land he through passed, and the burghs he consumed, goods he took enow, and much folk he there slew.  And Riculf gan him ride against Arthur anon; together they came, and fight they began.  The Britons advanced to them—­woe there was rife!  Swords exceeding long they plucked out of sheath; heads flew on the field, faces paled; man against man set shaft to breast; burnies there brake; the Britons were busy, shivered shields, warriors there fell!  And so all the daylight lasted this great fight; moved they east, moved they west, there was it the worse to the Norwegians; moved they south, moved they north the Norwegians there fell.  The Britons were bold, the Norwegians they killed; the Norwegian men there fell, five-and-twenty thousand, and Riculf the king was there slain, and deprived of life day; little there remained of the folk; whoso had the wretched life, they yearned Arthur’s peace.  Arthur looked on Loth, who was to him well dear, and thus gan to him to call, Arthur the rich man:  “Loth, wend hither to me, thou art my dear relative.  Here I give to thee all this kingdom; of me thou shalt it hold, and have me for protector.”

Then was Walwain thither come, Loth’s eldest son; from the pope of Rome, who was named Supplice, who long had him brought up, and made him knight.  Full well was it bestowed, that Walwain was born to be man, for Walwain was full noble-minded, in each virtue he was good; he was liberal, and knight with the best.  All Arthur’s folk was greatly emboldened, for Walwain the keen, that was come to the host; and for his father Loth, who was chosen to be king.  Then spake Arthur with him, and bade him hold good peace, and bade him love his peaceful people, and those that would not hold peace, to fell them to ground.

The yet called Arthur, noblest of kings:  “Where be ye, my Britons?  March ye now forth-right; prepare ye by the flood my good ships.”  All did the knights as Arthur them ordered.  When the ships were ready, Arthur gan to the sea fare; with him he took his knights, his Norwegian thanes, and his bold Britons, and proceeded forth with the waves; and the doughty king came into Denmark; he caused his tents to be pitched, wide over the fields; trumpets he caused to be blown, and his coming to be announced.

Then was in Denmark a king of much might; he was named AEscil, the highest over the Danes; he saw that Arthur won all that was to him in will.  AEscil the king bethought him what he might do; loath it was to him to lose his dear people.  He saw that with strength he might not stand against Arthur, with ever any combat.  He sent greeting to Arthur the king; hounds and hawks, and horses exceeding good; silver and red gold, with prudent words.  And yet he did more, AEscil the great; he sent to the highest of Arthur’s folk, and prayed them to intercede for him with the noble king; that he might his man become, and deliver his son for hostage, and each year send him tribute of his land, a boat of gold and of treasure, and of rich