When Arthur had France established with good peace, settled and composed, so that prosperity was among the folk, then ordered he the old knights, that he had long retained, that they should come to the king, and receive their reward; for they many years had been his companions.  To some he gave land, some silver and gold; to some he gave castles, some he gave clothes; bade them go in joy, and amend their sins; forbade them to bear weapon, because age upon them went, and bade them love God greatly in this life, that he at the end, full surely, might give them his paradise, that they might enjoy bliss with the angels.  All the old knights proceeded to their land, and the young remained with their dear king.  All the nine years Arthur dwelt there; nine years he held France freely in hand, and afterwards no longer the land he governed.

But the while that the kingdom stood in Arthur’s hand, marvellous things came to the folk; many proud man Arthur made mild, and many a high man he held at his feet!  It was on an Easter, that men had fasted, that Arthur on Easter-day had his noble men together; all the highest persons that belonged to France, and of all the lands that lay thither in; there he gave his knights all their rights; to each one he gave possessions, as he had earned.  Thus quoth him Arthur, noblest of kings:  “Kay, look thee hitherward; thou art mine highest steward; here I give thee Anjou, for thy good deeds, and all the rights that thither in are set.  Kneel to me, Beduer; thou art my highest cup-bearer here; the while that I am alive, love thee I will.  Here I give thee Neustrie, nearest to my realm.”  Then hight Neustrie the land that now hight Normandy.  The same two earls were Arthur’s dear men, at counsel and at communing, in every place.  The yet said him Arthur, noblest of kings:  “Wend thee hither, Howeldin; thou art my man and my kin; have thou Boulogne, and possess it in prosperity.  Come near, Borel; thou art knight wise and wary; here I deliver thee the Mans, with honour, and possess thou it in prosperity, for thy good deeds.”  Thus Arthur the king dealt his lordly lands, after their actions; for he thought them to be worthy.  Then were blithe speeches in Arthur’s halls; there was harping and song, there were blisses among!

When Easter was gone, and April went from town, and the grass was rife, and the water was calm, and men gan to say that May was in town, Arthur took his fair folk, and proceeded to the sea, and caused his ships to be assembled, well with the best; and sailed to this land, and came up at London; up he came at London, to the bliss of the people.  All it was blithe that saw him with eyes; soon they gan to sing of Arthur the king, and of the great worship that he had won There kissed father the son, and said to him welcome; daughter the mother, brother the other; sister kissed sister; the softer it was to them in heart.  In many hundred places folk stood by the way, asking of things of many kind; and the knights told them of their conquests, and made their boast of mickle booty.  Might no man say, were he man ever so skilled, of half the blisses that were with the Britons!  Each fared at his need over this kingdom, from burgh to burgh, with great bliss; and thus it a time stood in the same wise—­bliss was in Britain with the bold king.