THE DESCRIPTION OF THE WORLD, ARGON IS MADE CAPTIVE
HERE HE TELLS OF THE GREAT BATTLE WHICH WAS BETWEEN ARGON AND ACMAT. And when the morrow dawn was come Argon arms himself z with all his people and arranges and draws up his battle very well and wisely and exhorts them very sweetly [Iozb] to do well. And when he had ordered all his affair very well they put themselves on the way towards the camp of the enemy. z y And the Soldan Acmat had done just such another thing, that is to draw up and to arrange his people, and never waits for Argon to come to his camp but sets himself on the road with all his men well and wisely. Moreover I tell you that they have not gone a great deal when they encountered Argon and his host. And when the two great armies saw one another together the drums began to sound, and TA3 because they had great wish to be at the battle they make no delay but all immediately let the one run toward the other. And it was a stupendous thing to see. v Now could one see arrows cocked; now could one see them fly here and there so thickly that it seemed truly that rain came from heaven. They begin the very cruel v and most evil battle. Now could one see knights fall and cast to the ground. Now could one hear on one side and the other the shouts and the wailing and the very v great weeping of those who were fallen to the earth wounded to death. And when they have shot all their arrows they laid hand on the swords and on the clubs of iron and run one upon another very bitterly, and they gave one another vast blows v z with their sharp swords. Now could one see hands and feet and arms and shoulders z and heads cut off. The shouting and the noise were so great there that one would not hear God thundering for it. For you may know that this battle was [iozc] begun in an evil hour both by the one side and by the other. For you may know that in a short time many proved men died there and many ladies will be for ever v in wailing and in tears for it. And why should I make you a long story ? You may know for truth that Argon did very well that day and shows very great prowess there, and gives a good example to his people of doing well. But in the end all this y avails him nothing, for mischance and fortune were so contrary to him that evil and discomfiture turn upon him. For when his men could endure no longer they are turned away in flight and go off as fast as ever they can. And Acmat and his men chase them and killed enough of them and did' them too great harm. Moreover I tell you that Argon was taken in that chase. And as soon as they have taken Argon, they follow the chase of his people no more but turn back from it to their camp and v to their tents rejoicing and happy beyond measure. And Acmat has his nephew v Argon put in irons and has him very well watched with a great guard. And Acmat, y who was a man of very great self-indulgence, says to himself that he wishes to go
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