h. But
if a man turn his back upon the water, then he may stand safely upon
the bank, taking his pleasure as long as he will. The wave will pass
by him, doing him no mischief; he will not be wetted even of the
flying foam." So Hoel marvelled greatly at these wonders told him by
the king. Then Arthur bade sound his horns, his clarions and trumpets
to call his meinie to himself. He granted leave to all but the folk of
his privy household to return to their homes. The host went therefore
each to his own place, loudly praising the king. Even in Brittany men
told that there was no more valiant captain than he.

Arthur turned south to York, abiding there till Christmas was past. He
kept the Feast of the Nativity within its walls. He marked clearly the
weakness and impoverishment of the city, and how deeply it was fallen
from its former state. The churches were empty and silent; whilst for
the houses they were either breached or fallen to the ground. The
king appointed Pyramus, a learned clerk who had been diligent in his
service, to the vacant see, so that the chapels might be maintained,
and those convents built anew which the heathen had destroyed. Arthur
commanded that the criers should proclaim that all honest folk must
return to their toil. He sent messages to every place, bidding those
who were dispossessed of their lands to repair to his court. There he
gave them again their heritage, and confirmed them in their fiefs and
rents. Now there were three brethren of right good birth and high
peerage, kin to many a fair family, having to name Lot, Aguisel,
and Urian. The forefather of these lords was the earl of that great
country beyond the Humber; and these in their turn held justly their
father's lands, doing wrong to none. Arthur rendered these brothers
their own, and restored them their heritage. On Urian, as head of his
house, Arthur bestowed the province of Murray, and without fee or
recompense proclaimed him king of that realm. Scotland was given to
Aguisel, who claimed it as his fief. As for Lot, who had the king's
sister to wife, Arthur confirmed him in that kingdom of Lyones, which
he had held for a great while, and gave him many another earldom
besides. This Lot was the father of Gawain, who as yet was a
damoiseau, young and debonair.

When Arthur had settled his realm in peace, righted all wrongs, and
restored the kingdom to its ancient borders, he took to wife a certain
fresh and noble maiden, named Guenevere