diff options
| -rw-r--r-- | .gitattributes | 3 | ||||
| -rw-r--r-- | 21865-8.txt | 5898 | ||||
| -rw-r--r-- | 21865-8.zip | bin | 0 -> 90651 bytes | |||
| -rw-r--r-- | 21865-h.zip | bin | 0 -> 7312555 bytes | |||
| -rw-r--r-- | 21865-h/21865-h.htm | 6225 | ||||
| -rw-r--r-- | 21865-h/images/cover.jpg | bin | 0 -> 165205 bytes | |||
| -rw-r--r-- | 21865-h/images/cover_th.jpg | bin | 0 -> 43797 bytes | |||
| -rw-r--r-- | 21865-h/images/illo001.png | bin | 0 -> 22099 bytes | |||
| -rw-r--r-- | 21865-h/images/illo002.png | bin | 0 -> 312772 bytes | |||
| -rw-r--r-- | 21865-h/images/illo002_th.png | bin | 0 -> 122617 bytes | |||
| -rw-r--r-- | 21865-h/images/illo003.png | bin | 0 -> 12636 bytes | |||
| -rw-r--r-- | 21865-h/images/illo007.png | bin | 0 -> 8076 bytes | |||
| -rw-r--r-- | 21865-h/images/illo008.png | bin | 0 -> 27426 bytes | |||
| -rw-r--r-- | 21865-h/images/illo009.png | bin | 0 -> 13890 bytes | |||
| -rw-r--r-- | 21865-h/images/illo009a.png | bin | 0 -> 12772 bytes | |||
| -rw-r--r-- | 21865-h/images/illo010.png | bin | 0 -> 280343 bytes | |||
| -rw-r--r-- | 21865-h/images/illo010_th.png | bin | 0 -> 108923 bytes | |||
| -rw-r--r-- | 21865-h/images/illo011.png | bin | 0 -> 36195 bytes | |||
| -rw-r--r-- | 21865-h/images/illo025.png | bin | 0 -> 332333 bytes | |||
| -rw-r--r-- | 21865-h/images/illo025_th.png | bin | 0 -> 132063 bytes | |||
| -rw-r--r-- | 21865-h/images/illo028.png | bin | 0 -> 3912 bytes | |||
| -rw-r--r-- | 21865-h/images/illo029.png | bin | 0 -> 38986 bytes | |||
| -rw-r--r-- | 21865-h/images/illo031.png | bin | 0 -> 242277 bytes | |||
| -rw-r--r-- | 21865-h/images/illo031_th.png | bin | 0 -> 94772 bytes | |||
| -rw-r--r-- | 21865-h/images/illo034.png | bin | 0 -> 8584 bytes | |||
| -rw-r--r-- | 21865-h/images/illo035.png | bin | 0 -> 27744 bytes | |||
| -rw-r--r-- | 21865-h/images/illo041.png | bin | 0 -> 309789 bytes | |||
| -rw-r--r-- | 21865-h/images/illo041_th.png | bin | 0 -> 115971 bytes | |||
| -rw-r--r-- | 21865-h/images/illo048.png | bin | 0 -> 7938 bytes | |||
| -rw-r--r-- | 21865-h/images/illo049.png | bin | 0 -> 31345 bytes | |||
| -rw-r--r-- | 21865-h/images/illo063.png | bin | 0 -> 6432 bytes | |||
| -rw-r--r-- | 21865-h/images/illo064.png | bin | 0 -> 36724 bytes | |||
| -rw-r--r-- | 21865-h/images/illo065.png | bin | 0 -> 300037 bytes | |||
| -rw-r--r-- | 21865-h/images/illo065_th.png | bin | 0 -> 114539 bytes | |||
| -rw-r--r-- | 21865-h/images/illo072.png | bin | 0 -> 14495 bytes | |||
| -rw-r--r-- | 21865-h/images/illo073.png | bin | 0 -> 31096 bytes | |||
| -rw-r--r-- | 21865-h/images/illo085.png | bin | 0 -> 28587 bytes | |||
| -rw-r--r-- | 21865-h/images/illo093.png | bin | 0 -> 283681 bytes | |||
| -rw-r--r-- | 21865-h/images/illo093_th.png | bin | 0 -> 109865 bytes | |||
| -rw-r--r-- | 21865-h/images/illo099.png | bin | 0 -> 25212 bytes | |||
| -rw-r--r-- | 21865-h/images/illo105.png | bin | 0 -> 259811 bytes | |||
| -rw-r--r-- | 21865-h/images/illo105_th.png | bin | 0 -> 100725 bytes | |||
| -rw-r--r-- | 21865-h/images/illo119.png | bin | 0 -> 15395 bytes | |||
| -rw-r--r-- | 21865-h/images/illo120.png | bin | 0 -> 29170 bytes | |||
| -rw-r--r-- | 21865-h/images/illo129.png | bin | 0 -> 276255 bytes | |||
| -rw-r--r-- | 21865-h/images/illo129_th.png | bin | 0 -> 105643 bytes | |||
| -rw-r--r-- | 21865-h/images/illo131.png | bin | 0 -> 32482 bytes | |||
| -rw-r--r-- | 21865-h/images/illo141.png | bin | 0 -> 6433 bytes | |||
| -rw-r--r-- | 21865-h/images/illo142.png | bin | 0 -> 14390 bytes | |||
| -rw-r--r-- | 21865-h/images/illo153.png | bin | 0 -> 22690 bytes | |||
| -rw-r--r-- | 21865-h/images/illo159.png | bin | 0 -> 8245 bytes | |||
| -rw-r--r-- | 21865-h/images/illo160.png | bin | 0 -> 31835 bytes | |||
| -rw-r--r-- | 21865-h/images/illo167.png | bin | 0 -> 261373 bytes | |||
| -rw-r--r-- | 21865-h/images/illo167_th.png | bin | 0 -> 102184 bytes | |||
| -rw-r--r-- | 21865-h/images/illo171.png | bin | 0 -> 42136 bytes | |||
| -rw-r--r-- | 21865-h/images/illo175.png | bin | 0 -> 340769 bytes | |||
| -rw-r--r-- | 21865-h/images/illo175_th.png | bin | 0 -> 134901 bytes | |||
| -rw-r--r-- | 21865-h/images/illo177.png | bin | 0 -> 22232 bytes | |||
| -rw-r--r-- | 21865-h/images/illo191.png | bin | 0 -> 279556 bytes | |||
| -rw-r--r-- | 21865-h/images/illo191_th.png | bin | 0 -> 108511 bytes | |||
| -rw-r--r-- | 21865-h/images/illo192.png | bin | 0 -> 5954 bytes | |||
| -rw-r--r-- | 21865-h/images/illo193.png | bin | 0 -> 36465 bytes | |||
| -rw-r--r-- | 21865-h/images/illo199.png | bin | 0 -> 26291 bytes | |||
| -rw-r--r-- | 21865-h/images/illo209.png | bin | 0 -> 299481 bytes | |||
| -rw-r--r-- | 21865-h/images/illo209_th.png | bin | 0 -> 116334 bytes | |||
| -rw-r--r-- | 21865-h/images/illo213.png | bin | 0 -> 29637 bytes | |||
| -rw-r--r-- | 21865-h/images/illo226.png | bin | 0 -> 28420 bytes | |||
| -rw-r--r-- | 21865-h/images/illo231.png | bin | 0 -> 341353 bytes | |||
| -rw-r--r-- | 21865-h/images/illo231_th.png | bin | 0 -> 132353 bytes | |||
| -rw-r--r-- | 21865-h/images/illo243.png | bin | 0 -> 38413 bytes | |||
| -rw-r--r-- | 21865-h/images/illo253.png | bin | 0 -> 324908 bytes | |||
| -rw-r--r-- | 21865-h/images/illo253_th.png | bin | 0 -> 125502 bytes | |||
| -rw-r--r-- | 21865-h/images/illo259.png | bin | 0 -> 5928 bytes | |||
| -rw-r--r-- | 21865-h/images/illo260.png | bin | 0 -> 39732 bytes | |||
| -rw-r--r-- | 21865.txt | 5898 | ||||
| -rw-r--r-- | 21865.zip | bin | 0 -> 90631 bytes | |||
| -rw-r--r-- | LICENSE.txt | 11 | ||||
| -rw-r--r-- | README.md | 2 |
78 files changed, 18037 insertions, 0 deletions
diff --git a/.gitattributes b/.gitattributes new file mode 100644 index 0000000..6833f05 --- /dev/null +++ b/.gitattributes @@ -0,0 +1,3 @@ +* text=auto +*.txt text +*.md text diff --git a/21865-8.txt b/21865-8.txt new file mode 100644 index 0000000..18f1a05 --- /dev/null +++ b/21865-8.txt @@ -0,0 +1,5898 @@ +Project Gutenberg's King Arthur and His Knights, by Maude L. Radford + +This eBook is for the use of anyone anywhere at no cost and with +almost no restrictions whatsoever. You may copy it, give it away or +re-use it under the terms of the Project Gutenberg License included +with this eBook or online at www.gutenberg.org + + +Title: King Arthur and His Knights + +Author: Maude L. Radford + +Illustrator: Walter J. Enright + +Release Date: June 19, 2007 [EBook #21865] + +Language: English + +Character set encoding: ISO-8859-1 + +*** START OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK KING ARTHUR AND HIS KNIGHTS *** + + + + +Produced by Greg Weeks, Irma Spehar and the Online +Distributed Proofreading Team at http://www.pgdp.net + + + + + +[Illustration: King Arthur and His Knights] + +[Illustration: _King Arthur and his Knights of the Round Table_] + + + + + KING ARTHUR AND HIS KNIGHTS + + By Maude L. Radford + + Illustrated by + Walter J. Enright + + [Illustration: The Holy Grail] + + Rand, M^cNally & Company + CHICAGO · NEW YORK · LONDON + + _Copyright_, 1903, + By MAUDE L. RADFORD + + + + +[Illustration] TABLE OF CONTENTS + + PAGE +_A List of Illustrations_ 8 + +How Arthur Became King 11 + +The Good Sword Excalibur 29 + +The Great Feast and What Followed 35 + +Arthur's Court and the Order of the Round Table 49 + +King Arthur and the Princess Guinevere 64 + +The Coming of Gareth 73 + +The Story of Sir Gareth and Lynette 85 + +Sir Ivaine 99 + +Sir Balin 120 + +Sir Geraint and Enid 131 + +Arthur and Sir Accalon 142 + +How Arthur Fought with a Giant 153 + +How Arthur Fought with Rome 160 + +The Knight with the Badly Made Coat 171 + +Sir Lancelot and Sir Brune 177 + +The Adventure of King Pellenore 193 + +Sir Lancelot and His Friends 199 + +How Sir Lancelot Saved the Queen 213 + +Sir Lancelot and Elaine 226 + +The Search for the Holy Grail 243 + +The Death of Arthur 260 + + + + +[Illustration] A LIST OF ILLUSTRATIONS + + PAGE + +_King Arthur and his Knights of the Round Table_ Frontispiece + +_"All about him old oaks stood like giant guardians"_ 10 + +_"He hardly more than touched the sword"_ 25 + +_Arthur and the Lady of the Lake_ 31 + +_King Bors and King Ban_ 41 + +_"Arthur saw Guinevere bending over the wall"_ 65 + +_"Gareth rode at him fiercely"_ 93 + +_"He dismounted and poured water into the fountain"_ 105 + +_"They fought till their breath failed"_ 129 + +_"King Arthur raising his hand for silence"_ 167 + +_"The king touched him lightly with his sword"_ 175 + +_"He pushed him until he was but a step from the edge"_ 191 + +_"He struck so fiercely the bottom fell out"_ 209 + +_"She staid near it all day long in the turret"_ 231 + +_"And across it slowly moved the Holy Grail"_ 253 + + + + + TO + DWIGHT AND ROGER + + [Illustration: The Holy Grail] + + + + + King Arthur and His Knights + +[Illustration: _"All about him old oaks stood like giant +guardians"_] + + + + +[Illustration] HOW ARTHUR BECAME KING + + +Once upon a time, a thousand years before Columbus discovered +America, and when Rome was still the greatest city in the world, +there lived a brave and beautiful youth whose name was Arthur. +His home was in England, near London; and he lived with the good +knight Sir Hector, whom he always called father. + +They dwelt in a great square castle of gray stone, with a round +tower at each corner. It was built about a courtyard, and was +surrounded by a moat, across which was a drawbridge that could be +raised or lowered. When it was raised the castle was practically +a little island and very hard for enemies to attack. + +On one side of the moat was a large wood, and here Arthur spent a +great deal of his time. He liked to lie under the trees and gaze +up at the blue of the sky. All about him old oaks stood like +giant guardians watching sturdily over the soil where they had +grown for centuries. Arthur could look between the trunks and see +rabbits and squirrels whisking about. Sometimes a herd of brown +deer with shy dark eyes would pass, holding their graceful heads +high in the air; sometimes a flock of pheasants with brilliant +plumage rose from the bushes. Again there was no sound except the +tapping of a bright-crested woodpecker, and no motion but the +fluttering of leaves and the trembling of violets half buried in +green moss. + +At times, when it was dim and silent in the wood, Arthur would +hear bursts of merry laughter, the tinkling of bells, and the +jingling of spurs. Then he would know that knights and ladies +were riding down the road which ran beside the trees. Soon the +knights would appear on horses, brown, black, and white, with +gaily ornamented saddles, and bridles from which hung silver +bells. Often the saddles were made of ivory or ebony, set with +rubies or emeralds. The knights wore helmets laced with slender +gold chains, and coats of mail made of tiny links of steel, so +fine and light that all together hardly weighed more than a coat +of cloth. Usually the legs of the knights were sheathed in steel +armor; and their spurs were steel, or even gold. The ladies sat +on horses with long trappings of silk, purple, white, or scarlet, +with ornamented saddles and swinging bells. The robes of the +ladies were very beautiful, being made of velvet or silk trimmed +with ermine. Arthur liked to watch them, flashing by; crimson, +and gold, and blue, and rose-colored. Better still, he liked to +see the pretty happy faces of the ladies, and hear their gay +voices. In those troublous times, however, the roads were so +insecure that such companies did not often pass. + +Sometimes the knights and ladies came to visit Sir Hector. Then +Arthur would hurry from the forest to the castle. Sir Hector +would stand on the lowered drawbridge to greet his guests, and +would lead them, with many expressions of pleasure, into the +courtyard. Then he would take a huge hammer hanging from a post, +and beat with it on a table which stood in a corner of the +courtyard. Immediately from all parts of the castle the squires +and servants would come running to take the horses of the knights +and ladies. Sir Hector's wife and daughters would then appear, +and with their own hands remove the armor of the knights. They +would offer them golden basins of water, and towels for washing, +and after that put velvet mantles upon their shoulders. Then the +guests would be brought to the supper table. + +But Arthur did not spend all his time dreaming in the woods or +gazing at knights and ladies. For many hours of the day he +practiced feats of arms in the courtyard. It was the custom in +England to train boys of noble birth to be knights. As soon as +they were old enough they were taught to ride. Later on, they +lived much among the ladies and maidens, learning gentle manners. +Under the care of the knights, they learned to hunt, to carry a +lance properly, and to use the sword; and having gained this +skill, they were made squires if they had shown themselves to be +of good character. + +Then, day by day, the squires practiced at the quintain. This was +an upright post, on the top of which turned a crosspiece, having +on one end a broad board, and on the other a bag of sand. The +object was to ride up at full gallop, strike the board with a +long lance, and get away without being hit by the sand bag. + +Besides this, the squires had services to do for the knights, in +order that they might learn to be useful in as many ways as +possible, and to be always humble. For instance, they took care +of the armor of the knights, carried letters and messages for +them, accompanied them at joustings and tournaments, being ready +with extra weapons or assistance; and in the castle they helped +to serve the guests at table. After months of such service, they +went through a beautiful ceremony and were made knights. In the +country round about, Arthur, of all the squires, was the most +famous for his skill in the use of the lance and the sword, for +his keenness in the hunt, and for his courtesy to all people. + +Now, at this time there was no ruler in England. The powerful +Uther of Wales, who had governed England, was dead, and all the +strong lords of the country were struggling to be king in his +place. This gave rise to a great deal of quarreling and +bloodshed. + +There was in the land a wise magician named Merlin. He was so old +that his beard was as white as snow, but his eyes were as clear +as a little child's. He was very sorry to see all the fighting +that was going on, because he feared that it would do serious +harm to the kingdom. + +In those days the great and good men who ruled in the church had +power almost equal to that of the monarch. The kings and the +great lords listened to their advice, and gave them much land, +and money for themselves and for the poor. So Merlin went to the +Archbishop of Canterbury, the churchman who in all England was +the most beloved, and said: + +"Sir, it is my advice that you send to all the great lords of the +realm and bid them come to London by Christmas to choose a king." + +The archbishop did as Merlin advised, and at Christmas all the +great lords came to London. The largest church in the city stood +not far from the north bank of the Thames. A churchyard +surrounded it, filled with yew trees, the trunks of which were +knotted with age. The powerful lords rode up in their clanking +armor to the gate, where they dismounted, and giving their horses +into the care of their squires, reverently entered the church. + +There were so many of them that they quite filled the nave and +side-aisles of the building. The good archbishop, from where he +stood in the chancel, looked down on them all. Just behind him +was the altar covered with a cloth of crimson and gold, and +surmounted by a golden crucifix and ten burning candles. In front +of him, kneeling under the gray arches which spanned the church, +were the greatest men in the kingdom. He looked at their stern +bronzed faces, their heavy beards, their broad shoulders, and +their glittering armor, and prayed God to make the best man in +the land king. + +Then began the service. At the close of the first prayer some of +the knights looked out of the window, and there in the churchyard +they saw a great square stone. In the middle of it was an anvil +of steel a foot high, and fixed therein was a beautiful sword. On +the sword was some writing set in with gold which said: + +"Whosoever pulls this sword out of this stone and anvil is the +real king of all England." + +The knights who read this told the archbishop, but he said: + +"I command you all to keep within the church and still pray to +God. No man is to touch the sword until all the prayers are +said." + +After the service was over, the lords went into the churchyard. +They each pulled at the sword, but none could stir it. + +"The king is not here," said the archbishop, "but God will make +him known. Meantime, let ten good knights keep watch over this +sword." + +The knights were soon chosen, and then the archbishop said that +on a fixed day every man in the kingdom should try to pull the +sword out of the anvil. He ordered that on New Year's day all the +people should be brought together for a great tournament to be +held on the south bank of the Thames, near London bridge. After a +few days spent in jousting among the knights, each man should +make the trial to find out whether or not he was to be king. + +The brave youth Arthur did not know of the contest that was to be +made for the sword. Sir Hector told him that he was to go to a +tournament, but he did not tell him the reason for holding the +tournament. So Arthur rode to London with Sir Hector; and Sir +Kay, who was Sir Hector's oldest son, was with them. + +Sir Hector and Sir Kay rode soberly in front. They were tall, +stalwart men and rode black horses, their dark figures making +shadows on the light snow that had fallen. Arthur, riding behind +them, felt exhilarated by the crisp winter air which caused the +blood to dance in his veins. Sometimes he stood up in his saddle +and flicked with his sword the dead leaves on the oaks. Again he +made his horse crush the thin crust of ice that had formed in +tiny pools on the road. He was so happy in the thought of the +tournament he was to see, that he could have sung for joy. + +The road was not very wide, for few carts passed upon it, but it +had been well worn by riders. Sometimes it wound through a bit of +thick woods; again it rose up over a gently rolling hill. From +the hilltops the riders could see London far in the distance. It +looked at first like a gray haze; then, as the three came nearer, +the buildings, large and small, grew plain to the sight. The +castles and huts, barns and sheds, smithies, shops and mills, +stood out in the keen sunlight. A high wall surrounded them, +while on one side flowed the river Thames. + +After they had entered the city, and had passed the churchyard, +and had almost reached London bridge, Sir Kay discovered that he +had left his sword at home. + +"Will you go back for it?" he asked Arthur. + +"That I will," said Arthur, glad of the chance to ride longer in +the delightful air. + +But when he reached their dwelling, he could not get in. The +drawbridge was raised, and he could not make the warden hear his +calling. Then Arthur was disturbed and said to himself: + +"I will hasten to the churchyard we passed, and take the +beautiful sword which I saw in the stone. It does not seem to +belong to anyone, and my brother Kay must have a weapon." + +So he rode on till he reached the churchyard, dismounted, and +tied his horse to a sapling. The ten knights who guarded the +sword had gone away to see the combats in the tournament. Arthur +ran up and pulled lightly but eagerly at the sword. It came at +once from the anvil. He hurried to Sir Kay, who was waiting for +him on London bridge. Sir Kay knew that the weapon was the one +that had been fixed fast in the stone, but he said nothing to +Arthur, and the two soon overtook Sir Hector, who had ridden +slowly to the field where the tournament was taking place. Sir +Kay immediately told his father what had happened. + +The good knight at once spoke with great respect to Arthur. + +"Sir," he said, "you must be the king of this land." + +"What mean you, sir?" asked Arthur. + +Sir Hector told the wondering youth the reason why he was +destined to be king. Then he said: + +"Can you put this sword back in its place and pull it out again?" + +"Easily," replied Arthur. + +The three returned to the great stone, and Arthur put back the +sword. Sir Hector tried to take it out, but failed. + +"Now, you try," he said to Sir Kay. + +But Sir Kay, in spite of great efforts, also failed. Then Arthur, +at Sir Hector's bidding, tried, and at once pulled forth the +sword. At that Sir Hector and Sir Kay knelt before Arthur. + +"Alas," said Arthur, raising them from the ground, "my own dear +father and my brother, why do you kneel to me?" + +"Nay, my lord Arthur," said Sir Hector, "I am not your father. +You are of higher blood than I am. Long ago, when you were a +little baby, Merlin brought you to me to take care of, telling me +that you were to be the king." + +"Then whose son am I?" cried Arthur. + +"There are two stories: the one that Merlin tells, and the one +that old Bleys, the master of Merlin, tells. Merlin brought you +to me, saying that you were the son of King Uther and Yguerne his +wife. But because the king was dead and the lords powerful and +jealous, he told me to guard you in secrecy lest your life be +taken. I did not know whether the story was true or false then, +but you were a helpless child, and Merlin was a wise sage, and so +I took you and brought you up as my own." + +Arthur was so astonished that he did not ask to hear the tale +that Bleys told. He stood gazing at Sir Hector, who said: + +"And now, my gracious lord, will you be good to me and mine when +you are king?" + +"I will, indeed," replied Arthur, "for I am more beholden to you +than to any one else in the world, and also to my good lady and +foster mother, your wife, who has reared me as if I were her own +child. If it be God's will that I shall sometime become king, ask +of me then what you will." + +"Sir," said Sir Hector, "I ask that you make my son Sir Kay, your +foster brother, the steward of all your lands." + +"That shall be done," said Arthur, "and more. He shall have that +office as long as I live." + +Then the three went to the Archbishop of Canterbury and related +to him the story of Merlin and all that had occurred. At his +request they told no one else. + +At the command of the archbishop on Twelfth day, which is the +sixth of January, all the great lords assembled in the churchyard. +Each tried to draw forth the sword, and each failed. Then the +untitled people came and tried. Everyone failed until at last +Arthur stepped forward. He hardly more than touched the sword +when it came away in his hand. + +At this many of the great lords were angry. + +[Illustration: _"He hardly more than touched the sword"_] + +"He is but a boy," they said, "and not of high blood." + +They refused to believe the story of his birth told by Merlin and +Sir Hector. And because of all the quarreling, it was decided to +have another trial at Candlemas, which fell in the month of +February. Again Arthur was victorious. Then the great lords +decreed that there should be another trial at Easter, and again +Arthur succeeded. Next they decided to have a final trial at the +feast of the Pentecost, which fell in May. + +Meanwhile, Merlin advised the archbishop to see that Arthur had a +bodyguard. So the archbishop selected several knights whom the +former king, Uther, had trusted. These were Sir Ulfius and Sir +Brastias and Sir Bedivere; Sir Geraint and Sir Hector and Sir Kay +were also chosen. These brave men formed a bodyguard for Arthur +until the feast of the Pentecost. + +At this time Arthur again drew out the sword from the anvil. Then +the common people, who had so far let the lords have their will, +cried out: + +"We will have Arthur for our king, and we will have no more +delay, for we see that it is God's will that he shall be our +ruler." + +Then all the people knelt down, high and low, rich and poor, and +begged Arthur's pardon for the delay he had undergone. Arthur +forgave them, and taking his sword, reverently placed it on the +great altar beside which the archbishop stood. This was a sign +that he meant to dedicate himself and his sword to God. + +Afterward the crowning was held, and all the brave men and fair +ladies in the land were present. The lords wore beautiful robes +of velvet and ermine, with gold and jewels on their breast-plates. +The ladies' robes were of purple and white and scarlet and gold +and blue, and they wore many pearls and rubies and diamonds, so +that all the place where they were assembled was glowing with +light and color. + +But Arthur, who wore a plain white robe, did not think of the +beauty and richness. He was very grave, knowing that he was about +to take a solemn oath. He bowed his head, while the archbishop +set upon it the golden crown, which gleamed with jewels. Then he +stood up before his people, and vowed that he would be a good +king and always do justice. All the people uncovered their heads +and vowed to serve and obey him; and when he smiled kindly on +them as he rode slowly through the throng, they threw up their +caps and shouted joyfully: "Long live King Arthur! Long live the +King!" + +King Arthur chose worthy men for his officers, making Sir Kay +steward as he had promised; Sir Ulfius he made chamberlain, and +Sir Brastias warden. Arthur gave offices also to Sir Hector and +Sir Bedivere and Sir Geraint. + +After his crowning the king set about righting all the wrongs +that had been done since the death of King Uther. He gave back +the lands and money that had been taken from widows and orphans, +and would permit no unkindness to any of his subjects. Thus, at +the very beginning of his reign, his people began to call him + +="Good King Arthur"= + + + + +[Illustration] THE GOOD SWORD EXCALIBUR + + +Soon after the crowning of King Arthur, he was journeying through +the land with Merlin, the wise old magician, when they met a +knight who challenged Arthur to a combat. The two fought, and at +last the knight wounded Arthur severely. In the end the king was +victorious, but he had lost so much blood that he could go no +farther. Merlin took him to a good hermit who healed his wound in +three days. Then the king departed with Merlin, and as they were +slowly riding along he said: + +"I am still weak from the blood I have lost, and my sword is +broken." + +"Do not fear," said Merlin. "You shall lose no more blood and +you shall have a good sword. Ride on trustfully with me." + +They rode in silence until they came to a lake, large and quiet, +and as beautiful in color as a pearl. While Arthur was looking at +its beauty, he became suddenly aware of three tall women, with +fair, sweet faces, standing on the bank. + +"Who are they?" the king asked. + +"Three queens who shall help you at your worst need," answered +Merlin. "Now look out upon the lake again." + +Arthur turned his eyes upon the lake and saw that in the distance +a slight mist had arisen. Through it the figure of a lady glided +over the surface of the water. Her robe appeared to be made of +waves which streamed away in flowing curves from her body. Her +head and shoulders seemed wrapped in foam tinted with the colors +of the rainbow, and her arms glittered with sparkles which came +from bubbles of water. She was so wonderful that Arthur looked at +her for some time before he asked softly: + +"Who is she?" + +[Illustration: _Arthur and the Lady of the Lake_] + +"She is the Lady of the Lake," said Merlin. "She lives in a rock +in the middle of the lake. See, she is coming toward us. Look at +what is beyond her in the water." + +Arthur looked and saw rising above the surface of the water an +arm clothed in pure white. This arm held a huge cross-hilted +sword, so brilliant that Arthur's eyes were dazzled. + +When the Lady of the Lake approached nearer, he said: + +"Damsel, what sword is that? I wish it were mine, for I have +none." + +The lady smiled, saying: + +"Step into yonder boat, row to the sword, and take it, together +with the scabbard." + +So Arthur entered a little boat that was tied to the shore, and +rowed out to the sword. As he took it and the scabbard, all +gleaming with jewels, the hand and arm vanished into the water. +And when Arthur looked about, the three queens and the Lady of +the Lake were also gone. + +As Arthur, still gazing at the sword, rowed to shore, Merlin said +to him: + +"My lord Arthur, which pleases you more, sword or scabbard?" + +"In truth, the sword," replied the king. + +"Let me assure you," said Merlin, smiling gravely, "that the +scabbard is worth ten of the sword. While you have it with you +you shall never lose blood, no, no matter how sorely you are +wounded. So see that you guard it well." + +The king, who was looking at the sword, sighed. + +"There is writing on the sword," he said. + +"True, my lord, written in the oldest tongue in the world." + +"_Take me_ on one side," said Arthur, "and _Cast me away_ on the +other. I am glad to take the sword, but it saddens me to think of +casting it away." + +Merlin's face grew sad, too. He was so wise that he knew what was +going to happen in the future, and he was well aware that when +the time came to cast the sword away, much evil would have +befallen the good King Arthur. But he knew that the time was yet +very far off; so he said: + +"You have taken the sword. Now use it to make justice and right +prevail in all the land. Do not think of casting it away until +you must." + +Arthur grew joyful again as he felt the strength of the good +sword in his hand, and the two rode cheerfully forward through +the country. + +[Illustration: The Shield] + + + + +[Illustration] THE GREAT FEAST & WHAT FOLLOWED + + +Although Arthur had been crowned king, he was by no means sure +that all the nobles of the land would accept him as ruler. In +accordance with the custom of the time, he gave a feast in order +to find out who were his friends and who his enemies. All who +came to the feast would, he supposed, consent to be his +followers. + +He chose the largest hall in London, and had the walls hung with +rich cloths. Upon the floor, strewn with rushes, were placed +trestles, and across these, boards were laid. Upon them fine +white linen was spread, and golden saltcellars, wine-bowls, and +water-jugs set about. + +When the guests assembled there were so many that Arthur was +delighted, for he thought they were all his friends. He sat at +the head of one table, and Sir Hector sat at the head of the +other. Arthur wore a gold crown on his head, but it was no +brighter than his hair, and the blue turquoises with which it was +set were no bluer than his eyes. From his shoulders to the ground +hung a magnificent red robe with gold dragons embroidered upon +it. + +The cooks and squires came in from the kitchen carrying food, +their ruddy faces beaming from the heat of the fires. First of +all, sixty boars' heads were borne in on silver platters. Then +followed, on golden dishes, peacocks and plovers which had been +so skillfully cooked that their bright colors were preserved. +After the guests had eaten all they cared for of this food, tiny +roasted pigs were brought in, and set on all fours upon the +tables. By this time, all the gold and silver goblets which had +been filled with wine needed refilling. Then the squires carried +in beautiful white swans on silver platters, and roasted cranes +and curlews on plates that glowed like the sun. After that came +rabbits stewed in sweet sauce, and hams and curries. The last +course consisted of tarts and preserves, dates and figs and +pomegranates. + +The supper began about five o'clock, and the guests ate and drank +into the night. Although it was past Easter time, the weather was +a little cold, and so upon the stone flagging between the two +long tables the king ordered fires to be lighted. The bright +flames darted up, flashing on the gold threads woven in the +hangings of the walls, and on the steel armor of the lords, and +gleaming on the jewels set in the gold and silver goblets which +the squires were carrying about. At one side sat a band of +musicians singing of the glories of King Arthur, and of the +folk-tales of his ancestors and people, accompanying themselves +on their harps. + +After the guests had risen from the tables and gone to their +camps, Arthur sent messengers to them with rich gifts of horses +and furs and gold. But most of the lords received the messengers +scornfully. + +"Take back these gifts to the beardless boy who has come of low +blood," they said; "we do not want them. We have come here to +give him gifts of hard blows with our hard swords." + +The messengers were astonished to hear these things spoken of +their good king. Nevertheless, they told Arthur all that had been +said to them. He sent no answer back, but he called together all +the lords whom he was sure were loyal to him, and asked their +advice. They said to him: + +"We cannot give you advice, but we can fight." + +"You speak well, my lords," answered Arthur, "and I thank you for +your courage. Will you take the advice of Merlin? You know that +he has done much for me, and he is very wise." + +The lords and barons answered that they would do whatever Merlin +advised. When Merlin came to the council hall he said: + +"I warn you that your enemies are very strong. They have added to +their numbers so that now you have against you eleven mighty +kings." + +At this the lords looked dismayed. + +"Unless our lord Arthur has more men than he can find in his own +realm," said Merlin, "he will be overcome and slain. Therefore I +give you this counsel. There are two brothers across the sea; +both are monarchs and both very strong. One is King Ban of +Benwick, and the other is King Bors of Gaul. Now these two have +an enemy, also a powerful ruler. Therefore, send to the brothers, +King Bors and King Ban who are now both in Benwick, and say to +them that if they will help Arthur in his war against the eleven +kings, Arthur will help them against their common enemy." + +"That is very good counsel," said the king and the lords. + +So they chose Sir Ulfius and Sir Brastias as messengers, and +these two hurried away, hopeful of success. When they reached the +town in Benwick where King Bors and King Ban were, knights came +forth to receive them and to hear their message. As soon as it +was learned from whom they had come they were led into the +presence of the brothers. Both were very large men. King Bors +was dark, and was dressed in black armor. King Ban was dark, too; +the colors that he wore on his shield were green and gold. He was +the father of Sir Lancelot, the knight who afterwards became the +most powerful of the followers of Arthur. + +The two kings received Sir Ulfius and Sir Brastias with much +favor. + +"Tell King Arthur," they said, "that we will come to him as +quickly as we can." + +Then they gave splendid gifts to Sir Ulfius and Sir Brastias, who +hurried back to Arthur with the message. + +In a short time King Bors and King Ban arrived with ten thousand +of their soldiers, and as Arthur had ten thousand, they felt +certain of victory. They went into Wales, a country which +Arthur's followers knew well, and waited confidently for the +enemy. + +The eleven kings collected a great host of sixty thousand men, +fifty thousand on horseback and ten thousand on foot. They +marched towards the place where Arthur was, and set up their camp +near a wood about a mile distant. When Merlin knew this, he said +to Arthur and the two kings: + +[Illustration: _King Bors and King Ban_] + +"This is my advice: Set upon your enemies at midnight when they +are unprepared, and then you will have the advantage." + +So Arthur and the two royal brothers and the twenty thousand +soldiers crept up to where the eleven kings and their men lay. +They took a road circling round the wood. Moving with great +caution, they drew nearer and nearer until they could see first +the camp fires in a circle around the white tents; and then, +against the flashing flames, the dark figures of the men who were +keeping guard. Sometimes they were afraid that the noise they +made would alarm their enemies, but on account of a heavy +windstorm, they were unheard. When his men were quite near, +Arthur gave the word of command. The whole army uttered a great +shout, and ran forward in companies upon their enemies. In a few +minutes they had knocked down most of the tents, and killed many +soldiers. + +It was a dreadful thing to be attacked in the dark without +warning. But the eleven kings were brave men, even though they +were so unjust to Arthur in trying to take his kingdom from him, +and made a good fight. Perhaps they would have made a better one +if they had known how few the men were under Arthur. + +Before day dawned, Merlin told Arthur to draw back his troops. +This he did, leaving about ten thousand of the enemy dead behind +him. He, however, had not lost very many men. + +At daybreak Arthur and his followers saw that the lay of the land +could be used to their advantage. Between them and the enemy was +a narrow road, bounded on one side by a lake, and on the other +side by a dense wood. One part of this wood, however, was thin +enough to allow men to hide in it. + +"Now," said Merlin, "let King Bors and King Ban take their +soldiers and hide in the wood for a long time. Then, my lord +Arthur, stand up before the enemy with your men." + +"Why shall we do this?" asked Arthur. + +"Because," said the wise old man, "when the eleven kings see how +few in number your troops are, they will let you proceed down the +passage. They will think that if you march close to them they can +overcome you. But you can fill up this narrow road with more and +more men from the wood. Then the enemy cannot surround you." + +"That seems very good," said Arthur. + +"And at last," continued Merlin, "when the eleven kings are +weary, let King Bors and King Ban come forth. Then surely the +courage of our enemies will fail." + +The plan was carried out. Arthur's men marched down the passage. +The green wood was on one side, and on the other was the lake, +the water of which was so clear that it reflected the bodies of +the soldiers with their shields and helmets. The sun shone on +their armor. The little birds in the woods sang as they passed. +But the men were thinking of nothing but the expected battle. + +When they had come close to the enemy, they saw the eleven kings +all in a row, mounted on big handsome horses. Their fifty +thousand men were behind them. Suddenly these rode forward and +the battle began. + +It was a fierce fight. In a very short time the field was covered +with overthrown men and horses. Broken shields and helmets lay on +the ground, and many of the knights who had been fighting on +horseback were unhorsed, and were fighting on foot. Arthur +galloped here and there among his enemies, conquering with his +trusty sword all with whom he fought. The woods and the water +rang with his sword strokes. The noise drowned the sweet songs of +the birds, but still they sang, and flew about gaily, all unaware +of the grim death-struggle going on beneath them. + +Finally the time arrived for bringing forward King Bors and his +men. The great dark king went thundering down upon his enemies. +When the King of Orkney saw him coming, he cried: + +"Oh, we are in great danger! I see King Bors, one of the best and +bravest kings in the world, and he is helping our enemy." + +Then the other kings were astonished, for they did not know that +Arthur had sent outside his country for help. + +"But we will fight on," they said, "no matter how powerful he +is." + +While they were still fighting, but with great loss of courage, +they heard the loud sounds made by the hoofs of other tramping +horses, and King Ban rode down on them, followed by his men. His +black brows were frowning, and his green and gold colors +glittered in the sun. + +"Alas, alas!" cried the King of Orkney, "now in truth are we +lost, for here is another king, no less great than his brother +Bors. But we must neither flee nor yield." + +The eleven kings, being agreed to this, continued the battle, +though so many of their men were killed that the King of Orkney +wept. When he saw some of his men running away, he wept still +more, for he thought it was better to die than to be a coward. + +Though they did not intend to run away, the eleven kings thought +it would be wise to retreat to a little copse near by. It was +late and they were tired and wished to rest before fighting +again. King Bors and King Ban could not help admiring these +rulers. + +"In truth," said King Ban, "they are the bravest men I ever saw. +I would they were your friends." + +"Indeed, so would I," replied Arthur; "but I have no hope of +that, for they are determined to destroy me, and so we must fight +on." + +At this moment Merlin rode up on his great black horse. + +"Have you not done enough?" he cried to Arthur. "Of their sixty +thousand men there are left but fifteen thousand. It is time to +stop, I say. If you fight on, they will win the day. The tide +will turn against you." + +Arthur hesitated and Merlin said: + +"The eleven kings have a great trouble coming of which they are +ignorant. The Saracens have landed in their countries to the +number of over forty thousand. So your enemies will have so much +fighting to do that they will not attack you again for three +years." + +Then Arthur was glad, for it had grieved him deeply to fight so +long and to lose his good soldiers. + +"We will fight no more," he said. + +"That is well," replied Merlin. "Now give presents to your +soldiers, for to-day they have proved themselves equal to the +best fighters in the world." + +"True, indeed!" exclaimed King Bors and King Ban. + +So Arthur gave gifts to his own men; and a great deal of gold to +the brother kings, both for themselves and for their soldiers. +And the two kings went home rejoicing. + +[Illustration: The Two Horses] + + + + +[Illustration] ARTHUR'S COURT & THE ORDER OF THE ROUND TABLE + + +After Arthur had proved his prowess in his contest with the +eleven kings, he decided to establish his Court and the Order of +the Round Table. The place he chose was the city of Camelot in +Wales, which had a good situation, being built upon a hill. He +called the wise Merlin and ordered him to make a great palace on +the summit of the hill. Through his powers of enchantment, Merlin +was able to do this very quickly, and within a week the king and +his personal attendants were settled in the palace. + +The main part consisted of a great Assembly Hall built of white +marble, the roof of which seemed to be upheld by pillars of green +and red porphyry, and was surmounted by magnificent towers. The +outside walls of the hall were covered with beautiful rows of +sculpture. The lowest row represented wild beasts slaying men. +The second row represented men slaying wild beasts. The third +represented warriors who were peaceful, good men. The fourth +showed men with growing wings. Over all was a winged statue with +the face of Arthur. Merlin meant to show by means of the first +row that formerly evil in men was greater than good; by the +second that men began to conquer the evil in themselves, which in +time caused them to become really good, noble, and peace-loving +men, as in the third row. And finally, through the refining +influence of Good King Arthur and his wise helpers, men would +grow to be almost as perfect as the angels. + +The main doorway was in the shape of an arch, upheld by pillars +of dark yellow marble. The hall was lighted by fourteen great +windows, through which the light streamed in soft colors upon the +marble floors. Between these windows, and along the cornices, +were beautiful decorations. There were carvings in white marble +of birds and beasts and twining vines. There was mosaic work of +black and yellow and pink marble and of lapis lazuli, as blue as +a lake when the clear sun shines full upon its surface. Under the +windows were many stone shields, beneath each of which was the +name of a knight. Some shields were blazoned with gold, some were +carved, and some were blank. The walls were hung with beautiful +tapestries which had been woven by the ladies of the land for +Arthur's new palace. On each had been pictured some episode from +the life of King Arthur; the drawing of the magic sword from the +anvil, the finding of the good sword Excalibur, his deeds of +justice and acts of kindness, and his many battles and wars. + +The two wings of the palace contained the dining hall and kitchen +and the living apartments of all the members of the court who +made their home with the king. The dining hall was only a little +less beautiful than Arthur's great Assembly Hall. The walls were +hung with cloths of scarlet and gold. The deep fireplace was +supported by four bronze pillars. In the middle of the room were +long tables made of oak boards set on ivory trestles. At a +banquet the walls were hung with garlands of flowers or festoons +of branches. + +The great kitchen had stone walls and stone flagging. The +fireplace was so large that there was room for a whole ox to be +roasted, and above hung cranes from which half a dozen kettles +could be suspended, and pots of such a size that pigs could be +boiled whole in them. All about the walls were cupboards. Some +were full of plates of wood, iron, steel, silver, and gold, and +flagons, cups, bowls, and saltcellars of gold and silver. Others +were used for the storing of cold meats and fruits. There were +several tables on which the cooked food was cut, and benches upon +which the cooks rested when they were tired of serving the hungry +eaters. + +Well might they have grown tired. + +Supper, the most important meal of the day, lasted from three +until six, and often longer. But the cooks, and the little +scullion boys who washed the pots and pans, and the attendants +who carried in the food to the dining hall, all wore contentment +and happiness on their faces as they hurried about with their +long blouses tucked out of harm's way; for to serve King Arthur +and his guests was considered a real privilege. + +The sleeping rooms were furnished with chests, and chairs, and +beds spread with fine linen and with ermine-lined covers. +Hangings of various colors were upon the walls. On the floors +were strewn rushes, and among them was thrown mint which gave +forth an agreeable odor. + +After Arthur, his officers, and his servants had been in the +palace a few days, the king formally established his Court. He +invited all the knights who cared to do so to come with their +families and retinues and live with him. Some preferred to remain +in their own castles, but others gladly went to live with the +king. Soon all were comfortably settled. + +The king's officers were very important members of Arthur's +court. First of these came the Archbishop of Canterbury, who +held the highest place in the king's regard. It was his duty to +conduct the church services for Arthur and his followers, and to +christen, marry, and bury the people of Camelot. Next, Sir Ulfius +as chamberlain superintended the care of the king's rooms. Sir +Brastias, who was warden, superintended the servants. Sir Kay, +who was steward, had charge of all the food and the kitchen. Sir +Hector, as treasurer, took care of the king's gold and rendered +the accounts. Sir Geraint managed all the tournaments and outdoor +sports of the knights and squires. There were other officers to +help these, and all did their work faithfully and lovingly. + +The knights whom Arthur chose to be members of his Round Table +were mostly selected from these officers. As members of this +order there were one hundred and fifty of the knights who had +shown themselves especially brave in battle and who were devoted +followers of the king. Next to being king, the greatest honor +which could fall to a warrior was to be made a member of the +Round Table, for all who belonged to the order were dedicated to +the service of God and mankind. There is no glory greater than +such a dedication. + +In his great hall Arthur had placed a huge table, made round in +shape so that there should be neither head nor foot, a higher +place nor a lower place. Arthur wished all who sat there to be +equals. These chosen knights were to give him council in times of +peace and of war. + +It was a solemn hour when the knights took their places. The +Archbishop of Canterbury blessed them and their seats. Then each +one came to Arthur, who stood at the top of the Assembly Hall, +and did him homage. Next they took their vows. They promised to +be brave and good, never false, or mean, or cruel. If anyone with +whom they fought begged for mercy, they would show him mercy. And +they vowed never to fight for a wrong cause or for money. Each +year at the feast of the Pentecost they were to repeat these +vows. + +Other members of Arthur's Court were old, brave knights who could +no longer fight, but who liked to be near the king and his +warriors, and gave the wisdom of age and experience to his +councils; young, ambitious, and promising knights who had had but +little real experience in battle; and faithful squires who had +had no real experience at all. Boys from six to fourteen years +were pages. There were others who transformed Arthur's Court to a +place of grace and beauty,--the mothers, wives, sisters, and +daughters of the warriors. + +Although they did not help in the councils of war, these ladies +were of great assistance in training the knights to be tender and +courteous. They taught the little pages good manners and +unselfishness. They assisted the knights in removing their armor +when they came in tired from riding or fighting. They sat with +Arthur and the knights in the evening in the dining-hall, singing +or playing upon harps, or listening to the tales that were told. +When the knights were away the ladies stayed in their own +chambers, hearing wise readings from the Archbishop of Canterbury, +or other learned men, listening to Merlin's words of wisdom, and +embroidering the beautiful hangings and cushions which were to +adorn the palace. + +It was a month before Arthur's Court was established, and during +that time the city of Camelot was a scene of continual merriment. +The people of the place were glad that the king had come, for +that meant much gain for them. Those of them who did not live in +the palace had their houses or shops on the streets which wound +about the foot of the hill. Many of the shops belonged to +armorers, who had armor of all sorts for any one who would buy. +They were glad in their turn to buy the swords of famous knights +which had been used in great battles, for such weapons they could +always sell again at a good price. These shopkeepers and the +servants and the squires and the warriors all united to make the +city of Camelot a beautiful one, for the sake of their king. The +streets were kept strewn with rushes and flowers. Rich awnings +and silken draperies were hung from the houses. + +All day long processions passed, made up of the followers of all +those lords who gave allegiance to the king. They carried the +banners of their masters, crimson, white, or scarlet, gold, +silver, or azure, making the streets glow with color. The +marching squires wore ornamented blouses, drawn in at the waist, +long silk stockings, and shoes of embroidered leather. The bowmen +were dressed in green kirtles, rather shorter than those of the +squires, and wore dark woolen hose; they carried their bows and +arrows slung across their shoulders. The servants were dressed in +much the same way, except that their blouses were longer and of +various colors. Many knights rode in the processions, their long +plumes waving in the wind, their armor shining, and their falcons +perched upon their wrists. + +All day long, too, bands of musicians played on flutes and +timbrels and tabors and harps; bands of young men and women sang +songs in praise of the king; story-tellers went about relating +old tales of famous heroes. The young men showed their strength +by tumbling and wrestling, and their grace by dancing; the young +women also danced. + +The wise Merlin often passed along the streets, walking silently +among the merry throngs of people. Sometimes the little Dagonet +danced at his side, Dagonet the king's jester, a tiny man who +made merriment for the Court with his witty sayings. He always +wore a tight-fitting red blouse and a peaked cap ornamented with +bells, and he carried a mock scepter in the shape of a carved +ivory stick. + +Whenever Arthur appeared before his people, church-bells were +joyously rung and trumpets were sounded. The king, as he rode, +distributed presents to the poor people:--capes, coats, and +mantles of serge, and bushels of pence. In a dining-hall at the +palace, feasts were held on those days for them, and they were +also open for all the people who might come. + +When the weather was beautiful, tables were placed on the sward +outside the palace, and those who cared to, ate under the shade +of the trees, listening to the music of the blackbirds, whose +singing was almost as loud as that of the chorus of damsels who +sang in the palace. Every hour the servants carried in and out +great quarters of venison, roasted pheasants and herons, and +young hawks, ducks, and geese, all on silver platters. Curries +and stews and tarts were innumerable. In the midst of the sward a +silver fountain had been set from which flowed sweet wine. Even +the great feasts of the year, which were held at Christmas, upon +the day of the Passover, at Pentecost, upon Ascension day, and +upon St. John's day, were not as wonderful as these feasts, when +the king held holiday with his people. + +On these days of merriment, when the people were not eating or +drinking or marching in processions, they were at the tournament +field, watching the combats. Here the best of Arthur's knights, +mounted on strong horses and wearing heavy armor, were ranged on +two sides of the field. Behind each row was a pavilion filled +with ladies. Four heralds stood ready to blow the trumpets which +gave the signal for the combats. Each herald wore crimson silk +stockings and crimson velvet kirtles, tight at the waist, and +reaching half-way to the knee. + +When it was time to begin the heralds blew the trumpets, the +ladies bent over eagerly, and the knights spurred their horses +forward, riding with their lances in rest. In a moment clouds of +dust arose, circling up as high as the plumes on the knights' +helmets, and their lances crashed against each other's shields. +Many of the lances broke. Sometimes the shock of contact +overthrew a knight. But no one was hurt, for the good King Arthur +had ordered that the combats should be friendly. + +When the jousting had lasted for several hours, those knights who +had shown themselves the stronger, received prizes from the +ladies. The prizes were suits of armor ornamented with gold, and +swords with jeweled hilts. The knight who, of all, was the +strongest, chose the lady whom he considered most beautiful, and +crowned her "The Queen of Love and Beauty." + +During the month of feasting, Arthur made knights of some of the +squires. A young squire was first obliged to show his skill in +tilting at the quintain. Then his father presented him with +falcons and sparrowhawks for hunting, and arms and robes. He also +gave robes and arms to his son's companions, and, to their +mothers and sisters, furs and embroidered robes, and belts of +gold. Finally he gave money to the singers and players, and +servants, and to the poor people of Camelot. + +At about sunset the young squire went into the church, where the +Archbishop of Canterbury held a solemn service. The youth took +the armor which he had chosen, and placed it on the floor in +front of the altar. He was then left alone, and all night long he +prayed fervently to God to give him strength to be a noble and +true knight. In the morning the king came to the church, attended +by his nobles and by the archbishop. The squire laid his sword on +the altar, thus signifying his devotion to Christ and his +determination to lead a holy life. King Arthur bound the sword +and spurs on the young man, and, taking Excalibur, he smote him +lightly on the shoulder with it, saying, "Be thou a true and +faithful knight." + +Then the squire took a solemn oath to protect all who were in +distress, to do right, to be a pure knight, and to have faith in +God. After that the Archbishop of Canterbury preached a solemn +sermon. + +When the month of feasting and holiday was ended, the members of +the Court returned to their usual habits of life. The Knights of +the Round Table went forth to right wrongs and to enforce the +law. All who were in distress came to the king for help. And to +the whole country Arthur's Court was famous as a place where +unkindness was never done, and where truth, justice, and love +reigned. + +[Illustration: The Shield and the Sword] + + + + +[Illustration] KING ARTHUR & THE PRINCESS GUINEVERE + + +After Arthur had been established in his Court for some time, his +neighbor, Leodogran, the king of Cameliard, asked him for help in +a battle. To this Arthur cheerfully consented, and gathered his +warrior men about him. + +It chanced, as he and his men were marching past the castle of +Leodogran to meet the enemy, the king's daughter, Guinevere, who +was the most beautiful lady in all that land, stood on the castle +wall to watch her father's allies pass. Now she did not know, of +all the knights who rode by, which was Arthur. Many wore gold and +jewels on their armor, while the king's armor was plain. + +[Illustration: _"Arthur saw Guinevere bending over the wall"_] + +But Arthur saw her bending over the wall. She was slender and +graceful; her black hair fell in two long heavy braids over each +shoulder; her eyes were large and black. And Arthur felt a warm +love spring from his heart for her, and said to himself: + +"If I win this battle for Leodogran, I shall ask him to give me +the princess Guinevere for wife." + +His love for Guinevere made him fight even more bravely than +usual, and he soon won the battle. After he had returned to +Camelot, he told his knights that he wished to marry the +princess. They were very glad, because they, too, had seen her +and thought her the most beautiful lady they had ever beheld. + +Then Arthur said: + +"I will send my three good knights, Sir Ulfius and Sir Brastias +and Sir Bedivere, to King Leodogran to ask for Guinevere." + +The three knights set forth gayly, feeling certain that King +Leodogran would be glad to marry his daughter to their great +Arthur. When, however, they came to the castle of Leodogran with +their request, the king hesitated. He bade them wait for a little +while in the room adjoining his large hall. Then he said to +himself: + +"Arthur has helped me, indeed. I know, too, that he is powerful. +But I hear strange stories of his birth. There are people who say +that he is not a king's son. However great he is, I cannot give +him my only daughter unless he is really a true king, born of +royal blood." + +He called the oldest knight in his kingdom and said to him: + +"Do you know anything about Arthur's birth?" + +The old man looked very wise and said: + +"There are two men who do know; the younger of them is twice as +old as I am. They are Merlin, and Bleys, the master of Merlin. +Bleys has written down the secret of Arthur's birth in a book." + +Then King Leodogran laughed a little and said: + +"My friend, your words have not helped me much. If Arthur had +not helped me in my time of need more than you have helped me +now, I should have been lost indeed. Go and call Sir Ulfius and +Sir Brastias and Sir Bedivere." + +So the old man brought in the three knights, and Leodogran said +to them: + +"I hear strange tales of your king's birth. Some say that he is +indeed the son of the late King Uther, but others say that he is +the son of Sir Hector. Do you believe that he is Uther's son?" + +They said "Yes," and then told King Leodogran that Sir Hector had +brought up King Arthur as his son, for fear that those who wanted +the throne would kill the child; and that Arthur was undoubtedly +Uther's son. + +Still King Leodogran could not make up his mind. He bade the +three lords remain with him for a few days. + +Meanwhile the beautiful Queen Bellicent came to the Court, and +Leodogran asked her advice. + +"Do you think Arthur is a great king?" he asked. "Will he always +be great?" + +"He is very great," said the queen. "And all his people love him. +Perhaps he has not many lords, but their deep love makes up for +their small number." + +"That may be true," replied the king. + +"Besides that," added the queen, "they are good men. As you know, +the Knights of the Round Table are bound by vows to be kind and +true and merciful and helpful." + +"I have heard it," said the king. + +"Moreover," went on Queen Bellicent, "Arthur has powerful +friends: Merlin, the magician, and the Lady of the Lake, who gave +him his sword Excalibur, and the three fair queens, who will help +him when he needs help most." + +"Yes, yes," said King Leodogran, "if all this is true, Arthur +must prevail over his enemies. But is he the son of King Uther +and Queen Yguerne? You are the daughter of Queen Yguerne by an +earlier marriage, and, therefore, Arthur's half-sister if Arthur +is really Uther's son. You ought surely to know the truth." + +Bellicent waited a little while, and then said: + +"King Leodogran, I do not know what the truth is. There are two +stories: the story Merlin tells and the story Bleys tells. +Merlin says that Arthur is Uther's son, and indeed I should like +to believe it." + +"But you are not sure?" asked the king. + +"I am not sure. For my mother Yguerne was dark, and King Uther +was dark. Their hair and eyes were black like mine. Yet Arthur's +hair is as bright as gold. Besides, there is the story of old +Bleys." + +"What is his story?" + +"He says that Uther died, weeping because he had no heir. Then +Bleys and Merlin, who were present at his death, passed together +out of the castle. It was a stormy night, and as they walked +along by the lake they were forced by the roar of the tempest to +look out upon the waves, whipped by the wind. + +"Suddenly they saw a ship on the water. It had the shape of a +winged dragon. All over its decks stood a multitude of people +shining like gold. Then the ship vanished, and a number of great +waves began to roll in towards shore. The ninth of these waves +seemed as large as half the sea. It was murmuring with strange +voices and rippling with flames. In the midst of the flames was a +little fair-haired baby who was borne to Merlin's feet. Merlin +stooped and picked it up, and cried, 'The King! Here is an heir +for Uther!' This, King Leodogran, is the story Bleys told me +before he died." + +King Leodogran wondered very much. Then he said: + +"But did you not question Merlin about this?" + +"Yes," answered Queen Bellicent. "I asked him if this story of +Bleys was true. He would only answer me with a riddle." + +As King Leodogran was still silent, she said: + +"Do not fear to give your daughter to Arthur, for he will be the +greatest king the world has ever seen." + +Leodogran felt less doubtful. While he was thinking, he fell +asleep and had a dream. He saw in his dream a field covered with +mist and smoke, and a phantom king standing in the cloud. He +heard a voice which said, "This is not our king; this is not the +son of Uther." But suddenly the mist disappeared and the king +stood out in heaven, crowned. + +King Leodogran took this dream for a good sign. He called the +three knights, Sir Ulfius and Sir Brastias and Sir Bedivere, and +said to them: + +"Say to your king that I will give him Guinevere for his wife." + +So the three hastily returned to King Arthur, who was overjoyed +with their message. + +In the month of May he sent Sir Lancelot, the son of King Ban, +for Guinevere. When she came, the Archbishop of Canterbury +married them. And he blessed them and said that they, with the +help of the Knights of the Round Table, must do much good for the +land. + +[Illustration: The Knight with the Sword] + + + + +[Illustration] THE COMING of GARETH + + +The beautiful Queen Bellicent had many sons, all of whom had gone +out in the world except the youngest. His name was Gareth. His +two brothers, Gawain and Modred, were with the good King Arthur, +and Gareth longed to join them. His mother, however, would not +let him go. + +"You are not yet a man," she said. "You are only a child. Stay a +little longer with me." + +So Gareth stayed. One day he came to his mother and said: + +"Mother, may I tell you a story?" + +"Gladly," she replied. + +"Then, mother, once there was a golden egg which a royal eagle +had laid, away up in a tree. It was so high up that it could +hardly be seen. But a youth, who though poor was brave, saw it, +and longed for it. He knew that if he could get it, it would +bring wealth and prosperity to him. So he tried to climb. One who +loved him stopped him, saying, 'You will fall and be killed if +you try to reach that height.' Therefore the poor boy did not +climb, and so did not fall; but he pined away with longing till +his heart broke and he died." + +Queen Bellicent answered: + +"If the person who held him back had loved him, that person would +have climbed, and found the egg, and given it to the youth." + +"That could not be," said Gareth. "Mother, suppose the egg were +not gold, but steel, the same steel that Arthur's sword Excalibur +is made of." + +The queen grew pale, for she now understood his meaning. + +But Gareth spoke on: + +"Dear mother, the gold egg is the glory to be won at Arthur's +Court; I am the poor youth, and you are the one who holds me +back. Mother, let me go!" + +Then Bellicent wept, and she said: + +"Oh, my son, do not leave me. You love me more than Gawain and +Modred. You are all I have left in the world." + +But Gareth replied: + +"Mother, I waste my strength here." + +"No, no," she said. "You shall hunt; you shall follow the deer +and the fox, and so grow strong. Then I will find you a beautiful +wife, and we shall all live together till I die." + +Gareth shook his head. + +"No, mother. I do not want a wife until I have proved myself to +be a worthy and brave knight. I wish to follow Arthur, my good +king and uncle." + +"Perhaps he is not the true king and your uncle," Bellicent said. +"At least wait a little till he has shown himself to be the +greatest king in the world. Stay with me." + +"Nay, mother," he said. "I must go." + +Then the queen thought of a plan which she hoped would soon make +him willing to stay home. + +"If I let you go, my son, you must make me a promise. The promise +will prove your love to me." + +"I will make a hundred promises," cried young Gareth, "if you +will only let me go." + +"Then," she said, "you must go in disguise to the court of +Arthur. You must hire yourself out as a kitchen boy. You shall +wash the pots and pans for a whole year and tell no one that you +are the son of a queen." + +Queen Bellicent was sure that Gareth would not wish to make such +a promise. He was silent a long, long time. He had hoped to take +part at once with the Knights of the Round Table in great deeds. +At last he said: + +"I may be a kitchen boy and still be noble in heart and mind. +Besides, I can look on at the tournaments. I shall see King +Arthur and Sir Lancelot and Sir Kay. Yes, mother, I will go." + +Queen Bellicent was very sad. All the days before Gareth's +departure her eyes followed him until he felt that he could not +bear to see her grieve longer. So in the middle of the night he +rose quietly and woke two of his faithful servants. They dressed +themselves like plowmen and started towards Camelot. + +It was Easter time and the young grass was a bright green. The +birds were beginning their chirping, although it was not yet +light. As the dawn came, they saw the early morning mist sweeping +over the mountain and forest near Arthur's city of Camelot. +Sometimes the mist drew away and showed in the distance the +towers gleaming like silver. + +One of the servants said: + +"Let us go no farther, my lord Gareth. I am afraid. That is a +fairy city." + +The second said: + +"Yes, lord, let us turn back. I have heard that Arthur is not the +real king, but a changeling brought from fairyland in a great +wave all flame. He has done all his deeds with the help of +Merlin's enchantment." + +The first one spoke again: + +"Lord Gareth, that is no real city. It is a vision." + +But Gareth laughed and said: + +"Arthur is real flesh and blood, a brave man, and a just king. +Come with me to the gate of his city, and do not be afraid." + +When they reached the gate of the city, they stared in amazement. +It was made of silver and mother-of-pearl. In the center was +carved the figure of the Lady of the Lake, with her arms +outstretched in the form of a cross. In one hand she held a +sword, and in the other a censer. On both sides of her figure was +carved the story of the wars of King Arthur. Above all were the +figures of the three queens who were to help Arthur in time of +need. + +The three looked till their eyes were dazzled. Then they heard a +peal of music, and the gate slowly opened. An old man with a long +gray beard came out to greet them, and returning led them up past +the gardens and groves and roofs and towers of Camelot to +Arthur's great palace on the summit of the hill. + +Gareth hardly thought of the splendors of the palace. He +approached the arched doorway of the Assembly Hall, thinking +only as his heart beat quickly, that at last he was to see the +good King Arthur. Even before he entered he heard the voice of +the king. For it was one of the days when Arthur was giving +judgment to his people. + +The king sat on a throne made of gold and ivory and ebony. On its +arms and back were carved great dragons. Arthur wore a gold crown +which was not brighter than his own beautiful hair and beard. His +blue eyes were as calm and clear as the sky in summer time. His +trusty knights stood about him on each side of the throne. The +tallest of these, who had a worn, browned face, and piercing dark +eyes, under frowning brows, must be, Gareth knew, the famous +knight, Sir Lancelot. + +As Gareth entered, a widow came forward and cried to Arthur: + +"Hear me, oh, King! Your father, King Uther, took away a field +from my husband, who is now dead. The king promised us gold, but +he gave us no gold, nor would he return our field." + +Then Arthur said: + +"Which would you rather have, the gold or the field?" + +The woman wept, saying: + +"Oh, King, my dead husband loved the field. Give it back to me." + +"You shall have your field again," said Arthur, "and besides I +will give you three times the amount of gold it is worth to pay +you for the years King Uther had it." + +Gareth thought that Arthur was indeed a just king. And while this +was passing through his mind, another widow came forward and +cried: + +"Hear me, oh, King! Heretofore you have been my enemy. You killed +my husband with your own hands. It is hard for me to ask justice +or favor of you. Yet I must. My husband's brother took my son and +had him slain, and has now stolen his land. So I ask you for a +knight who will do battle and get my son's land for me, and +revenge me for his death." + +Then a good knight stepped forward and said: + +"Sir King, I am her kinsman. Let me do battle for her and right +her wrongs." + +But Sir Kay, Arthur's foster brother, said: + +"Lord Arthur, do not help a woman who has called you her enemy in +your own hall." + +"Sir Kay," replied Arthur, "I am here to help all those who need +help in my land. This woman loved her lord, and I killed him +because he rebelled against me. Let her kinsman go and do battle +against the man who has wronged her. Bring him here, and I shall +judge him. If he is guilty he shall suffer." + +While Gareth was still listening to the king's words, a messenger +entered from Mark, the king of Cornwall. He carried a wonderful +gold cloth which he laid at Arthur's feet, saying: + +"My lord, King Mark sends you this as a sign that he is your true +friend." + +But Arthur said: + +"Take back the cloth. When I fight with kings who are worthy men, +after I have conquered them I give them back their lands, and +make them my subject-kings and Knights of the Round Table. But +Mark is not fit to be a king. He is cruel and false. I will not +call him friend." + +The messenger stepped back in alarm. Arthur said to him kindly: + +"It is not your fault that Mark is unworthy. Stay in this city +until you are refreshed and then go back home in safety." + +While the king judged other cases, Gareth looked around the great +hall. Underneath the fourteen windows he saw three rows of stone +shields, and under each shield was the name of a knight. If a +knight had done one great deed, there was carving on his shield; +if he had done two or more, there were gold markings. If he had +done none, the shield was blank. Gareth saw that Sir Lancelot's +shield and Sir Kay's glittered with gold. He looked for the +shields of his brothers, Sir Gawain and Sir Modred. Sir Gawain's +was marked with gold, but Sir Modred's was blank. + +Meanwhile, Arthur had judged all the cases. Then Gareth came +forward timidly and said: + +"Lord King, you see my poor clothes; give me leave to serve for +twelve months in your kitchen without telling my name. After that +I will fight." + +"You are a fair youth," Arthur replied, "and you deserve a better +gift. However, since this is all you ask, I will put you under +the care of Sir Kay, who is master of the kitchen." + +Sir Kay looked at Gareth with scorn. + +"This youth has come from some place where he did not get enough +to eat," he said, "and so he thinks of nothing but food. Yet if +he wants food, he shall have it, provided he does his work well." + +Sir Lancelot, who stood near by, said: + +"Sir Kay, you understand dogs and horses well, but not men. Look +at this youth's face; see his broad forehead and honest eyes, and +beautiful hands. I believe he is of noble birth, and you should +treat him well." + +"Perhaps he is a traitor," Sir Kay said. "Perhaps he will poison +King Arthur's food. Yet I believe he is too stupid to be a +traitor. If he were not stupid, or if he were noble, he would +have asked for a different gift. He would have asked for a horse +and armor. Let him go to my kitchen." + +So Gareth went to the kitchen. And there he worked faithfully at +hard tasks, such as cutting wood and drawing water. Sir Lancelot +spoke to him kindly whenever he passed him, but Sir Kay was +always very strict and severe. Sometimes Gareth grew discouraged +and wished his mother had not exacted such a promise of him. + +Whenever there was a tournament he was happy. He liked to watch +the horses prancing, and the brave knights riding, with the sun +shining on their helmets and lances. And he would say to himself: + +"Only wait till the twelve months have passed, and then I shall +ask King Arthur to let me do some brave deed. Perhaps some one +will come to the hall and demand to have a wrong righted. Then I +will beg the king to let me do that act of justice." + +Such thoughts kept him cheerful. And indeed, before many weeks, +his chance came for doing a great deed. + + + + +[Illustration] THE STORY OF SIR GARETH & LYNETTE + + +Gareth served in the kitchen of the king only one month, for his +mother became sorry for the promise she had asked of him, and +sent armor for him to Arthur's Court, with a letter to the king +telling who the youth was. With great joy Gareth then went to +Arthur and said: + +"My lord, I can fight as well as my brother Gawain. At home we +have proved it. Then make me a knight,--in secret, for I do not +want the other knights to know my name. Make me a knight, and +give me permission to right the first wrong that we hear of." + +The king said gravely: + +"You know all that my knights must promise?" + +"Yes, my lord Arthur. I am willing to promise all." + +"I will make you my knight in secret, since you wish it," Arthur +said, "except that I must tell Sir Lancelot. He is my dearest +knight, and I keep no secrets from him." + +Gareth said that he would be glad to have Sir Lancelot know. +Accordingly the king spoke to Sir Lancelot about Gareth. + +"I have promised him that he may right the first wrong we hear +of," said Arthur, "but as he has not yet proved what he can do, I +want you to take a horse and follow him when he sets forth. Cover +up the great lions on your shield so that he will not know who +you are." Sir Lancelot agreed. Then Gareth was secretly made a +knight. + +That same day a beautiful young damsel came into Arthur's hall. +She had cheeks as pink as apple blossoms, and very sharp eyes. + +"Who are you, damsel?" asked the king, "and what do you need?" + +"My name is Lynette," she said, "and I am of noble blood. I need +a knight to fight for my sister Lyonors, a lady, also noble, +rich, and most beautiful." + +"Why must she have a knight?" questioned Arthur. + +"My Lord King, she lives in Castle Perilous. Around this castle a +river circles three times, and there are three passing-places, +one over each circle of the river. Three knights, who are +brothers, keep a constant guard over these passing-places. A +fourth knight, also a brother, clad in black armor, stands guard +in front of my sister's castle. We have never seen this knight's +face or heard his voice, but his brothers tell us he is the most +powerful and daring knight in the world. All these four keep my +sister a prisoner." + +"And why?" + +"Because they want her to marry one of them so that they can have +her great wealth. She refuses, but they say that they will have +their way. In the meantime, they demand that you send Sir +Lancelot to fight with them. They hope to overthrow Sir Lancelot, +thus proving themselves the greatest warriors in the land. But I +believe that Sir Lancelot could overthrow them; therefore, I +have come for him." + +Arthur remembered his promise to Sir Gareth, and did not speak of +Sir Lancelot, but asked: + +"Tell me what these four knights, your enemies, are like." + +"The three I have talked to are vain and foolish knights, my +lord," answered the damsel. "They have no law, and they +acknowledge no king. Yet they are very strong, and therefore am I +come for Sir Lancelot." + +Then Sir Gareth rose up, crying: + +"Sir King, give me this adventure." + +At this, Sir Kay started up in anger, but Gareth continued: + +"My king, you know that I am but your kitchen boy, yet I have +grown so strong on your meat and drink that I can overthrow an +hundred such knights." + +The king looked at him a moment, and said: + +"Go, then." + +At this all the knights were amazed. The damsel's face flushed +with anger. + +"Shame, King!" she cried. "I asked you for your chief knight, +and you give me a kitchen boy!" + +Then, before any one could prevent, she ran from the hall, +mounted her horse, and rode out of the city gate. Gareth +followed, and at the doorway found a noble war horse which the +king had ordered to be given him. Near by were the two faithful +servants who had followed him from his mother's home. They held +his armor. Gareth put it on, seized his lance and shield, jumped +upon his horse, and rode off joyfully. + +Sir Kay, who was watching, said to Sir Lancelot: + +"Why does the king send my kitchen lad to fight? I will go after +the boy and put him to his pots and pans again." + +"Sir Kay, do not attempt to do that," said Sir Lancelot. +"Remember that the king commanded him to go." + +But Sir Kay leaped on his horse and followed Gareth. + +Meanwhile, Sir Gareth overtook the damsel and said: + +"Lady, I am to right your wrong. Lead and I follow." + +But she cried: + +"Go back! I smell kitchen grease when you are near. Go back! your +master has come for you." + +Gareth looked behind and saw that Sir Kay was riding up to him. +When Sir Kay was within hearing distance, he shouted: + +"Come back with me to the kitchen." + +"I will not," said Gareth. + +Then Sir Kay rode fiercely at the youth. Gareth, however, struck +him from his horse, and then turned to the damsel, saying: + +"Lead on; I follow." + +She rode for a long time in silence, with Gareth a few paces +behind her. At last she stopped and said: + +"You have overthrown your master, you kitchen boy, but I do not +like you any better for it. I still smell the kitchen grease." + +Sir Gareth said, very gently: + +"You may speak to me as you will, but I shall not leave you till +I have righted your wrong." + +"Ah!" she said, scornfully, "you talk like a noble knight, but +you are not one," and she again galloped in front of him. + +Presently, as they passed a thick wood, a man broke out of it and +spoke to them: + +"Help! help! they are drowning my lord!" + +"Follow! I lead!" shouted Gareth to the damsel, and rushed into +the wood. There he found six men trying to drown a seventh. +Gareth attacked them with such vigor that they fled. When the +rescued man had recovered, he thanked Gareth warmly. + +"I am the lord of the castle yonder," he said, "and these are my +enemies. You came in time." + +Then he begged Gareth and the lady to stay all night in his +castle. They agreed, and he led the way. He took them into his +large hall and was about to seat them side by side at a dining +table. But the damsel said in scorn: + +"This is a kitchen boy, and I will not sit by him." + +The lord looked surprised. He took Gareth to another table and +sat beside him. After they had eaten, he said: + +"You may be a kitchen boy, or the damsel may be out of her mind, +but whichever is the case, you are a good fighter and you have +saved my life." + +The next morning Gareth and the damsel set forth. They rode for a +while in silence, and then she said: + +"Sir Kitchen Boy, although you are so low, I would like to save +your life. Soon we are coming to one who will overthrow you; so +turn back." + +But Gareth refused. In a little while they came to the first +circle of the river. The passing-place was spanned by a bridge. +On the farther side of the bridge was a beautiful pavilion, +draped in silk of gold and crimson colors. In front of it passed +a warrior without armor. + +"Damsel," he cried, "is this the knight you have brought from +Arthur's Court to fight with me?" + +"Ah!" she said, "the king scorns you so much that he has sent a +kitchen boy to fight with you. Take care that he does not fall on +you before you are armed, for he is a knave." + +[Illustration: _"Gareth rode at him fiercely"_] + +The warrior went inside his tent for his armor, and the damsel +said to Gareth: + +"Are you afraid?" + +"Damsel," he said, "I am not afraid. I would rather fight twenty +times than hear you speak so unkindly of me. Yet your cruel words +have put strength into my arm. I shall fight well." + +Then the knight came forth all in armor, and he said: + +"Youth, you are a kitchen boy. Go back to your king; you are not +fit to fight with me." + +Gareth rode at him fiercely, saying: + +"I am of nobler blood than you." + +He fought so well that soon his enemy was overcome. Then Gareth +said: + +"Go to Arthur's Court and say that his kitchen boy sent you." + +When the knight had departed, Gareth rode on, with the damsel in +advance. After a little while she stopped her horse, and when he +had caught up with her, she said: + +"Youth, I do not smell the kitchen grease so much as I did." + +Then she galloped off, laughing over her shoulder, while Gareth +followed her, a little more slowly. + +When they reached the second circle of the river, the damsel +said: + +"Here is the brother of the knight you overthrew. He is stronger +than the first. You had better go home, kitchen boy." + +Gareth answered nothing. Out of the tent by the bridge which +crossed the second circle of water, came a knight, clad in armor +which glowed like the sun. Lynette shouted to him: + +"I bring a kitchen boy who has overthrown your brother." + +"Ah!" shouted the knight, and rode fiercely at Sir Gareth. + +The two fought for a long time. The warrior was strong, but Sir +Gareth was stronger, and at last overthrew him, and sent him back +to Arthur's Court. + +The damsel Lynette had ridden far ahead of him. When he came near +her, she said: + +"The knight's horse slipped, and that is why you overcame him. +And now are you ready to fight with the third knight, for there +he stands?" + +At the third and innermost circle of the river stood the third +knight, clad not in armor, but in hardened skins. Sir Gareth saw +that he was more powerful than his brothers. The two at once +began to fight on the bridge, but Sir Gareth's sword could not +pierce the hard skins. Again and again he tried and failed. He +grew tired, and began to fear that he should be conquered. But +all at once, when his strokes were becoming feeble, Lynette cried +out to him: + +"Well done, good knight! You are no kitchen boy, but a brave +lord. Strike for me! Do not lose. You are worthy to be a Knight +of the Round Table." + +When Sir Gareth heard this, he was so encouraged that he made a +final great effort and threw his enemy over the bridge into the +water. Then he turned to Lynette, saying: + +"Lead; I follow." + +But Lynette, proud now of her valiant escort, and humbled and +ashamed at her misjudging of him, said: + +"No, we shall ride side by side. I am very sorry I called you a +kitchen boy, for I know that you are a noble knight." + +They rode happily side by side till dusk, when they came in sight +of Castle Perilous. Just as they were about to cross the moat, a +knight overtook them. It was Sir Lancelot, who had been delayed +because he had stopped to help Sir Kay after Sir Gareth had +thrown him from his horse. + +The great knight, as he rode up to the two in the twilight, +seeing only the shields which Sir Gareth had taken from the three +knights, thought the young man was an enemy, and attacked him. +Sir Lancelot was so strong that he soon overcame the youth. + +As he fell, Lynette cried out in shame and sorrow, and Sir Gareth +said: + +"Oh, I am thrown." + +Sir Lancelot knew Sir Gareth's voice, and raised him up, saying: + +"I am Lancelot, and I am sorry to have overthrown you, my +friend." + +Sir Gareth said that it was no dishonor to be beaten by Sir +Lancelot. Then the three rode into the castle, and there they +met the fourth knight, who was all covered with black armor. + +Sir Lancelot wished to fight with him, but Sir Gareth would not +permit it. + +"This must be my adventure," he said. + +Sir Gareth rode at the knight, expecting to meet a very strong +man, but he easily unhorsed him. His enemy cried: + +"Oh spare my life; I am not a knight." + +Then he took off his helmet and showed the face of a young boy. + +"My three brothers made me pretend to be a fierce knight," he +explained. "They thought it would make people more afraid if they +believed we were four strong knights." + +Sir Lancelot and Sir Gareth laughed heartily, and so did Lynette. +They took the boy into the castle, where Lynette's sister, +Lyonors, who was now freed from her money-loving captors, greeted +them with much joy. She put before them a great feast, and this +time Sir Gareth and Lynette sat side by side. Afterwards a +marriage was made between them, and they went to live with King +Arthur in Camelot. + + + + +[Illustration] SIR IVAINE + + +Among Arthur's Knights of the Round Table was one who was a +mixture of good and bad, as indeed most people are. His name was +Sir Ivaine; brave, kind-hearted, and merry; but at the same time +fickle, sometimes forgetful of his promises, and inclined to make +light of serious things. + +One night, in the early spring, the knights and ladies of +Arthur's Court were sitting in the