Lancaster Gate
Medieval Arthurian Legend
The Alliterative Morte Arthure
14th century, Middle English, Lincoln Cathedral Library.
"When Sir Arthur the king had killed the giaunt, then blithely fro Barflete he buskes on the morn."
Dress thee now, dog-son, the devil have thy soul, for thou shall die this day, through dint of my handes!
– 'prepare to fight and die!’ shouted King Arthur.
The giant bared his teeth. He was dishevelled, with a hook nose, a grey beard and long eyebrows; he had lips like those of a flatfish, huge ears and eyes that flamed with anger. Bull-necked was that berne
– with massive shoulders and a huge, fat body. Anyone measuring this giant would have found that – fro the face to the foot was five fadom long!
Five fathoms from head to toe. Thirty feet!