King Arthur and the Knights of the Round Table

n, and was fair and tall and comely, being of the age of fifteen years, great in strength

out him. Wherefore it befell that many of the knights and barons who heard King Uther speak before his death,

, determined every one to gain the crown for himself; for they said in their hearts, "If there be any such a son at

ought but his own advantage; and the Saxons, growing ever more ad

fore Christmas, under pain of cursing, that they might learn the will of Heaven who should be king. This, therefore, the archbishop did, and upon Christmas Eve were met together in London

, a huge square stone having a naked sword stuck in the midst of it. And on the sword was written in

rinces ran out eagerly from the church to see the stone and sword; and a law was forthwith m

ord with all their might, and some of them tr

man whom Heaven had chosen was not yet there. "But God,"

h all the land that whosoever would, had leave and liberty to try and pull it from the stone. But though great multitudes

nged in the troublous and unsettled times. To the which tournament there came, with many other knights, Sir Ector, Arthur's foster-father, who had great possessions nea

ft it at his father's house; and turning to young Arthur, he prayed him to ride back and f

ent. Whereat, being angry and impatient, he said within himself, "I will ride to the churchyard and ta

and went to the pavilion, which was pitched near the stone, wherein abode the ten knights w

came to Sir Key and delivered him the sword. But as soon as Sir Key saw it he knew well it was the sword of the stone, and, riding

chyard, and there alighting, they went all three into the church, and Sir Key was sworn to tell tr

to young Arthur, asked him-

t to me, for all were abroad to the jousts. Yet was I loth to leave my brother swordless, and, bethinking m

all this land-and God will have it so-for none but he who should be rightful Lord of Britain might ever draw this sword fo

lled at it himself, and after him Sir Key, with all his might, but both of them in vain: then

nd before young Arthur, and Sir Key also with him, an

mine own dear father and my bro

ht be, yet wast thou never more than foster-child of mine." And then he told him all he knew about his infancy, and how a stranger had

ck, and wept, and made great lamentation, "For now," said he,

when thou shalt be made king be go

lady and mother, thy wife, hath ever kept and fostered me as though I were her own; so if it be God's will that I be king he

at thou wilt make my son Sir Key, thy fos

never shall another hold that office,

nd summoned all the princes, knights, and barons to meet again at St. Paul's Church and see the will of Heaven signified. So when they came together, the swo

wrath and said, "What! would ye give the ancient scepter of this land unto a boy born none know how?" And the contention growing greatly, till nothi

ame to win it; and the barons, sorely vexed and angry, put it in delay till Easter. But as he h

ne prevailed to move the sword, the people all with one accord cried out, "Long live King Arthur! we will have no more delay, nor any other king, for so it is God's will; and we will slay whoso resisteth Him and Arthur;" and wherewithal they knee

deal in justice only unto his life's end, he received homage and service from all the barons who held lands and castles from the crown. Then he made Sir Key, High Steward of England, and Sir Badewaine of Brit

nt up to the coronation feast at Caerleon, as if to do him homage; and there they ate and drank su

ould, they all with one accord rose up, and scornfully refused his gifts, crying that they would take nothing from a beardle

his knights and barons drawing their swords, rushed after him upon them and began a full sore battle; and presently the king's party prevailed, and

oy him, namely, King Lot, King Nanters, King Urien, King Carados, King Yder, and King Anguisant. These six, therefore, jo

they were bound to serve and honor even though Heaven had not vouch-safed the wondrous miracle of the sword. Some of the kings, when they heard Merlin speak thus, marveled and believed him

thers. And he spared them not in his speech, but spoke to them as king and chieftain, telling them plainly he would make them all bow

s; "ye had best hold your hands, for were

f a dream-reader?" qu

anished away and c

ve need now of a sword that shall

in, "for hard by there is a sw

lake, and in the midst of it King Arthur saw an arm thrust up,

he sword I spoke

n the lake in the moonlight. "Wha

, and on the rock a noble palace, where she abideth, and she will come t

saluted her, and said, "Lady, what sword is that the arm holdeth

is mine, and if thou wilt give me in return a gift

"I will give thee any gi

hyself unto the sword, and take it and the scabbard with

en they came to the sword that the hand held, King Arthur took it by the handle and bore it with him, a