dining-hall. The king and +Guinevere had withdrawn, but were expected to return. Supper had +been served, and the last course, consisting of pomegranate seeds +and dates, had just been carried off. A fire had been built in +the deep hearth, and the four bronze pillars in front were +lighted by the flames. Four little pages in blue and white +velvet kirtles sat on stools watching the fire, and perhaps +dreaming of the days when they, too, should be warriors and have +adventures. + +Sir Ivaine was telling of his experience with the Black Knight. + +"It was when I was very young," he said; "indeed, I had just been +made a knight. Some one told me of the wicked Black Knight who +lived, and still lives, in a wood a long way from here. Knowing +that he did much evil, I determined to kill him. I rode to the +wood where he lived, and in which I found a marble platform. In +the middle of it was a sunken space holding a fountain. I walked +to this, and following the directions of some writing which was +on the stone, picked up a cup that lay at hand, and filling it +with water, poured it into the fountain. + +"Then a great storm of wind and rain arose, and when it was at +its height the Black Knight rode up and began to attack me. We +fought for a little while, but he easily overthrew me. Thinking +me dead, he rode back, leaving me on the ground. But after a +time I was able to mount my horse, and went back to my mother's +castle." + +At this moment the king and the queen entered, unperceived by any +one except Sir Ivaine. The young man, who was always polite, +sprang to his feet; then the other knights rose. Sir Kay, who was +not always sweet-tempered, said to Sir Ivaine: + +"We all know that you are very polite, but you have more courtesy +than bravery." + +At that Sir Ivaine said: + +"I was almost a boy when the Black Knight overthrew me, but I +could conquer him now." + +"It is very easy to say that after you have eaten," said Sir Kay. +"Almost any knight feels brave and self-satisfied when he has had +a good supper of venison." + +The king asked what the conversation was about, and Sir Ivaine +repeated the story of his adventure, adding: + +"And, Sir King, I crave your permission to set forth to-morrow to +slay this Black Knight who is a pest in the land." + +"I have heard of this man," said the king, "and have often +thought of sending some one to punish him. But he lives far away, +and it has been necessary heretofore to right first the wrongs +nearest home. Yet now his evil deeds and persecutions must cease. +To-morrow a company of us will set forth and conquer him and all +his people." + +The king named some half-dozen of his knights, Sir Ivaine among +them, who were to undertake this adventure. + +Sir Ivaine was displeased; he thought that the adventure should +be his alone. So he rose in the middle of the night and stole +away unattended, determined to go in advance of the others and +kill the Black Knight. It did not occur to him that in proving +himself brave, he was also proving himself disobedient. + +He rode forth in the darkness, humming merrily to himself. At +daybreak he reached a valley, and as he went through it, saw a +great serpent fighting with a lion. Sir Ivaine stopped to watch +this curious combat. At first the two fighters seemed evenly +matched, but soon the huge serpent wrapped all its folds about +the lion and began squeezing it to death. When Sir Ivaine saw +this, he drew his sword and killed the serpent. + +When the lion was free, it bounded up to Sir Ivaine, and he was +afraid that it meant to kill him; but it fawned at his feet like +a spaniel. He stroked it, and put his arms about its neck. When +he mounted his horse, the beast followed him, refusing to go +away. Then Sir Ivaine made up his mind that they were to be +companions. + +For many days the two kept close together, and at night Sir +Ivaine would go to sleep with his head on the lion's neck. One +day, as they came to a square castle set in a meadow, some people +who stood on the castle walls began to shoot arrows at the lion, +but Sir Ivaine stopped them, telling them that the animal was +tame. + +Then they told him that it was their rule that no one should pass +by that castle without doing battle with their lord. Sir Ivaine +told them that he was quite willing to obey their rule; so they +opened the castle gate. They said he must make his lion stay +outside, but Sir Ivaine refused to do this. He promised, however, +to make the lion lie down quietly; then the two were allowed to +enter. + +The courtyard was a large paved place, in which there were a +score of armed men. Presently the lord of the castle came +forward. This lord was much larger than Sir Ivaine, and the lion, +on seeing him, began to lash its tail. But Sir Ivaine ordered it +to be still, and it at once obeyed. + +Then Sir Ivaine and the knight battled together. The knight was +powerful, but Sir Ivaine was very agile and skillful. He was not +able to strike so hard as could his enemy, but he was better able +to avoid blows. Therefore it was not long before he got the +advantage and overthrew the lord. + +When this happened, the lord called for help, and ordered his +armed men to kill Sir Ivaine. The whole twenty began to obey this +treacherous order, but just as they were about to fall upon Sir +Ivaine, the lion bounded among them, roaring savagely. With a few +strokes of its powerful paws it disabled the men. Sir Ivaine +told the lord of the castle that he must ride to Camelot and give +himself up to Arthur to be judged for his treachery. Then Sir +Ivaine rode away from the castle; and now that the lion had saved +his life, he became very fond of the animal. + +[Illustration: _"He dismounted and poured water into the +fountain"_] + +After many days of travel, Sir Ivaine reached the forest in the +midst of which was the castle of the Black Knight. He rode to the +platform of stone, dismounted and poured water into the fountain. +As before, a storm arose, and at its height the Black Knight +appeared. + +He recognized the armor of Sir Ivaine, and said: + +"Aha! I see I did not kill you before, but you shall not escape +me this time." + +"The best man shall win," said Sir Ivaine, cheerfully. + +Then the two began a great combat. Their swords clashed so that +the noise of the fountain was drowned; they fought so eagerly +that they were not even aware of the storm. It was not long +before the Black Knight began to grow weak from the many powerful +and death-dealing strokes from Sir Ivaine's sword. At last, +seeing that he was mortally wounded, the Black Knight turned his +horse and galloped in the direction of his castle. + +Ordering the lion to stay where it had lain during the combat, +Sir Ivaine followed. But he could not quite catch up with the +Black Knight, although gaining on him inch by inch. By the time +the castle moat was reached, Sir Ivaine was only five feet +behind. The horses thundered one after the other over the bridge. +The Black Knight rode under the portcullis, or sharp iron gate, +which was raised. The instant he was inside, the portcullis fell, +in order to shut out Sir Ivaine. + +But Sir Ivaine had already passed beneath it, and as it fell his +horse was cut in two. Even the long plume in Sir Ivaine's helmet +was shorn off, and lay outside the gate. + +Sir Ivaine sprang to his feet and drew his sword to renew his +attack upon the Black Knight, but he was already dead, and lay +across his panting horse's neck. + +Then Sir Ivaine realized what his recklessness had cost him. +There he was, alone in a strange castle, the lord of which he +had killed. Soon the people of the castle would come and capture +him, for he could not escape, since the portcullis was down. + +He ran into the castle, and up the stairs leading to the turret. +He was fast growing weak from the wounds he had received, and his +armor was heavy. Moreover, in spite of his care, it clashed at +every step, and he was afraid some one would soon hear him. He +had all but reached the top of the stairs when the door of the +turret room opened, and a little maiden looked down upon him. He +begged her not to cry out, and telling her who he was and what he +had done, asked her to hide him. + +"I will," she said, "because you are brave and you are wounded, +and because you have killed that wicked tyrant, the Black Knight. +He does not own this castle at all; it belongs to a beautiful +lady, his cousin, who is my mistress. He keeps her here a +prisoner because she will not marry him." + +Then the little maiden led him into the turret room. She +concealed his armor in a hole in the side of the wall, and told +him to hide himself between the two mattresses of the bed. Before +he had time to do so, however, they heard a great noise in the +courtyard, and looking down, saw that the body of the Black +Knight had been discovered. Near it stood a beautiful lady, more +beautiful than any Sir Ivaine had ever seen, except Queen +Guinevere. She was dark like the queen, and her eyes were as +bright as stars. He would have looked at her a long time, but the +little maiden begged him to hide without delay. + +"Quick!" she cried. "The men have seen that there is the front +part of a horse inside the gate, and know that the person who has +killed our lord must be here. Even now they have begun the +search, for they all love the Black Knight, although my mistress +does not, and they will hang you if they find you." + +So Sir Ivaine crept between the mattresses, and the little maiden +hurried down the stairs and went to her beautiful mistress. +Presently Sir Ivaine heard men tramping up the turret steps. +They often stopped, trying all the doors they came to, and at +last entered the room in which he lay. One of them, peering into +the hole in the wall where his armor was, said: + +"Here is armor." + +But another replied: + +"That is some that once was used by our master; there is no need +to drag it into the light." + +Then they searched among all the furnishings of the room, but +found no one. At last, as they were leaving, one of the men +thrust his sword twice through the mattress. The second thrust +cut deeply into Sir Ivaine's arm; but as the knight was brave, he +did not utter a cry. + +When the men had gone, he crept out, and found that the cut in +his arm and his other wounds were bleeding badly. Just then the +little maiden came in with food. She cried out in alarm when she +saw the blood, and quickly tore a piece of linen from her robe +for bandages. When all the wounds had been carefully attended to, +she gave him a plentiful supper and promised to take care of him +until there was a good opportunity for him to escape. + +She visited him every morning, and told him the day's news in the +castle. He learned that a lion kept roaring about the walls, and +that the bowmen had tried to kill it, but could not. Sir Ivaine +was sure that it was his lion, and longed to have it, but knew +that this was impossible. And she told him how the people of the +castle had been angry at their lady because she would not marry +the Black Knight; but now that he was dead, acknowledged her as +mistress and obeyed her in everything. The little maiden said she +thought that if the lady were told that Sir Ivaine was hidden she +would probably see that he had a safe conduct out of the castle. + +"I want never to leave this castle," said Sir Ivaine; "for I love +your lady." + +This pleased the little maiden, for she had learned to respect +Sir Ivaine. So she went to the lady of the castle and told her +all about the stranger. The lady had Sir Ivaine moved to a rich +apartment where she could visit him often and help the little +maid in her care of him. She did not tell her people, however, +that this stranger knight had killed their lord. + +As Sir Ivaine recovered, he soon found courage to tell her how +beautiful she was, and that he loved her more than anything in +the world. He said that if she would marry him, he would stay +with her forever, and never seek for more adventures. All he +asked was that she would let in his lion, which still continued +to roar outside the castle walls. When the lady heard the story +of the lion, it seemed to her that if Sir Ivaine were so kind to +an animal, he would probably be much kinder to her. + +So she said that she would marry him. The people of the castle +saw and liked him, and agreed to obey him as their lord. When +they were told that the lion they had tried to kill belonged to +him and must be admitted to the castle, they showed some fear. +Sir Ivaine told them that there was no need of this, for the +beast was very gentle, and was making noise only because of its +desire for its master. He went outside the castle walls and +called. Soon there was heard a loud roaring; a big yellow body +bounded out of the forest, and the lion came leaping to its +master's feet. It frisked about him, and rubbed its head on his +arm, just as a favorite dog might do. When the people saw how +tame it was, they were no longer afraid. + +Sir Ivaine and the beautiful lady were soon married, and for a +long time everyone was very happy. Sir Ivaine sent a letter to +King Arthur telling the result of his adventure. Soon the +messenger returned bearing rich gifts from the king and +Guinevere, and an invitation to come to Camelot whenever they +wished to. The lady, however, persuaded Sir Ivaine to promise to +remain with her in her castle. + +One day a party of the Knights of the Round Table rode into the +courtyard. They were going on a great adventure, and stopped by +the way to see how Sir Ivaine and his beautiful wife fared. When +Sir Ivaine saw them, all his old-time love of fighting came back, +and he went to his lady and begged her to let him go with the +knights. + +"Ah, my Ivaine," she said, "you told me that you would never +leave me." + +"A knight ought to seek adventures," he said. "And I will return +to you." + +She paused for a while and then said: + +"I will let you go if you will promise to come back in a year and +a day; that is, next Whitsuntide." + +He gladly promised, and she said: + +"If you break this promise, I will never see you again." + +But Sir Ivaine was sure he would not break the promise, because +he loved her too much for that. + +So off he rode with the knights, followed by his faithful lion. +The lady and the little maiden waved farewells to Sir Ivaine from +the tower until they could no longer see him; then they again +took up the life they had lived before he came to the castle. + +Sir Ivaine rode with the knights for many months, and had many +adventures. At last, just as the year was drawing to a close, he +started homeward. On the way, however, he stopped at Arthur's +Court to pay his respects to the king and the queen. They both +remembered him and greeted him kindly. + +A great tournament was being held at that time in Camelot, and +the king asked Sir Ivaine if he would like to take part. Sir +Ivaine was pleased, for he loved the display of such combats. +During the three days of the tournament he distinguished himself +greatly. + +On the evening of the third day, as the knights were sitting in +the great hall of the Round Table, a little maiden entered. She +went up to King Arthur and gave him a ring. + +"This ring," she said, "is one Sir Ivaine gave my lady. She +returns it, and has vowed never to see him again because he has +broken his promise to her." + +Then, before any one could stop her, she left the hall, mounted +her horse, and rode away. Sir Ivaine sprang to his feet, staring +wildly. Whitsuntide had fallen on the first day of the tournament, +his year and a day had more than passed, and he had forgotten his +promise! + +He rushed from the hall and down the hill through the streets of +Camelot, out of the city gate, and into the forest. He ran on and +on until he fell exhausted. + +The next day he awoke in a fever, and would have died but for his +faithful lion. The poor animal tried to make Sir Ivaine rise, but +seeing that he could not, dragged him to the edge of a brook, +where he could drink when he was thirsty. The lion also brought +him game. At first Sir Ivaine would not touch it, but finally +began to eat it raw. + +After a time he became better, physically, but his senses were +gone. In his madness he wandered all through the woods, fighting +with the trees and bushes. The lion always followed him, +protecting him from other animals and from men. + +One day when the lion was absent finding food, Sir Ivaine lay +asleep. A good hermit came up to him, and pitying his condition, +lifted him in his arms and carried him to his hut. He bathed the +poor knight, cut his hair, and put a robe upon him. He was laying +him upon a bed when the lion came roaring to the door and dashed +it open. + +When it saw the hermit tending its master, it fawned at his feet. +After that Sir Ivaine spent much of his time in the hut. The lion +supplied him with food, bringing meat to the hermit, who always +divided it into four parts: three parts he gave to the lion, and +one he cooked for Sir Ivaine and himself. + +Sometimes Sir Ivaine would run away from the hermit and wander +for days in the forest. The lion took care of him, and always led +him back to the hermit's hut. Once, however, Sir Ivaine set forth +in the direction of his wife's castle. At night the lion tried to +take him to the hut, but in vain. For days he wandered, always in +the same direction, until at last he reached the wood where the +stone platform was. He laid himself down upon it and slept. Soon +a lady and a maid appeared. The lion sprang at them, but when it +reached their feet, it licked the lady's hand, for she was its +mistress. + +It took her robe in its teeth and pulled her gently to the spot +where Sir Ivaine lay. At first she would not look at him, +because she had not forgiven him for breaking his promise. But +the little maiden said: + +"Dear mistress, look at him. The story which the knights of +Arthur's Court told us about his madness must be true. If you +will but look at his face you will see that it is the face of a +man who has lost his senses." + +Then the lady knelt beside him. When she saw his worn features +and his tattered garments, she began to believe that he really +had lost his senses from grief. She sent the little maiden to the +castle for an ointment she had. It was so powerful that if it +were rubbed over a person who was ill, it would cure him, no +matter what his disease was. When the little maid brought it, the +lady put it upon Sir Ivaine, but so gently as not to rouse him. + +After several hours, Sir Ivaine awoke. At first he hardly knew +where he was, but soon he recollected all that had happened, and +seeing his lady near, begged her to forgive him. This she did, +and they were reconciled. Sir Ivaine was sure that he would +never again forget to keep a promise. + +For some months they lived very happily in the castle. Then they +went to Camelot in order to be near to Arthur and the Knights of +the Round Table. + +[Illustration: The Holy Grail] + + + + +[Illustration] SIR BALIN + + +In Arthur's Court there dwelt a poor knight named Balin, who had +accidentally killed the cousin of King Arthur, and had been taken +to the court of the king for trial. He had lived there almost as +a prisoner for six months, until it was decided that he had not +meant to do wrong. All his money was gone, and his clothes and +armor were poor. He was sorry for this, but he was still more +sorry that he was not doing brave deeds like the other knights. + +One day when he sat in the great hall at Camelot, looking at the +shields which were carved or covered with gold, a damsel entered +who wore a rich mantle, trimmed with fur. As Arthur and the +knights looked at her, she let it fall to the floor, and they saw +that she wore a heavy sword. + +"Damsel," said Arthur, "why do you, a maiden, wear a sword?" + +"Alas!" said the maiden, "I should be glad if I did not wear it. +It is very heavy, and causes me pain. But I am forced to wear it +until I meet a knight who can take it from me." + +"Surely many knights could do that, and gladly," the lords said. + +"No," said the lady. "It seems that there is but one knight in +all the world who is to take the sword. I heard that there were +brave knights at the Court of King Rience, the enemy of King +Arthur, and I went there. Yet no one could unfasten the sword. +Now am I come here on the same errand." + +"In truth, damsel," said the king, "you are right welcome. My +knights shall try to take your weapon." + +Then, at a sign from Arthur, a knight stepped forward. But, even +though he exerted all his strength, the sword could not be +unfastened. + +"Sir, you need not pull so hard," said the damsel. "The one who +is to take the sword will do so easily." + +All the knights tried except Sir Balin, who stood back because of +his poor clothes. Yet he wanted very much to see if he was the +chosen knight, and just as the damsel was going away, he said: + +"Damsel, will you let me try? I am poorly clothed, but my heart +tells me that I may succeed." + +The damsel saw that he had a good face. But his clothes were so +poor she doubted if he were really a knight. + +"I am afraid you will fail," she said. + +"Ah, maiden," he returned, "poor clothes are but the outside. +Good deeds are just as worthy, whether done by a rich person or a +poor one. Many a man who is badly clothed has real valor and +kindness." + +"That is very true," she said; "so try, good sir." + +Then Sir Balin seized the hilt of the sword, and the weapon came +away easily. All the lords wondered, and the lady said: + +"You are a good knight, the best I have met. You shall do many +brave deeds. And now, give me my sword again." + +"No," said Sir Balin, "I should like to keep this sword, for I +have no other." + +"Alas!" said the maiden, "I am sorry to hear these words, for now +I must give you the sword." + +"Surely he deserves it," said Arthur, "for it weighed heavily on +you." + +"Yes," she replied, "but it is a misfortune for him to keep it. +He shall slay with it the best friend he has in the world. It is +going to prove his destruction." + +Sir Balin would not believe her. + +"I could not slay my best friend," he said. "Besides, I am +willing to meet whatever happens, and I wish to keep the sword." + +Then the maiden departed in great sorrow, while Balin said to the +king: + +"My lord, give me permission to leave your court." + +"I do not like to lose you," said the king. "Perhaps you are +angry because you were in prison so long. You must know that it +takes time to find out who is innocent and who is guilty." + +"My lord," answered Sir Balin, "I know it is not wise to make a +judgment hastily, and I do not blame you for keeping me in +prison. I love you, and wish to leave your court that I may do +some deed worthy of the Round Table." + +Then Arthur said that he might go. Soon a servant brought to +Balin a fine horse and good armor which were the gifts of the +king. Balin at once took leave of Arthur and the knights, and +rode away, singing as he rode, for he was very happy. Sometimes +he stopped to lift up his shield and admire it. It had a blue +emblem upon it, and to Sir Balin's eyes its beauty was that of +the sky, the soft blue of heaven. + +Sir Balin rode until he was tired. At last, from the crest of a +hill, he saw a gloomy stone castle, and galloped towards it +joyfully, hoping to rest there. + +At a turn of the road, he saw a cross with gold letters upon it. +He stopped to read the words, which were: "Let no knight go to +the castle, for great danger is there." + +"Oh," said Sir Balin, "I am used to danger. I fear nothing," and +he went on. + +Presently an old man started up beside the road. He had a long +gray beard, and was dressed in a long gray robe that sparkled +with little specks of frost. The old man said to Sir Balin: + +"Did you not read the letters on the cross?" + +"Yes," replied Sir Balin, "but I am not afraid." + +"Oh, Sir Balin, you of all men should fear to go to that castle," +the old man said. + +"Why?" he asked in amazement. "Nevertheless, I shall go." + +"Sir Balin, Sir Balin!" cried the old man after him, "you are too +self-willed. You will be very sorry for what you have done before +you die." + +But Sir Balin rode on without fear, and soon reached the gate of +the castle. A hundred beautiful ladies and many knights welcomed +him. They took off his armor and put a rich crimson cloak upon +his shoulders. Then they led him into a banquet hall where there +was music and dancing. They set food before him, and he ate, +thankfully. He was very happy, feeling sure that he could rest +here for many days. + +Just as he was thinking this, the lady who was mistress of the +castle said: + +"Sir knight, it is the rule of this castle that every lord who +comes here as a guest must fight." + +"That is a hard custom," said Sir Balin. + +"Yet you need fight but once," answered the lady. "We have here +the knight who entered just before you came." + +"Alas!" said Sir Balin, "I would rather not fight, for I wish to +rest. Since such is the custom of the castle, however, I must do +my part. Let some one bring my armor." + +A servant at once came up to him with a suit of black armor. + +"This is not my armor," said Sir Balin. "My armor is not painted +black. It is honest gray steel, decorated with blue." + +"It is the custom of the castle to wear black," they told him. +"This armor is as good as your own." + +Sir Balin felt sad, he could hardly tell why; and was very sorry +that he had ever come to the castle. Putting on the armor, +however, he went into the courtyard and mounted his horse. No +sooner was he ready than another knight, clad all in black, +entered the courtyard. + +The two knights rode together so fiercely that the shock threw +them both off their horses in a swoon. After a time they +recovered and began to fight on foot, pressing each other near +the walls of the castle. + +Sir Balin was fighting with the sword that he had taken from the +damsel in King Arthur's Court. It was a strong sword, and +whenever it struck, the armor of his opponent cracked. They +fought till their breath failed, and then they rested. Each knew +that never before had he dealt with such a strong enemy. + +Then they fought again, and gave each other seven deep wounds, +the least of which would prove fatal. All the ground was red with +blood, but Sir Balin fought on still, for the people of the +castle were watching from the walls, and he wished to be thought +a great warrior. So at last he used all his remaining strength +and gave the other knight such a hard blow that he fell to the +ground. Sir Balin knew that it was a death stroke. He felt that +he, too, was about to die, and said: + +"Who are you? I never fought with such a strong knight before." + +The other answered faintly: + +"I am Sir Balan, the brother to the good knight Sir Balin." + +Then Sir Balin cried out: + +"Alas, alas! that I should live to see this day!" and he fell +backward in a swoon. + +Sir Balan was dying, but he crawled on his hands and knees to +where Sir Balin lay, and took off his helmet only to discover the +face of his brother. Then he wept bitterly till Sir Balin +recovered from his swoon. + +"Alas!" said Sir Balan, "if we had but worn our own armor we +should have known each other. And now we must die; we have killed +each other." + +[Illustration: _"They fought till their breath failed"_] + +Sir Balin was too full of remorse to weep. + +"All this is my fault," he said. "As the old man on the road told +me, I have been too self-willed. First, I would have the damsel's +sword, although she told me that I should slay with it the best +friend I had. That is you, Balan. And then I would enter this +castle in spite of warnings. I deserve to die, but it is a hard +punishment that I should have killed you, my brother." + +Soon some ladies came from the wall into the courtyard, and to +them Sir Balin said: + +"We are two dear brothers who have killed each other. I pray you, +promise to bury us in the same grave." + +The ladies wept as they made the promise. The two brothers put +their arms about each other and waited for death. They hoped to +die together, but Sir Balan died first. Soon after, when Sir +Balin had also died, the ladies buried them together, and put a +stone above the grave, telling the sad story of their combat and +death. + + + + +[Illustration] SIR GERAINT AND ENID + + +One of the bravest knights in King Arthur's Court was Sir +Geraint. Once he was in the forest with Queen Guinevere and one +of her maidens, when a lady, a knight, and a dwarf rode by. The +queen told the maiden to go to the dwarf and ask who his master +was. + +As the maiden approached them, she saw that the knight had a very +proud face. She asked the dwarf his master's name, but he said, +roughly: + +"I do not know." + +"If you do not know," answered the maiden, "I will ask him +myself." + +She started to ride up to the knight, but the dwarf struck at her +with his whip. Upon this, she went back and told the queen and +Sir Geraint what had passed. Sir Geraint was very angry, and he +said to the queen: + +"Fair queen, I will ride after this knight and his dwarf and +avenge the insult done to your maiden. If I succeed, I shall +return in three days." + +"Do so," said the queen, "and I trust you will succeed, not only +in this, but in all things which you attempt. Some day you will +love some fair lady. Before you marry her, bring her to me, and +no matter how poor or how rich she may be, I will clothe her for +her wedding in the most beautiful garments in the world. They +shall shine like the sun." + +So off rode Sir Geraint, keeping at some distance behind the +lady, the knight, and the dwarf. At last, after passing through +many woods, he lost sight of them as they disappeared beyond the +top of a hill. Sir Geraint rode up, and saw below him, in a +valley, the one street of a little town. On one side was a +fortress, so new that the stone of which it was built was still +white; while on the other side stood a gray old castle, fast +falling into decay. He saw the three people he was following +enter the fortress. + +In the little town there was a great deal of noise and bustle. At +first Sir Geraint could not find any place to stay, for the +houses were all full. He stopped before a servant who was +scouring his master's armor, and asked what all the noise meant. +The servant said: + +"The Sparrow-hawk," and went on working. + +Then he met an old man carrying a sack of corn, and asked him the +same question. The old man made the same reply. Next Sir Geraint +approached one who was making armor, and questioned him. Without +looking up the man replied: + +"Friend, he who works for the Sparrow-hawk has little time for +answering questions." + +Sir Geraint was vexed, and said: + +"I am weary of hearing of your Sparrow-hawk. I do not understand +what you mean. Will you not tell me where I can find a place to +stay for to-night? And will you not sell me some armor? I have +but my sword." + +Then the man looked up, and said: + +"Your pardon, sir. We are all very busy here, for to-morrow we +hold a tournament, and our work is not half done. I cannot give +you armor, for we need all that we have in the town. As to +lodging, all the room is taken. However, perhaps Earl Iniol in +the castle will receive you." + +Sir Geraint rode over to the gray old castle, and as the gate was +open, entered the ruined courtyard. Dismounting, he went into the +hall. Here he found the earl, an elderly man dressed in clothes +which had once been handsome, but were now old and worn. To him +Sir Geraint said: + +"Good sir, I seek lodging for the night." + +The old Earl Iniol answered: + +"Sir, I was once rich and am now poor; nevertheless, I will +gladly give you the best I have." + +As he spoke, some one in the castle began to sing. The voice was +very sweet. Sir Geraint thought he had never heard anyone sing so +wonderfully. + +"That is my daughter Enid," said the earl. + +Then he took Sir Geraint into a room in which sat an old lady in +a faded velvet gown. She was the earl's wife. By her side stood +Enid in a faded silk gown. She was as beautiful as her voice was +sweet, and after watching her, Sir Geraint said to himself: + +"I already love this maiden." + +He said nothing out loud, only looked at her. Earl Iniol spoke to +her: + +"Enid, this good knight will stay with us. His horse is in the +courtyard; take it to the stall and give it corn. Then go into +the town and buy us some food." + +Sir Geraint wished to put away his horse himself, but the old +earl said: + +"Sir, we are very poor, but we cannot permit our guest to do any +work. I pray you, stay here." + +So Enid took the horse to the stall. After that, she went into +the town and soon returned with meat and sweet cakes. Then, +because most of the rooms in the old castle were in ruins, she +cooked the meat in the same hall in which they were to eat. When +the meal was ready, she waited on her father and her mother and +Sir Geraint. The knight watched her and loved her more and more. + +When they had risen from the table, he said to the earl: + +"My lord, pray tell me what the people of this town mean when +they speak of the Sparrow-hawk." + +The earl's face grew sad, as he said: + +"That is the name given to the young knight who rules in this +town." + +"Does he live in the fortress?" asked Sir Geraint. "And do a lady +and a dwarf ride with him?" + +"Yes," said the earl. + +"Ah, then he is the man I am in search of," said Sir Geraint. "I +must fight with him before three days are over. I am Geraint of +King Arthur's Court." + +"I know your name well," said the earl. "We often hear of your +great deeds at Camelot. Many times have I related to my Enid the +story of your brave deeds." + +"I am bound to do my duty with the other knights," answered Sir +Geraint. "And now tell me more of this Sparrow-hawk." + +"Alas! he is my nephew," said the earl. "At one time I ruled this +town. My nephew, the Sparrow-hawk, was powerful, too, and he +asked to unite our power by marrying Enid, but neither she nor I +wished it. Then he collected a body of men and attacked me, and +took all my wealth, leaving me nothing but this old castle." + +"To-morrow," said Sir Geraint, "I will fight in the tournament +with this Sparrow-hawk, and conquer him, and give you back your +lands. But I lack armor." + +"I can give you armor, although it is old and rusty," said the +earl. "But no one is allowed to fight in this tournament unless +there is some lady he loves best in all the world. Then he fights +for the sake of this lady, and if he wins, receives the prize, +which he in turn gives to her." + +"What is the prize?" asked Sir Geraint. + +"A hawk, a sparrow-hawk made of gold. This nephew of mine is very +strong and has always overcome every knight who has opposed him +in these tournaments, which are held yearly. It is because he has +won the prize so often that he is called the Sparrow-hawk. But +tell me, is there some lady whom you love?" + +Then Sir Geraint said: + +"I love this child of yours, my lord, and will gladly make her my +wife if you will permit it." + +The earl was very glad, but Enid was afraid, for she thought she +was not worthy of such a great knight. Yet, she knew she loved +him, and said so, and soon promised to go with him to Arthur's +Court within three days. + +The next morning, the earl and Sir Geraint and Enid went to the +field where the tournament was to take place. Many knights and +ladies were there. The ladies sat under a pavilion which was +draped in purple velvet ornamented with gold, while the knights +were on horseback. A herald blew a trumpet, and the knight who +was called the Sparrow-hawk galloped into the field. + +He rode around it three times, and then went up to the pavilion +and said to his lady: + +"I give you the gold sparrow-hawk again, because no one dares to +fight with me for it." + +Then Sir Geraint rode forward in his rusty armor and said: + +"I will fight with you." + +The knight looked upon him, and gave a very scornful laugh as he +rode at Sir Geraint. The two clashed together and began to fight +fiercely, while all the people watched. Twice they had to stop +and rest. For a long time they seemed evenly matched, and no one +could decide which would win. But when Sir Geraint looked to +where Enid sat in her faded silk gown among the richly dressed +ladies in the pavilion, he grew very strong and struck his enemy +such a blow that he fell to the earth. + +"Now, Sparrow-hawk," said Sir Geraint, "I have overthrown you. +You must do two things: you must ride with your lady and your +dwarf to Arthur's Court and ask pardon of Queen Guinevere because +your dwarf struck her maiden; and you must restore all the riches +you have taken from your good uncle, Earl Iniol." + +This the knight promised to do. And afterwards, in Arthur's +Court, he grew very sorry for his evil deeds, and became a good +man. + +Meanwhile, Enid was making ready to go to Arthur's Court with Sir +Geraint. She was sorry that she had only her robe of faded silk. +She remembered a robe her mother had given her before the +Sparrow-hawk took their riches. It was of velvet, the color of +mother-of-pearl, with gold leaves and flowers and birds +embroidered upon it. + +While she was thinking of this beautiful robe, her mother entered +the room, carrying it. Enid gave a cry of joy, and her mother +told her that the Sparrow-hawk had just given it back, together +with other robes and gold and jewels. "Put it on, Enid," she +said, and helped her daughter to array herself in the handsome +gown, exclaiming: "How beautiful you look, my dear child! Sir +Geraint may well be proud to fetch such a fair lady to King +Arthur's Court." + +Just then the earl entered to tell them that the knight wanted +Enid to ride with him to Camelot in the faded silk dress in which +he had first seen her. + +Enid, although she was deeply disappointed, at once put on again +her faded gown. When Sir Geraint came in he saw that the earl's +wife was also disappointed, so he told them that the queen had +promised to dress his bride in the most beautiful robes in the +world for her wedding. At this both the ladies were much pleased. + +So after bidding farewell to her parents, Enid rode with Sir +Geraint to Camelot, where the queen welcomed her, and gave her a +robe that was as bright as the sun. Then the good Archbishop of +Canterbury married Sir Geraint and Enid amid great rejoicings. + +[Illustration: Two Crossed Swords and a Shield] + + + + +[Illustration] ARTHUR AND SIR ACCALON + + +There was a woman in Arthur's Court named Morgan le Fay, who had +learned a great deal about magic. She was a wicked woman, and +hated the king because he was more powerful than she, and because +he was so good. + +However, she pretended to be a true friend to him, and the king +believed in her. One day when they were talking together, she +asked him if he would not let her take charge of his wonderful +sword Excalibur, and its scabbard. She said that she would guard +them so carefully that they would never be stolen. As she was +very eager, Arthur granted her request. + +One day in time of peace, King Arthur went out hunting with a +certain knight named Sir Accalon, who was the lover of Morgan le +Fay. They rode for a long time, and when they were tired, stopped +to rest beside a great lake. As they looked over its shining +waters, they saw a beautiful little ship, which sailed straight +towards them, and ran up to the sands at their feet. It was all +covered with golden silks, which waved in the gentle wind. King +Arthur and Sir Accalon climbed into it and examined it thoroughly, +but they found no one on board. + +They rested on two couches which were on the deck, until it grew +dark. Then they were about to return home, when all at once, a +hundred torches, set on the sides of the ship were lighted, and +suddenly there appeared twelve beautiful damsels who told the two +that they were welcome, and that they should be served with a +banquet. + +Presently the maidens led the king and the knight into a room +which had a table covered with a white cloth embroidered in +purple. It bore many golden dishes, and each dish had a beautiful +design carved upon it. Some dishes had vine-leaves, others +ivy-leaves; some had angels with long robes sweeping back in +graceful lines; and all these dishes held choice food. The king +and Sir Accalon ate to their hearts' content. + +Then the damsels led them into two separate chambers. King Arthur +was tired and so sleepy that he gave but one glance at his +bedroom. He saw that it was hung in red silk embroidered with +gold dragons and griffins. Then he threw himself on his bed and +slept very soundly. + +When he awoke, he found himself not in the pretty bed-chamber, +but in a dark place. He could see nothing, but all about him he +heard the sound of complaining and weeping. He was much +bewildered, but in a moment he cried: + +"What is this? Where am I?" + +Then a voice answered: + +"You are in prison, as we are." + +"Who are you?" asked Arthur. + +The voice replied: + +"We are twenty knights, prisoners, and some of us have been here +as long as seven years. We are in the dungeons of a wicked lord +named Sir Damas. He has a younger brother, and the two brothers +are enemies, quarreling about their inheritance. Now the younger +brother, Sir Ontzlake, is very strong, but Sir Damas is not +strong, and moreover, he is a coward. So he tries to find a +knight who will fight for him against Sir Ontzlake. + +"But Sir Damas is so much hated that no one will fight for him. +So he goes about the country with a body of rough men, and +whenever he sees a knight, he captures him. Then he asks him to +fight with Sir Ontzlake. So far, all the knights have refused, +and have been thrown into prison. We do not have food enough, but +we would rather die here than fight for Sir Damas, who is so +wicked." + +At that moment a damsel entered the prison with a torch, which +faintly lighted the dismal place, and advanced to the king. + +"Sir," she said, "will you fight for my lord, Sir Damas? If you +will, you shall be taken from this prison. If you will not, you +shall die here." + +Arthur considered for some time, and then said: + +"I would rather fight than die in prison. If I fight, will you +deliver also all these prisoners?" + +The damsel promised, and Arthur consented to fight. While she +went to tell Sir Damas, Arthur said to the other prisoners: + +"My friends, I do not know Sir Damas, and I do not know Sir +Ontzlake. I do not know whether they are bad or good. But I will +fight, and then, when I have conquered, I shall judge between +them, and do justice to both." + +"That is a good plan," said the knights, "but why are you so sure +that you will conquer?" + +"I am Arthur, the King," he replied. + +At that the knights set up a great cry of joy, and the king +continued: + +"I shall send for my good sword Excalibur and the scabbard, and +with these I shall surely win." + +So when Arthur and the knights were led out of prison, the king +sent the damsel who had visited them to Morgan le Fay for his +sword and scabbard. + +Meantime, the knight who had accompanied Arthur on the little +ship, Sir Accalon, also awoke. He found himself in the palace of +Morgan le Fay, and he wondered very much where Arthur was. He +went to the lady, who said to him: + +"My dear lord, the day has come when you can have great power if +you want it. Should you like to be king of this land, instead of +Arthur?" + +Now Sir Accalon was a traitor at heart. He wanted very much to be +king, even if the good Arthur was to be killed; so he said: + +"Yes, truly." + +Then she said: + +"You shall be king, and I shall be your queen. All you need to do +is to fight a great battle, which you shall win. I have been +using my magic. It was I who sent the ship of silk to you and +Arthur. I had him put into prison, and I had you brought here." + +Sir Accalon wondered very much. Then she told him of the fight +King Arthur was to make against Sir Ontzlake. + +"But I have caused Sir Ontzlake to fall sick," she said, "and he +cannot fight. I shall go with you to his castle and you can offer +to fight for him." + +"I to fight with the king!" cried Sir Accalon. "He would surely +overthrow me." + +"He cannot," said Morgan le Fay, "because you are to fight with +his sword. A little while ago he sent to me for Excalibur and the +scabbard, but I returned him a false sword which looks like +Excalibur, and a false scabbard. You shall take the true ones, +and then you shall surely overcome him and rule this land." + +Then Sir Accalon was glad, and he hastened with the lady to the +castle of Sir Ontzlake. They found him groaning because he was +ill and because Sir Damas had sent him a challenge to fight with +a knight, and he could not accept it. He was much relieved when +Morgan le Fay told him that Sir Accalon would fight in his place. + +Early in the afternoon, King Arthur and Sir Accalon rode into the +field where the combat was to be held. Arthur did not know who +Sir Accalon was, nor did any one else, except Morgan le Fay. Two +sides of the field were full of people who came to watch, half of +whom were friends of Sir Damas, and the other half were friends +of Sir Ontzlake. + +Arthur and Sir Accalon rode at each other so furiously that at +the shock of the meeting both fell off their horses. Then they +began to fight fiercely with their swords. The king could make no +headway with his false steel, but whenever Sir Accalon struck at +Arthur he drew blood. + +The king was much amazed. He grew weaker and weaker, but still he +kept on his feet. Those who watched him were sorry for him; they +thought they had never seen a man fight so bravely. At last +Arthur's sword broke, and fell in two pieces on the ground. When +Sir Accalon saw this, he cried: + +"Now, yield to me." + +"I will never yield," said the king, "and if you do not get me +another sword, you will be shamed before all men, for it is an +unknightly thing to fight with a defenseless man." + +"I do not care," said Sir Accalon. "If you will not yield, defend +yourself with your shield as best you can." + +He rushed at the king. Arthur was so weak that he could hardly +stand, but he guarded himself as well as he could with his +shield. Soon he could do no more, and fell to the ground. + +At this moment the Lady of the Lake, who had given Arthur his +sword, came upon the field. She was invisible, but anyone who had +listened intently could have heard a sound like the ripple of +water as she walked. She caused Excalibur to fall out of the hand +of Sir Accalon and drop near Arthur. + +When it fell, Arthur saw that it was his own Excalibur. He +grasped its handle and some of his strength came back. He +struggled to his feet, and rushing up to Sir Accalon, seized the +scabbard of Excalibur and threw it far over the field. + +"Now," he said, "send for a second sword and fight with me." + +Then Sir Accalon was afraid. Yet he thought that Arthur was so +weak that he could still be overcome. So he sent for a second +sword, and they began to fight again. Arthur's strength, however, +had largely returned, and in a short time he gave Sir Accalon a +mortal stroke. + +Sir Accalon fell to the ground, and the king, leaning over him, +cried: + +"Tell me who you are." + +Then Sir Accalon was filled with remorse, and he said: + +"Oh, my king, I have been a traitor to you, but now I am dying, +and I am sorry for what I have done. I deserve my death." + +He told the king his name, and all about his treachery, and that +of Morgan le Fay. + +King Arthur was sad. + +"It is very hard to be deceived in a friend," he said, "but I +forgive you freely. I will try to cure your wound, and sometime I +shall trust you again." + +"You cannot cure me," said Sir Accalon. "I am dying. Let them +carry me off the field." + +So he was taken to a neighboring abbey, while the people crowded +about the king to congratulate him, but Arthur said: + +"I am sad at heart. My victory is no comfort to me, for to-day I +have lost a friend whom I believed true." + +Then he called the two brothers, Sir Damas and Sir Ontzlake, and +judged their cause. He decided that their property must be +divided equally between them, and that they must be friends. They +promised never to quarrel again. Arthur told them that they must +be kind to other knights and to all people. He said that if he +heard that they were not, he would come and punish them. + +After this, Sir Damas gave back to the twenty knights all their +money, and they went on their way rejoicing. King Arthur mounted +his horse and rode over to the abbey, where he sat by the bed of +Sir Accalon till the poor knight died. Then the king went back +alone to his Court at Camelot. + +[Illustration: The Holy Grail] + + + + +[Illustration] HOW ARTHUR FOUGHT WITH A GIANT + + +Once upon a time King Arthur and some of his knights were sailing +in a ship. The king, being tired, went to sleep in his cabin, and +began to dream. It seemed to him that he was sailing with his +people when a great dragon flew out of the west. This dragon had +a blue head and a gold back. Underneath he shone like a rainbow. +Flames of fire rushed out of his mouth and covered land and sea. + +As he flew, there came out of the east a great bear, very rough, +and as black as coal, and with wings that flapped like windmills. +The bear and the dragon roared loudly, and they began to fight +and struggle till the sea was all red with blood. At last the +dragon conquered. + +When the king awoke from this dream he sent for Merlin and told +him of it, and asked for an explanation. + +"My lord," Merlin replied, "the dragon betokens yourself; the +colors on its body are signs of your glory. The bear betokens +some tyrant who torments the people and whom you will slay." + +Soon after this, the ship in which the company was, came in sight +of land. When they had anchored, the knights noticed on the beach +a crowd of people who were weeping. Descending from the ship, +Arthur asked one of the men what troubled them, and what was the +name of their country. + +"Good sir," returned the man, "this is the country of Brittany, +and we weep because our county is desolated by a giant. He makes +us bring him food. First, he ate up all the oxen we had, and then +our horses. Next he demanded our children, and now there are no +little ones in the land. To-day he took our good duchess of +Brittany, and carried her off to his mountain." + +"Alas!" said the king. "It grieves me to hear this, not only +because a cruel deed has been done, but because the duchess of +Brittany is my cousin's wife. I must save this lady. I will fight +with the giant." + +"Good sir," cried the people in amazement, "it is not possible! A +whole company of us dare not attack him, and yet we account +ourselves brave men." + +"That may well be," replied Arthur, "and yet with my good sword +and scabbard, I have no fear." + +Then the men said: + +"If you will go, my lord, yonder is the great mountain where the +giant lives. At the top, two huge fires burn continually in front +of a cave, and in that cave are greater treasures than you can +dream of. They are all yours if you will but slay this monster." + +Arthur replied nothing to them, but called Sir Kay and Sir +Bedivere, and rode with them to the foot of the mountain. From +that point he ascended alone. When he was nearly to the top he +came upon a woman, clad all in black, who sat weeping by the side +of a newly-made grave. + +"Good woman, why do you weep?" asked Arthur. + +"Hush, hush!" she cried, "or the giant will hear you and come and +kill you. He can hear me, but the sound of weeping delights him, +and therefore I need not restrain my grief." + +"Why do you grieve?" the king asked. + +"Alas! Because my good mistress, the duchess of Brittany, is +dead. The giant has killed her." + +At that Arthur gripped tightly the handle of his sword and said: + +"I will kill this wretch before I am an hour older." + +"Ah, my lord," said the woman, "the greatest kings in the country +are afraid of him. He has a coat embroidered with the beards of +fifteen of them. He demanded these beards as a sign that they +acknowledged him as lord." + +"There is at least one king who does not acknowledge him as +lord," shouted Arthur, as he strode hastily forward. + +When he reached the top he saw the giant asleep in front of the +two great fires before the cave. He was taller than the tallest +pine that ever grew. His arms were as big as the trunk of an oak +tree. His mouth was as large as a cave, and from it and his +nostrils came forth fire and flame like that from the mountain of +Vesuvius. Although his huge eyes were closed, flashes of +lightning seemed to shoot from beneath the lids. At his side was +an iron club as large as a steeple. About him stood trembling old +women fanning him as he slept. + +King Arthur approached the monster, and said to him: + +"Wretch, awake and fight, for your hour has come." + +The giant, starting up, looked down scornfully upon the king and, +laughing, threw his great club at Arthur. But the king leapt +aside and the club fell harmlessly on the ground, making a hollow +where it struck. + +Then Arthur rushed toward the giant, waving his good sword +Excalibur. The giant caught him in his arms, in order to squeeze +him to death. The king's armor pressed closer and closer about +him, and he began to lose his strength. But he kept his hand upon +his scabbard, and so did not die. + +In a few minutes the monster, making sure that Arthur was dead, +dropped him to the ground. After the king had recovered himself, +he sprang to his feet, and taking his sword, threw it at the +giant. The good steel pierced his neck, and he sank to the +ground, shouting so loudly that Sir Kay and Sir Bedivere at the +foot of the mountain heard, and trembled for their master's +safety. + +Then the giant again seized Arthur in his arms, and the two began +to roll down the mountain side. Whenever Arthur was able to, he +struck at the giant with his dagger, wounding him sorely. At +last, still struggling and rolling, they came to the spot where +Sir Kay and Sir Bedivere were. These two loosed the giant's arms +from the king, who then gave one last blow to the monster, +killing him. Then he sent Sir Kay and Sir Bedivere for his sword +Excalibur. + +When the people on the seashore heard what Arthur had done, they +fell on their knees and thanked him, offering him all the giant's +treasure. He said, however, that he would leave it with them to +divide among the poor people of the country. For himself, all he +wanted was the giant's iron club. + +The people sent fifty men to the top of the mountain to get it +for him. As they had no horses, it was a long time before they +could drag the club to the seashore. There they put it on a +barge. It was so heavy that it pressed the barge down till the +water came almost to the edge of the vessel. Then King Arthur +bade the people good-by, and took ship with his knights. The +grateful men of Brittany stood on the shore, and shouted and +waved until the ship could no longer be seen. + +[Illustration: The Shield] + + + + +[Illustration] HOW ARTHUR FOUGHT WITH ROME + + +In the time of the great Roman, Julius Cæsar, about five hundred +years before King Arthur was born, the people of Rome conquered +Britain. They made many improvements in the land, building roads +and walls, the remains of which may be seen to this day. But they +also forced the Britons to pay them much money. All the kings did +this up to the time of Arthur. He, however, considered that +England was his own. He had conquered the lesser kings, and made +one realm of all the land, over which he ruled with wise +government. So he refused to send any money to Rome. + +Once King Arthur's knights were all together in the great hall. +It was a time of peace, and they spent the days in riding and +hunting. On this day, while the king was sitting on his throne, +twelve old men entered, each bearing a branch of olive, as a sign +that they came in peace. They were the messengers of the emperor +of Rome, and, after bowing to the king, they said: + +"Sir, our mighty emperor sends you greeting, and commands you to +acknowledge him as lord, and to send him the money due him from +your realm. Your father and his predecessors did this, and so +must you. If you refuse, the emperor will make such war against +you that it will be an example to all the world." + +At this the young knights laid their hands to their swords, but +the older knights, who had self-control enough to hide their +feelings, waited to see what the king would do. + +Arthur bowed courteously to the messengers, and told them that he +would soon give them an answer. He commanded a knight to take +them to a lodging, and to see that they had all they needed, and +he ordered that no harm should be done them. Then he called a +council of his great lords and asked their advice. + +Sir Lancelot, Arthur's favorite lord, spoke first, saying: + +"My lord, we have rested for many weeks, and can make sharp war +now. In days gone by, we should not have dared attack the Romans, +and indeed, our attempt will make the world wonder. But of a +truth, we ought to fight." + +Then spoke King Angus of Scotland: + +"My lord Arthur, you are the greatest lord on earth. You have +made all of us lesser kings your subjects, and bound the kingdom +together, and stopped our civil wars. We love you and we will +help you. We pray you to make war on these Romans. When they +ruled our elders, they demanded much gold and made our people +very poor. If you will fight, I will furnish you with twenty +thousand men, and will bear all the cost of them myself." + +Then all the other lords promised to furnish men and arms. When +Arthur heard this, he was glad of their courage and good will. +He called in the messengers and said to them: + +"Return to your emperor. Tell him that I refuse his command, for +I owe him nothing. I have won this kingdom by my own strength. +Tell him that I shall come with all my army to Rome and make him +acknowledge me as lord." + +Then Arthur told his treasurer to give the messengers gifts, and +to take them safely out of the country. Sir Lancelot conducted +them to the sea, where they took ship and sailed to France. On +they journeyed over the Alps and into Italy. When they told the +emperor of Rome their message, he said: + +"I had thought Arthur would yield." + +But the messengers said: + +"Sir, his face would have told you, if you had seen it, that he +would never yield. In truth, there is need of fear, for he is a +great king and surrounded by great knights." + +"This is foolish talk," the emperor said. "Remember that we are +Romans. We have ruled the world for centuries, and a little king +of little England shall not make us fear. You say that he is +coming to fight with us. We will take a few troops and go +forthwith to France to meet him." + +The messengers begged the emperor to take many troops. + +"My lord emperor," they said, "these men of Arthur are very +numerous and very brave." + +So at last the emperor brought all his men to France, and there, +whenever he found people who were loyal to Arthur, he killed and +laid waste. + +Meanwhile, Arthur had gathered together all his troops. He bade +farewell to Queen Guinevere, who was so grieved that she fell in +a swoon. Then he rode off at the head of his men till they came +to the sea, and there they embarked in ten thousand boats and +sailed to France. + +They marched till they came near to the troops of the emperor of +Rome, where they rested for the night. In the morning they rose +at dawn and looked at the Roman legions. These were encamped in a +green field which glittered with the gold on their tents and +armor. The emperor's tent was of purple silk and bore on the top +a golden eagle, the emblem of Rome. + +Two of Arthur's knights, Sir Lancelot and Sir Gawain, rode out to +the emperor, and told him that their king had come. + +"That I see," said the emperor laughing, "and he shall soon +return." + +The two knights made no answer, but rode back to Arthur. Soon all +the soldiers on each side made ready for fighting. The preparation +was careful, for they knew that the contest was to be a great +one. The emperor of Rome addressed his soldiers: + +"Romans, remember that Rome is the chief city of the world. I do +not say fight as men; I say to you, fight as Romans. Then you +will surely conquer these Britains." + +King Arthur galloped up and down before the front rank of his +men, looking at them carefully. He was on a beautiful white horse +whose mane rose and fell in the wind like a wave of the sea. His +soldiers cheered lustily for their beloved commander. Then King +Arthur raised his hand for silence, and spoke in a loud, clear +voice: + +"My knights and men whom I love, remember that you are fighting +to-day for your rights and for the independence of Britain. +Strike well, and do not forget that great courage is as powerful +as great numbers." + +With that, he gave the signal for attack. The Romans stood in +full battle array with their emperor in front. Beside him were +sixteen kings with gold helmets and silver armor. The English +approached, shouting a battle-cry. + +Then the Romans, at the call of the trumpet, rushed forward, and +in a moment the two great armies clashed together. Clouds of dust +arose through which could be seen at intervals the heads of +horses and the helmets of men. The few poor shepherds and women +who stood on the outside did not know that the greatest battle of +the time was going on under that cloud of dust. + +[Illustration: _"King Arthur raising his hand for silence"_] + +Inside the cloud there was great confusion. Britains and Romans +were fighting side by side, so closely packed that sometimes it +was hard to strike. All fought bravely, but no one did so well as +Arthur and Sir Lancelot. The battle did not cease until it was +dark. Each side had lost many men. King Arthur wept as he rode +over the field and counted his dead knights, and even his +beautiful horse drooped its head as if it, also, understood. + +But the next day the two armies began to fight again, and when +the emperor finally saw that his men were losing and that most of +the kings who were helping him were dead, he said: + +"This Arthur is a demon and not a man. I will fight with him +myself and end this battle." And before any one could stop him, +he spurred up to King Arthur and said: + +"You on the white horse who refuse to pay me tribute, come out +that I may kill you." + +Then Arthur rode quickly towards the emperor. The two men began +to fight, and Arthur soon saw that he was contending with a +powerful man. He gave the emperor many a stroke with Excalibur, +but he himself received deep blows. At last the emperor pierced +Arthur's helmet, and wounded him deeply in the cheek. + +King Arthur raised his good Excalibur with a last effort and +struck his enemy with it so fiercely on the head that the blow +cleft the helmet and pierced to the emperor's chin. He fell from +his horse without a moan. When the Romans near by saw that their +ruler was dead, they gave a great cry of grief and rushed upon +Arthur, but his good knights protected him. + +At last, seeing themselves conquered, the Romans surrendered. +Arthur found among his prisoners three senators, and among the +dead, sixty senators, the sixteen kings, and the emperor. + +He was sorrowful, for he knew that they were great men. So he had +them embalmed and laid in chests of lead. Around each chest flags +were wound, and the shields of the dead warriors placed on top. +Then he said to the three surviving senators: + +"Take these noble dead bodies back to Rome. When the Romans see +them they will never again dare ask tax or tribute of me. I will +not go to Rome and take the city from you, but if ever you send +to me for gold, I shall invade your land and never rest till all +Italy is mine." + +The senators bowed their heads. Then they laid the body of the +emperor on a car, all alone, with the gold eagle above him. They +laid the bodies of the kings and the senators two by two on +chariots, and so went slowly towards Rome. And never again did +the kings of Britain have to pay a tax to the Romans. + +[Illustration: The Holy Grail] + + + + +[Illustration] THE KNIGHT WITH the BADLY MADE COAT + + +One day when Arthur and his knights were in the hall of the Round +Table, a young man entered. He was so large that his shoulders +were as wide as the doorway, and he could hardly squeeze through. +The knights looked at him in amazement, for he was almost a +giant. + +When he came closer to them, they saw that he had on a coat which +was far too large for him. It hung in wrinkles and folds all over +his back, and the sleeves were so long that he had to turn them +up almost to the elbow. The coat was of rich material, gold +cloth, but it was old and blood-stained. + +The young man strode up to the king and said: + +"My lord, my name is Brune. I can tell you no more than that. I +beg you to make me a knight." + +At this Sir Kay laughed and said: + +"He must be called The Knight with the Badly Made Coat." + +"Call me what you will," said the young man. "Yes, I take that +name, for I will not tell my real one." + +Then Arthur spoke to him gently: + +"Young man, you ask a great thing. All those in my Court who are +made knights must serve for a long time as squires. If they prove +themselves loyal and brave, I make them knights. But I must +always know whence they come, and who their fathers are." + +"My lord," said the young man, "I do indeed ask a great thing. I +would gladly tell you more of myself, but I am under a vow to +reveal no more than you already know. Yet I will tell you this, +further. I am the son of a noble who was as big as a giant. My +good father was very peaceable and did not care to fight; so he +never came to your Court, and you did not hear of him. He lived +at home with my mother and me, and the simple people who plowed +the land about our castle. + +"Every one ought to have loved him; but he had one enemy. One +day, six years ago, when I was only a boy, my father and I were +in the forest. My father was sleeping at the foot of a tree, and +I was bathing in a brook near by. This enemy, who wanted my +father's lands, came up and drove his sword into my father's +heart. Then he rode away. I ran up to my dead father and took off +the coat which he wore and put it on. I swore never to take it +off, and never to tell my father's name or where I came from, +till I had avenged his death. + +"Then I rode home to our castle, but our enemy had taken +possession of it, and had made my mother prisoner. As I was not +yet grown up I vowed that I would stay with the good shepherds +near by till I was strong enough to pull up a young tree by the +roots. Then I would go to King Arthur's Court and ask to be made +a knight. So every month I have tried to uproot a young tree. +This morning I succeeded, and here, my lords, I am." + +The knights were much moved and prayed the king to make him a +knight. They said that they would teach him to use arms. The king +said that he would wait to see what sort of man Brune was. + +A few days after this all the knights rode off to a tournament +and Brune was left at home with a few soldiers. He was in the +castle yard practicing some of the lessons in warfare which the +knights had been teaching him. While he was hard at work, Queen +Guinevere with twelve soldiers who were her bodyguard passed by. + +As she was speaking kindly to Brune, they heard a terrible noise, +and looking in the direction from which it came, saw a dreadful +sight. A fierce lion which had been confined in a tower of stone +had broken out of its prison and was rushing towards them. The +twelve soldiers fled, leaving the queen and Brune alone. + +"Ah," said Brune, "not all the cowards in the world are dead." + +[Illustration: _"The king touched him lightly with his sword"_] + +He stood still while the lion bounded towards him. He had dropped +his sword, and as the beast leaped upon him, he seized its head +in his hands. Then he slowly, slowly, bent its head back. It was +a strong lion, and with the effort the muscles on Brune's neck +stood out like great ropes. Presently, the queen and Brune heard +a loud crack and they knew that the lion's neck was broken. Brune +loosed his hold, and the huge tawny body dropped to the ground, +quivered a moment, and was still. + +While this was going on, the king and his knights returned. They +saw at a glance what Brune had done, and cheered him loudly. The +king rode up to him. + +"Kneel down," he said. + +Brune knelt down by the body of the lion, and the king touched +him lightly with his sword, saying: + +"Sir Brune, I make you a knight of my Round Table. Be always +loyal, brave, and merciful." + +Then all the knights were glad, but Sir Brune was gladdest of +all. + +[Illustration: The Two Horses] + + + + +[Illustration] SIR LANCELOT & SIR BRUNE + + +After Sir Brune, the Knight with the Badly Made Coat, had been at +Arthur's Court for some months, he became eager to seek for the +enemy of his father. Sir Lancelot, who took an interest in the +big young knight, advised him to wait and try his strength at +some smaller adventure first. + +One day, when Sir Lancelot was away hunting, a damsel entered +Arthur's hall. She carried a black shield which had painted on it +a white hand holding a sword. She bowed to the king and said: + +"My lord, I come for a knight to undertake the adventure of the +black shield." + +"And what is that adventure, fair damsel?" asked the king. + +"That I may not tell you," answered the damsel, "except that it +will cause much fighting and bloodshed to the knight who chooses +it." + +Some of the knights were eager to go, and Sir Kay pressed forward +to finger the shield. + +"Do not touch it, good Sir Kay," said the maiden, "for this +adventure is not for you. I am to choose the knight." + +She passed up and down the hall, looking into the face of each +one. When she had seen them all she came back to Sir Brune and +said: + +"Young Knight with the Ugly Coat, will you take this shield?" + +"Gladly, if my king allows," said the knight. + +Then Arthur gave his permission, and Sir Brune followed the +damsel out of the hall. Her horse was black, and wore white +trappings. Sir Brune's horse was as brown as an autumn leaf. The +two mounted and rode away. Sir Brune began to talk to the damsel, +whose name was Elinor. At first she was agreeable, but after they +had ridden many miles she became scornful, and told him she was +sorry she had chosen him. + +Sir Brune felt sad, because he had begun to love the damsel. He +was afraid she did not like him because his coat was poor. He did +not speak to her any more, but rode on sorrowfully beside her. +After a long time they came to a castle enclosed by high walls. +The gate stood open, and the damsel Elinor pointed to it and +said, sighing: + +"Since you have not left me as I hoped you would, go in there. +You will find your first adventure. I may not tell you what it +is." + +Sir Brune galloped inside the gate. There he saw a hundred +knights on horseback, armed and waiting for him. He had to think +and act quickly. So he decided to rush in between the knights and +put his back against the castle wall. Then he could fight with +his back protected. He did this, though not without receiving +some spear-wounds. Then he began to fight. + +The lady of the castle, whom the knights were keeping prisoner, +watched the fight out of the window, and grieved for the brave +young man who had so many against him. She began to speak to him +in a low voice: + +"Young knight, if you can only get to the left side of the castle +wall, there is a secret door through which you can escape. If you +look, you will see that one portion of the wall is made of black +stones. Strike the stones with the hilt of your sword, and a door +will open through which you can ride out." + +The other knights did not hear what the lady said, for they were +farther away from her than Sir Brune was. Even he could hardly +catch her words. He took a quick glance to the left and saw that +there was indeed a portion of the wall marked with black stones. +Then he began to work his way carefully towards the secret gate. + +He was obliged to move slowly for fear the knights would guess +what he was doing. Moreover, it was becoming very hard to fight, +because of his many wounds. However, he at last came near the +door; then he backed his brown horse up against it, struck the +black stones with the handle of his sword, and the door opened. +The knights shouted with rage, but they were unable to reach him +in time. Sir Brune escaped, leaving behind him twelve men dead. + +He was very weak, and he made his way painfully to the side of +the wall where the maiden Elinor waited for him. She ran to meet +him, and led him gently to a brook in a forest near by. There she +took off his armor and bathed his wounds, anointing them with a +precious salve she carried. + +Sir Brune thought that she was sorry because she had been +scornful of him, and he began to talk to her. But she said: + +"Do not talk to me. If you want to please me, go back to Arthur's +Court." + +Sir Brune did not know why she spoke so, but he was too tired to +think. So he lay down on the grass by the brook and went to +sleep. + +Meantime, at Arthur's Court Sir Lancelot had returned from his +hunting expedition, and was told how Sir Brune had gone out with +a damsel on the adventure of the shield. + +"Oh!" cried Sir Lancelot, "what have you done! He will surely be +killed. Merlin has told me what this adventure of the shield is. +Many and many a knight has taken it up and each has been killed. +A knight who vows to follow this adventure has to meet dangers of +all sorts. This young untried Sir Brune will certainly be +killed." + +He called for his horse and arms, and said to the king: + +"My lord, I will ride after this poor young man and give him what +help I can. Perhaps I shall be too late; but if not, I shall ask +him to give me this adventure of the shield." + +Then Sir Lancelot mounted his horse and rode after Sir Brune. +When he came near the brook where Sir Brune and the damsel had +rested, he heard the sound of a great combat. Spurring forward he +saw Sir Brune, fighting single-handed against six knights. Sir +Lancelot rushed to the rescue and quickly overthrew the enemy. He +found that they belonged to the company of the hundred knights +whom Sir Brune had attacked. He ordered them, first of all, to +free the lady of the castle, and then to go to Arthur's Court and +surrender themselves to the mercy of the king. + +Poor Sir Brune was almost dead, but Sir Lancelot revived him, and +in a feeble voice he thanked Sir Lancelot for his help. But the +damsel begged: + +"Take him back to the Court of your king. I do not want him to +follow this quest any longer." + +"This is surely ungrateful of you," said Sir Lancelot. "He has +fought bravely and well." + +"The maiden scorns me, though I love her," bitterly said Sir +Brune. + +Then the damsel Elinor cried out: + +"I will tell the truth. I love you and I am afraid you will be +killed. Therefore, I wish you to return to Camelot." + +Sir Brune was very glad, and he said: + +"I have pledged my word and must follow this quest. When I have +succeeded we shall go together back to Arthur's Court." + +"Give this adventure to me," said Sir Lancelot, "and go back now +with the damsel." + +But Sir Brune refused. Then Sir Lancelot said that they must +undertake the adventure together, and Sir Brune consenting, they +rode slowly forward. Soon they came to an abbey, where they +rested for some days until Sir Brune was well. + +Then they traveled as the damsel gave directions. She always knew +what they had to do. At times they passed through woods full of +wild beasts, some of which attacked them. Again they passed over +enchanted meadows where wicked magicians tried to cast spells +over them. They also fought with many knights. However, they +escaped all dangers, although it is certain that Sir Brune would +never have succeeded without the help of Sir Lancelot. + +At length the damsel Elinor told them that they were nearing the +last adventure. She pointed to a castle on a hill; a square +structure built of black stones, with a turret on top. The damsel +told them that at the gate of the castle were two huge dragons. +These they must slay. + +"Whose is the castle?" asked Sir Brune. + +"It belongs now to the wicked Lord Brian of the Isles," answered +the damsel. + +At this Sir Brune gave such a loud shout that the dragons on top +of the hill heard him and roared in reply. + +"Ah!" cried he, "that is the name of my enemy, who killed my dear +father. At last I shall slay him." + +He rode off so quickly that Sir Lancelot had much trouble to keep +up with him. It seemed scarcely five minutes before they came to +the dragons; terrible creatures, all of green, with eyes and +tongues of flame. And their wings were as large as the sails of a +ship. + +Sir Brune had never before seen a dragon, but he was not afraid. +He fought very bravely, and even when the teeth of the dragons +crunched on his helmet, he did not lose courage. After a fierce +fight of half an hour, the two knights had killed the dragons. + +They hoped to rest, but at that moment the castle gate opened +and a porter appeared. + +"Enter and fight," he said. + +Both spurred forward, but the porter said: + +"One only may enter." + +"Let me go," said Sir Brune to Sir Lancelot. "Remember I am to +avenge my father's death. It may be that Lord Brian of the Isles +is waiting just inside the gate." + +Sir Lancelot consented, and the porter led in Sir Brune and +locked the gate. Inside were two great knights, the brothers of +Lord Brian of the Isles. They were almost as large as Sir Brune. +Together they set upon him. He was already tired from his fight +with the dragons, but his desire to avenge his father strengthened +his arm. One brother was soon overthrown. When the other saw +that, he yielded. Then Sir Brune sent them both to Sir Lancelot +outside the gate. + +While Sir Brune was looking about him, a third knight appeared at +the end of the courtyard. He was quite as large as Sir Brune, and +as he came spurring up, the noise of his horse's hoofs was +deafening. Sir Brune recognized him as Sir Plenorius, the cousin +of Lord Brian. + +"Ah!" cried he, "where is that wretch, Lord Brian? Am I to fight +with all his family before I meet with him?" + +Sir Plenorius wasted no words. He rushed upon Sir Brune and +struck him with his long spear. The blow broke Sir Brune's +helmet, and he had much trouble to guard his head with his +shield. He fought courageously, but he became weaker and weaker. +Then Sir Plenorius stopped fighting. + +"I know you will never yield," he said. "You are the bravest +knight I have yet seen. In truth, I loved your good father, and +grieved because my cousin slew him. I have no love for my cousin, +Lord Brian of the Isles, but I am vowed to fight for him as long +as he lives, or until I am overcome." + +Sir Brune was about to answer, but he fell back in a swoon. Sir +Plenorius lifted him gently in his arms and bore him into the +castle. He carried him up the winding stairs to the turret room, +and gently laid him on a bed. Then he went back to the courtyard. + +Meantime, Sir Lancelot, hearing the porter shout that Sir Brune +was killed, beat on the gate, but nobody would let him in. Then +with great difficulty he climbed the castle wall and leaped down. +Sir Plenorius was just about to care for the horse of Sir Brune. + +"Give me back my friend!" cried Sir Lancelot, fiercely. "Where is +my friend?" + +Then he began to fight with Sir Plenorius. Sir Plenorius was so +much larger than Sir Lancelot that he thought he could easily +overcome him. As the fight went on, however, he found himself all +but defeated. + +"Yield now to me," said Sir Lancelot. "I am Sir Lancelot of the +Lake." + +Then Sir Plenorius said: + +"Ah, my good lord, I know of your fame. If we go on fighting, you +will certainly kill me. Yet I do not want to yield, so I ask you +to treat me as I have treated Sir Brune." + +When Sir Lancelot heard how Sir Plenorius had spared Sir Brune, +he said: + +"You are a gentle knight. I am sorry you are vowed to the service +of Lord Brian of the Isles. He shall surely die." + +Sir Plenorius answered: + +"When he is dead, I will come to Arthur's Court as one of his +followers." + +All this time Sir Brune was lying in a swoon on the bed in the +turret room. But at last he came to himself and looked about him. +He saw near him his sword and shield; so he lifted them up beside +him. As he lay still, trying to recover his strength, he heard +stealthy footsteps coming up the turret stairs. They came nearer +and nearer. Suddenly, in rushed Lord Brian of the Isles. He knew +that Sir Brune was there, alone and wounded, and he intended to +kill him as he lay defenseless. Sir Brune understood this and he +cried: + +"Ah, wretch, you were ever a coward. You come to kill me as I lie +wounded here, just as you killed my poor father while he slept. +But the sight of you makes me forget my wounds." + +At these words, and at the fierce rage which shone in Sir +Brune's eyes, Lord Brian, who was indeed a coward, tried to +retreat. But Sir Brune sprang to the doorway. + +"You shall never go down by these stairs, villain," he said, "for +I will kill you!" + +Lord Brian rushed to the window and sprang out upon the +battlements. Sir Brune followed him, though with difficulty. The +two began to fight, and Sir Brune soon saw that his enemy was +trying to push him close to the edge of the battlements, that he +might fall down into the courtyard below. + +Sir Brune, at this, put himself behind Lord Brian, determined to +cast him off instead. Slowly he pushed him, until Lord Brian was +but a step from the edge. Then Sir Brune lifted his shield and +struck his enemy with it. The wicked lord lost his footing, and +was dashed to pieces at the feet of Sir Lancelot and Sir +Plenorius in the courtyard below. + +They ordered his soldiers to bury him, and while Sir Lancelot +went to care for Sir Brune, Sir Plenorius went down the hill to +find the damsel Elinor. She came back with tears of joy to Sir +Brune. + +[Illustration: _"He pushed him until he was but a step from the +edge"_] + +When Sir Brune was well enough to travel, he visited all the +castles of Lord Brian, in search of his lost mother. He was very +much afraid that she was dead, but at last he found her alive, in +the very castle which had belonged to his father. There was great +joy at their meeting. He took her to Arthur's Court, whither Sir +Lancelot had already conducted the damsel Elinor. A few days +afterward Sir Brune and the damsel were married amid great +festivities. + +[Illustration: The Shield and the Sword] + + + + +[Illustration] THE ADVENTURE OF KING PELLENORE + + +In Arthur's Court, every knight or lady who was found unworthy +was banished; yet it often took some time to discover one's real +character. + +One of the ladies of Arthur's Court was named Vivien. She was +very pretty, and as graceful as a willow wand, and so bright and +attractive in her ways that no one suspected her of being very +wicked. + +Among Arthur's bravest warriors was King Pellenore. He had once +had a great fight with Arthur, but after that they had become +friends, and King Pellenore had been made a Knight of the Round +Table. He was not often at court, for he spent much of his time +seeking for adventures. Now and then he would return and put +away his armor. Then he rode with the ladies or talked to the +other knights. + +The lady Vivien admired King Pellenore for his valor and his +mighty deeds, and whenever she could she talked with him about +his adventures. One afternoon she begged him to go for a long +ride with her through the forest. So their horses were brought +and they set forth. Just as they were passing a thick part of the +wood, a beautiful golden-haired lady stepped out. + +"Good sir knight," she cried to King Pellenore, "I ask your help. +I am here in the wood with the dear lord who is to be my husband. +He is sore wounded, for an enemy crept up behind him as we were +riding to Arthur's Court, and thrust a sword in his back." + +Then King Pellenore turned his horse's head toward the maiden. + +"Gladly will I help," he said; "lead me, maiden." + +But Vivien called him back. + +"Do not go with her," she said. "She may be a witch. Ride on with +me." + +"She is no witch, but a good maiden," said King Pellenore. + +Then the golden-haired lady spoke again. "Oh, sir knight, help +me! I must go to Arthur's Court to see my father. My dear lover +is going to ask permission to marry me. Help us or he will die." + +"Assuredly I will help you, damsel," said King Pellenore. + +Vivien held his arm, but he put her gently aside. When the wicked +woman saw that he was going to leave her, she made her horse +plunge and throw her to the ground. There she lay as if in a +faint. + +King Pellenore did not know what to do. He felt as if he must +help the beautiful lady, and yet he could not leave Vivien. So he +said: + +"Fair damsel, you shall have my help. I have never wanted to aid +anyone so much as I do you. I must save your lover and bring you +both to Arthur's Court. But let me first ride back with this lady +who has swooned. Then I will return here to you." + +"Alas, alas, I fear it will be too late," cried the damsel, +turning back into the forest. + +Then King Pellenore lifted Vivien on her horse, and tied her to +its back by her long green scarf. At this she opened her eyes and +groaned, and said that she was very sick. She made him ride very +slowly to the court. + +King Pellenore did not talk to her. He was thinking all the time +of the golden-haired maiden. As soon as he reached the city gate +he gave Vivien over into the care of a knight who was passing, +and galloped back to the woods. + +When he reached the spot where the beautiful damsel had spoken to +him, he turned into the thick part of the wood and followed a +narrow path. It was so narrow that the branches of the trees on +both sides struck his shoulders, but still he hurried on. The +path ended in a glade, and there he saw the lady and her lover +lying on the grass. + +"Alas, alas!" the lady said, "my dear lord is dead and I am +dying." + +Then King Pellenore saw that the fair young knight who lay on the +ground was very pale and quiet, and that all the grass about was +blood-stained. + +"Ah, good knight," said the lady, "after you left me, a lion ran +out of the wood and slew my lover with one stroke of his paw. He +has wounded me so sorely that I too shall die." + +Then King Pellenore wept. + +"I wish that I had made Vivien wait here," he said, "and had +helped you. I fear I have done wrong." + +He sat down and took her golden head on his knee, and spoke to +her gently till she died. Then he put her body and her lover's +body on his horse, and walked beside them sorrowfully until he +reached Arthur's Court. + +Near the great hall he met Arthur and Merlin and several knights. + +"I am a miserable man," he said. + +Then the wise Merlin said: "You are more miserable than you know. +This beautiful lady was your own daughter who was stolen from you +as a child. Only lately she learned who her father was. She was +coming here to seek you." + +Then King Pellenore wept loudly. + +"This is my punishment," he cried, "for not aiding the maiden. +The one who needs help most should be given it first, and she +needed it more than Vivien. I am indeed punished." + +"And you shall be punished yet more," said Merlin; "and in good +time, Vivien also for the part she took. Some day the friend whom +you most trust shall deceive you, and you shall be