into France his host should lead. "And if thou thither
marchest, and leadest thine host, thou shalt be received to thy
destruction! For France is mine own land, and I won it with fight; and
if thou wilt not relinquish, that thou wilt not hither come, go we two
to the fight, and fall the worst; and let we the poor folk dwell in
quiet. For whilom the Rome-people conquered all the land, and
afterwards they losed the land with fight; and I with fight it won,
and with fight will hold."

Forth the knights went, goodly champions; that was, Gerin, and Beof
the fair, and Walwain the bold, cuirassed and helmeted on their noble
steeds; and each carried on his shoulder a shield exceeding good; they
bare in their hands spears most strong. Forth they gan ride, noble
men, from the host; much of the folk that with Arthur dwelt, with
Walwain went, and earnestly prayed him, that he should raise some
dispute with the Rome-folk:--"That we may with fight prove ourselves;
for it is many years that (since) their threats came here; and their
menace they make, that they will us behead. Now is it much folk-shame,
if it thus shall allay, unless there be some strife ere we become
reconciled; shafts broken in pieces, burnies torn, shields shivered,
warriors hewed, and swords bathed in the red blood." Forth the earls
proceeded through a great wood, and marked a way that over a mount
lay, so that they came soon to the folk of Rome; worthily weaponed
they rode on their horses. There men might behold, the man who were
beside, many thousands throng out of the tents, all to behold these
three bold knights, and beheld their steeds, and beheld their weeds,
and hearkened tidings from Arthur the king. And next forthright
questioned the knights, and if the king had sent them to the emperor,
for to speak with the emperor, and to yearn his peace. But for never
any speech these three noble earls would abide, ere they came riding
before the tent's door, wherein was the emperor. Down they gan alight,
and delivered their steeds; and so they weaponed with all advanced
into the tent, before the emperor that Luces was named. Where he sate
on his bed their errand they to him made known; each said his say as
to him seemed best, and bade him go back to his land, so that he never
more with hostility should seek France. The while that these three
earls said their errand, the emperor sate as if he were dumb, and
answer never any gave to these earls; but he listened eagerly