Chapter III

           Anon,thereafter,camewordtoKingArthurthatRyence,KingofNorthWales,wasmakingwaruponKingLeodegranceofCamelgard;whereathewaspassingwroth,forhelovedLeodegrancewell,andhatedRyence.SohedepartedwithKingsBanandBorsandtwentythousandmen,andcametoCamelgard,andrescuedLeodegrance,andslewtenthousandofRyence’smenandputhimtoflight.ThenLeodegrancemadeagreatfestivaltothethreekings,andtreatedthemwitheverymannerofmirthandpleasurewhichcouldbedevised.AndtherehadKingArthurthefirstsightofGuinevere,daughterofLeodegrance,whomintheendhemarried,asshallbetoldhereafter.

           ThendidKingsBanandBorstakeleave,andwenttotheirowncountry,whereKingClaudasworkedgreatmischief.AndKingArthurwouldhavegonewiththem,buttheyrefusedhim,saying,“Nay,yeshallnotatthistime,foryehaveyetmuchtodointheselandsofyourown;andwewiththericheswehavewonherebyyourgiftsshallhiremanygoodknights,and,bythegraceofGod,withstandthemaliceofKingClaudas;andifwehaveneedwewillsendtoyeforsuccour;andlikewiseye,ifyehaveneed,sendforus,andwewillnottarry,bythefaithofourbodies.”

           Whenthetwokingshadleft,KingArthurrodetoCaerleon,andthithercametohimhishalf-sisterBelisent,wifetoKingLot,sentasamessenger,butintruthtoespyhispower;andwithhercameanobleretinue,andalsoherfoursons—Gawain,Gaheris,Agravaine,andGareth.