betrayed to +death." + +King Pellenore bowed his head meekly. + +"I have deserved it," he said. "And now I must bury my dear child +and her lover." + +The beautiful golden-haired lady and her lover were buried with +great mourning, and it was many a day before King Pellenore cared +to seek for adventures. + +[Illustration: The Shield] + + + + +[Illustration] SIR LANCELOT & HIS FRIENDS + + +Sir Lancelot was acknowledged by all the knights of the Round +Table to be the bravest of their number, and the one whom the +king loved most. He was not often at court, because he was nearly +always engaged in adventures which took him away from the town of +Camelot. The knights were always sorry when he went away, yet +they were sure he would return safely and with much to tell them. + +One day Sir Lancelot called his nephew Sir Lionel, and told him +to mount his horse, for they must go to seek adventures. Sir +Lionel was very glad, for it was a great honor to be chosen as a +companion by Sir Lancelot. They rode off through a deep forest, +and then across a wide, treeless plain. The sun was shining hot +and bright, and when they reached a clump of trees, Sir Lancelot +bade Sir Lionel dismount. Then the two sat in the shade to rest. + +It was not long before Sir Lancelot fell asleep. While Sir Lionel +kept guard, he saw three knights furiously pursued by another +knight, who was very large. This knight overtook the three +knights, one after another, and overthrew them, and bound them by +the reins of their bridles. Sir Lionel, who was young and +self-confident, thought that he would like to fight with this +knight. So he mounted his horse very quietly without waking his +uncle, and rode into the plain. + +When the big knight saw him coming, he laughed and rode up +quickly. At the very first stroke, young Sir Lionel fell to the +earth. The strong knight bound him fast to the other three +knights and drove them all to his castle. There he took off their +armor and clothes, and beat them with thorny sticks. After that +he threw them into a deep dungeon where there were many other +knights. + +Meanwhile Sir Hector, the foster father of King Arthur, hearing +that Sir Lancelot and Sir Lionel had gone in search of adventures, +determined to join them; so he rode hastily in pursuit. When he +had gone some distance through the forest, he met a wood-cutter, +and asked him if he had seen Sir Lancelot and Sir Lionel. The man +replied that he had not. + +"Then do you know of any adventure which I can seek?" asked Sir +Hector. + +The man answered: + +"Sir, a mile from here is a strong castle. On one side of it is a +large stream, and by that stream a large tree. At the foot of the +tree is a basin of copper. Go and strike on that three times with +your spear and you will meet with an adventure." + +"Thank you heartily," said Sir Hector. + +He rode on and soon came to the tree. Hanging on it were a great +many shields, and among them Sir Lionel's. There were also +shields which belonged to other knights of the Round Table. Sir +Hector knew that the knights must be prisoners, and he grew very +angry. + +He struck sharply on the copper basin, and at once a huge knight +appeared. + +"Come forward and fight!" cried the knight. + +"That I will," said Sir Hector. + +"But I shall win," said the knight, "for I am the great Sir +Turquaine." + +Sir Hector had heard of this powerful knight whom so many of +Arthur's lords had tried in vain to overthrow. But he was a brave +old man, and so he began to fight fearlessly. He wounded the big +knight once, but the knight wounded him many times, and at last +overcame him. He picked Sir Hector up and carried him under his +right arm into the castle. + +"You are very brave," he said, when they had reached the great +hall. "You are the first knight who has wounded me these twelve +years. Now I shall give you your freedom if you will swear to be +a follower of mine." + +"I shall never swear that," said Sir Hector; "I am a follower of +King Arthur." + +"I am sorry for that," said Sir Turquaine, "for now I must treat +you as I do all my other prisoners." + +Then he took off Sir Hector's armor and clothes, and beat him +with the thorny stick, and threw him into the dungeon. There the +old man found Sir Lionel and many other knights. + +"Is Sir Lancelot here?" asked Sir Hector, feebly. + +"No," said Sir Lionel, and told how he had left Sir Lancelot +sleeping. + +Then Sir Hector became cheerful. + +"Sir Lancelot will surely find us," he said, "and give us our +freedom." + +But Sir Lancelot still slept on under the tree. Soon four +beautiful ladies rode by, and, seeing a sleeping knight, +dismounted to look at him. They at once recognized him as Sir +Lancelot, the bravest knight in the land. One of these ladies was +Morgan le Fay, whom Arthur had forgiven for her treachery to him. +She said to her companions: + +"I will cast a spell over him, and we will carry him to my +castle. Then, when he wakes, we will make him choose one of us as +his wife." + +The other three agreed, and Morgan le Fay cast her spell. Then +the four women lifted the knight upon his horse and went with him +to the castle of Morgan le Fay. They put the knight in a richly +decorated chamber and left him. + +In the morning he awoke and wondered where he was. Soon a fair +damsel entered with food, and he asked her to explain how he came +to be in that place. + +"Sir, I cannot," she said. "But I can tell you this much: you are +under a spell. In twelve hours the spell will break, and perhaps +I can help you then." + +After the damsel had gone out, the four ladies entered. They were +clad in most beautiful robes. One had on silk that looked like +the foam of the sea. Another had on velvet that seemed like moss +from the forest. The third wore satin that was the color of maple +leaves in autumn. Morgan le Fay wore a robe that looked like a +storm-cloud, and her diamonds were like stars. + +"Choose one of us for your wife," she said, "and you shall be +very happy." + +But Sir Lancelot said: + +"Fair ladies, I have no wish to marry. I would rather fight for +my good King Arthur who needs me." + +At this the ladies were angry. + +"You shall stay here till you choose," they said. "And if you +will not choose, then you shall die in prison." + +They went out, and Sir Lancelot remained alone all day. At dusk +the fair damsel came to him. + +"My lord," she said, "the spell is broken now, and I can help +you. These ladies are not kind to me, and I am going to run away. +I will take you with me on one condition." + +"Name it, damsel," he said. + +"I am a king's daughter," she said. "My father is King +Bagdemagus." + +"He is a good man," Sir Lancelot said. "I know him well." + +"My father has been fighting in a tournament," said the maiden, +"and has been overcome, with all his knights. He feels very sad. +Now, in two days there will be another tournament at which he +must fight. If you help him, he will surely win and be happy +again." + +"I will gladly help him," said Sir Lancelot. + +Then the damsel bade him walk softly with her. She opened twelve +great doors one after another. Each had a lock with a key so +heavy that the maiden had to use both hands to turn it. At last +they reached the courtyard, and there she gave Sir Lancelot his +horse and armor. She also mounted a horse, and the two rode away. + +After riding all night, they came to the court of King +Bagdemagus. He was overjoyed to welcome Sir Lancelot, for well he +knew that none could overcome that good knight in combat. All day +there was music and dancing and feasting. Sir Lancelot, however, +could not be merry. He kept thinking of his nephew, Sir Lionel, +and wondering where he was. + +On the morning of the tournament Sir Lancelot asked King +Bagdemagus to furnish him with a white shield, because he did not +want to be known. The king did so, and also gave each of the +three knights who rode with him a shield of the same color. Sir +Lancelot went with the knights into a little leafy wood near the +field where the tournament was to be held. + +Meanwhile King Bagdemagus rode to the tournament with sixty men, +and met there the king of Northgalis with eighty men. They began +to fight, and soon those on the side of King Bagdemagus began to +be worsted. Then Sir Lancelot, with the three knights, dashed out +of the little wood and into the thick of the fight. + +No one could stand against Sir Lancelot. One of King Arthur's +knights, Sir Modred, the brother of Sir Gawain and Sir Gareth, +was fighting against King Bagdemagus. Not knowing who Sir +Lancelot was, he rushed upon him. Sir Lancelot unhorsed him, but +would not hurt him, because he was a Knight of the Round Table. +Years afterward he was sorry he had not killed him, for Sir +Modred proved to be a traitor to King Arthur. + +Sir Lancelot fought so well that, for his sake, all the prizes of +the tournament were given to King Bagdemagus, who was greatly +rejoiced, and offered large gifts to Sir Lancelot, and begged +him to be his guest for a time. But Sir Lancelot was so anxious +to find out what had become of Sir Lionel that he could not +remain. So the next day he set forth. + +He rode back towards the clump of trees where he had fallen +asleep while Sir Lionel kept watch. On the highway he met a +damsel riding on a white palfrey. + +"Fair damsel," said Sir Lancelot, "can you tell me of any +adventures hereabouts? I am Sir Lancelot of the Lake." + +"Oh, Sir Lancelot," said she, "it is indeed fortunate that you +have come, for there is here a knight named Sir Turquaine who has +put in prison many of the knights of the Round Table. You shall +fight with him for the freedom of your friends." + +Then she turned her horse, and Sir Lancelot gladly followed her. +She brought him to the tree on which hung the shields of his +brother knights. Sir Lancelot let his horse drink a little water, +and then he struck on the iron basin at the foot of the tree so +fiercely that the bottom fell out. + +[Illustration: _"He struck so fiercely the bottom fell out"_] + +No one appeared, however. Then he rode up to the castle of Sir +Turquaine. Near the gate he met the big knight. He was on foot, +driving his horse before him. On the horse lay a knight, securely +bound. Sir Lancelot recognized him as Sir Gaheris, the brother of +Sir Gawain and Sir Gareth. + +"Put down the knight," said Sir Lancelot. "Mount and fight." + +"Gladly," said Sir Turquaine. "Before long you will be sorry for +your challenge." + +Then the two rode at each other. Their horses' feet beat the dust +into clouds, and they used their swords so fiercely that their +armor rang continually like the clanging of heavy bells. They +fought until they were breathless, each bleeding from many +wounds. Then Sir Turquaine, leaning on his sword, said: + +"By my faith, never have I fought with such a strong man before. +I admire you, and I would be your friend. You fight as they say +that knight does whom I hate most in all this world. If you are +not that knight, I give you my friendship, and shall free all my +prisoners for your sake." + +"That is well said," replied Sir Lancelot. "Tell me who this +knight is whom you hate so much." + +"He is Sir Lancelot of the Lake. For hatred of him, I kill or +imprison all the knights of the Round Table whom I can find." + +"Then let us begin to fight again," said Sir Lancelot, "for I am +Sir Lancelot of the Lake." + +Then they struck at each other furiously, and soon gave each +other so many wounds that the ground was covered with blood. Sir +Turquaine was a brave man, but he was not so strong as Sir +Lancelot. After a long conflict he fell, mortally wounded, to the +ground. Then Sir Lancelot unlaced his helmet and eased him as +well as he could till he died. Afterwards he left Sir Turquaine, +and went to the porter who held the keys of the castle. + +Sir Lancelot took the keys and unlocked the doors of the prison. +He led the poor knights out into the daylight and struck off +their chains. Sir Lionel and Sir Hector were overjoyed to see +that their deliverer was indeed Sir Lancelot. Each knight found +his own armor in the armory, and his own horse in the stables. +After that a servant came with four horses laden down with +venison, and the poor knights, who for a long time had had +nothing but bread and water, enjoyed a good meal. Then Sir +Lancelot rode away in search of new adventures. + +[Illustration: The Holy Grail] + + + + +[Illustration] HOW SIR LANCELOT SAVED THE QUEEN + + +One day in May Queen Guinevere invited ten ladies and ten knights +to ride a-Maying with her the next morning in the woods. So at +the appointed time they assembled, all dressed in green silk and +green velvet, the color of young grass. The knights wore white +plumes in their helmets, and the ladies wore white May-blossoms +in their hair. They rode off very happily, telling the king that +they would return before noon. + +Now the good King Bagdemagus, for whom Sir Lancelot had fought, +had a bad son named Sir Malgrace. For a long time he had wanted +to capture the queen and carry her off to his castle. He had been +afraid to try, however, because of her large bodyguard. All the +young knights of the Round Table liked to ride with her and +protect her. They took good care of all the ladies of the Court, +but they loved the queen most. + +When Sir Malgrace heard that the queen was out a-Maying with only +a few knights, and these not fully armed, he determined to take +her prisoner. So he called together eighty men-at-arms and a +hundred archers, and set out. Soon he came upon her and her +attendants. They were sitting on a little hill, with wreaths of +flowers and leaves on their arms and necks. Before they could +rise to their feet, Sir Malgrace and his men dashed upon them. + +"Traitor!" cried the queen. "What would you do?" + +"I will carry you to my castle, fair queen," he said. "And never +again shall you go free." + +"I will not go with you," said the queen. + +Then the ten knights drew their swords and set on the hundred and +eighty men of Sir Malgrace. They fought so well that they +overthrew forty. Still, they could do little against such +numbers, and soon all were wounded. When the queen saw this, she +cried out: + +"Sir Malgrace, do not slay my noble knights, and I will go with +you. I would rather die than cause them further harm." + +The knights said that they would rather perish than be prisoners +to Sir Malgrace. However, upon an order from their lord, the +archers tied up the wounds of the queen's followers, and put them +on horseback. Then the whole company rode slowly towards the +castle of Sir Malgrace. + +Sir Malgrace kept close to the queen for fear she would escape. +Once when they were in a thick part of the wood he rode ahead to +break the branches so that they should not strike her face. Then +the queen whispered to a little maiden who rode near her: + +"If you can do so, slip away from the company. You are so small +that perhaps they will not notice you. Take this ring and give it +to our greatest knight, Sir Lancelot, and pray him to come and +rescue me." + +The little maid waited until she thought the time for escape had +come, and rode off as quietly as she could. Sir Malgrace saw her +go, and suspected that the queen had sent her. He ordered his +archers to shoot at the child, but she escaped unhurt. + +"Madam," said Sir Malgrace to the queen, "I know well that you +have sent for Sir Lancelot, but you may be sure that hither he +shall never come." + +Then Sir Malgrace ordered his archers to stand guard on the road +and shoot down any knight they saw. + +"But if he should be Sir Lancelot," he said, "be sure that you do +not venture very close to him, for he is hard to overcome." + +Meantime the little maid reached Arthur's Court in safety. She +found the king and his knights very anxious because the queen had +not returned. She told her story, and gave the queen's ring to +Sir Lancelot. + +"Bring me my armor!" shouted Sir Lancelot. "I will rescue my good +and dear queen before the night falls. I would rather see her +safe here again than own all France." + +He put on his armor and mounted his white horse and rode off +without delay. The little maid led him to the place where the ten +knights had fought with the hundred and eighty. From this point +he traced them by the blood on the grass and on the road. At last +he reached the archers. + +"Turn back," they said. "No one may pass here." + +"That I will not," said Sir Lancelot. "I am a Knight of the Round +Table, and therefore have the right of way throughout the land." + +At that they shot their arrows at him. He was wounded with many +of them, and his white horse was killed. Sir Lancelot tried to +reach the men, but there were so many hedges and ditches in the +way that he could not. They hastened back to tell Sir Malgrace +that a knight whom they had not succeeded in killing was coming +to the castle. + +Sir Lancelot tried to walk, but his armor was too heavy for him +to carry in his wounded state. He dared not leave any of it +behind, for he would need it all in fighting. Just as he was +wondering what he could do, a carter passed him, driving a rough +wagon. + +"Carter," said Sir Lancelot, "let me ride in your wagon to the +castle of Sir Malgrace." + +The carter was amazed, for in that day a knight never entered +into a cart unless he was a condemned man going to be hanged. Sir +Lancelot, however, did not stop to explain. He jumped into the +cart and told the driver to go quickly. + +Some of the ladies of Queen Guinevere were looking out of their +window, and one said to her: + +"See, my queen, there is a poor knight going to be hanged." + +The queen looked out of the window and recognized Sir Lancelot by +the three lions blazoned upon his shield. She was overjoyed, and +waved him a glad greeting as he came up to the castle gate. + +Sir Lancelot beat on the gate with his shield, and cried: + +"Come out, false traitor, Sir Malgrace; come out and fight. If +you do not, you will be branded as a coward forever." + +At first Sir Malgrace thought that he would keep his gates shut +fast and not answer the challenge. But in those days it was a +sign of great cowardice not to accept a challenge. Moreover, +since Sir Lancelot had been able to reach the castle in spite of +the archers, he was afraid other knights of the Round Table might +do the same. Then they would besiege him and force him to +surrender. Still he was afraid to fight. So he went to Queen +Guinevere and said: + +"Fair queen, remember how I saved your ten knights when I could +have killed them. Now I am sorry I took you prisoner. I beg that +you will go to Sir Lancelot and urge him not to fight. Then I +will entertain him in this castle with the best I have, and +to-morrow you shall all go back to the court." + +Then the queen said: + +"Peace is always better than war. I will do the best I can." + +So she went down to Sir Lancelot, who still beat upon the gate, +and besought him to come in peaceably, for Sir Malgrace was +sorry for what he had done. Sir Lancelot was unwilling, for he +knew that Sir Malgrace was a traitor, deserving punishment. +Still, he could not refuse the queen anything she asked him, and, +therefore, he entered the castle. + +Sir Malgrace greeted him with politeness, and served to him and +to the others of Arthur's Court, a great banquet. After that, to +the surprise of everyone, he rose and accused the queen of +treason. All the company was astonished. Sir Lancelot was very +angry. + +"If you say the queen is a traitress," he cried, "you shall fight +with me, although you were afraid just now." + +"I am not afraid to fight," said Sir Malgrace. + +"When and where will you meet me in combat?" asked Sir Lancelot. + +"In eight days," replied Sir Malgrace, "in the field near +Westminster." + +Sir Lancelot agreed to this. Then Queen Guinevere rose with all +her attendants and went into the courtyard. Their horses were +brought them and they mounted. Sir Lancelot was the last to pass +out of the banquet hall. As he was going through the door he +stepped upon a trap which Sir Malgrace had prepared for him. The +trapdoor fell and dropped him into a dark dungeon. + +When the queen and her knights and ladies had ridden out of the +courtyard, they noticed that Sir Lancelot was not with them. They +supposed, however, that he had ridden off by himself, as was +often his custom, so they went without him to Camelot, and told +the king what had happened. He was very angry at Sir Malgrace's +accusation, but he was sure that Sir Lancelot would punish Sir +Malgrace, and so vindicate Queen Guinevere. + +Meantime, the unhappy Sir Lancelot lay bruised in the dungeon, +feeling very sure that Sir Malgrace meant to starve him to death. +He lay hungry and thirsty for nearly two days. Then Sir Malgrace +peeped in to see if he were dead. + +"Ah, traitor!" cried Sir Lancelot, "I shall overcome you yet." + +At that Sir Malgrace shut the trapdoor hastily, as if he were +afraid that Sir Lancelot could leap up ten feet in the air. That +one look, however, cost the wicked knight dear, for the daughter +of the porter saw him shutting the trapdoor, and was curious to +know who was in the dungeon. So at night she opened the trapdoor +and let herself down by a rope. + +When she saw Sir Lancelot she was very sorry for him. He offered +her much money if she would free him. At last she said: + +"I will do it for love of Queen Guinevere and not for money." + +She let him climb up by the rope, and took him out of the +courtyard. He was so sick that he went to a hermit's hut and +rested for several days. When next Sir Malgrace looked into the +dungeon he heard no movement. Then he rejoiced greatly, for he +thought Sir Lancelot was dead. + +When the eighth day had come, all the knights of the Round Table +assembled in the tournament field and waited for Sir Lancelot to +appear. They all thought he would surely come. But Sir Malgrace +rode jauntily about the field. Many of the knights wondered at +his courage, not knowing the reason for his confidence. + +The herald blew his trumpet once, but Sir Lancelot did not +appear; twice, and still he did not come. Then up started several +knights and begged the king to let them fight instead of Sir +Lancelot. + +"He has been trapped," they said, "or he would be here." + +While the king was hesitating whom to choose, in rode Sir +Lancelot. He dashed up to Sir Malgrace. + +"Here I am, traitor," he said. "Now do your worst." + +Then they fought, but at the first stroke Sir Malgrace fell to +the earth. + +"Mercy!" he cried, "I yield to you, Sir Knight. Do not slay me. I +put myself in the king's hands and yours." + +Sir Lancelot was much vexed. He wanted to kill Sir Malgrace for +his treachery, and yet, since the man had asked for mercy, he +could not. So he said: + +"What, coward, would you stop already? Shame upon you! Get up and +fight." + +"I shall not rise unless you take me as one who has yielded," +answered the knight. + +Then Sir Lancelot said: + +"Traitor, I make you this offer: I will take off my helmet, unarm +my left side, and tie my left hand behind my back. In that way I +will fight with you." + +Upon hearing this, Sir Malgrace rose to his feet, sure now of +killing Sir Lancelot. + +"My lord King," cried Sir Malgrace, "you have heard this offer. I +accept." + +The king was very sorry that Sir Lancelot had made the offer. +However, it was impossible to withdraw it. A squire came and +disarmed Sir Lancelot, so that his head and left side were +without cover; and since he had only one arm to fight with, he +could not use his shield. + +Then Sir Malgrace dashed at him, aiming for his left side. Sir +Lancelot waited till he was very near, and then lightly stepped +aside. Before Sir Malgrace could turn, Sir Lancelot lifted his +spear and struck his enemy such a blow that he broke his +breastplate and pierced his heart. + +The body of Sir Malgrace was carried off the field and taken to +the castle of his good father; Queen Guinevere was proclaimed +innocent of treason; and Sir Lancelot was honored more than ever +by his king and his queen. + +[Illustration: The Two Horses] + + + + +[Illustration] SIR LANCELOT AND ELAINE + + +Every year King Arthur's knights held a grand tournament among +themselves, and contended in friendly combat for a prize. This +prize was a diamond. + +Once, in the early days of his kingship, Arthur was walking on a +craggy hill, when he came upon the skeleton of a man who had once +been a ruler. The skull still wore a gold crown set with nine +large diamonds. King Arthur took the crown and had the diamonds +unset. Each year at the friendly tournament he gave one of these +diamonds as a prize. + +There had been eight tournaments, and at each Sir Lancelot had +won the diamond. The jewel that was to be given as a prize at the +ninth tournament was the largest and most beautiful of all. +Everyone, of course, expected that Sir Lancelot would win it, but +only a few days before the contest he announced to the king that +he would not compete. + +Then the queen was vexed, for she loved Sir Lancelot more than +all the other knights, and it gave her great joy to see him +always successful in the tournaments. Therefore she urged him to +change his decision. + +"My queen," he said, "I told the king I would not fight." + +The queen replied: + +"My advice is that you go in disguise. The knights who contest +with you do so but half-heartedly, for they know your great fame +and feel sure of failure. If they did not know who you were, they +would fight better and win more glory for themselves. Then fight +as a stranger knight, and afterwards explain to the king." + +Sir Lancelot took her advice. He rode away over the woods and +hills till he came to the castle of Astolat, where he decided to +stop and ask for a disguise. He knocked on the gate, which was +opened by an old dumb servant, and entered the courtyard. The +lord of Astolat came to meet him with his two sons, Sir Torre and +Sir Lavaine, and his beautiful daughter Elaine. The lord of the +castle said: + +"Fair sir, whoever you are, you are welcome. You seem to me much +like a Knight of the Round Table." + +"That I am," said Sir Lancelot. "Hereafter I will tell you my +name; at present I wish to remain unknown. I must enter the +coming tournament as an unknown knight, and I should like to +leave with you my great shield, for it is as well known in +Camelot as I. Will you keep it and lend me another one?" + +Then answered the Lord of Astolat: + +"You may take the shield of my son Torre. He was hurt in his +first tournament, and has not been able to fight since. My son +Lavaine will gladly go with you to the tournament. Perhaps," +added the lord, laughing, "he can win the diamond, and put it in +his sister Elaine's hair." + +"Nay, father, do not make me ashamed before this noble knight," +said the young Lavaine. "I know I can never win the diamond for +Elaine, but I can at least do my best to fight." + +"Gladly will I take you for a companion," said Sir Lancelot, "and +if you can, win the diamond for this fair maiden." + +"Such a diamond," said Sir Torre, "is fit for a queen, and not +for a simple girl." + +Sir Lancelot smiled to himself. He was sure that he should win +the diamond. Then he meant to give it with the eight others to +Queen Guinevere. He spoke kindly, however, to the beautiful +Elaine. + +"In truth, this fair maiden is fit to be a queen." + +Then Elaine lifted her eyes and looked at him. He was twice as +old as she was. His face was cut and scarred with wounds which he +had received in battle, but as she looked at him, she loved him, +and felt that she would continue to love him till the day of her +death. + +They went into the great hall where a supper was laid. Sir +Lancelot talked of King Arthur and his goodness and all his +glorious deeds. Elaine thought that even Arthur could not be so +brave as this wonderful lord. All night long she dreamed of him. +In the morning she rose early and went down in the courtyard +where Sir Lancelot and Sir Lavaine were mounting their horses. + +"Fair lord," she said boldly to Sir Lancelot, "will you wear my +token in your helmet?" + +Then said Sir Lancelot: + +"Fair maiden, I have never worn favor nor token for any lady in +the tournaments. This is well known to be my custom." + +"But if you wear my token," she said, "there will be far less +likelihood of your being known by your fellow knights." + +"That is very true, my child," he said. "Bring it to me. What is +it?" + +She held it out to him; it was a red sleeve embroidered with +pearls. Sir Lancelot bound it in his helmet and said: + +"I have never done so much before for any maiden." + +[Illustration: _"She staid near it all day long in the turret"_] + +Then he and Sir Lavaine bade Elaine farewell, and the beautiful +maiden ran up to the tower of the castle and watched them from +the window for a long time. When they were out of sight she asked +the old dumb servant to carry Sir Lancelot's shield to the tower. +It was a large shield of silver, with three lions emblazoned upon +it in gold and blue, but its polished surface was covered with +dents and scratches. Elaine knelt before it, and made a story for +each scratch and mark, picturing to herself the contests in which +the good shield had taken part. For many weeks she stayed near it +all day long in the turret, watching for Sir Lancelot and her +brother to return. + +Meanwhile those two had ridden lightly to Camelot, and when they +were almost there, Sir Lancelot told Sir Lavaine his name. The +young man was astonished. He was very happy, too, to think that +he was a companion to the great knight of whom he had heard so +often. + +When Sir Lancelot and Sir Lavaine arrived at the field where the +tournament was to be held, they stood looking at the king, who +sat upon the great carved chair which had dragons' heads for the +arms and the back. On his red robe was embroidered a golden +dragon, and a golden dragon was also on his crown. Above him, set +in a canopy, was the ninth diamond. All about the king to left +and right were rows of ladies whose robes gave to the pavilion in +which they sat the brilliant hues of the rainbow. + +Sir Lancelot said to young Sir Lavaine: + +"Look at the king. You think I am great, but he is greater than +I. I can fight better than he can, but his soul is greater than +mine. Aim to become a Knight of the Round Table, and follow the +example of goodness which Arthur sets for his knights." + +At this moment the trumpets blew as a signal that the tournament +was to begin. The knights spurred their horses forward, and in a +moment their spears and shields clashed. Sir Lancelot rode +lightly here and there, overthrowing everyone with whom he +contested. All wondered at the skill of this unknown knight. Then +Sir Lancelot's kinsmen, his nephew, Sir Lionel, and others, were +angry and jealous. + +"Our Sir Lancelot should be here," they said, "to overcome this +stranger knight." + +"Perhaps this is Sir Lancelot," said one. "Two knights cannot +fight so well in this world. It must be Sir Lancelot." + +"No, no," said the others; "Sir Lancelot would never wear a +lady's favor, and this knight wears a red sleeve embroidered with +pearls. Let us set on this man and teach him that if Sir Lancelot +is not here, we, his kinsmen, will fight for his fame." + +Then all together they bore down on Sir Lancelot. His horse went +down in the shock, and he himself was wounded. A spear had +pierced his breastplate and snapped off in his side. + +Young Sir Lavaine rushed to help Sir Lancelot. The great knight +rose slowly and, with the help of his friend, drove back his kith +and kin to the far side of the field. Then sounded a great blare +of trumpets, and the king proclaimed the stranger knight victor. + +"Come forward," the herald cried, "and take your diamond." + +But poor Sir Lancelot said: + +"Talk not to me of diamonds. Give me air. I fear me I have +received my death wound. Let me go hence, and I bid you follow me +not." + +Sir Lavaine helped him upon his horse, and they two rode slowly +off the field. When they were near the neighboring forest the +great knight fell from his horse and cried: + +"Pull forth the spear-head which is in my side." + +"Oh, my lord," said Sir Lavaine, "I am afraid you will die if I +draw it forth." + +"I shall die if you leave it," said Sir Lancelot. + +So Sir Lavaine drew it forth quickly, causing Sir Lancelot to +faint from the pain. Then a hermit who lived near by came to +them, and bore the wounded knight into his hut, where for many a +week Sir Lancelot lay between life and death. + +When Arthur found that the unknown knight had gone, no one knew +whither, he was sorry. He called the light-hearted Sir Gawain and +said to him: + +"Go forth, take this diamond and seek the stranger knight. Do +not cease from your search till you have left the diamond in his +hand." + +Then Arthur went to the queen. She had been ill and had not +attended the tournament. When the king told her all that had +happened, she cried: + +"A stranger knight! My lord, my lord! That was our dear Sir +Lancelot. He was fighting in disguise." + +"Alas! he is hurt," said the king. "Perhaps he is dying. He said +that he would not fight. He should have told me that he meant to +fight in disguise. The truth, my queen, is always best." + +"Yes, my good lord, I know it," she said. "If I had but let our +Lancelot tell the truth, perhaps he would not have been wounded. +You would have called on his kinsmen to cease." + +For many days the king and Guinevere waited in deep anxiety for +news of Sir Lancelot. Meantime, Sir Gawain rode forth and sought +for the great knight in vain. At last he came to the castle of +Astolat, where he was welcomed by the lord and Sir Torre and the +fair Elaine. He told them the result of the tournament, and how +the stranger knight had won. They showed him Sir Lancelot's +shield. + +"Ah!" said Elaine, when he had told them the name of the unknown +knight, "I knew that he must be great." + +Sir Gawain guessed by the expression of her beautiful face that +she loved Sir Lancelot. So he said: + +"Fair maiden, when he returns here for his shield, give him this +diamond, which is the prize he won. Perhaps he will prize it the +more because you put it into his hand." + +Then Sir Gawain bade them farewell and rode off, lightly singing. +When he told Arthur what he had done, the king said: + +"You should have done as I bade you, Gawain. Sir Lancelot +deceived me about his disguise, and you have disobeyed me. The +kingdom will surely fail if the king and his rules are not +honored. Obedience is the courtesy due to kings." + +Meanwhile the fair Elaine went to her father and said: + +"Dear father, let me go and seek the wounded Sir Lancelot and my +brother." + +"Nay," said the lord, "it is not a fitting thing for a young +maiden like you to seek a wounded knight. He is not your lover. +It cannot be." + +"I would give him his diamond," she said, "and since he is so +sorely wounded, I would take care of him. It is not fitting, my +father, but I cannot live unless I know where he is and how he +does." + +Then, because he loved his child very much and had never refused +any request she made of him, the old lord let her go in care of +Sir Torre. The two rode for a long time, until at last, near +Camelot, they met Sir Lavaine. Elaine ran up to him and cried: + +"Lavaine, take me to Sir Lancelot." + +Sir Lavaine was much astonished that Elaine knew the name of the +stranger knight. He was glad to see her, because he thought she +could help his friend. Sir Lancelot seemed glad to see her, too, +and the beautiful maiden cared for him so tenderly that the old +hermit said he never could have recovered without her nursing. +When he was well enough, they all rode to the castle of Astolat. + +There Sir Lancelot remained for a few days; then he took his +shield and prepared to return to Camelot. Before he went he asked +Elaine if he could not do something for her in return for her +care of him. + +She grew very pale and then she said: + +"I am going to say something which I should not. I love you. Take +me with you to Camelot." + +Sir Lancelot said very gently: + +"My poor little maiden, if I had meant to take a wife, I should +have wedded earlier. All the court knows that I love only the +king and the queen. You do not really love me. Some day you will +marry a young knight, and then I shall give you many castles and +much land as a dowry." + +"I will have nothing of all that," said Elaine. + +She turned away and climbed up to the tower, while her father +said to Sir Lancelot: + +"I pray you, be discourteous in some way so that she will cease +to love you. Such love is madness." + +"It is not my habit to be discourteous," said Sir Lancelot. +"However, when she stands at the turret window to wave me +farewell, I will not look up at her." + +Sir Lancelot rode sadly away, and did not look up at the window +where Elaine stood. She watched him till he disappeared, and then +she fell in a swoon. Day after day she pined away, and one +morning she said to her father: + +"Dear father, I am going to die. When I am dead, take my bed and +cover it with rich draperies. Then dress me in my most beautiful +clothes; put a letter I have here in my hand, and lay me on the +bed. Set it on a barge, and let our dumb servant steer it down +the river to Camelot." + +Her father wept, and promised to do all that she asked. + +Sir Lancelot had gone to the Court, where he was received with +great rejoicing. For many days the knights and ladies held great +feasting in his honor, and the king and the queen would hardly +allow him to leave their presence. One day while the three stood +looking out of the palace window, they saw a black barge come +slowly down the river. + +It stopped at the palace door, and the king, going down, saw on +it the beautiful maiden Elaine, pale in death. She was dressed in +white satin, and bore a lily in her left hand and a letter in her +right. The king ordered two of his knights, the good Sir Galahad +and Sir Perceval, to carry Elaine into his great hall. Then +Arthur read the letter, which said: + +"Most noble lord, Sir Lancelot of the Lake: I, Elaine, the maid +of Astolat, come to take my last farewell of you, for you left me +without a farewell. I loved you, and my love had no return, and +so I died." + +The knights and ladies wept. Sir Lancelot said to Arthur: + +"My king, I grieve for the death of this maiden, but as I did not +love her, I could not wed her." + +The king answered: + +"You are not to blame, Sir Lancelot. The world has in it much +that is sad as well as much that is joyous. There are happenings +for which no human being can be blamed. It would be a fitting +deed, however, if you had this maiden richly buried." + +Sir Lancelot ordered a splendid funeral, such as should be given +to a queen. Over Elaine's grave was raised a beautiful tomb on +which was carved her figure, with the left hand holding a lily; +at her feet lay the shield of Sir Lancelot, and the sad story of +her death was written on the tomb in letters of gold and blue. + +[Illustration: Two Crossed Swords and a Shield] + + + + +[Illustration] THE SEARCH FOR THE HOLY GRAIL + + +In Arthur's Court there were many virtuous knights and ladies, +but the best of all was a beautiful maiden, sister to Sir +Perceval. She was so good that the evil in the world oppressed +her, and she could be happy only when she was praying for all +people to be made better. + +Once a good old man told her what was meant by the Holy Grail. + +"Grail," he said, "is the word for the cup out of which our Lord +Jesus drank, the night that he held the last supper with his +disciples. Therefore, it is called holy. There is a tradition +which says that for a long time after the death of Christ the +Holy Grail remained on earth, and any one who was sick and +touched it was healed at once. But then people grew to be so +wicked that it disappeared from earth. It is said that if a +person in our day were only good enough, he could see the Holy +Grail." + +"Really see it?" asked the maiden, eagerly, "or see it in a +vision?" + +"I do not know," answered the good old man, "but either one would +be a great happiness. For a real sight of it, or a vision, would +show the person who saw it that he was sinless." + +Then the beautiful maiden prayed more than ever. She became so +thin and pale that it seemed as if she were almost transparent, +and at last she lay dying. One morning she sent for her brother, +Sir Perceval, and for his friend, Sir Galahad. + +Sir Perceval and Sir Galahad were the two best knights in +Arthur's Court. They were not so powerful as Sir Lancelot or Sir +Geraint or Sir Gareth, but they had purer souls than these. When +they came to the bedside of the maiden, she said: + +"Oh, my brother and my friend, I have seen the Holy Grail. Last +night I was awakened by a sound like the music of a silver horn +across the hills. It was more beautiful music than any I have +ever heard. Then through my window shone a long cold beam of +silver light, and slowly across that beam came the Holy Grail. It +was red like a beautiful rose, and the light reflected from it +covered all the walls with a rosy color. And then it vanished. +Now I beg you to seek it; and go to the hall of Arthur and tell +all the other knights to take the quest. If they can but see the +Grail, it will be a sign that they are good, and that the world +is growing better." + +As she spoke, Sir Galahad's face wore an expression so like her +own that Sir Perceval was amazed. But the maiden took from the +side of her bed a sword-belt, and gave it to Sir Galahad. + +"Fair knight," she said, "I have made this golden belt of my +hair, and woven on it, in crimson and silver thread, the device +of the Holy Grail. Put on this belt, bind your sword to it, and +go forth; for you, too, shall see the Holy Grail." + +Then Sir Galahad and Sir Perceval went away quietly, for they saw +that the beautiful maiden had not long to live. That night they +went to Arthur's hall. The king was absent with the queen, but +most of the knights of the Round Table were there, and to them +Sir Galahad and Sir Perceval told the vision that Sir Perceval's +sister had seen. + +As they spoke, suddenly the torches in the hall were +extinguished; there was a loud sound like thunder and a sudden +cracking of the roof. Then a beam of light, seven times stronger +than day, streamed into the room. Across the beam stole the Holy +Grail. But it was covered by a luminous cloud, so that its shape +could not be seen. Slowly it vanished away. + +There was silence in the hall for a long time; the knights were +awe-struck and could not speak. At last Sir Perceval rose in his +seat and said in a low tone: + +"My sister saw the vision of the Holy Grail, but I, because I am +more sinful, have seen it covered with a cloud. Yet because I +wish to see it, I vow to spend twelve months and a day in search +of it. I will pray, and live as holy a life as I can, and +perhaps this vision will be mine." + +Then good Sir Bors, the cousin of Sir Lancelot, made the same +vow, as did also Sir Galahad and Sir Lancelot and Sir Gawain and +many others. After the vows had been taken, King Arthur entered. +When all had been explained to him, his face grew sorrowful. + +"If I had been here," he said, "I should not have allowed you to +swear the vow. None of you really saw the Grail; you say it was +covered with a cloud." + +Then Sir Galahad cried out: + +"My king, I saw the Grail, all crimson like a ruby, and I heard a +voice which said, 'O Galahad, O Galahad, follow me!'" + +"Ah, Galahad," said the king, tenderly, "you are fit for this +quest, this search, but the others are not. Sir Lancelot is our +strongest warrior, but he is not like Sir Galahad. Most of you, +my knights, are men with strength and will to right wrongs; that +is the work you are fitted for. You have fought in twelve great +battles with the heathen, but only one of you is fit for this +holiest of visions. Yet go, and fulfill your vow." + +The faces of the knights were downcast. The king continued: + +"While you are gone, I shall need your strength here at home, but +you will be following a wandering fire. Many of you will never +return." + +All the company felt sad. The next day when the knights departed +upon their quest, the king could hardly speak for grief, and many +of the knights and ladies wept. Those who had sworn the vow went +together to the great gate of the city of Camelot, and there they +separated. + +During the next twelvemonth many a poor laborer who had been +wronged came to Arthur's Court to find a knight who would fight +for him, and many a poor widow and maiden. But because so many of +the knights of the Round Table were absent there was little help +to be had, and Arthur's face grew sadder and sadder as time went +on. + +At last, after the twelvemonth and the day had passed, those in +Camelot began to look for the return of the knights who had taken +the vow. Alas, though they waited all day long, only Sir Gawain, +Sir Bors, Sir Perceval, and Sir Lancelot returned. In the evening +the knights of the Round Table assembled in the great hall. When +each was seated, the king rose, and said to those who had been +upon the quest: + +"My lords, I need only look at your faces to know that you have +fared ill. I dare not think of those of you who have not come +back. And now, Perceval, my knight who, next to Galahad, has the +purest soul, tell me what has happened to you." + +Sir Perceval rose slowly from his chair and said: + +"Dear my liege, when I left your court on the sad morning that we +all set forth, I did not feel the grief that many of the other +knights felt. I had been fighting so well, so many lances had +gone down before my stroke, that I was full of confidence in what +I could do. + +"I rode happily, planning all the great victories I should win. +I was sure if I righted a great many wrongs, I should soon see +the Grail. But after many days I began to grow weary. I was +riding through rough forests, and the branches bruised me and my +horse; there seemed to be no great deeds to do. I could not even +slay wild beasts, and so be of use to the poor country people. My +bed was on the hard ground, and my food was wild berries. + +"One day I came to a great castle, and here I decided to rest. +When I entered, I was warmly greeted and brought to the princess +of the castle. I found her to be one whom I had loved long ago in +her father's court. I was but a young squire and she was a great +princess, and so I had gone away without telling her how dear I +held her. + +"She greeted me kindly, and after a time she began to love me. +Soon I wondered whether I was fit to see the Holy Grail. I +thought perhaps I was one of those who were pursuing a wandering +fire. And then the people of the castle begged me to marry their +princess, and be their lord and live a happy and easeful life. + +"One night I awoke, and thought longingly of the Holy Grail. +Whether I were fit to see the vision or not, I had at least sworn +to seek it for a year and a day. And yet, I had not tried two +months! I rose hastily, dressed, and left the castle. Then for +many days I prayed and mourned. At last I sought a holy hermit, +and told him all I had done and thought since I had left Arthur's +Court. + +"The good hermit, after a short silence, said: 'My son, you have +not true humility. You have been too proud of your strength, and +too sure in the beginning that you were fit for the vision. You +have always thought first of yourself and your own glory, and not +of the good you could do.' + +"I went into the chapel of this hermit, and prayed to be relieved +of the sin of pride. As I prayed, Sir Galahad entered. He was +clad in silver armor, and his face looked like that of an angel. + +"'Oh, my brother,' he said, 'have you not seen the Grail?' And +after I had answered, he said: + +"'From the moment when I left the court of our king, the vision +has been with me. It is faint in the daytime, but at night it +shines blood red. I see it on the mountains, and in the lakes, +and on the marshes. It has made me so strong that everywhere I am +able to do good. I have broken down many evil customs. I have +fought with pagan hordes and been victor, all because of this +blessed vision. Perceval, I have not long to live. I am going to +the great city above, which is more beautiful than any earthly +city. Come out with me this night, and before you die you shall +see this vision.' + +"Then I followed Sir Galahad out of the chapel. We climbed a hill +which was steep and rugged, Sir Galahad going first, and his +silver armor guiding me. When we came to the top, a storm broke +over us, and the lightning seemed to follow us as we descended +the hill on the other side. At the bottom of it there was a great +black swamp, leading to the sea. It was crossed by a huge bridge +built by some forgotten king. Here Sir Galahad left me and ran +over the bridge till he reached the sea. His armor shone like a +star, far away at the edge of the water. And then I saw him no +more. + +[Illustration: _"And across it slowly moved the Holy Grail"_] + +"I knelt on the black ground and wept, and wished that I were as +good as Sir Galahad, and could do deeds as he did, not to win +glory, but to help those who needed help. And as I wept, I was +aware of a great light over me. I looked up and saw a silver +beam, and across it slowly moved the Holy Grail. It was no longer +muffled in a cloud, but shone crimson as a ruby. + +"I made my way back to the chapel and prayed all the rest of the +night. In the morning I found Sir Galahad's body by the sea. He +was beautiful as a saint, though he was worn and thin from long +self-sacrifice. I buried him and then turned my steps to Camelot. + +"And now, my lord Arthur, I shall never fight again. I shall +become a monk and pass my life in prayer as my sister did. Among +my brother monks, there will be very many little deeds of +service I can do. Thus will I spend my life." + +All the knights were very much moved and the king looked +affectionately at Sir Perceval, but he did not speak to him. He +turned to Sir Gawain and said: + +"Sir Gawain, was this quest for you?" + +Then Sir Gawain, always light-hearted and easily turned away from +one thing to another, said: + +"Nay, my king, such a search is not for one like me. In a little +time I became tired. I talked to a holy man who told me that I +was not fit for such a vision. So I journeyed till I came to a +field with silk pavilions and very many knights and ladies. And +with them I lived happily for the year." + +The good king looked displeased, but his face grew tender as he +turned to Sir Bors. + +"Bors," he said, "good, faithful, and honest you have ever been. +Tell me what you have seen." + +Sir Bors, who stood near Sir Lancelot, said: + +"My lord Arthur, after I had started on the quest, I was told +that madness had fallen upon my kinsman, Sir Lancelot. This so +grieved me that I had but little heart to seek for the Holy +Grail. Yet I sought for it. I believed that if God meant me to +see the vision he would send it. + +"I traveled till I came to a people who were heathen. They knew +much of magic, but nothing of God. I stayed with them, and tried +to teach them our faith, but they were angry because I would not +believe in their gods, and they put me into prison. + +"I was there many months in darkness and cold. But I tried to be +patient, and prayed that my patience would count for something, +although I could not do any good deeds. I had at least been +faithful though I failed. + +"One night a stone slipped from my prison wall, and I could see a +space of sky, with seven stars set across it. Then slowly across +the space glided the Holy Grail. My happiness was great, for I +had seen the vision. + +"The next morning, a maiden who had been secretly converted to +our religion released me from prison, and I came hither." + +Then the king spoke to Sir Lancelot. + +"My Lancelot, the mightiest of us all, have you succeeded in this +quest?" + +Then Sir Lancelot groaned. + +"O, king!" he cried, "your mightiest, yes; and yet, far better it +would be if I were like Sir Galahad. A great sin is on my soul, +and it was to be rid of this sin that I undertook the quest of +the Holy Grail. A hermit told me that only by putting this sin +away should I ever see the vision. I strove so hard against it +that my old sickness came upon me. I became mad, and rode up and +down among waste places, fighting with small men who overthrew +me. The day has been when the very sound of my name would have +made them tremble. + +"At last I came to the sea and saw a boat anchored near the +shore. I stepped into it, loosed the anchor, and floated away. +For seven days I sailed, and at last I came to an old castle. I +entered and heard a voice singing. I followed it up, up for a +thousand steps. At last I came to a door, which burst open before +me. Perhaps I dreamed, and yet I believe I saw the Holy Grail, +though it was veiled and guarded by great angels. I thought I saw +all this, and then I swooned away. When I came to myself, I was +alone in the room. It was many days before I made my way back to +Camelot." + +For a long time there was silence in the hall, and then Sir +Gawain said: + +"Sir king, I can fight, and I always shall fight for you. But I +do not believe in this vision. All the knights were mad, like Sir +Lancelot. They did not really have the vision; it was but fancy." + +Then the king spoke gravely to Sir Gawain. + +"Sir Gawain, you are indeed not fit for such a vision, but you +should not doubt that others have seen it. I was right, my +knights, when I said that most of you would follow a wandering +fire. How many of those who left me have not returned, and never +will!" + +The knights looked at the empty chairs. The king went on: + +"Sir Galahad was the only one who completely saw the vision. He +was indeed blessed, and fit for such a quest. You who were unfit +should have stayed with me to help govern this land." + +The knights were silent and sad; then the king said: + +"My dear knights whom I love, always remember this: whether you +seek for a vision, or do humble service as Sir Perceval will for +his fellow-monks, or fight to right wrongs as Sir Lancelot does, +whatever you do your aim must be to make yourself useful to the +world by the work for which you are best fitted." + +The king rose from the Round Table and left the company, Sir +Lancelot following him. Then the other knights departed, one by +one, and the great hall was left empty, with its shields +glimmering in the moonlight. + +[Illustration: The Knight with the Sword] + + + + +[Illustration] THE DEATH OF ARTHUR + + +King Arthur's Round Table had lasted many years, and the knights +had done much to help the people of the country; yet there were +traitors to the king among his own subjects. One of these +traitors made war in a distant part of the kingdom, and Arthur +went with most of his knights to punish him. His nephew, Sir +Modred, the brother of Sir Gawain and Sir Gareth, ruled in his +stead at Camelot. + +Now Sir Modred was a wicked knight. He hated the king and the +queen, and Sir Lancelot. Since King Arthur was absent a long +time, Sir Modred had the opportunity of doing much harm. He let +evil go unpunished; he allowed bad customs to come into the +country; and at last he raised a rebellion against the good +king. + +When Arthur returned to Camelot to quell this rebellion, he had +lost many of his faithful knights. Sir Hector was dead, and Sir +Ulfius and Sir Brastias; Sir Kay was dead, and Sir Bors, and Sir +Gawain. Sir Lancelot was far away. Sir Bedivere alone remained of +those who had been with Arthur since he had first ruled in Wales +and Britain. + +The king and Sir Bedivere, with the help of such knights as still +were faithful, tried to put down those rebels. They drove the +traitors back until they came at length to Lyonnesse by the sea. +Here the last great battle took place. + +The night before the battle, Sir Bedivere heard the king praying. +Then Arthur slept, and when he awakened he called to his friend: + +"Sir Bedivere," he said, "I have had a dream. I thought that Sir +Gawain came to me and told me that to-morrow I shall die." + +"My lord, it is but a dream," answered Sir Bedivere. "You are +great; you have done much good which will last forever, and you +will live many years yet to perform many gracious acts. The day +will soon dawn, and you will win the battle." + +Arthur shook his head. + +"This is not like my other battles. I have no heart for it. It is +hard to slay my own people, even if they are traitors." + +Day came, but no sun. A cold white mist lay over land and sea. It +chilled the knights to the bone. And when the battle began, the +mist was so thick that no one could see with whom he was +fighting. Friends slew each other, not knowing whom they killed. +Some could not fight at all, for it seemed to them that those +moving on the battle-field were ghosts of warriors long since +slain. There was many a noble deed and many a base one done in +that mist. + +The fighting went on with clashing of lances and shields +throughout the afternoon, and then the sounds grew fainter, till +there was silence. At last, towards sunset, a wind from the west +blew the mist away. Then Arthur, with Sir Bedivere by his side, +looked over the field of battle. He saw but one man standing; +all the rest were dead on the seashore. And the tide had risen, +and was swaying the helpless hands, and tumbling up and down the +hollow helmets and the broken spears that once had fought with +Rome. The king's face was white, and his voice was low as he said +to Sir Bedivere: + +"There lie my slain, who have died for me. I am king only of the +dead." + +"Nay, lord," said Sir Bedivere. "You are king everywhere still. +Now strike a kingly stroke against the one traitor who still +stands." + +Sir Bedivere pointed at the one other living man, and the king +saw that it was Sir Modred. Arthur threw down his scabbard and +lifted his good Excalibur. Then he sprang upon the traitor. Sir +Modred struck the king on the helmet, which had been worn thin in +many battles. The stroke cut through the steel, and wounded +Arthur mortally, but he used his ebbing strength for one last +blow with Excalibur, and killed Sir Modred. + +The king sank to the ground, but Sir Bedivere lifted him, and +bore him to a ruined chapel near the seashore. When he had laid +him down by the broken cross in the chancel, Arthur said: + +"You know well that my Excalibur was given to me by the Lady of +the Lake. I have used it like a king. And now the time has come +to obey the writing on the blade. So take my sword Excalibur, and +throw it far out into the lake." + +Sir Bedivere took the sword and went out from the ruined chapel. +He walked amid the graves of ancient knights over which the sea +wind was singing. He passed the barren cliffs and chasms, and +reached the lake at last. + +He lifted Excalibur, and as he did so the moon came from behind +the clouds. The light fell on the hilt of the sword, and all the +jewels shone. Sir Bedivere looked until his eyes were dazzled; he +could not throw the beautiful weapon away. So he hid it in the +weeds upon the shore of the lake, and returned to the king. + +"What did you see or hear?" asked Arthur. + +Sir Bedivere replied: + +"I heard the ripple washing in the reeds, and the wild water +lapping on the crags." + +King Arthur, faint and pale, said: + +"You have betrayed me. You have acted a lie. Had you thrown the +sword, something would have happened, some sign would have been +given. Go back now, and throw it into the lake." + +Sir Bedivere went back and again picked up Excalibur. As he +looked at it he said aloud: + +"Surely it is not right to throw away such a precious thing. It +would please the eyes of people forever. I know it is wrong to +disobey the king. Yet he is sick; perhaps he does not know what +he is doing. If I keep Excalibur and store it in a great +treasure-house, people will look at it throughout all the coming +years, and feel great reverence for the king who fought with it." + +So again Sir Bedivere hid the sword and returned to the king, who +asked: + +"What have you seen or heard?" + +And Sir Bedivere replied: + +"I heard the water lapping on the crag, and the long ripple +washing in the reeds." + +Then the king was very angry. + +"Ah, unkind!" he cried. "You, too, are a traitor. Because I am +dying, I have no authority. You refuse to obey me, you who are +the last of my knights! Yet it is possible for a man to fail in +his duty twice, and succeed the third time. Go now, and throw +Excalibur." + +Sir Bedivere ran quickly and seized the sword, shutting his eyes +that he might not see its beauty. He whirled it round his head +and threw it far out over the lake. It flashed in the moonlight +and fell. But before it reached the surface of the water, an arm, +clothed in pure white, rose and caught it, brandished it three +times, and then drew it under the water. + +When Sir Bedivere went back to Arthur, the king knew that he had +been obeyed. + +"I am dying," he said. "Lift me on your back and carry me to the +lake." + +Then Sir Bedivere carried the helpless king, walking quickly +through the place of tombs, and over the crags, and past the +chasms, till he came to the smooth shining lake. There beside the +bank was a barge, all black. The deck was covered with stately +figures of people clad in mourning. Among them were three fair +queens with crowns of gold--the three queens who were to help +Arthur at his need. + +They had come to take him away, Sir Bedivere did not know where. +When they saw the wounded king, they gave a cry of grief that +seemed to rise to the stars. Then they lifted him into the barge. +The tallest put his head on her knees, and took off his broken +helmet. She called him by name, weeping bitterly. + +Poor Sir Bedivere cried: + +"Oh, my Lord Arthur, you are leaving me. Where shall I go? The +great Round Table is broken up forever. What shall I do?" + +Then Arthur answered: + +"Old customs pass and new ones come. God makes his world better +in many ways. The Round Table did its work and now has disappeared; +but something else will surely come to advance the cause of +truth and justice. Pray for me and for yourself. More things are +done by prayer than this world dreams of. And now, farewell! You +shall never see me again, my Bedivere. My work is done; yours, +too, is nearly over. Farewell!" + +Then the barge moved slowly away, while those on board lamented. +Sir Bedivere watched it till it disappeared amid the shadows over +the lake. Then he rose slowly and wandered back to Lyonnesse. + +After a time he went to Camelot. There was a new king there, who +was good, and new customs, also good. But Sir Bedivere was too +old to change his way of life. He spent the rest of his days in +Camelot, but he lived only in the past, dreaming of the time when +King Arthur and his knights of the Round Table ruled in the land. + +[Illustration: The Shield and the Sword] + + + + + +End of Project Gutenberg's King Arthur and His Knights, by Maude L. Radford + +*** END OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK KING ARTHUR AND HIS KNIGHTS *** + +***** This file should be named 21865-8.txt or 21865-8.zip ***** +This and all associated files of various formats will be found in: + http://www.gutenberg.org/2/1/8/6/21865/ + +Produced by Greg Weeks, Irma Spehar and the Online +Distributed Proofreading Team at http://www.pgdp.net + + +Updated editions will replace the previous one--the old editions +will be renamed. + +Creating the works from public domain print editions means that no +one owns a United States copyright in these works, so the Foundation +(and you!) can copy and distribute it in the United States without +permission and without paying copyright royalties. Special rules, +set forth in the General Terms of Use part of this license, apply to +copying and distributing Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works to +protect the PROJECT GUTENBERG-tm concept and trademark. Project +Gutenberg is a registered trademark, and may not be used if you +charge for the eBooks, unless you receive specific permission. If you +do not charge anything for copies of this eBook, complying with the +rules is very easy. You may use this eBook for nearly any purpose +such as creation of derivative works, reports, performances and +research. They may be modified and printed and given away--you may do +practically ANYTHING with public domain eBooks. Redistribution is +subject to the trademark license, especially commercial +redistribution. + + + +*** START: FULL LICENSE *** + +THE FULL PROJECT GUTENBERG LICENSE +PLEASE READ THIS BEFORE YOU DISTRIBUTE OR USE THIS WORK + +To protect the Project Gutenberg-tm mission of promoting the free +distribution of electronic works, by using or distributing this work +(or any other work associated in any way with the phrase "Project +Gutenberg"), you agree to comply with all the terms of the Full Project +Gutenberg-tm License (available with this file or online at +http://gutenberg.org/license). + + +Section 1. General Terms of Use and Redistributing Project Gutenberg-tm +electronic works + +1.A. By reading or using any part of this Project Gutenberg-tm +electronic work, you indicate that you have read, understand, agree to +and accept all the terms of this license and intellectual property +(trademark/copyright) agreement. If you do not agree to abide by all +the terms of this agreement, you must cease using and return or destroy +all copies of Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works in your possession. +If you paid a fee for obtaining a copy of or access to a Project +Gutenberg-tm electronic work and you do not agree to be bound by the +terms of this agreement, you may obtain a refund from the person or +entity to whom you paid the fee as set forth in paragraph 1.E.8. + +1.B. "Project Gutenberg" is a registered trademark. It may only be +used on or associated in any way with an electronic work by people who +agree to be bound by the terms of this agreement. There are a few +things that you can do with most Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works +even without complying with the full terms of this agreement. See +paragraph 1.C below. There are a lot of things you can do with Project +Gutenberg-tm electronic works if you follow the terms of this agreement +and help preserve free future access to Project Gutenberg-tm electronic +works. See paragraph 1.E below. + +1.C. The Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation ("the Foundation" +or PGLAF), owns a compilation copyright in the collection of Project +Gutenberg-tm electronic works. Nearly all the individual works in the +collection are in the public domain in the United States. If an +individual work is in the public domain in the United States and you are +located in the United States, we do not claim a right to prevent you from +copying, distributing, performing, displaying or creating derivative +works based on the work as long as all references to Project Gutenberg +are removed. Of course, we hope that you will support the Project +Gutenberg-tm mission of promoting free access to electronic works by +freely sharing Project Gutenberg-tm works in compliance with the terms of +this agreement for keeping the Project Gutenberg-tm name associated with +the work. You can easily comply with the terms of this agreement by +keeping this work in the same format with its attached full Project +Gutenberg-tm License when you share it without charge with others. + +1.D. The copyright laws of the place where you are located also govern +what you can do with this work. Copyright laws in most countries are in +a constant state of change. If you are outside the United States, check +the laws of your country in addition to the terms of this agreement +before downloading, copying, displaying, performing, distributing or +creating derivative works based on this work or any other Project +Gutenberg-tm work. The Foundation makes no representations concerning +the copyright status of any work in any country outside the United +States. + +1.E. Unless you have removed all references to Project Gutenberg: + +1.E.1. The following sentence, with active links to, or other immediate +access to, the full Project Gutenberg-tm License must appear prominently +whenever any copy of a Project Gutenberg-tm work (any work on which the +phrase "Project Gutenberg" appears, or with which the phrase "Project +Gutenberg" is associated) is accessed, displayed, performed, viewed, +copied or distributed: + +This eBook is for the use of anyone anywhere at no cost and with +almost no restrictions whatsoever. You may copy it, give it away or +re-use it under the terms of the Project Gutenberg License included +with this eBook or online at www.gutenberg.org + +1.E.2. If an individual Project Gutenberg-tm electronic work is derived +from the public domain (does not contain a notice indicating that it is +posted with permission of the copyright holder), the work can be copied +and distributed to anyone in the United States without paying any fees +or charges. If you are redistributing or providing access to a work +with the phrase "Project Gutenberg" associated with or appearing on the +work, you must comply either with the requirements of paragraphs 1.E.1 +through 1.E.7 or obtain permission for the use of the work and the +Project Gutenberg-tm trademark as set forth in paragraphs 1.E.8 or +1.E.9. + +1.E.3. If an individual Project Gutenberg-tm electronic work is posted +with the permission of the copyright holder, your use and distribution +must comply with both paragraphs 1.E.1 through 1.E.7 and any additional +terms imposed by the copyright holder. Additional terms will be linked +to the Project Gutenberg-tm License for all works posted with the +permission of the copyright holder found at the beginning of this work. + +1.E.4. Do not unlink or detach or remove the full Project Gutenberg-tm +License terms from this work, or any files containing a part of this +work or any other work associated with Project Gutenberg-tm. + +1.E.5. Do not copy, display, perform, distribute or redistribute this +electronic work, or any part of this electronic work, without +prominently displaying the sentence set forth in paragraph 1.E.1 with +active links or immediate access to the full terms of the Project +Gutenberg-tm License. + +1.E.6. You may convert to and distribute this work in any binary, +compressed, marked up, nonproprietary or proprietary form, including any +word processing or hypertext form. However, if you provide access to or +distribute copies of a Project Gutenberg-tm work in a format other than +"Plain Vanilla ASCII" or other format used in the official version +posted on the official Project Gutenberg-tm web site (www.gutenberg.org), +you must, at no additional cost, fee or expense to the user, provide a +copy, a means of exporting a copy, or a means of obtaining a copy upon +request, of the work in its original "Plain Vanilla ASCII" or other +form. Any alternate format must include the full Project Gutenberg-tm +License as specified in paragraph 1.E.1. + +1.E.7. Do not charge a fee for access to, viewing, displaying, +performing, copying or distributing any Project Gutenberg-tm works +unless you comply with paragraph 1.E.8 or 1.E.9. + +1.E.8. You may charge a reasonable fee for copies of or providing +access to or distributing Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works provided +that + +- You pay a royalty fee of 20% of the gross profits you derive from + the use of Project Gutenberg-tm works calculated using the method + you already use to calculate your applicable taxes. The fee is + owed to the owner of the Project Gutenberg-tm trademark, but he + has agreed to donate royalties under this paragraph to the + Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation. Royalty payments + must be paid within 60 days following each date on which you + prepare (or are legally required to prepare) your periodic tax + returns. Royalty payments should be clearly marked as such and + sent to the Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation at the + address specified in Section 4, "Information about donations to + the Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation." + +- You provide a full refund of any money paid by a user who notifies + you in writing (or by e-mail) within 30 days of receipt that s/he + does not agree to the terms of the full Project Gutenberg-tm + License. You must require such a user to return or + destroy all copies of the works possessed in a physical medium + and discontinue all use of and all access to other copies of + Project Gutenberg-tm works. + +- You provide, in accordance with paragraph 1.F.3, a full refund of any + money paid for a work or a replacement copy, if a defect in the + electronic work is discovered and reported to you within 90 days + of receipt of the work. + +- You comply with all other terms of this agreement for free + distribution of Project Gutenberg-tm works. + +1.E.9. If you wish to charge a fee or distribute a Project Gutenberg-tm +electronic work or group of works on different terms than are set +forth in this agreement, you must obtain permission in writing from +both the Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation and Michael +Hart, the owner of the Project Gutenberg-tm trademark. Contact the +Foundation as set forth in Section 3 below. + +1.F. + +1.F.1. Project Gutenberg volunteers and employees expend considerable +effort to identify, do copyright research on, transcribe and proofread +public domain works in creating the Project Gutenberg-tm +collection. Despite these efforts, Project Gutenberg-tm electronic +works, and the medium on which they may be stored, may contain +"Defects," such as, but not limited to, incomplete, inaccurate or +corrupt data, transcription errors, a copyright or other intellectual +property infringement, a defective or damaged disk or other medium, a +computer virus, or computer codes that damage or cannot be read by +your equipment. + +1.F.2. LIMITED WARRANTY, DISCLAIMER OF DAMAGES - Except for the "Right +of Replacement or Refund" described in paragraph 1.F.3, the Project +Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation, the owner of the Project +Gutenberg-tm trademark, and any other party distributing a Project +Gutenberg-tm electronic work under this agreement, disclaim all +liability to you for damages, costs and expenses, including legal +fees. YOU AGREE THAT YOU HAVE NO REMEDIES FOR NEGLIGENCE, STRICT +LIABILITY, BREACH OF WARRANTY OR BREACH OF CONTRACT EXCEPT THOSE +PROVIDED IN PARAGRAPH F3. YOU AGREE THAT THE FOUNDATION, THE +TRADEMARK OWNER, AND ANY DISTRIBUTOR UNDER THIS AGREEMENT WILL NOT BE +LIABLE TO YOU FOR ACTUAL, DIRECT, INDIRECT, CONSEQUENTIAL, PUNITIVE OR +INCIDENTAL DAMAGES EVEN IF YOU GIVE NOTICE OF THE POSSIBILITY OF SUCH +DAMAGE. + +1.F.3. LIMITED RIGHT OF REPLACEMENT OR REFUND - If you discover a +defect in this electronic work within 90 days of receiving it, you can +receive a refund of the money (if any) you paid for it by sending a +written explanation to the person you received the work from. If you +received the work on a physical medium, you must return the medium with +your written explanation. The person or entity that provided you with +the defective work may elect to provide a replacement copy in lieu of a +refund. If you received the work electronically, the person or entity +providing it to you may choose to give you a second opportunity to +receive the work electronically in lieu of a refund. If the second copy +is also defective, you may demand a refund in writing without further +opportunities to fix the problem. + +1.F.4. Except for the limited right of replacement or refund set forth +in paragraph 1.F.3, this work is provided to you 'AS-IS' WITH NO OTHER +WARRANTIES OF ANY KIND, EXPRESS OR IMPLIED, INCLUDING BUT NOT LIMITED TO +WARRANTIES OF MERCHANTIBILITY OR FITNESS FOR ANY PURPOSE. + +1.F.5. Some states do not allow disclaimers of certain implied +warranties or the exclusion or limitation of certain types of damages. +If any disclaimer or limitation set forth in this agreement violates the +law of the state applicable to this agreement, the agreement shall be +interpreted to make the maximum disclaimer or limitation permitted by +the applicable state law. The invalidity or unenforceability of any +provision of this agreement shall not void the remaining provisions. + +1.F.6. INDEMNITY - You agree to indemnify and hold the Foundation, the +trademark owner, any agent or employee of the Foundation, anyone +providing copies of Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works in accordance +with this agreement, and any volunteers associated with the production, +promotion and distribution of Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works, +harmless from all liability, costs and expenses, including legal fees, +that arise directly or indirectly from any of the following which you do +or cause to occur: (a) distribution of this or any Project Gutenberg-tm +work, (b) alteration, modification, or additions or deletions to any +Project Gutenberg-tm work, and (c) any Defect you cause. + + +Section 2. Information about the Mission of Project Gutenberg-tm + +Project Gutenberg-tm is synonymous with the free distribution of +electronic works in formats readable by the widest variety of computers +including obsolete, old, middle-aged and new computers. It exists +because of the efforts of hundreds of volunteers and donations from +people in all walks of life. + +Volunteers and financial support to provide volunteers with the +assistance they need, is critical to reaching Project Gutenberg-tm's +goals and ensuring that the Project Gutenberg-tm collection will +remain freely available for generations to come. In 2001, the Project +Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation was created to provide a secure +and permanent future for Project Gutenberg-tm and future generations. +To learn more about the Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation +and how your efforts and donations can help, see Sections 3 and 4 +and the Foundation web page at http://www.pglaf.org. + + +Section 3. Information about the Project Gutenberg Literary Archive +Foundation + +The Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation is a non profit +501(c)(3) educational corporation organized under the laws of the +state of Mississippi and granted tax exempt status by the Internal +Revenue Service. The Foundation's EIN or federal tax identification +number is 64-6221541. Its 501(c)(3) letter is posted at +http://pglaf.org/fundraising. Contributions to the Project Gutenberg +Literary Archive Foundation are tax deductible to the full extent +permitted by U.S. federal laws and your state's laws. + +The Foundation's principal office is located at 4557 Melan Dr. S. +Fairbanks, AK, 99712., but its volunteers and employees are scattered +throughout numerous locations. Its business office is located at +809 North 1500 West, Salt Lake City, UT 84116, (801) 596-1887, email +business@pglaf.org. Email contact links and up to date contact +information can be found at the Foundation's web site and official +page at http://pglaf.org + +For additional contact information: + Dr. Gregory B. Newby + Chief Executive and Director + gbnewby@pglaf.org + + +Section 4. Information about Donations to the Project Gutenberg +Literary Archive Foundation + +Project Gutenberg-tm depends upon and cannot survive without wide +spread public support and donations to carry out its mission of +increasing the number of public domain and licensed works that can be +freely distributed in machine readable form accessible by the widest +array of equipment including outdated equipment. Many small donations +($1 to $5,000) are particularly important to maintaining tax exempt +status with the IRS. + +The Foundation is committed to complying with the laws regulating +charities and charitable donations in all 50 states of the United +States. Compliance requirements are not uniform and it takes a +considerable effort, much paperwork and many fees to meet and keep up +with these requirements. We do not solicit donations in locations +where we have not received written confirmation of compliance. To +SEND DONATIONS or determine the status of compliance for any +particular state visit http://pglaf.org + +While we cannot and do not solicit contributions from states where we +have not met the solicitation requirements, we know of no prohibition +against accepting unsolicited donations from donors in such states who +approach us with offers to donate. + +International donations are gratefully accepted, but we cannot make +any statements concerning tax treatment of donations received from +outside the United States. U.S. laws alone swamp our small staff. + +Please check the Project Gutenberg Web pages for current donation +methods and addresses. Donations are accepted in a number of other +ways including checks, online payments and credit card donations. +To donate, please visit: http://pglaf.org/donate + + +Section 5. General Information About Project Gutenberg-tm electronic +works. + +Professor Michael S. Hart is the originator of the Project Gutenberg-tm +concept of a library of electronic works that could be freely shared +with anyone. For thirty years, he produced and distributed Project +Gutenberg-tm eBooks with only a loose network of volunteer support. + + +Project Gutenberg-tm eBooks are often created from several printed +editions, all of which are confirmed as Public Domain in the U.S. +unless a copyright notice is included. Thus, we do not necessarily +keep eBooks in compliance with any particular paper edition. + + +Most people start at our Web site which has the main PG search facility: + + http://www.gutenberg.org + +This Web site includes information about Project Gutenberg-tm, +including how to make donations to the Project Gutenberg Literary +Archive Foundation, how to help produce our new eBooks, and how to +subscribe to our email newsletter to hear about new eBooks. diff --git a/21865-8.zip b/21865-8.zip Binary files differnew file mode 100644 index 0000000..e853984 --- /dev/null +++ b/21865-8.zip diff --git a/21865-h.zip b/21865-h.zip Binary files differnew file mode 100644 index 0000000..34f772a --- /dev/null +++ b/21865-h.zip diff --git a/21865-h/21865-h.htm b/21865-h/21865-h.htm new file mode 100644 index 0000000..9b20d51 --- /dev/null +++ b/21865-h/21865-h.htm @@ -0,0 +1,6225 @@ +<!DOCTYPE html PUBLIC "-//W3C//DTD XHTML 1.0 Strict//EN" + "http://www.w3.org/TR/xhtml1/DTD/xhtml1-strict.dtd"> + +<html xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml"> + <head> + <meta http-equiv="Content-Type" content="text/html;charset=iso-8859-1" /> + <title> + The Project Gutenberg eBook of King Arthur And His Knights, by AUTHOR. + </title> + <style type="text/css"> +/*<![CDATA[ XML blockout */ +<!