Chapter IV

           ThelandofBritainbeingnowinpeace,andmanygreatandvaliantknightsthereinreadytotakepartinwhatsoeverbattlesoradventuresmightarise,KingArthurresolvedtofollowallhisenemiestotheirowncoasts.Anonhefittedoutagreatfleet,andsailingfirsttoIreland,inonebattlehemiserablyroutedthepeopleofthecountry.TheKingofIrelandalsohetookprisoner,andforcedallearlsandbaronstopayhimhomage.

           HavingconqueredIreland,hewentnexttoIcelandandsubdueditalso,andthewinterbeingthenarrived,returnedtoBritain.

           InthenextyearhesetforthtoNorway,whencemanytimestheheathenhaddescendedontheBritishcoasts;forhewasdeterminedtogivesoterriblealessontothosesavagesasshouldbetoldthroughalltheirtribesbothfarandnear,andmakehisnamefearfultothem.

           Assoonashewascome,Riculf,theking,withallthepowerofthatcountry,metandgavehimbattle;but,aftermightyslaughter,theBritonshadatlengththeadvantage,andslewRiculfandacountlessmultitudebesides.

           Havingthusdefeatedthem,theysetthecitiesonfire,dispersedthecountrypeople,andpursuedthevictorytilltheyhadreducedallNorway,asalsoDacia,underthedominionofKingArthur.

           Now,therefore,havingthuschastisedthosepaganswhosolonghadharassedBritain,andputhisyokeuponthem,hevoyagedontoGaul,beingsteadfastlysetupondefeatingtheRomangovernorofthatprovince,andsobeginningtomakegoodthethreatswhichhehadsenttheemperorbyhisambassadors.