But the king, confident in his own strength, and despising the weakness of Rhodolph, deemed the story a fabrication and refused to listen to any overtures.

Without delay he drew up his army in the form of a crescent, so as almost to envelop the feeble band before him, and made a simultaneous attack upon the center and upon both flanks.

A terrific battle ensued, in which one party fought, animated by undoubting confidence, and the other impelled by despair.

The strife was long and bloody.

The tide of victory repeatedly ebbed and flowed.