-- + p { margin-top: .75em; + text-align: justify; + margin-bottom: .75em; + text-indent: 1em; + } + h1,h2,h3,h4,h5,h6 { + text-align: center; /* all headings centered */ + clear: both; + } + + hr {width: 20%; + margin-top: 2em; + margin-bottom: 1em; + margin-left: auto; + margin-right: auto; + clear: both; + height: 1px; + border: 0; + background-color: black; + color: black;} + + table {margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;} + + td.toc {text-align: left; + padding-right: 6em;} + + td.pageno {text-align: right;} + + body{margin-left: 10%; + margin-right: 10%; + } + + .dropcap { + float: left; + padding-left: 3px; + padding-right: 3px; + font-size: 250%; + line-height: 83%; + overflow: visible; + } + + .firstword { + text-transform: uppercase; + letter-spacing: 0.15ex; + } + + p.newchapter { + text-indent: 0em; + } + + p.publisher { + margin-top: 2em; + text-align: center; + font-size: 110%; + margin-bottom: 3em; + font-weight: bold; + text-indent: 0em; + } + + p.copyright { + margin-top: 4em; + text-align: center; + font-size: 110%; + margin-bottom: 3em; + font-weight: bold; + text-indent: 0em; + } + + p.author {margin-top: 4em; + text-align: center; + text-indent: 0em; + font-weight: bold; + font-size: 110%; + letter-spacing: 0.10ex;} + + p.dedication {margin-top: 4em; + text-align: center; + text-indent: 0em; + padding-bottom: 2em;} + + p.heading {padding-top: 5em; + text-align: justify; + margin-bottom: 1em; + text-indent: 1em; + font-weight: bold; + font-size: 130%; + padding-left: 7em;} + + img + {border-style: none; + margin-bottom: 1em; + } + + sup { vertical-align: baseline; + font-size: 90%; + position: relative; + top: -.4em; } + + .pagenum { /* uncomment the next line for invisible page numbers */ + /* visibility: hidden; */ + position: absolute; + right: 1%; + font-size: x-small; + text-align: right; + } /* page numbers */ + + a:link { + text-decoration: none; + color: #104E8B; + background-color: inherit; + } + a:visited { + text-decoration: none; + color: #8B0000; + background-color: inherit; + } + a:hover { + text-decoration: underline; + } + a:active { + text-decoration: underline; + } + + .center {text-align: center;} + .smcap {font-variant: small-caps;} + .caption {width: 12ex; text-align: right; + font-style: italic; + } + + div.clear { + clear: both; + } + + .figcenter {margin: auto; text-align: center;} + + .figleft {float: left; clear: left; margin-left: 0; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-top: + 1em; margin-right: 1em; padding: 0; text-align: center;} + + // --> + /* XML end ]]>*/ + </style> + </head> +<body> + + +<pre> + +Project Gutenberg's King Arthur and His Knights, by Maude L. Radford + +This eBook is for the use of anyone anywhere at no cost and with +almost no restrictions whatsoever. You may copy it, give it away or +re-use it under the terms of the Project Gutenberg License included +with this eBook or online at www.gutenberg.org + + +Title: King Arthur and His Knights + +Author: Maude L. Radford + +Illustrator: Walter J. Enright + +Release Date: June 19, 2007 [EBook #21865] + +Language: English + +Character set encoding: ISO-8859-1 + +*** START OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK KING ARTHUR AND HIS KNIGHTS *** + + + + +Produced by Greg Weeks, Irma Spehar and the Online +Distributed Proofreading Team at http://www.pgdp.net + + + + + + +</pre> + + +<div class="figcenter" style="width: 500px;"> +<img src="images/illo001.png" width="500" height="109" alt="King Arthur and His Knights" title="King Arthur and His Knights" /> +</div> + +<p class="figcenter"><a href="images/cover.jpg"><img src="images/cover_th.jpg" +alt="The Cover" title="The Cover" /></a></p> + +<div style="width: 480px; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; padding-top: 1em"><a name="frontispiece" id="frontispiece"></a> +<div style="width: 12ex; float: left;"><p class="caption">King Arthur and his Knights of the Round Table</p></div> +<div style="padding-left: 1ex; float: left; width:300px;"><a href="images/illo002.png"><img src="images/illo002_th.png" +alt="The King and his Knights" title="King Arthur and his Knights of the Round Table" /></a></div> +</div> + +<h1>KING ARTHUR<br /> <small>AND</small><br /> HIS KNIGHTS</h1> + +<p class="author">By<br /> Maude L. Radford +<br /><br /> +Illustrated by<br /> Walter J. Enright</p> + +<div class="figcenter" style="width: 130px; padding-top: 2em;"> +<img src="images/illo003.png" width="130" height="134" alt="The Grail" title="The Grail" /> +</div> + +<p class="publisher">Rand, M<sup>c</sup>Nally & Company<br /> <small>CHICAGO · NEW YORK · LONDON</small></p> + +<p class="copyright"><i>Copyright</i>, 1903,<br /> By <span class="smcap">Maude L. Radford</span></p> + +<div style="width: 500px; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"> +<p class="figleft" style="width: 120px;"> +<img src="images/illo007.png" width="120" height="170" alt="The Knight" title="The Knight" /></p> +<p class="heading" style="width: 25ex;">TABLE OF CONTENTS</p> +</div> + +<div class="clear"> </div> + + + +<div class='center'> +<table border="0" cellpadding="4" cellspacing="0" summary=""> +<tr><td> </td><td class="pageno"><small>PAGE</small></td></tr> +<tr><td class="toc"><i><a href="#List_of_Illustrations">A List of Illustrations</a></i></td><td class="pageno"><a href="#Page_8">8</a></td></tr> +<tr><td class="toc"><a href="#Arthur_King">How Arthur Became King</a></td><td class="pageno"><a href="#Page_11">11</a></td></tr> +<tr><td class="toc"><a href="#Sword_excalibur">The Good Sword Excalibur</a></td><td class="pageno"><a href="#Page_29">29</a></td></tr> +<tr><td class="toc"><a href="#great_feast">The Great Feast and What Followed</a></td><td class="pageno"><a href="#Page_35">35</a></td></tr> +<tr><td class="toc"><a href="#arthur_court">Arthur's Court and the Order of the Round Table</a></td><td class="pageno"><a href="#Page_49">49</a></td></tr> +<tr><td class="toc"><a href="#arthur_guinevere">King Arthur and the Princess Guinevere</a></td><td class="pageno"><a href="#Page_64">64</a></td></tr> +<tr><td class="toc"><a href="#Gareth">The Coming of Gareth</a></td><td class="pageno"><a href="#Page_73">73</a></td></tr> +<tr><td class="toc"><a href="#gareth_lynette">The Story of Sir Gareth and Lynette</a></td><td class="pageno"><a href="#Page_85">85</a></td></tr> +<tr><td class="toc"><a href="#ivaine">Sir Ivaine</a></td><td class="pageno"><a href="#Page_99">99</a></td></tr> +<tr><td class="toc"><a href="#balin">Sir Balin</a></td><td class="pageno"><a href="#Page_120">120</a></td></tr> +<tr><td class="toc"><a href="#geraint_enid">Sir Geraint and Enid</a></td><td class="pageno"><a href="#Page_131">131</a></td></tr> +<tr><td class="toc"><a href="#arthur_accalon">Arthur and Sir Accalon</a></td><td class="pageno"><a href="#Page_142">142</a></td></tr> +<tr><td class="toc"><a href="#arthur_giant">How Arthur Fought with a Giant</a></td><td class="pageno"><a href="#Page_153">153</a></td></tr> +<tr><td class="toc"><a href="#arthur_rome">How Arthur Fought with Rome</a></td><td class="pageno"><a href="#Page_160">160</a></td></tr> +<tr><td class="toc"><a href="#knight_coat">The Knight with the Badly Made Coat</a></td><td class="pageno"><a href="#Page_171">171</a></td></tr> +<tr><td class="toc"><a href="#lancelot_brune">Sir Lancelot and Sir Brune</a></td><td class="pageno"><a href="#Page_177">177</a></td></tr> +<tr><td class="toc"><a href="#king_pellenore">The Adventure of King Pellenore</a></td><td class="pageno"><a href="#Page_193">193</a></td></tr> +<tr><td class="toc"><a href="#lancelot_friends">Sir Lancelot and His Friends</a></td><td class="pageno"><a href="#Page_199">199</a></td></tr> +<tr><td class="toc"><a href="#lancelot_queen">How Sir Lancelot Saved the Queen</a></td><td class="pageno"><a href="#Page_213">213</a></td></tr> +<tr><td class="toc"><a href="#lancelot_elaine">Sir Lancelot and Elaine</a></td><td class="pageno"><a href="#Page_226">226</a></td></tr> +<tr><td class="toc"><a href="#search_for_grail">The Search for the Holy Grail</a></td><td class="pageno"><a href="#Page_243">243</a></td></tr> +<tr><td class="toc"><a href="#arthur_death">The Death of Arthur</a></td><td class="pageno"><a href="#Page_260">260</a></td></tr> +</table></div> + + +<div class="figcenter" style="width: 500px; padding-top: 4em"><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_8" id="Page_8">[8]</a></span> +<img src="images/illo008.png" width="500" height="126" alt="A LIST OF ILLUSTRATIONS" title="List of Illustrations" /><a name="List_of_Illustrations" id="List_of_Illustrations"></a> +</div> + + +<div class='center'> +<table border="0" cellpadding="4" cellspacing="0" summary=""> +<tr><td class="toc"> </td><td class="pageno"><small>PAGE</small></td></tr> +<tr><td class="toc"><i><a href="#frontispiece">King Arthur and his Knights of the Round Table</a></i></td><td class="pageno"><a href="#frontispiece">Frontispiece</a></td></tr> +<tr><td class="toc"><i><a href="#old_oaks">"All about him old oaks stood like giant guardians"</a></i></td><td class="pageno"><a href="#Page_10">10</a></td></tr> +<tr><td class="toc"><i><a href="#arthur_excalibur">"He hardly more than touched the sword"</a></i></td><td class="pageno"><a href="#Page_25">25</a></td></tr> +<tr><td class="toc"><i><a href="#lady_of_the_lake">Arthur and the Lady of the Lake</a></i></td><td class="pageno"><a href="#Page_31">31</a></td></tr> +<tr><td class="toc"><i><a href="#bors_ban">King Bors and King Ban</a></i></td><td class="pageno"><a href="#Page_41">41</a></td></tr> +<tr><td class="toc"><i><a href="#arthur_guinevere_wall">"Arthur saw Guinevere bending over the wall"</a></i></td><td class="pageno"><a href="#Page_65">65</a></td></tr> +<tr><td class="toc"><i><a href="#gareth_riding">"Gareth rode at him fiercely"</a></i></td><td class="pageno"><a href="#Page_93">93</a></td></tr> +<tr><td class="toc"><i><a href="#fountain">"He dismounted and poured water into the fountain"</a></i></td><td class="pageno"><a href="#Page_105">105</a></td></tr> +<tr><td class="toc"><i><a href="#Page_129">"They fought till their breath failed"</a></i></td><td class="pageno"><a href="#Page_129">129</a></td></tr> +<tr><td class="toc"><i><a href="#Page_167">"King Arthur raising his hand for silence"</a></i></td><td class="pageno"><a href="#Page_167">167</a></td></tr> +<tr><td class="toc"><i><a href="#Page_175">"The king touched him lightly with his sword"</a></i></td><td class="pageno"><a href="#Page_175">175</a></td></tr> +<tr><td class="toc"><i><a href="#Page_191">"He pushed him until he was but a step from the edge"</a></i></td><td class="pageno"><a href="#Page_191">191</a></td></tr> +<tr><td class="toc"><i><a href="#Page_209">"He struck so fiercely the bottom fell out"</a></i></td><td class="pageno"><a href="#Page_209">209</a></td></tr> +<tr><td class="toc"><i><a href="#Page_231">"She staid near it all day long in the turret"</a></i></td><td class="pageno"><a href="#Page_231">231</a></td></tr> +<tr><td class="toc"><i><a href="#Page_253">"And across it slowly moved the Holy Grail"</a></i></td><td class="pageno"><a href="#Page_253">253</a></td></tr> +</table></div> + +<p class="dedication"><small>TO</small><br /> + +DWIGHT <small>AND</small> ROGER<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_9" id="Page_9">[9]</a></span> +</p> + +<div class="figcenter" style="width: 150px;"> +<img src="images/illo009.png" width="150" height="157" alt="The Grail" title="The Grail" /> +</div> + + + +<hr /> + +<div class="figcenter" style="width: 400px;"> +<img src="images/illo009a.png" width="400" height="153" alt="King Arthur and his Knights" title="King Arthur" /> +</div> + +<div style="width: 480px; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; padding-top: 1em"><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_10" id="Page_10">[10]</a></span> +<div style="width: 12ex; float: left;"><p class="caption">"All about him old oaks stood like giant +guardians"</p></div><a name="old_oaks" id="old_oaks"></a> +<div style="padding-left: 1ex; float: left; width:300px;"><a href="images/illo010.png"><img src="images/illo010_th.png" +alt="The oaks" title="All about him old oaks stood like giant +guardians" /></a></div> +</div> + +<div class="clear"> </div> + + +<hr /> +<div class="figcenter" style="width: 500px;"><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_11" id="Page_11">[11]</a></span> +<img src="images/illo011.png" width="500" height="186" alt="HOW ARTHUR BECAME KING" title="How Arthur became King" /><a name="Arthur_King" id="Arthur_King"></a> +</div> + + +<p class="newchapter"><span class="firstword"><span class="dropcap">O</span>nce</span> upon a time, a thousand years before Columbus discovered +America, and when Rome was still the greatest city in the world, +there lived a brave and beautiful youth whose name was Arthur. +His home was in England, near London; and he lived with the good +knight Sir Hector, whom he always called father.</p> + +<p>They dwelt in a great square castle of gray stone, with a round +tower at each corner. It was built about a courtyard, and was +surrounded by a moat, across which was a drawbridge that could be +raised or lowered. When it was raised the castle was practically +a little island and very hard for enemies to attack.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_12" id="Page_12">[12]</a></span></p> + +<p>On one side of the moat was a large wood, and here Arthur spent a +great deal of his time. He liked to lie under the trees and gaze +up at the blue of the sky. All about him old oaks stood like +giant guardians watching sturdily over the soil where they had +grown for centuries. Arthur could look between the trunks and see +rabbits and squirrels whisking about. Sometimes a herd of brown +deer with shy dark eyes would pass, holding their graceful heads +high in the air; sometimes a flock of pheasants with brilliant +plumage rose from the bushes. Again there was no sound except the +tapping of a bright-crested woodpecker, and no motion but the +fluttering of leaves and the trembling of violets half buried in +green moss.</p> + +<p>At times, when it was dim and silent in the wood, Arthur would +hear bursts of merry laughter, the tinkling of bells, and the +jingling of spurs. Then he would know that knights and ladies +were riding down the road which ran beside the trees. Soon the +knights would appear on horses, brown, black, and white, with +gaily<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_13" id="Page_13">[13]</a></span> ornamented saddles, and bridles from which hung silver +bells. Often the saddles were made of ivory or ebony, set with +rubies or emeralds. The knights wore helmets laced with slender +gold chains, and coats of mail made of tiny links of steel, so +fine and light that all together hardly weighed more than a coat +of cloth. Usually the legs of the knights were sheathed in steel +armor; and their spurs were steel, or even gold. The ladies sat +on horses with long trappings of silk, purple, white, or scarlet, +with ornamented saddles and swinging bells. The robes of the +ladies were very beautiful, being made of velvet or silk trimmed +with ermine. Arthur liked to watch them, flashing by; crimson, +and gold, and blue, and rose-colored. Better still, he liked to +see the pretty happy faces of the ladies, and hear their gay +voices. In those troublous times, however, the roads were so +insecure that such companies did not often pass.</p> + +<p>Sometimes the knights and ladies came to visit Sir Hector. Then +Arthur would hurry from the forest to the castle. Sir Hector +would stand on the lowered<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_14" id="Page_14">[14]</a></span> drawbridge to greet his guests, and +would lead them, with many expressions of pleasure, into the +courtyard. Then he would take a huge hammer hanging from a post, +and beat with it on a table which stood in a corner of the +courtyard. Immediately from all parts of the castle the squires +and servants would come running to take the horses of the knights +and ladies. Sir Hector's wife and daughters would then appear, +and with their own hands remove the armor of the knights. They +would offer them golden basins of water, and towels for washing, +and after that put velvet mantles upon their shoulders. Then the +guests would be brought to the supper table.</p> + +<p>But Arthur did not spend all his time dreaming in the woods or +gazing at knights and ladies. For many hours of the day he +practiced feats of arms in the courtyard. It was the custom in +England to train boys of noble birth to be knights. As soon as +they were old enough they were taught to ride. Later on, they +lived much among the ladies and maidens, learning gentle manners. +Under the<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_15" id="Page_15">[15]</a></span> care of the knights, they learned to hunt, to carry a +lance properly, and to use the sword; and having gained this +skill, they were made squires if they had shown themselves to be +of good character.</p> + +<p>Then, day by day, the squires practiced at the quintain. This was +an upright post, on the top of which turned a crosspiece, having +on one end a broad board, and on the other a bag of sand. The +object was to ride up at full gallop, strike the board with a +long lance, and get away without being hit by the sand bag.</p> + +<p>Besides this, the squires had services to do for the knights, in +order that they might learn to be useful in as many ways as +possible, and to be always humble. For instance, they took care +of the armor of the knights, carried letters and messages for +them, accompanied them at joustings and tournaments, being ready +with extra weapons or assistance; and in the castle they helped +to serve the guests at table. After months of such service, they +went through a beautiful ceremony and were made knights. In the +country round about, Arthur, of all the squires,<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_16" id="Page_16">[16]</a></span> was the most +famous for his skill in the use of the lance and the sword, for +his keenness in the hunt, and for his courtesy to all people.</p> + +<p>Now, at this time there was no ruler in England. The powerful +Uther of Wales, who had governed England, was dead, and all the +strong lords of the country were struggling to be king in his +place. This gave rise to a great deal of quarreling and +bloodshed.</p> + +<p>There was in the land a wise magician named Merlin. He was so old +that his beard was as white as snow, but his eyes were as clear +as a little child's. He was very sorry to see all the fighting +that was going on, because he feared that it would do serious +harm to the kingdom.</p> + +<p>In those days the great and good men who ruled in the church had +power almost equal to that of the monarch. The kings and the +great lords listened to their advice, and gave them much land, +and money for themselves and for the poor. So Merlin went to the +Archbishop of Canterbury, the churchman who in all England was +the most beloved, and said:<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_17" id="Page_17">[17]</a></span></p> + +<p>"Sir, it is my advice that you send to all the great lords of the +realm and bid them come to London by Christmas to choose a king."</p> + +<p>The archbishop did as Merlin advised, and at Christmas all the +great lords came to London. The largest church in the city stood +not far from the north bank of the Thames. A churchyard +surrounded it, filled with yew trees, the trunks of which were +knotted with age. The powerful lords rode up in their clanking +armor to the gate, where they dismounted, and giving their horses +into the care of their squires, reverently entered the church.</p> + +<p>There were so many of them that they quite filled the nave and +side-aisles of the building. The good archbishop, from where he +stood in the chancel, looked down on them all. Just behind him +was the altar covered with a cloth of crimson and gold, and +surmounted by a golden crucifix and ten burning candles. In front +of him, kneeling under the gray arches which spanned the church, +were the greatest men in the kingdom. He looked at their stern +bronzed faces, their<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_18" id="Page_18">[18]</a></span> heavy beards, their broad shoulders, and +their glittering armor, and prayed God to make the best man in +the land king.</p> + +<p>Then began the service. At the close of the first prayer some of +the knights looked out of the window, and there in the churchyard +they saw a great square stone. In the middle of it was an anvil +of steel a foot high, and fixed therein was a beautiful sword. On +the sword was some writing set in with gold which said:</p> + +<p>"Whosoever pulls this sword out of this stone and anvil is the +real king of all England."</p> + +<p>The knights who read this told the archbishop, but he said:</p> + +<p>"I command you all to keep within the church and still pray to +God. No man is to touch the sword until all the prayers are +said."</p> + +<p>After the service was over, the lords went into the churchyard. +They each pulled at the sword, but none could stir it.</p> + +<p>"The king is not here," said the archbishop, "but God will make +him known. Meantime, let ten good knights keep watch over this +sword."<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_19" id="Page_19">[19]</a></span></p> + +<p>The knights were soon chosen, and then the archbishop said that +on a fixed day every man in the kingdom should try to pull the +sword out of the anvil. He ordered that on New Year's day all the +people should be brought together for a great tournament to be +held on the south bank of the Thames, near London bridge. After a +few days spent in jousting among the knights, each man should +make the trial to find out whether or not he was to be king.</p> + +<p>The brave youth Arthur did not know of the contest that was to be +made for the sword. Sir Hector told him that he was to go to a +tournament, but he did not tell him the reason for holding the +tournament. So Arthur rode to London with Sir Hector; and Sir +Kay, who was Sir Hector's oldest son, was with them.</p> + +<p>Sir Hector and Sir Kay rode soberly in front. They were tall, +stalwart men and rode black horses, their dark figures making +shadows on the light snow that had fallen. Arthur, riding behind +them, felt exhilarated by the crisp winter air which caused the +blood to dance in his<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_20" id="Page_20">[20]</a></span> veins. Sometimes he stood up in his saddle +and flicked with his sword the dead leaves on the oaks. Again he +made his horse crush the thin crust of ice that had formed in +tiny pools on the road. He was so happy in the thought of the +tournament he was to see, that he could have sung for joy.</p> + +<p>The road was not very wide, for few carts passed upon it, but it +had been well worn by riders. Sometimes it wound through a bit of +thick woods; again it rose up over a gently rolling hill. From +the hilltops the riders could see London far in the distance. It +looked at first like a gray haze; then, as the three came nearer, +the buildings, large and small, grew plain to the sight. The +castles and huts, barns and sheds, smithies, shops and mills, +stood out in the keen sunlight. A high wall surrounded them, +while on one side flowed the river Thames.</p> + +<p>After they had entered the city, and had passed the churchyard, +and had almost reached London bridge, Sir Kay discovered that he +had left his sword at home.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_21" id="Page_21">[21]</a></span></p> + +<p>"Will you go back for it?" he asked Arthur.</p> + +<p>"That I will," said Arthur, glad of the chance to ride longer in +the delightful air.</p> + +<p>But when he reached their dwelling, he could not get in. The +drawbridge was raised, and he could not make the warden hear his +calling. Then Arthur was disturbed and said to himself:</p> + +<p>"I will hasten to the churchyard we passed, and take the +beautiful sword which I saw in the stone. It does not seem to +belong to anyone, and my brother Kay must have a weapon."</p> + +<p>So he rode on till he reached the churchyard, dismounted, and +tied his horse to a sapling. The ten knights who guarded the +sword had gone away to see the combats in the tournament. Arthur +ran up and pulled lightly but eagerly at the sword. It came at +once from the anvil. He hurried to Sir Kay, who was waiting for +him on London bridge. Sir Kay knew that the weapon was the one +that had been fixed fast in the stone, but he said nothing to +Arthur, and the two soon overtook Sir Hector, who had ridden<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_22" id="Page_22">[22]</a></span> +slowly to the field where the tournament was taking place. Sir +Kay immediately told his father what had happened.</p> + +<p>The good knight at once spoke with great respect to Arthur.</p> + +<p>"Sir," he said, "you must be the king of this land."</p> + +<p>"What mean you, sir?" asked Arthur.</p> + +<p>Sir Hector told the wondering youth the reason why he was +destined to be king. Then he said:</p> + +<p>"Can you put this sword back in its place and pull it out again?"</p> + +<p>"Easily," replied Arthur.</p> + +<p>The three returned to the great stone, and Arthur put back the +sword. Sir Hector tried to take it out, but failed.</p> + +<p>"Now, you try," he said to Sir Kay.</p> + +<p>But Sir Kay, in spite of great efforts, also failed. Then Arthur, +at Sir Hector's bidding, tried, and at once pulled forth the +sword. At that Sir Hector and Sir Kay knelt before Arthur.</p> + +<p>"Alas," said Arthur, raising them from the ground, "my own dear +father and my brother, why do you kneel to me?"</p> + +<p>"Nay, my lord Arthur," said Sir Hector,<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_23" id="Page_23">[23]</a></span> "I am not your father. +You are of higher blood than I am. Long ago, when you were a +little baby, Merlin brought you to me to take care of, telling me +that you were to be the king."</p> + +<p>"Then whose son am I?" cried Arthur.</p> + +<p>"There are two stories: the one that Merlin tells, and the one +that old Bleys, the master of Merlin, tells. Merlin brought you +to me, saying that you were the son of King Uther and Yguerne his +wife. But because the king was dead and the lords powerful and +jealous, he told me to guard you in secrecy lest your life be +taken. I did not know whether the story was true or false then, +but you were a helpless child, and Merlin was a wise sage, and so +I took you and brought you up as my own."</p> + +<p>Arthur was so astonished that he did not ask to hear the tale +that Bleys told. He stood gazing at Sir Hector, who said:</p> + +<p>"And now, my gracious lord, will you be good to me and mine when +you are king?"</p> + +<p>"I will, indeed," replied Arthur, "for I am more beholden to you +than to any<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_24" id="Page_24">[24]</a></span> one else in the world, and also to my good lady and +foster mother, your wife, who has reared me as if I were her own +child. If it be God's will that I shall sometime become king, ask +of me then what you will."</p> + +<p>"Sir," said Sir Hector, "I ask that you make my son Sir Kay, your +foster brother, the steward of all your lands."</p> + +<p>"That shall be done," said Arthur, "and more. He shall have that +office as long as I live."</p> + +<p>Then the three went to the Archbishop of Canterbury and related +to him the story of Merlin and all that had occurred. At his +request they told no one else.</p> + +<p>At the command of the archbishop on Twelfth day, which is the +sixth of January, all the great lords assembled in the churchyard. +Each tried to draw forth the sword, and each failed. Then the +untitled people came and tried. Everyone failed until at last +Arthur stepped forward. He hardly more than touched the sword +when it came away in his hand.</p> + +<p>At this many of the great lords were angry.</p> + +<div style="width: 480px; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; padding-top: 1em"><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_25" id="Page_25">[25]</a></span> +<div style="width: 12ex; float: left;"><p class="caption">"He hardly more than touched the sword"</p></div><a name="arthur_excalibur" id="arthur_excalibur"></a> +<div style="padding-left: 1ex; float: left; width:300px;"><a href="images/illo025.png"><img src="images/illo025_th.png" +alt="King Arthur and Excalibur" title="He hardly more than touched the sword" /></a></div> +</div> + +<div class="clear"> </div> + + +<p>"He is but a boy," they said, "and not of high blood."<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_26" id="Page_26">[26]</a></span></p> + +<p>They refused to believe the story of his birth told by Merlin and +Sir Hector. And because of all the quarreling, it was decided to +have another trial at Candlemas, which fell in the month of +February. Again Arthur was victorious. Then the great lords +decreed that there should be another trial at Easter, and again +Arthur succeeded. Next they decided to have a final trial at the +feast of the Pentecost, which fell in May.</p> + +<p>Meanwhile, Merlin advised the archbishop to see that Arthur had a +bodyguard. So the archbishop selected several knights whom the +former king, Uther, had trusted. These were Sir Ulfius and Sir +Brastias and Sir Bedivere; Sir Geraint and Sir Hector and Sir Kay +were also chosen. These brave men formed a bodyguard for Arthur +until the feast of the Pentecost.</p> + +<p>At this time Arthur again drew out the sword from the anvil. Then +the common people, who had so far let the lords have their will, +cried out:<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_27" id="Page_27">[27]</a></span></p> + +<p>"We will have Arthur for our king, and we will have no more +delay, for we see that it is God's will that he shall be our +ruler."</p> + +<p>Then all the people knelt down, high and low, rich and poor, and +begged Arthur's pardon for the delay he had undergone. Arthur +forgave them, and taking his sword, reverently placed it on the +great altar beside which the archbishop stood. This was a sign +that he meant to dedicate himself and his sword to God.</p> + +<p>Afterward the crowning was held, and all the brave men and fair +ladies in the land were present. The lords wore beautiful robes +of velvet and ermine, with gold and jewels on their breast-plates. +The ladies' robes were of purple and white and scarlet and gold +and blue, and they wore many pearls and rubies and diamonds, so +that all the place where they were assembled was glowing with +light and color.</p> + +<p>But Arthur, who wore a plain white robe, did not think of the +beauty and richness. He was very grave, knowing that he was about +to take a solemn oath.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_28" id="Page_28">[28]</a></span> He bowed his head, while the archbishop +set upon it the golden crown, which gleamed with jewels. Then he +stood up before his people, and vowed that he would be a good +king and always do justice. All the people uncovered their heads +and vowed to serve and obey him; and when he smiled kindly on +them as he rode slowly through the throng, they threw up their +caps and shouted joyfully: "Long live King Arthur! Long live the +King!"</p> + +<p>King Arthur chose worthy men for his officers, making Sir Kay +steward as he had promised; Sir Ulfius he made chamberlain, and +Sir Brastias warden. Arthur gave offices also to Sir Hector and +Sir Bedivere and Sir Geraint.</p> + +<p>After his crowning the king set about righting all the wrongs +that had been done since the death of King Uther. He gave back +the lands and money that had been taken from widows and orphans, +and would permit no unkindness to any of his subjects. Thus, at +the very beginning of his reign, his people began to call him</p> + +<div class="figcenter" style="width: 300px;"> +<img src="images/illo028.png" width="300" height="49" alt="Good King Arthur" title="Good King Arthur" /> +</div> + + +<hr /> +<div class="figcenter" style="width: 500px;"><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_29" id="Page_29">[29]</a></span> +<img src="images/illo029.png" width="500" height="341" alt="THE GOOD SWORD EXCALIBUR" title="The Good Sword Excalibur" /><a name="Sword_excalibur" id="Sword_excalibur"></a> +</div> + + +<p class="newchapter"><span class="firstword"><span class="dropcap">S</span>oon</span> after the crowning of King Arthur, he was journeying through +the land with Merlin, the wise old magician, when they met a +knight who challenged Arthur to a combat. The two fought, and at +last the knight wounded Arthur severely. In the end the king was +victorious, but he had lost so much blood that he could go no +farther. Merlin took him to a good hermit who healed his wound in +three days. Then the king departed with Merlin, and as they were +slowly riding along he said:</p> + +<p>"I am still weak from the blood I have lost, and my sword is +broken."</p> + +<p>"Do not fear," said Merlin. "You<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_30" id="Page_30">[30]</a></span> shall lose no more blood and +you shall have a good sword. Ride on trustfully with me."</p> + +<p>They rode in silence until they came to a lake, large and quiet, +and as beautiful in color as a pearl. While Arthur was looking at +its beauty, he became suddenly aware of three tall women, with +fair, sweet faces, standing on the bank.</p> + +<p>"Who are they?" the king asked.</p> + +<p>"Three queens who shall help you at your worst need," answered +Merlin. "Now look out upon the lake again."</p> + +<p>Arthur turned his eyes upon the lake and saw that in the distance +a slight mist had arisen. Through it the figure of a lady glided +over the surface of the water. Her robe appeared to be made of +waves which streamed away in flowing curves from her body. Her +head and shoulders seemed wrapped in foam tinted with the colors +of the rainbow, and her arms glittered with sparkles which came +from bubbles of water. She was so wonderful that Arthur looked at +her for some time before he asked softly:</p> + +<p>"Who is she?"</p> + +<div style="width: 480px; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; padding-top: 1em"><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_31" id="Page_31">[31]</a></span> +<div style="width: 12ex; float: left;"><p class="caption">Arthur and the Lady of the Lake</p></div><a name="lady_of_the_lake" id="lady_of_the_lake"></a> +<div style="padding-left: 1ex; float: left; width:300px;"><a href="images/illo031.png"><img src="images/illo031_th.png" +alt="Arthur and Excalibur" title="Arthur and the Lady of the Lake" /></a></div> +</div> + +<div class="clear"> </div> + +<p>"She is the Lady of the Lake," said Merlin. "She lives in a rock<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_32" id="Page_32">[32]</a></span> +in the middle of the lake. See, she is coming toward us. Look at +what is beyond her in the water."</p> + +<p>Arthur looked and saw rising above the surface of the water an +arm clothed in pure white. This arm held a huge cross-hilted +sword, so brilliant that Arthur's eyes were dazzled.</p> + +<p>When the Lady of the Lake approached nearer, he said:</p> + +<p>"Damsel, what sword is that? I wish it were mine, for I have +none."</p> + +<p>The lady smiled, saying:</p> + +<p>"Step into yonder boat, row to the sword, and take it, together +with the scabbard."</p> + +<p>So Arthur entered a little boat that was tied to the shore, and +rowed out to the sword. As he took it and the scabbard, all +gleaming with jewels, the hand and arm vanished into the water. +And when Arthur looked about, the three queens and the Lady of +the Lake were also gone.</p> + +<p>As Arthur, still gazing at the sword, rowed to shore, Merlin said +to him:<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_33" id="Page_33">[33]</a></span></p> + +<p>"My lord Arthur, which pleases you more, sword or scabbard?"</p> + +<p>"In truth, the sword," replied the king.</p> + +<p>"Let me assure you," said Merlin, smiling gravely, "that the +scabbard is worth ten of the sword. While you have it with you +you shall never lose blood, no, no matter how sorely you are +wounded. So see that you guard it well."</p> + +<p>The king, who was looking at the sword, sighed.</p> + +<p>"There is writing on the sword," he said.</p> + +<p>"True, my lord, written in the oldest tongue in the world."</p> + +<p>"<i>Take me</i> on one side," said Arthur, "and <i>Cast me away</i> on the +other. I am glad to take the sword, but it saddens me to think of +casting it away."</p> + +<p>Merlin's face grew sad, too. He was so wise that he knew what was +going to happen in the future, and he was well aware that when +the time came to cast the sword away, much evil would have +befallen the good King Arthur. But he<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_34" id="Page_34">[34]</a></span> knew that the time was yet +very far off; so he said:</p> + +<p>"You have taken the sword. Now use it to make justice and right +prevail in all the land. Do not think of casting it away until +you must."</p> + +<p>Arthur grew joyful again as he felt the strength of the good +sword in his hand, and the two rode cheerfully forward through +the country.</p> + +<div class="figcenter" style="width: 100px;"> +<img src="images/illo034.png" width="100" height="124" alt="Lion Crest" title="The Lion Crest" /> +</div> + + + +<hr /> +<div class="figcenter" style="width: 500px;"><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_35" id="Page_35">[35]</a></span> +<img src="images/illo035.png" width="500" height="171" alt="THE GREAT FEAST & WHAT FOLLOWED" title="The Great Feast & What followed" /><a name="great_feast" id="great_feast"></a> +</div> + + +<p class="newchapter"><span class="firstword"><span class="dropcap">A</span>lthough</span> Arthur had been crowned king, he was by no means sure +that all the nobles of the land would accept him as ruler. In +accordance with the custom of the time, he gave a feast in order +to find out who were his friends and who his enemies. All who +came to the feast would, he supposed, consent to be his +followers.</p> + +<p>He chose the largest hall in London, and had the walls hung with +rich cloths. Upon the floor, strewn with rushes, were placed +trestles, and across these, boards were laid. Upon them fine +white linen was spread, and golden saltcellars, wine-bowls, and +water-jugs set about.</p> + +<p>When the guests assembled there were<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_36" id="Page_36">[36]</a></span> so many that Arthur was +delighted, for he thought they were all his friends. He sat at +the head of one table, and Sir Hector sat at the head of the +other. Arthur wore a gold crown on his head, but it was no +brighter than his hair, and the blue turquoises with which it was +set were no bluer than his eyes. From his shoulders to the ground +hung a magnificent red robe with gold dragons embroidered upon +it.</p> + +<p>The cooks and squires came in from the kitchen carrying food, +their ruddy faces beaming from the heat of the fires. First of +all, sixty boars' heads were borne in on silver platters. Then +followed, on golden dishes, peacocks and plovers which had been +so skillfully cooked that their bright colors were preserved. +After the guests had eaten all they cared for of this food, tiny +roasted pigs were brought in, and set on all fours upon the +tables. By this time, all the gold and silver goblets which had +been filled with wine needed refilling. Then the squires carried +in beautiful white swans on silver platters, and roasted cranes +and curlews on plates that glowed like the sun. After<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_37" id="Page_37">[37]</a></span> that came +rabbits stewed in sweet sauce, and hams and curries. The last +course consisted of tarts and preserves, dates and figs and +pomegranates.</p> + +<p>The supper began about five o'clock, and the guests ate and drank +into the night. Although it was past Easter time, the weather was +a little cold, and so upon the stone flagging between the two +long tables the king ordered fires to be lighted. The bright +flames darted up, flashing on the gold threads woven in the +hangings of the walls, and on the steel armor of the lords, and +gleaming on the jewels set in the gold and silver goblets which +the squires were carrying about. At one side sat a band of +musicians singing of the glories of King Arthur, and of the +folk-tales of his ancestors and people, accompanying themselves +on their harps.</p> + +<p>After the guests had risen from the tables and gone to their +camps, Arthur sent messengers to them with rich gifts of horses +and furs and gold. But most of the lords received the messengers +scornfully.</p> + +<p>"Take back these gifts to the beardless<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_38" id="Page_38">[38]</a></span> boy who has come of low +blood," they said; "we do not want them. We have come here to +give him gifts of hard blows with our hard swords."</p> + +<p>The messengers were astonished to hear these things spoken of +their good king. Nevertheless, they told Arthur all that had been +said to them. He sent no answer back, but he called together all +the lords whom he was sure were loyal to him, and asked their +advice. They said to him:</p> + +<p>"We cannot give you advice, but we can fight."</p> + +<p>"You speak well, my lords," answered Arthur, "and I thank you for +your courage. Will you take the advice of Merlin? You know that +he has done much for me, and he is very wise."</p> + +<p>The lords and barons answered that they would do whatever Merlin +advised. When Merlin came to the council hall he said:</p> + +<p>"I warn you that your enemies are very strong. They have added to +their numbers so that now you have against you eleven mighty +kings."<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_39" id="Page_39">[39]</a></span></p> + +<p>At this the lords looked dismayed.</p> + +<p>"Unless our lord Arthur has more men than he can find in his own +realm," said Merlin, "he will be overcome and slain. Therefore I +give you this counsel. There are two brothers across the sea; +both are monarchs and both very strong. One is King Ban of +Benwick, and the other is King Bors of Gaul. Now these two have +an enemy, also a powerful ruler. Therefore, send to the brothers, +King Bors and King Ban who are now both in Benwick, and say to +them that if they will help Arthur in his war against the eleven +kings, Arthur will help them against their common enemy."</p> + +<p>"That is very good counsel," said the king and the lords.</p> + +<p>So they chose Sir Ulfius and Sir Brastias as messengers, and +these two hurried away, hopeful of success. When they reached the +town in Benwick where King Bors and King Ban were, knights came +forth to receive them and to hear their message. As soon as it +was learned from whom they had come they were led into the +presence of the brothers. Both<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_40" id="Page_40">[40]</a></span> were very large men. King Bors +was dark, and was dressed in black armor. King Ban was dark, too; +the colors that he wore on his shield were green and gold. He was +the father of Sir Lancelot, the knight who afterwards became the +most powerful of the followers of Arthur.</p> + +<p>The two kings received Sir Ulfius and Sir Brastias with much +favor.</p> + +<p>"Tell King Arthur," they said, "that we will come to him as +quickly as we can."</p> + +<p>Then they gave splendid gifts to Sir Ulfius and Sir Brastias, who +hurried back to Arthur with the message.</p> + +<p>In a short time King Bors and King Ban arrived with ten thousand +of their soldiers, and as Arthur had ten thousand, they felt +certain of victory. They went into Wales, a country which +Arthur's followers knew well, and waited confidently for the +enemy.</p> + +<div style="width: 480px; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; padding-top: 1em"><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_41" id="Page_41">[41]</a></span> +<div style="width: 12ex; float: left;"><p class="caption">King Bors and King Ban</p></div><a name="bors_ban" id="bors_ban"></a> +<div style="padding-left: 1ex; float: left; width:300px;"><a href="images/illo041.png"><img src="images/illo041_th.png" +alt="Bors and Ban" title="King Bors and King Ban" /></a></div> +</div> + +<div class="clear"> </div> + +<p>The eleven kings collected a great host of sixty thousand men, +fifty thousand on horseback and ten thousand on foot. They +marched towards the place where Arthur was, and set up their camp +near a wood about a mile distant. When Merlin knew this, he said +to Arthur and the two kings:</p> + +<p>"This is my advice: Set upon your enemies at midnight when they<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_42" id="Page_42">[42]</a></span> +are unprepared, and then you will have the advantage."</p> + +<p>So Arthur and the two royal brothers and the twenty thousand +soldiers crept up to where the eleven kings and their men lay. +They took a road circling round the wood. Moving with great +caution, they drew nearer and nearer until they could see first +the camp fires in a circle around the white tents; and then, +against the flashing flames, the dark figures of the men who were +keeping guard. Sometimes they were afraid that the noise they +made would alarm their enemies, but on account of a heavy +windstorm, they were unheard. When his men were quite near, +Arthur gave the word of command. The whole army uttered a great +shout, and ran forward in companies upon their enemies. In a few +minutes they had knocked down most of the tents, and killed many +soldiers.</p> + +<p>It was a dreadful thing to be attacked in<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_43" id="Page_43">[43]</a></span> the dark without +warning. But the eleven kings were brave men, even though they +were so unjust to Arthur in trying to take his kingdom from him, +and made a good fight. Perhaps they would have made a better one +if they had known how few the men were under Arthur.</p> + +<p>Before day dawned, Merlin told Arthur to draw back his troops. +This he did, leaving about ten thousand of the enemy dead behind +him. He, however, had not lost very many men.</p> + +<p>At daybreak Arthur and his followers saw that the lay of the land +could be used to their advantage. Between them and the enemy was +a narrow road, bounded on one side by a lake, and on the other +side by a dense wood. One part of this wood, however, was thin +enough to allow men to hide in it.</p> + +<p>"Now," said Merlin, "let King Bors and King Ban take their +soldiers and hide in the wood for a long time. Then, my lord +Arthur, stand up before the enemy with your men."</p> + +<p>"Why shall we do this?" asked Arthur.</p> + +<p>"Because," said the wise old man,<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_44" id="Page_44">[44]</a></span> "when the eleven kings see how +few in number your troops are, they will let you proceed down the +passage. They will think that if you march close to them they can +overcome you. But you can fill up this narrow road with more and +more men from the wood. Then the enemy cannot surround you."</p> + +<p>"That seems very good," said Arthur.</p> + +<p>"And at last," continued Merlin, "when the eleven kings are +weary, let King Bors and King Ban come forth. Then surely the +courage of our enemies will fail."</p> + +<p>The plan was carried out. Arthur's men marched down the passage. +The green wood was on one side, and on the other was the lake, +the water of which was so clear that it reflected the bodies of +the soldiers with their shields and helmets. The sun shone on +their armor. The little birds in the woods sang as they passed. +But the men were thinking of nothing but the expected battle.</p> + +<p>When they had come close to the enemy, they saw the eleven kings +all in a row, mounted on big handsome horses.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_45" id="Page_45">[45]</a></span> Their fifty +thousand men were behind them. Suddenly these rode forward and +the battle began.</p> + +<p>It was a fierce fight. In a very short time the field was covered +with overthrown men and horses. Broken shields and helmets lay on +the ground, and many of the knights who had been fighting on +horseback were unhorsed, and were fighting on foot. Arthur +galloped here and there among his enemies, conquering with his +trusty sword all with whom he fought. The woods and the water +rang with his sword strokes. The noise drowned the sweet songs of +the birds, but still they sang, and flew about gaily, all unaware +of the grim death-struggle going on beneath them.</p> + +<p>Finally the time arrived for bringing forward King Bors and his +men. The great dark king went thundering down upon his enemies. +When the King of Orkney saw him coming, he cried:</p> + +<p>"Oh, we are in great danger! I see King Bors, one of the best and +bravest kings in the world, and he is helping our enemy."<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_46" id="Page_46">[46]</a></span></p> + +<p>Then the other kings were astonished, for they did not know that +Arthur had sent outside his country for help.</p> + +<p>"But we will fight on," they said, "no matter how powerful he +is."</p> + +<p>While they were still fighting, but with great loss of courage, +they heard the loud sounds made by the hoofs of other tramping +horses, and King Ban rode down on them, followed by his men. His +black brows were frowning, and his green and gold colors +glittered in the sun.</p> + +<p>"Alas, alas!" cried the King of Orkney, "now in truth are we +lost, for here is another king, no less great than his brother +Bors. But we must neither flee nor yield."</p> + +<p>The eleven kings, being agreed to this, continued the battle, +though so many of their men were killed that the King of Orkney +wept. When he saw some of his men running away, he wept still +more, for he thought it was better to die than to be a coward.</p> + +<p>Though they did not intend to run away, the eleven kings thought +it would be wise to retreat to a little copse near by.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_47" id="Page_47">[47]</a></span> It was +late and they were tired and wished to rest before fighting +again. King Bors and King Ban could not help admiring these +rulers.</p> + +<p>"In truth," said King Ban, "they are the bravest men I ever saw. +I would they were your friends."</p> + +<p>"Indeed, so would I," replied Arthur; "but I have no hope of +that, for they are determined to destroy me, and so we must fight +on."</p> + +<p>At this moment Merlin rode up on his great black horse.</p> + +<p>"Have you not done enough?" he cried to Arthur. "Of their sixty +thousand men there are left but fifteen thousand. It is time to +stop, I say. If you fight on, they will win the day. The tide +will turn against you."</p> + +<p>Arthur hesitated and Merlin said:</p> + +<p>"The eleven kings have a great trouble coming of which they are +ignorant. The Saracens have landed in their countries to the +number of over forty thousand. So your enemies will have so much +fighting to do that they will not attack you again for three +years."<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_48" id="Page_48">[48]</a></span></p> + +<p>Then Arthur was glad, for it had grieved him deeply to fight so +long and to lose his good soldiers.</p> + +<p>"We will fight no more," he said.</p> + +<p>"That is well," replied Merlin. "Now give presents to your +soldiers, for to-day they have proved themselves equal to the +best fighters in the world."</p> + +<p>"True, indeed!" exclaimed King Bors and King Ban.</p> + +<p>So Arthur gave gifts to his own men; and a great deal of gold to +the brother kings, both for themselves and for their soldiers. +And the two kings went home rejoicing.</p> + +<div class="figcenter" style="width: 200px;"> +<img src="images/illo048.png" width="200" height="82" alt="Two Horses" title="Two Horses" /> +</div> + + + +<hr /> +<div class="figcenter" style="width: 500px;"><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_49" id="Page_49">[49]</a></span> +<img src="images/illo049.png" width="500" height="197" alt="ARTHUR'S COURT & THE ORDER OF THE ROUND TABLE" title="Arthur's Court & the Order of the Round Table" /><a name="arthur_court" id="arthur_court"></a> +</div> + + +<p class="newchapter"><span class="firstword"><span class="dropcap">A</span>fter</span> Arthur had proved his prowess in his contest with the +eleven kings, he decided to establish his Court and the Order of +the Round Table. The place he chose was the city of Camelot in +Wales, which had a good situation, being built upon a hill. He +called the wise Merlin and ordered him to make a great palace on +the summit of the hill. Through his powers of enchantment, Merlin +was able to do this very quickly, and within a week the king and +his personal attendants were settled in the palace.</p> + +<p>The main part consisted of a great Assembly Hall built of white +marble, the roof of which seemed to be upheld by pillars of green +and red porphyry, and<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_50" id="Page_50">[50]</a></span> was surmounted by magnificent towers. The +outside walls of the hall were covered with beautiful rows of +sculpture. The lowest row represented wild beasts slaying men. +The second row represented men slaying wild beasts. The third +represented warriors who were peaceful, good men. The fourth +showed men with growing wings. Over all was a winged statue with +the face of Arthur. Merlin meant to show by means of the first +row that formerly evil in men was greater than good; by the +second that men began to conquer the evil in themselves, which in +time caused them to become really good, noble, and peace-loving +men, as in the third row. And finally, through the refining +influence of Good King Arthur and his wise helpers, men would +grow to be almost as perfect as the angels.</p> + +<p>The main doorway was in the shape of an arch, upheld by pillars +of dark yellow marble. The hall was lighted by fourteen great +windows, through which the light streamed in soft colors upon the +marble floors. Between these windows, and along the cornices, +were beautiful<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_51" id="Page_51">[51]</a></span> decorations. There were carvings in white marble +of birds and beasts and twining vines. There was mosaic work of +black and yellow and pink marble and of lapis lazuli, as blue as +a lake when the clear sun shines full upon its surface. Under the +windows were many stone shields, beneath each of which was the +name of a knight. Some shields were blazoned with gold, some were +carved, and some were blank. The walls were hung with beautiful +tapestries which had been woven by the ladies of the land for +Arthur's new palace. On each had been pictured some episode from +the life of King Arthur; the drawing of the magic sword from the +anvil, the finding of the good sword Excalibur, his deeds of +justice and acts of kindness, and his many battles and wars.</p> + +<p>The two wings of the palace contained the dining hall and kitchen +and the living apartments of all the members of the court who +made their home with the king. The dining hall was only a little +less beautiful than Arthur's great Assembly Hall. The walls were +hung<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_52" id="Page_52">[52]</a></span> with cloths of scarlet and gold. The deep fireplace was +supported by four bronze pillars. In the middle of the room were +long tables made of oak boards set on ivory trestles. At a +banquet the walls were hung with garlands of flowers or festoons +of branches.</p> + +<p>The great kitchen had stone walls and stone flagging. The +fireplace was so large that there was room for a whole ox to be +roasted, and above hung cranes from which half a dozen kettles +could be suspended, and pots of such a size that pigs could be +boiled whole in them. All about the walls were cupboards. Some +were full of plates of wood, iron, steel, silver, and gold, and +flagons, cups, bowls, and saltcellars of gold and silver. Others +were used for the storing of cold meats and fruits. There were +several tables on which the cooked food was cut, and benches upon +which the cooks rested when they were tired of serving the hungry +eaters.</p> + +<p>Well might they have grown tired.</p> + +<p>Supper, the most important meal of the day, lasted from three +until six, and often<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_53" id="Page_53">[53]</a></span> longer. But the cooks, and the little +scullion boys who washed the pots and pans, and the attendants +who carried in the food to the dining hall, all wore contentment +and happiness on their faces as they hurried about with their +long blouses tucked out of harm's way; for to serve King Arthur +and his guests was considered a real privilege.</p> + +<p>The sleeping rooms were furnished with chests, and chairs, and +beds spread with fine linen and with ermine-lined covers. +Hangings of various colors were upon the walls. On the floors +were strewn rushes, and among them was thrown mint which gave +forth an agreeable odor.</p> + +<p>After Arthur, his officers, and his servants had been in the +palace a few days, the king formally established his Court. He +invited all the knights who cared to do so to come with their +families and retinues and live with him. Some preferred to remain +in their own castles, but others gladly went to live with the +king. Soon all were comfortably settled.</p> + +<p>The king's officers were very important members of Arthur's +court. First of these<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_54" id="Page_54">[54]</a></span> came the Archbishop of Canterbury, who +held the highest place in the king's regard. It was his duty to +conduct the church services for Arthur and his followers, and to +christen, marry, and bury the people of Camelot. Next, Sir Ulfius +as chamberlain superintended the care of the king's rooms. Sir +Brastias, who was warden, superintended the servants. Sir Kay, +who was steward, had charge of all the food and the kitchen. Sir +Hector, as treasurer, took care of the king's gold and rendered +the accounts. Sir Geraint managed all the tournaments and outdoor +sports of the knights and squires. There were other officers to +help these, and all did their work faithfully and lovingly.</p> + +<p>The knights whom Arthur chose to be members of his Round Table +were mostly selected from these officers. As members of this +order there were one hundred and fifty of the knights who had +shown themselves especially brave in battle and who were devoted +followers of the king. Next to being king, the greatest honor +which could fall to a warrior was to be<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_55" id="Page_55">[55]</a></span> made a member of the +Round Table, for all who belonged to the order were dedicated to +the service of God and mankind. There is no glory greater than +such a dedication.</p> + +<p>In his great hall Arthur had placed a huge table, made round in +shape so that there should be neither head nor foot, a higher +place nor a lower place. Arthur wished all who sat there to be +equals. These chosen knights were to give him council in times of +peace and of war.</p> + +<p>It was a solemn hour when the knights took their places. The +Archbishop of Canterbury blessed them and their seats. Then each +one came to Arthur, who stood at the top of the Assembly Hall, +and did him homage. Next they took their vows. They promised to +be brave and good, never false, or mean, or cruel. If anyone with +whom they fought begged for mercy, they would show him mercy. And +they vowed never to fight for a wrong cause or for money. Each +year at the feast of the Pentecost they were to repeat these +vows.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_56" id="Page_56">[56]</a></span></p> + +<p>Other members of Arthur's Court were old, brave knights who could +no longer fight, but who liked to be near the king and his +warriors, and gave the wisdom of age and experience to his +councils; young, ambitious, and promising knights who had had but +little real experience in battle; and faithful squires who had +had no real experience at all. Boys from six to fourteen years +were pages. There were others who transformed Arthur's Court to a +place of grace and beauty,—the mothers, wives, sisters, and +daughters of the warriors.</p> + +<p>Although they did not help in the councils of war, these ladies +were of great assistance in training the knights to be tender and +courteous. They taught the little pages good manners and +unselfishness. They assisted the knights in removing their armor +when they came in tired from riding or fighting. They sat with +Arthur and the knights in the evening in the dining-hall, singing +or playing upon harps, or listening to the tales that were told. +When the knights were away the ladies stayed in their own +chambers,<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_57" id="Page_57">[57]</a></span> hearing wise readings from the Archbishop of Canterbury, +or other learned men, listening to Merlin's words of wisdom, and +embroidering the beautiful hangings and cushions which were to +adorn the palace.</p> + +<p>It was a month before Arthur's Court was established, and during +that time the city of Camelot was a scene of continual merriment. +The people of the place were glad that the king had come, for +that meant much gain for them. Those of them who did not live in +the palace had their houses or shops on the streets which wound +about the foot of the hill. Many of the shops belonged to +armorers, who had armor of all sorts for any one who would buy. +They were glad in their turn to buy the swords of famous knights +which had been used in great battles, for such weapons they could +always sell again at a good price. These shopkeepers and the +servants and the squires and the warriors all united to make the +city of Camelot a beautiful one, for the sake of their king. The +streets were kept strewn with rushes and flowers. Rich<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_58" id="Page_58">[58]</a></span> awnings +and silken draperies were hung from the houses.</p> + +<p>All day long processions passed, made up of the followers of all +those lords who gave allegiance to the king. They carried the +banners of their masters, crimson, white, or scarlet, gold, +silver, or azure, making the streets glow with color. The +marching squires wore ornamented blouses, drawn in at the waist, +long silk stockings, and shoes of embroidered leather. The bowmen +were dressed in green kirtles, rather shorter than those of the +squires, and wore dark woolen hose; they carried their bows and +arrows slung across their shoulders. The servants were dressed in +much the same way, except that their blouses were longer and of +various colors. Many knights rode in the processions, their long +plumes waving in the wind, their armor shining, and their falcons +perched upon their wrists.</p> + +<p>All day long, too, bands of musicians played on flutes and +timbrels and tabors and harps; bands of young men and women sang +songs in praise of the king; story-tellers went about relating +old tales<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_59" id="Page_59">[59]</a></span> of famous heroes. The young men showed their strength +by tumbling and wrestling, and their grace by dancing; the young +women also danced.</p> + +<p>The wise Merlin often passed along the streets, walking silently +among the merry throngs of people. Sometimes the little Dagonet +danced at his side, Dagonet the king's jester, a tiny man who +made merriment for the Court with his witty sayings. He always +wore a tight-fitting red blouse and a peaked cap ornamented with +bells, and he carried a mock scepter in the shape of a carved +ivory stick.</p> + +<p>Whenever Arthur appeared before his people, church-bells were +joyously rung and trumpets were sounded. The king, as he rode, +distributed presents to the poor people:—capes, coats, and +mantles of serge, and bushels of pence. In a dining-hall at the +palace, feasts were held on those days for them, and they were +also open for all the people who might come.</p> + +<p>When the weather was beautiful, tables were placed on the sward +outside the palace, and those who cared to, ate<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_60" id="Page_60">[60]</a></span> under the shade +of the trees, listening to the music of the blackbirds, whose +singing was almost as loud as that of the chorus of damsels who +sang in the palace. Every hour the servants carried in and out +great quarters of venison, roasted pheasants and herons, and +young hawks, ducks, and geese, all on silver platters. Curries +and stews and tarts were innumerable. In the midst of the sward a +silver fountain had been set from which flowed sweet wine. Even +the great feasts of the year, which were held at Christmas, upon +the day of the Passover, at Pentecost, upon Ascension day, and +upon St. John's day, were not as wonderful as these feasts, when +the king held holiday with his people.</p> + +<p>On these days of merriment, when the people were not eating or +drinking or marching in processions, they were at the tournament +field, watching the combats. Here the best of Arthur's knights, +mounted on strong horses and wearing heavy armor, were ranged on +two sides of the field. Behind each row was a pavilion filled +with ladies. Four<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_61" id="Page_61">[61]</a></span> heralds stood ready to blow the trumpets which +gave the signal for the combats. Each herald wore crimson silk +stockings and crimson velvet kirtles, tight at the waist, and +reaching half-way to the knee.</p> + +<p>When it was time to begin the heralds blew the trumpets, the +ladies bent over eagerly, and the knights spurred their horses +forward, riding with their lances in rest. In a moment clouds of +dust arose, circling up as high as the plumes on the knights' +helmets, and their lances crashed against each other's shields. +Many of the lances broke. Sometimes the shock of contact +overthrew a knight. But no one was hurt, for the good King Arthur +had ordered that the combats should be friendly.</p> + +<p>When the jousting had lasted for several hours, those knights who +had shown themselves the stronger, received prizes from the +ladies. The prizes were suits of armor ornamented with gold, and +swords with jeweled hilts. The knight who, of all, was the +strongest, chose the lady whom he considered most beautiful, and<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_62" id="Page_62">[62]</a></span> +crowned her "The Queen of Love and Beauty."</p> + +<p>During the month of feasting, Arthur made knights of some of the +squires. A young squire was first obliged to show his skill in +tilting at the quintain. Then his father presented him with +falcons and sparrowhawks for hunting, and arms and robes. He also +gave robes and arms to his son's companions, and, to their +mothers and sisters, furs and embroidered robes, and belts of +gold. Finally he gave money to the singers and players, and +servants, and to the poor people of Camelot.</p> + +<p>At about sunset the young squire went into the church, where the +Archbishop of Canterbury held a solemn service. The youth took +the armor which he had chosen, and placed it on the floor in +front of the altar. He was then left alone, and all night long he +prayed fervently to God to give him strength to be a noble and +true knight. In the morning the king came to the church, attended +by his nobles and by the archbishop. The squire laid his sword on +the altar, thus<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_63" id="Page_63">[63]</a></span> signifying his devotion to Christ and his +determination to lead a holy life. King Arthur bound the sword +and spurs on the young man, and, taking Excalibur, he smote him +lightly on the shoulder with it, saying, "Be thou a true and +faithful knight."</p> + +<p>Then the squire took a solemn oath to protect all who were in +distress, to do right, to be a pure knight, and to have faith in +God. After that the Archbishop of Canterbury preached a solemn +sermon.</p> + +<p>When the month of feasting and holiday was ended, the members of +the Court returned to their usual habits of life. The Knights of +the Round Table went forth to right wrongs and to enforce the +law. All who were in distress came to the king for help. And to +the whole country Arthur's Court was famous as a place where +unkindness was never done, and where truth, justice, and love +reigned.</p> + +<div class="figcenter" style="width: 150px;"> +<img src="images/illo063.png" width="150" height="89" alt="Shield and sword" title="The Shield and the Sword" /> +</div> + + + +<hr /> +<div class="figcenter" style="width: 500px;"><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_64" id="Page_64">[64]</a></span> +<img src="images/illo064.png" width="500" height="209" alt="KING ARTHUR & THE PRINCESS GUINEVERE" title="King Arthur & The Princess Guinevere" /><a name="arthur_guinevere" id="arthur_guinevere"></a> +</div> + + +<p class="newchapter"><span class="firstword"><span class="dropcap">A</span>fter</span> Arthur had been established in his Court for some time, his +neighbor, Leodogran, the king of Cameliard, asked him for help in +a battle. To this Arthur cheerfully consented, and gathered his +warrior men about him.</p> + +<p>It chanced, as he and his men were marching past the castle of +Leodogran to meet the enemy, the king's daughter, Guinevere, who +was the most beautiful lady in all that land, stood on the castle +wall to watch her father's allies pass. Now she did not know, of +all the knights who rode by, which was Arthur. Many wore gold and +jewels on their armor, while the king's armor was plain.</p> + +<div style="width: 480px; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; padding-top: 1em"><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_65" id="Page_65">[65]</a></span> +<div style="width: 12ex; float: left;"><p class="caption">"Arthur saw Guinevere bending over the wall"</p></div><a name="arthur_guinevere_wall" id="arthur_guinevere_wall"></a> +<div style="padding-left: 1ex; float: left; width:300px;"><a href="images/illo065.png"><img src="images/illo065_th.png" +alt="Arthur and Guinevere" title="Arthur saw Guinevere bending over the wall" /></a></div> +</div> + +<div class="clear"> </div> + +<p>But Arthur saw her bending over the wall. She was slender and<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_66" id="Page_66">[66]</a></span> +graceful; her black hair fell in two long heavy braids over each +shoulder; her eyes were large and black. And Arthur felt a warm +love spring from his heart for her, and said to himself:</p> + +<p>"If I win this battle for Leodogran, I shall ask him to give me +the princess Guinevere for wife."</p> + +<p>His love for Guinevere made him fight even more bravely than +usual, and he soon won the battle. After he had returned to +Camelot, he told his knights that he wished to marry the +princess. They were very glad, because they, too, had seen her +and thought her the most beautiful lady they had ever beheld.</p> + +<p>Then Arthur said:</p> + +<p>"I will send my three good knights, Sir Ulfius and Sir Brastias +and Sir Bedivere, to King Leodogran to ask for Guinevere."</p> + +<p>The three knights set forth gayly, feeling certain that King +Leodogran would be glad to marry his daughter to their great +Arthur. When, however, they came to the castle of Leodogran with<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_67" id="Page_67">[67]</a></span> +their request, the king hesitated. He bade them wait for a little +while in the room adjoining his large hall. Then he said to +himself:</p> + +<p>"Arthur has helped me, indeed. I know, too, that he is powerful. +But I hear strange stories of his birth. There are people who say +that he is not a king's son. However great he is, I cannot give +him my only daughter unless he is really a true king, born of +royal blood."</p> + +<p>He called the oldest knight in his kingdom and said to him:</p> + +<p>"Do you know anything about Arthur's birth?"</p> + +<p>The old man looked very wise and said:</p> + +<p>"There are two men who do know; the younger of them is twice as +old as I am. They are Merlin, and Bleys, the master of Merlin. +Bleys has written down the secret of Arthur's birth in a book."</p> + +<p>Then King Leodogran laughed a little and said:</p> + +<p>"My friend, your words have not helped me much. If Arthur had +not<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_68" id="Page_68">[68]</a></span> helped me in my time of need more than you have helped me +now, I should have been lost indeed. Go and call Sir Ulfius and +Sir Brastias and Sir Bedivere."</p> + +<p>So the old man brought in the three knights, and Leodogran said +to them:</p> + +<p>"I hear strange tales of your king's birth. Some say that he is +indeed the son of the late King Uther, but others say that he is +the son of Sir Hector. Do you believe that he is Uther's son?"</p> + +<p>They said "Yes," and then told King Leodogran that Sir Hector had +brought up King Arthur as his son, for fear that those who wanted +the throne would kill the child; and that Arthur was undoubtedly +Uther's son.</p> + +<p>Still King Leodogran could not make up his mind. He bade the +three lords remain with him for a few days.</p> + +<p>Meanwhile the beautiful Queen Bellicent came to the Court, and +Leodogran asked her advice.</p> + +<p>"Do you think Arthur is a great king?" he asked. "Will he always +be great?"</p> + +<p>"He is very great," said the queen. "And all his people love him. +Perhaps<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_69" id="Page_69">[69]</a></span> he has not many lords, but their deep love makes up for +their small number."</p> + +<p>"That may be true," replied the king.</p> + +<p>"Besides that," added the queen, "they are good men. As you know, +the Knights of the Round Table are bound by vows to be kind and +true and merciful and helpful."</p> + +<p>"I have heard it," said the king.</p> + +<p>"Moreover," went on Queen Bellicent, "Arthur has powerful +friends: Merlin, the magician, and the Lady of the Lake, who gave +him his sword Excalibur, and the three fair queens, who will help +him when he needs help most."</p> + +<p>"Yes, yes," said King Leodogran, "if all this is true, Arthur +must prevail over his enemies. But is he the son of King Uther +and Queen Yguerne? You are the daughter of Queen Yguerne by an +earlier marriage, and, therefore, Arthur's half-sister if Arthur +is really Uther's son. You ought surely to know the truth."</p> + +<p>Bellicent waited a little while, and then said:</p> + +<p>"King Leodogran, I do not know what the truth is. There are two +stories: the<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_70" id="Page_70">[70]</a></span> story Merlin tells and the story Bleys tells. +Merlin says that Arthur is Uther's son, and indeed I should like +to believe it."</p> + +<p>"But you are not sure?" asked the king.</p> + +<p>"I am not sure. For my mother Yguerne was dark, and King Uther +was dark. Their hair and eyes were black like mine. Yet Arthur's +hair is as bright as gold. Besides, there is the story of old +Bleys."</p> + +<p>"What is his story?"</p> + +<p>"He says that Uther died, weeping because he had no heir. Then +Bleys and Merlin, who were present at his death, passed together +out of the castle. It was a stormy night, and as they walked +along by the lake they were forced by the roar of the tempest to +look out upon the waves, whipped by the wind.</p> + +<p>"Suddenly they saw a ship on the water. It had the shape of a +winged dragon. All over its decks stood a multitude of people +shining like gold. Then the ship vanished, and a number of great +waves began to roll in towards shore.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_71" id="Page_71">[71]</a></span> The ninth of these waves +seemed as large as half the sea. It was murmuring with strange +voices and rippling with flames. In the midst of the flames was a +little fair-haired baby who was borne to Merlin's feet. Merlin +stooped and picked it up, and cried, 'The King! Here is an heir +for Uther!' This, King Leodogran, is the story Bleys told me +before he died."</p> + +<p>King Leodogran wondered very much. Then he said:</p> + +<p>"But did you not question Merlin about this?"</p> + +<p>"Yes," answered Queen Bellicent. "I asked him if this story of +Bleys was true. He would only answer me with a riddle."</p> + +<p>As King Leodogran was still silent, she said:</p> + +<p>"Do not fear to give your daughter to Arthur, for he will be the +greatest king the world has ever seen."</p> + +<p>Leodogran felt less doubtful. While he was thinking, he fell +asleep and had a dream. He saw in his dream a field covered with +mist and smoke, and a phantom king standing in the cloud. He +heard a voice which said, "This is not our king;<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_72" id="Page_72">[72]</a></span> this is not the +son of Uther." But suddenly the mist disappeared and the king +stood out in heaven, crowned.</p> + +<p>King Leodogran took this dream for a good sign. He called the +three knights, Sir Ulfius and Sir Brastias and Sir Bedivere, and +said to them:</p> + +<p>"Say to your king that I will give him Guinevere for his wife."</p> + +<p>So the three hastily returned to King Arthur, who was overjoyed +with their message.</p> + +<p>In the month of May he sent Sir Lancelot, the son of King Ban, +for Guinevere. When she came, the Archbishop of Canterbury +married them. And he blessed them and said that they, with the +help of the Knights of the Round Table, must do much good for the +land.</p> + +<div class="figcenter" style="width: 250px;"> +<img src="images/illo072.png" width="250" height="113" alt="The knight" title="The Knight with his Sword" /> +</div> + + + +<hr /> +<div class="figcenter" style="width: 400px;"><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_73" id="Page_73">[73]</a></span> +<img src="images/illo073.png" width="400" height="193" alt="THE COMING of GARETH" title="The Coming of Gareth" /><a name="Gareth" id="Gareth"></a> +</div> + + +<p class="newchapter"><span class="firstword"><span class="dropcap">T</span>he</span> beautiful Queen Bellicent had many sons, all of whom had gone +out in the world except the youngest. His name was Gareth. His +two brothers, Gawain and Modred, were with the good King Arthur, +and Gareth longed to join them. His mother, however, would not +let him go.</p> + +<p>"You are not yet a man," she said. "You are only a child. Stay a +little longer with me."</p> + +<p>So Gareth stayed. One day he came to his mother and said:</p> + +<p>"Mother, may I tell you a story?"</p> + +<p>"Gladly," she replied.</p> + +<p>"Then, mother, once there was a<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_74" id="Page_74">[74]</a></span> golden egg which a royal eagle +had laid, away up in a tree. It was so high up that it could +hardly be seen. But a youth, who though poor was brave, saw it, +and longed for it. He knew that if he could get it, it would +bring wealth and prosperity to him. So he tried to climb. One who +loved him stopped him, saying, 'You will fall and be killed if +you try to reach that height.' Therefore the poor boy did not +climb, and so did not fall; but he pined away with longing till +his heart broke and he died."</p> + +<p>Queen Bellicent answered:</p> + +<p>"If the person who held him back had loved him, that person would +have climbed, and found the egg, and given it to the youth."</p> + +<p>"That could not be," said Gareth. "Mother, suppose the egg were +not gold, but steel, the same steel that Arthur's sword Excalibur +is made of."</p> + +<p>The queen grew pale, for she now understood his meaning.</p> + +<p>But Gareth spoke on:</p> + +<p>"Dear mother, the gold egg is the glory to be won at Arthur's +Court; I am<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_75" id="Page_75">[75]</a></span> the poor youth, and you are the one who holds me +back. Mother, let me go!"</p> + +<p>Then Bellicent wept, and she said:</p> + +<p>"Oh, my son, do not leave me. You love me more than Gawain and +Modred. You are all I have left in the world."</p> + +<p>But Gareth replied:</p> + +<p>"Mother, I waste my strength here."</p> + +<p>"No, no," she said. "You shall hunt; you shall follow the deer +and the fox, and so grow strong. Then I will find you a beautiful +wife, and we shall all live together till I die."</p> + +<p>Gareth shook his head.</p> + +<p>"No, mother. I do not want a wife until I have proved myself to +be a worthy and brave knight. I wish to follow Arthur, my good +king and uncle."</p> + +<p>"Perhaps he is not the true king and your uncle," Bellicent said. +"At least wait a little till he has shown himself to be the +greatest king in the world. Stay with me."</p> + +<p>"Nay, mother," he said. "I must go."</p> + +<p>Then the queen thought of a plan which she hoped would soon make +him willing to stay home.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_76" id="Page_76">[76]</a></span></p> + +<p>"If I let you go, my son, you must make me a promise. The promise +will prove your love to me."</p> + +<p>"I will make a hundred promises," cried young Gareth, "if you +will only let me go."</p> + +<p>"Then," she said, "you must go in disguise to the court of +Arthur. You must hire yourself out as a kitchen boy. You shall +wash the pots and pans for a whole year and tell no one that you +are the son of a queen."</p> + +<p>Queen Bellicent was sure that Gareth would not wish to make such +a promise. He was silent a long, long time. He had hoped to take +part at once with the Knights of the Round Table in great deeds. +At last he said:</p> + +<p>"I may be a kitchen boy and still be noble in heart and mind. +Besides, I can look on at the tournaments. I shall see King +Arthur and Sir Lancelot and Sir Kay. Yes, mother, I will go."</p> + +<p>Queen Bellicent was very sad. All the days before Gareth's +departure her eyes followed him until he felt that he could not +bear to see her grieve longer.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_77" id="Page_77">[77]</a></span> So in the middle of the night he +rose quietly and woke two of his faithful servants. They dressed +themselves like plowmen and started towards Camelot.</p> + +<p>It was Easter time and the young grass was a bright green. The +birds were beginning their chirping, although it was not yet +light. As the dawn came, they saw the early morning mist sweeping +over the mountain and forest near Arthur's city of Camelot. +Sometimes the mist drew away and showed in the distance the +towers gleaming like silver.</p> + +<p>One of the servants said:</p> + +<p>"Let us go no farther, my lord Gareth. I am afraid. That is a +fairy city."</p> + +<p>The second said:</p> + +<p>"Yes, lord, let us turn back. I have heard that Arthur is not the +real king, but a changeling brought from fairyland in a great +wave all flame. He has done all his deeds with the help of +Merlin's enchantment."</p> + +<p>The first one spoke again:</p> + +<p>"Lord Gareth, that is no real city. It is a vision."</p> + +<p>But Gareth laughed and said:<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_78" id="Page_78">[78]</a></span></p> + +<p>"Arthur is real flesh and blood, a brave man, and a just king. +Come with me to the gate of his city, and do not be afraid."</p> + +<p>When they reached the gate of the city, they stared in amazement. +It was made of silver and mother-of-pearl. In the center was +carved the figure of the Lady of the Lake, with her arms +outstretched in the form of a cross. In one hand she held a +sword, and in the other a censer. On both sides of her figure was +carved the story of the wars of King Arthur. Above all were the +figures of the three queens who were to help Arthur in time of +need.</p> + +<p>The three looked till their eyes were dazzled. Then they heard a +peal of music, and the gate slowly opened. An old man with a long +gray beard came out to greet them, and returning led them up past +the gardens and groves and roofs and towers of Camelot to +Arthur's great palace on the summit of the hill.</p> + +<p>Gareth hardly thought of the splendors of the palace. He +approached the arched doorway of the Assembly Hall, thinking<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_79" id="Page_79">[79]</a></span> +only as his heart beat quickly, that at last he was to see the +good King Arthur. Even before he entered he heard the voice of +the king. For it was one of the days when Arthur was giving +judgment to his people.</p> + +<p>The king sat on a throne made of gold and ivory and ebony. On its +arms and back were carved great dragons. Arthur wore a gold crown +which was not brighter than his own beautiful hair and beard. His +blue eyes were as calm and clear as the sky in summer time. His +trusty knights stood about him on each side of the throne. The +tallest of these, who had a worn, browned face, and piercing dark +eyes, under frowning brows, must be, Gareth knew, the famous +knight, Sir Lancelot.</p> + +<p>As Gareth entered, a widow came forward and cried to Arthur:</p> + +<p>"Hear me, oh, King! Your father, King Uther, took away a field +from my husband, who is now dead. The king promised us gold, but +he gave us no gold, nor would he return our field."</p> + +<p>Then Arthur said:<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_80" id="Page_80">[80]</a></span></p> + +<p>"Which would you rather have, the gold or the field?"</p> + +<p>The woman wept, saying:</p> + +<p>"Oh, King, my dead husband loved the field. Give it back to me."</p> + +<p>"You shall have your field again," said Arthur, "and besides I +will give you three times the amount of gold it is worth to pay +you for the years King Uther had it."</p> + +<p>Gareth thought that Arthur was indeed a just king. And while this +was passing through his mind, another widow came forward and +cried:</p> + +<p>"Hear me, oh, King! Heretofore you have been my enemy. You killed +my husband with your own hands. It is hard for me to ask justice +or favor of you. Yet I must. My husband's brother took my son and +had him slain, and has now stolen his land. So I ask you for a +knight who will do battle and get my son's land for me, and +revenge me for his death."</p> + +<p>Then a good knight stepped forward and said:</p> + +<p>"Sir King, I am her kinsman. Let me do battle for her and right +her wrongs."<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_81" id="Page_81">[81]</a></span></p> + +<p>But Sir Kay, Arthur's foster brother, said:</p> + +<p>"Lord Arthur, do not help a woman who has called you her enemy in +your own hall."</p> + +<p>"Sir Kay," replied Arthur, "I am here to help all those who need +help in my land. This woman loved her lord, and I killed him +because he rebelled against me. Let her kinsman go and do battle +against the man who has wronged her. Bring him here, and I shall +judge him. If he is guilty he shall suffer."</p> + +<p>While Gareth was still listening to the king's words, a messenger +entered from Mark, the king of Cornwall. He carried a wonderful +gold cloth which he laid at Arthur's feet, saying:</p> + +<p>"My lord, King Mark sends you this as a sign that he is your true +friend."</p> + +<p>But Arthur said:</p> + +<p>"Take back the cloth. When I fight with kings who are worthy men, +after I have conquered them I give them back their lands, and +make them my subject-kings and Knights of the Round Table. But +Mark is not fit to be a king. He<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_82" id="Page_82">[82]</a></span> is cruel and false. I will not +call him friend."</p> + +<p>The messenger stepped back in alarm. Arthur said to him kindly:</p> + +<p>"It is not your fault that Mark is unworthy. Stay in this city +until you are refreshed and then go back home in safety."</p> + +<p>While the king judged other cases, Gareth looked around the great +hall. Underneath the fourteen windows he saw three rows of stone +shields, and under each shield was the name of a knight. If a +knight had done one great deed, there was carving on his shield; +if he had done two or more, there were gold markings. If he had +done none, the shield was blank. Gareth saw that Sir Lancelot's +shield and Sir Kay's glittered with gold. He looked for the +shields of his brothers, Sir Gawain and Sir Modred. Sir Gawain's +was marked with gold, but Sir Modred's was blank.</p> + +<p>Meanwhile, Arthur had judged all the cases. Then Gareth came +forward timidly and said:</p> + +<p>"Lord King, you see my poor clothes;<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_83" id="Page_83">[83]</a></span> give me leave to serve for +twelve months in your kitchen without telling my name. After that +I will fight."</p> + +<p>"You are a fair youth," Arthur replied, "and you deserve a better +gift. However, since this is all you ask, I will put you under +the care of Sir Kay, who is master of the kitchen."</p> + +<p>Sir Kay looked at Gareth with scorn.</p> + +<p>"This youth has come from some place where he did not get enough +to eat," he said, "and so he thinks of nothing but food. Yet if +he wants food, he shall have it, provided he does his work well."</p> + +<p>Sir Lancelot, who stood near by, said:</p> + +<p>"Sir Kay, you understand dogs and horses well, but not men. Look +at this youth's face; see his broad forehead and honest eyes, and +beautiful hands. I believe he is of noble birth, and you should +treat him well."</p> + +<p>"Perhaps he is a traitor," Sir Kay said. "Perhaps he will poison +King Arthur's food. Yet I believe he is too stupid to be a +traitor. If he were not stupid, or if he were noble, he would +have asked for a<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_84" id="Page_84">[84]</a></span> different gift. He would have asked for a horse +and armor. Let him go to my kitchen."</p> + +<p>So Gareth went to the kitchen. And there he worked faithfully at +hard tasks, such as cutting wood and drawing water. Sir Lancelot +spoke to him kindly whenever he passed him, but Sir Kay was +always very strict and severe. Sometimes Gareth grew discouraged +and wished his mother had not exacted such a promise of him.</p> + +<p>Whenever there was a tournament he was happy. He liked to watch +the horses prancing, and the brave knights riding, with the sun +shining on their helmets and lances. And he would say to himself:</p> + +<p>"Only wait till the twelve months have passed, and then I shall +ask King Arthur to let me do some brave deed. Perhaps some one +will come to the hall and demand to have a wrong righted. Then I +will beg the king to let me do that act of justice."</p> + +<p>Such thoughts kept him cheerful. And indeed, before many weeks, +his chance came for doing a great deed.</p> + + + +<hr /> +<div class="figcenter" style="width: 398px;"><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_85" id="Page_85">[85]</a></span> +<img src="images/illo085.png" width="398" height="193" alt="THE STORY OF SIR GARETH & LYNETTE" title="The Story of Sir Gareth & Lynette" /><a name="gareth_lynette" id="gareth_lynette"></a> +</div> + + +<p class="newchapter"><span class="firstword"><span class="dropcap">G</span>areth</span> served in the kitchen of the king only one month, for his +mother became sorry for the promise she had asked of him, and +sent armor for him to Arthur's Court, with a letter to the king +telling who the youth was. With great joy Gareth then went to +Arthur and said:</p> + +<p>"My lord, I can fight as well as my brother Gawain. At home we +have proved it. Then make me a knight,—in secret, for I do not +want the other knights to know my name. Make me a knight, and +give me permission to right the first wrong that we hear of."</p> + +<p>The king said gravely:</p> + +<p>"You know all that my knights must promise?"<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_86" id="Page_86">[86]</a></span></p> + +<p>"Yes, my lord Arthur. I am willing to promise all."</p> + +<p>"I will make you my knight in secret, since you wish it," Arthur +said, "except that I must tell Sir Lancelot. He is my dearest +knight, and I keep no secrets from him."