and took counsel what should be done. And it was agreed
that the King should send an embassage of two Knights and two Bishops
unto Sir Mordred, and offer him as much goods and lands as they
thought best if he would engage to make a treaty for a month with King
Arthur.

So they departed, and came to Sir Mordred, where he had a grim host of
an hundred thousand men. For a long time he would not suffer himself
to be entreated, but at the last he agreed to have Cornwall and Kent
in King Arthur's days, and after all England. Furthermore, it was
decided that King Arthur and Sir Mordred should meet in the plain
between their hosts, each with fourteen persons. 'I am glad of this,'
said King Arthur, when he heard what had been done; but he warned his
men that if they were to see a sword drawn they were to come-on
swiftly and slay that traitor, Sir Mordred, 'for I in no wise trust
him.' And in like wise spake Sir Mordred unto his host. Then they two
met, and agreed on the truce, and wine was fetched and they drank, and
all was well. But while they were drinking an adder crept out of a
bush, and stung one of the fourteen Knights on his foot, and he drew
his sword to slay the adder, not thinking of anything but his pain.
And when the men of both armies beheld that drawn sword, they blew
trumpets and horns and shouted grimly, and made them ready for battle.
So King Arthur leaped on his horse, and Sir Mordred on his, and they
went back to their own armies, and thus began the fight, and never was
there seen one more doleful in any Christian land. For all day long
there was rushing and riding, spearing and striking, and many a grim
word was there spoken, and many a deadly stroke given. And at the end
full an hundred thousand dead men lay upon the down, and King Arthur
had but two Knights left living, Sir Lucan and his brother Sir
Bedivere. 'Alas! that I should have lived to see this day,' cried the
King, 'for now I am come to mine end; but would to God that I knew
where were that traitor Sir Mordred that hath caused all this
mischief.' Then suddenly he saw Sir Mordred leaning on his sword among
a great heap of dead men.

'Give me my spear,' said King Arthur unto Sir Lucan.

'Sir, let him be,' answered Sir Lucan. 'Remember your dream, and leave
off by this. For, blessed be God, you have won the field, and we three
be alive, and of the others none is alive save Sir Mordred himself. If
you leave off now, the day of destiny is past.'