
Rome and was beginning to pass the Alps, he had news brought him that
his nephew Modred, to whose care he had intrusted Britain, had, by
tyrannical and treasonable practices, set the crown upon his own head.
[Book xi., Chapters i. and ii.] His [Modred's] whole army, taking Pagans
and Christians together, amounted to eighty thousand men, with the help
of whom he met Arthur just after his landing at the port of Rutupi, and
joining battle with him, made a very great slaughter of his men....
After they had at last, with much difficulty, got ashore, they paid back
the slaughter, and put Modred and his army to flight. For by long
practice in