saved. Right so came into the court twelve knights, and were
aged men, and they came from the Emperor of Rome, and they asked
of Arthur truage for this realm, other else the emperor would
destroy him and his land. Well, said King Arthur, ye are
messengers, therefore ye may say what ye will, other else ye
should die therefore. But this is mine answer: I owe the emperor
no truage, nor none will I hold him, but on a fair field I shall
give him my truage that shall be with a sharp spear, or else with
a sharp sword, and that shall not be long, by my father's soul,
Uther Pendragon. And therewith the messengers departed passingly
wroth, and King Arthur as wroth, for in evil time came they then;
for the king was passingly wroth for the hurt of Sir Griflet.
And so he commanded a privy man of his chamber that or it be day
his best horse and armour, with all that longeth unto his person,
be without the city or to-morrow day. Right so or to-morrow day
he met with his man and his horse, and so mounted up and
<42>dressed his shield and took his spear, and bade his
chamberlain tarry there till he came again. And so Arthur rode a
soft pace till it was day, and then was he ware of three churls
chasing Merlin, and would have slain him. Then the king rode
unto them, and bade them: Flee, churls! then were they afeard
when they saw a knight, and fled. O Merlin, said Arthur, here
hadst thou been slain for all thy crafts had I not been. Nay,
said Merlin, not so, for I could save myself an I would; and thou
art more near thy death than I am, for thou goest to the
deathward, an God be not thy friend.

So as they went thus talking they came to the fountain, and the
rich pavilion there by it. Then King Arthur was ware where sat a
knight armed in a chair. Sir knight, said Arthur, for what cause