Page:The Garden of Romance - 1897.djvu/74

62 and held him with a tale of prophecy, till Nero and his people were destroyed. And there Sir Kaye, the seneschal, did passing well, that all the days of his life he had thereof worship; and Sir Herves de Revel did marvellous deeds with King Arthur: and King Arthur slew that day twenty knights, and maimed forty. At that time came in the knight with the two swords, and his brother, Balan; but they two did so marvellously, that the king and all the knights had great marvel thereof: and all that beheld them said, that they were sent from heaven as angels, or as devils from hell; and King Arthur said himself, that they were the best knights that ever he saw; for they gave such strokes that all men had wonder of them. In the meantime came one to King Lot and told him that, while he tarried there, Nero was destroyed and slain with all his people. "Alas! I am ashamed," said King Lot, "for, through my default, is slain many a worshipful man: for, if we had been together, there had been no host under heaven that had been able to match us. This flatterer, with his prophesy, hath mocked me." All that did Merlin; for he knew well that, if King Lot had been there with his body at the first battle, King Arthur and all his people should have been destroyed and slain; and Merlin knew well that one of the kings should be dead that day, and loth was Merlin that any of them both should be slain; but of the twain he had liever King Lot had been slain than King Arthur.

"Now what is best to do?" said King Lot; "whether is it better for to treat with King Arthur, or to fight? for the most part of our people are slain and destroyed." "Sir," said a knight, "set upon King Arthur; for he and his men are weary of fighting, and we be fresh."