, wicked
in his thought. Then Walwain became angry, as a thane enraged; and
said these words Walwain the keen: "Luces the mighty, thou art emperor
of Rome! We are Arthur's men, noblest of Britons. He sendeth to thee
his messengers, without greeting; he bids thee march to Rome, that is
thine own realm, and let him hold France, that he won with fight; and
hold thou thy realm, and thy Rome-folk. Whilom thy ancestors invaded
France; with fight they there won immense possessions; so awhile they
there lived, and afterwards they it lost. With fight Arthur it won,
and he it will possess. He is our lord, we are his warriors; he
ordered us to say sooth to thyself, if thou wilt not back march, thy
bane he will be. And if thou wilt not back turn, but execute thy will,
and thou wilt win the kingdom to thine own hand, now to-morrow is the
day, have it if thou it may obtain"

Then answered the emperor, with great wrath: "I will not back march,
but France I will win; my ancestors it held, and I will it have. But
if he would become my man, and acknowledge me for lord, and truely
serve me, and hold me for master, I will make peace with him, and all
his men; and let him hold Britain, that Julius had awhile in his hand,
and many other lands, that Julius had in hand, that he hath no right
to, though he possess the realm, that he shall all lose, unless he
make peace."

Then answered Walwain, who was Arthur's relative: "Belin and Brenne,
both the brothers, Britain they possessed, and France they conquered;
and afterwards they marched soon, and won Rome, and there they dwelt
afterwards well many years. When this was all done, then was Brenne
emperor, and ruled Rome, and all the people. And thus is Rome our
right, that thou holdest in hand, and if we may live, we will it have,
unless thou wilt acknowledge that Arthur is king over thee, and each
year send him tribute of thy land; and if thou goest to him in amity,
thou mayest live the quieter!"

Then sate by the emperor a knight of his kin, named Quencelin; noble
man in Rome. This knight answered before the emperor, and thus him
said--the knight was wicked:--"Knights, return you back, and make
known to your king, that the Britons are bold, but they are accounted
worthless; for ever they make boast--their honour is little!" More he
thought to say, when Walwain drew his sword, and smote him upon the
head, so that it fell in two, and he hastily anon ran to his horse;
and they up leapt with grim