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— then said Arthur, boldest of kings : " Alas, and walawa ! that 

 I spared my foe ! that I quelled Mm not with hunger or with the 

 sword ! Thus he rewards my goodness ! But so help me the 

 Lord, the shaper of daylight, as he shall bitterly abye it, and I 

 will be his bane. I will kill Colgrim and Baldulf, and all their 

 bravest shall suffer death. If life last in my breast, and if the 

 Power that shaped sun and moon will favour me, Childric shall 

 jeer at me no more." Then shouted Arthur, boldest of kings : 

 " Where be ye, my knights, brave men and good 1 — we must to 

 horse, and speedily wend so far as to Bath in the country's end." 

 So he ordered the Saxon hostages to be hanged, and leaving his 

 kinsman Howel lying sick in Clud, he pushed on till he drew 

 nigh to Bath. In the open field he alighted, and all his knights 

 did on their bumies like stern warriors. WTien he had ordered 

 his battalions, he threw about him his breastplate of steel, the 

 craftswoi-k of an elfin smith, he incased his shanks with hosen of 

 steel, Caliburn his sword he s^vung at his side, wrought in 

 Avalon of more than human craft. His helm on his head was like 

 a gable of steel, whereon was many a gemstone, and all circled 

 with gold. That helm had been Uther's, and was called Goswhit 

 by name ; no other was like it for virtue or fame. Over his 

 shoulder he hung the shield that in British was called Pridwen ; 

 in his hand he seized Eon, the trusty spear, and so equipped he 

 leaped on to his steed. 



They that were at hand now beheld the fairest knight that ever 

 led an army to action. 



" Lo ! where ])efore us here are those heathen hounds that have 

 slain our kinsfolk. Let us fall upon them and stoutly lay about 

 us, and wi'eak a vengeance for kin and for kingdom. Wreak we 

 the shame wherewith they have shent us, when over the billows 

 they came in to Daitmouth. They are forsworn, and they shall 

 be forlorn." 



Over the weald the mighty Arthur rode — he made for Bath. 



Tidings came to Childric, the strong and the mighty, that 

 Arthur was come and was ready to fight. Childric and his brave 

 men leaped to their horses, and snatched at their weapons ; they 

 knew theii" doom was nigh. 



Arthur saw Borel advancing to meet him at the head of seven 

 hundred knights ; he couched his spear Eon, and rode his horse 

 so that the earth shook under him. At Borel he rode, and smote 



