e throughout the battle of Sir Mordred
many times, and did full nobly as a noble king should, and at all times
he fainted never; and Sir Mordred that day put him in devoir, and in
great peril. And thus they fought all the long day, and never stinted
till the noble knights were laid to the cold earth; and ever they fought
still till it was near night, and by that time was there an hundred
thousand laid dead upon the down. Then was Arthur wood wroth out of
measure, when he saw his people so slain from him.

Then the king looked about him, and then was he ware, of all his host
and of all his good knights, were left no more alive but two knights;
that one was Sir Lucan the Butler, and his brother Sir Bedivere, and
they were full sore wounded. Jesu mercy, said the king, where are all my
noble knights become? Alas that ever I should see this doleful day, for
now, said Arthur, I am come to mine end. But would to God that I wist
where were that traitor Sir Mordred, that hath caused all this mischief.
Then was King Arthur ware where Sir Mordred leaned upon his sword among
a great heap of dead men. Now give me my spear, said Arthur unto Sir
Lucan, for yonder I have espied the traitor that all this woe hath
wrought. Sir, let him be, said Sir Lucan, for he is unhappy; and if ye
pass this unhappy day ye shall be right well revenged upon him. Good
lord, remember ye of your night's dream, and what the spirit of
Sir Gawaine told you this night, yet God of his great goodness hath
preserved you hitherto. Therefore, for God's sake, my lord, leave off
by this, for blessed be God ye have won the field, for here we be three
alive, and with Sir Mordred is none alive; and if ye leave off now this
wicked day of destiny is past. Tide me death, betide me life, saith the
king, now I see him yonder alone he shall never escape mine hands, for
at a better avail shall I never have him. God speed you well, said Sir
Bedivere.

Then the king gat his spear in both his hands, and ran toward Sir
Mordred, crying: Traitor, now is thy death-day come. And when Sir
Mordred heard Sir Arthur, he ran until him with his sword drawn in his
hand. And there King Arthur smote Sir Mordred under the shield, with a
foin of his spear, throughout the body, more than a fathom. And when
Sir Mordred felt that he had his death wound he thrust himself with the
might that he had up to the bur of King Arthur's spear. And right so he
smote his father Arthur, with his sword holden i