heathen C

The kings of these heathen men were called Sornigrens and Sapharen. Both of them were
fourteen feet tall, with great strength and endurance, and both were angry and dismayed
that such a small number of knights were doing them such harm. They blew a great horn
to re-gather their forces. Kay, Lucan the keeper of the king’s wine cellar, and Grifles each
took a long lance and galloped into the thick of the Saracens. Kay hit King Sornigrens,
knocked him to the ground and rode his horse over him, and would have trampled him
to death in the filth had the king not been quickly rescued by his men.

Arthur was beside himself with shame and anger. He spurred his horse and galloped
towards King Sapharen. Sapharen saw him coming and gripped a strong lance, put his
shield to the fore, put all his weight on his stirrup leathers pulling them taught, gave his
valiant horse the spurs and turned into the attack. A devil riding against a child! King
Ban was so nearly overcome with fear and apprehension that he rode after King Arthur,
to help him if he needed it.
Sapharen and King Arthur met one another at full gallop. Sapharen’s lance struck
through shield and armour but splintered on impact. Arthur survived the blow, sitting
up straight in his saddle, and his own lance went in a straight line through Sapharen’s
shield, through many links of chainmail, through the giant’s stomach and through his
spine.
‘You heathen c u n t!’ shouted Arthur. ‘Go to your devil Apollo!’
The pagan fell dead to the ground, and his soul was quickly seized by a hound of hell.

Of Arthure and Merlin - Translation by https://reflection.eleusinianm.co.uk/