They proceeded
throughout France, and the folk marched after them; they went out of
France into Burgundy. His spies there came, and held his companions;
and made known to the king, there in the country, that Luces the
emperor, and all his Romanish host, thitherward they came, out of
their land, and so they would march in toward France; and all the land
conquer; and afterwards proceed hither, and kill all the Britons,
quick that they found, and Arthur the keen led bound to France. Then
was enraged the boldest of all kings, and ordered all his tents to be
pitched in the fields; and there he would abide until he the sooth
knew, where he might the emperor certainly intercept (or hostilely
engage). The water hight Albe, where the bold king lay. A wise knight
there came riding to the king's host, who was all wounded, and his
folk greatly felled; the Romanish men had bereaved him of all his
land. He told to the king new tiding, where the emperor lay, and all
his Romanish army, and where he might him find, if he him would with
him fight, or make peace with the Romanish men. "But, lord Arthur,"
quoth the knight, "I will shew to thee here right, that better for
thee is it to have friendship, than for to fight; for against thy two
they have twelve; so many kings, so many chieftains! He is in no land
who may it make known to thee, for all the folk, that followeth the
emperor, without (besides) the Rome-people, of his own territory, and
without the folk that yearn the king's favour."

When the tales were all told, and Arthur had them understood, then
called the king forth-right his dearest knights, and they counselled
them between a castle to arear, beside the water that Albe was named.
On a spot exceeding fair it was built full soon, there helped many a
hand, in haste was it done; for if Arthur mis-fared, when he came to
the fight, or his folk fell, or set to flight, then thought he to
remain in the strong castle. Then called he earls twain, noble men and
wise; high men born, to the king exceeding dear; the one was of
Chartres, and hight Gerin--much wisdom dwelt with him; the other hight
Beof of Oxford--well wide sprang the earl's fame. The yet the king
called Walwain, who was his dearest relative; for Walwain understood
Romanish; Walwain understood British; he was nurtured in Rome well
many winters. The king took these three knights fair, and to the
emperor them sent, and bade him with his army go back to Rome, and
that he never