Book 5 Summary

Ambassadors from Rome appear in Camelot requiring Arthur to pay tribute to Rome. Arthur disputes their claim because, by right, they are descendants of Rome and have the right to claim the title of the empire. Arthur's knights counsel him never to bow to Rome, and they decide to take his Army to Rome to claim his place. The two sides plan to go to war, with Rome recruiting 16 kings, 50 giants and Lucius, the Emperor, to fight against Arthur.

On the way to Rome on board a ship, Arthur dreams of a beautiful dragon battling and killing a disgusting wild boar and sends for a dream interpreter who declares that the dragon is Arthur and the boar is Rome.

They land in Flanders to gather more forces and Arthur confronts a child-eating giant and widow-killer. They do battle, and Arthur defeats the giant...