</p> + +<p>Gareth said that he would be glad to have Sir Lancelot know. +Accordingly the king spoke to Sir Lancelot about Gareth.</p> + +<p>"I have promised him that he may right the first wrong we hear +of," said Arthur, "but as he has not yet proved what he can do, I +want you to take a horse and follow him when he sets forth. Cover +up the great lions on your shield so that he will not know who +you are." Sir Lancelot agreed. Then Gareth was secretly made a +knight.</p> + +<p>That same day a beautiful young damsel came into Arthur's hall. +She had cheeks as pink as apple blossoms, and very sharp eyes.</p> + +<p>"Who are you, damsel?" asked the king, "and what do you need?"</p> + +<p>"My name is Lynette," she said, "and I am of noble blood. I need +a knight to<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_87" id="Page_87">[87]</a></span> fight for my sister Lyonors, a lady, also noble, +rich, and most beautiful."</p> + +<p>"Why must she have a knight?" questioned Arthur.</p> + +<p>"My Lord King, she lives in Castle Perilous. Around this castle a +river circles three times, and there are three passing-places, +one over each circle of the river. Three knights, who are +brothers, keep a constant guard over these passing-places. A +fourth knight, also a brother, clad in black armor, stands guard +in front of my sister's castle. We have never seen this knight's +face or heard his voice, but his brothers tell us he is the most +powerful and daring knight in the world. All these four keep my +sister a prisoner."</p> + +<p>"And why?"</p> + +<p>"Because they want her to marry one of them so that they can have +her great wealth. She refuses, but they say that they will have +their way. In the meantime, they demand that you send Sir +Lancelot to fight with them. They hope to overthrow Sir Lancelot, +thus proving themselves the greatest warriors in the land. But I +believe that Sir Lancelot<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_88" id="Page_88">[88]</a></span> could overthrow them; therefore, I +have come for him."</p> + +<p>Arthur remembered his promise to Sir Gareth, and did not speak of +Sir Lancelot, but asked:</p> + +<p>"Tell me what these four knights, your enemies, are like."</p> + +<p>"The three I have talked to are vain and foolish knights, my +lord," answered the damsel. "They have no law, and they +acknowledge no king. Yet they are very strong, and therefore am I +come for Sir Lancelot."</p> + +<p>Then Sir Gareth rose up, crying:</p> + +<p>"Sir King, give me this adventure."</p> + +<p>At this, Sir Kay started up in anger, but Gareth continued:</p> + +<p>"My king, you know that I am but your kitchen boy, yet I have +grown so strong on your meat and drink that I can overthrow an +hundred such knights."</p> + +<p>The king looked at him a moment, and said:</p> + +<p>"Go, then."</p> + +<p>At this all the knights were amazed. The damsel's face flushed +with anger.</p> + +<p>"Shame, King!" she cried. "I asked<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_89" id="Page_89">[89]</a></span> you for your chief knight, +and you give me a kitchen boy!"</p> + +<p>Then, before any one could prevent, she ran from the hall, +mounted her horse, and rode out of the city gate. Gareth +followed, and at the doorway found a noble war horse which the +king had ordered to be given him. Near by were the two faithful +servants who had followed him from his mother's home. They held +his armor. Gareth put it on, seized his lance and shield, jumped +upon his horse, and rode off joyfully.</p> + +<p>Sir Kay, who was watching, said to Sir Lancelot:</p> + +<p>"Why does the king send my kitchen lad to fight? I will go after +the boy and put him to his pots and pans again."</p> + +<p>"Sir Kay, do not attempt to do that," said Sir Lancelot. +"Remember that the king commanded him to go."</p> + +<p>But Sir Kay leaped on his horse and followed Gareth.</p> + +<p>Meanwhile, Sir Gareth overtook the damsel and said:</p> + +<p>"Lady, I am to right your wrong. Lead and I follow."<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_90" id="Page_90">[90]</a></span></p> + +<p>But she cried:</p> + +<p>"Go back! I smell kitchen grease when you are near. Go back! your +master has come for you."</p> + +<p>Gareth looked behind and saw that Sir Kay was riding up to him. +When Sir Kay was within hearing distance, he shouted:</p> + +<p>"Come back with me to the kitchen."</p> + +<p>"I will not," said Gareth.</p> + +<p>Then Sir Kay rode fiercely at the youth. Gareth, however, struck +him from his horse, and then turned to the damsel, saying:</p> + +<p>"Lead on; I follow."</p> + +<p>She rode for a long time in silence, with Gareth a few paces +behind her. At last she stopped and said:</p> + +<p>"You have overthrown your master, you kitchen boy, but I do not +like you any better for it. I still smell the kitchen grease."</p> + +<p>Sir Gareth said, very gently:</p> + +<p>"You may speak to me as you will, but I shall not leave you till +I have righted your wrong."</p> + +<p>"Ah!" she said, scornfully, "you talk<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_91" id="Page_91">[91]</a></span> like a noble knight, but +you are not one," and she again galloped in front of him.</p> + +<p>Presently, as they passed a thick wood, a man broke out of it and +spoke to them:</p> + +<p>"Help! help! they are drowning my lord!"</p> + +<p>"Follow! I lead!" shouted Gareth to the damsel, and rushed into +the wood. There he found six men trying to drown a seventh. +Gareth attacked them with such vigor that they fled. When the +rescued man had recovered, he thanked Gareth warmly.</p> + +<p>"I am the lord of the castle yonder," he said, "and these are my +enemies. You came in time."</p> + +<p>Then he begged Gareth and the lady to stay all night in his +castle. They agreed, and he led the way. He took them into his +large hall and was about to seat them side by side at a dining +table. But the damsel said in scorn:</p> + +<p>"This is a kitchen boy, and I will not sit by him."</p> + +<p>The lord looked surprised. He took Gareth to another table and +sat beside him. After they had eaten, he said:<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_92" id="Page_92">[92]</a></span></p> + +<p>"You may be a kitchen boy, or the damsel may be out of her mind, +but whichever is the case, you are a good fighter and you have +saved my life."</p> + +<p>The next morning Gareth and the damsel set forth. They rode for a +while in silence, and then she said:</p> + +<p>"Sir Kitchen Boy, although you are so low, I would like to save +your life. Soon we are coming to one who will overthrow you; so +turn back."</p> + +<p>But Gareth refused. In a little while they came to the first +circle of the river. The passing-place was spanned by a bridge. +On the farther side of the bridge was a beautiful pavilion, +draped in silk of gold and crimson colors. In front of it passed +a warrior without armor.</p> + +<p>"Damsel," he cried, "is this the knight you have brought from +Arthur's Court to fight with me?"</p> + +<p>"Ah!" she said, "the king scorns you so much that he has sent a +kitchen boy to fight with you. Take care that he does not fall on +you before you are armed, for he is a knave."</p> + +<div style="width: 480px; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; padding-top: 1em"><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_93" id="Page_93">[93]</a></span> +<div style="width: 12ex; float: left;"><p class="caption">"Gareth rode at him fiercely"</p></div><a name="gareth_riding" id="gareth_riding"></a> +<div style="padding-left: 1ex; float: left; width:300px;"><a href="images/illo093.png"><img src="images/illo093_th.png" +alt="Gareth" title="Gareth rode at him fiercely" /></a></div> +</div> + +<div class="clear"> </div> + +<p>The warrior went inside his tent for his armor, and the damsel<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_94" id="Page_94">[94]</a></span> +said to Gareth:</p> + +<p>"Are you afraid?"</p> + +<p>"Damsel," he said, "I am not afraid. I would rather fight twenty +times than hear you speak so unkindly of me. Yet your cruel words +have put strength into my arm. I shall fight well."</p> + +<p>Then the knight came forth all in armor, and he said:</p> + +<p>"Youth, you are a kitchen boy. Go back to your king; you are not +fit to fight with me."</p> + +<p>Gareth rode at him fiercely, saying:</p> + +<p>"I am of nobler blood than you."</p> + +<p>He fought so well that soon his enemy was overcome. Then Gareth +said:</p> + +<p>"Go to Arthur's Court and say that his kitchen boy sent you."</p> + +<p>When the knight had departed, Gareth rode on, with the damsel in +advance. After a little while she stopped her horse, and when he +had caught up with her, she said:</p> + +<p>"Youth, I do not smell the kitchen grease so much as I did."</p> + +<p>Then she galloped off, laughing over<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_95" id="Page_95">[95]</a></span> her shoulder, while Gareth +followed her, a little more slowly.</p> + +<p>When they reached the second circle of the river, the damsel +said:</p> + +<p>"Here is the brother of the knight you overthrew. He is stronger +than the first. You had better go home, kitchen boy."</p> + +<p>Gareth answered nothing. Out of the tent by the bridge which +crossed the second circle of water, came a knight, clad in armor +which glowed like the sun. Lynette shouted to him:</p> + +<p>"I bring a kitchen boy who has overthrown your brother."</p> + +<p>"Ah!" shouted the knight, and rode fiercely at Sir Gareth.</p> + +<p>The two fought for a long time. The warrior was strong, but Sir +Gareth was stronger, and at last overthrew him, and sent him back +to Arthur's Court.</p> + +<p>The damsel Lynette had ridden far ahead of him. When he came near +her, she said:</p> + +<p>"The knight's horse slipped, and that is why you overcame him. +And now are you ready to fight with the third knight, for there +he stands?"<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_96" id="Page_96">[96]</a></span></p> + +<p>At the third and innermost circle of the river stood the third +knight, clad not in armor, but in hardened skins. Sir Gareth saw +that he was more powerful than his brothers. The two at once +began to fight on the bridge, but Sir Gareth's sword could not +pierce the hard skins. Again and again he tried and failed. He +grew tired, and began to fear that he should be conquered. But +all at once, when his strokes were becoming feeble, Lynette cried +out to him:</p> + +<p>"Well done, good knight! You are no kitchen boy, but a brave +lord. Strike for me! Do not lose. You are worthy to be a Knight +of the Round Table."</p> + +<p>When Sir Gareth heard this, he was so encouraged that he made a +final great effort and threw his enemy over the bridge into the +water. Then he turned to Lynette, saying:</p> + +<p>"Lead; I follow."</p> + +<p>But Lynette, proud now of her valiant escort, and humbled and +ashamed at her misjudging of him, said:</p> + +<p>"No, we shall ride side by side. I am very sorry I called you a +kitchen<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_97" id="Page_97">[97]</a></span> boy, for I know that you are a noble knight."</p> + +<p>They rode happily side by side till dusk, when they came in sight +of Castle Perilous. Just as they were about to cross the moat, a +knight overtook them. It was Sir Lancelot, who had been delayed +because he had stopped to help Sir Kay after Sir Gareth had +thrown him from his horse.</p> + +<p>The great knight, as he rode up to the two in the twilight, +seeing only the shields which Sir Gareth had taken from the three +knights, thought the young man was an enemy, and attacked him. +Sir Lancelot was so strong that he soon overcame the youth.</p> + +<p>As he fell, Lynette cried out in shame and sorrow, and Sir Gareth +said:</p> + +<p>"Oh, I am thrown."</p> + +<p>Sir Lancelot knew Sir Gareth's voice, and raised him up, saying:</p> + +<p>"I am Lancelot, and I am sorry to have overthrown you, my +friend."</p> + +<p>Sir Gareth said that it was no dishonor to be beaten by Sir +Lancelot. Then the three rode into the castle, and there they<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_98" id="Page_98">[98]</a></span> +met the fourth knight, who was all covered with black armor.</p> + +<p>Sir Lancelot wished to fight with him, but Sir Gareth would not +permit it.</p> + +<p>"This must be my adventure," he said.</p> + +<p>Sir Gareth rode at the knight, expecting to meet a very strong +man, but he easily unhorsed him. His enemy cried:</p> + +<p>"Oh spare my life; I am not a knight."</p> + +<p>Then he took off his helmet and showed the face of a young boy.</p> + +<p>"My three brothers made me pretend to be a fierce knight," he +explained. "They thought it would make people more afraid if they +believed we were four strong knights."</p> + +<p>Sir Lancelot and Sir Gareth laughed heartily, and so did Lynette. +They took the boy into the castle, where Lynette's sister, +Lyonors, who was now freed from her money-loving captors, greeted +them with much joy. She put before them a great feast, and this +time Sir Gareth and Lynette sat side by side. Afterwards a +marriage was made between them, and they went to live with King +Arthur in Camelot.</p> + + + +<hr /> +<div class="figcenter" style="width: 400px;"><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_99" id="Page_99">[99]</a></span> +<img src="images/illo099.png" width="400" height="110" alt="SIR IVAINE" title="Sir Ivaine" /><a name="ivaine" id="ivaine"></a> +</div> + + +<p class="newchapter"><span class="firstword"><span class="dropcap">A</span>mong</span> Arthur's Knights of the Round Table was one who was a +mixture of good and bad, as indeed most people are. His name was +Sir Ivaine; brave, kind-hearted, and merry; but at the same time +fickle, sometimes forgetful of his promises, and inclined to make +light of serious things.</p> + +<p>One night, in the early spring, the knights and ladies of +Arthur's Court were sitting in the dining-hall. The king and +Guinevere had withdrawn, but were expected to return. Supper had +been served, and the last course, consisting of pomegranate seeds +and dates, had just been carried off. A fire had been built in +the deep hearth, and the four bronze pillars in front were +lighted by the flames. Four<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_100" id="Page_100">[100]</a></span> little pages in blue and white +velvet kirtles sat on stools watching the fire, and perhaps +dreaming of the days when they, too, should be warriors and have +adventures.</p> + +<p>Sir Ivaine was telling of his experience with the Black Knight.</p> + +<p>"It was when I was very young," he said; "indeed, I had just been +made a knight. Some one told me of the wicked Black Knight who +lived, and still lives, in a wood a long way from here. Knowing +that he did much evil, I determined to kill him. I rode to the +wood where he lived, and in which I found a marble platform. In +the middle of it was a sunken space holding a fountain. I walked +to this, and following the directions of some writing which was +on the stone, picked up a cup that lay at hand, and filling it +with water, poured it into the fountain.</p> + +<p>"Then a great storm of wind and rain arose, and when it was at +its height the Black Knight rode up and began to attack me. We +fought for a little while, but he easily overthrew me. Thinking +me dead, he rode back, leaving me on the<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_101" id="Page_101">[101]</a></span> ground. But after a +time I was able to mount my horse, and went back to my mother's +castle."</p> + +<p>At this moment the king and the queen entered, unperceived by any +one except Sir Ivaine. The young man, who was always polite, +sprang to his feet; then the other knights rose. Sir Kay, who was +not always sweet-tempered, said to Sir Ivaine:</p> + +<p>"We all know that you are very polite, but you have more courtesy +than bravery."</p> + +<p>At that Sir Ivaine said:</p> + +<p>"I was almost a boy when the Black Knight overthrew me, but I +could conquer him now."</p> + +<p>"It is very easy to say that after you have eaten," said Sir Kay. +"Almost any knight feels brave and self-satisfied when he has had +a good supper of venison."</p> + +<p>The king asked what the conversation was about, and Sir Ivaine +repeated the story of his adventure, adding:</p> + +<p>"And, Sir King, I crave your permission to set forth to-morrow to +slay this Black Knight who is a pest in the land."<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_102" id="Page_102">[102]</a></span></p> + +<p>"I have heard of this man," said the king, "and have often +thought of sending some one to punish him. But he lives far away, +and it has been necessary heretofore to right first the wrongs +nearest home. Yet now his evil deeds and persecutions must cease. +To-morrow a company of us will set forth and conquer him and all +his people."</p> + +<p>The king named some half-dozen of his knights, Sir Ivaine among +them, who were to undertake this adventure.</p> + +<p>Sir Ivaine was displeased; he thought that the adventure should +be his alone. So he rose in the middle of the night and stole +away unattended, determined to go in advance of the others and +kill the Black Knight. It did not occur to him that in proving +himself brave, he was also proving himself disobedient.</p> + +<p>He rode forth in the darkness, humming merrily to himself. At +daybreak he reached a valley, and as he went through it, saw a +great serpent fighting with a lion. Sir Ivaine stopped to watch +this curious combat. At first the two fighters seemed evenly +matched, but<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_103" id="Page_103">[103]</a></span> soon the huge serpent wrapped all its folds about +the lion and began squeezing it to death. When Sir Ivaine saw +this, he drew his sword and killed the serpent.</p> + +<p>When the lion was free, it bounded up to Sir Ivaine, and he was +afraid that it meant to kill him; but it fawned at his feet like +a spaniel. He stroked it, and put his arms about its neck. When +he mounted his horse, the beast followed him, refusing to go +away. Then Sir Ivaine made up his mind that they were to be +companions.</p> + +<p>For many days the two kept close together, and at night Sir +Ivaine would go to sleep with his head on the lion's neck. One +day, as they came to a square castle set in a meadow, some people +who stood on the castle walls began to shoot arrows at the lion, +but Sir Ivaine stopped them, telling them that the animal was +tame.</p> + +<p>Then they told him that it was their rule that no one should pass +by that castle without doing battle with their lord. Sir Ivaine +told them that he was quite willing to obey their rule; so they +opened<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_104" id="Page_104">[104]</a></span> the castle gate. They said he must make his lion stay +outside, but Sir Ivaine refused to do this. He promised, however, +to make the lion lie down quietly; then the two were allowed to +enter.</p> + +<p>The courtyard was a large paved place, in which there were a +score of armed men. Presently the lord of the castle came +forward. This lord was much larger than Sir Ivaine, and the lion, +on seeing him, began to lash its tail. But Sir Ivaine ordered it +to be still, and it at once obeyed.</p> + +<p>Then Sir Ivaine and the knight battled together. The knight was +powerful, but Sir Ivaine was very agile and skillful. He was not +able to strike so hard as could his enemy, but he was better able +to avoid blows. Therefore it was not long before he got the +advantage and overthrew the lord.</p> + +<p>When this happened, the lord called for help, and ordered his +armed men to kill Sir Ivaine. The whole twenty began to obey this +treacherous order, but just as they were about to fall upon Sir +Ivaine, the lion bounded among them, roaring savagely. With a few +strokes of its powerful paws it disabled the men. Sir Ivaine +told the lord of the castle that he must ride to Camelot and give +himself up to Arthur to be judged for his treachery. Then Sir +Ivaine rode away from the castle; and now that the lion had saved +his life, he became very fond of the animal.</p> + +<div style="width: 480px; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; padding-top: 1em"><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_105" id="Page_105">[105]</a></span> +<div style="width: 12ex; float: left;"><p class="caption">"He dismounted and poured water into the +fountain"</p></div><a name="fountain" id="fountain"></a> +<div style="padding-left: 1ex; float: left; width:300px;"><a href="images/illo105.png"><img src="images/illo105_th.png" +alt="The Fountain" title="He dismounted and poured water into the +fountain" /></a></div> +</div> + +<div class="clear"> </div> + +<p>After many days of travel, Sir Ivaine reached the forest in the<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_106" id="Page_106">[106]</a></span> +midst of which was the castle of the Black Knight. He rode to the +platform of stone, dismounted and poured water into the fountain. +As before, a storm arose, and at its height the Black Knight +appeared.</p> + +<p>He recognized the armor of Sir Ivaine, and said:</p> + +<p>"Aha! I see I did not kill you before, but you shall not escape +me this time."</p> + +<p>"The best man shall win," said Sir Ivaine, cheerfully.</p> + +<p>Then the two began a great combat. Their swords clashed so that +the noise of the fountain was drowned; they fought so eagerly +that they were not even aware of the storm. It was not long +before the Black Knight began to grow weak from the many powerful +and death-dealing<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_107" id="Page_107">[107]</a></span> strokes from Sir Ivaine's sword. At last, +seeing that he was mortally wounded, the Black Knight turned his +horse and galloped in the direction of his castle.</p> + +<p>Ordering the lion to stay where it had lain during the combat, +Sir Ivaine followed. But he could not quite catch up with the +Black Knight, although gaining on him inch by inch. By the time +the castle moat was reached, Sir Ivaine was only five feet +behind. The horses thundered one after the other over the bridge. +The Black Knight rode under the portcullis, or sharp iron gate, +which was raised. The instant he was inside, the portcullis fell, +in order to shut out Sir Ivaine.</p> + +<p>But Sir Ivaine had already passed beneath it, and as it fell his +horse was cut in two. Even the long plume in Sir Ivaine's helmet +was shorn off, and lay outside the gate.</p> + +<p>Sir Ivaine sprang to his feet and drew his sword to renew his +attack upon the Black Knight, but he was already dead, and lay +across his panting horse's neck.</p> + +<p>Then Sir Ivaine realized what his recklessness had cost him. +There he was,<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_108" id="Page_108">[108]</a></span> alone in a strange castle, the lord of which he +had killed. Soon the people of the castle would come and capture +him, for he could not escape, since the portcullis was down.</p> + +<p>He ran into the castle, and up the stairs leading to the turret. +He was fast growing weak from the wounds he had received, and his +armor was heavy. Moreover, in spite of his care, it clashed at +every step, and he was afraid some one would soon hear him. He +had all but reached the top of the stairs when the door of the +turret room opened, and a little maiden looked down upon him. He +begged her not to cry out, and telling her who he was and what he +had done, asked her to hide him.</p> + +<p>"I will," she said, "because you are brave and you are wounded, +and because you have killed that wicked tyrant, the Black Knight. +He does not own this castle at all; it belongs to a beautiful +lady, his cousin, who is my mistress. He keeps her here a +prisoner because she will not marry him."</p> + +<p>Then the little maiden led him into<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_109" id="Page_109">[109]</a></span> the turret room. She +concealed his armor in a hole in the side of the wall, and told +him to hide himself between the two mattresses of the bed. Before +he had time to do so, however, they heard a great noise in the +courtyard, and looking down, saw that the body of the Black +Knight had been discovered. Near it stood a beautiful lady, more +beautiful than any Sir Ivaine had ever seen, except Queen +Guinevere. She was dark like the queen, and her eyes were as +bright as stars. He would have looked at her a long time, but the +little maiden begged him to hide without delay.</p> + +<p>"Quick!" she cried. "The men have seen that there is the front +part of a horse inside the gate, and know that the person who has +killed our lord must be here. Even now they have begun the +search, for they all love the Black Knight, although my mistress +does not, and they will hang you if they find you."</p> + +<p>So Sir Ivaine crept between the mattresses, and the little maiden +hurried down the stairs and went to her beautiful mistress. +Presently Sir Ivaine heard<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_110" id="Page_110">[110]</a></span> men tramping up the turret steps. +They often stopped, trying all the doors they came to, and at +last entered the room in which he lay. One of them, peering into +the hole in the wall where his armor was, said:</p> + +<p>"Here is armor."</p> + +<p>But another replied:</p> + +<p>"That is some that once was used by our master; there is no need +to drag it into the light."</p> + +<p>Then they searched among all the furnishings of the room, but +found no one. At last, as they were leaving, one of the men +thrust his sword twice through the mattress. The second thrust +cut deeply into Sir Ivaine's arm; but as the knight was brave, he +did not utter a cry.</p> + +<p>When the men had gone, he crept out, and found that the cut in +his arm and his other wounds were bleeding badly. Just then the +little maiden came in with food. She cried out in alarm when she +saw the blood, and quickly tore a piece of linen from her robe +for bandages. When all the wounds had been carefully attended to, +she gave him a plentiful supper<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_111" id="Page_111">[111]</a></span> and promised to take care of him +until there was a good opportunity for him to escape.</p> + +<p>She visited him every morning, and told him the day's news in the +castle. He learned that a lion kept roaring about the walls, and +that the bowmen had tried to kill it, but could not. Sir Ivaine +was sure that it was his lion, and longed to have it, but knew +that this was impossible. And she told him how the people of the +castle had been angry at their lady because she would not marry +the Black Knight; but now that he was dead, acknowledged her as +mistress and obeyed her in everything. The little maiden said she +thought that if the lady were told that Sir Ivaine was hidden she +would probably see that he had a safe conduct out of the castle.</p> + +<p>"I want never to leave this castle," said Sir Ivaine; "for I love +your lady."</p> + +<p>This pleased the little maiden, for she had learned to respect +Sir Ivaine. So she went to the lady of the castle and told her +all about the stranger. The lady had Sir Ivaine moved to a rich +apartment<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_112" id="Page_112">[112]</a></span> where she could visit him often and help the little +maid in her care of him. She did not tell her people, however, +that this stranger knight had killed their lord.</p> + +<p>As Sir Ivaine recovered, he soon found courage to tell her how +beautiful she was, and that he loved her more than anything in +the world. He said that if she would marry him, he would stay +with her forever, and never seek for more adventures. All he +asked was that she would let in his lion, which still continued +to roar outside the castle walls. When the lady heard the story +of the lion, it seemed to her that if Sir Ivaine were so kind to +an animal, he would probably be much kinder to her.</p> + +<p>So she said that she would marry him. The people of the castle +saw and liked him, and agreed to obey him as their lord. When +they were told that the lion they had tried to kill belonged to +him and must be admitted to the castle, they showed some fear. +Sir Ivaine told them that there was no need of this, for the +beast was very gentle, and was making noise only because of its +desire for its master.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_113" id="Page_113">[113]</a></span> He went outside the castle walls and +called. Soon there was heard a loud roaring; a big yellow body +bounded out of the forest, and the lion came leaping to its +master's feet. It frisked about him, and rubbed its head on his +arm, just as a favorite dog might do. When the people saw how +tame it was, they were no longer afraid.</p> + +<p>Sir Ivaine and the beautiful lady were soon married, and for a +long time everyone was very happy. Sir Ivaine sent a letter to +King Arthur telling the result of his adventure. Soon the +messenger returned bearing rich gifts from the king and +Guinevere, and an invitation to come to Camelot whenever they +wished to. The lady, however, persuaded Sir Ivaine to promise to +remain with her in her castle.</p> + +<p>One day a party of the Knights of the Round Table rode into the +courtyard. They were going on a great adventure, and stopped by +the way to see how Sir Ivaine and his beautiful wife fared. When +Sir Ivaine saw them, all his old-time love of fighting came back, +and he<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_114" id="Page_114">[114]</a></span> went to his lady and begged her to let him go with the +knights.</p> + +<p>"Ah, my Ivaine," she said, "you told me that you would never +leave me."</p> + +<p>"A knight ought to seek adventures," he said. "And I will return +to you."</p> + +<p>She paused for a while and then said:</p> + +<p>"I will let you go if you will promise to come back in a year and +a day; that is, next Whitsuntide."</p> + +<p>He gladly promised, and she said:</p> + +<p>"If you break this promise, I will never see you again."</p> + +<p>But Sir Ivaine was sure he would not break the promise, because +he loved her too much for that.</p> + +<p>So off he rode with the knights, followed by his faithful lion. +The lady and the little maiden waved farewells to Sir Ivaine from +the tower until they could no longer see him; then they again +took up the life they had lived before he came to the castle.</p> + +<p>Sir Ivaine rode with the knights for many months, and had many +adventures. At last, just as the year was drawing to a close, he +started homeward. On the<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_115" id="Page_115">[115]</a></span> way, however, he stopped at Arthur's +Court to pay his respects to the king and the queen. They both +remembered him and greeted him kindly.</p> + +<p>A great tournament was being held at that time in Camelot, and +the king asked Sir Ivaine if he would like to take part. Sir +Ivaine was pleased, for he loved the display of such combats. +During the three days of the tournament he distinguished himself +greatly.</p> + +<p>On the evening of the third day, as the knights were sitting in +the great hall of the Round Table, a little maiden entered. She +went up to King Arthur and gave him a ring.</p> + +<p>"This ring," she said, "is one Sir Ivaine gave my lady. She +returns it, and has vowed never to see him again because he has +broken his promise to her."</p> + +<p>Then, before any one could stop her, she left the hall, mounted +her horse, and rode away. Sir Ivaine sprang to his feet, staring +<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_116" id="Page_116">[116]</a></span>wildly. Whitsuntide had fallen on the first day of the tournament, +his year and a day had more than passed, and he had forgotten his +promise!</p> + +<p>He rushed from the hall and down the hill through the streets of +Camelot, out of the city gate, and into the forest. He ran on and +on until he fell exhausted.</p> + +<p>The next day he awoke in a fever, and would have died but for his +faithful lion. The poor animal tried to make Sir Ivaine rise, but +seeing that he could not, dragged him to the edge of a brook, +where he could drink when he was thirsty. The lion also brought +him game. At first Sir Ivaine would not touch it, but finally +began to eat it raw.</p> + +<p>After a time he became better, physically, but his senses were +gone. In his madness he wandered all through the woods, fighting +with the trees and bushes. The lion always followed him, +protecting him from other animals and from men.</p> + +<p>One day when the lion was absent finding food, Sir Ivaine lay +asleep. A good hermit came up to him, and pitying his condition, +lifted him in his arms and carried him to his hut. He bathed the +poor knight, cut his hair, and put a robe upon him. He was laying +him upon a<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_117" id="Page_117">[117]</a></span> bed when the lion came roaring to the door and dashed +it open.</p> + +<p>When it saw the hermit tending its master, it fawned at his feet. +After that Sir Ivaine spent much of his time in the hut. The lion +supplied him with food, bringing meat to the hermit, who always +divided it into four parts: three parts he gave to the lion, and +one he cooked for Sir Ivaine and himself.</p> + +<p>Sometimes Sir Ivaine would run away from the hermit and wander +for days in the forest. The lion took care of him, and always led +him back to the hermit's hut. Once, however, Sir Ivaine set forth +in the direction of his wife's castle. At night the lion tried to +take him to the hut, but in vain. For days he wandered, always in +the same direction, until at last he reached the wood where the +stone platform was. He laid himself down upon it and slept. Soon +a lady and a maid appeared. The lion sprang at them, but when it +reached their feet, it licked the lady's hand, for she was its +mistress.</p> + +<p>It took her robe in its teeth and pulled her gently to the spot +where Sir Ivaine<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_118" id="Page_118">[118]</a></span> lay. At first she would not look at him, +because she had not forgiven him for breaking his promise. But +the little maiden said:</p> + +<p>"Dear mistress, look at him. The story which the knights of +Arthur's Court told us about his madness must be true. If you +will but look at his face you will see that it is the face of a +man who has lost his senses."</p> + +<p>Then the lady knelt beside him. When she saw his worn features +and his tattered garments, she began to believe that he really +had lost his senses from grief. She sent the little maiden to the +castle for an ointment she had. It was so powerful that if it +were rubbed over a person who was ill, it would cure him, no +matter what his disease was. When the little maid brought it, the +lady put it upon Sir Ivaine, but so gently as not to rouse him.</p> + +<p>After several hours, Sir Ivaine awoke. At first he hardly knew +where he was, but soon he recollected all that had happened, and +seeing his lady near, begged her to forgive him. This she did, +and they were reconciled. Sir Ivaine was<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_119" id="Page_119">[119]</a></span> sure that he would +never again forget to keep a promise.</p> + +<p>For some months they lived very happily in the castle. Then they +went to Camelot in order to be near to Arthur and the Knights of +the Round Table.</p> + +<div class="figcenter" style="width: 150px;"> +<img src="images/illo119.png" width="150" height="167" alt="The Grail" title="The Grail" /> +</div> + + + +<hr /> +<div class="figcenter" style="width: 350px;"><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_120" id="Page_120">[120]</a></span> +<img src="images/illo120.png" width="350" height="205" alt="SIR BALIN" title="Sir Balin" /><a name="balin" id="balin"></a> +</div> + + +<p class="newchapter"><span class="firstword"><span class="dropcap">I</span>n</span> Arthur's Court there dwelt a poor knight named Balin, who had +accidentally killed the cousin of King Arthur, and had been taken +to the court of the king for trial. He had lived there almost as +a prisoner for six months, until it was decided that he had not +meant to do wrong. All his money was gone, and his clothes and +armor were poor. He was sorry for this, but he was still more +sorry that he was not doing brave deeds like the other knights.</p> + +<p>One day when he sat in the great hall at Camelot, looking at the +shields which were carved or covered with gold, a<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_121" id="Page_121">[121]</a></span> damsel entered +who wore a rich mantle, trimmed with fur. As Arthur and the +knights looked at her, she let it fall to the floor, and they saw +that she wore a heavy sword.</p> + +<p>"Damsel," said Arthur, "why do you, a maiden, wear a sword?"</p> + +<p>"Alas!" said the maiden, "I should be glad if I did not wear it. +It is very heavy, and causes me pain. But I am forced to wear it +until I meet a knight who can take it from me."</p> + +<p>"Surely many knights could do that, and gladly," the lords said.</p> + +<p>"No," said the lady. "It seems that there is but one knight in +all the world who is to take the sword. I heard that there were +brave knights at the Court of King Rience, the enemy of King +Arthur, and I went there. Yet no one could unfasten the sword. +Now am I come here on the same errand."</p> + +<p>"In truth, damsel," said the king, "you are right welcome. My +knights shall try to take your weapon."</p> + +<p>Then, at a sign from Arthur, a knight stepped forward. But, even +though he<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_122" id="Page_122">[122]</a></span> exerted all his strength, the sword could not be +unfastened.</p> + +<p>"Sir, you need not pull so hard," said the damsel. "The one who +is to take the sword will do so easily."</p> + +<p>All the knights tried except Sir Balin, who stood back because of +his poor clothes. Yet he wanted very much to see if he was the +chosen knight, and just as the damsel was going away, he said:</p> + +<p>"Damsel, will you let me try? I am poorly clothed, but my heart +tells me that I may succeed."</p> + +<p>The damsel saw that he had a good face. But his clothes were so +poor she doubted if he were really a knight.</p> + +<p>"I am afraid you will fail," she said.</p> + +<p>"Ah, maiden," he returned, "poor clothes are but the outside. +Good deeds are just as worthy, whether done by a rich person or a +poor one. Many a man who is badly clothed has real valor and +kindness."</p> + +<p>"That is very true," she said; "so try, good sir."</p> + +<p>Then Sir Balin seized the hilt of the sword, and the weapon came +away easily.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_123" id="Page_123">[123]</a></span> All the lords wondered, and the lady said:</p> + +<p>"You are a good knight, the best I have met. You shall do many +brave deeds. And now, give me my sword again."</p> + +<p>"No," said Sir Balin, "I should like to keep this sword, for I +have no other."</p> + +<p>"Alas!" said the maiden, "I am sorry to hear these words, for now +I must give you the sword."</p> + +<p>"Surely he deserves it," said Arthur, "for it weighed heavily on +you."</p> + +<p>"Yes," she replied, "but it is a misfortune for him to keep it. +He shall slay with it the best friend he has in the world. It is +going to prove his destruction."</p> + +<p>Sir Balin would not believe her.</p> + +<p>"I could not slay my best friend," he said. "Besides, I am +willing to meet whatever happens, and I wish to keep the sword."</p> + +<p>Then the maiden departed in great sorrow, while Balin said to the +king:</p> + +<p>"My lord, give me permission to leave your court."</p> + +<p>"I do not like to lose you," said the<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_124" id="Page_124">[124]</a></span> king. "Perhaps you are +angry because you were in prison so long. You must know that it +takes time to find out who is innocent and who is guilty."</p> + +<p>"My lord," answered Sir Balin, "I know it is not wise to make a +judgment hastily, and I do not blame you for keeping me in +prison. I love you, and wish to leave your court that I may do +some deed worthy of the Round Table."</p> + +<p>Then Arthur said that he might go. Soon a servant brought to +Balin a fine horse and good armor which were the gifts of the +king. Balin at once took leave of Arthur and the knights, and +rode away, singing as he rode, for he was very happy. Sometimes +he stopped to lift up his shield and admire it. It had a blue +emblem upon it, and to Sir Balin's eyes its beauty was that of +the sky, the soft blue of heaven.</p> + +<p>Sir Balin rode until he was tired. At last, from the crest of a +hill, he saw a gloomy stone castle, and galloped towards it +joyfully, hoping to rest there.</p> + +<p>At a turn of the road, he saw a cross with gold letters upon it. +He stopped to<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_125" id="Page_125">[125]</a></span> read the words, which were: "Let no knight go to +the castle, for great danger is there."</p> + +<p>"Oh," said Sir Balin, "I am used to danger. I fear nothing," and +he went on.</p> + +<p>Presently an old man started up beside the road. He had a long +gray beard, and was dressed in a long gray robe that sparkled +with little specks of frost. The old man said to Sir Balin:</p> + +<p>"Did you not read the letters on the cross?"</p> + +<p>"Yes," replied Sir Balin, "but I am not afraid."</p> + +<p>"Oh, Sir Balin, you of all men should fear to go to that castle," +the old man said.</p> + +<p>"Why?" he asked in amazement. "Nevertheless, I shall go."</p> + +<p>"Sir Balin, Sir Balin!" cried the old man after him, "you are too +self-willed. You will be very sorry for what you have done before +you die."</p> + +<p>But Sir Balin rode on without fear, and soon reached the gate of +the castle. A hundred beautiful ladies and many knights welcomed +him. They took off his armor and put a rich crimson cloak<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_126" id="Page_126">[126]</a></span> upon +his shoulders. Then they led him into a banquet hall where there +was music and dancing. They set food before him, and he ate, +thankfully. He was very happy, feeling sure that he could rest +here for many days.</p> + +<p>Just as he was thinking this, the lady who was mistress of the +castle said:</p> + +<p>"Sir knight, it is the rule of this castle that every lord who +comes here as a guest must fight."</p> + +<p>"That is a hard custom," said Sir Balin.</p> + +<p>"Yet you need fight but once," answered the lady. "We have here +the knight who entered just before you came."</p> + +<p>"Alas!" said Sir Balin, "I would rather not fight, for I wish to +rest. Since such is the custom of the castle, however, I must do +my part. Let some one bring my armor."</p> + +<p>A servant at once came up to him with a suit of black armor.</p> + +<p>"This is not my armor," said Sir Balin. "My armor is not painted +black. It is honest gray steel, decorated with blue."</p> + +<p>"It is the custom of the castle to wear<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_127" id="Page_127">[127]</a></span> black," they told him. +"This armor is as good as your own."</p> + +<p>Sir Balin felt sad, he could hardly tell why; and was very sorry +that he had ever come to the castle. Putting on the armor, +however, he went into the courtyard and mounted his horse. No +sooner was he ready than another knight, clad all in black, +entered the courtyard.</p> + +<p>The two knights rode together so fiercely that the shock threw +them both off their horses in a swoon. After a time they +recovered and began to fight on foot, pressing each other near +the walls of the castle.</p> + +<p>Sir Balin was fighting with the sword that he had taken from the +damsel in King Arthur's Court. It was a strong sword, and +whenever it struck, the armor of his opponent cracked. They +fought till their breath failed, and then they rested. Each knew +that never before had he dealt with such a strong enemy.</p> + +<p>Then they fought again, and gave each other seven deep wounds, +the least of which would prove fatal. All the ground was red with +blood, but Sir Balin fought<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_128" id="Page_128">[128]</a></span> on still, for the people of the +castle were watching from the walls, and he wished to be thought +a great warrior. So at last he used all his remaining strength +and gave the other knight such a hard blow that he fell to the +ground. Sir Balin knew that it was a death stroke. He felt that +he, too, was about to die, and said:</p> + +<p>"Who are you? I never fought with such a strong knight before."</p> + +<p>The other answered faintly:</p> + +<p>"I am Sir Balan, the brother to the good knight Sir Balin."</p> + +<p>Then Sir Balin cried out:</p> + +<p>"Alas, alas! that I should live to see this day!" and he fell +backward in a swoon.</p> + +<p>Sir Balan was dying, but he crawled on his hands and knees to +where Sir Balin lay, and took off his helmet only to discover the +face of his brother. Then he wept bitterly till Sir Balin +recovered from his swoon.</p> + +<p>"Alas!" said Sir Balan, "if we had but worn our own armor we +should have known each other. And now we must die; we have killed +each other."</p> + +<div style="width: 480px; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; padding-top: 1em"><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_129" id="Page_129">[129]</a></span> +<div style="width: 12ex; float: left;"><p class="caption">"They fought till their breath failed"</p></div> +<div style="padding-left: 1ex; float: left; width:300px;"><a href="images/illo129.png"><img src="images/illo129_th.png" +alt="The Fight" title="They fought till their breath failed" /></a></div> +</div> + +<div class="clear"> </div> + +<p>Sir Balin was too full of remorse to weep.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_130" id="Page_130">[130]</a></span></p> + +<p>"All this is my fault," he said. "As the old man on the road told +me, I have been too self-willed. First, I would have the damsel's +sword, although she told me that I should slay with it the best +friend I had. That is you, Balan. And then I would enter this +castle in spite of warnings. I deserve to die, but it is a hard +punishment that I should have killed you, my brother."</p> + +<p>Soon some ladies came from the wall into the courtyard, and to +them Sir Balin said:</p> + +<p>"We are two dear brothers who have killed each other. I pray you, +promise to bury us in the same grave."</p> + +<p>The ladies wept as they made the promise. The two brothers put +their arms about each other and waited for death. They hoped to +die together, but Sir Balan died first. Soon after, when Sir +Balin had also died, the ladies buried them together, and put a +stone above the grave, telling the sad story of their combat and +death.</p> + + + +<hr /> +<div class="figcenter" style="width: 450px;"><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_131" id="Page_131">[131]</a></span> +<img src="images/illo131.png" width="450" height="165" alt="SIR GERAINT AND ENID" title="Sir Geraint and Enid" /><a name="geraint_enid" id="geraint_enid"></a> +</div> + + +<p class="newchapter"><span class="firstword"><span class="dropcap">O</span>ne</span> of the bravest knights in King Arthur's Court was Sir +Geraint. Once he was in the forest with Queen Guinevere and one +of her maidens, when a lady, a knight, and a dwarf rode by. The +queen told the maiden to go to the dwarf and ask who his master +was.</p> + +<p>As the maiden approached them, she saw that the knight had a very +proud face. She asked the dwarf his master's name, but he said, +roughly:</p> + +<p>"I do not know."</p> + +<p>"If you do not know," answered the maiden, "I will ask him +myself."</p> + +<p>She started to ride up to the knight, but the dwarf struck at her +with his whip. Upon this, she went back and told the<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_132" id="Page_132">[132]</a></span> queen and +Sir Geraint what had passed. Sir Geraint was very angry, and he +said to the queen:</p> + +<p>"Fair queen, I will ride after this knight and his dwarf and +avenge the insult done to your maiden. If I succeed, I shall +return in three days."</p> + +<p>"Do so," said the queen, "and I trust you will succeed, not only +in this, but in all things which you attempt. Some day you will +love some fair lady. Before you marry her, bring her to me, and +no matter how poor or how rich she may be, I will clothe her for +her wedding in the most beautiful garments in the world. They +shall shine like the sun."</p> + +<p>So off rode Sir Geraint, keeping at some distance behind the +lady, the knight, and the dwarf. At last, after passing through +many woods, he lost sight of them as they disappeared beyond the +top of a hill. Sir Geraint rode up, and saw below him, in a +valley, the one street of a little town. On one side was a +fortress, so new that the stone of which it was built was still +white; while on the other side stood a gray old castle, fast +falling<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_133" id="Page_133">[133]</a></span> into decay. He saw the three people he was following +enter the fortress.</p> + +<p>In the little town there was a great deal of noise and bustle. At +first Sir Geraint could not find any place to stay, for the +houses were all full. He stopped before a servant who was +scouring his master's armor, and asked what all the noise meant. +The servant said:</p> + +<p>"The Sparrow-hawk," and went on working.</p> + +<p>Then he met an old man carrying a sack of corn, and asked him the +same question. The old man made the same reply. Next Sir Geraint +approached one who was making armor, and questioned him. Without +looking up the man replied:</p> + +<p>"Friend, he who works for the Sparrow-hawk has little time for +answering questions."</p> + +<p>Sir Geraint was vexed, and said:</p> + +<p>"I am weary of hearing of your Sparrow-hawk. I do not understand +what you mean. Will you not tell me where I can find a place to +stay for to-night? And will you not sell me some armor? I have +but my sword."<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_134" id="Page_134">[134]</a></span></p> + +<p>Then the man looked up, and said:</p> + +<p>"Your pardon, sir. We are all very busy here, for to-morrow we +hold a tournament, and our work is not half done. I cannot give +you armor, for we need all that we have in the town. As to +lodging, all the room is taken. However, perhaps Earl Iniol in +the castle will receive you."</p> + +<p>Sir Geraint rode over to the gray old castle, and as the gate was +open, entered the ruined courtyard. Dismounting, he went into the +hall. Here he found the earl, an elderly man dressed in clothes +which had once been handsome, but were now old and worn. To him +Sir Geraint said:</p> + +<p>"Good sir, I seek lodging for the night."</p> + +<p>The old Earl Iniol answered:</p> + +<p>"Sir, I was once rich and am now poor; nevertheless, I will +gladly give you the best I have."</p> + +<p>As he spoke, some one in the castle began to sing. The voice was +very sweet. Sir Geraint thought he had never heard anyone sing so +wonderfully.</p> + +<p>"That is my daughter Enid," said the earl.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_135" id="Page_135">[135]</a></span></p> + +<p>Then he took Sir Geraint into a room in which sat an old lady in +a faded velvet gown. She was the earl's wife. By her side stood +Enid in a faded silk gown. She was as beautiful as her voice was +sweet, and after watching her, Sir Geraint said to himself:</p> + +<p>"I already love this maiden."</p> + +<p>He said nothing out loud, only looked at her. Earl Iniol spoke to +her:</p> + +<p>"Enid, this good knight will stay with us. His horse is in the +courtyard; take it to the stall and give it corn. Then go into +the town and buy us some food."</p> + +<p>Sir Geraint wished to put away his horse himself, but the old +earl said:</p> + +<p>"Sir, we are very poor, but we cannot permit our guest to do any +work. I pray you, stay here."</p> + +<p>So Enid took the horse to the stall. After that, she went into +the town and soon returned with meat and sweet cakes. Then, +because most of the rooms in the old castle were in ruins, she +cooked the meat in the same hall in which they were to eat. When +the meal was ready, she waited on her father and her mother and +Sir Geraint.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_136" id="Page_136">[136]</a></span> The knight watched her and loved her more and more.</p> + +<p>When they had risen from the table, he said to the earl:</p> + +<p>"My lord, pray tell me what the people of this town mean when +they speak of the Sparrow-hawk."</p> + +<p>The earl's face grew sad, as he said:</p> + +<p>"That is the name given to the young knight who rules in this +town."</p> + +<p>"Does he live in the fortress?" asked Sir Geraint. "And do a lady +and a dwarf ride with him?"</p> + +<p>"Yes," said the earl.</p> + +<p>"Ah, then he is the man I am in search of," said Sir Geraint. "I +must fight with him before three days are over. I am Geraint of +King Arthur's Court."</p> + +<p>"I know your name well," said the earl. "We often hear of your +great deeds at Camelot. Many times have I related to my Enid the +story of your brave deeds."</p> + +<p>"I am bound to do my duty with the other knights," answered Sir +Geraint. "And now tell me more of this Sparrow-hawk."<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_137" id="Page_137">[137]</a></span></p> + +<p>"Alas! he is my nephew," said the earl. "At one time I ruled this +town. My nephew, the Sparrow-hawk, was powerful, too, and he +asked to unite our power by marrying Enid, but neither she nor I +wished it. Then he collected a body of men and attacked me, and +took all my wealth, leaving me nothing but this old castle."</p> + +<p>"To-morrow," said Sir Geraint, "I will fight in the tournament +with this Sparrow-hawk, and conquer him, and give you back your +lands. But I lack armor."</p> + +<p>"I can give you armor, although it is old and rusty," said the +earl. "But no one is allowed to fight in this tournament unless +there is some lady he loves best in all the world. Then he fights +for the sake of this lady, and if he wins, receives the prize, +which he in turn gives to her."</p> + +<p>"What is the prize?" asked Sir Geraint.</p> + +<p>"A hawk, a sparrow-hawk made of gold. This nephew of mine is very +strong and has always overcome every knight who has opposed him +in these tournaments, which are held yearly. It is because he has +won the prize so often that he is called<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_138" id="Page_138">[138]</a></span> the Sparrow-hawk. But +tell me, is there some lady whom you love?"</p> + +<p>Then Sir Geraint said:</p> + +<p>"I love this child of yours, my lord, and will gladly make her my +wife if you will permit it."</p> + +<p>The earl was very glad, but Enid was afraid, for she thought she +was not worthy of such a great knight. Yet, she knew she loved +him, and said so, and soon promised to go with him to Arthur's +Court within three days.</p> + +<p>The next morning, the earl and Sir Geraint and Enid went to the +field where the tournament was to take place. Many knights and +ladies were there. The ladies sat under a pavilion which was +draped in purple velvet ornamented with gold, while the knights +were on horseback. A herald blew a trumpet, and the knight who +was called the Sparrow-hawk galloped into the field.</p> + +<p>He rode around it three times, and then went up to the pavilion +and said to his lady:</p> + +<p>"I give you the gold sparrow-hawk again, because no one dares to +fight with me for it."<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_139" id="Page_139">[139]</a></span></p> + +<p>Then Sir Geraint rode forward in his rusty armor and said:</p> + +<p>"I will fight with you."</p> + +<p>The knight looked upon him, and gave a very scornful laugh as he +rode at Sir Geraint. The two clashed together and began to fight +fiercely, while all the people watched. Twice they had to stop +and rest. For a long time they seemed evenly matched, and no one +could decide which would win. But when Sir Geraint looked to +where Enid sat in her faded silk gown among the richly dressed +ladies in the pavilion, he grew very strong and struck his enemy +such a blow that he fell to the earth.</p> + +<p>"Now, Sparrow-hawk," said Sir Geraint, "I have overthrown you. +You must do two things: you must ride with your lady and your +dwarf to Arthur's Court and ask pardon of Queen Guinevere because +your dwarf struck her maiden; and you must restore all the riches +you have taken from your good uncle, Earl Iniol."</p> + +<p>This the knight promised to do. And afterwards, in Arthur's +Court, he grew very sorry for his evil deeds, and became a good +man.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_140" id="Page_140">[140]</a></span></p> + +<p>Meanwhile, Enid was making ready to go to Arthur's Court with Sir +Geraint. She was sorry that she had only her robe of faded silk. +She remembered a robe her mother had given her before the +Sparrow-hawk took their riches. It was of velvet, the color of +mother-of-pearl, with gold leaves and flowers and birds +embroidered upon it.</p> + +<p>While she was thinking of this beautiful robe, her mother entered +the room, carrying it. Enid gave a cry of joy, and her mother +told her that the Sparrow-hawk had just given it back, together +with other robes and gold and jewels. "Put it on, Enid," she +said, and helped her daughter to array herself in the handsome +gown, exclaiming: "How beautiful you look, my dear child! Sir +Geraint may well be proud to fetch such a fair lady to King +Arthur's Court."</p> + +<p>Just then the earl entered to tell them that the knight wanted +Enid to ride with him to Camelot in the faded silk dress in which +he had first seen her.</p> + +<p>Enid, although she was deeply disappointed, at once put on again +her faded<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_141" id="Page_141">[141]</a></span> gown. When Sir Geraint came in he saw that the earl's +wife was also disappointed, so he told them that the queen had +promised to dress his bride in the most beautiful robes in the +world for her wedding. At this both the ladies were much pleased.</p> + +<p>So after bidding farewell to her parents, Enid rode with Sir +Geraint to Camelot, where the queen welcomed her, and gave her a +robe that was as bright as the sun. Then the good Archbishop of +Canterbury married Sir Geraint and Enid amid great rejoicings.</p> + +<div class="figcenter" style="width: 150px;"> +<img src="images/illo141.png" width="150" height="86" alt="Shield and swords" title="Shield and two swords" /> +</div> + + + +<hr /> +<div class="figcenter" style="width: 400px;"><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_142" id="Page_142">[142]</a></span> +<img src="images/illo142.png" width="400" height="161" alt="ARTHUR AND SIR ACCALON" title="Arthur and Sir Accalon" /><a name="arthur_accalon" id="arthur_accalon"></a> +</div> + + +<p class="newchapter"><span class="firstword"><span class="dropcap">T</span>here</span> was a woman in Arthur's Court named Morgan le Fay, who had +learned a great deal about magic. She was a wicked woman, and +hated the king because he was more powerful than she, and because +he was so good.</p> + +<p>However, she pretended to be a true friend to him, and the king +believed in her. One day when they were talking together, she +asked him if he would not let her take charge of his wonderful +sword Excalibur, and its scabbard. She said that she would guard +them so carefully that they would never be stolen. As she was +very eager, Arthur granted her request.</p> + +<p>One day in time of peace, King Arthur went out hunting with a +certain knight<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_143" id="Page_143">[143]</a></span> named Sir Accalon, who was the lover of Morgan le +Fay. They rode for a long time, and when they were tired, stopped +to rest beside a great lake. As they looked over its shining +waters, they saw a beautiful little ship, which sailed straight +towards them, and ran up to the sands at their feet. It was all +covered with golden silks, which waved in the gentle wind. King +Arthur and Sir Accalon climbed into it and examined it thoroughly, +but they found no one on board.</p> + +<p>They rested on two couches which were on the deck, until it grew +dark. Then they were about to return home, when all at once, a +hundred torches, set on the sides of the ship were lighted, and +suddenly there appeared twelve beautiful damsels who told the two +that they were welcome, and that they should be served with a +banquet.</p> + +<p>Presently the maidens led the king and the knight into a room +which had a table covered with a white cloth embroidered in +purple. It bore many golden dishes, and each dish had a beautiful +design carved upon it. Some dishes had<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_144" id="Page_144">[144]</a></span> vine-leaves, others +ivy-leaves; some had angels with long robes sweeping back in +graceful lines; and all these dishes held choice food. The king +and Sir Accalon ate to their hearts' content.</p> + +<p>Then the damsels led them into two separate chambers. King Arthur +was tired and so sleepy that he gave but one glance at his +bedroom. He saw that it was hung in red silk embroidered with +gold dragons and griffins. Then he threw himself on his bed and +slept very soundly.</p> + +<p>When he awoke, he found himself not in the pretty bed-chamber, +but in a dark place. He could see nothing, but all about him he +heard the sound of complaining and weeping. He was much +bewildered, but in a moment he cried:</p> + +<p>"What is this? Where am I?"</p> + +<p>Then a voice answered:</p> + +<p>"You are in prison, as we are."</p> + +<p>"Who are you?" asked Arthur.</p> + +<p>The voice replied:</p> + +<p>"We are twenty knights, prisoners, and some of us have been here +as long as seven years. We are in the dungeons of a wicked lord +named Sir Damas. He has<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_145" id="Page_145">[145]</a></span> a younger brother, and the two brothers +are enemies, quarreling about their inheritance. Now the younger +brother, Sir Ontzlake, is very strong, but Sir Damas is not +strong, and moreover, he is a coward. So he tries to find a +knight who will fight for him against Sir Ontzlake.</p> + +<p>"But Sir Damas is so much hated that no one will fight for him. +So he goes about the country with a body of rough men, and +whenever he sees a knight, he captures him. Then he asks him to +fight with Sir Ontzlake. So far, all the knights have refused, +and have been thrown into prison. We do not have food enough, but +we would rather die here than fight for Sir Damas, who is so +wicked."</p> + +<p>At that moment a damsel entered the prison with a torch, which +faintly lighted the dismal place, and advanced to the king.</p> + +<p>"Sir," she said, "will you fight for my lord, Sir Damas? If you +will, you shall be taken from this prison. If you will not, you +shall die here."</p> + +<p>Arthur considered for some time, and then said:</p> + +<p>"I would rather fight than die in prison.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_146" id="Page_146">[146]</a></span> If I fight, will you +deliver also all these prisoners?"</p> + +<p>The damsel promised, and Arthur consented to fight. While she +went to tell Sir Damas, Arthur said to the other prisoners:</p> + +<p>"My friends, I do not know Sir Damas, and I do not know Sir +Ontzlake. I do not know whether they are bad or good. But I will +fight, and then, when I have conquered, I shall judge between +them, and do justice to both."</p> + +<p>"That is a good plan," said the knights, "but why are you so sure +that you will conquer?"</p> + +<p>"I am Arthur, the King," he replied.</p> + +<p>At that the knights set up a great cry of joy, and the king +continued:</p> + +<p>"I shall send for my good sword Excalibur and the scabbard, and +with these I shall surely win."</p> + +<p>So when Arthur and the knights were led out of prison, the king +sent the damsel who had visited them to Morgan le Fay for his +sword and scabbard.</p> + +<p>Meantime, the knight who had accompanied Arthur on the little +ship, Sir Accalon, also awoke. He found himself in<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_147" id="Page_147">[147]</a></span> the palace of +Morgan le Fay, and he wondered very much where Arthur was. He +went to the lady, who said to him:</p> + +<p>"My dear lord, the day has come when you can have great power if +you want it. Should you like to be king of this land, instead of +Arthur?"</p> + +<p>Now Sir Accalon was a traitor at heart. He wanted very much to be +king, even if the good Arthur was to be killed; so he said:</p> + +<p>"Yes, truly."</p> + +<p>Then she said:</p> + +<p>"You shall be king, and I shall be your queen. All you need to do +is to fight a great battle, which you shall win. I have been +using my magic. It was I who sent the ship of silk to you and +Arthur. I had him put into prison, and I had you brought here."</p> + +<p>Sir Accalon wondered very much. Then she told him of the fight +King Arthur was to make against Sir Ontzlake.</p> + +<p>"But I have caused Sir Ontzlake to fall sick," she said, "and he +cannot fight. I shall go with you to his castle and you can offer +to fight for him."<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_148" id="Page_148">[148]</a></span></p> + +<p>"I to fight with the king!" cried Sir Accalon. "He would surely +overthrow me."</p> + +<p>"He cannot," said Morgan le Fay, "because you are to fight with +his sword. A little while ago he sent to me for Excalibur and the +scabbard, but I returned him a false sword which looks like +Excalibur, and a false scabbard. You shall take the true ones, +and then you shall surely overcome him and rule this land."</p> + +<p>Then Sir Accalon was glad, and he hastened with the lady to the +castle of Sir Ontzlake. They found him groaning because he was +ill and because Sir Damas had sent him a challenge to fight with +a knight, and he could not accept it. He was much relieved when +Morgan le Fay told him that Sir Accalon would fight in his place.</p> + +<p>Early in the afternoon, King Arthur and Sir Accalon rode into the +field where the combat was to be held. Arthur did not know who +Sir Accalon was, nor did any one else, except Morgan le Fay. Two +sides of the field were full of people who came to watch, half of +whom were friends<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_149" id="Page_149">[149]</a></span> of Sir Damas, and the other half were friends +of Sir Ontzlake.</p> + +<p>Arthur and Sir Accalon rode at each other so furiously that at +the shock of the meeting both fell off their horses. Then they +began to fight fiercely with their swords. The king could make no +headway with his false steel, but whenever Sir Accalon struck at +Arthur he drew blood.</p> + +<p>The king was much amazed. He grew weaker and weaker, but still he +kept on his feet. Those who watched him were sorry for him; they +thought they had never seen a man fight so bravely. At last +Arthur's sword broke, and fell in two pieces on the ground. When +Sir Accalon saw this, he cried:</p> + +<p>"Now, yield to me."</p> + +<p>"I will never yield," said the king, "and if you do not get me +another sword, you will be shamed before all men, for it is an +unknightly thing to fight with a defenseless man."</p> + +<p>"I do not care," said Sir Accalon. "If you will not yield, defend +yourself with your shield as best you can."</p> + +<p>He rushed at the king. Arthur was so<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_150" id="Page_150">[150]</a></span> weak that he could hardly +stand, but he guarded himself as well as he could with his +shield. Soon he could do no more, and fell to the ground.</p> + +<p>At this moment the Lady of the Lake, who had given Arthur his +sword, came upon the field. She was invisible, but anyone who had +listened intently could have heard a sound like the ripple of +water as she walked. She caused Excalibur to fall out of the hand +of Sir Accalon and drop near Arthur.</p> + +<p>When it fell, Arthur saw that it was his own Excalibur. He +grasped its handle and some of his strength came back. He +struggled to his feet, and rushing up to Sir Accalon, seized the +scabbard of Excalibur and threw it far over the field.</p> + +<p>"Now," he said, "send for a second sword and fight with me."</p> + +<p>Then Sir Accalon was afraid. Yet he thought that Arthur was so +weak that he could still be overcome. So he sent for a second +sword, and they began to fight again. Arthur's strength, however, +had largely returned, and in a short time he gave Sir Accalon a +mortal stroke.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_151" id="Page_151">[151]</a></span></p> + +<p>Sir Accalon fell to the ground, and the king, leaning over him, +cried:</p> + +<p>"Tell me who you are."</p> + +<p>Then Sir Accalon was filled with remorse, and he said:</p> + +<p>"Oh, my king, I have been a traitor to you, but now I am dying, +and I am sorry for what I have done. I deserve my death."</p> + +<p>He told the king his name, and all about his treachery, and that +of Morgan le Fay.</p> + +<p>King Arthur was sad.</p> + +<p>"It is very hard to be deceived in a friend," he said, "but I +forgive you freely. I will try to cure your wound, and sometime I +shall trust you again."</p> + +<p>"You cannot cure me," said Sir Accalon. "I am dying. Let them +carry me off the field."</p> + +<p>So he was taken to a neighboring abbey, while the people crowded +about the king to congratulate him, but Arthur said:</p> + +<p>"I am sad at heart. My victory is no comfort to me, for to-day I +have lost a friend whom I believed true."<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_152" id="Page_152">[152]</a></span></p> + +<p>Then he called the two brothers, Sir Damas and Sir Ontzlake, and +judged their cause. He decided that their property must be +divided equally between them, and that they must be friends. They +promised never to quarrel again. Arthur told them that they must +be kind to other knights and to all people. He said that if he +heard that they were not, he would come and punish them.</p> + +<p>After this, Sir Damas gave back to the twenty knights all their +money, and they went on their way rejoicing. King Arthur mounted +his horse and rode over to the abbey, where he sat by the bed of +Sir Accalon till the poor knight died. Then the king went back +alone to his Court at Camelot.</p> + +<div class="figcenter" style="width: 150px;"> +<img src="images/illo119.png" width="150" height="167" alt="The Grail" title="The Grail" /> +</div> + + + +<hr /> +<div class="figcenter" style="width: 450px;"><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_153" id="Page_153">[153]</a></span> +<img src="images/illo153.png" width="450" height="113" alt="HOW ARTHUR FOUGHT WITH A GIANT" title="How Arthur fought with a Giant" /><a name="arthur_giant" id="arthur_giant"></a> +</div> + + +<p class="newchapter"><span class="firstword"><span class="dropcap">O</span>nce</span> upon a time King Arthur and some of his knights were sailing +in a ship. The king, being tired, went to sleep in his cabin, and +began to dream. It seemed to him that he was sailing with his +people when a great dragon flew out of the west. This dragon had +a blue head and a gold back. Underneath he shone like a rainbow. +Flames of fire rushed out of his mouth and covered land and sea.</p> + +<p>As he flew, there came out of the east a great bear, very rough, +and as black as coal, and with wings that flapped like windmills. +The bear and the dragon roared loudly, and they began to fight +and struggle till the sea was all red with blood. At last the +dragon conquered.</p> + +<p>When the king awoke from this dream<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_154" id="Page_154">[154]</a></span> he sent for Merlin and told +him of it, and asked for an explanation.</p> + +<p>"My lord," Merlin replied, "the dragon betokens yourself; the +colors on its body are signs of your glory. The bear betokens +some tyrant who torments the people and whom you will slay."</p> + +<p>Soon after this, the ship in which the company was, came in sight +of land. When they had anchored, the knights noticed on the beach +a crowd of people who were weeping. Descending from the ship, +Arthur asked one of the men what troubled them, and what was the +name of their country.</p> + +<p>"Good sir," returned the man, "this is the country of Brittany, +and we weep because our county is desolated by a giant. He makes +us bring him food. First, he ate up all the oxen we had, and then +our horses. Next he demanded our children, and now there are no +little ones in the land. To-day he took our good duchess of +Brittany, and carried her off to his mountain."</p> + +<p>"Alas!" said the king. "It grieves me to hear this, not only +because a cruel deed has been done, but because the duchess of<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_155" id="Page_155">[155]</a></span> +Brittany is my cousin's wife. I must save this lady. I will fight +with the giant."</p> + +<p>"Good sir," cried the people in amazement, "it is not possible! A +whole company of us dare not attack him, and yet we account +ourselves brave men."</p> + +<p>"That may well be," replied Arthur, "and yet with my good sword +and scabbard, I have no fear."</p> + +<p>Then the men said:</p> + +<p>"If you will go, my lord, yonder is the great mountain where the +giant lives. At the top, two huge fires burn continually in front +of a cave, and in that cave are greater treasures than you can +dream of. They are all yours if you will but slay this monster."</p> + +<p>Arthur replied nothing to them, but called Sir Kay and Sir +Bedivere, and rode with them to the foot of the mountain. From +that point he ascended alone. When he was nearly to the top he +came upon a woman, clad all in black, who sat weeping by the side +of a newly-made grave.</p> + +<p>"Good woman, why do you weep?" asked Arthur.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_156" id="Page_156">[156]</a></span></p> + +<p>"Hush, hush!" she cried, "or the giant will hear you and come and +kill you. He can hear me, but the sound of weeping delights him, +and therefore I need not restrain my grief."</p> + +<p>"Why do you grieve?" the king asked.</p> + +<p>"Alas! Because my good mistress, the duchess of Brittany, is +dead. The giant has killed her."</p> + +<p>At that Arthur gripped tightly the handle of his sword and said:</p> + +<p>"I will kill this wretch before I am an hour older."</p> + +<p>"Ah, my lord," said the woman, "the greatest kings in the country +are afraid of him. He has a coat embroidered with the beards of +fifteen of them. He demanded these beards as a sign that they +acknowledged him as lord."</p> + +<p>"There is at least one king who does not acknowledge him as +lord," shouted Arthur, as he strode hastily forward.</p> + +<p>When he reached the top he saw the giant asleep in front of the +two great fires before the cave. He was taller than the tallest +pine that ever grew. His arms were as big as the trunk of an oak +tree.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_157" id="Page_157">[157]</a></span> His mouth was as large as a cave, and from it and his +nostrils came forth fire and flame like that from the mountain of +Vesuvius. Although his huge eyes were closed, flashes of +lightning seemed to shoot from beneath the lids. At his side was +an iron club as large as a steeple. About him stood trembling old +women fanning him as he slept.</p> + +<p>King Arthur approached the monster, and said to him:</p> + +<p>"Wretch, awake and fight, for your hour has come."</p> + +<p>The giant, starting up, looked down scornfully upon the king and, +laughing, threw his great club at Arthur. But the king leapt +aside and the club fell harmlessly on the ground, making a hollow +where it struck.</p> + +<p>Then Arthur rushed toward the giant, waving his good sword +Excalibur. The giant caught him in his arms, in order to squeeze +him to death. The king's armor pressed closer and closer about +him, and he began to lose his strength. But he kept his hand upon +his scabbard, and so did not die.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_158" id="Page_158">[158]</a></span></p> + +<p>In a few minutes the monster, making sure that Arthur was dead, +dropped him to the ground. After the king had recovered himself, +he sprang to his feet, and taking his sword, threw it at the +giant. The good steel pierced his neck, and he sank to the +ground, shouting so loudly that Sir Kay and Sir Bedivere at the +foot of the mountain heard, and trembled for their master's +safety.</p> + +<p>Then the giant again seized Arthur in his arms, and the two began +to roll down the mountain side. Whenever Arthur was able to, he +struck at the giant with his dagger, wounding him sorely. At +last, still struggling and rolling, they came to the spot where +Sir Kay and Sir Bedivere were. These two loosed the giant's arms +from the king, who then gave one last blow to the monster, +killing him. Then he sent Sir Kay and Sir Bedivere for his sword +Excalibur.</p> + +<p>When the people on the seashore heard what Arthur had done, they +fell on their knees and thanked him, offering him all the giant's +treasure. He said, however, that he would leave it with them to +divide<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_159" id="Page_159">[159]</a></span> among the poor people of the country. For himself, all he +wanted was the giant's iron club.</p> + +<p>The people sent fifty men to the top of the mountain to get it +for him. As they had no horses, it was a long time before they +could drag the club to the seashore. There they put it on a +barge. It was so heavy that it pressed the barge down till the +water came almost to the edge of the vessel. Then King Arthur +bade the people good-by, and took ship with his knights. The +grateful men of Brittany stood on the shore, and shouted and +waved until the ship could no longer be seen.</p> + +<div class="figcenter" style="width: 100px;"> +<img src="images/illo159.png" width="100" height="121" alt="The lion" title="The crest with the Lion" /> +</div> + + + +<hr /> +<div class="figcenter" style="width: 400px;"><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_160" id="Page_160">[160]</a></span> +<img src="images/illo160.png" width="400" height="220" alt="HOW ARTHUR FOUGHT WITH ROME" title="How Arthur Fought with Rome" /><a name="arthur_rome" id="arthur_rome"></a> +</div> + + +<p class="newchapter"><span class="firstword"><span class="dropcap">I</span>n</span> the time of the great Roman, Julius Cæsar, about five hundred +years before King Arthur was born, the people of Rome conquered +Britain. They made many improvements in the land, building roads +and walls, the remains of which may be seen to this day. But they +also forced the Britons to pay them much money. All the kings did +this up to the time of Arthur. He, however, considered that +England was his own. He had conquered the lesser kings, and made +one realm of all the land, over which he ruled with wise +government. So he refused to send any money to Rome.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_161" id="Page_161">[161]</a></span></p> + +<p>Once King Arthur's knights were all together in the great hall. +It was a time of peace, and they spent the days in riding and +hunting. On this day, while the king was sitting on his throne, +twelve old men entered, each bearing a branch of olive, as a sign +that they came in peace. They were the messengers of the emperor +of Rome, and, after bowing to the king, they said:</p> + +<p>"Sir, our mighty emperor sends you greeting, and commands you to +acknowledge him as lord, and to send him the money due him from +your realm. Your father and his predecessors did this, and so +must you. If you refuse, the emperor will make such war against +you that it will be an example to all the world."</p> + +<p>At this the young knights laid their hands to their swords, but +the older knights, who had self-control enough to hide their +feelings, waited to see what the king would do.</p> + +<p>Arthur bowed courteously to the messengers, and told them that he +would soon give them an answer. He commanded a knight to take +them to a lodging, and to<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_162" id="Page_162">[162]</a></span> see that they had all they needed, and +he ordered that no harm should be done them. Then he called a +council of his great lords and asked their advice.</p> + +<p>Sir Lancelot, Arthur's favorite lord, spoke first, saying:</p> + +<p>"My lord, we have rested for many weeks, and can make sharp war +now. In days gone by, we should not have dared attack the Romans, +and indeed, our attempt will make the world wonder. But of a +truth, we ought to fight."</p> + +<p>Then spoke King Angus of Scotland:</p> + +<p>"My lord Arthur, you are the greatest lord on earth. You have +made all of us lesser kings your subjects, and bound the kingdom +together, and stopped our civil wars. We love you and we will +help you. We pray you to make war on these Romans. When they +ruled our elders, they demanded much gold and made our people +very poor. If you will fight, I will furnish you with twenty +thousand men, and will bear all the cost of them myself."</p> + +<p>Then all the other lords promised to furnish men and arms. When +Arthur heard this, he was glad of their courage and good<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_163" id="Page_163">[163]</a></span> will. +He called in the messengers and said to them:</p> + +<p>"Return to your emperor. Tell him that I refuse his command, for +I owe him nothing. I have won this kingdom by my own strength. +Tell him that I shall come with all my army to Rome and make him +acknowledge me as lord."</p> + +<p>Then Arthur told his treasurer to give the messengers gifts, and +to take them safely out of the country. Sir Lancelot conducted +them to the sea, where they took ship and sailed to France. On +they journeyed over the Alps and into Italy. When they told the +emperor of Rome their message, he said:</p> + +<p>"I had thought Arthur would yield."</p> + +<p>But the messengers said:</p> + +<p>"Sir, his face would have told you, if you had seen it, that he +would never yield. In truth, there is need of fear, for he is a +great king and surrounded by great knights."</p> + +<p>"This is foolish talk," the emperor said. "Remember that we are +Romans. We have ruled the world for centuries, and a little king +of little England shall not make<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_164" id="Page_164">[164]</a></span> us fear. You say that he is +coming to fight with us. We will take a few troops and go +forthwith to France to meet him."</p> + +<p>The messengers begged the emperor to take many troops.</p> + +<p>"My lord emperor," they said, "these men of Arthur are very +numerous and very brave."</p> + +<p>So at last the emperor brought all his men to France, and there, +whenever he found people who were loyal to Arthur, he killed and +laid waste.</p> + +<p>Meanwhile, Arthur had gathered together all his troops. He bade +farewell to Queen Guinevere, who was so grieved that she fell in +a swoon. Then he rode off at the head of his men till they came +to the sea, and there they embarked in ten thousand boats and +sailed to France.</p> + +<p>They marched till they came near to the troops of the emperor of +Rome, where they rested for the night. In the morning they rose +at dawn and looked at the Roman legions. These were encamped in a +green field which glittered with the gold on their tents and +armor. The emperor's tent was of purple silk and bore<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_165" id="Page_165">[165]</a></span> on the top +a golden eagle, the emblem of Rome.</p> + +<p>Two of Arthur's knights, Sir Lancelot and Sir Gawain, rode out to +the emperor, and told him that their king had come.</p> + +<p>"That I see," said the emperor laughing, "and he shall soon +return."</p> + +<p>The two knights made no answer, but rode back to Arthur. Soon all +the soldiers on each side made ready for fighting. The preparation +was careful, for they knew that the contest was to be a great +one. The emperor of Rome addressed his soldiers:</p> + +<p>"Romans, remember that Rome is the chief city of the world. I do +not say fight as men; I say to you, fight as Romans. Then you +will surely conquer these Britains."</p> + +<p>King Arthur galloped up and down before the front rank of his +men, looking at them carefully. He was on a beautiful white horse +whose mane rose and fell in the wind like a wave of the sea. His +soldiers cheered lustily for their beloved commander. Then King +Arthur<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_166" id="Page_166">[166]</a></span> raised his hand for silence, and spoke in a loud, clear +voice:</p> + +<p>"My knights and men whom I love, remember that you are fighting +to-day for your rights and for the independence of Britain. +Strike well, and do not forget that great courage is as powerful +as great numbers."</p> + +<p>With that, he gave the signal for attack. The Romans stood in +full battle array with their emperor in front. Beside him were +sixteen kings with gold helmets and silver armor. The English +approached, shouting a battle-cry.</p> + +<p>Then the Romans, at the call of the trumpet, rushed forward, and +in a moment the two great armies clashed together. Clouds of dust +arose through which could be seen at intervals the heads of +horses and the helmets of men. The few poor shepherds and women +who stood on the outside did not know that the greatest battle of +the time was going on under that cloud of dust.</p> + +<div style="width: 480px; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; padding-top: 1em"><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_167" id="Page_167">[167]</a></span> +<div style="width: 12ex; float: left;"><p class="caption">"King Arthur raising his hand for silence"</p></div> +<div style="padding-left: 1ex; float: left; width:300px;"><a href="images/illo167.png"><img src="images/illo167_th.png" +alt="King Arthur giving speech" title="King Arthur raising his hand for silence" /></a></div> +</div> + +<div class="clear"> </div> + +<p>Inside the cloud there was great confusion. Britains and Romans<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_168" id="Page_168">[168]</a></span> +were fighting side by side, so closely packed that sometimes it +was hard to strike. All fought bravely, but no one did so well as +Arthur and Sir Lancelot. The battle did not cease until it was +dark. Each side had lost many men. King Arthur wept as he rode +over the field and counted his dead knights, and even his +beautiful horse drooped its head as if it, also, understood.</p> + +<p>But the next day the two armies began to fight again, and when +the emperor finally saw that his men were losing and that most of +the kings who were helping him were dead, he said:</p> + +<p>"This Arthur is a demon and not a man. I will fight with him +myself and end this battle." And before any one could stop him, +he spurred up to King Arthur and said:</p> + +<p>"You on the white horse who refuse to pay me tribute, come out +that I may kill you."