ing
about a thing that could not be softened by any remedy, and declared
that it was no good to harp with constant vexation on an inexpiable ill.
By saying this he showed that threats ought not to anticipate vengeance.

When Ket saw that the king regularly walked apart alone in order to
train his strength, he took up his arms, and with his brother followed
the king as he walked in front of them. Athisl, when he saw them, stood
his ground on the sand, thinking it shameful to avoid threateners. Then
they said that they would take vengeance for his slaying of Frowin,
especially as he avowed with so many arrogant vaunts that he alone was
his slayer. But he told them to take heed lest while they sought to
compass their revenge, they should be so foolhardy as to engage him with
their feeble and powerless hand, and while desiring the destruction of
another, should find they had fallen themselves. Thus they would cut off
their goodly promise of overhasty thirst for glory. Let them then save
their youth and spare their promise; let them not be seized so lightly
with a desire to perish. Therefore, let them suffer him to requite with
money the trespass done them in their father's death, and account it
great honour that they would be credited with forcing so mighty a chief
to pay a fine, and in a manner with shaking him with overmastering fear.
Yet he said he advised them thus, not because he was really terrified,
but because he was moved with compassion for their youth. Ket replied
that it was idle to waste time in beating so much about the bush and
trying to sap their righteous longing for revenge by an offer of pelf.
So he bade him come forward and make trial with him in single combat
of whatever strength he had. He himself would do without the aid of his
brother, and would fight with his own strength, lest it should appear a
shameful and unequal combat, for the ancients held it to be unfair, and
also infamous, for two men to fight against one; and a victory gained by
this kind of fighting they did not account honourable, but more like a
disgrace than a glory. Indeed, it was considered not only a poor, but a
most shameful exploit for two men to overpower one.

But Athisl was filled with such assurance that he bade them both assail
him at once, declaring that if he could not cure them of the desire to
fight, he would at least give them the chance of fighting more safely.
But Ket shrank so much from this favour that he swore he wo