lives live." Thus the wicked man spake there to the Britons. Then
answered Vortiger--here he was too unwary—-"If here is any knight so
wild, that hath weapon by his side, he shall lose the hand through his
own brand, unless he soon send it hence." Their weapons they sent
away, then had they nought in hand;—-knights went upward, knights went
downward, each spake with other as if he were his brother.

When the Britons were mingled with the Saxons, then called Hengest, of
knights most treacherous, "Take your saexes, my good warriors, and
bravely bestir you, and spare ye none!" Noble Britons were there, but
they knew not of the speech, what the Saxish men said them between.
They drew out the saexes, all aside; they smote on the right side,
they smote on the left side, before and behind they laid them to the
ground, all they slew that they came nigh; of the king's men there
fell four hundred and five—-woe was the king alive! Then Hengest
grasped him with his grim gripe, and drew him to him by the mantle, so
that the strings brake. And the Saxons set on him, and would the king
kill, and Hengest gan him defend, and would not suffer it; but he held
him full fast, the while the fight lasted. There was many noble Briton
bereaved of the life! Some they fled quickly over the broad plain, and
defended them with stones, for weapons had they none. There was fight
exceeding hard, there fell many a good knight! There was a bold churl
of Salisbury come, he bare on his back a great strong club.

Then was there a noble earl, named Aldolf, knight with the best, he
possessed Gloucester, he leapt to the churl, as if it were a lion, and
took from him the club, that he bare on his back; whomsoever he smote
therewith, there forth-right he died; before and behind he laid them
to the ground. Three and fifty there he slew and afterwards drew
towards a steed, he leapt upon the steed, and quickly gan him ride, he