ver
a little river, and there they rested them, for on the night they might
have no rest on the field. And then the eleven kings and knights put
them on a heap all together, as men adread and out of all comfort. But
there was no man might pass them, they held them so hard together both
behind and before, that King Arthur had marvel of their deeds of arms,
and was passing wroth. Ah, Sir Arthur, said King Ban and King Bors,
blame them not, for they do as good men ought to do. For by my faith,
said King Ban, they are the best fighting men, and knights of most
prowess, that ever I saw or heard speak of, and those eleven kings are
men of great worship; and if they were longing unto you there were no
king under the heaven had such eleven knights, and of such worship. I
may not love them, said Arthur, they would destroy me. That wot we well,
said King Ban and King Bors, for they are your mortal enemies, and that
hath been proved aforehand; and this day they have done their part, and
that is great pity of their wilfulness.

Then all the eleven kings drew them together, and then said King Lot,
Lords, ye must other ways than ye do, or else the great loss is behind;
ye may see what people we have lost, and what good men we lose, because
we wait always on these foot-men, and ever in saving of one of the
foot-men we lose ten horsemen for him; therefore this is mine advice,
let us put our foot-men from us, for it is near night, for the noble
Arthur will not tarry on the footmen, for they may save themselves, the
wood is near hand. And when we horsemen be together, look every each of
you kings let make such ordinance that none break upon pain of death.
And who that seeth any man dress him to flee, lightly that he be slain,
for it is better that we slay a coward, than through a coward all we to
be slain. How say ye? said King Lot, answer me all ye kings. It is well
said, quoth King Nentres; so said the King of the Hundred Knights; the
same said the King Carados, and King Uriens; so did King Idres and King
Brandegoris; and so did King Cradelment, and the Duke of Cambenet; the
same said King Clariance and King Agwisance, and sware they would never
fail other, neither for life nor for death. And whoso that fled, but
did as they did, should be slain. Then they amended their harness, and
righted their shields, and took new spears and set them on their thighs,
and stood still as it had been a plump of wood.

CHAPTER XVII. Yet more of th