</p> + +<p>Then Arthur rode quickly towards the emperor. The two men began +to fight, and Arthur soon saw that he was contending with a +powerful man. He gave the emperor many a stroke with Excalibur,<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_169" id="Page_169">[169]</a></span> +but he himself received deep blows. At last the emperor pierced +Arthur's helmet, and wounded him deeply in the cheek.</p> + +<p>King Arthur raised his good Excalibur with a last effort and +struck his enemy with it so fiercely on the head that the blow +cleft the helmet and pierced to the emperor's chin. He fell from +his horse without a moan. When the Romans near by saw that their +ruler was dead, they gave a great cry of grief and rushed upon +Arthur, but his good knights protected him.</p> + +<p>At last, seeing themselves conquered, the Romans surrendered. +Arthur found among his prisoners three senators, and among the +dead, sixty senators, the sixteen kings, and the emperor.</p> + +<p>He was sorrowful, for he knew that they were great men. So he had +them embalmed and laid in chests of lead. Around each chest flags +were wound, and the shields of the dead warriors placed on top. +Then he said to the three surviving senators:</p> + +<p>"Take these noble dead bodies back to Rome. When the Romans see +them<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_170" id="Page_170">[170]</a></span> they will never again dare ask tax or tribute of me. I will +not go to Rome and take the city from you, but if ever you send +to me for gold, I shall invade your land and never rest till all +Italy is mine."</p> + +<p>The senators bowed their heads. Then they laid the body of the +emperor on a car, all alone, with the gold eagle above him. They +laid the bodies of the kings and the senators two by two on +chariots, and so went slowly towards Rome. And never again did +the kings of Britain have to pay a tax to the Romans.</p> + +<div class="figcenter" style="width: 150px;"> +<img src="images/illo119.png" width="150" height="167" alt="The Grail" title="The Grail" /> +</div> + + + +<hr /> +<div class="figcenter" style="width: 500px;"><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_171" id="Page_171">[171]</a></span> +<img src="images/illo171.png" width="500" height="141" alt="THE KNIGHT WITH the BADLY MADE COAT" title="The Knight with the Badly Made Coat" /><a name="knight_coat" id="knight_coat"></a> +</div> + + +<p class="newchapter"><span class="firstword"><span class="dropcap">O</span>ne</span> day when Arthur and his knights were in the hall of the Round +Table, a young man entered. He was so large that his shoulders +were as wide as the doorway, and he could hardly squeeze through. +The knights looked at him in amazement, for he was almost a +giant.</p> + +<p>When he came closer to them, they saw that he had on a coat which +was far too large for him. It hung in wrinkles and folds all over +his back, and the sleeves were so long that he had to turn them +up almost to the elbow. The coat was of rich material, gold +cloth, but it was old and blood-stained.</p> + +<p>The young man strode up to the king and said:</p> + +<p>"My lord, my name is Brune. I can<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_172" id="Page_172">[172]</a></span> tell you no more than that. I +beg you to make me a knight."</p> + +<p>At this Sir Kay laughed and said:</p> + +<p>"He must be called The Knight with the Badly Made Coat."</p> + +<p>"Call me what you will," said the young man. "Yes, I take that +name, for I will not tell my real one."</p> + +<p>Then Arthur spoke to him gently:</p> + +<p>"Young man, you ask a great thing. All those in my Court who are +made knights must serve for a long time as squires. If they prove +themselves loyal and brave, I make them knights. But I must +always know whence they come, and who their fathers are."</p> + +<p>"My lord," said the young man, "I do indeed ask a great thing. I +would gladly tell you more of myself, but I am under a vow to +reveal no more than you already know. Yet I will tell you this, +further. I am the son of a noble who was as big as a giant. My +good father was very peaceable and did not care to fight; so he +never came to your Court, and you did not hear of him. He lived +at home with my mother and me, and the simple<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_173" id="Page_173">[173]</a></span> people who plowed +the land about our castle.</p> + +<p>"Every one ought to have loved him; but he had one enemy. One +day, six years ago, when I was only a boy, my father and I were +in the forest. My father was sleeping at the foot of a tree, and +I was bathing in a brook near by. This enemy, who wanted my +father's lands, came up and drove his sword into my father's +heart. Then he rode away. I ran up to my dead father and took off +the coat which he wore and put it on. I swore never to take it +off, and never to tell my father's name or where I came from, +till I had avenged his death.</p> + +<p>"Then I rode home to our castle, but our enemy had taken +possession of it, and had made my mother prisoner. As I was not +yet grown up I vowed that I would stay with the good shepherds +near by till I was strong enough to pull up a young tree by the +roots. Then I would go to King Arthur's Court and ask to be made +a knight. So every month I have tried to uproot a young tree. +This morning I succeeded, and here, my lords, I am."<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_174" id="Page_174">[174]</a></span></p> + +<p>The knights were much moved and prayed the king to make him a +knight. They said that they would teach him to use arms. The king +said that he would wait to see what sort of man Brune was.</p> + +<p>A few days after this all the knights rode off to a tournament +and Brune was left at home with a few soldiers. He was in the +castle yard practicing some of the lessons in warfare which the +knights had been teaching him. While he was hard at work, Queen +Guinevere with twelve soldiers who were her bodyguard passed by.</p> + +<p>As she was speaking kindly to Brune, they heard a terrible noise, +and looking in the direction from which it came, saw a dreadful +sight. A fierce lion which had been confined in a tower of stone +had broken out of its prison and was rushing towards them. The +twelve soldiers fled, leaving the queen and Brune alone.</p> + +<p>"Ah," said Brune, "not all the cowards in the world are dead."</p> + +<div style="width: 480px; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; padding-top: 1em"><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_175" id="Page_175">[175]</a></span> +<div style="width: 12ex; float: left;"><p class="caption">"The king touched him lightly with his sword"</p></div> +<div style="padding-left: 1ex; float: left; width:300px;"><a href="images/illo175.png"><img src="images/illo175_th.png" +alt="King and Excalibur" title="The king touched him lightly with his sword" /></a></div> +</div> + +<div class="clear"> </div> + +<p>He stood still while the lion bounded towards him. He had dropped<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_176" id="Page_176">[176]</a></span> +his sword, and as the beast leaped upon him, he seized its head +in his hands. Then he slowly, slowly, bent its head back. It was +a strong lion, and with the effort the muscles on Brune's neck +stood out like great ropes. Presently, the queen and Brune heard +a loud crack and they knew that the lion's neck was broken. Brune +loosed his hold, and the huge tawny body dropped to the ground, +quivered a moment, and was still.</p> + +<p>While this was going on, the king and his knights returned. They +saw at a glance what Brune had done, and cheered him loudly. The +king rode up to him.</p> + +<p>"Kneel down," he said.</p> + +<p>Brune knelt down by the body of the lion, and the king touched +him lightly with his sword, saying:</p> + +<p>"Sir Brune, I make you a knight of my Round Table. Be always +loyal, brave, and merciful."</p> + +<p>Then all the knights were glad, but Sir Brune was gladdest of +all.</p> + +<div class="figcenter" style="width: 200px;"> +<img src="images/illo048.png" width="200" height="82" alt="Two horses" title="Two Horses" /> +</div> + + + +<hr /> +<div class="figcenter" style="width: 450px;"><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_177" id="Page_177">[177]</a></span> +<img src="images/illo177.png" width="450" height="151" alt="SIR LANCELOT & SIR BRUNE" title="Sir Lancelot & Sir Brune" /><a name="lancelot_brune" id="lancelot_brune"></a> +</div> + + +<p class="newchapter"><span class="firstword"><span class="dropcap">A</span>fter</span> Sir Brune, the Knight with the Badly Made Coat, had been at +Arthur's Court for some months, he became eager to seek for the +enemy of his father. Sir Lancelot, who took an interest in the +big young knight, advised him to wait and try his strength at +some smaller adventure first.</p> + +<p>One day, when Sir Lancelot was away hunting, a damsel entered +Arthur's hall. She carried a black shield which had painted on it +a white hand holding a sword. She bowed to the king and said:</p> + +<p>"My lord, I come for a knight to undertake the adventure of the +black shield."</p> + +<p>"And what is that adventure, fair damsel?" asked the king.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_178" id="Page_178">[178]</a></span></p> + +<p>"That I may not tell you," answered the damsel, "except that it +will cause much fighting and bloodshed to the knight who chooses +it."</p> + +<p>Some of the knights were eager to go, and Sir Kay pressed forward +to finger the shield.</p> + +<p>"Do not touch it, good Sir Kay," said the maiden, "for this +adventure is not for you. I am to choose the knight."</p> + +<p>She passed up and down the hall, looking into the face of each +one. When she had seen them all she came back to Sir Brune and +said:</p> + +<p>"Young Knight with the Ugly Coat, will you take this shield?"</p> + +<p>"Gladly, if my king allows," said the knight.</p> + +<p>Then Arthur gave his permission, and Sir Brune followed the +damsel out of the hall. Her horse was black, and wore white +trappings. Sir Brune's horse was as brown as an autumn leaf. The +two mounted and rode away. Sir Brune began to talk to the damsel, +whose name was Elinor. At first she was agreeable, but after they +had ridden many miles<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_179" id="Page_179">[179]</a></span> she became scornful, and told him she was +sorry she had chosen him.</p> + +<p>Sir Brune felt sad, because he had begun to love the damsel. He +was afraid she did not like him because his coat was poor. He did +not speak to her any more, but rode on sorrowfully beside her. +After a long time they came to a castle enclosed by high walls. +The gate stood open, and the damsel Elinor pointed to it and +said, sighing:</p> + +<p>"Since you have not left me as I hoped you would, go in there. +You will find your first adventure. I may not tell you what it +is."</p> + +<p>Sir Brune galloped inside the gate. There he saw a hundred +knights on horseback, armed and waiting for him. He had to think +and act quickly. So he decided to rush in between the knights and +put his back against the castle wall. Then he could fight with +his back protected. He did this, though not without receiving +some spear-wounds. Then he began to fight.</p> + +<p>The lady of the castle, whom the knights were keeping prisoner, +watched<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_180" id="Page_180">[180]</a></span> the fight out of the window, and grieved for the brave +young man who had so many against him. She began to speak to him +in a low voice:</p> + +<p>"Young knight, if you can only get to the left side of the castle +wall, there is a secret door through which you can escape. If you +look, you will see that one portion of the wall is made of black +stones. Strike the stones with the hilt of your sword, and a door +will open through which you can ride out."</p> + +<p>The other knights did not hear what the lady said, for they were +farther away from her than Sir Brune was. Even he could hardly +catch her words. He took a quick glance to the left and saw that +there was indeed a portion of the wall marked with black stones. +Then he began to work his way carefully towards the secret gate.</p> + +<p>He was obliged to move slowly for fear the knights would guess +what he was doing. Moreover, it was becoming very hard to fight, +because of his many wounds. However, he at last came near the +door; then he backed his brown horse up<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_181" id="Page_181">[181]</a></span> against it, struck the +black stones with the handle of his sword, and the door opened. +The knights shouted with rage, but they were unable to reach him +in time. Sir Brune escaped, leaving behind him twelve men dead.</p> + +<p>He was very weak, and he made his way painfully to the side of +the wall where the maiden Elinor waited for him. She ran to meet +him, and led him gently to a brook in a forest near by. There she +took off his armor and bathed his wounds, anointing them with a +precious salve she carried.</p> + +<p>Sir Brune thought that she was sorry because she had been +scornful of him, and he began to talk to her. But she said:</p> + +<p>"Do not talk to me. If you want to please me, go back to Arthur's +Court."</p> + +<p>Sir Brune did not know why she spoke so, but he was too tired to +think. So he lay down on the grass by the brook and went to +sleep.</p> + +<p>Meantime, at Arthur's Court Sir Lancelot had returned from his +hunting expedition, and was told how Sir Brune<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_182" id="Page_182">[182]</a></span> had gone out with +a damsel on the adventure of the shield.</p> + +<p>"Oh!" cried Sir Lancelot, "what have you done! He will surely be +killed. Merlin has told me what this adventure of the shield is. +Many and many a knight has taken it up and each has been killed. +A knight who vows to follow this adventure has to meet dangers of +all sorts. This young untried Sir Brune will certainly be +killed."</p> + +<p>He called for his horse and arms, and said to the king:</p> + +<p>"My lord, I will ride after this poor young man and give him what +help I can. Perhaps I shall be too late; but if not, I shall ask +him to give me this adventure of the shield."</p> + +<p>Then Sir Lancelot mounted his horse and rode after Sir Brune. +When he came near the brook where Sir Brune and the damsel had +rested, he heard the sound of a great combat. Spurring forward he +saw Sir Brune, fighting single-handed against six knights. Sir +Lancelot rushed to the rescue and quickly overthrew the enemy. He +found that they<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_183" id="Page_183">[183]</a></span> belonged to the company of the hundred knights +whom Sir Brune had attacked. He ordered them, first of all, to +free the lady of the castle, and then to go to Arthur's Court and +surrender themselves to the mercy of the king.</p> + +<p>Poor Sir Brune was almost dead, but Sir Lancelot revived him, and +in a feeble voice he thanked Sir Lancelot for his help. But the +damsel begged:</p> + +<p>"Take him back to the Court of your king. I do not want him to +follow this quest any longer."</p> + +<p>"This is surely ungrateful of you," said Sir Lancelot. "He has +fought bravely and well."</p> + +<p>"The maiden scorns me, though I love her," bitterly said Sir +Brune.</p> + +<p>Then the damsel Elinor cried out:</p> + +<p>"I will tell the truth. I love you and I am afraid you will be +killed. Therefore, I wish you to return to Camelot."</p> + +<p>Sir Brune was very glad, and he said:</p> + +<p>"I have pledged my word and must follow this quest. When I have +succeeded we shall go together back to Arthur's Court."<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_184" id="Page_184">[184]</a></span></p> + +<p>"Give this adventure to me," said Sir Lancelot, "and go back now +with the damsel."</p> + +<p>But Sir Brune refused. Then Sir Lancelot said that they must +undertake the adventure together, and Sir Brune consenting, they +rode slowly forward. Soon they came to an abbey, where they +rested for some days until Sir Brune was well.</p> + +<p>Then they traveled as the damsel gave directions. She always knew +what they had to do. At times they passed through woods full of +wild beasts, some of which attacked them. Again they passed over +enchanted meadows where wicked magicians tried to cast spells +over them. They also fought with many knights. However, they +escaped all dangers, although it is certain that Sir Brune would +never have succeeded without the help of Sir Lancelot.</p> + +<p>At length the damsel Elinor told them that they were nearing the +last adventure. She pointed to a castle on a hill; a square +structure built of black stones, with a turret on top. The damsel +told<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_185" id="Page_185">[185]</a></span> them that at the gate of the castle were two huge dragons. +These they must slay.</p> + +<p>"Whose is the castle?" asked Sir Brune.</p> + +<p>"It belongs now to the wicked Lord Brian of the Isles," answered +the damsel.</p> + +<p>At this Sir Brune gave such a loud shout that the dragons on top +of the hill heard him and roared in reply.</p> + +<p>"Ah!" cried he, "that is the name of my enemy, who killed my dear +father. At last I shall slay him."</p> + +<p>He rode off so quickly that Sir Lancelot had much trouble to keep +up with him. It seemed scarcely five minutes before they came to +the dragons; terrible creatures, all of green, with eyes and +tongues of flame. And their wings were as large as the sails of a +ship.</p> + +<p>Sir Brune had never before seen a dragon, but he was not afraid. +He fought very bravely, and even when the teeth of the dragons +crunched on his helmet, he did not lose courage. After a fierce +fight of half an hour, the two knights had killed the dragons.</p> + +<p>They hoped to rest, but at that moment<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_186" id="Page_186">[186]</a></span> the castle gate opened +and a porter appeared.</p> + +<p>"Enter and fight," he said.</p> + +<p>Both spurred forward, but the porter said:</p> + +<p>"One only may enter."</p> + +<p>"Let me go," said Sir Brune to Sir Lancelot. "Remember I am to +avenge my father's death. It may be that Lord Brian of the Isles +is waiting just inside the gate."</p> + +<p>Sir Lancelot consented, and the porter led in Sir Brune and +locked the gate. Inside were two great knights, the brothers of +Lord Brian of the Isles. They were almost as large as Sir Brune. +Together they set upon him. He was already tired from his fight +with the dragons, but his desire to avenge his father strengthened +his arm. One brother was soon overthrown. When the other saw +that, he yielded. Then Sir Brune sent them both to Sir Lancelot +outside the gate.</p> + +<p>While Sir Brune was looking about him, a third knight appeared at +the end of the courtyard. He was quite as large as Sir Brune, and +as he came spurring up, the<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_187" id="Page_187">[187]</a></span> noise of his horse's hoofs was +deafening. Sir Brune recognized him as Sir Plenorius, the cousin +of Lord Brian.</p> + +<p>"Ah!" cried he, "where is that wretch, Lord Brian? Am I to fight +with all his family before I meet with him?"</p> + +<p>Sir Plenorius wasted no words. He rushed upon Sir Brune and +struck him with his long spear. The blow broke Sir Brune's +helmet, and he had much trouble to guard his head with his +shield. He fought courageously, but he became weaker and weaker. +Then Sir Plenorius stopped fighting.</p> + +<p>"I know you will never yield," he said. "You are the bravest +knight I have yet seen. In truth, I loved your good father, and +grieved because my cousin slew him. I have no love for my cousin, +Lord Brian of the Isles, but I am vowed to fight for him as long +as he lives, or until I am overcome."</p> + +<p>Sir Brune was about to answer, but he fell back in a swoon. Sir +Plenorius lifted him gently in his arms and bore him into the +castle. He carried him up the winding stairs to the turret room, +and gently<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_188" id="Page_188">[188]</a></span> laid him on a bed. Then he went back to the courtyard.</p> + +<p>Meantime, Sir Lancelot, hearing the porter shout that Sir Brune +was killed, beat on the gate, but nobody would let him in. Then +with great difficulty he climbed the castle wall and leaped down. +Sir Plenorius was just about to care for the horse of Sir Brune.</p> + +<p>"Give me back my friend!" cried Sir Lancelot, fiercely. "Where is +my friend?"</p> + +<p>Then he began to fight with Sir Plenorius. Sir Plenorius was so +much larger than Sir Lancelot that he thought he could easily +overcome him. As the fight went on, however, he found himself all +but defeated.</p> + +<p>"Yield now to me," said Sir Lancelot. "I am Sir Lancelot of the +Lake."</p> + +<p>Then Sir Plenorius said:</p> + +<p>"Ah, my good lord, I know of your fame. If we go on fighting, you +will certainly kill me. Yet I do not want to yield, so I ask you +to treat me as I have treated Sir Brune."</p> + +<p>When Sir Lancelot heard how Sir Plenorius had spared Sir Brune, +he said:<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_189" id="Page_189">[189]</a></span></p> + +<p>"You are a gentle knight. I am sorry you are vowed to the service +of Lord Brian of the Isles. He shall surely die."</p> + +<p>Sir Plenorius answered:</p> + +<p>"When he is dead, I will come to Arthur's Court as one of his +followers."</p> + +<p>All this time Sir Brune was lying in a swoon on the bed in the +turret room. But at last he came to himself and looked about him. +He saw near him his sword and shield; so he lifted them up beside +him. As he lay still, trying to recover his strength, he heard +stealthy footsteps coming up the turret stairs. They came nearer +and nearer. Suddenly, in rushed Lord Brian of the Isles. He knew +that Sir Brune was there, alone and wounded, and he intended to +kill him as he lay defenseless. Sir Brune understood this and he +cried:</p> + +<p>"Ah, wretch, you were ever a coward. You come to kill me as I lie +wounded here, just as you killed my poor father while he slept. +But the sight of you makes me forget my wounds."</p> + +<p>At these words, and at the fierce rage<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_190" id="Page_190">[190]</a></span> which shone in Sir +Brune's eyes, Lord Brian, who was indeed a coward, tried to +retreat. But Sir Brune sprang to the doorway.</p> + +<p>"You shall never go down by these stairs, villain," he said, "for +I will kill you!"</p> + +<p>Lord Brian rushed to the window and sprang out upon the +battlements. Sir Brune followed him, though with difficulty. The +two began to fight, and Sir Brune soon saw that his enemy was +trying to push him close to the edge of the battlements, that he +might fall down into the courtyard below.</p> + +<p>Sir Brune, at this, put himself behind Lord Brian, determined to +cast him off instead. Slowly he pushed him, until Lord Brian was +but a step from the edge. Then Sir Brune lifted his shield and +struck his enemy with it. The wicked lord lost his footing, and +was dashed to pieces at the feet of Sir Lancelot and Sir +Plenorius in the courtyard below.</p> + +<p>They ordered his soldiers to bury him, and while Sir Lancelot +went to care for Sir Brune, Sir Plenorius went down the hill to +find the damsel Elinor. She came back with tears of joy to Sir +Brune.</p> + +<div style="width: 480px; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; padding-top: 1em"><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_191" id="Page_191">[191]</a></span> +<div style="width: 12ex; float: left;"><p class="caption">"He pushed him until he was but a step from the +edge"</p></div> +<div style="padding-left: 1ex; float: left; width:300px;"><a href="images/illo191.png"><img src="images/illo191_th.png" +alt="Pushing to the edge" title="He pushed him until he was but a step from the +edge" /></a></div> +</div> + +<div class="clear"> </div> + +<p>When Sir Brune was well enough to travel, he visited all the<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_192" id="Page_192">[192]</a></span> +castles of Lord Brian, in search of his lost mother. He was very +much afraid that she was dead, but at last he found her alive, in +the very castle which had belonged to his father. There was great +joy at their meeting. He took her to Arthur's Court, whither Sir +Lancelot had already conducted the damsel Elinor. A few days +afterward Sir Brune and the damsel were married amid great +festivities.</p> + +<div class="figcenter" style="width: 150px;"> +<img src="images/illo192.png" width="150" height="88" alt="The shield and sword" title="The Shield and the Sword" /> +</div> + + + +<hr /> +<div class="figcenter" style="width: 450px;"><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_193" id="Page_193">[193]</a></span> +<img src="images/illo193.png" width="450" height="158" alt="King Pellenore" title="The Adventure of King Pellenore" /><a name="king_pellenore" id="king_pellenore"></a> +</div> + + +<p class="newchapter"><span class="firstword"><span class="dropcap">I</span>n</span> Arthur's Court, every knight or lady who was found unworthy +was banished; yet it often took some time to discover one's real +character.</p> + +<p>One of the ladies of Arthur's Court was named Vivien. She was +very pretty, and as graceful as a willow wand, and so bright and +attractive in her ways that no one suspected her of being very +wicked.</p> + +<p>Among Arthur's bravest warriors was King Pellenore. He had once +had a great fight with Arthur, but after that they had become +friends, and King Pellenore had been made a Knight of the Round +Table. He was not often at court, for he spent much of his time +seeking for adventures.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_194" id="Page_194">[194]</a></span> Now and then he would return and put +away his armor. Then he rode with the ladies or talked to the +other knights.</p> + +<p>The lady Vivien admired King Pellenore for his valor and his +mighty deeds, and whenever she could she talked with him about +his adventures. One afternoon she begged him to go for a long +ride with her through the forest. So their horses were brought +and they set forth. Just as they were passing a thick part of the +wood, a beautiful golden-haired lady stepped out.</p> + +<p>"Good sir knight," she cried to King Pellenore, "I ask your help. +I am here in the wood with the dear lord who is to be my husband. +He is sore wounded, for an enemy crept up behind him as we were +riding to Arthur's Court, and thrust a sword in his back."</p> + +<p>Then King Pellenore turned his horse's head toward the maiden.</p> + +<p>"Gladly will I help," he said; "lead me, maiden."</p> + +<p>But Vivien called him back.</p> + +<p>"Do not go with her," she said. "She may be a witch. Ride on with +me."<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_195" id="Page_195">[195]</a></span></p> + +<p>"She is no witch, but a good maiden," said King Pellenore.</p> + +<p>Then the golden-haired lady spoke again. "Oh, sir knight, help +me! I must go to Arthur's Court to see my father. My dear lover +is going to ask permission to marry me. Help us or he will die."</p> + +<p>"Assuredly I will help you, damsel," said King Pellenore.</p> + +<p>Vivien held his arm, but he put her gently aside. When the wicked +woman saw that he was going to leave her, she made her horse +plunge and throw her to the ground. There she lay as if in a +faint.</p> + +<p>King Pellenore did not know what to do. He felt as if he must +help the beautiful lady, and yet he could not leave Vivien. So he +said:</p> + +<p>"Fair damsel, you shall have my help. I have never wanted to aid +anyone so much as I do you. I must save your lover and bring you +both to Arthur's Court. But let me first ride back with this lady +who has swooned. Then I will return here to you."</p> + +<p>"Alas, alas, I fear it will be too late,"<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_196" id="Page_196">[196]</a></span> cried the damsel, +turning back into the forest.</p> + +<p>Then King Pellenore lifted Vivien on her horse, and tied her to +its back by her long green scarf. At this she opened her eyes and +groaned, and said that she was very sick. She made him ride very +slowly to the court.</p> + +<p>King Pellenore did not talk to her. He was thinking all the time +of the golden-haired maiden. As soon as he reached the city gate +he gave Vivien over into the care of a knight who was passing, +and galloped back to the woods.</p> + +<p>When he reached the spot where the beautiful damsel had spoken to +him, he turned into the thick part of the wood and followed a +narrow path. It was so narrow that the branches of the trees on +both sides struck his shoulders, but still he hurried on. The +path ended in a glade, and there he saw the lady and her lover +lying on the grass.</p> + +<p>"Alas, alas!" the lady said, "my dear lord is dead and I am +dying."</p> + +<p>Then King Pellenore saw that the fair young knight who lay on the +ground<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_197" id="Page_197">[197]</a></span> was very pale and quiet, and that all the grass about was +blood-stained.</p> + +<p>"Ah, good knight," said the lady, "after you left me, a lion ran +out of the wood and slew my lover with one stroke of his paw. He +has wounded me so sorely that I too shall die."</p> + +<p>Then King Pellenore wept.</p> + +<p>"I wish that I had made Vivien wait here," he said, "and had +helped you. I fear I have done wrong."</p> + +<p>He sat down and took her golden head on his knee, and spoke to +her gently till she died. Then he put her body and her lover's +body on his horse, and walked beside them sorrowfully until he +reached Arthur's Court.</p> + +<p>Near the great hall he met Arthur and Merlin and several knights.</p> + +<p>"I am a miserable man," he said.</p> + +<p>Then the wise Merlin said: "You are more miserable than you know. +This beautiful lady was your own daughter who was stolen from you +as a child. Only lately she learned who her father was. She was +coming here to seek you."</p> + +<p>Then King Pellenore wept loudly.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_198" id="Page_198">[198]</a></span></p> + +<p>"This is my punishment," he cried, "for not aiding the maiden. +The one who needs help most should be given it first, and she +needed it more than Vivien. I am indeed punished."</p> + +<p>"And you shall be punished yet more," said Merlin; "and in good +time, Vivien also for the part she took. Some day the friend whom +you most trust shall deceive you, and you shall be betrayed to +death."</p> + +<p>King Pellenore bowed his head meekly.</p> + +<p>"I have deserved it," he said. "And now I must bury my dear child +and her lover."</p> + +<p>The beautiful golden-haired lady and her lover were buried with +great mourning, and it was many a day before King Pellenore cared +to seek for adventures.</p> + +<div class="figcenter" style="width: 100px;"> +<img src="images/illo034.png" width="100" height="124" alt="The Lion" title="The Lion Crest" /> +</div> + + + +<hr /> +<div class="figcenter" style="width: 400px;"><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_199" id="Page_199">[199]</a></span> +<img src="images/illo199.png" width="400" height="175" alt="Sir Lancelot" title="Sir Lancelot & His Friends" /><a name="lancelot_friends" id="lancelot_friends"></a> +</div> + + +<p class="newchapter"><span class="firstword"><span class="dropcap">S</span>ir Lancelot</span> was acknowledged by all the knights of the Round +Table to be the bravest of their number, and the one whom the +king loved most. He was not often at court, because he was nearly +always engaged in adventures which took him away from the town of +Camelot. The knights were always sorry when he went away, yet +they were sure he would return safely and with much to tell them.</p> + +<p>One day Sir Lancelot called his nephew Sir Lionel, and told him +to mount his horse, for they must go to seek adventures. Sir +Lionel was very glad, for it was a great honor to be chosen as a<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_200" id="Page_200">[200]</a></span> +companion by Sir Lancelot. They rode off through a deep forest, +and then across a wide, treeless plain. The sun was shining hot +and bright, and when they reached a clump of trees, Sir Lancelot +bade Sir Lionel dismount. Then the two sat in the shade to rest.</p> + +<p>It was not long before Sir Lancelot fell asleep. While Sir Lionel +kept guard, he saw three knights furiously pursued by another +knight, who was very large. This knight overtook the three +knights, one after another, and overthrew them, and bound them by +the reins of their bridles. Sir Lionel, who was young and +self-confident, thought that he would like to fight with this +knight. So he mounted his horse very quietly without waking his +uncle, and rode into the plain.</p> + +<p>When the big knight saw him coming, he laughed and rode up +quickly. At the very first stroke, young Sir Lionel fell to the +earth. The strong knight bound him fast to the other three +knights and drove them all to his castle. There he took off their +armor and clothes, and beat them with thorny sticks. After that +he threw<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_201" id="Page_201">[201]</a></span> them into a deep dungeon where there were many other +knights.</p> + +<p>Meanwhile Sir Hector, the foster father of King Arthur, hearing +that Sir Lancelot and Sir Lionel had gone in search of adventures, +determined to join them; so he rode hastily in pursuit. When he +had gone some distance through the forest, he met a wood-cutter, +and asked him if he had seen Sir Lancelot and Sir Lionel. The man +replied that he had not.</p> + +<p>"Then do you know of any adventure which I can seek?" asked Sir +Hector.</p> + +<p>The man answered:</p> + +<p>"Sir, a mile from here is a strong castle. On one side of it is a +large stream, and by that stream a large tree. At the foot of the +tree is a basin of copper. Go and strike on that three times with +your spear and you will meet with an adventure."</p> + +<p>"Thank you heartily," said Sir Hector.</p> + +<p>He rode on and soon came to the tree. Hanging on it were a great +many shields, and among them Sir Lionel's. There were also +shields which belonged to other knights of the Round Table. Sir +Hector<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_202" id="Page_202">[202]</a></span> knew that the knights must be prisoners, and he grew very +angry.</p> + +<p>He struck sharply on the copper basin, and at once a huge knight +appeared.</p> + +<p>"Come forward and fight!" cried the knight.</p> + +<p>"That I will," said Sir Hector.</p> + +<p>"But I shall win," said the knight, "for I am the great Sir +Turquaine."</p> + +<p>Sir Hector had heard of this powerful knight whom so many of +Arthur's lords had tried in vain to overthrow. But he was a brave +old man, and so he began to fight fearlessly. He wounded the big +knight once, but the knight wounded him many times, and at last +overcame him. He picked Sir Hector up and carried him under his +right arm into the castle.</p> + +<p>"You are very brave," he said, when they had reached the great +hall. "You are the first knight who has wounded me these twelve +years. Now I shall give you your freedom if you will swear to be +a follower of mine."</p> + +<p>"I shall never swear that," said Sir Hector; "I am a follower of +King Arthur."</p> + +<p>"I am sorry for that," said Sir Turquaine,<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_203" id="Page_203">[203]</a></span> "for now I must treat +you as I do all my other prisoners."</p> + +<p>Then he took off Sir Hector's armor and clothes, and beat him +with the thorny stick, and threw him into the dungeon. There the +old man found Sir Lionel and many other knights.</p> + +<p>"Is Sir Lancelot here?" asked Sir Hector, feebly.</p> + +<p>"No," said Sir Lionel, and told how he had left Sir Lancelot +sleeping.</p> + +<p>Then Sir Hector became cheerful.</p> + +<p>"Sir Lancelot will surely find us," he said, "and give us our +freedom."</p> + +<p>But Sir Lancelot still slept on under the tree. Soon four +beautiful ladies rode by, and, seeing a sleeping knight, +dismounted to look at him. They at once recognized him as Sir +Lancelot, the bravest knight in the land. One of these ladies was +Morgan le Fay, whom Arthur had forgiven for her treachery to him. +She said to her companions:</p> + +<p>"I will cast a spell over him, and we will carry him to my +castle. Then, when he wakes, we will make him choose one of us as +his wife."<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_204" id="Page_204">[204]</a></span></p> + +<p>The other three agreed, and Morgan le Fay cast her spell. Then +the four women lifted the knight upon his horse and went with him +to the castle of Morgan le Fay. They put the knight in a richly +decorated chamber and left him.</p> + +<p>In the morning he awoke and wondered where he was. Soon a fair +damsel entered with food, and he asked her to explain how he came +to be in that place.</p> + +<p>"Sir, I cannot," she said. "But I can tell you this much: you are +under a spell. In twelve hours the spell will break, and perhaps +I can help you then."</p> + +<p>After the damsel had gone out, the four ladies entered. They were +clad in most beautiful robes. One had on silk that looked like +the foam of the sea. Another had on velvet that seemed like moss +from the forest. The third wore satin that was the color of maple +leaves in autumn. Morgan le Fay wore a robe that looked like a +storm-cloud, and her diamonds were like stars.</p> + +<p>"Choose one of us for your wife," she said, "and you shall be +very happy."</p> + +<p>But Sir Lancelot said:<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_205" id="Page_205">[205]</a></span></p> + +<p>"Fair ladies, I have no wish to marry. I would rather fight for +my good King Arthur who needs me."</p> + +<p>At this the ladies were angry.</p> + +<p>"You shall stay here till you choose," they said. "And if you +will not choose, then you shall die in prison."</p> + +<p>They went out, and Sir Lancelot remained alone all day. At dusk +the fair damsel came to him.</p> + +<p>"My lord," she said, "the spell is broken now, and I can help +you. These ladies are not kind to me, and I am going to run away. +I will take you with me on one condition."</p> + +<p>"Name it, damsel," he said.</p> + +<p>"I am a king's daughter," she said. "My father is King +Bagdemagus."</p> + +<p>"He is a good man," Sir Lancelot said. "I know him well."</p> + +<p>"My father has been fighting in a tournament," said the maiden, +"and has been overcome, with all his knights. He feels very sad. +Now, in two days there will be another tournament at which he +must fight. If you help him, he will surely win and be happy +again."<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_206" id="Page_206">[206]</a></span></p> + +<p>"I will gladly help him," said Sir Lancelot.</p> + +<p>Then the damsel bade him walk softly with her. She opened twelve +great doors one after another. Each had a lock with a key so +heavy that the maiden had to use both hands to turn it. At last +they reached the courtyard, and there she gave Sir Lancelot his +horse and armor. She also mounted a horse, and the two rode away.</p> + +<p>After riding all night, they came to the court of King +Bagdemagus. He was overjoyed to welcome Sir Lancelot, for well he +knew that none could overcome that good knight in combat. All day +there was music and dancing and feasting. Sir Lancelot, however, +could not be merry. He kept thinking of his nephew, Sir Lionel, +and wondering where he was.</p> + +<p>On the morning of the tournament Sir Lancelot asked King +Bagdemagus to furnish him with a white shield, because he did not +want to be known. The king did so, and also gave each of the +three knights who rode with him a shield of the same color. Sir +Lancelot went<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_207" id="Page_207">[207]</a></span> with the knights into a little leafy wood near the +field where the tournament was to be held.</p> + +<p>Meanwhile King Bagdemagus rode to the tournament with sixty men, +and met there the king of Northgalis with eighty men. They began +to fight, and soon those on the side of King Bagdemagus began to +be worsted. Then Sir Lancelot, with the three knights, dashed out +of the little wood and into the thick of the fight.</p> + +<p>No one could stand against Sir Lancelot. One of King Arthur's +knights, Sir Modred, the brother of Sir Gawain and Sir Gareth, +was fighting against King Bagdemagus. Not knowing who Sir +Lancelot was, he rushed upon him. Sir Lancelot unhorsed him, but +would not hurt him, because he was a Knight of the Round Table. +Years afterward he was sorry he had not killed him, for Sir +Modred proved to be a traitor to King Arthur.</p> + +<p>Sir Lancelot fought so well that, for his sake, all the prizes of +the tournament were given to King Bagdemagus, who was greatly +rejoiced, and offered large<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_208" id="Page_208">[208]</a></span> gifts to Sir Lancelot, and begged +him to be his guest for a time. But Sir Lancelot was so anxious +to find out what had become of Sir Lionel that he could not +remain. So the next day he set forth.</p> + +<p>He rode back towards the clump of trees where he had fallen +asleep while Sir Lionel kept watch. On the highway he met a +damsel riding on a white palfrey.</p> + +<p>"Fair damsel," said Sir Lancelot, "can you tell me of any +adventures hereabouts? I am Sir Lancelot of the Lake."</p> + +<p>"Oh, Sir Lancelot," said she, "it is indeed fortunate that you +have come, for there is here a knight named Sir Turquaine who has +put in prison many of the knights of the Round Table. You shall +fight with him for the freedom of your friends."</p> + +<p>Then she turned her horse, and Sir Lancelot gladly followed her. +She brought him to the tree on which hung the shields of his +brother knights. Sir Lancelot let his horse drink a little water, +and then he struck on the iron basin at the foot of the tree so +fiercely that the bottom fell out.</p> + +<div style="width: 480px; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; padding-top: 1em"><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_209" id="Page_209">[209]</a></span> +<div style="width: 12ex; float: left;"><p class="caption">"He struck so fiercely the bottom fell out"</p></div> +<div style="padding-left: 1ex; float: left; width:300px;"><a href="images/illo209.png"><img src="images/illo209_th.png" +alt="The blow" title="He struck so fiercely the bottom fell out" /></a></div> +</div> + +<div class="clear"> </div> + +<p>No one appeared, however. Then he rode up to the castle of Sir<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_210" id="Page_210">[210]</a></span> +Turquaine. Near the gate he met the big knight. He was on foot, +driving his horse before him. On the horse lay a knight, securely +bound. Sir Lancelot recognized him as Sir Gaheris, the brother of +Sir Gawain and Sir Gareth.</p> + +<p>"Put down the knight," said Sir Lancelot. "Mount and fight."</p> + +<p>"Gladly," said Sir Turquaine. "Before long you will be sorry for +your challenge."</p> + +<p>Then the two rode at each other. Their horses' feet beat the dust +into clouds, and they used their swords so fiercely that their +armor rang continually like the clanging of heavy bells. They +fought until they were breathless, each bleeding from many +wounds. Then Sir Turquaine, leaning on his sword, said:</p> + +<p>"By my faith, never have I fought with such a strong man before. +I admire you, and I would be your friend. You fight as they say +that knight does whom I hate most in all this world. If you are +not that knight, I give you my friendship, and shall free all my +prisoners for your sake."<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_211" id="Page_211">[211]</a></span></p> + +<p>"That is well said," replied Sir Lancelot. "Tell me who this +knight is whom you hate so much."</p> + +<p>"He is Sir Lancelot of the Lake. For hatred of him, I kill or +imprison all the knights of the Round Table whom I can find."</p> + +<p>"Then let us begin to fight again," said Sir Lancelot, "for I am +Sir Lancelot of the Lake."</p> + +<p>Then they struck at each other furiously, and soon gave each +other so many wounds that the ground was covered with blood. Sir +Turquaine was a brave man, but he was not so strong as Sir +Lancelot. After a long conflict he fell, mortally wounded, to the +ground. Then Sir Lancelot unlaced his helmet and eased him as +well as he could till he died. Afterwards he left Sir Turquaine, +and went to the porter who held the keys of the castle.</p> + +<p>Sir Lancelot took the keys and unlocked the doors of the prison. +He led the poor knights out into the daylight and struck off +their chains. Sir Lionel and Sir Hector were overjoyed to see +that their deliverer was indeed Sir Lancelot.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_212" id="Page_212">[212]</a></span> Each knight found +his own armor in the armory, and his own horse in the stables. +After that a servant came with four horses laden down with +venison, and the poor knights, who for a long time had had +nothing but bread and water, enjoyed a good meal. Then Sir +Lancelot rode away in search of new adventures.</p> + +<div class="figcenter" style="width: 150px;"> +<img src="images/illo009.png" width="150" height="157" alt="The Grail" title="The Grail" /> +</div> + + + +<hr /> +<div class="figcenter" style="width: 500px;"><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_213" id="Page_213">[213]</a></span> +<img src="images/illo213.png" width="500" height="116" alt="How Sir Lancelot Saved the Queen" title="How Sir Lancelot Saved the Queen" /><a name="lancelot_queen" id="lancelot_queen"></a> +</div> + + +<p class="newchapter"><span class="firstword"><span class="dropcap">O</span>ne</span> day in May Queen Guinevere invited ten ladies and ten knights +to ride a-Maying with her the next morning in the woods. So at +the appointed time they assembled, all dressed in green silk and +green velvet, the color of young grass. The knights wore white +plumes in their helmets, and the ladies wore white May-blossoms +in their hair. They rode off very happily, telling the king that +they would return before noon.</p> + +<p>Now the good King Bagdemagus, for whom Sir Lancelot had fought, +had a bad son named Sir Malgrace. For a long time he had wanted +to capture the queen and carry her off to his castle. He had been +afraid to try, however, because of her large bodyguard. All the +young knights of the Round Table liked to ride with<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_214" id="Page_214">[214]</a></span> her and +protect her. They took good care of all the ladies of the Court, +but they loved the queen most.</p> + +<p>When Sir Malgrace heard that the queen was out a-Maying with only +a few knights, and these not fully armed, he determined to take +her prisoner. So he called together eighty men-at-arms and a +hundred archers, and set out. Soon he came upon her and her +attendants. They were sitting on a little hill, with wreaths of +flowers and leaves on their arms and necks. Before they could +rise to their feet, Sir Malgrace and his men dashed upon them.</p> + +<p>"Traitor!" cried the queen. "What would you do?"</p> + +<p>"I will carry you to my castle, fair queen," he said. "And never +again shall you go free."</p> + +<p>"I will not go with you," said the queen.</p> + +<p>Then the ten knights drew their swords and set on the hundred and +eighty men of Sir Malgrace. They fought so well that they +overthrew forty. Still, they could do little against such +numbers,<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_215" id="Page_215">[215]</a></span> and soon all were wounded. When the queen saw this, she +cried out:</p> + +<p>"Sir Malgrace, do not slay my noble knights, and I will go with +you. I would rather die than cause them further harm."</p> + +<p>The knights said that they would rather perish than be prisoners +to Sir Malgrace. However, upon an order from their lord, the +archers tied up the wounds of the queen's followers, and put them +on horseback. Then the whole company rode slowly towards the +castle of Sir Malgrace.</p> + +<p>Sir Malgrace kept close to the queen for fear she would escape. +Once when they were in a thick part of the wood he rode ahead to +break the branches so that they should not strike her face. Then +the queen whispered to a little maiden who rode near her:</p> + +<p>"If you can do so, slip away from the company. You are so small +that perhaps they will not notice you. Take this ring and give it +to our greatest knight, Sir Lancelot, and pray him to come and +rescue me."<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_216" id="Page_216">[216]</a></span></p> + +<p>The little maid waited until she thought the time for escape had +come, and rode off as quietly as she could. Sir Malgrace saw her +go, and suspected that the queen had sent her. He ordered his +archers to shoot at the child, but she escaped unhurt.</p> + +<p>"Madam," said Sir Malgrace to the queen, "I know well that you +have sent for Sir Lancelot, but you may be sure that hither he +shall never come."</p> + +<p>Then Sir Malgrace ordered his archers to stand guard on the road +and shoot down any knight they saw.</p> + +<p>"But if he should be Sir Lancelot," he said, "be sure that you do +not venture very close to him, for he is hard to overcome."</p> + +<p>Meantime the little maid reached Arthur's Court in safety. She +found the king and his knights very anxious because the queen had +not returned. She told her story, and gave the queen's ring to +Sir Lancelot.</p> + +<p>"Bring me my armor!" shouted Sir Lancelot. "I will rescue my good +and dear queen before the night falls. I would<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_217" id="Page_217">[217]</a></span> rather see her +safe here again than own all France."</p> + +<p>He put on his armor and mounted his white horse and rode off +without delay. The little maid led him to the place where the ten +knights had fought with the hundred and eighty. From this point +he traced them by the blood on the grass and on the road. At last +he reached the archers.</p> + +<p>"Turn back," they said. "No one may pass here."</p> + +<p>"That I will not," said Sir Lancelot. "I am a Knight of the Round +Table, and therefore have the right of way throughout the land."</p> + +<p>At that they shot their arrows at him. He was wounded with many +of them, and his white horse was killed. Sir Lancelot tried to +reach the men, but there were so many hedges and ditches in the +way that he could not. They hastened back to tell Sir Malgrace +that a knight whom they had not succeeded in killing was coming +to the castle.</p> + +<p>Sir Lancelot tried to walk, but his armor was too heavy for him +to carry in<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_218" id="Page_218">[218]</a></span> his wounded state. He dared not leave any of it +behind, for he would need it all in fighting. Just as he was +wondering what he could do, a carter passed him, driving a rough +wagon.</p> + +<p>"Carter," said Sir Lancelot, "let me ride in your wagon to the +castle of Sir Malgrace."</p> + +<p>The carter was amazed, for in that day a knight never entered +into a cart unless he was a condemned man going to be hanged. Sir +Lancelot, however, did not stop to explain. He jumped into the +cart and told the driver to go quickly.</p> + +<p>Some of the ladies of Queen Guinevere were looking out of their +window, and one said to her:</p> + +<p>"See, my queen, there is a poor knight going to be hanged."</p> + +<p>The queen looked out of the window and recognized Sir Lancelot by +the three lions blazoned upon his shield. She was overjoyed, and +waved him a glad greeting as he came up to the castle gate.</p> + +<p>Sir Lancelot beat on the gate with his shield, and cried:</p> + +<p>"Come out, false traitor, Sir Malgrace;<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_219" id="Page_219">[219]</a></span> come out and fight. If +you do not, you will be branded as a coward forever."</p> + +<p>At first Sir Malgrace thought that he would keep his gates shut +fast and not answer the challenge. But in those days it was a +sign of great cowardice not to accept a challenge. Moreover, +since Sir Lancelot had been able to reach the castle in spite of +the archers, he was afraid other knights of the Round Table might +do the same. Then they would besiege him and force him to +surrender. Still he was afraid to fight. So he went to Queen +Guinevere and said:</p> + +<p>"Fair queen, remember how I saved your ten knights when I could +have killed them. Now I am sorry I took you prisoner. I beg that +you will go to Sir Lancelot and urge him not to fight. Then I +will entertain him in this castle with the best I have, and +to-morrow you shall all go back to the court."</p> + +<p>Then the queen said:</p> + +<p>"Peace is always better than war. I will do the best I can."</p> + +<p>So she went down to Sir Lancelot, who still beat upon the gate, +and besought him<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_220" id="Page_220">[220]</a></span> to come in peaceably, for Sir Malgrace was +sorry for what he had done. Sir Lancelot was unwilling, for he +knew that Sir Malgrace was a traitor, deserving punishment. +Still, he could not refuse the queen anything she asked him, and, +therefore, he entered the castle.</p> + +<p>Sir Malgrace greeted him with politeness, and served to him and +to the others of Arthur's Court, a great banquet. After that, to +the surprise of everyone, he rose and accused the queen of +treason. All the company was astonished. Sir Lancelot was very +angry.</p> + +<p>"If you say the queen is a traitress," he cried, "you shall fight +with me, although you were afraid just now."</p> + +<p>"I am not afraid to fight," said Sir Malgrace.</p> + +<p>"When and where will you meet me in combat?" asked Sir Lancelot.</p> + +<p>"In eight days," replied Sir Malgrace, "in the field near +Westminster."</p> + +<p>Sir Lancelot agreed to this. Then Queen Guinevere rose with all +her attendants and went into the courtyard. Their horses were +brought them and they<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_221" id="Page_221">[221]</a></span> mounted. Sir Lancelot was the last to pass +out of the banquet hall. As he was going through the door he +stepped upon a trap which Sir Malgrace had prepared for him. The +trapdoor fell and dropped him into a dark dungeon.</p> + +<p>When the queen and her knights and ladies had ridden out of the +courtyard, they noticed that Sir Lancelot was not with them. They +supposed, however, that he had ridden off by himself, as was +often his custom, so they went without him to Camelot, and told +the king what had happened. He was very angry at Sir Malgrace's +accusation, but he was sure that Sir Lancelot would punish Sir +Malgrace, and so vindicate Queen Guinevere.</p> + +<p>Meantime, the unhappy Sir Lancelot lay bruised in the dungeon, +feeling very sure that Sir Malgrace meant to starve him to death. +He lay hungry and thirsty for nearly two days. Then Sir Malgrace +peeped in to see if he were dead.</p> + +<p>"Ah, traitor!" cried Sir Lancelot, "I shall overcome you yet."</p> + +<p>At that Sir Malgrace shut the trapdoor hastily, as if he were +afraid that Sir<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_222" id="Page_222">[222]</a></span> Lancelot could leap up ten feet in the air. That +one look, however, cost the wicked knight dear, for the daughter +of the porter saw him shutting the trapdoor, and was curious to +know who was in the dungeon. So at night she opened the trapdoor +and let herself down by a rope.</p> + +<p>When she saw Sir Lancelot she was very sorry for him. He offered +her much money if she would free him. At last she said:</p> + +<p>"I will do it for love of Queen Guinevere and not for money."</p> + +<p>She let him climb up by the rope, and took him out of the +courtyard. He was so sick that he went to a hermit's hut and +rested for several days. When next Sir Malgrace looked into the +dungeon he heard no movement. Then he rejoiced greatly, for he +thought Sir Lancelot was dead.</p> + +<p>When the eighth day had come, all the knights of the Round Table +assembled in the tournament field and waited for Sir Lancelot to +appear. They all thought he would surely come. But Sir Malgrace +rode jauntily about the field. Many of<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_223" id="Page_223">[223]</a></span> the knights wondered at +his courage, not knowing the reason for his confidence.</p> + +<p>The herald blew his trumpet once, but Sir Lancelot did not +appear; twice, and still he did not come. Then up started several +knights and begged the king to let them fight instead of Sir +Lancelot.</p> + +<p>"He has been trapped," they said, "or he would be here."</p> + +<p>While the king was hesitating whom to choose, in rode Sir +Lancelot. He dashed up to Sir Malgrace.</p> + +<p>"Here I am, traitor," he said. "Now do your worst."</p> + +<p>Then they fought, but at the first stroke Sir Malgrace fell to +the earth.</p> + +<p>"Mercy!" he cried, "I yield to you, Sir Knight. Do not slay me. I +put myself in the king's hands and yours."</p> + +<p>Sir Lancelot was much vexed. He wanted to kill Sir Malgrace for +his treachery, and yet, since the man had asked for mercy, he +could not. So he said:</p> + +<p>"What, coward, would you stop already? Shame upon you! Get up and +fight."<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_224" id="Page_224">[224]</a></span></p> + +<p>"I shall not rise unless you take me as one who has yielded," +answered the knight.</p> + +<p>Then Sir Lancelot said:</p> + +<p>"Traitor, I make you this offer: I will take off my helmet, unarm +my left side, and tie my left hand behind my back. In that way I +will fight with you."</p> + +<p>Upon hearing this, Sir Malgrace rose to his feet, sure now of +killing Sir Lancelot.</p> + +<p>"My lord King," cried Sir Malgrace, "you have heard this offer. I +accept."</p> + +<p>The king was very sorry that Sir Lancelot had made the offer. +However, it was impossible to withdraw it. A squire came and +disarmed Sir Lancelot, so that his head and left side were +without cover; and since he had only one arm to fight with, he +could not use his shield.</p> + +<p>Then Sir Malgrace dashed at him, aiming for his left side. Sir +Lancelot waited till he was very near, and then lightly stepped +aside. Before Sir Malgrace could turn, Sir Lancelot lifted his +spear and struck his enemy such a blow<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_225" id="Page_225">[225]</a></span> that he broke his +breastplate and pierced his heart.</p> + +<p>The body of Sir Malgrace was carried off the field and taken to +the castle of his good father; Queen Guinevere was proclaimed +innocent of treason; and Sir Lancelot was honored more than ever +by his king and his queen.</p> + +<div class="figcenter" style="width: 200px;"> +<img src="images/illo048.png" width="200" height="82" alt="Two Horses" title="Two Horses" /> +</div> + + + +<hr /> +<div class="figcenter" style="width: 500px;"><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_226" id="Page_226">[226]</a></span> +<img src="images/illo226.png" width="500" height="116" alt="SIR LANCELOT AND ELAINE" title="Sir Lancelot and Elaine" /><a name="lancelot_elaine" id="lancelot_elaine"></a> +</div> + + +<p class="newchapter"><span class="firstword"><span class="dropcap">E</span>very</span> year King Arthur's knights held a grand tournament among +themselves, and contended in friendly combat for a prize. This +prize was a diamond.</p> + +<p>Once, in the early days of his kingship, Arthur was walking on a +craggy hill, when he came upon the skeleton of a man who had once +been a ruler. The skull still wore a gold crown set with nine +large diamonds. King Arthur took the crown and had the diamonds +unset. Each year at the friendly tournament he gave one of these +diamonds as a prize.</p> + +<p>There had been eight tournaments, and at each Sir Lancelot had +won the diamond. The jewel that was to be given as a prize at the +ninth tournament was the largest and most beautiful of all.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_227" id="Page_227">[227]</a></span> +Everyone, of course, expected that Sir Lancelot would win it, but +only a few days before the contest he announced to the king that +he would not compete.</p> + +<p>Then the queen was vexed, for she loved Sir Lancelot more than +all the other knights, and it gave her great joy to see him +always successful in the tournaments. Therefore she urged him to +change his decision.</p> + +<p>"My queen," he said, "I told the king I would not fight."</p> + +<p>The queen replied:</p> + +<p>"My advice is that you go in disguise. The knights who contest +with you do so but half-heartedly, for they know your great fame +and feel sure of failure. If they did not know who you were, they +would fight better and win more glory for themselves. Then fight +as a stranger knight, and afterwards explain to the king."</p> + +<p>Sir Lancelot took her advice. He rode away over the woods and +hills till he came to the castle of Astolat, where he decided to +stop and ask for a disguise. He knocked on the gate, which was +opened<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_228" id="Page_228">[228]</a></span> by an old dumb servant, and entered the courtyard. The +lord of Astolat came to meet him with his two sons, Sir Torre and +Sir Lavaine, and his beautiful daughter Elaine. The lord of the +castle said:</p> + +<p>"Fair sir, whoever you are, you are welcome. You seem to me much +like a Knight of the Round Table."</p> + +<p>"That I am," said Sir Lancelot. "Hereafter I will tell you my +name; at present I wish to remain unknown. I must enter the +coming tournament as an unknown knight, and I should like to +leave with you my great shield, for it is as well known in +Camelot as I. Will you keep it and lend me another one?"</p> + +<p>Then answered the Lord of Astolat:</p> + +<p>"You may take the shield of my son Torre. He was hurt in his +first tournament, and has not been able to fight since. My son +Lavaine will gladly go with you to the tournament. Perhaps," +added the lord, laughing, "he can win the diamond, and put it in +his sister Elaine's hair."</p> + +<p>"Nay, father, do not make me ashamed before this noble knight," +said the young Lavaine. "I know I can never win the<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_229" id="Page_229">[229]</a></span> diamond for +Elaine, but I can at least do my best to fight."</p> + +<p>"Gladly will I take you for a companion," said Sir Lancelot, "and +if you can, win the diamond for this fair maiden."</p> + +<p>"Such a diamond," said Sir Torre, "is fit for a queen, and not +for a simple girl."</p> + +<p>Sir Lancelot smiled to himself. He was sure that he should win +the diamond. Then he meant to give it with the eight others to +Queen Guinevere. He spoke kindly, however, to the beautiful +Elaine.</p> + +<p>"In truth, this fair maiden is fit to be a queen."</p> + +<p>Then Elaine lifted her eyes and looked at him. He was twice as +old as she was. His face was cut and scarred with wounds which he +had received in battle, but as she looked at him, she loved him, +and felt that she would continue to love him till the day of her +death.</p> + +<p>They went into the great hall where a supper was laid. Sir +Lancelot talked of King Arthur and his goodness and all his +glorious deeds. Elaine thought that even Arthur could not be so +brave as this wonderful lord. All night long she<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_230" id="Page_230">[230]</a></span> dreamed of him. +In the morning she rose early and went down in the courtyard +where Sir Lancelot and Sir Lavaine were mounting their horses.</p> + +<p>"Fair lord," she said boldly to Sir Lancelot, "will you wear my +token in your helmet?"</p> + +<p>Then said Sir Lancelot:</p> + +<p>"Fair maiden, I have never worn favor nor token for any lady in +the tournaments. This is well known to be my custom."</p> + +<p>"But if you wear my token," she said, "there will be far less +likelihood of your being known by your fellow knights."</p> + +<p>"That is very true, my child," he said. "Bring it to me. What is +it?"</p> + +<p>She held it out to him; it was a red sleeve embroidered with +pearls. Sir Lancelot bound it in his helmet and said:</p> + +<p>"I have never done so much before for any maiden."</p> + +<div style="width: 480px; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; padding-top: 1em"><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_231" id="Page_231">[231]</a></span> +<div style="width: 12ex; float: left;"><p class="caption">"She staid near it all day long in the turret"</p></div> +<div style="padding-left: 1ex; float: left; width:300px;"><a href="images/illo231.png"><img src="images/illo231_th.png" +alt="The Lady on the Turret" title="She staid near it all day long in the turret" /></a></div> +</div> + +<div class="clear"> </div> + +<p>Then he and Sir Lavaine bade Elaine farewell, and the beautiful<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_232" id="Page_232">[232]</a></span> +maiden ran up to the tower of the castle and watched them from +the window for a long time. When they were out of sight she asked +the old dumb servant to carry Sir Lancelot's shield to the tower. +It was a large shield of silver, with three lions emblazoned upon +it in gold and blue, but its polished surface was covered with +dents and scratches. Elaine knelt before it, and made a story for +each scratch and mark, picturing to herself the contests in which +the good shield had taken part. For many weeks she stayed near it +all day long in the turret, watching for Sir Lancelot and her +brother to return.</p> + +<p>Meanwhile those two had ridden lightly to Camelot, and when they +were almost there, Sir Lancelot told Sir Lavaine his name. The +young man was astonished. He was very happy, too, to think that +he was a companion to the great knight of whom he had heard so +often.</p> + +<p>When Sir Lancelot and Sir Lavaine arrived at the field where the +tournament was to be held, they stood looking at the king, who +sat upon the great carved chair which had dragons' heads for the +arms and the back. On his red robe<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_233" id="Page_233">[233]</a></span> was embroidered a golden +dragon, and a golden dragon was also on his crown. Above him, set +in a canopy, was the ninth diamond. All about the king to left +and right were rows of ladies whose robes gave to the pavilion in +which they sat the brilliant hues of the rainbow.</p> + +<p>Sir Lancelot said to young Sir Lavaine:</p> + +<p>"Look at the king. You think I am great, but he is greater than +I. I can fight better than he can, but his soul is greater than +mine. Aim to become a Knight of the Round Table, and follow the +example of goodness which Arthur sets for his knights."</p> + +<p>At this moment the trumpets blew as a signal that the tournament +was to begin. The knights spurred their horses forward, and in a +moment their spears and shields clashed. Sir Lancelot rode +lightly here and there, overthrowing everyone with whom he +contested. All wondered at the skill of this unknown knight. Then +Sir Lancelot's kinsmen, his nephew, Sir Lionel, and others, were +angry and jealous.</p> + +<p>"Our Sir Lancelot should be here,"<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_234" id="Page_234">[234]</a></span> they said, "to overcome this +stranger knight."</p> + +<p>"Perhaps this is Sir Lancelot," said one. "Two knights cannot +fight so well in this world. It must be Sir Lancelot."</p> + +<p>"No, no," said the others; "Sir Lancelot would never wear a +lady's favor, and this knight wears a red sleeve embroidered with +pearls. Let us set on this man and teach him that if Sir Lancelot +is not here, we, his kinsmen, will fight for his fame."</p> + +<p>Then all together they bore down on Sir Lancelot. His horse went +down in the shock, and he himself was wounded. A spear had +pierced his breastplate and snapped off in his side.</p> + +<p>Young Sir Lavaine rushed to help Sir Lancelot. The great knight +rose slowly and, with the help of his friend, drove back his kith +and kin to the far side of the field. Then sounded a great blare +of trumpets, and the king proclaimed the stranger knight victor.</p> + +<p>"Come forward," the herald cried, "and take your diamond."</p> + +<p>But poor Sir Lancelot said:<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_235" id="Page_235">[235]</a></span></p> + +<p>"Talk not to me of diamonds. Give me air. I fear me I have +received my death wound. Let me go hence, and I bid you follow me +not."</p> + +<p>Sir Lavaine helped him upon his horse, and they two rode slowly +off the field. When they were near the neighboring forest the +great knight fell from his horse and cried:</p> + +<p>"Pull forth the spear-head which is in my side."</p> + +<p>"Oh, my lord," said Sir Lavaine, "I am afraid you will die if I +draw it forth."</p> + +<p>"I shall die if you leave it," said Sir Lancelot.</p> + +<p>So Sir Lavaine drew it forth quickly, causing Sir Lancelot to +faint from the pain. Then a hermit who lived near by came to +them, and bore the wounded knight into his hut, where for many a +week Sir Lancelot lay between life and death.</p> + +<p>When Arthur found that the unknown knight had gone, no one knew +whither, he was sorry. He called the light-hearted Sir Gawain and +said to him:</p> + +<p>"Go forth, take this diamond and seek<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_236" id="Page_236">[236]</a></span> the stranger knight. Do +not cease from your search till you have left the diamond in his +hand."</p> + +<p>Then Arthur went to the queen. She had been ill and had not +attended the tournament. When the king told her all that had +happened, she cried:</p> + +<p>"A stranger knight! My lord, my lord! That was our dear Sir +Lancelot. He was fighting in disguise."</p> + +<p>"Alas! he is hurt," said the king. "Perhaps he is dying. He said +that he would not fight. He should have told me that he meant to +fight in disguise. The truth, my queen, is always best."</p> + +<p>"Yes, my good lord, I know it," she said. "If I had but let our +Lancelot tell the truth, perhaps he would not have been wounded. +You would have called on his kinsmen to cease."</p> + +<p>For many days the king and Guinevere waited in deep anxiety for +news of Sir Lancelot. Meantime, Sir Gawain rode forth and sought +for the great knight in vain. At last he came to the castle of +Astolat, where he was welcomed by the lord and Sir Torre and the +fair<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_237" id="Page_237">[237]</a></span> Elaine. He told them the result of the tournament, and how +the stranger knight had won. They showed him Sir Lancelot's +shield.</p> + +<p>"Ah!" said Elaine, when he had told them the name of the unknown +knight, "I knew that he must be great."</p> + +<p>Sir Gawain guessed by the expression of her beautiful face that +she loved Sir Lancelot. So he said:</p> + +<p>"Fair maiden, when he returns here for his shield, give him this +diamond, which is the prize he won. Perhaps he will prize it the +more because you put it into his hand."</p> + +<p>Then Sir Gawain bade them farewell and rode off, lightly singing. +When he told Arthur what he had done, the king said:</p> + +<p>"You should have done as I bade you, Gawain. Sir Lancelot +deceived me about his disguise, and you have disobeyed me. The +kingdom will surely fail if the king and his rules are not +honored. Obedience is the courtesy due to kings."</p> + +<p>Meanwhile the fair Elaine went to her father and said:<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_238" id="Page_238">[238]</a></span></p> + +<p>"Dear father, let me go and seek the wounded Sir Lancelot and my +brother."</p> + +<p>"Nay," said the lord, "it is not a fitting thing for a young +maiden like you to seek a wounded knight. He is not your lover. +It cannot be."</p> + +<p>"I would give him his diamond," she said, "and since he is so +sorely wounded, I would take care of him. It is not fitting, my +father, but I cannot live unless I know where he is and how he +does."</p> + +<p>Then, because he loved his child very much and had never refused +any request she made of him, the old lord let her go in care of +Sir Torre. The two rode for a long time, until at last, near +Camelot, they met Sir Lavaine. Elaine ran up to him and cried:</p> + +<p>"Lavaine, take me to Sir Lancelot."</p> + +<p>Sir Lavaine was much astonished that Elaine knew the name of the +stranger knight. He was glad to see her, because he thought she +could help his friend. Sir Lancelot seemed glad to see her, too, +and the beautiful maiden cared for him so tenderly that the old +hermit said he never could have recovered without her nursing.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_239" id="Page_239">[239]</a></span> +When he was well enough, they all rode to the castle of Astolat.</p> + +<p>There Sir Lancelot remained for a few days; then he took his +shield and prepared to return to Camelot. Before he went he asked +Elaine if he could not do something for her in return for her +care of him.</p> + +<p>She grew very pale and then she said:</p> + +<p>"I am going to say something which I should not. I love you. Take +me with you to Camelot."</p> + +<p>Sir Lancelot said very gently:</p> + +<p>"My poor little maiden, if I had meant to take a wife, I should +have wedded earlier. All the court knows that I love only the +king and the queen. You do not really love me. Some day you will +marry a young knight, and then I shall give you many castles and +much land as a dowry."</p> + +<p>"I will have nothing of all that," said Elaine.</p> + +<p>She turned away and climbed up to the tower, while her father +said to Sir Lancelot:</p> + +<p>"I pray you, be discourteous in some way so that she will cease +to love you. Such love is madness."<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_240" id="Page_240">[240]</a></span></p> + +<p>"It is not my habit to be discourteous," said Sir Lancelot. +"However, when she stands at the turret window to wave me +farewell, I will not look up at her."</p> + +<p>Sir Lancelot rode sadly away, and did not look up at the window +where Elaine stood. She watched him till he disappeared, and then +she fell in a swoon. Day after day she pined away, and one +morning she said to her father:</p> + +<p>"Dear father, I am going to die. When I am dead, take my bed and +cover it with rich draperies. Then dress me in my most beautiful +clothes; put a letter I have here in my hand, and lay me on the +bed. Set it on a barge, and let our dumb servant steer it down +the river to Camelot."</p> + +<p>Her father wept, and promised to do all that she asked.</p> + +<p>Sir Lancelot had gone to the Court, where he was received with +great rejoicing. For many days the knights and ladies held great +feasting in his honor, and the king and the queen would hardly +allow him to leave their presence. One day while the three stood +looking out of<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_241" id="Page_241">[241]</a></span> the palace window, they saw a black barge come +slowly down the river.</p> + +<p>It stopped at the palace door, and the king, going down, saw on +it the beautiful maiden Elaine, pale in death. She was dressed in +white satin, and bore a lily in her left hand and a letter in her +right. The king ordered two of his knights, the good Sir Galahad +and Sir Perceval, to carry Elaine into his great hall. Then +Arthur read the letter, which said:</p> + +<p>"Most noble lord, Sir Lancelot of the Lake: I, Elaine, the maid +of Astolat, come to take my last farewell of you, for you left me +without a farewell. I loved you, and my love had no return, and +so I died."</p> + +<p>The knights and ladies wept. Sir Lancelot said to Arthur:</p> + +<p>"My king, I grieve for the death of this maiden, but as I did not +love her, I could not wed her."</p> + +<p>The king answered:</p> + +<p>"You are not to blame, Sir Lancelot. The world has in it much +that is sad as well as much that is joyous. There are happenings +for which no human being<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_242" id="Page_242">[242]</a></span> can be blamed. It would be a fitting +deed, however, if you had this maiden richly buried."</p> + +<p>Sir Lancelot ordered a splendid funeral, such as should be given +to a queen. Over Elaine's grave was raised a beautiful tomb on +which was carved her figure, with the left hand holding a lily; +at her feet lay the shield of Sir Lancelot, and the sad story of +her death was written on the tomb in letters of gold and blue.</p> + +<div class="figcenter" style="width: 150px;"> +<img src="images/illo141.png" width="150" height="86" alt="Shield and swords" title="The shield and Two Swords" /> +</div> + + + +<hr /> +<div class="figcenter" style="width: 500px;"><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_243" id="Page_243">[243]</a></span> +<img src="images/illo243.png" width="500" height="131" alt="THE SEARCH FOR THE HOLY GRAIL" title="The Search for the Holy Grail" /><a name="search_for_grail" id="search_for_grail"></a> +</div> + + +<p class="newchapter"><span class="firstword"><span class="dropcap">I</span>n</span> Arthur's Court there were many virtuous knights and ladies, +but the best of all was a beautiful maiden, sister to Sir +Perceval. She was so good that the evil in the world oppressed +her, and she could be happy only when she was praying for all +people to be made better.</p> + +<p>Once a good old man told her what was meant by the Holy Grail.</p> + +<p>"Grail," he said, "is the word for the cup out of which our Lord +Jesus drank, the night that he held the last supper with his +disciples. Therefore, it is called holy. There is a tradition +which says that for a long time after the death of Christ the +Holy Grail remained on earth, and any one who was sick and +touched it was healed at once. But then people<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_244" id="Page_244">[244]</a></span> grew to be so +wicked that it disappeared from earth. It is said that if a +person in our day were only good enough, he could see the Holy +Grail."</p> + +<p>"Really see it?" asked the maiden, eagerly, "or see it in a +vision?"</p> + +<p>"I do not know," answered the good old man, "but either one would +be a great happiness. For a real sight of it, or a vision, would +show the person who saw it that he was sinless."</p> + +<p>Then the beautiful maiden prayed more than ever. She became so +thin and pale that it seemed as if she were almost transparent, +and at last she lay dying. One morning she sent for her brother, +Sir Perceval, and for his friend, Sir Galahad.</p> + +<p>Sir Perceval and Sir Galahad were the two best knights in +Arthur's Court. They were not so powerful as Sir Lancelot or Sir +Geraint or Sir Gareth, but they had purer souls than these. When +they came to the bedside of the maiden, she said:</p> + +<p>"Oh, my brother and my friend, I have seen the Holy Grail. Last +night I was awakened by a sound like the music of a<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_245" id="Page_245">[245]</a></span> silver horn +across the hills. It was more beautiful music than any I have +ever heard. Then through my window shone a long cold beam of +silver light, and slowly across that beam came the Holy Grail. It +was red like a beautiful rose, and the light reflected from it +covered all the walls with a rosy color. And then it vanished. +Now I beg you to seek it; and go to the hall of Arthur and tell +all the other knights to take the quest. If they can but see the +Grail, it will be a sign that they are good, and that the world +is growing better."</p> + +<p>As she spoke, Sir Galahad's face wore an expression so like her +own that Sir Perceval was amazed. But the maiden took from the +side of her bed a sword-belt, and gave it to Sir Galahad.</p> + +<p>"Fair knight," she said, "I have made this golden belt of my +hair, and woven on it, in crimson and silver thread, the device +of the Holy Grail. Put on this belt, bind your sword to it, and +go forth; for you, too, shall see the Holy Grail."</p> + +<p>Then Sir Galahad and Sir Perceval went away quietly, for they saw +that the<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_246" id="Page_246">[246]</a></span> beautiful maiden had not long to live. That night they +went to Arthur's hall. The king was absent with the queen, but +most of the knights of the Round Table were there, and to them +Sir Galahad and Sir Perceval told the vision that Sir Perceval's +sister had seen.</p> + +<p>As they spoke, suddenly the torches in the hall were +extinguished; there was a loud sound like thunder and a sudden +cracking of the roof. Then a beam of light, seven times stronger +than day, streamed into the room. Across the beam stole the Holy +Grail. But it was covered by a luminous cloud, so that its shape +could not be seen. Slowly it vanished away.</p> + +<p>There was silence in the hall for a long time; the knights were +awe-struck and could not speak. At last Sir Perceval rose in his +seat and said in a low tone:</p> + +<p>"My sister saw the vision of the Holy Grail, but I, because I am +more sinful, have seen it covered with a cloud. Yet because I +wish to see it, I vow to spend twelve months and a day in search +of it.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_247" id="Page_247">[247]</a></span> I will pray, and live as holy a life as I can, and +perhaps this vision will be mine."</p> + +<p>Then good Sir Bors, the cousin of Sir Lancelot, made the same +vow, as did also Sir Galahad and Sir Lancelot and Sir Gawain and +many others. After the vows had been taken, King Arthur entered. +When all had been explained to him, his face grew sorrowful.</p> + +<p>"If I had been here," he said, "I should not have allowed you to +swear the vow. None of you really saw the Grail; you say it was +covered with a cloud."</p> + +<p>Then Sir Galahad cried out:</p> + +<p>"My king, I saw the Grail, all crimson like a ruby, and I heard a +voice which said, 'O Galahad, O Galahad, follow me!'"</p> + +<p>"Ah, Galahad," said the king, tenderly, "you are fit for this +quest, this search, but the others are not. Sir Lancelot is our +strongest warrior, but he is not like Sir Galahad. Most of you, +my knights, are men with strength and will to right wrongs; that +is the work you are fitted for. You have fought in twelve<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_248" id="Page_248">[248]</a></span> great +battles with the heathen, but only one of you is fit for this +holiest of visions. Yet go, and fulfill your vow."</p> + +<p>The faces of the knights were downcast. The king continued:</p> + +<p>"While you are gone, I shall need your strength here at home, but +you will be following a wandering fire. Many of you will never +return."</p> + +<p>All the company felt sad. The next day when the knights departed +upon their quest, the king could hardly speak for grief, and many +of the knights and ladies wept. Those who had sworn the vow went +together to the great gate of the city of Camelot, and there they +separated.</p> + +<p>During the next twelvemonth many a poor laborer who had been +wronged came to Arthur's Court to find a knight who would fight +for him, and many a poor widow and maiden. But because so many of +the knights of the Round Table were absent there was little help +to be had, and Arthur's face grew sadder and sadder as time went +on.</p> + +<p>At last, after the twelvemonth and the<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_249" id="Page_249">[249]</a></span> day had passed, those in +Camelot began to look for the return of the knights who had taken +the vow. Alas, though they waited all day long, only Sir Gawain, +Sir Bors, Sir Perceval, and Sir Lancelot returned. In the evening +the knights of the Round Table assembled in the great hall. When +each was seated, the king rose, and said to those who had been +upon the quest:</p> + +<p>"My lords, I need only look at your faces to know that you have +fared ill. I dare not think of those of you who have not come +back. And now, Perceval, my knight who, next to Galahad, has the +purest soul, tell me what has happened to you."</p> + +<p>Sir Perceval rose slowly from his chair and said:</p> + +<p>"Dear my liege, when I left your court on the sad morning that we +all set forth, I did not feel the grief that many of the other +knights felt. I had been fighting so well, so many lances had +gone down before my stroke, that I was full of confidence in what +I could do.</p> + +<p>"I rode happily, planning all the great<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_250" id="Page_250">[250]</a></span> victories I should win. +I was sure if I righted a great many wrongs, I should soon see +the Grail. But after many days I began to grow weary. I was +riding through rough forests, and the branches bruised me and my +horse; there seemed to be no great deeds to do. I could not even +slay wild beasts, and so be of use to the poor country people. My +bed was on the hard ground, and my food was wild berries.</p> + +<p>"One day I came to a great castle, and here I decided to rest. +When I entered, I was warmly greeted and brought to the princess +of the castle. I found her to be one whom I had loved long ago in +her father's court. I was but a young squire and she was a great +princess, and so I had gone away without telling her how dear I +held her.</p> + +<p>"She greeted me kindly, and after a time she began to love me. +Soon I wondered whether I was fit to see the Holy Grail. I +thought perhaps I was one of those who were pursuing a wandering +fire. And then the people of the castle begged me to marry their +princess, and<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_251" id="Page_251">[251]</a></span> be their lord and live a happy and easeful life.</p> + +<p>"One night I awoke, and thought longingly of the Holy Grail. +Whether I were fit to see the vision or not, I had at least sworn +to seek it for a year and a day. And yet, I had not tried two +months! I rose hastily, dressed, and left the castle. Then for +many days I prayed and mourned. At last I sought a holy hermit, +and told him all I had done and thought since I had left Arthur's +Court.</p> + +<p>"The good hermit, after a short silence, said: 'My son, you have +not true humility. You have been too proud of your strength, and +too sure in the beginning that you were fit for the vision. You +have always thought first of yourself and your own glory, and not +of the good you could do.'</p> + +<p>"I went into the chapel of this hermit, and prayed to be relieved +of the sin of pride. As I prayed, Sir Galahad entered. He was +clad in silver armor, and his face looked like that of an angel.</p> + +<p>"'Oh, my brother,' he said, 'have you<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_252" id="Page_252">[252]</a></span> not seen the Grail?' And +after I had answered, he said:</p> + +<p>"'From the moment when I left the court of our king, the vision +has been with me. It is faint in the daytime, but at night it +shines blood red. I see it on the mountains, and in the lakes, +and on the marshes. It has made me so strong that everywhere I am +able to do good. I have broken down many evil customs. I have +fought with pagan hordes and been victor, all because of this +blessed vision. Perceval, I have not long to live. I am going to +the great city above, which is more beautiful than any earthly +city. Come out with me this night, and before you die you shall +see this vision.'