ill fight; in God is all the right!"

The yet spake Frolle, free man in heart: "Nay, so help me the Lord
that shaped the daylight, will I nevermore yearn Arthur's grace; but
fight I will, without any knight's aid, body against body, before my
people; hand against hand, with Arthur the king! Whetherso of us is
the weaker, soon he will be the leather; whetherso of us there may
live, to his friends he will be the liefer; and whether of us that may
of the other obtain the better (superiority), have he all this other's
land, and set it in his own hand. This I will yearn, if Arthur will it
grant; and this I will swear upon my sword. And hostages I will find,
three kings' sons, that I will hold firmly this covenant; that I will
it not violate, by my quick life! For liefer it is to me to lie dead,
before my people, than that I should see them on the ground perish
with hunger. For we have with fight destroyed our knights--men felled
fifty thousand; and many a good woman have made miserable widow, many
a child fatherless, and bereaved of comfort; and now this folk with
hunger have wondrously harmed. It is better therefore betwixt
ourselves to deal and to dispose of this kingdom with fight; and have
it the better man, and possess it in joy!" Frolle took twelve knights,
with these words forth-right, and sent them in message to Arthur the
king, to know if he would hold this covenant, and with his own hand
win the kingdom, or lie dead before, to the harm of his people; and if
he it won, should have it in his power.

Arthur heard that, noblest of kings; was he never so blithe ere in his
life, for the tiding liked to him from Frolle the king; and these
words said Arthur the good: "Well saith Frolle, who is King of France;
better it is that we two contest this realm, than there should be
slain our brave thanes. This covenant I approve, before my people, at
an appointed day to do what he me biddeth; that shall be to-morrow,
before our men, that fight we shall by ourselves, and fall the worst
of us! And whether (which) of us that goeth aback, and this fight will
forsake, be he in each land proclaimed for a recreant! Then may men
sing of one such king, that his brag (or threat) hath made, and his
knighthood forsaken!"

Frolle heard that, who was King of France, that Arthur would fight
himself, without any knight. Strong man was Frolle, and stark man in
mood; and his boast he had made, before all his people, and he might
not for much sha