be dishonored were the ambassadors not treated with
the respect due to them, seeing that they are great lords in their own
land."

As soon as the ambassadors had left the hall, King Arthur asked his
knights and lords what was their advice and counsel in the matter. The
first to give his opinion was Sir Cador of Cornwall.

"Sir," said Sir Cador, "the message brought by these lords is most
welcome to me. We have spent full many days at rest and in idleness,
and now my hope is that you will wage war against the Romans. In that
war we shall, I have little doubt, win great honor."

"I am sure," answered King Arthur, "that this affair is welcome to
you, but I seek, above all, your aid in devising a grave and suitable
answer to the demand they have made. And let no man doubt that I hold
that demand to be a grievous insult. The tribute they claim, in my
opinion, not only is not due, but cannot be due; for more than one
British knight having been Emperor of Rome, it is, I hold, the duty of
Rome to acknowledge the lordship of Britain, rather than of Britain to
acknowledge that of Rome. What think ye?"

"Sir," replied King Anguish of Scotland, "you ought of right to be
lord over all other kings, for throughout Christendom there is neither
knight nor man of high estate worthy to be compared with you. My
advice is, never yield to the Romans. When they reigned over us, they
oppressed our principal men, and laid heavy and extortionate burdens
upon the land. For that cause I, standing here, solemnly vow vengeance
upon them for the evil they then did, and, to support you in your
quarrel, I will at my own cost furnish twenty thousand good fighting
men. This force I will command in person, and I will bring it to your
aid whenever you choose to summon me."

In like manner, the King of Little Britain, as Brittany was called
in those days, undertook to furnish thirty thousand men; and all the
others who were present agreed to fight on King Arthur's side, and to
assist him to the utmost of their power. So he, having thanked
them heartily for the courage and good will towards him that they
displayed, had the ambassadors summoned back into the banquet-hall and
addressed them thus:

"I would have you go back to him who sent you, and I would have you
say to him that I will pay no heed to any orders or demands that may
be brought from him; and as for tribute so far am I from allowing
that there is any tribute due from me or to any other man