</p> + +<p>"Then I followed Sir Galahad out of the chapel. We climbed a hill +which was steep and rugged, Sir Galahad going first, and his +silver armor guiding me. When we came to the top, a storm broke +over us, and the lightning seemed to follow us as we descended +the hill on the other side. At the bottom of it there was a great +black swamp, leading to the sea. It was crossed by a huge bridge +built by some forgotten king. Here Sir Galahad left me and ran +over the bridge till he reached the sea. His armor shone like a +star, far away at the edge of the water. And then I saw him no +more.</p> + +<div style="width: 480px; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; padding-top: 1em"><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_253" id="Page_253">[253]</a></span> +<div style="width: 12ex; float: left;"><p class="caption">"And across it slowly moved the Holy Grail"</p></div> +<div style="padding-left: 1ex; float: left; width:300px;"><a href="images/illo253.png"><img src="images/illo253_th.png" +alt="The moving Holy Grail" title="And across it slowly moved the Holy Grail" /></a></div> +</div> + +<div class="clear"> </div> + +<p>"I knelt on the black ground and wept, and wished that I were as<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_254" id="Page_254">[254]</a></span> +good as Sir Galahad, and could do deeds as he did, not to win +glory, but to help those who needed help. And as I wept, I was +aware of a great light over me. I looked up and saw a silver +beam, and across it slowly moved the Holy Grail. It was no longer +muffled in a cloud, but shone crimson as a ruby.</p> + +<p>"I made my way back to the chapel and prayed all the rest of the +night. In the morning I found Sir Galahad's body by the sea. He +was beautiful as a saint, though he was worn and thin from long +self-sacrifice. I buried him and then turned my steps to Camelot.</p> + +<p>"And now, my lord Arthur, I shall never fight again. I shall +become a monk and pass my life in prayer as my sister did. Among +my brother monks, there will be very many little deeds of<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_255" id="Page_255">[255]</a></span> +service I can do. Thus will I spend my life."</p> + +<p>All the knights were very much moved and the king looked +affectionately at Sir Perceval, but he did not speak to him. He +turned to Sir Gawain and said:</p> + +<p>"Sir Gawain, was this quest for you?"</p> + +<p>Then Sir Gawain, always light-hearted and easily turned away from +one thing to another, said:</p> + +<p>"Nay, my king, such a search is not for one like me. In a little +time I became tired. I talked to a holy man who told me that I +was not fit for such a vision. So I journeyed till I came to a +field with silk pavilions and very many knights and ladies. And +with them I lived happily for the year."</p> + +<p>The good king looked displeased, but his face grew tender as he +turned to Sir Bors.</p> + +<p>"Bors," he said, "good, faithful, and honest you have ever been. +Tell me what you have seen."</p> + +<p>Sir Bors, who stood near Sir Lancelot, said:</p> + +<p>"My lord Arthur, after I had started<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_256" id="Page_256">[256]</a></span> on the quest, I was told +that madness had fallen upon my kinsman, Sir Lancelot. This so +grieved me that I had but little heart to seek for the Holy +Grail. Yet I sought for it. I believed that if God meant me to +see the vision he would send it.</p> + +<p>"I traveled till I came to a people who were heathen. They knew +much of magic, but nothing of God. I stayed with them, and tried +to teach them our faith, but they were angry because I would not +believe in their gods, and they put me into prison.</p> + +<p>"I was there many months in darkness and cold. But I tried to be +patient, and prayed that my patience would count for something, +although I could not do any good deeds. I had at least been +faithful though I failed.</p> + +<p>"One night a stone slipped from my prison wall, and I could see a +space of sky, with seven stars set across it. Then slowly across +the space glided the Holy Grail. My happiness was great, for I +had seen the vision.</p> + +<p>"The next morning, a maiden who<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_257" id="Page_257">[257]</a></span> had been secretly converted to +our religion released me from prison, and I came hither."</p> + +<p>Then the king spoke to Sir Lancelot.</p> + +<p>"My Lancelot, the mightiest of us all, have you succeeded in this +quest?"</p> + +<p>Then Sir Lancelot groaned.</p> + +<p>"O, king!" he cried, "your mightiest, yes; and yet, far better it +would be if I were like Sir Galahad. A great sin is on my soul, +and it was to be rid of this sin that I undertook the quest of +the Holy Grail. A hermit told me that only by putting this sin +away should I ever see the vision. I strove so hard against it +that my old sickness came upon me. I became mad, and rode up and +down among waste places, fighting with small men who overthrew +me. The day has been when the very sound of my name would have +made them tremble.</p> + +<p>"At last I came to the sea and saw a boat anchored near the +shore. I stepped into it, loosed the anchor, and floated away. +For seven days I sailed, and at last I came to an old castle. I +entered and heard a voice singing. I followed it<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_258" id="Page_258">[258]</a></span> up, up for a +thousand steps. At last I came to a door, which burst open before +me. Perhaps I dreamed, and yet I believe I saw the Holy Grail, +though it was veiled and guarded by great angels. I thought I saw +all this, and then I swooned away. When I came to myself, I was +alone in the room. It was many days before I made my way back to +Camelot."</p> + +<p>For a long time there was silence in the hall, and then Sir +Gawain said:</p> + +<p>"Sir king, I can fight, and I always shall fight for you. But I +do not believe in this vision. All the knights were mad, like Sir +Lancelot. They did not really have the vision; it was but fancy."</p> + +<p>Then the king spoke gravely to Sir Gawain.</p> + +<p>"Sir Gawain, you are indeed not fit for such a vision, but you +should not doubt that others have seen it. I was right, my +knights, when I said that most of you would follow a wandering +fire. How many of those who left me have not returned, and never +will!"</p> + +<p>The knights looked at the empty chairs. The king went on:<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_259" id="Page_259">[259]</a></span></p> + +<p>"Sir Galahad was the only one who completely saw the vision. He +was indeed blessed, and fit for such a quest. You who were unfit +should have stayed with me to help govern this land."</p> + +<p>The knights were silent and sad; then the king said:</p> + +<p>"My dear knights whom I love, always remember this: whether you +seek for a vision, or do humble service as Sir Perceval will for +his fellow-monks, or fight to right wrongs as Sir Lancelot does, +whatever you do your aim must be to make yourself useful to the +world by the work for which you are best fitted."</p> + +<p>The king rose from the Round Table and left the company, Sir +Lancelot following him. Then the other knights departed, one by +one, and the great hall was left empty, with its shields +glimmering in the moonlight.</p> + +<div class="figcenter" style="width: 150px;"> +<img src="images/illo259.png" width="150" height="70" alt="The knight" title="The Knight with Swords" /> +</div> + + + +<hr /> +<div class="figcenter" style="width: 500px;"><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_260" id="Page_260">[260]</a></span> +<img src="images/illo260.png" width="500" height="129" alt="THE DEATH OF ARTHUR" title="The Death of Arthur" /><a name="arthur_death" id="arthur_death"></a> +</div> + + +<p class="newchapter"><span class="firstword"><span class="dropcap">K</span>ing Arthur's</span> Round Table had lasted many years, and the knights +had done much to help the people of the country; yet there were +traitors to the king among his own subjects. One of these +traitors made war in a distant part of the kingdom, and Arthur +went with most of his knights to punish him. His nephew, Sir +Modred, the brother of Sir Gawain and Sir Gareth, ruled in his +stead at Camelot.</p> + +<p>Now Sir Modred was a wicked knight. He hated the king and the +queen, and Sir Lancelot. Since King Arthur was absent a long +time, Sir Modred had the opportunity of doing much harm. He let +evil go unpunished; he allowed bad customs to come into the +country; and at<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_261" id="Page_261">[261]</a></span> last he raised a rebellion against the good +king.</p> + +<p>When Arthur returned to Camelot to quell this rebellion, he had +lost many of his faithful knights. Sir Hector was dead, and Sir +Ulfius and Sir Brastias; Sir Kay was dead, and Sir Bors, and Sir +Gawain. Sir Lancelot was far away. Sir Bedivere alone remained of +those who had been with Arthur since he had first ruled in Wales +and Britain.</p> + +<p>The king and Sir Bedivere, with the help of such knights as still +were faithful, tried to put down those rebels. They drove the +traitors back until they came at length to Lyonnesse by the sea. +Here the last great battle took place.</p> + +<p>The night before the battle, Sir Bedivere heard the king praying. +Then Arthur slept, and when he awakened he called to his friend:</p> + +<p>"Sir Bedivere," he said, "I have had a dream. I thought that Sir +Gawain came to me and told me that to-morrow I shall die."</p> + +<p>"My lord, it is but a dream," answered Sir Bedivere. "You are +great; you have<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_262" id="Page_262">[262]</a></span> done much good which will last forever, and you +will live many years yet to perform many gracious acts. The day +will soon dawn, and you will win the battle."</p> + +<p>Arthur shook his head.</p> + +<p>"This is not like my other battles. I have no heart for it. It is +hard to slay my own people, even if they are traitors."</p> + +<p>Day came, but no sun. A cold white mist lay over land and sea. It +chilled the knights to the bone. And when the battle began, the +mist was so thick that no one could see with whom he was +fighting. Friends slew each other, not knowing whom they killed. +Some could not fight at all, for it seemed to them that those +moving on the battle-field were ghosts of warriors long since +slain. There was many a noble deed and many a base one done in +that mist.</p> + +<p>The fighting went on with clashing of lances and shields +throughout the afternoon, and then the sounds grew fainter, till +there was silence. At last, towards sunset, a wind from the west +blew the mist away. Then Arthur, with Sir Bedivere by his side, +looked over the field of<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_263" id="Page_263">[263]</a></span> battle. He saw but one man standing; +all the rest were dead on the seashore. And the tide had risen, +and was swaying the helpless hands, and tumbling up and down the +hollow helmets and the broken spears that once had fought with +Rome. The king's face was white, and his voice was low as he said +to Sir Bedivere:</p> + +<p>"There lie my slain, who have died for me. I am king only of the +dead."</p> + +<p>"Nay, lord," said Sir Bedivere. "You are king everywhere still. +Now strike a kingly stroke against the one traitor who still +stands."</p> + +<p>Sir Bedivere pointed at the one other living man, and the king +saw that it was Sir Modred. Arthur threw down his scabbard and +lifted his good Excalibur. Then he sprang upon the traitor. Sir +Modred struck the king on the helmet, which had been worn thin in +many battles. The stroke cut through the steel, and wounded +Arthur mortally, but he used his ebbing strength for one last +blow with Excalibur, and killed Sir Modred.</p> + +<p>The king sank to the ground, but Sir Bedivere lifted him, and +bore him to a<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_264" id="Page_264">[264]</a></span> ruined chapel near the seashore. When he had laid +him down by the broken cross in the chancel, Arthur said:</p> + +<p>"You know well that my Excalibur was given to me by the Lady of +the Lake. I have used it like a king. And now the time has come +to obey the writing on the blade. So take my sword Excalibur, and +throw it far out into the lake."</p> + +<p>Sir Bedivere took the sword and went out from the ruined chapel. +He walked amid the graves of ancient knights over which the sea +wind was singing. He passed the barren cliffs and chasms, and +reached the lake at last.</p> + +<p>He lifted Excalibur, and as he did so the moon came from behind +the clouds. The light fell on the hilt of the sword, and all the +jewels shone. Sir Bedivere looked until his eyes were dazzled; he +could not throw the beautiful weapon away. So he hid it in the +weeds upon the shore of the lake, and returned to the king.</p> + +<p>"What did you see or hear?" asked Arthur.</p> + +<p>Sir Bedivere replied:<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_265" id="Page_265">[265]</a></span></p> + +<p>"I heard the ripple washing in the reeds, and the wild water +lapping on the crags."</p> + +<p>King Arthur, faint and pale, said:</p> + +<p>"You have betrayed me. You have acted a lie. Had you thrown the +sword, something would have happened, some sign would have been +given. Go back now, and throw it into the lake."</p> + +<p>Sir Bedivere went back and again picked up Excalibur. As he +looked at it he said aloud:</p> + +<p>"Surely it is not right to throw away such a precious thing. It +would please the eyes of people forever. I know it is wrong to +disobey the king. Yet he is sick; perhaps he does not know what +he is doing. If I keep Excalibur and store it in a great +treasure-house, people will look at it throughout all the coming +years, and feel great reverence for the king who fought with it."</p> + +<p>So again Sir Bedivere hid the sword and returned to the king, who +asked:</p> + +<p>"What have you seen or heard?"</p> + +<p>And Sir Bedivere replied:</p> + +<p>"I heard the water lapping on the<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_266" id="Page_266">[266]</a></span> crag, and the long ripple +washing in the reeds."</p> + +<p>Then the king was very angry.</p> + +<p>"Ah, unkind!" he cried. "You, too, are a traitor. Because I am +dying, I have no authority. You refuse to obey me, you who are +the last of my knights! Yet it is possible for a man to fail in +his duty twice, and succeed the third time. Go now, and throw +Excalibur."</p> + +<p>Sir Bedivere ran quickly and seized the sword, shutting his eyes +that he might not see its beauty. He whirled it round his head +and threw it far out over the lake. It flashed in the moonlight +and fell. But before it reached the surface of the water, an arm, +clothed in pure white, rose and caught it, brandished it three +times, and then drew it under the water.</p> + +<p>When Sir Bedivere went back to Arthur, the king knew that he had +been obeyed.</p> + +<p>"I am dying," he said. "Lift me on your back and carry me to the +lake."</p> + +<p>Then Sir Bedivere carried the helpless king, walking quickly +through the place<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_267" id="Page_267">[267]</a></span> of tombs, and over the crags, and past the +chasms, till he came to the smooth shining lake. There beside the +bank was a barge, all black. The deck was covered with stately +figures of people clad in mourning. Among them were three fair +queens with crowns of gold—the three queens who were to help +Arthur at his need.</p> + +<p>They had come to take him away, Sir Bedivere did not know where. +When they saw the wounded king, they gave a cry of grief that +seemed to rise to the stars. Then they lifted him into the barge. +The tallest put his head on her knees, and took off his broken +helmet. She called him by name, weeping bitterly.</p> + +<p>Poor Sir Bedivere cried:</p> + +<p>"Oh, my Lord Arthur, you are leaving me. Where shall I go? The +great Round Table is broken up forever. What shall I do?"</p> + +<p>Then Arthur answered:</p> + +<p>"Old customs pass and new ones come. God makes his world better +in many ways. The Round Table did its work and now has disappeared; +but something<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_268" id="Page_268">[268]</a></span> else will surely come to advance the cause of +truth and justice. Pray for me and for yourself. More things are +done by prayer than this world dreams of. And now, farewell! You +shall never see me again, my Bedivere. My work is done; yours, +too, is nearly over. Farewell!"</p> + +<p>Then the barge moved slowly away, while those on board lamented. +Sir Bedivere watched it till it disappeared amid the shadows over +the lake. Then he rose slowly and wandered back to Lyonnesse.</p> + +<p>After a time he went to Camelot. There was a new king there, who +was good, and new customs, also good. But Sir Bedivere was too +old to change his way of life. He spent the rest of his days in +Camelot, but he lived only in the past, dreaming of the time when +King Arthur and his knights of the Round Table ruled in the land.</p> + +<div class="figcenter" style="width: 150px;"> +<img src="images/illo063.png" width="150" height="89" alt="Shield and sword" title="The Shield and the Sword" /> +</div> + + + + + + + + +<pre> + + + + + +End of Project Gutenberg's King Arthur and His Knights, by Maude L. Radford + +*** END OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK KING ARTHUR AND HIS KNIGHTS *** + +***** This file should be named 21865-h.htm or 21865-h.zip ***** +This and all associated files of various formats will be found in: + http://www.gutenberg.org/2/1/8/6/21865/ + +Produced by Greg Weeks, Irma Spehar and the Online +Distributed Proofreading Team at http://www.pgdp.net + + +Updated editions will replace the previous one--the old editions +will be renamed. + +Creating the works from public domain print editions means that no +one owns a United States copyright in these works, so the Foundation +(and you!) can copy and distribute it in the United States without +permission and without paying copyright royalties. Special rules, +set forth in the General Terms of Use part of this license, apply to +copying and distributing Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works to +protect the PROJECT GUTENBERG-tm concept and trademark. Project +Gutenberg is a registered trademark, and may not be used if you +charge for the eBooks, unless you receive specific permission. If you +do not charge anything for copies of this eBook, complying with the +rules is very easy. You may use this eBook for nearly any purpose +such as creation of derivative works, reports, performances and +research. They may be modified and printed and given away--you may do +practically ANYTHING with public domain eBooks. Redistribution is +subject to the trademark license, especially commercial +redistribution. + + + +*** START: FULL LICENSE *** + +THE FULL PROJECT GUTENBERG LICENSE +PLEASE READ THIS BEFORE YOU DISTRIBUTE OR USE THIS WORK + +To protect the Project Gutenberg-tm mission of promoting the free +distribution of electronic works, by using or distributing this work +(or any other work associated in any way with the phrase "Project +Gutenberg"), you agree to comply with all the terms of the Full Project +Gutenberg-tm License (available with this file or online at +http://gutenberg.org/license). + + +Section 1. General Terms of Use and Redistributing Project Gutenberg-tm +electronic works + +1.A. By reading or using any part of this Project Gutenberg-tm +electronic work, you indicate that you have read, understand, agree to +and accept all the terms of this license and intellectual property +(trademark/copyright) agreement. If you do not agree to abide by all +the terms of this agreement, you must cease using and return or destroy +all copies of Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works in your possession. +If you paid a fee for obtaining a copy of or access to a Project +Gutenberg-tm electronic work and you do not agree to be bound by the +terms of this agreement, you may obtain a refund from the person or +entity to whom you paid the fee as set forth in paragraph 1.E.8. + +1.B. "Project Gutenberg" is a registered trademark. It may only be +used on or associated in any way with an electronic work by people who +agree to be bound by the terms of this agreement. There are a few +things that you can do with most Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works +even without complying with the full terms of this agreement. See +paragraph 1.C below. There are a lot of things you can do with Project +Gutenberg-tm electronic works if you follow the terms of this agreement +and help preserve free future access to Project Gutenberg-tm electronic +works. See paragraph 1.E below. + +1.C. The Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation ("the Foundation" +or PGLAF), owns a compilation copyright in the collection of Project +Gutenberg-tm electronic works. Nearly all the individual works in the +collection are in the public domain in the United States. If an +individual work is in the public domain in the United States and you are +located in the United States, we do not claim a right to prevent you from +copying, distributing, performing, displaying or creating derivative +works based on the work as long as all references to Project Gutenberg +are removed. Of course, we hope that you will support the Project +Gutenberg-tm mission of promoting free access to electronic works by +freely sharing Project Gutenberg-tm works in compliance with the terms of +this agreement for keeping the Project Gutenberg-tm name associated with +the work. You can easily comply with the terms of this agreement by +keeping this work in the same format with its attached full Project +Gutenberg-tm License when you share it without charge with others. + +1.D. The copyright laws of the place where you are located also govern +what you can do with this work. Copyright laws in most countries are in +a constant state of change. If you are outside the United States, check +the laws of your country in addition to the terms of this agreement +before downloading, copying, displaying, performing, distributing or +creating derivative works based on this work or any other Project +Gutenberg-tm work. The Foundation makes no representations concerning +the copyright status of any work in any country outside the United +States. + +1.E. Unless you have removed all references to Project Gutenberg: + +1.E.1. The following sentence, with active links to, or other immediate +access to, the full Project Gutenberg-tm License must appear prominently +whenever any copy of a Project Gutenberg-tm work (any work on which the +phrase "Project Gutenberg" appears, or with which the phrase "Project +Gutenberg" is associated) is accessed, displayed, performed, viewed, +copied or distributed: + +This eBook is for the use of anyone anywhere at no cost and with +almost no restrictions whatsoever. You may copy it, give it away or +re-use it under the terms of the Project Gutenberg License included +with this eBook or online at www.gutenberg.org + +1.E.2. If an individual Project Gutenberg-tm electronic work is derived +from the public domain (does not contain a notice indicating that it is +posted with permission of the copyright holder), the work can be copied +and distributed to anyone in the United States without paying any fees +or charges. If you are redistributing or providing access to a work +with the phrase "Project Gutenberg" associated with or appearing on the +work, you must comply either with the requirements of paragraphs 1.E.1 +through 1.E.7 or obtain permission for the use of the work and the +Project Gutenberg-tm trademark as set forth in paragraphs 1.E.8 or +1.E.9. + +1.E.3. If an individual Project Gutenberg-tm electronic work is posted +with the permission of the copyright holder, your use and distribution +must comply with both paragraphs 1.E.1 through 1.E.7 and any additional +terms imposed by the copyright holder. Additional terms will be linked +to the Project Gutenberg-tm License for all works posted with the +permission of the copyright holder found at the beginning of this work. + +1.E.4. Do not unlink or detach or remove the full Project Gutenberg-tm +License terms from this work, or any files containing a part of this +work or any other work associated with Project Gutenberg-tm. + +1.E.5. Do not copy, display, perform, distribute or redistribute this +electronic work, or any part of this electronic work, without +prominently displaying the sentence set forth in paragraph 1.E.1 with +active links or immediate access to the full terms of the Project +Gutenberg-tm License. + +1.E.6. You may convert to and distribute this work in any binary, +compressed, marked up, nonproprietary or proprietary form, including any +word processing or hypertext form. However, if you provide access to or +distribute copies of a Project Gutenberg-tm work in a format other than +"Plain Vanilla ASCII" or other format used in the official version +posted on the official Project Gutenberg-tm web site (www.gutenberg.org), +you must, at no additional cost, fee or expense to the user, provide a +copy, a means of exporting a copy, or a means of obtaining a copy upon +request, of the work in its original "Plain Vanilla ASCII" or other +form. Any alternate format must include the full Project Gutenberg-tm +License as specified in paragraph 1.E.1. + +1.E.7. Do not charge a fee for access to, viewing, displaying, +performing, copying or distributing any Project Gutenberg-tm works +unless you comply with paragraph 1.E.8 or 1.E.9. + +1.E.8. You may charge a reasonable fee for copies of or providing +access to or distributing Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works provided +that + +- You pay a royalty fee of 20% of the gross profits you derive from + the use of Project Gutenberg-tm works calculated using the method + you already use to calculate your applicable taxes. The fee is + owed to the owner of the Project Gutenberg-tm trademark, but he + has agreed to donate royalties under this paragraph to the + Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation. Royalty payments + must be paid within 60 days following each date on which you + prepare (or are legally required to prepare) your periodic tax + returns. Royalty payments should be clearly marked as such and + sent to the Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation at the + address specified in Section 4, "Information about donations to + the Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation." + +- You provide a full refund of any money paid by a user who notifies + you in writing (or by e-mail) within 30 days of receipt that s/he + does not agree to the terms of the full Project Gutenberg-tm + License. You must require such a user to return or + destroy all copies of the works possessed in a physical medium + and discontinue all use of and all access to other copies of + Project Gutenberg-tm works. + +- You provide, in accordance with paragraph 1.F.3, a full refund of any + money paid for a work or a replacement copy, if a defect in the + electronic work is discovered and reported to you within 90 days + of receipt of the work. + +- You comply with all other terms of this agreement for free + distribution of Project Gutenberg-tm works. + +1.E.9. If you wish to charge a fee or distribute a Project Gutenberg-tm +electronic work or group of works on different terms than are set +forth in this agreement, you must obtain permission in writing from +both the Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation and Michael +Hart, the owner of the Project Gutenberg-tm trademark. Contact the +Foundation as set forth in Section 3 below. + +1.F. + +1.F.1. Project Gutenberg volunteers and employees expend considerable +effort to identify, do copyright research on, transcribe and proofread +public domain works in creating the Project Gutenberg-tm +collection. Despite these efforts, Project Gutenberg-tm electronic +works, and the medium on which they may be stored, may contain +"Defects," such as, but not limited to, incomplete, inaccurate or +corrupt data, transcription errors, a copyright or other intellectual +property infringement, a defective or damaged disk or other medium, a +computer virus, or computer codes that damage or cannot be read by +your equipment. + +1.F.2. LIMITED WARRANTY, DISCLAIMER OF DAMAGES - Except for the "Right +of Replacement or Refund" described in paragraph 1.F.3, the Project +Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation, the owner of the Project +Gutenberg-tm trademark, and any other party distributing a Project +Gutenberg-tm electronic work under this agreement, disclaim all +liability to you for damages, costs and expenses, including legal +fees. YOU AGREE THAT YOU HAVE NO REMEDIES FOR NEGLIGENCE, STRICT +LIABILITY, BREACH OF WARRANTY OR BREACH OF CONTRACT EXCEPT THOSE +PROVIDED IN PARAGRAPH F3. YOU AGREE THAT THE FOUNDATION, THE +TRADEMARK OWNER, AND ANY DISTRIBUTOR UNDER THIS AGREEMENT WILL NOT BE +LIABLE TO YOU FOR ACTUAL, DIRECT, INDIRECT, CONSEQUENTIAL, PUNITIVE OR +INCIDENTAL DAMAGES EVEN IF YOU GIVE NOTICE OF THE POSSIBILITY OF SUCH +DAMAGE. + +1.F.3. LIMITED RIGHT OF REPLACEMENT OR REFUND - If you discover a +defect in this electronic work within 90 days of receiving it, you can +receive a refund of the money (if any) you paid for it by sending a +written explanation to the person you received the work from. If you +received the work on a physical medium, you must return the medium with +your written explanation. The person or entity that provided you with +the defective work may elect to provide a replacement copy in lieu of a +refund. If you received the work electronically, the person or entity +providing it to you may choose to give you a second opportunity to +receive the work electronically in lieu of a refund. If the second copy +is also defective, you may demand a refund in writing without further +opportunities to fix the problem. + +1.F.4. Except for the limited right of replacement or refund set forth +in paragraph 1.F.3, this work is provided to you 'AS-IS' WITH NO OTHER +WARRANTIES OF ANY KIND, EXPRESS OR IMPLIED, INCLUDING BUT NOT LIMITED TO +WARRANTIES OF MERCHANTIBILITY OR FITNESS FOR ANY PURPOSE. + +1.F.5. Some states do not allow disclaimers of certain implied +warranties or the exclusion or limitation of certain types of damages. +If any disclaimer or limitation set forth in this agreement violates the +law of the state applicable to this agreement, the agreement shall be +interpreted to make the maximum disclaimer or limitation permitted by +the applicable state law. The invalidity or unenforceability of any +provision of this agreement shall not void the remaining provisions. + +1.F.6. INDEMNITY - You agree to indemnify and hold the Foundation, the +trademark owner, any agent or employee of the Foundation, anyone +providing copies of Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works in accordance +with this agreement, and any volunteers associated with the production, +promotion and distribution of Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works, +harmless from all liability, costs and expenses, including legal fees, +that arise directly or indirectly from any of the following which you do +or cause to occur: (a) distribution of this or any Project Gutenberg-tm +work, (b) alteration, modification, or additions or deletions to any +Project Gutenberg-tm work, and (c) any Defect you cause. + + +Section 2. Information about the Mission of Project Gutenberg-tm + +Project Gutenberg-tm is synonymous with the free distribution of +electronic works in formats readable by the widest variety of computers +including obsolete, old, middle-aged and new computers. It exists +because of the efforts of hundreds of volunteers and donations from +people in all walks of life. + +Volunteers and financial support to provide volunteers with the +assistance they need, is critical to reaching Project Gutenberg-tm's +goals and ensuring that the Project Gutenberg-tm collection will +remain freely available for generations to come. In 2001, the Project +Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation was created to provide a secure +and permanent future for Project Gutenberg-tm and future generations. +To learn more about the Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation +and how your efforts and donations can help, see Sections 3 and 4 +and the Foundation web page at http://www.pglaf.org. + + +Section 3. Information about the Project Gutenberg Literary Archive +Foundation + +The Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation is a non profit +501(c)(3) educational corporation organized under the laws of the +state of Mississippi and granted tax exempt status by the Internal +Revenue Service. The Foundation's EIN or federal tax identification +number is 64-6221541. Its 501(c)(3) letter is posted at +http://pglaf.org/fundraising. Contributions to the Project Gutenberg +Literary Archive Foundation are tax deductible to the full extent +permitted by U.S. federal laws and your state's laws. + +The Foundation's principal office is located at 4557 Melan Dr. S. +Fairbanks, AK, 99712., but its volunteers and employees are scattered +throughout numerous locations. Its business office is located at +809 North 1500 West, Salt Lake City, UT 84116, (801) 596-1887, email +business@pglaf.org. Email contact links and up to date contact +information can be found at the Foundation's web site and official +page at http://pglaf.org + +For additional contact information: + Dr. Gregory B. Newby + Chief Executive and Director + gbnewby@pglaf.org + + +Section 4. Information about Donations to the Project Gutenberg +Literary Archive Foundation + +Project Gutenberg-tm depends upon and cannot survive without wide +spread public support and donations to carry out its mission of +increasing the number of public domain and licensed works that can be +freely distributed in machine readable form accessible by the widest +array of equipment including outdated equipment. Many small donations +($1 to $5,000) are particularly important to maintaining tax exempt +status with the IRS. + +The Foundation is committed to complying with the laws regulating +charities and charitable donations in all 50 states of the United +States. Compliance requirements are not uniform and it takes a +considerable effort, much paperwork and many fees to meet and keep up +with these requirements. We do not solicit donations in locations +where we have not received written confirmation of compliance. To +SEND DONATIONS or determine the status of compliance for any +particular state visit http://pglaf.org + +While we cannot and do not solicit contributions from states where we +have not met the solicitation requirements, we know of no prohibition +against accepting unsolicited donations from donors in such states who +approach us with offers to donate. + +International donations are gratefully accepted, but we cannot make +any statements concerning tax treatment of donations received from +outside the United States. U.S. laws alone swamp our small staff. + +Please check the Project Gutenberg Web pages for current donation +methods and addresses. Donations are accepted in a number of other +ways including checks, online payments and credit card donations. +To donate, please visit: http://pglaf.org/donate + + +Section 5. General Information About Project Gutenberg-tm electronic +works. + +Professor Michael S. Hart is the originator of the Project Gutenberg-tm +concept of a library of electronic works that could be freely shared +with anyone. For thirty years, he produced and distributed Project +Gutenberg-tm eBooks with only a loose network of volunteer support. + + +Project Gutenberg-tm eBooks are often created from several printed +editions, all of which are confirmed as Public Domain in the U.S. +unless a copyright notice is included. Thus, we do not necessarily +keep eBooks in compliance with any particular paper edition. + + +Most people start at our Web site which has the main PG search facility: + + http://www.gutenberg.org + +This Web site includes information about Project Gutenberg-tm, +including how to make donations to the Project Gutenberg Literary +Archive Foundation, how to help produce our new eBooks, and how to +subscribe to our email newsletter to hear about new eBooks. + + +</pre> + +</body> +</html> diff --git a/21865-h/images/cover.jpg b/21865-h/images/cover.jpg Binary files differnew file mode 100644 index 0000000..606ab3d --- /dev/null +++ b/21865-h/images/cover.jpg diff --git a/21865-h/images/cover_th.jpg b/21865-h/images/cover_th.jpg Binary files differnew file mode 100644 index 0000000..d2ad9a7 --- /dev/null +++ b/21865-h/images/cover_th.jpg diff --git a/21865-h/images/illo001.png b/21865-h/images/illo001.png Binary files differnew file mode 100644 index 0000000..eb8c61f --- /dev/null +++ b/21865-h/images/illo001.png diff --git a/21865-h/images/illo002.png b/21865-h/images/illo002.png Binary files differnew file mode 100644 index 0000000..98074cb --- /dev/null +++ b/21865-h/images/illo002.png diff --git a/21865-h/images/illo002_th.png b/21865-h/images/illo002_th.png Binary files differnew file mode 100644 index 0000000..c4e35f6 --- /dev/null +++ b/21865-h/images/illo002_th.png diff --git a/21865-h/images/illo003.png b/21865-h/images/illo003.png Binary files differnew file mode 100644 index 0000000..2b00276 --- /dev/null +++ b/21865-h/images/illo003.png diff --git a/21865-h/images/illo007.png b/21865-h/images/illo007.png Binary files differnew file mode 100644 index 0000000..0ae568b --- /dev/null +++ b/21865-h/images/illo007.png diff --git a/21865-h/images/illo008.png b/21865-h/images/illo008.png Binary files differnew file mode 100644 index 0000000..56b4b02 --- /dev/null +++ b/21865-h/images/illo008.png diff --git a/21865-h/images/illo009.png b/21865-h/images/illo009.png Binary files differnew file mode 100644 index 0000000..6d364c7 --- /dev/null +++ b/21865-h/images/illo009.png diff --git a/21865-h/images/illo009a.png b/21865-h/images/illo009a.png Binary files differnew file mode 100644 index 0000000..c8aa953 --- /dev/null +++ b/21865-h/images/illo009a.png diff --git a/21865-h/images/illo010.png b/21865-h/images/illo010.png Binary files differnew file mode 100644 index 0000000..a0cae3f --- /dev/null +++ b/21865-h/images/illo010.png diff --git a/21865-h/images/illo010_th.png b/21865-h/images/illo010_th.png Binary files differnew file mode 100644 index 0000000..7f81ebb --- /dev/null +++ b/21865-h/images/illo010_th.png diff --git a/21865-h/images/illo011.png b/21865-h/images/illo011.png Binary files differnew file mode 100644 index 0000000..37b0f30 --- /dev/null +++ b/21865-h/images/illo011.png diff --git a/21865-h/images/illo025.png b/21865-h/images/illo025.png Binary files differnew file mode 100644 index 0000000..9ff7da4 --- /dev/null +++ b/21865-h/images/illo025.png diff --git a/21865-h/images/illo025_th.png b/21865-h/images/illo025_th.png Binary files differnew file mode 100644 index 0000000..ab2549f --- /dev/null +++ b/21865-h/images/illo025_th.png diff --git a/21865-h/images/illo028.png b/21865-h/images/illo028.png Binary files differnew file mode 100644 index 0000000..b85153b --- /dev/null +++ b/21865-h/images/illo028.png diff --git a/21865-h/images/illo029.png b/21865-h/images/illo029.png Binary files differnew file mode 100644 index 0000000..ac03fec --- /dev/null +++ b/21865-h/images/illo029.png diff --git a/21865-h/images/illo031.png b/21865-h/images/illo031.png Binary files differnew file mode 100644 index 0000000..b792fea --- /dev/null +++ b/21865-h/images/illo031.png diff --git a/21865-h/images/illo031_th.png b/21865-h/images/illo031_th.png Binary files differnew file mode 100644 index 0000000..7e73675 --- /dev/null +++ b/21865-h/images/illo031_th.png diff --git a/21865-h/images/illo034.png b/21865-h/images/illo034.png Binary files differnew file mode 100644 index 0000000..c520ff6 --- /dev/null +++ b/21865-h/images/illo034.png diff --git a/21865-h/images/illo035.png b/21865-h/images/illo035.png Binary files differnew file mode 100644 index 0000000..39ed6bd --- /dev/null +++ b/21865-h/images/illo035.png diff --git a/21865-h/images/illo041.png b/21865-h/images/illo041.png Binary files differnew file mode 100644 index 0000000..bd0c466 --- /dev/null +++ b/21865-h/images/illo041.png diff --git a/21865-h/images/illo041_th.png b/21865-h/images/illo041_th.png Binary files differnew file mode 100644 index 0000000..087885d --- /dev/null +++ b/21865-h/images/illo041_th.png diff --git a/21865-h/images/illo048.png b/21865-h/images/illo048.png Binary files differnew file mode 100644 index 0000000..3a88918 --- /dev/null +++ b/21865-h/images/illo048.png diff --git a/21865-h/images/illo049.png b/21865-h/images/illo049.png Binary files differnew file mode 100644 index 0000000..7f117d9 --- /dev/null +++ b/21865-h/images/illo049.png diff --git a/21865-h/images/illo063.png b/21865-h/images/illo063.png Binary files differnew file mode 100644 index 0000000..86f3373 --- /dev/null +++ b/21865-h/images/illo063.png diff --git a/21865-h/images/illo064.png b/21865-h/images/illo064.png Binary files differnew file mode 100644 index 0000000..c20ea0b --- /dev/null +++ b/21865-h/images/illo064.png diff --git a/21865-h/images/illo065.png b/21865-h/images/illo065.png Binary files differnew file mode 100644 index 0000000..cc98b87 --- /dev/null +++ b/21865-h/images/illo065.png diff --git a/21865-h/images/illo065_th.png b/21865-h/images/illo065_th.png Binary files differnew file mode 100644 index 0000000..1284096 --- /dev/null +++ b/21865-h/images/illo065_th.png diff --git a/21865-h/images/illo072.png b/21865-h/images/illo072.png Binary files differnew file mode 100644 index 0000000..b3af456 --- /dev/null +++ b/21865-h/images/illo072.png diff --git a/21865-h/images/illo073.png b/21865-h/images/illo073.png Binary files differnew file mode 100644 index 0000000..d5ad5bf --- /dev/null +++ b/21865-h/images/illo073.png diff --git a/21865-h/images/illo085.png b/21865-h/images/illo085.png Binary files differnew file mode 100644 index 0000000..69945dd --- /dev/null +++ b/21865-h/images/illo085.png diff --git a/21865-h/images/illo093.png b/21865-h/images/illo093.png Binary files differnew file mode 100644 index 0000000..6921900 --- /dev/null +++ b/21865-h/images/illo093.png diff --git a/21865-h/images/illo093_th.png b/21865-h/images/illo093_th.png Binary files differnew file mode 100644 index 0000000..650f7da --- /dev/null +++ b/21865-h/images/illo093_th.png diff --git a/21865-h/images/illo099.png b/21865-h/images/illo099.png Binary files differnew file mode 100644 index 0000000..68a1fc1 --- /dev/null +++ b/21865-h/images/illo099.png diff --git a/21865-h/images/illo105.png b/21865-h/images/illo105.png Binary files differnew file mode 100644 index 0000000..20c0686 --- /dev/null +++ b/21865-h/images/illo105.png diff --git a/21865-h/images/illo105_th.png b/21865-h/images/illo105_th.png Binary files differnew file mode 100644 index 0000000..785a2c6 --- /dev/null +++ b/21865-h/images/illo105_th.png diff --git a/21865-h/images/illo119.png b/21865-h/images/illo119.png Binary files differnew file mode 100644 index 0000000..011ef88 --- /dev/null +++ b/21865-h/images/illo119.png diff --git a/21865-h/images/illo120.png b/21865-h/images/illo120.png Binary files differnew file mode 100644 index 0000000..d7db4b0 --- /dev/null +++ b/21865-h/images/illo120.png diff --git a/21865-h/images/illo129.png b/21865-h/images/illo129.png Binary files differnew file mode 100644 index 0000000..f806de3 --- /dev/null +++ b/21865-h/images/illo129.png diff --git a/21865-h/images/illo129_th.png b/21865-h/images/illo129_th.png Binary files differnew file mode 100644 index 0000000..d8dbb39 --- /dev/null +++ b/21865-h/images/illo129_th.png diff --git a/21865-h/images/illo131.png b/21865-h/images/illo131.png Binary files differnew file mode 100644 index 0000000..5ce8c61 --- /dev/null +++ b/21865-h/images/illo131.png diff --git a/21865-h/images/illo141.png b/21865-h/images/illo141.png Binary files differnew file mode 100644 index 0000000..bed6308 --- /dev/null +++ b/21865-h/images/illo141.png diff --git a/21865-h/images/illo142.png b/21865-h/images/illo142.png Binary files differnew file mode 100644 index 0000000..32b8ff7 --- /dev/null +++ b/21865-h/images/illo142.png diff --git a/21865-h/images/illo153.png b/21865-h/images/illo153.png Binary files differnew file mode 100644 index 0000000..af88294 --- /dev/null +++ b/21865-h/images/illo153.png diff --git a/21865-h/images/illo159.png b/21865-h/images/illo159.png Binary files differnew file mode 100644 index 0000000..a13d384 --- /dev/null +++ b/21865-h/images/illo159.png diff --git a/21865-h/images/illo160.png b/21865-h/images/illo160.png Binary files differnew file mode 100644 index 0000000..52e1c4d --- /dev/null +++ b/21865-h/images/illo160.png diff --git a/21865-h/images/illo167.png b/21865-h/images/illo167.png Binary files differnew file mode 100644 index 0000000..102cd08 --- /dev/null +++ b/21865-h/images/illo167.png diff --git a/21865-h/images/illo167_th.png b/21865-h/images/illo167_th.png Binary files differnew file mode 100644 index 0000000..8c61c5e --- /dev/null +++ b/21865-h/images/illo167_th.png diff --git a/21865-h/images/illo171.png b/21865-h/images/illo171.png Binary files differnew file mode 100644 index 0000000..bcc0ac5 --- /dev/null +++ b/21865-h/images/illo171.png diff --git a/21865-h/images/illo175.png b/21865-h/images/illo175.png Binary files differnew file mode 100644 index 0000000..7b02dfa --- /dev/null +++ b/21865-h/images/illo175.png diff --git a/21865-h/images/illo175_th.png b/21865-h/images/illo175_th.png Binary files differnew file mode 100644 index 0000000..55823d2 --- /dev/null +++ b/21865-h/images/illo175_th.png diff --git a/21865-h/images/illo177.png b/21865-h/images/illo177.png Binary files differnew file mode 100644 index 0000000..da810a9 --- /dev/null +++ b/21865-h/images/illo177.png diff --git a/21865-h/images/illo191.png b/21865-h/images/illo191.png Binary files differnew file mode 100644 index 0000000..a02a1d6 --- /dev/null +++ b/21865-h/images/illo191.png diff --git a/21865-h/images/illo191_th.png b/21865-h/images/illo191_th.png Binary files differnew file mode 100644 index 0000000..8aa0e33 --- /dev/null +++ b/21865-h/images/illo191_th.png diff --git a/21865-h/images/illo192.png b/21865-h/images/illo192.png Binary files differnew file mode 100644 index 0000000..e81ac58 --- /dev/null +++ b/21865-h/images/illo192.png diff --git a/21865-h/images/illo193.png b/21865-h/images/illo193.png Binary files differnew file mode 100644 index 0000000..ee73e7e --- /dev/null +++ b/21865-h/images/illo193.png diff --git a/21865-h/images/illo199.png b/21865-h/images/illo199.png Binary files differnew file mode 100644 index 0000000..c3662f8 --- /dev/null +++ b/21865-h/images/illo199.png diff --git a/21865-h/images/illo209.png b/21865-h/images/illo209.png Binary files differnew file mode 100644 index 0000000..1be6f54 --- /dev/null +++ b/21865-h/images/illo209.png diff --git a/21865-h/images/illo209_th.png b/21865-h/images/illo209_th.png Binary files differnew file mode 100644 index 0000000..4368287 --- /dev/null +++ b/21865-h/images/illo209_th.png diff --git a/21865-h/images/illo213.png b/21865-h/images/illo213.png Binary files differnew file mode 100644 index 0000000..2c8c632 --- /dev/null +++ b/21865-h/images/illo213.png diff --git a/21865-h/images/illo226.png b/21865-h/images/illo226.png Binary files differnew file mode 100644 index 0000000..cac46b8 --- /dev/null +++ b/21865-h/images/illo226.png diff --git a/21865-h/images/illo231.png b/21865-h/images/illo231.png Binary files differnew file mode 100644 index 0000000..583a036 --- /dev/null +++ b/21865-h/images/illo231.png diff --git a/21865-h/images/illo231_th.png b/21865-h/images/illo231_th.png Binary files differnew file mode 100644 index 0000000..5d2b5ad --- /dev/null +++ b/21865-h/images/illo231_th.png diff --git a/21865-h/images/illo243.png b/21865-h/images/illo243.png Binary files differnew file mode 100644 index 0000000..06b0481 --- /dev/null +++ b/21865-h/images/illo243.png diff --git a/21865-h/images/illo253.png b/21865-h/images/illo253.png Binary files differnew file mode 100644 index 0000000..105c471 --- /dev/null +++ b/21865-h/images/illo253.png diff --git a/21865-h/images/illo253_th.png b/21865-h/images/illo253_th.png Binary files differnew file mode 100644 index 0000000..5c74fb9 --- /dev/null +++ b/21865-h/images/illo253_th.png diff --git a/21865-h/images/illo259.png b/21865-h/images/illo259.png Binary files differnew file mode 100644 index 0000000..50bd3ed --- /dev/null +++ b/21865-h/images/illo259.png diff --git a/21865-h/images/illo260.png b/21865-h/images/illo260.png Binary files differnew file mode 100644 index 0000000..2a1b050 --- /dev/null +++ b/21865-h/images/illo260.png diff --git a/21865.txt b/21865.txt new file mode 100644 index 0000000..9461998 --- /dev/null +++ b/21865.txt @@ -0,0 +1,5898 @@ +Project Gutenberg's King Arthur and His Knights, by Maude L. Radford + +This eBook is for the use of anyone anywhere at no cost and with +almost no restrictions whatsoever. You may copy it, give it away or +re-use it under the terms of the Project Gutenberg License included +with this eBook or online at www.gutenberg.org + + +Title: King Arthur and His Knights + +Author: Maude L. Radford + +Illustrator: Walter J. Enright + +Release Date: June 19, 2007 [EBook #21865] + +Language: English + +Character set encoding: ASCII + +*** START OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK KING ARTHUR AND HIS KNIGHTS *** + + + + +Produced by Greg Weeks, Irma Spehar and the Online +Distributed Proofreading Team at http://www.pgdp.net + + + + + +[Illustration: King Arthur and His Knights] + +[Illustration: _King Arthur and his Knights of the Round Table_] + + + + + KING ARTHUR AND HIS KNIGHTS + + By Maude L. Radford + + Illustrated by + Walter J. Enright + + [Illustration: The Holy Grail] + + Rand, M^cNally & Company + CHICAGO . NEW YORK . LONDON + + _Copyright_, 1903, + By MAUDE L. RADFORD + + + + +[Illustration] TABLE OF CONTENTS + + PAGE +_A List of Illustrations_ 8 + +How Arthur Became King 11 + +The Good Sword Excalibur 29 + +The Great Feast and What Followed 35 + +Arthur's Court and the Order of the Round Table 49 + +King Arthur and the Princess Guinevere 64 + +The Coming of Gareth 73 + +The Story of Sir Gareth and Lynette 85 + +Sir Ivaine 99 + +Sir Balin 120 + +Sir Geraint and Enid 131 + +Arthur and Sir Accalon 142 + +How Arthur Fought with a Giant 153 + +How Arthur Fought with Rome 160 + +The Knight with the Badly Made Coat 171 + +Sir Lancelot and Sir Brune 177 + +The Adventure of King Pellenore 193 + +Sir Lancelot and His Friends 199 + +How Sir Lancelot Saved the Queen 213 + +Sir Lancelot and Elaine 226 + +The Search for the Holy Grail 243 + +The Death of Arthur 260 + + + + +[Illustration] A LIST OF ILLUSTRATIONS + + PAGE + +_King Arthur and his Knights of the Round Table_ Frontispiece + +_"All about him old oaks stood like giant guardians"_ 10 + +_"He hardly more than touched the sword"_ 25 + +_Arthur and the Lady of the Lake_ 31 + +_King Bors and King Ban_ 41 + +_"Arthur saw Guinevere bending over the wall"_ 65 + +_"Gareth rode at him fiercely"_ 93 + +_"He dismounted and poured water into the fountain"_ 105 + +_"They fought till their breath failed"_ 129 + +_"King Arthur raising his hand for silence"_ 167 + +_"The king touched him lightly with his sword"_ 175 + +_"He pushed him until he was but a step from the edge"_ 191 + +_"He struck so fiercely the bottom fell out"_ 209 + +_"She staid near it all day long in the turret"_ 231 + +_"And across it slowly moved the Holy Grail"_ 253 + + + + + TO + DWIGHT AND ROGER + + [Illustration: The Holy Grail] + + + + + King Arthur and His Knights + +[Illustration: _"All about him old oaks stood like giant +guardians"_] + + + + +[Illustration] HOW ARTHUR BECAME KING + + +Once upon a time, a thousand years before Columbus discovered +America, and when Rome was still the greatest city in the world, +there lived a brave and beautiful youth whose name was Arthur. +His home was in England, near London; and he lived with the good +knight Sir Hector, whom he always called father. + +They dwelt in a great square castle of gray stone, with a round +tower at each corner. It was built about a courtyard, and was +surrounded by a moat, across which was a drawbridge that could be +raised or lowered. When it was raised the castle was practically +a little island and very hard for enemies to attack. + +On one side of the moat was a large wood, and here Arthur spent a +great deal of his time. He liked to lie under the trees and gaze +up at the blue of the sky. All about him old oaks stood like +giant guardians watching sturdily over the soil where they had +grown for centuries. Arthur could look between the trunks and see +rabbits and squirrels whisking about. Sometimes a herd of brown +deer with shy dark eyes would pass, holding their graceful heads +high in the air; sometimes a flock of pheasants with brilliant +plumage rose from the bushes. Again there was no sound except the +tapping of a bright-crested woodpecker, and no motion but the +fluttering of leaves and the trembling of violets half buried in +green moss. + +At times, when it was dim and silent in the wood, Arthur would +hear bursts of merry laughter, the tinkling of bells, and the +jingling of spurs. Then he would know that knights and ladies +were riding down the road which ran beside the trees. Soon the +knights would appear on horses, brown, black, and white, with +gaily ornamented saddles, and bridles from which hung silver +bells. Often the saddles were made of ivory or ebony, set with +rubies or emeralds. The knights wore helmets laced with slender +gold chains, and coats of mail made of tiny links of steel, so +fine and light that all together hardly weighed more than a coat +of cloth. Usually the legs of the knights were sheathed in steel +armor; and their spurs were steel, or even gold. The ladies sat +on horses with long trappings of silk, purple, white, or scarlet, +with ornamented saddles and swinging bells. The robes of the +ladies were very beautiful, being made of velvet or silk trimmed +with ermine. Arthur liked to watch them, flashing by; crimson, +and gold, and blue, and rose-colored. Better still, he liked to +see the pretty happy faces of the ladies, and hear their gay +voices. In those troublous times, however, the roads were so +insecure that such companies did not often pass. + +Sometimes the knights and ladies came to visit Sir Hector. Then +Arthur would hurry from the forest to the castle. Sir Hector +would stand on the lowered drawbridge to greet his guests, and +would lead them, with many expressions of pleasure, into the +courtyard. Then he would take a huge hammer hanging from a post, +and beat with it on a table which stood in a corner of the +courtyard. Immediately from all parts of the castle the squires +and servants would come running to take the horses of the knights +and ladies. Sir Hector's wife and daughters would then appear, +and with their own hands remove the armor of the knights. They +would offer them golden basins of water, and towels for washing, +and after that put velvet mantles upon their shoulders. Then the +guests would be brought to the supper table. + +But Arthur did not spend all his time dreaming in the woods or +gazing at knights and ladies. For many hours of the day he +practiced feats of arms in the courtyard. It was the custom in +England to train boys of noble birth to be knights. As soon as +they were old enough they were taught to ride. Later on, they +lived much among the ladies and maidens, learning gentle manners. +Under the care of the knights, they learned to hunt, to carry a +lance properly, and to use the sword; and having gained this +skill, they were made squires if they had shown themselves to be +of good character. + +Then, day by day, the squires practiced at the quintain. This was +an upright post, on the top of which turned a crosspiece, having +on one end a broad board, and on the other a bag of sand. The +object was to ride up at full gallop, strike the board with a +long lance, and get away without being hit by the sand bag. + +Besides this, the squires had services to do for the knights, in +order that they might learn to be useful in as many ways as +possible, and to be always humble. For instance, they took care +of the armor of the knights, carried letters and messages for +them, accompanied them at joustings and tournaments, being ready +with extra weapons or assistance; and in the castle they helped +to serve the guests at table. After months of such service, they +went through a beautiful ceremony and were made knights. In the +country round about, Arthur, of all the squires, was the most +famous for his skill in the use of the lance and the sword, for +his keenness in the hunt, and for his courtesy to all people. + +Now, at this time there was no ruler in England. The powerful +Uther of Wales, who had governed England, was dead, and all the +strong lords of the country were struggling to be king in his +place. This gave rise to a great deal of quarreling and +bloodshed. + +There was in the land a wise magician named Merlin. He was so old +that his beard was as white as snow, but his eyes were as clear +as a little child's. He was very sorry to see all the fighting +that was going on, because he feared that it would do serious +harm to the kingdom. + +In those days the great and good men who ruled in the church had +power almost equal to that of the monarch. The kings and the +great lords listened to their advice, and gave them much land, +and money for themselves and for the poor. So Merlin went to the +Archbishop of Canterbury, the churchman who in all England was +the most beloved, and said: + +"Sir, it is my advice that you send to all the great lords of the +realm and bid them come to London by Christmas to choose a king." + +The archbishop did as Merlin advised, and at Christmas all the +great lords came to London. The largest church in the city stood +not far from the north bank of the Thames. A churchyard +surrounded it, filled with yew trees, the trunks of which were +knotted with age. The powerful lords rode up in their clanking +armor to the gate, where they dismounted, and giving their horses +into the care of their squires, reverently entered the church. + +There were so many of them that they quite filled the nave and +side-aisles of the building. The good archbishop, from where he +stood in the chancel, looked down on them all. Just behind him +was the altar covered with a cloth of crimson and gold, and +surmounted by a golden crucifix and ten burning candles. In front +of him, kneeling under the gray arches which spanned the church, +were the greatest men in the kingdom. He looked at their stern +bronzed faces, their heavy beards, their broad shoulders, and +their glittering armor, and prayed God to make the best man in +the land king. + +Then began the service. At the close of the first prayer some of +the knights looked out of the window, and there in the churchyard +they saw a great square stone. In the middle of it was an anvil +of steel a foot high, and fixed therein was a beautiful sword. On +the sword was some writing set in with gold which said: + +"Whosoever pulls this sword out of this stone and anvil is the +real king of all England." + +The knights who read this told the archbishop, but he said: + +"I command you all to keep within the church and still pray to +God. No man is to touch the sword until all the prayers are +said." + +After the service was over, the lords went into the churchyard. +They each pulled at the sword, but none could stir it. + +"The king is not here," said the archbishop, "but God will make +him known. Meantime, let ten good knights keep watch over this +sword." + +The knights were soon chosen, and then the archbishop said that +on a fixed day every man in the kingdom should try to pull the +sword out of the anvil. He ordered that on New Year's day all the +people should be brought together for a great tournament to be +held on the south bank of the Thames, near London bridge. After a +few days spent in jousting among the knights, each man should +make the trial to find out whether or not he was to be king. + +The brave youth Arthur did not know of the contest that was to be +made for the sword. Sir Hector told him that he was to go to a +tournament, but he did not tell him the reason for holding the +tournament. So Arthur rode to London with Sir Hector; and Sir +Kay, who was Sir Hector's oldest son, was with them. + +Sir Hector and Sir Kay rode soberly in front. They were tall, +stalwart men and rode black horses, their dark figures making +shadows on the light snow that had fallen. Arthur, riding behind +them, felt exhilarated by the crisp winter air which caused the +blood to dance in his veins. Sometimes he stood up in his saddle +and flicked with his sword the dead leaves on the oaks. Again he +made his horse crush the thin crust of ice that had formed in +tiny pools on the road. He was so happy in the thought of the +tournament he was to see, that he could have sung for joy. + +The road was not very wide, for few carts passed upon it, but it +had been well worn by riders. Sometimes it wound through a bit of +thick woods; again it rose up over a gently rolling hill. From +the hilltops the riders could see London far in the distance. It +looked at first like a gray haze; then, as the three came nearer, +the buildings, large and small, grew plain to the sight. The +castles and huts, barns and sheds, smithies, shops and mills, +stood out in the keen sunlight. A high wall surrounded them, +while on one side flowed the river Thames. + +After they had entered the city, and had passed the churchyard, +and had almost reached London bridge, Sir Kay discovered that he +had left his sword at home. + +"Will you go back for it?" he asked Arthur. + +"That I will," said Arthur, glad of the chance to ride longer in +the delightful air. + +But when he reached their dwelling, he could not get in. The +drawbridge was raised, and he could not make the warden hear his +calling. Then Arthur was disturbed and said to himself: + +"I will hasten to the churchyard we passed, and take the +beautiful sword which I saw in the stone. It does not seem to +belong to anyone, and my brother Kay must have a weapon." + +So he rode on till he reached the churchyard, dismounted, and +tied his horse to a sapling. The ten knights who guarded the +sword had gone away to see the combats in the tournament. Arthur +ran up and pulled lightly but eagerly at the sword. It came at +once from the anvil. He hurried to Sir Kay, who was waiting for +him on London bridge. Sir Kay knew that the weapon was the one +that had been fixed fast in the stone, but he said nothing to +Arthur, and the two soon overtook Sir Hector, who had ridden +slowly to the field where the tournament was taking place. Sir +Kay immediately told his father what had happened. + +The good knight at once spoke with great respect to Arthur. + +"Sir," he said, "you must be the king of this land." + +"What mean you, sir?" asked Arthur. + +Sir Hector told the wondering youth the reason why he was +destined to be king. Then he said: + +"Can you put this sword back in its place and pull it out again?" + +"Easily," replied Arthur. + +The three returned to the great stone, and Arthur put back the +sword. Sir Hector tried to take it out, but failed. + +"Now, you try," he said to Sir Kay. + +But Sir Kay, in spite of great efforts, also failed. Then Arthur, +at Sir Hector's bidding, tried, and at once pulled forth the +sword. At that Sir Hector and Sir Kay knelt before Arthur. + +"Alas," said Arthur, raising them from the ground, "my own dear +father and my brother, why do you kneel to me?" + +"Nay, my lord Arthur," said Sir Hector, "I am not your father. +You are of higher blood than I am. Long ago, when you were a +little baby, Merlin brought you to me to take care of, telling me +that you were to be the king." + +"Then whose son am I?" cried Arthur. + +"There are two stories: the one that Merlin tells, and the one +that old Bleys, the master of Merlin, tells. Merlin brought you +to me, saying that you were the son of King Uther and Yguerne his +wife. But because the king was dead and the lords powerful and +jealous, he told me to guard you in secrecy lest your life be +taken. I did not know whether the story was true or false then, +but you were a helpless child, and Merlin was a wise sage, and so +I took you and brought you up as my own." + +Arthur was so astonished that he did not ask to hear the tale +that Bleys told. He stood gazing at Sir Hector, who said: + +"And now, my gracious lord, will you be good to me and mine when +you are king?" + +"I will, indeed," replied Arthur, "for I am more beholden to you +than to any one else in the world, and also to my good lady and +foster mother, your wife, who has reared me as if I were her own +child. If it be God's will that I shall sometime become king, ask +of me then what you will." + +"Sir," said Sir Hector, "I ask that you make my son Sir Kay, your +foster brother, the steward of all your lands." + +"That shall be done," said Arthur, "and more. He shall have that +office as long as I live." + +Then the three went to the Archbishop of Canterbury and related +to him the story of Merlin and all that had occurred. At his +request they told no one else. + +At the command of the archbishop on Twelfth day, which is the +sixth of January, all the great lords assembled in the churchyard. +Each tried to draw forth the sword, and each failed. Then the +untitled people came and tried. Everyone failed until at last +Arthur stepped forward. He hardly more than touched the sword +when it came away in his hand. + +At this many of the great lords were angry. + +[Illustration: _"He hardly more than touched the sword"_] + +"He is but a boy," they said, "and not of high blood." + +They refused to believe the story of his birth told by Merlin and +Sir Hector. And because of all the quarreling, it was decided to +have another trial at Candlemas, which fell in the month of +February. Again Arthur was victorious. Then the great lords +decreed that there should be another trial at Easter, and again +Arthur succeeded. Next they decided to have a final trial at the +feast of the Pentecost, which fell in May. + +Meanwhile, Merlin advised the archbishop to see that Arthur had a +bodyguard. So the archbishop selected several knights whom the +former king, Uther, had trusted. These were Sir Ulfius and Sir +Brastias and Sir Bedivere; Sir Geraint and Sir Hector and Sir Kay +were also chosen. These brave men formed a bodyguard for Arthur +until the feast of the Pentecost. + +At this time Arthur again drew out the sword from the anvil. Then +the common people, who had so far let the lords have their will, +cried out: + +"We will have Arthur for our king, and we will have no more +delay, for we see that it is God's will that he shall be our +ruler." + +Then all the people knelt down, high and low, rich and poor, and +begged Arthur's pardon for the delay he had undergone. Arthur +forgave them, and taking his sword, reverently placed it on the +great altar beside which the archbishop stood. This was a sign +that he meant to dedicate himself and his sword to God. + +Afterward the crowning was held, and all the brave men and fair +ladies in the land were present. The lords wore beautiful robes +of velvet and ermine, with gold and jewels on their breast-plates. +The ladies' robes were of purple and white and scarlet and gold +and blue, and they wore many pearls and rubies and diamonds, so +that all the place where they were assembled was glowing with +light and color. + +But Arthur, who wore a plain white robe, did not think of the +beauty and richness. He was very grave, knowing that he was about +to take a solemn oath. He bowed his head, while the archbishop +set upon it the golden crown, which gleamed with jewels. Then he +stood up before his people, and vowed that he would be a good +king and always do justice. All the people uncovered their heads +and vowed to serve and obey him; and when he smiled kindly on +them as he rode slowly through the throng, they threw up their +caps and shouted joyfully: "Long live King Arthur! Long live the +King!" + +King Arthur chose worthy men for his officers, making Sir Kay +steward as he had promised; Sir Ulfius he made chamberlain, and +Sir Brastias warden. Arthur gave offices also to Sir Hector and +Sir Bedivere and Sir Geraint. + +After his crowning the king set about righting all the wrongs +that had been done since the death of King Uther. He gave back +the lands and money that had been taken from widows and orphans, +and would permit no unkindness to any of his subjects. Thus, at +the very beginning of his reign, his people began to call him + +="Good King Arthur"= + + + + +[Illustration] THE GOOD SWORD EXCALIBUR + + +Soon after the crowning of King Arthur, he was journeying through +the land with Merlin, the wise old magician, when they met a +knight who challenged Arthur to a combat. The two fought, and at +last the knight wounded Arthur severely. In the end the king was +victorious, but he had lost so much blood that he could go no +farther. Merlin took him to a good hermit who healed his wound in +three days. Then the king departed with Merlin, and as they were +slowly riding along he said: + +"I am still weak from the blood I have lost, and my sword is +broken." + +"Do not fear," said Merlin. "You shall lose no more blood and +you shall have a good sword. Ride on trustfully with me." + +They rode in silence until they came to a lake, large and quiet, +and as beautiful in color as a pearl. While Arthur was looking at +its beauty, he became suddenly aware of three tall women, with +fair, sweet faces, standing on the bank. + +"Who are they?" the king asked. + +"Three queens who shall help you at your worst need," answered +Merlin. "Now look out upon the lake again." + +Arthur turned his eyes upon the lake and saw that in the distance +a slight mist had arisen. Through it the figure of a lady glided +over the surface of the water. Her robe appeared to be made of +waves which streamed away in flowing curves from her body. Her +head and shoulders seemed wrapped in foam tinted with the colors +of the rainbow, and her arms glittered with sparkles which came +from bubbles of water. She was so wonderful that Arthur looked at +her for some time before he asked softly: + +"Who is she?" + +[Illustration: _Arthur and the Lady of the Lake_] + +"She is the Lady of the Lake," said Merlin. "She lives in a rock +in the middle of the lake. See, she is coming toward us. Look at +what is beyond her in the water." + +Arthur looked and saw rising above the surface of the water an +arm clothed in pure white. This arm held a huge cross-hilted +sword, so brilliant that Arthur's eyes were dazzled. + +When the Lady of the Lake approached nearer, he said: + +"Damsel, what sword is that? I wish it were mine, for I have +none." + +The lady smiled, saying: + +"Step into yonder boat, row to the sword, and take it, together +with the scabbard." + +So Arthur entered a little boat that was tied to the shore, and +rowed out to the sword. As he took it and the scabbard, all +gleaming with jewels, the hand and arm vanished into the water. +And when Arthur looked about, the three queens and the Lady of +the Lake were also gone. + +As Arthur, still gazing at the sword, rowed to shore, Merlin said +to him: + +"My lord Arthur, which pleases you more, sword or scabbard?" + +"In truth, the sword," replied the king. + +"Let me assure you," said Merlin, smiling gravely, "that the +scabbard is worth ten of the sword. While you have it with you +you shall never lose blood, no, no matter how sorely you are +wounded. So see that you guard it well." + +The king, who was looking at the sword, sighed. + +"There is writing on the sword," he said. + +"True, my lord, written in the oldest tongue in the world." + +"_Take me_ on one side," said Arthur, "and _Cast me away_ on the +other. I am glad to take the sword, but it saddens me to think of +casting it away." + +Merlin's face grew sad, too. He was so wise that he knew what was +going to happen in the future, and he was well aware that when +the time came to cast the sword away, much evil would have +befallen the good King Arthur. But he knew that the time was yet +very far off; so he said: + +"You have taken the sword. Now use it to make justice and right +prevail in all the land. Do not think of casting it away until +you must." + +Arthur grew joyful again as he felt the strength of the good +sword in his hand, and the two rode cheerfully forward through +the country. + +[Illustration: The Shield] + + + + +[Illustration] THE GREAT FEAST & WHAT FOLLOWED + + +Although Arthur had been crowned king, he was by no means sure +that all the nobles of the land would accept him as ruler. In +accordance with the custom of the time, he gave a feast in order +to find out who were his friends and who his enemies. All who +came to the feast would, he supposed, consent to be his +followers. + +He chose the largest hall in London, and had the walls hung with +rich cloths. Upon the floor, strewn with rushes, were placed +trestles, and across these, boards were laid. Upon them fine +white linen was spread, and golden saltcellars, wine-bowls, and +water-jugs set about. + +When the guests assembled there were so many that Arthur was +delighted, for he thought they were all his friends. He sat at +the head of one table, and Sir Hector sat at the head of the +other. Arthur wore a gold crown on his head, but it was no +brighter than his hair, and the blue turquoises with which it was +set were no bluer than his eyes. From his shoulders to the ground +hung a magnificent red robe with gold dragons embroidered upon +it. + +The cooks and squires came in from the kitchen carrying food, +their ruddy faces beaming from the heat of the fires. First of +all, sixty boars' heads were borne in on silver platters. Then +followed, on golden dishes, peacocks and plovers which had been +so skillfully cooked that their bright colors were preserved. +After the guests had eaten all they cared for of this food, tiny +roasted pigs were brought in, and set on all fours upon the +tables. By this time, all the gold and silver goblets which had +been filled with wine needed refilling. Then the squires carried +in beautiful white swans on silver platters, and roasted cranes +and curlews on plates that glowed like the sun. After that came +rabbits stewed in sweet sauce, and hams and curries. The last +course consisted of tarts and preserves, dates and figs and +pomegranates. + +The supper began about five o'clock, and the guests ate and drank +into the night. Although it was past Easter time, the weather was +a little cold, and so upon the stone flagging between the two +long tables the king ordered fires to be lighted. The bright +flames darted up, flashing on the gold threads woven in the +hangings of the walls, and on the steel armor of the lords, and +gleaming on the jewels set in the gold and silver goblets which +the squires were carrying about. At one side sat a band of +musicians singing of the glories of King Arthur, and of the +folk-tales of his ancestors and people, accompanying themselves +on their harps. + +After the guests had risen from the tables and gone to their +camps, Arthur sent messengers to them with rich gifts of horses +and furs and gold. But most of the lords received the messengers +scornfully. + +"Take back these gifts to the beardless boy who has come of low +blood," they said; "we do not want them. We have come here to +give him gifts of hard blows with our hard swords." + +The messengers were astonished to hear these things spoken of +their good king. Nevertheless, they told Arthur all that had been +said to them. He sent no answer back, but he called together all +the lords whom he was sure were loyal to him, and asked their +advice. They said to him: + +"We cannot give you advice, but we can fight." + +"You speak well, my lords," answered Arthur, "and I thank you for +your courage. Will you take the advice of Merlin? You know that +he has done much for me, and he is very wise." + +The lords and barons answered that they would do whatever Merlin +advised. When Merlin came to the council hall he said: + +"I warn you that your enemies are very strong. They have added to +their numbers so that now you have against you eleven mighty +kings." + +At this the lords looked dismayed. + +"Unless our lord Arthur has more men than he can find in his own +realm," said Merlin, "he will be overcome and slain. Therefore I +give you this counsel. There are two brothers across the sea; +both are monarchs and both very strong. One is King Ban of +Benwick, and the other is King Bors of Gaul. Now these two have +an enemy, also a powerful ruler. Therefore, send to the brothers, +King Bors and King Ban who are now both in Benwick, and say to +them that if they will help Arthur in his war against the eleven +kings, Arthur will help them against their common enemy." + +"That is very good counsel," said the king and the lords. + +So they chose Sir Ulfius and Sir Brastias as messengers, and +these two hurried away, hopeful of success. When they reached the +town in Benwick where King Bors and King Ban were, knights came +forth to receive them and to hear their message. As soon as it +was learned from whom they had come they were led into the +presence of the brothers. Both were very large men. King Bors +was dark, and was dressed in black armor. King Ban was dark, too; +the colors that he wore on his shield were green and gold. He was +the father of Sir Lancelot, the knight who afterwards became the +most powerful of the followers of Arthur. + +The two kings received Sir Ulfius and Sir Brastias with much +favor. + +"Tell King Arthur," they said, "that we will come to him as +quickly as we can." + +Then they gave splendid gifts to Sir Ulfius and Sir Brastias, who +hurried back to Arthur with the message. + +In a short time King Bors and King Ban arrived with ten thousand +of their soldiers, and as Arthur had ten thousand, they felt +certain of victory. They went into Wales, a country which +Arthur's followers knew well, and waited confidently for the +enemy. + +The eleven kings collected a great host of sixty thousand men, +fifty thousand on horseback and ten thousand on foot. They +marched towards the place where Arthur was, and set up their camp +near a wood about a mile distant. When Merlin knew this, he said +to Arthur and the two kings: + +[Illustration: _King Bors and King Ban_] + +"This is my advice: Set upon your enemies at midnight when they +are unprepared, and then you will have the advantage." + +So Arthur and the two royal brothers and the twenty thousand +soldiers crept up to where the eleven kings and their men lay. +They took a road circling round the wood. Moving with great +caution, they drew nearer and nearer until they could see first +the camp fires in a circle around the white tents; and then, +against the flashing flames, the dark figures of the men who were +keeping guard. Sometimes they were afraid that the noise they +made would alarm their enemies, but on account of a heavy +windstorm, they were unheard. When his men were quite near, +Arthur gave the word of command. The whole army uttered a great +shout, and ran forward in companies upon their enemies. In a few +minutes they had knocked down most of the tents, and killed many +soldiers. + +It was a dreadful thing to be attacked in the dark without +warning. But the eleven kings were brave men, even though they +were so unjust to Arthur in trying to take his kingdom from him, +and made a good fight. Perhaps they would have made a better one +if they had known how few the men were under Arthur. + +Before day dawned, Merlin told Arthur to draw back his troops. +This he did, leaving about ten thousand of the enemy dead behind +him. He, however, had not lost very many men. + +At daybreak Arthur and his followers saw that the lay of the land +could be used to their advantage. Between them and the enemy was +a narrow road, bounded on one side by a lake, and on the other +side by a dense wood. One part of this wood, however, was thin +enough to allow men to hide in it. + +"Now," said Merlin, "let King Bors and King Ban take their +soldiers and hide in the wood for a long time. Then, my lord +Arthur, stand up before the enemy with your men." + +"Why shall we do this?" asked Arthur. + +"Because," said the wise old man, "when the eleven kings see how +few in number your troops are, they will let you proceed down the +passage. They will think that if you march close to them they can +overcome you. But you can fill up this narrow road with more and +more men from the wood. Then the enemy cannot surround you." + +"That seems very good," said Arthur. + +"And at last," continued Merlin, "when the eleven kings are +weary, let King Bors and King Ban come forth. Then surely the +courage of our enemies will fail." + +The plan was carried out. Arthur's men marched down the passage. +The green wood was on one side, and on the other was the lake, +the water of which was so clear that it reflected the bodies of +the soldiers with their shields and helmets. The sun shone on +their armor. The little birds in the woods sang as they passed. +But the men were thinking of nothing but the expected battle. + +When they had come close to the enemy, they saw the eleven kings +all in a row, mounted on big handsome horses. Their fifty +thousand men were behind them. Suddenly these rode forward and +the battle began. + +It was a fierce fight. In a very short time the field was covered +with overthrown men and horses. Broken shields and helmets lay on +the ground, and many of the knights who had been fighting on +horseback were unhorsed, and were fighting on foot. Arthur +galloped here and there among his enemies, conquering with his +trusty sword all with whom he fought. The woods and the water +rang with his sword strokes. The noise drowned the sweet songs of +the birds, but still they sang, and flew about gaily, all unaware +of the grim death-struggle going on beneath them. + +Finally the time arrived for bringing forward King Bors and his +men. The great dark king went thundering down upon his enemies. +When the King of Orkney saw him coming, he cried: + +"Oh, we are in great danger! I see King Bors, one of the best and +bravest kings in the world, and he is helping our enemy." + +Then the other kings were astonished, for they did not know that +Arthur had sent outside his country for help. + +"But we will fight on," they said, "no matter how powerful he +is." + +While they were still fighting, but with great loss of courage, +they heard the loud sounds made by the hoofs of other tramping +horses, and King Ban rode down on them, followed by his men. His +black brows were frowning, and his green and gold colors +glittered in the sun. + +"Alas, alas!" cried the King of Orkney, "now in truth are we +lost, for here is another king, no less great than his brother +Bors. But we must neither flee nor yield." + +The eleven kings, being agreed to this, continued the battle, +though so many of their men were killed that the King of Orkney +wept. When he saw some of his men running away, he wept still +more, for he thought it was better to die than to be a coward. + +Though they did not intend to run away, the eleven kings thought +it would be wise to retreat to a little copse near by. It was +late and they were tired and wished to rest before fighting +again. King Bors and King Ban could not help admiring these +rulers. + +"In truth," said King Ban, "they are the bravest men I ever saw. +I would they were your friends." + +"Indeed, so would I," replied Arthur; "but I have no hope of +that, for they are determined to destroy me, and so we must fight +on." + +At this moment Merlin rode up on his great black horse. + +"Have you not done enough?" he cried to Arthur. "Of their sixty +thousand men there are left but fifteen thousand. It is time to +stop, I say. If you fight on, they will win the day. The tide +will turn against you." + +Arthur hesitated and Merlin said: + +"The eleven kings have a great trouble coming of which they are +ignorant. The Saracens have landed in their countries to the +number of over forty thousand. So your enemies will have so much +fighting to do that they will not attack you again for three +years." + +Then Arthur was glad, for it had grieved him deeply to fight so +long and to lose his good soldiers. + +"We will fight no more," he said. + +"That is well," replied Merlin. "Now give presents to your +soldiers, for to-day they have proved themselves equal to the +best fighters in the world." + +"True, indeed!" exclaimed King Bors and King Ban. + +So Arthur gave gifts to his own men; and a great deal of gold to +the brother kings, both for themselves and for their soldiers. +And the two kings went home rejoicing. + +[Illustration: The Two Horses] + + + + +[Illustration] ARTHUR'S COURT & THE ORDER OF THE ROUND TABLE + + +After Arthur had proved his prowess in his contest with the +eleven kings, he decided to establish his Court and the Order of +the Round Table. The place he chose was the city of Camelot in +Wales, which had a good situation, being built upon a hill. He +called the wise Merlin and ordered him to make a great palace on +the summit of the hill. Through his powers of enchantment, Merlin +was able to do this very quickly, and within a week the king and +his personal attendants were settled in the palace. + +The main part consisted of a great Assembly Hall built of white +marble, the roof of which seemed to be upheld by pillars of green +and red porphyry, and was surmounted by magnificent towers. The +outside walls of the hall were covered with beautiful rows of +sculpture. The lowest row represented wild beasts slaying men. +The second row represented men slaying wild beasts. The third +represented warriors who were peaceful, good men. The fourth +showed men with growing wings. Over all was a winged statue with +the face of Arthur. Merlin meant to show by means of the first +row that formerly evil in men was greater than good; by the +second that men began to conquer the evil in themselves, which in +time caused them to become really good, noble, and peace-loving +men, as in the third row. And finally, through the refining +influence of Good King Arthur and his wise helpers, men would +grow to be almost as perfect as the angels. + +The main doorway was in the shape of an arch, upheld by pillars +of dark yellow marble. The hall was lighted by fourteen great +windows, through which the light streamed in soft colors upon the +marble floors. Between these windows, and along the cornices, +were beautiful decorations. There were carvings in white marble +of birds and beasts and twining vines. There was mosaic work of +black and yellow and pink marble and of lapis lazuli, as blue as +a lake when the clear sun shines full upon its surface. Under the +windows were many stone shields, beneath each of which was the +name of a knight. Some shields were blazoned with gold, some were +carved, and