ay, when they had scarce left their tents, he fell on them with might and main, and Sir Badewaine, Sir Key, and Sir Brastias slew on the right and on the left marvelously; and ever in the

g set again on horseback, he drew his sword Excalibur that he had gained by Merlin from the lady of the lake, which, shining brightly as the light of thirty torches, dazzled the eyes of his enemies. And therewith falling on them afresh with all his knights, he drove them back and slew them in great numbers, and Merlin by his arts scattered among them fire and

woe, they would keep steadfast alliance till they had destroyed King Arthur. Then, with a host of 50,000 men-at-arms on horseback, and 10,000

against King Claudas, their foe. To which those kings made answer that they would joyfully fulfil his wish, and shortly after came to London with 300 knights, well arrayed for

to England, which in one night he did; and brought with him 10,000 horsemen and led them

and sleep, King Arthur with Kings Ban and Bors made themselves ready with their army

ere daylight, and stir not therefrom until the battle hath been long waged. And thou, Lord Arthur, at the spring of day draw forth thine army before th

as Merlin had devised. So on the morrow when the hosts beheld each other, t

n-at-arms, and to open battle. They therefore setting fiercely on the enemy slew

y, and so smote the duke through with his spear that horse and man fell down and rolled over. Whereat King Clarience turned upon Sir Brastias, and rushing furiously together they each unhorsed the other and fell both to the ground, and there lay a long time stunned, their horses' knees being cut to the bone. Then came Sir Key the seneschal with six companion

horse and gave it to King Lot. And when Sir Griflet saw Sir Key's mischance, he set his spear in rest, and ri

spurs to his horse, rushed forward like a lion into the midst of all the mêlèe, and singling out King Cradlemont of North Wales, smote him through the left side and overthrew him, and taking his horse by the rein he brought it to Sir Ulfius in haste and

d he smote King Cradlemont upon the helm, and shore off the fourth part thereof and of the shield, a

Kings Ban and Bors, with all their knights and men-at-arms in ambush, hearing the tumult and the cries, trembled and sho

Lot so sorely in the shoulder that he left the field, and in great pain and dolor cried out to the other kings, "Do ye as I devise, or we shall be destroyed. I, with the King of the Hundred Knights, King Anguisant, King Yder, and the Duke of Cambi

one side, and the six other kings dressed their ran

n began a frantic struggle with breaking of spears and clashing of swords and slaying of men and horses. Anon King Lot, espying in the midst King Bors, cried out in great dis

d the King of th

nd much I marvel how he may have come with all

l encounter with this king if ye

n," sai

knight, and struck him through with a spear, so that he fell dead upon the earth; then drawing his sword, he did such mighty feats of arms that all who saw him gazed with wonder. Anon King Ban came also forth upon the field with all

unsel to put away our footmen from us, for it is almost night, and King Arthur will not stay to slaughter them. So they can save their lives in this great wood hard by. Then let us gather into one band all the horsemen that r

said," repli

trees stands on the plain; and no assaults could shake them, they held so hard together; which when King Arthur saw he marveled greatly, and was very wroth. "Yet," cried he, "I may not blame them, by my faith, for

, with a party of their knights, rushed with set spears as fast and mightily to meet them; and when they were encountered, all the crash and splinter of their spears and armor rang with a mighty din, and so fierce and bloody was their onset that in all that day

t not time to stay this slaying? for God is ill pleased with ye that ye have never ended, and yonder kings shall not be altogether overthrown this time. But if ye fall upon them any more, the fortune of this day will turn, and go to them. Withdraw, Lord, therefore, to thy lodging, and there now take thy rest, fo

nd sent forth heralds through the field to stay more fighting. And gathering all the spoil, he gave it not amongst his own host,

ssing glad to see him, for there was a great love ever between them; and Merlin told him how King Arthur had sped in the battle, and how it had ended; and told him the names of every king and knight of w