Here man may tell of Arthur the king, how he afterwards dwelt here twelve years, in peace and in amity, in all fairness.  No man fought with him, nor made he any strife; might never any man bethink of bliss that were greater in any country than in this; might never man know any so mickle joy, as was with Arthur, and with his folk here!

I may say how it happened, wondrous though it seem.  It was on a yule-day, that Arthur lay in London; then were come to him men of all his kingdoms, of Britain, of Scotland, of Ireland, of Iceland, and of all the lands that Arthur had in hand; and all the highest thanes, with horses and with swains.  There were come seven kings’ sons, with seven hundred knights; without the folk that obeyed Arthur.  Each had in heart proud thoughts, and esteemed that he were better than his companion.  The folk was of many a land; there was mickle envy; for the one accounted himself high, the other much higher.  Then blew men the trumpets, and spread the tables; water men brought on floor, with golden bowls; next soft clothes, all of white silk.  Then sate Arthur down, and by him Wenhaver the queen; next sate the earls, and thereafter the barons; next the knights, all as men them disposed.  And the high-born men bare the meat even forth-right then to the knights; then toward the thanes, then toward the swains, then toward the porters, forth at the board.  The people became angered, and blows there were rife; at first they threw the loaves, the while that they lasted, and the silver bowls, filled with wine, and afterwards with the fists approached to necks.  Then leapt there forth a young man, who came out of Winetland; he was given to Arthur to hold as hostage; he was Rumareth’s son, the King of Winet.  Thus said the knight there to Arthur the king:  “Lord Arthur, go quickly into thy chamber, and thy queen with thee, and thy known relatives, and we shall decide this combat against these foreign warriors.”  Even with the words he leapt to the board where lay the knives before the sovereign; three knives he grasped, and with the one he smote the knight in the neck, that first began the same fight, so that his head on the floor fell to the ground.  Soon he slew another, this same thane’s brother; ere the swords came, seven he felled.  There was fight exceeding great; each man smote other; there was much blood shed, mischief was among the folk!

Then approached the king out of his chamber; with him an hundred nobles, with helms and with burnies; each bare in his right hand a white steel brand.  Then called Arthur, noblest of kings:  “Sit ye, sit ye quickly, each man on his life!  And whoso will not that do, he shall be put to death.  Take ye me the same man, that this fight first began, and put withy on his neck, and draw him to a moor, and put him in a low fen, there he shall lie.  And take ye all his dearest kin, that ye may find, and strike off the heads of them with your broad swords, the women that ye may find of his nearest kindred,