He maketh ready his navy at once and cometh back to the land in great
force. He burneth the land and layeth it waste on every side, and doth
far worse therein than he did aforetime. They of the land sent over to
King Arthur and told him of their evil plight, warning him that, and he
send them not succour betimes, they will leave the land and yield up
the castles, for that they might not hold them longer. He took
counsel, the King with his knights, whom he might send thither, and
they said that Lancelot had already been there and that now another
knight should be sent thither. The King sent thither Briant of the
Isles, and lent him forty knights. Briant, that loved not the King in
his heart, came into the land, but only made pretence of helping him to
defend it. One day fell out a battle betwixt Madeglant and Briant and
all their men. Briant was discomfited, and had many of his knights
killed. Madeglant and his people spread themselves over the land and
laid the towns in ruins and destroyed the castles, that were
disgarnished, and put to death all them that would not believe in their
gods, and cut off their heads.

III.

All they of the land and country longed with sorrow for Lancelot, and
said that had he remained there, the land would not have been thus
destroyed, nor might they never have protection of no knight but of him
alone. Briant of the Isles returned back, as he that would the war
against King Arthur should increase on every side, for, what good
soever the King may do him, he loveth him not, nor never will so long
as he is on live. But no semblant thereof durst he show, for, sith
that the best of his knights had been slain in the battle, so had he no
power on his side, as against Lancelot and the good knights of his
fellowship, whereof he would fain that there had been not one.

IV.

King Arthur was at Cardoil on one day of Whitsuntide. Many were the
knights that were come to this court whereof I tell you. The King was
seated at meat, and the day was fair and clear, and the air clean and
fresh. Sagramors li Desirous and Lucan the Butler served before the
King. And what time they had served of the first meats, therewithal
behold you, a quarrel, like as it had been shot from a cross-bow, and
striketh in the column of the hall before the King so passing strong
that there was not a knight in the hall but heard it when it struck
therein. They all looked thereat in great wonderment. The quarre