not act well to him.  Eft if among folk enmity areareth, in ever any time between two men, men can say leasing of the hateful one, though he were the best man that ever ate at board, the man that to him were loath, he can him last find!  It is not all sooth nor all falsehood that minstrels sing; but this is the sooth respecting Arthur the king.  Was never ere such king, so doughty through all things!  For the sooth stands in the writings how it is befallen, from beginning to the end, of Arthur the king, no more nor less but as his laws (or acts) were.

But Britons loved him greatly, and oft of him lie, and say many things respecting Arthur the king that never was transacted in this worlds-realm!  Enow may he say, who the sooth will frame, marvellous things respecting Arthur the king.  Then was Arthur most high, his folk most fair, so that there was no knight well esteemed, nor of his manners (or deeds) much assured, in Wales nor in England, in Scotland nor in Ireland, in Normandy nor in France, in Flanders nor in Denmark, nor in ever any land, that on this side of Muntgiu standeth, that were esteemed good knight, nor his deeds accounted (brave or aught), unless he could discourse of Arthur, and of his noble court, his weapons, and his garments, and his horsemen, say and sing of Arthur the young, and of his strong knights, and of their great might, and of their wealth, and how well it them became.  Then were he welcome in this worlds-realm, come whereso he came, and though he were at Rome, all that heard of Arthur tell, it seemed to them great marvel of the good king!

And so it was foreboded, ere he were born; so said him Merlin, that was a prophet great, that a king should come of Uther Pendragon, that gleemen should make a board of this king’s breast, and thereto should sit poets most good, and eat their will, ere they thence departed, and wine-draughts out draw from this king’s tongue, and drink and revel day and night; this game should last them to the world’s end.

And yet said him Merlin more that was to come, that all that he looked on to his feet to him should bow.  The yet said him Merlin, a marvel that was greater, that there should be immoderate care (sorrow) at this king’s departure.  And of this king’s end will no Briton believe it, except it be the last death, at the great doom, when our Lord judgeth all folk.  Else we cannot deem of Arthur’s death, for he himself said to his good Britons, south in Cornwall, where Walwain was slain, and himself was wounded wondrously much, that he would fare into Avalon, into the island, to Argante the fair, for she would with balm heal his wounds,—­and when he were all whole, he would soon come to them.  This believed the Britons, that he will thus come, and look ever when he shall come to his land, as he promised them, ere he hence went.