Then Merlin turned about, waving the dragon, which was breathing fire out of its mouth, so that the air glowed red, for never had it thrown so much fire. And the fire fell onto the giants’ banners, which caught fire and burned brightly. All who saw this dreadful wonder were stricken with fright.

While Merlin worked to break up the press and get through, King Rion’s companions rode up, and there was such a big crowd of them that no one could tell how many there were; but from the other side King Leodagan’s echelons came back around, and they ran headlong into one another. There the fighting was wondrous and rough, and very many of the Christians would have come to a bad end, and they could not have held out for long, had it not been for Merlin’s knowledge, which is all that saved them. For every man King Leodagan had there were three belonging to King Rion; even so, the Christians were more worthy, better armed, and more orderly, and they fought and struck down as many as they found before them to fight against.

Vulgate Merlin