II


At this time the Romans had a great army in Gaul. It was encamped
near the city of Soissons (swah-son') and was commanded by Syagrius.
Clovis resolved to attack it and led his army at once to Soissons.
When he came near the city he summoned Syagrius to surrender.
Syagrius refused and asked for an interview with the commander of
the Franks. Clovis consented to meet him, and an arrangement was
made that the meeting should take place in the open space between
the two armies. When Clovis stepped out in front of his own army,
accompanied by some of his savage warriors, Syagrius also came
forward. But the moment he saw the king of the Franks he laughed
loudly and exclaimed:

"A boy! A boy has come to fight me! The Franks with a boy to lead
them have come to fight the Romans."

Clovis was very angry at this insulting language and shouted back:

"Ay, but this boy will conquer you."

Then both sides prepared for battle. The Romans thought that they
would win the victory easily, but they were mistaken. Every time
that they made a charge upon the Franks they were beaten back by
the warriors of Clovis. The young king himself fought bravely at
the head of his men and with his own sword struck down a number
of the Romans. He tried to find Syagrius and fight with him; but
the Roman commander was nowhere to be found. Early in the battle
he had fled from the field, leaving his men to defend themselves