some were blank. The walls were hung with beautiful +tapestries which had been woven by the ladies of the land for +Arthur's new palace. On each had been pictured some episode from +the life of King Arthur; the drawing of the magic sword from the +anvil, the finding of the good sword Excalibur, his deeds of +justice and acts of kindness, and his many battles and wars. + +The two wings of the palace contained the dining hall and kitchen +and the living apartments of all the members of the court who +made their home with the king. The dining hall was only a little +less beautiful than Arthur's great Assembly Hall. The walls were +hung with cloths of scarlet and gold. The deep fireplace was +supported by four bronze pillars. In the middle of the room were +long tables made of oak boards set on ivory trestles. At a +banquet the walls were hung with garlands of flowers or festoons +of branches. + +The great kitchen had stone walls and stone flagging. The +fireplace was so large that there was room for a whole ox to be +roasted, and above hung cranes from which half a dozen kettles +could be suspended, and pots of such a size that pigs could be +boiled whole in them. All about the walls were cupboards. Some +were full of plates of wood, iron, steel, silver, and gold, and +flagons, cups, bowls, and saltcellars of gold and silver. Others +were used for the storing of cold meats and fruits. There were +several tables on which the cooked food was cut, and benches upon +which the cooks rested when they were tired of serving the hungry +eaters. + +Well might they have grown tired. + +Supper, the most important meal of the day, lasted from three +until six, and often longer. But the cooks, and the little +scullion boys who washed the pots and pans, and the attendants +who carried in the food to the dining hall, all wore contentment +and happiness on their faces as they hurried about with their +long blouses tucked out of harm's way; for to serve King Arthur +and his guests was considered a real privilege. + +The sleeping rooms were furnished with chests, and chairs, and +beds spread with fine linen and with ermine-lined covers. +Hangings of various colors were upon the walls. On the floors +were strewn rushes, and among them was thrown mint which gave +forth an agreeable odor. + +After Arthur, his officers, and his servants had been in the +palace a few days, the king formally established his Court. He +invited all the knights who cared to do so to come with their +families and retinues and live with him. Some preferred to remain +in their own castles, but others gladly went to live with the +king. Soon all were comfortably settled. + +The king's officers were very important members of Arthur's +court. First of these came the Archbishop of Canterbury, who +held the highest place in the king's regard. It was his duty to +conduct the church services for Arthur and his followers, and to +christen, marry, and bury the people of Camelot. Next, Sir Ulfius +as chamberlain superintended the care of the king's rooms. Sir +Brastias, who was warden, superintended the servants. Sir Kay, +who was steward, had charge of all the food and the kitchen. Sir +Hector, as treasurer, took care of the king's gold and rendered +the accounts. Sir Geraint managed all the tournaments and outdoor +sports of the knights and squires. There were other officers to +help these, and all did their work faithfully and lovingly. + +The knights whom Arthur chose to be members of his Round Table +were mostly selected from these officers. As members of this +order there were one hundred and fifty of the knights who had +shown themselves especially brave in battle and who were devoted +followers of the king. Next to being king, the greatest honor +which could fall to a warrior was to be made a member of the +Round Table, for all who belonged to the order were dedicated to +the service of God and mankind. There is no glory greater than +such a dedication. + +In his great hall Arthur had placed a huge table, made round in +shape so that there should be neither head nor foot, a higher +place nor a lower place. Arthur wished all who sat there to be +equals. These chosen knights were to give him council in times of +peace and of war. + +It was a solemn hour when the knights took their places. The +Archbishop of Canterbury blessed them and their seats. Then each +one came to Arthur, who stood at the top of the Assembly Hall, +and did him homage. Next they took their vows. They promised to +be brave and good, never false, or mean, or cruel. If anyone with +whom they fought begged for mercy, they would show him mercy. And +they vowed never to fight for a wrong cause or for money. Each +year at the feast of the Pentecost they were to repeat these +vows. + +Other members of Arthur's Court were old, brave knights who could +no longer fight, but who liked to be near the king and his +warriors, and gave the wisdom of age and experience to his +councils; young, ambitious, and promising knights who had had but +little real experience in battle; and faithful squires who had +had no real experience at all. Boys from six to fourteen years +were pages. There were others who transformed Arthur's Court to a +place of grace and beauty,--the mothers, wives, sisters, and +daughters of the warriors. + +Although they did not help in the councils of war, these ladies +were of great assistance in training the knights to be tender and +courteous. They taught the little pages good manners and +unselfishness. They assisted the knights in removing their armor +when they came in tired from riding or fighting. They sat with +Arthur and the knights in the evening in the dining-hall, singing +or playing upon harps, or listening to the tales that were told. +When the knights were away the ladies stayed in their own +chambers, hearing wise readings from the Archbishop of Canterbury, +or other learned men, listening to Merlin's words of wisdom, and +embroidering the beautiful hangings and cushions which were to +adorn the palace. + +It was a month before Arthur's Court was established, and during +that time the city of Camelot was a scene of continual merriment. +The people of the place were glad that the king had come, for +that meant much gain for them. Those of them who did not live in +the palace had their houses or shops on the streets which wound +about the foot of the hill. Many of the shops belonged to +armorers, who had armor of all sorts for any one who would buy. +They were glad in their turn to buy the swords of famous knights +which had been used in great battles, for such weapons they could +always sell again at a good price. These shopkeepers and the +servants and the squires and the warriors all united to make the +city of Camelot a beautiful one, for the sake of their king. The +streets were kept strewn with rushes and flowers. Rich awnings +and silken draperies were hung from the houses. + +All day long processions passed, made up of the followers of all +those lords who gave allegiance to the king. They carried the +banners of their masters, crimson, white, or scarlet, gold, +silver, or azure, making the streets glow with color. The +marching squires wore ornamented blouses, drawn in at the waist, +long silk stockings, and shoes of embroidered leather. The bowmen +were dressed in green kirtles, rather shorter than those of the +squires, and wore dark woolen hose; they carried their bows and +arrows slung across their shoulders. The servants were dressed in +much the same way, except that their blouses were longer and of +various colors. Many knights rode in the processions, their long +plumes waving in the wind, their armor shining, and their falcons +perched upon their wrists. + +All day long, too, bands of musicians played on flutes and +timbrels and tabors and harps; bands of young men and women sang +songs in praise of the king; story-tellers went about relating +old tales of famous heroes. The young men showed their strength +by tumbling and wrestling, and their grace by dancing; the young +women also danced. + +The wise Merlin often passed along the streets, walking silently +among the merry throngs of people. Sometimes the little Dagonet +danced at his side, Dagonet the king's jester, a tiny man who +made merriment for the Court with his witty sayings. He always +wore a tight-fitting red blouse and a peaked cap ornamented with +bells, and he carried a mock scepter in the shape of a carved +ivory stick. + +Whenever Arthur appeared before his people, church-bells were +joyously rung and trumpets were sounded. The king, as he rode, +distributed presents to the poor people:--capes, coats, and +mantles of serge, and bushels of pence. In a dining-hall at the +palace, feasts were held on those days for them, and they were +also open for all the people who might come. + +When the weather was beautiful, tables were placed on the sward +outside the palace, and those who cared to, ate under the shade +of the trees, listening to the music of the blackbirds, whose +singing was almost as loud as that of the chorus of damsels who +sang in the palace. Every hour the servants carried in and out +great quarters of venison, roasted pheasants and herons, and +young hawks, ducks, and geese, all on silver platters. Curries +and stews and tarts were innumerable. In the midst of the sward a +silver fountain had been set from which flowed sweet wine. Even +the great feasts of the year, which were held at Christmas, upon +the day of the Passover, at Pentecost, upon Ascension day, and +upon St. John's day, were not as wonderful as these feasts, when +the king held holiday with his people. + +On these days of merriment, when the people were not eating or +drinking or marching in processions, they were at the tournament +field, watching the combats. Here the best of Arthur's knights, +mounted on strong horses and wearing heavy armor, were ranged on +two sides of the field. Behind each row was a pavilion filled +with ladies. Four heralds stood ready to blow the trumpets which +gave the signal for the combats. Each herald wore crimson silk +stockings and crimson velvet kirtles, tight at the waist, and +reaching half-way to the knee. + +When it was time to begin the heralds blew the trumpets, the +ladies bent over eagerly, and the knights spurred their horses +forward, riding with their lances in rest. In a moment clouds of +dust arose, circling up as high as the plumes on the knights' +helmets, and their lances crashed against each other's shields. +Many of the lances broke. Sometimes the shock of contact +overthrew a knight. But no one was hurt, for the good King Arthur +had ordered that the combats should be friendly. + +When the jousting had lasted for several hours, those knights who +had shown themselves the stronger, received prizes from the +ladies. The prizes were suits of armor ornamented with gold, and +swords with jeweled hilts. The knight who, of all, was the +strongest, chose the lady whom he considered most beautiful, and +crowned her "The Queen of Love and Beauty." + +During the month of feasting, Arthur made knights of some of the +squires. A young squire was first obliged to show his skill in +tilting at the quintain. Then his father presented him with +falcons and sparrowhawks for hunting, and arms and robes. He also +gave robes and arms to his son's companions, and, to their +mothers and sisters, furs and embroidered robes, and belts of +gold. Finally he gave money to the singers and players, and +servants, and to the poor people of Camelot. + +At about sunset the young squire went into the church, where the +Archbishop of Canterbury held a solemn service. The youth took +the armor which he had chosen, and placed it on the floor in +front of the altar. He was then left alone, and all night long he +prayed fervently to God to give him strength to be a noble and +true knight. In the morning the king came to the church, attended +by his nobles and by the archbishop. The squire laid his sword on +the altar, thus signifying his devotion to Christ and his +determination to lead a holy life. King Arthur bound the sword +and spurs on the young man, and, taking Excalibur, he smote him +lightly on the shoulder with it, saying, "Be thou a true and +faithful knight." + +Then the squire took a solemn oath to protect all who were in +distress, to do right, to be a pure knight, and to have faith in +God. After that the Archbishop of Canterbury preached a solemn +sermon. + +When the month of feasting and holiday was ended, the members of +the Court returned to their usual habits of life. The Knights of +the Round Table went forth to right wrongs and to enforce the +law. All who were in distress came to the king for help. And to +the whole country Arthur's Court was famous as a place where +unkindness was never done, and where truth, justice, and love +reigned. + +[Illustration: The Shield and the Sword] + + + + +[Illustration] KING ARTHUR & THE PRINCESS GUINEVERE + + +After Arthur had been established in his Court for some time, his +neighbor, Leodogran, the king of Cameliard, asked him for help in +a battle. To this Arthur cheerfully consented, and gathered his +warrior men about him. + +It chanced, as he and his men were marching past the castle of +Leodogran to meet the enemy, the king's daughter, Guinevere, who +was the most beautiful lady in all that land, stood on the castle +wall to watch her father's allies pass. Now she did not know, of +all the knights who rode by, which was Arthur. Many wore gold and +jewels on their armor, while the king's armor was plain. + +[Illustration: _"Arthur saw Guinevere bending over the wall"_] + +But Arthur saw her bending over the wall. She was slender and +graceful; her black hair fell in two long heavy braids over each +shoulder; her eyes were large and black. And Arthur felt a warm +love spring from his heart for her, and said to himself: + +"If I win this battle for Leodogran, I shall ask him to give me +the princess Guinevere for wife." + +His love for Guinevere made him fight even more bravely than +usual, and he soon won the battle. After he had returned to +Camelot, he told his knights that he wished to marry the +princess. They were very glad, because they, too, had seen her +and thought her the most beautiful lady they had ever beheld. + +Then Arthur said: + +"I will send my three good knights, Sir Ulfius and Sir Brastias +and Sir Bedivere, to King Leodogran to ask for Guinevere." + +The three knights set forth gayly, feeling certain that King +Leodogran would be glad to marry his daughter to their great +Arthur. When, however, they came to the castle of Leodogran with +their request, the king hesitated. He bade them wait for a little +while in the room adjoining his large hall. Then he said to +himself: + +"Arthur has helped me, indeed. I know, too, that he is powerful. +But I hear strange stories of his birth. There are people who say +that he is not a king's son. However great he is, I cannot give +him my only daughter unless he is really a true king, born of +royal blood." + +He called the oldest knight in his kingdom and said to him: + +"Do you know anything about Arthur's birth?" + +The old man looked very wise and said: + +"There are two men who do know; the younger of them is twice as +old as I am. They are Merlin, and Bleys, the master of Merlin. +Bleys has written down the secret of Arthur's birth in a book." + +Then King Leodogran laughed a little and said: + +"My friend, your words have not helped me much. If Arthur had +not helped me in my time of need more than you have helped me +now, I should have been lost indeed. Go and call Sir Ulfius and +Sir Brastias and Sir Bedivere." + +So the old man brought in the three knights, and Leodogran said +to them: + +"I hear strange tales of your king's birth. Some say that he is +indeed the son of the late King Uther, but others say that he is +the son of Sir Hector. Do you believe that he is Uther's son?" + +They said "Yes," and then told King Leodogran that Sir Hector had +brought up King Arthur as his son, for fear that those who wanted +the throne would kill the child; and that Arthur was undoubtedly +Uther's son. + +Still King Leodogran could not make up his mind. He bade the +three lords remain with him for a few days. + +Meanwhile the beautiful Queen Bellicent came to the Court, and +Leodogran asked her advice. + +"Do you think Arthur is a great king?" he asked. "Will he always +be great?" + +"He is very great," said the queen. "And all his people love him. +Perhaps he has not many lords, but their deep love makes up for +their small number." + +"That may be true," replied the king. + +"Besides that," added the queen, "they are good men. As you know, +the Knights of the Round Table are bound by vows to be kind and +true and merciful and helpful." + +"I have heard it," said the king. + +"Moreover," went on Queen Bellicent, "Arthur has powerful +friends: Merlin, the magician, and the Lady of the Lake, who gave +him his sword Excalibur, and the three fair queens, who will help +him when he needs help most." + +"Yes, yes," said King Leodogran, "if all this is true, Arthur +must prevail over his enemies. But is he the son of King Uther +and Queen Yguerne? You are the daughter of Queen Yguerne by an +earlier marriage, and, therefore, Arthur's half-sister if Arthur +is really Uther's son. You ought surely to know the truth." + +Bellicent waited a little while, and then said: + +"King Leodogran, I do not know what the truth is. There are two +stories: the story Merlin tells and the story Bleys tells. +Merlin says that Arthur is Uther's son, and indeed I should like +to believe it." + +"But you are not sure?" asked the king. + +"I am not sure. For my mother Yguerne was dark, and King Uther +was dark. Their hair and eyes were black like mine. Yet Arthur's +hair is as bright as gold. Besides, there is the story of old +Bleys." + +"What is his story?" + +"He says that Uther died, weeping because he had no heir. Then +Bleys and Merlin, who were present at his death, passed together +out of the castle. It was a stormy night, and as they walked +along by the lake they were forced by the roar of the tempest to +look out upon the waves, whipped by the wind. + +"Suddenly they saw a ship on the water. It had the shape of a +winged dragon. All over its decks stood a multitude of people +shining like gold. Then the ship vanished, and a number of great +waves began to roll in towards shore. The ninth of these waves +seemed as large as half the sea. It was murmuring with strange +voices and rippling with flames. In the midst of the flames was a +little fair-haired baby who was borne to Merlin's feet. Merlin +stooped and picked it up, and cried, 'The King! Here is an heir +for Uther!' This, King Leodogran, is the story Bleys told me +before he died." + +King Leodogran wondered very much. Then he said: + +"But did you not question Merlin about this?" + +"Yes," answered Queen Bellicent. "I asked him if this story of +Bleys was true. He would only answer me with a riddle." + +As King Leodogran was still silent, she said: + +"Do not fear to give your daughter to Arthur, for he will be the +greatest king the world has ever seen." + +Leodogran felt less doubtful. While he was thinking, he fell +asleep and had a dream. He saw in his dream a field covered with +mist and smoke, and a phantom king standing in the cloud. He +heard a voice which said, "This is not our king; this is not the +son of Uther." But suddenly the mist disappeared and the king +stood out in heaven, crowned. + +King Leodogran took this dream for a good sign. He called the +three knights, Sir Ulfius and Sir Brastias and Sir Bedivere, and +said to them: + +"Say to your king that I will give him Guinevere for his wife." + +So the three hastily returned to King Arthur, who was overjoyed +with their message. + +In the month of May he sent Sir Lancelot, the son of King Ban, +for Guinevere. When she came, the Archbishop of Canterbury +married them. And he blessed them and said that they, with the +help of the Knights of the Round Table, must do much good for the +land. + +[Illustration: The Knight with the Sword] + + + + +[Illustration] THE COMING of GARETH + + +The beautiful Queen Bellicent had many sons, all of whom had gone +out in the world except the youngest. His name was Gareth. His +two brothers, Gawain and Modred, were with the good King Arthur, +and Gareth longed to join them. His mother, however, would not +let him go. + +"You are not yet a man," she said. "You are only a child. Stay a +little longer with me." + +So Gareth stayed. One day he came to his mother and said: + +"Mother, may I tell you a story?" + +"Gladly," she replied. + +"Then, mother, once there was a golden egg which a royal eagle +had laid, away up in a tree. It was so high up that it could +hardly be seen. But a youth, who though poor was brave, saw it, +and longed for it. He knew that if he could get it, it would +bring wealth and prosperity to him. So he tried to climb. One who +loved him stopped him, saying, 'You will fall and be killed if +you try to reach that height.' Therefore the poor boy did not +climb, and so did not fall; but he pined away with longing till +his heart broke and he died." + +Queen Bellicent answered: + +"If the person who held him back had loved him, that person would +have climbed, and found the egg, and given it to the youth." + +"That could not be," said Gareth. "Mother, suppose the egg were +not gold, but steel, the same steel that Arthur's sword Excalibur +is made of." + +The queen grew pale, for she now understood his meaning. + +But Gareth spoke on: + +"Dear mother, the gold egg is the glory to be won at Arthur's +Court; I am the poor youth, and you are the one who holds me +back. Mother, let me go!" + +Then Bellicent wept, and she said: + +"Oh, my son, do not leave me. You love me more than Gawain and +Modred. You are all I have left in the world." + +But Gareth replied: + +"Mother, I waste my strength here." + +"No, no," she said. "You shall hunt; you shall follow the deer +and the fox, and so grow strong. Then I will find you a beautiful +wife, and we shall all live together till I die." + +Gareth shook his head. + +"No, mother. I do not want a wife until I have proved myself to +be a worthy and brave knight. I wish to follow Arthur, my good +king and uncle." + +"Perhaps he is not the true king and your uncle," Bellicent said. +"At least wait a little till he has shown himself to be the +greatest king in the world. Stay with me." + +"Nay, mother," he said. "I must go." + +Then the queen thought of a plan which she hoped would soon make +him willing to stay home. + +"If I let you go, my son, you must make me a promise. The promise +will prove your love to me." + +"I will make a hundred promises," cried young Gareth, "if you +will only let me go." + +"Then," she said, "you must go in disguise to the court of +Arthur. You must hire yourself out as a kitchen boy. You shall +wash the pots and pans for a whole year and tell no one that you +are the son of a queen." + +Queen Bellicent was sure that Gareth would not wish to make such +a promise. He was silent a long, long time. He had hoped to take +part at once with the Knights of the Round Table in great deeds. +At last he said: + +"I may be a kitchen boy and still be noble in heart and mind. +Besides, I can look on at the tournaments. I shall see King +Arthur and Sir Lancelot and Sir Kay. Yes, mother, I will go." + +Queen Bellicent was very sad. All the days before Gareth's +departure her eyes followed him until he felt that he could not +bear to see her grieve longer. So in the middle of the night he +rose quietly and woke two of his faithful servants. They dressed +themselves like plowmen and started towards Camelot. + +It was Easter time and the young grass was a bright green. The +birds were beginning their chirping, although it was not yet +light. As the dawn came, they saw the early morning mist sweeping +over the mountain and forest near Arthur's city of Camelot. +Sometimes the mist drew away and showed in the distance the +towers gleaming like silver. + +One of the servants said: + +"Let us go no farther, my lord Gareth. I am afraid. That is a +fairy city." + +The second said: + +"Yes, lord, let us turn back. I have heard that Arthur is not the +real king, but a changeling brought from fairyland in a great +wave all flame. He has done all his deeds with the help of +Merlin's enchantment." + +The first one spoke again: + +"Lord Gareth, that is no real city. It is a vision." + +But Gareth laughed and said: + +"Arthur is real flesh and blood, a brave man, and a just king. +Come with me to the gate of his city, and do not be afraid." + +When they reached the gate of the city, they stared in amazement. +It was made of silver and mother-of-pearl. In the center was +carved the figure of the Lady of the Lake, with her arms +outstretched in the form of a cross. In one hand she held a +sword, and in the other a censer. On both sides of her figure was +carved the story of the wars of King Arthur. Above all were the +figures of the three queens who were to help Arthur in time of +need. + +The three looked till their eyes were dazzled. Then they heard a +peal of music, and the gate slowly opened. An old man with a long +gray beard came out to greet them, and returning led them up past +the gardens and groves and roofs and towers of Camelot to +Arthur's great palace on the summit of the hill. + +Gareth hardly thought of the splendors of the palace. He +approached the arched doorway of the Assembly Hall, thinking +only as his heart beat quickly, that at last he was to see the +good King Arthur. Even before he entered he heard the voice of +the king. For it was one of the days when Arthur was giving +judgment to his people. + +The king sat on a throne made of gold and ivory and ebony. On its +arms and back were carved great dragons. Arthur wore a gold crown +which was not brighter than his own beautiful hair and beard. His +blue eyes were as calm and clear as the sky in summer time. His +trusty knights stood about him on each side of the throne. The +tallest of these, who had a worn, browned face, and piercing dark +eyes, under frowning brows, must be, Gareth knew, the famous +knight, Sir Lancelot. + +As Gareth entered, a widow came forward and cried to Arthur: + +"Hear me, oh, King! Your father, King Uther, took away a field +from my husband, who is now dead. The king promised us gold, but +he gave us no gold, nor would he return our field." + +Then Arthur said: + +"Which would you rather have, the gold or the field?" + +The woman wept, saying: + +"Oh, King, my dead husband loved the field. Give it back to me." + +"You shall have your field again," said Arthur, "and besides I +will give you three times the amount of gold it is worth to pay +you for the years King Uther had it." + +Gareth thought that Arthur was indeed a just king. And while this +was passing through his mind, another widow came forward and +cried: + +"Hear me, oh, King! Heretofore you have been my enemy. You killed +my husband with your own hands. It is hard for me to ask justice +or favor of you. Yet I must. My husband's brother took my son and +had him slain, and has now stolen his land. So I ask you for a +knight who will do battle and get my son's land for me, and +revenge me for his death." + +Then a good knight stepped forward and said: + +"Sir King, I am her kinsman. Let me do battle for her and right +her wrongs." + +But Sir Kay, Arthur's foster brother, said: + +"Lord Arthur, do not help a woman who has called you her enemy in +your own hall." + +"Sir Kay," replied Arthur, "I am here to help all those who need +help in my land. This woman loved her lord, and I killed him +because he rebelled against me. Let her kinsman go and do battle +against the man who has wronged her. Bring him here, and I shall +judge him. If he is guilty he shall suffer." + +While Gareth was still listening to the king's words, a messenger +entered from Mark, the king of Cornwall. He carried a wonderful +gold cloth which he laid at Arthur's feet, saying: + +"My lord, King Mark sends you this as a sign that he is your true +friend." + +But Arthur said: + +"Take back the cloth. When I fight with kings who are worthy men, +after I have conquered them I give them back their lands, and +make them my subject-kings and Knights of the Round Table. But +Mark is not fit to be a king. He is cruel and false. I will not +call him friend." + +The messenger stepped back in alarm. Arthur said to him kindly: + +"It is not your fault that Mark is unworthy. Stay in this city +until you are refreshed and then go back home in safety." + +While the king judged other cases, Gareth looked around the great +hall. Underneath the fourteen windows he saw three rows of stone +shields, and under each shield was the name of a knight. If a +knight had done one great deed, there was carving on his shield; +if he had done two or more, there were gold markings. If he had +done none, the shield was blank. Gareth saw that Sir Lancelot's +shield and Sir Kay's glittered with gold. He looked for the +shields of his brothers, Sir Gawain and Sir Modred. Sir Gawain's +was marked with gold, but Sir Modred's was blank. + +Meanwhile, Arthur had judged all the cases. Then Gareth came +forward timidly and said: + +"Lord King, you see my poor clothes; give me leave to serve for +twelve months in your kitchen without telling my name. After that +I will fight." + +"You are a fair youth," Arthur replied, "and you deserve a better +gift. However, since this is all you ask, I will put you under +the care of Sir Kay, who is master of the kitchen." + +Sir Kay looked at Gareth with scorn. + +"This youth has come from some place where he did not get enough +to eat," he said, "and so he thinks of nothing but food. Yet if +he wants food, he shall have it, provided he does his work well." + +Sir Lancelot, who stood near by, said: + +"Sir Kay, you understand dogs and horses well, but not men. Look +at this youth's face; see his broad forehead and honest eyes, and +beautiful hands. I believe he is of noble birth, and you should +treat him well." + +"Perhaps he is a traitor," Sir Kay said. "Perhaps he will poison +King Arthur's food. Yet I believe he is too stupid to be a +traitor. If he were not stupid, or if he were noble, he would +have asked for a different gift. He would have asked for a horse +and armor. Let him go to my kitchen." + +So Gareth went to the kitchen. And there he worked faithfully at +hard tasks, such as cutting wood and drawing water. Sir Lancelot +spoke to him kindly whenever he passed him, but Sir Kay was +always very strict and severe. Sometimes Gareth grew discouraged +and wished his mother had not exacted such a promise of him. + +Whenever there was a tournament he was happy. He liked to watch +the horses prancing, and the brave knights riding, with the sun +shining on their helmets and lances. And he would say to himself: + +"Only wait till the twelve months have passed, and then I shall +ask King Arthur to let me do some brave deed. Perhaps some one +will come to the hall and demand to have a wrong righted. Then I +will beg the king to let me do that act of justice." + +Such thoughts kept him cheerful. And indeed, before many weeks, +his chance came for doing a great deed. + + + + +[Illustration] THE STORY OF SIR GARETH & LYNETTE + + +Gareth served in the kitchen of the king only one month, for his +mother became sorry for the promise she had asked of him, and +sent armor for him to Arthur's Court, with a letter to the king +telling who the youth was. With great joy Gareth then went to +Arthur and said: + +"My lord, I can fight as well as my brother Gawain. At home we +have proved it. Then make me a knight,--in secret, for I do not +want the other knights to know my name. Make me a knight, and +give me permission to right the first wrong that we hear of." + +The king said gravely: + +"You know all that my knights must promise?" + +"Yes, my lord Arthur. I am willing to promise all." + +"I will make you my knight in secret, since you wish it," Arthur +said, "except that I must tell Sir Lancelot. He is my dearest +knight, and I keep no secrets from him." + +Gareth said that he would be glad to have Sir Lancelot know. +Accordingly the king spoke to Sir Lancelot about Gareth. + +"I have promised him that he may right the first wrong we hear +of," said Arthur, "but as he has not yet proved what he can do, I +want you to take a horse and follow him when he sets forth. Cover +up the great lions on your shield so that he will not know who +you are." Sir Lancelot agreed. Then Gareth was secretly made a +knight. + +That same day a beautiful young damsel came into Arthur's hall. +She had cheeks as pink as apple blossoms, and very sharp eyes. + +"Who are you, damsel?" asked the king, "and what do you need?" + +"My name is Lynette," she said, "and I am of noble blood. I need +a knight to fight for my sister Lyonors, a lady, also noble, +rich, and most beautiful." + +"Why must she have a knight?" questioned Arthur. + +"My Lord King, she lives in Castle Perilous. Around this castle a +river circles three times, and there are three passing-places, +one over each circle of the river. Three knights, who are +brothers, keep a constant guard over these passing-places. A +fourth knight, also a brother, clad in black armor, stands guard +in front of my sister's castle. We have never seen this knight's +face or heard his voice, but his brothers tell us he is the most +powerful and daring knight in the world. All these four keep my +sister a prisoner." + +"And why?" + +"Because they want her to marry one of them so that they can have +her great wealth. She refuses, but they say that they will have +their way. In the meantime, they demand that you send Sir +Lancelot to fight with them. They hope to overthrow Sir Lancelot, +thus proving themselves the greatest warriors in the land. But I +believe that Sir Lancelot could overthrow them; therefore, I +have come for him." + +Arthur remembered his promise to Sir Gareth, and did not speak of +Sir Lancelot, but asked: + +"Tell me what these four knights, your enemies, are like." + +"The three I have talked to are vain and foolish knights, my +lord," answered the damsel. "They have no law, and they +acknowledge no king. Yet they are very strong, and therefore am I +come for Sir Lancelot." + +Then Sir Gareth rose up, crying: + +"Sir King, give me this adventure." + +At this, Sir Kay started up in anger, but Gareth continued: + +"My king, you know that I am but your kitchen boy, yet I have +grown so strong on your meat and drink that I can overthrow an +hundred such knights." + +The king looked at him a moment, and said: + +"Go, then." + +At this all the knights were amazed. The damsel's face flushed +with anger. + +"Shame, King!" she cried. "I asked you for your chief knight, +and you give me a kitchen boy!" + +Then, before any one could prevent, she ran from the hall, +mounted her horse, and rode out of the city gate. Gareth +followed, and at the doorway found a noble war horse which the +king had ordered to be given him. Near by were the two faithful +servants who had followed him from his mother's home. They held +his armor. Gareth put it on, seized his lance and shield, jumped +upon his horse, and rode off joyfully. + +Sir Kay, who was watching, said to Sir Lancelot: + +"Why does the king send my kitchen lad to fight? I will go after +the boy and put him to his pots and pans again." + +"Sir Kay, do not attempt to do that," said Sir Lancelot. +"Remember that the king commanded him to go." + +But Sir Kay leaped on his horse and followed Gareth. + +Meanwhile, Sir Gareth overtook the damsel and said: + +"Lady, I am to right your wrong. Lead and I follow." + +But she cried: + +"Go back! I smell kitchen grease when you are near. Go back! your +master has come for you." + +Gareth looked behind and saw that Sir Kay was riding up to him. +When Sir Kay was within hearing distance, he shouted: + +"Come back with me to the kitchen." + +"I will not," said Gareth. + +Then Sir Kay rode fiercely at the youth. Gareth, however, struck +him from his horse, and then turned to the damsel, saying: + +"Lead on; I follow." + +She rode for a long time in silence, with Gareth a few paces +behind her. At last she stopped and said: + +"You have overthrown your master, you kitchen boy, but I do not +like you any better for it. I still smell the kitchen grease." + +Sir Gareth said, very gently: + +"You may speak to me as you will, but I shall not leave you till +I have righted your wrong." + +"Ah!" she said, scornfully, "you talk like a noble knight, but +you are not one," and she again galloped in front of him. + +Presently, as they passed a thick wood, a man broke out of it and +spoke to them: + +"Help! help! they are drowning my lord!" + +"Follow! I lead!" shouted Gareth to the damsel, and rushed into +the wood. There he found six men trying to drown a seventh. +Gareth attacked them with such vigor that they fled. When the +rescued man had recovered, he thanked Gareth warmly. + +"I am the lord of the castle yonder," he said, "and these are my +enemies. You came in time." + +Then he begged Gareth and the lady to stay all night in his +castle. They agreed, and he led the way. He took them into his +large hall and was about to seat them side by side at a dining +table. But the damsel said in scorn: + +"This is a kitchen boy, and I will not sit by him." + +The lord looked surprised. He took Gareth to another table and +sat beside him. After they had eaten, he said: + +"You may be a kitchen boy, or the damsel may be out of her mind, +but whichever is the case, you are a good fighter and you have +saved my life." + +The next morning Gareth and the damsel set forth. They rode for a +while in silence, and then she said: + +"Sir Kitchen Boy, although you are so low, I would like to save +your life. Soon we are coming to one who will overthrow you; so +turn back." + +But Gareth refused. In a little while they came to the first +circle of the river. The passing-place was spanned by a bridge. +On the farther side of the bridge was a beautiful pavilion, +draped in silk of gold and crimson colors. In front of it passed +a warrior without armor. + +"Damsel," he cried, "is this the knight you have brought from +Arthur's Court to fight with me?" + +"Ah!" she said, "the king scorns you so much that he has sent a +kitchen boy to fight with you. Take care that he does not fall on +you before you are armed, for he is a knave." + +[Illustration: _"Gareth rode at him fiercely"_] + +The warrior went inside his tent for his armor, and the damsel +said to Gareth: + +"Are you afraid?" + +"Damsel," he said, "I am not afraid. I would rather fight twenty +times than hear you speak so unkindly of me. Yet your cruel words +have put strength into my arm. I shall fight well." + +Then the knight came forth all in armor, and he said: + +"Youth, you are a kitchen boy. Go back to your king; you are not +fit to fight with me." + +Gareth rode at him fiercely, saying: + +"I am of nobler blood than you." + +He fought so well that soon his enemy was overcome. Then Gareth +said: + +"Go to Arthur's Court and say that his kitchen boy sent you." + +When the knight had departed, Gareth rode on, with the damsel in +advance. After a little while she stopped her horse, and when he +had caught up with her, she said: + +"Youth, I do not smell the kitchen grease so much as I did." + +Then she galloped off, laughing over her shoulder, while Gareth +followed her, a little more slowly. + +When they reached the second circle of the river, the damsel +said: + +"Here is the brother of the knight you overthrew. He is stronger +than the first. You had better go home, kitchen boy." + +Gareth answered nothing. Out of the tent by the bridge which +crossed the second circle of water, came a knight, clad in armor +which glowed like the sun. Lynette shouted to him: + +"I bring a kitchen boy who has overthrown your brother." + +"Ah!" shouted the knight, and rode fiercely at Sir Gareth. + +The two fought for a long time. The warrior was strong, but Sir +Gareth was stronger, and at last overthrew him, and sent him back +to Arthur's Court. + +The damsel Lynette had ridden far ahead of him. When he came near +her, she said: + +"The knight's horse slipped, and that is why you overcame him. +And now are you ready to fight with the third knight, for there +he stands?" + +At the third and innermost circle of the river stood the third +knight, clad not in armor, but in hardened skins. Sir Gareth saw +that he was more powerful than his brothers. The two at once +began to fight on the bridge, but Sir Gareth's sword could not +pierce the hard skins. Again and again he tried and failed. He +grew tired, and began to fear that he should be conquered. But +all at once, when his strokes were becoming feeble, Lynette cried +out to him: + +"Well done, good knight! You are no kitchen boy, but a brave +lord. Strike for me! Do not lose. You are worthy to be a Knight +of the Round Table." + +When Sir Gareth heard this, he was so encouraged that he made a +final great effort and threw his enemy over the bridge into the +water. Then he turned to Lynette, saying: + +"Lead; I follow." + +But Lynette, proud now of her valiant escort, and humbled and +ashamed at her misjudging of him, said: + +"No, we shall ride side by side. I am very sorry I called you a +kitchen boy, for I know that you are a noble knight." + +They rode happily side by side till dusk, when they came in sight +of Castle Perilous. Just as they were about to cross the moat, a +knight overtook them. It was Sir Lancelot, who had been delayed +because he had stopped to help Sir Kay after Sir Gareth had +thrown him from his horse. + +The great knight, as he rode up to the two in the twilight, +seeing only the shields which Sir Gareth had taken from the three +knights, thought the young man was an enemy, and attacked him. +Sir Lancelot was so strong that he soon overcame the youth. + +As he fell, Lynette cried out in shame and sorrow, and Sir Gareth +said: + +"Oh, I am thrown." + +Sir Lancelot knew Sir Gareth's voice, and raised him up, saying: + +"I am Lancelot, and I am sorry to have overthrown you, my +friend." + +Sir Gareth said that it was no dishonor to be beaten by Sir +Lancelot. Then the three rode into the castle, and there they +met the fourth knight, who was all covered with black armor. + +Sir Lancelot wished to fight with him, but Sir Gareth would not +permit it. + +"This must be my adventure," he said. + +Sir Gareth rode at the knight, expecting to meet a very strong +man, but he easily unhorsed him. His enemy cried: + +"Oh spare my life; I am not a knight." + +Then he took off his helmet and showed the face of a young boy. + +"My three brothers made me pretend to be a fierce knight," he +explained. "They thought it would make people more afraid if they +believed we were four strong knights." + +Sir Lancelot and Sir Gareth laughed heartily, and so did Lynette. +They took the boy into the castle, where Lynette's sister, +Lyonors, who was now freed from her money-loving captors, greeted +them with much joy. She put before them a great feast, and this +time Sir Gareth and Lynette sat side by side. Afterwards a +marriage was made between them, and they went to live with King +Arthur in Camelot. + + + + +[Illustration] SIR IVAINE + + +Among Arthur's Knights of the Round Table was one who was a +mixture of good and bad, as indeed most people are. His name was +Sir Ivaine; brave, kind-hearted, and merry; but at the same time +fickle, sometimes forgetful of his promises, and inclined to make +light of serious things. + +One night, in the early spring, the knights and ladies of +Arthur's Court were sitting in the dining-hall. The king and +Guinevere had withdrawn, but were expected to return. Supper had +been served, and the last course, consisting of pomegranate seeds +and dates, had just been carried off. A fire had been built in +the deep hearth, and the four bronze pillars in front were +lighted by the flames. Four little pages in blue and white +velvet kirtles sat on stools watching the fire, and perhaps +dreaming of the days when they, too, should be warriors and have +adventures. + +Sir Ivaine was telling of his experience with the Black Knight. + +"It was when I was very young," he said; "indeed, I had just been +made a knight. Some one told me of the wicked Black Knight who +lived, and still lives, in a wood a long way from here. Knowing +that he did much evil, I determined to kill him. I rode to the +wood where he lived, and in which I found a marble platform. In +the middle of it was a sunken space holding a fountain. I walked +to this, and following the directions of some writing which was +on the stone, picked up a cup that lay at hand, and filling it +with water, poured it into the fountain. + +"Then a great storm of wind and rain arose, and when it was at +its height the Black Knight rode up and began to attack me. We +fought for a little while, but he easily overthrew me. Thinking +me dead, he rode back, leaving me on the ground. But after a +time I was able to mount my horse, and went back to my mother's +castle." + +At this moment the king and the queen entered, unperceived by any +one except Sir Ivaine. The young man, who was always polite, +sprang to his feet; then the other knights rose. Sir Kay, who was +not always sweet-tempered, said to Sir Ivaine: + +"We all know that you are very polite, but you have more courtesy +than bravery." + +At that Sir Ivaine said: + +"I was almost a boy when the Black Knight overthrew me, but I +could conquer him now." + +"It is very easy to say that after you have eaten," said Sir Kay. +"Almost any knight feels brave and self-satisfied when he has had +a good supper of venison." + +The king asked what the conversation was about, and Sir Ivaine +repeated the story of his adventure, adding: + +"And, Sir King, I crave your permission to set forth to-morrow to +slay this Black Knight who is a pest in the land." + +"I have heard of this man," said the king, "and have often +thought of sending some one to punish him. But he lives far away, +and it has been necessary heretofore to right first the wrongs +nearest home. Yet now his evil deeds and persecutions must cease. +To-morrow a company of us will set forth and conquer him and all +his people." + +The king named some half-dozen of his knights, Sir Ivaine among +them, who were to undertake this adventure. + +Sir Ivaine was displeased; he thought that the adventure should +be his alone. So he rose in the middle of the night and stole +away unattended, determined to go in advance of the others and +kill the Black Knight. It did not occur to him that in proving +himself brave, he was also proving himself disobedient. + +He rode forth in the darkness, humming merrily to himself. At +daybreak he reached a valley, and as he went through it, saw a +great serpent fighting with a lion. Sir Ivaine stopped to watch +this curious combat. At first the two fighters seemed evenly +matched, but soon the huge serpent wrapped all its folds about +the lion and began squeezing it to death. When Sir Ivaine saw +this, he drew his sword and killed the serpent. + +When the lion was free, it bounded up to Sir Ivaine, and he was +afraid that it meant to kill him; but it fawned at his feet like +a spaniel. He stroked it, and put his arms about its neck. When +he mounted his horse, the beast followed him, refusing to go +away. Then Sir Ivaine made up his mind that they were to be +companions. + +For many days the two kept close together, and at night Sir +Ivaine would go to sleep with his head on the lion's neck. One +day, as they came to a square castle set in a meadow, some people +who stood on the castle walls began to shoot arrows at the lion, +but Sir Ivaine stopped them, telling them that the animal was +tame. + +Then they told him that it was their rule that no one should pass +by that castle without doing battle with their lord. Sir Ivaine +told them that he was quite willing to obey their rule; so they +opened the castle gate. They said he must make his lion stay +outside, but Sir Ivaine refused to do this. He promised, however, +to make the lion lie down quietly; then the two were allowed to +enter. + +The courtyard was a large paved place, in which there were a +score of armed men. Presently the lord of the castle came +forward. This lord was much larger than Sir Ivaine, and the lion, +on seeing him, began to lash its tail. But Sir Ivaine ordered it +to be still, and it at once obeyed. + +Then Sir Ivaine and the knight battled together. The knight was +powerful, but Sir Ivaine was very agile and skillful. He was not +able to strike so hard as could his enemy, but he was better able +to avoid blows. Therefore it was not long before he got the +advantage and overthrew the lord. + +When this happened, the lord called for help, and ordered his +armed men to kill Sir Ivaine. The whole twenty began to obey this +treacherous order, but just as they were about to fall upon Sir +Ivaine, the lion bounded among them, roaring savagely. With a few +strokes of its powerful paws it disabled the men. Sir Ivaine +told the lord of the castle that he must ride to Camelot and give +himself up to Arthur to be judged for his treachery. Then Sir +Ivaine rode away from the castle; and now that the lion had saved +his life, he became very fond of the animal. + +[Illustration: _"He dismounted and poured water into the +fountain"_] + +After many days of travel, Sir Ivaine reached the forest in the +midst of which was the castle of the Black Knight. He rode to the +platform of stone, dismounted and poured water into the fountain. +As before, a storm arose, and at its height the Black Knight +appeared. + +He recognized the armor of Sir Ivaine, and said: + +"Aha! I see I did not kill you before, but you shall not escape +me this time." + +"The best man shall win," said Sir Ivaine, cheerfully. + +Then the two began a great combat. Their swords clashed so that +the noise of the fountain was drowned; they fought so eagerly +that they were not even aware of the storm. It was not long +before the Black Knight began to grow weak from the many powerful +and death-dealing strokes from Sir Ivaine's sword. At last, +seeing that he was mortally wounded, the Black Knight turned his +horse and galloped in the direction of his castle. + +Ordering the lion to stay where it had lain during the combat, +Sir Ivaine followed. But he could not quite catch up with the +Black Knight, although gaining on him inch by inch. By the time +the castle moat was reached, Sir Ivaine was only five feet +behind. The horses thundered one after the other over the bridge. +The Black Knight rode under the portcullis, or sharp iron gate, +which was raised. The instant he was inside, the portcullis fell, +in order to shut out Sir Ivaine. + +But Sir Ivaine had already passed beneath it, and as it fell his +horse was cut in two. Even the long plume in Sir Ivaine's helmet +was shorn off, and lay outside the gate. + +Sir Ivaine sprang to his feet and drew his sword to renew his +attack upon the Black Knight, but he was already dead, and lay +across his panting horse's neck. + +Then Sir Ivaine realized what his recklessness had cost him. +There he was, alone in a strange castle, the lord of which he +had killed. Soon the people of the castle would come and capture +him, for he could not escape, since the portcullis was down. + +He ran into the castle, and up the stairs leading to the turret. +He was fast growing weak from the wounds he had received, and his +armor was heavy. Moreover, in spite of his care, it clashed at +every step, and he was afraid some one would soon hear him. He +had all but reached the top of the stairs when the door of the +turret room opened, and a little maiden looked down upon him. He +begged her not to cry out, and telling her who he was and what he +had done, asked her to hide him. + +"I will," she said, "because you are brave and you are wounded, +and because you have killed that wicked tyrant, the Black Knight. +He does not own this castle at all; it belongs to a beautiful +lady, his cousin, who is my mistress. He keeps her here a +prisoner because she will not marry him." + +Then the little maiden led him into the turret room. She +concealed his armor in a hole in the side of the wall, and told +him to hide himself between the two mattresses of the bed. Before +he had time to do so, however, they heard a great noise in the +courtyard, and looking down, saw that the body of the Black +Knight had been discovered. Near it stood a beautiful lady, more +beautiful than any Sir Ivaine had ever seen, except Queen +Guinevere. She was dark like the queen, and her eyes were as +bright as stars. He would have looked at her a long time, but the +little maiden begged him to hide without delay. + +"Quick!" she cried. "The men have seen that there is the front +part of a horse inside the gate, and know that the person who has +killed our lord must be here. Even now they have begun the +search, for they all love the Black Knight, although my mistress +does not, and they will hang you if they find you." + +So Sir Ivaine crept between the mattresses, and the little maiden +hurried down the stairs and went to her beautiful mistress. +Presently Sir Ivaine heard men tramping up the turret steps. +They often stopped, trying all the doors they came to, and at +last entered the room in which he lay. One of them, peering into +the hole in the wall where his armor was, said: + +"Here is armor." + +But another replied: + +"That is some that once was used by our master; there is no need +to drag it into the light." + +Then they searched among all the furnishings of the room, but +found no one. At last, as they were leaving, one of the men +thrust his sword twice through the mattress. The second thrust +cut deeply into Sir Ivaine's arm; but as the knight was brave, he +did not utter a cry. + +When the men had gone, he crept out, and found that the cut in +his arm and his other wounds were bleeding badly. Just then the +little maiden came in with food. She cried out in alarm when she +saw the blood, and quickly tore a piece of linen from her robe +for bandages. When all the wounds had been carefully attended to, +she gave him a plentiful supper and promised to take care of him +until there was a good opportunity for him to escape. + +She visited him every morning, and told him the day's news in the +castle. He learned that a lion kept roaring about the walls, and +that the bowmen had tried to kill it, but could not. Sir Ivaine +was sure that it was his lion, and longed to have it, but knew +that this was impossible. And she told him how the people of the +castle had been angry at their lady because she would not marry +the Black Knight; but now that he was dead, acknowledged her as +mistress and obeyed her in everything. The little maiden said she +thought that if the lady were told that Sir Ivaine was hidden she +would probably see that he had a safe conduct out of the castle. + +"I want never to leave this castle," said Sir Ivaine; "for I love +your lady." + +This pleased the little maiden, for she had learned to respect +Sir Ivaine. So she went to the lady of the castle and told her +all about the stranger. The lady had Sir Ivaine moved to a rich +apartment where she could visit him often and help the little +maid in her care of him. She did not tell her people, however, +that this stranger knight had killed their lord. + +As Sir Ivaine recovered, he soon found courage to tell her how +beautiful she was, and that he loved her more than anything in +the world. He said that if she would marry him, he would stay +with her forever, and never seek for more adventures. All he +asked was that she would let in his lion, which still continued +to roar outside the castle walls. When the lady heard the story +of the lion, it seemed to her that if Sir Ivaine were so kind to +an animal, he would probably be much kinder to her. + +So she said that she would marry him. The people of the castle +saw and liked him, and agreed to obey him as their lord. When +they were told that the lion they had tried to kill belonged to +him and must be admitted to the castle, they showed some fear. +Sir Ivaine told them that there was no need of this, for the +beast was very gentle, and was making noise only because of its +desire for its master. He went outside the castle walls and +called. Soon there was heard a loud roaring; a big yellow body +bounded out of the forest, and the lion came leaping to its +master's feet. It frisked about him, and rubbed its head on his +arm, just as a favorite dog might do. When the people saw how +tame it was, they were no longer afraid. + +Sir Ivaine and the beautiful lady were soon married, and for a +long time everyone was very happy. Sir Ivaine sent a letter to +King Arthur telling the result of his adventure. Soon the +messenger returned bearing rich gifts from the king and +Guinevere, and an invitation to come to Camelot whenever they +wished to. The lady, however, persuaded Sir Ivaine to promise to +remain with her in her castle. + +One day a party of the Knights of the Round Table rode into the +courtyard. They were going on a great adventure, and stopped by +the way to see how Sir Ivaine and his beautiful wife fared. When +Sir Ivaine saw them, all his old-time love of fighting came back, +and he went to his lady and begged her to let him go with the +knights. + +"Ah, my Ivaine," she said, "you told me that you would never +leave me." + +"A knight ought to seek adventures," he said. "And I will return +to you." + +She paused for a while and then said: + +"I will let you go if you will promise to come back in a year and +a day; that is, next Whitsuntide." + +He gladly promised, and she said: + +"If you break this promise, I will never see you again." + +But Sir Ivaine was sure he would not break the promise, because +he loved her too much for that. + +So off he rode with the knights, followed by his faithful lion. +The lady and the little maiden waved farewells to Sir Ivaine from +the tower until they could no longer see him; then they again +took up the life they had lived before he came to the castle. + +Sir Ivaine rode with the knights for many months, and had many +adventures. At last, just as the year was drawing to a close, he +started homeward. On the way, however, he stopped at Arthur's +Court to pay his respects to the king and the queen. They both +remembered him and greeted him kindly. + +A great tournament was being held at that time in Camelot, and +the king asked Sir Ivaine if he would like to take part. Sir +Ivaine was pleased, for he loved the display of such combats. +During the three days of the tournament he distinguished himself +greatly. + +On the evening of the third day, as the knights were sitting in +the great hall of the Round Table, a little maiden entered. She +went up to King Arthur and gave him a ring. + +"This ring," she said, "is one Sir Ivaine gave my lady. She +returns it, and has vowed never to see him again because he has +broken his promise to her." + +Then, before any one could stop her, she left the hall, mounted +her horse, and rode away. Sir Ivaine sprang to his feet, staring +wildly. Whitsuntide had fallen on the first day of the tournament, +his year and a day had more than passed, and he had forgotten his +promise! + +He rushed from the hall and down the hill through the streets of +Camelot, out of the city gate, and into the forest. He ran on and +on until he fell exhausted. + +The next day he awoke in a fever, and would have died but for his +faithful lion. The poor animal tried to make Sir Ivaine rise, but +seeing that he could not, dragged him to the edge of a brook, +where he could drink when he was thirsty. The lion also brought +him game. At first Sir Ivaine would not touch it, but finally +began to eat it raw. + +After a time he became better, physically, but his senses were +gone. In his madness he wandered all through the woods, fighting +with the trees and bushes. The lion always followed him, +protecting him from other animals and from men. + +One day when the lion was absent finding food, Sir Ivaine lay +asleep. A good hermit came up to him, and pitying his condition, +lifted him in his arms and carried him to his hut. He bathed the +poor knight, cut his hair, and put a robe upon him. He was laying +him upon a bed when the lion came roaring to the door and dashed +it open. + +When it saw the hermit tending its master, it fawned at his feet. +After that Sir Ivaine spent much of his time in the hut. The lion +supplied him with food, bringing meat to the hermit, who always +divided it into four parts: three parts he gave to the lion, and +one he cooked for Sir Ivaine and himself. + +Sometimes Sir Ivaine would run away from the hermit and wander +for days in the forest. The lion took care of him, and always led +him back to the hermit's hut. Once, however, Sir Ivaine set forth +in the direction of his wife's castle. At night the lion tried to +take him to the hut, but in vain. For days he wandered, always in +the same direction, until at last he reached the wood where the +stone platform was. He laid himself down upon it and slept. Soon +a lady and a maid appeared. The lion sprang at them, but when it +reached their feet, it licked the lady's hand, for she was its +mistress. + +It took her robe in its teeth and pulled her gently to the spot +where Sir Ivaine lay. At first she would not look at him, +because she had not forgiven him for breaking his promise. But +the little maiden said: + +"Dear mistress, look at him. The story which the knights of +Arthur's Court told us about his madness must be true. If you +will but look at his face you will see that it is the face of a +man who has lost his senses." + +Then the lady knelt beside him. When she saw his worn features +and his tattered garments, she began to believe that he really +had lost his senses from grief. She sent the little maiden to the +castle for an ointment she had. It was so powerful that if it +were rubbed over a person who was ill, it would cure him, no +matter what his disease was. When the little maid brought it, the +lady put it upon Sir Ivaine, but so gently as not to rouse him. + +After several hours, Sir Ivaine awoke. At first he hardly knew +where he was, but soon he recollected all that had happened, and +seeing his lady near, begged her to forgive him. This she did, +and they were reconciled. Sir Ivaine was sure that he would +never again forget to keep a promise. + +For some months they lived very happily in the castle. Then they +went to Camelot in order to be near to Arthur and the Knights of +the Round Table. + +[Illustration: The Holy Grail] + + + + +[Illustration] SIR BALIN + + +In Arthur's Court there dwelt a poor knight named Balin, who had +accidentally killed the cousin of King Arthur, and had been taken +to the court of the king for trial. He had lived there almost as +a prisoner for six months, until it was decided that he had not +meant to do wrong. All his money was gone, and his clothes and +armor were poor. He was sorry for this, but he was still more +sorry that he was not doing brave deeds like the other knights. + +One day when he sat in the great hall at Camelot, looking at the +shields which were carved or covered with gold, a damsel entered +who wore a rich mantle, trimmed with fur. As Arthur and the +knights looked at her, she let it fall to the floor, and they saw +that she wore a heavy sword. + +"Damsel," said Arthur, "why do you, a maiden, wear a sword?" + +"Alas!" said the maiden, "I should be glad if I did not wear it. +It is very heavy, and causes me pain. But I am forced to wear it +until I meet a knight who can take it from me." + +"Surely many knights could do that, and gladly," the lords said. + +"No," said the lady. "It seems that there is but one knight in +all the world who is to take the sword. I heard that there were +brave knights at the Court of King Rience, the enemy of King +Arthur, and I went there. Yet no one could unfasten the sword. +Now am I come here on the same errand." + +"In truth, damsel," said the king, "you are right welcome. My +knights shall try to take your weapon." + +Then, at a sign from Arthur, a knight stepped forward. But, even +though he exerted all his strength, the sword could not be +unfastened. + +"Sir, you need not pull so hard," said the damsel. "The one who +is to take the sword will do so easily." + +All the knights tried except Sir Balin, who stood back because of +his poor clothes. Yet he wanted very much to see if he was the +chosen knight, and just as the damsel was going away, he said: + +"Damsel, will you let me try? I am poorly clothed, but my heart +tells me that I may succeed." + +The damsel saw that he had a good face. But his clothes were so +poor she doubted if he were really a knight. + +"I am afraid you will fail," she said. + +"Ah, maiden," he returned, "poor clothes are but the outside. +Good deeds are just as worthy, whether done by a rich person or a +poor one. Many a man who is badly clothed has real valor and +kindness." + +"That is very true," she said; "so try, good sir." + +Then Sir Balin seized the hilt of the sword, and the weapon came +away easily. All the lords wondered, and the lady said: + +"You are a good knight, the best I have met. You shall do many +brave deeds. And now, give me my sword again." + +"No," said Sir Balin, "I should like to keep this sword, for I +have no other." + +"Alas!" said the maiden, "I am sorry to hear these words, for now +I must give you the sword." + +"Surely he deserves it," said Arthur, "for it weighed heavily on +you." + +"Yes," she replied, "but it is a misfortune for him to keep it. +He shall slay with it the best friend he has in the world. It is +going to prove his destruction." + +Sir Balin would not believe her. + +"I could not slay my best friend," he said. "Besides, I am +willing to meet whatever happens, and I wish to keep the sword." + +Then the maiden departed in great sorrow, while Balin said to the +king: + +"My lord, give me permission to leave your court." + +"I do not like to lose you," said the king. "Perhaps you are +angry because you were in prison so long. You must know that it +takes time to find out who is innocent and who is guilty." + +"My lord," answered Sir Balin, "I know it is not wise to make a +judgment hastily, and I do not blame you for keeping me in +prison. I love you, and wish to leave your court that I may do +some deed worthy of the Round Table." + +Then Arthur said that he might go. Soon a servant brought to +Balin a fine horse and good armor which were the gifts of the +king. Balin at once took leave of Arthur and the knights, and +rode away, singing as he rode, for he was very happy. Sometimes +he stopped to lift up his shield and admire it. It had a blue +emblem upon it, and to Sir Balin's eyes its beauty was that of +the sky, the soft blue of heaven. + +Sir Balin rode until he was tired. At last, from the crest of a +hill, he saw a gloomy stone castle, and galloped towards it +joyfully, hoping to rest there. + +At a turn of the road, he saw a cross with gold letters upon it. +He stopped to read the words, which were: "Let no knight go to +the castle, for great danger is there." + +"Oh," said Sir Balin, "I am used to danger. I fear nothing," and +he went on. + +Presently an old man started up beside the road. He had a long +gray beard, and was dressed in a long gray robe that sparkled +with little specks of frost. The old man said to Sir Balin: + +"Did you not read the letters on the cross?" + +"Yes," replied Sir Balin, "but I am not afraid." + +"Oh, Sir Balin, you of all men should fear to go to that castle," +the old man said. + +"Why?" he asked in amazement. "Nevertheless, I shall go." + +"Sir Balin, Sir Balin!" cried the old man after him, "you are too +self-willed. You will be very sorry for what you have done before +you die." + +But Sir Balin rode on without fear, and soon reached the gate of +the castle. A hundred beautiful ladies and many knights welcomed +him. They took off his armor and put a rich crimson cloak upon +his shoulders. Then they led him into a banquet hall where there +was music and dancing. They set food before him, and he ate, +thankfully. He was very happy, feeling sure that he could rest +here for many days. + +Just as he was thinking this, the lady who was mistress of the +castle said: + +"Sir knight, it is the rule of this castle that every lord who +comes here as a guest must fight." + +"That is a hard custom," said Sir Balin. + +"Yet you need fight but once," answered the lady. "We have here +the knight who entered just before you came." + +"Alas!" said Sir Balin, "I would rather not fight, for I wish to +rest. Since such is the custom of the castle, however, I must do +my part. Let some one bring my armor." + +A servant at once came up to him with a suit of black armor. + +"This is not my armor," said Sir Balin. "My armor is not painted +black. It is honest gray steel, decorated with blue." + +"It is the custom of the castle to wear black," they told him. +"This armor is as good as your own." + +Sir Balin felt sad, he could hardly tell why; and was very sorry +that he had ever come to the castle. Putting on the armor, +however, he went into the courtyard and mounted his horse. No +sooner was he ready than another knight, clad all in black, +entered the courtyard. + +The two knights rode together so fiercely that the shock threw +them both off their horses in a swoon. After a time they +recovered and began to fight on foot, pressing each other near +the walls of the castle. + +Sir Balin was fighting with the sword that he had taken from the +damsel in King Arthur's Court. It was a strong sword, and +whenever it struck, the armor of his opponent cracked. They +fought till their breath failed, and then they rested. Each knew +that never before had he dealt with such a strong enemy. + +Then they fought again, and gave each other seven deep wounds, +the least of which would prove fatal. All the ground was red with +blood, but Sir Balin fought on still, for the people of the +castle were watching from the walls, and he wished to be thought +a great warrior. So at last he used all his remaining strength +and gave the other knight such a hard blow that he fell to the +ground. Sir Balin knew that it was a death stroke. He felt that +he, too, was about to die, and said: + +"Who are you? I never fought with such a strong knight before." + +The other answered faintly: + +"I am Sir Balan, the brother to the good knight Sir Balin." + +Then Sir Balin cried out: + +"Alas, alas! that I should live to see this day!" and he fell +backward in a swoon. + +Sir Balan was dying, but he crawled on his hands and knees to +where Sir Balin lay, and took off his helmet only to discover the +face of his brother. Then he wept bitterly till Sir Balin +recovered from his swoon. + +"Alas!" said Sir Balan, "if we had but worn our own armor we +should have known each other. And now we must die; we have killed +each other." + +[Illustration: _"They fought till their breath failed"_] + +Sir Balin was too full of remorse to weep. + +"All this is my fault," he said. "As the old man on the road told +me, I have been too self-willed. First, I would have the damsel's +sword, although she told me that I should slay with it the best +friend I had. That is you, Balan. And then I would enter this +castle in spite of warnings. I deserve to die, but it is a hard +punishment that I should have killed you, my brother." + +Soon some ladies came from the wall into the courtyard, and to +them Sir Balin said: + +"We are two dear brothers who have killed each other. I pray you, +promise to bury us in the same grave." + +The ladies wept as they made the promise. The two brothers put +their arms about each other and waited for death. They hoped to +die together, but Sir Balan died first. Soon after, when Sir +Balin had also died, the ladies buried them together, and put a +stone above the grave, telling the sad story of their combat and +death. + + + + +[Illustration] SIR GERAINT AND ENID + + +One of the bravest knights in King Arthur's Court was Sir +Geraint. Once he was in the forest with Queen Guinevere and one +of her maidens, when a lady, a knight, and a dwarf rode by. The +queen told the maiden to go to the dwarf and ask who his master +was. + +As the maiden approached them, she saw that the knight had a very +proud face. She asked the dwarf his master's name, but he said, +roughly: + +"I do not know." + +"If you do not know," answered the maiden, "I will ask him +myself." + +She started to ride up to the knight, but the dwarf struck at her +with his whip. Upon this, she went back and told the queen and +Sir Geraint what had passed. Sir Geraint was very angry, and he +said to the queen: + +"Fair queen, I will ride after this knight and his dwarf and +avenge the insult done to your maiden. If I succeed, I shall +return in three days." + +"Do so," said the queen, "and I trust you will succeed, not only +in this, but in all things which you attempt. Some day you will +love some fair lady. Before you marry her, bring her to me, and +no matter how poor or how rich she may be, I will clothe her for +her wedding in the most beautiful garments in the world. They +shall shine like the sun." + +So off rode Sir Geraint, keeping at some distance behind the +lady, the knight, and the dwarf. At last, after passing through +many woods, he lost sight of them as they disappeared beyond the +top of a hill. Sir Geraint rode up, and saw below him, in a +valley, the one street of a little town. On one side was a +fortress, so new that the stone of which it was built was still +white; while on the other side stood a gray old castle, fast +falling into decay. He saw the three people he was following +enter the fortress. + +In the little town there was a great deal of noise and bustle. At +first Sir Geraint could not find any place to stay, for the +houses were all full. He stopped before a servant who was +scouring his master's armor, and asked what all the noise meant. +The servant said: + +"The Sparrow-hawk," and went on working. + +Then he met an old man carrying a sack of corn, and asked him the +same question. The old man made the same reply. Next Sir Geraint +approached one who was making armor, and questioned him. Without +looking up the man replied: + +"Friend, he who works for the Sparrow-hawk has little time for +answering questions." + +Sir Geraint was vexed, and said: + +"I am weary of hearing of your Sparrow-hawk. I do not understand +what you mean. Will you not tell me where I can find a place to +stay for to-night? And will you not sell me some armor? I have +but my sword." + +Then the man looked up, and said: + +"Your pardon, sir. We are all very busy here, for to-morrow we +hold a tournament, and our work is not half done. I cannot give +you armor, for we need all that we have in the town. As to +lodging, all the room is taken. However, perhaps Earl Iniol in +the castle will receive you." + +Sir Geraint rode over to the gray old castle, and as the gate was +open, entered the ruined courtyard. Dismounting, he went into the +hall. Here he found the earl, an elderly man dressed in clothes +which had once been handsome, but were now old and worn. To him +Sir Geraint said: + +"Good sir, I seek lodging for the night." + +The old Earl Iniol answered: + +"Sir, I was once rich and am now poor; nevertheless, I will +gladly give you the best I have." + +As he spoke, some one in the castle began to sing. The voice was +very sweet. Sir Geraint thought he had never heard anyone sing so +wonderfully. + +"That is my daughter Enid," said the earl. + +Then he took Sir Geraint into a room in which sat an old lady in +a faded velvet gown. She was the earl's wife. By her side stood +Enid in a faded silk gown. She was as beautiful as her voice was +sweet, and after watching her, Sir Geraint said to himself: + +"I already love this maiden." + +He said nothing out loud, only looked at her. Earl Iniol spoke to +her: + +"Enid, this good knight will stay with us. His horse is in the +courtyard; take it to the stall and give it corn. Then go into +the town and buy us some food." + +Sir Geraint wished to put away his horse himself, but the old +earl said: + +"Sir, we are very poor, but we cannot permit our guest to do any +work. I pray you, stay here." + +So Enid took the horse to the stall. After that, she went into +the town and soon returned with meat and sweet cakes. Then, +because most of the rooms in the old castle were in ruins, she +cooked the meat in the same hall in which they were to eat. When +the meal was ready, she waited on her father and her mother and +Sir Geraint. The knight watched her and loved her more and more. + +When they had risen from the table, he said to the earl: + +"My lord, pray tell me what the people of this town mean when +they speak of the Sparrow-hawk." + +The earl's face grew sad, as he said: + +"That is the name given to the young knight who rules in this +town." + +"Does he live in the fortress?" asked Sir Geraint. "And do a lady +and a dwarf ride with him?" + +"Yes," said the earl. + +"Ah, then he is the man I am in search of," said Sir Geraint. "I +must fight with him before three days are over. I am Geraint of +King Arthur's Court." + +"I know your name well," said the earl. "We often hear of your +great deeds at Camelot. Many times have I related to my Enid the +story of your brave deeds." + +"I am bound to do my duty with the other knights," answered Sir +Geraint. "And now tell me more of this Sparrow-hawk." + +"Alas! he is my nephew," said the earl. "At one time I ruled this +town. My nephew, the Sparrow-hawk, was powerful, too, and he +asked to unite our power by marrying Enid, but neither she nor I +wished it. Then he collected a body of men and attacked me, and +took all my wealth, leaving me nothing but this old castle." + +"To-morrow," said Sir Geraint, "I will fight in the tournament +with this Sparrow-hawk, and conquer him, and give you back your +lands. But I lack armor." + +"I can give you armor, although it is old and rusty," said the +earl. "But no one is allowed to fight in this tournament unless +there is some lady he loves best in all the world. Then he fights +for the sake of this lady, and if he wins, receives the prize, +which he in turn gives to her." + +"What is the prize?" asked Sir Geraint. + +"A hawk, a sparrow-hawk made of gold. This nephew of mine is very +strong and has always overcome every knight who has opposed him +in these tournaments, which are held yearly. It is because he has +won the prize so often that he is called the Sparrow-hawk. But +tell me, is there some lady whom you love?" + +Then Sir Geraint said: + +"I love this child of yours, my lord, and will gladly make her my +wife if you will permit it." + +The earl was very glad, but Enid was afraid, for she thought she +was not worthy of such a great knight. Yet, she knew she loved +him, and said so, and soon promised to go with him to Arthur's +Court within three days. + +The next morning, the earl and Sir Geraint and Enid went to the +field where the tournament was to take place. Many knights and +ladies were there. The ladies sat under a pavilion which was +draped in purple velvet ornamented with gold, while the knights +were on horseback. A herald blew a trumpet, and the knight who +was called the Sparrow-hawk galloped into the field. + +He rode around it three times, and then went up to the pavilion +and said to his lady: + +"I give you the gold sparrow-hawk again, because no one dares to +fight with me for it." + +Then Sir Geraint rode forward in his rusty armor and said: + +"I will fight with you." + +The knight looked upon him, and gave a very scornful laugh as he +rode at Sir Geraint. The two clashed together and began to fight +fiercely, while all the people watched. Twice they had to stop +and rest. For a long time they seemed evenly matched, and no one +could decide which would win. But when Sir Geraint looked to +where Enid sat in her faded silk gown among the richly dressed +ladies in the pavilion, he grew very strong and struck his enemy +such a blow that he fell to the earth. + +"Now, Sparrow-hawk," said Sir Geraint, "I have overthrown you. +You must do two things: you must ride with your lady and your +dwarf to Arthur's Court and ask pardon of Queen Guinevere because +your dwarf struck her maiden; and you must restore all the riches +you have taken from your good uncle, Earl Iniol." + +This the knight promised to do. And afterwards, in Arthur's +Court, he grew very sorry for his evil deeds, and became a good +man. + +Meanwhile, Enid was making ready to go to Arthur's Court with Sir +Geraint. She was sorry that she had only her robe of faded silk. +She remembered a robe her mother had given her before the +Sparrow-hawk took their riches. It was of velvet, the color of +mother-of-pearl, with gold leaves and flowers and birds +embroidered upon it. + +While she was thinking of this beautiful robe, her mother entered +the room, carrying it. Enid gave a cry of joy, and her mother +told her that the Sparrow-hawk had just given it back, together +with other robes and gold and jewels. "Put it on, Enid," she +said, and helped her daughter to array herself in the handsome +gown, exclaiming: "How beautiful you look, my dear child! Sir +Geraint may well be proud to fetch such a fair lady to King +Arthur's Court." + +Just then the earl entered to tell them that the knight wanted +Enid to ride with him to Camelot in the faded silk dress in which +he had first seen her. + +Enid, although she was deeply disappointed, at once put on again +her faded gown. When Sir Geraint came in he saw that the earl's +wife was also disappointed, so he told them that the queen had +promised to dress his bride in the most beautiful robes in the +world for her wedding. At this both the ladies were much pleased. + +So after bidding farewell to her parents, Enid rode with Sir +Geraint to Camelot, where the queen welcomed her, and gave her a +robe that was as bright as the sun. Then the good Archbishop of +Canterbury married Sir Geraint and Enid amid great rejoicings. + +[Illustration: Two Crossed Swords and a Shield] + + + + +[Illustration] ARTHUR AND SIR ACCALON + + +There was a woman in Arthur's Court named Morgan le Fay, who had +learned a great deal about magic. She was a wicked woman, and +hated the king because he was more powerful than she, and because +he was so good. + +However, she pretended to be a true friend to him, and the king +believed in her. One day when they were talking together, she +asked him if he would not let her take charge of his wonderful +sword Excalibur, and its scabbard. She said that she would guard +them so carefully that they would never be stolen. As she was +very eager, Arthur granted her request. + +One day in time of peace, King Arthur went out hunting with a +certain knight named Sir Accalon, who was the lover of Morgan le +Fay. They rode for a long time, and when they were tired, stopped +to rest beside a great lake. As they looked over its shining +waters, they saw a beautiful little ship, which sailed straight +towards them, and ran up to the sands at their feet. It was all +covered with golden silks, which waved in the gentle wind. King +Arthur and Sir Accalon climbed into it and examined it thoroughly, +but they found no one on board. + +They rested on two couches which were on the deck, until it grew +dark. Then they were about to return home, when all at once, a +hundred torches, set on the sides of the ship were lighted, and +suddenly there appeared twelve beautiful damsels who told the two +that they were welcome, and that they should be served with a +banquet. + +Presently the maidens led the king and the knight into a room +which had a table covered with a white cloth embroidered in +purple. It bore many golden dishes, and each dish had a beautiful +design carved upon it. Some dishes had vine-leaves, others +ivy-leaves; some had angels with long robes sweeping back in +graceful lines; and all these dishes held choice food. The king +and Sir Accalon ate to their hearts' content. + +Then the damsels led them into two separate chambers. King Arthur +was tired and so sleepy that he gave but one glance at his +bedroom. He saw that it was hung in red silk embroidered with +gold dragons and griffins. Then he threw himself on his bed and +slept very soundly. + +When he awoke, he found himself not in the pretty bed-chamber, +but in a dark place. He could see nothing, but all about him he +heard the sound of complaining and weeping. He was much +bewildered, but in a moment he cried: + +"What is this? Where am I?" + +Then a voice answered: + +"You are in prison, as we are." + +"Who are you?" asked Arthur. + +The voice replied: + +"We are twenty knights, prisoners, and some of us have been here +as long as seven years. We are in the dungeons of a wicked lord +named Sir Damas. He has a younger brother, and the two brothers +are enemies, quarreling about their inheritance. Now the younger +brother, Sir Ontzlake, is very strong, but Sir Damas is not +strong, and moreover, he is a coward. So he tries to find a +knight who will fight for him against Sir Ontzlake. + +"But Sir Damas is so much hated that no one will fight for him. +So he goes about the country with a body of rough men, and +whenever he sees a knight, he captures him. Then he asks him to +fight with Sir Ontzlake. So far, all the knights have refused, +and have been thrown into prison. We do not have food enough, but +we would rather die here than fight for Sir Damas, who is so +wicked." + +At that moment a damsel entered the prison with a torch, which +faintly lighted the dismal place, and advanced to the king. + +"Sir," she said, "will you fight for my lord, Sir Damas? If you +will, you shall be taken from this prison. If you will not, you +shall die here." + +Arthur considered for some time, and then said: + +"I would rather fight than die in prison. If I fight, will you +deliver also all these prisoners?" + +The damsel promised, and Arthur consented to fight. While she +went to tell Sir Damas, Arthur said to the other prisoners: + +"My friends, I do not know Sir Damas, and I do not know Sir +Ontzlake. I do not know whether they are bad or good. But I will +fight, and then, when I have conquered, I shall judge between +them, and do justice to both." + +"That is a good plan," said the knights, "but why are you so sure +that you will conquer?" + +"I am Arthur, the King," he replied. + +At that the knights set up a great cry of joy, and the king +continued: + +"I shall send for my good sword Excalibur and the scabbard, and +with these I shall surely win." + +So when Arthur and the knights were led out of prison, the king +sent the damsel who had visited them to Morgan le Fay for his +sword and scabbard. + +Meantime, the knight who had accompanied Arthur on the little +ship, Sir Accalon, also awoke. He found himself in the palace of +Morgan le Fay, and he wondered very much where Arthur was. He +went to the lady, who said to him: + +"My dear lord, the day has come when you can have great power if +you want it. Should you like to be king of this land, instead of +Arthur?" + +Now Sir Accalon was a traitor at heart. He wanted very much to be +king, even if the good Arthur was to be killed; so he said: + +"Yes, truly." + +Then she said: + +"You shall be king, and I shall be your queen. All you need to do +is to fight a great battle, which you shall win. I have been +using my magic. It was I who sent the ship of silk to you and +Arthur. I had him put into prison, and I had you brought here." + +Sir Accalon wondered very much. Then she told him of the fight +King Arthur was to make against Sir Ontzlake. + +"But I have caused Sir Ontzlake to fall sick," she said, "and he +cannot fight. I shall go with you to his castle and you can offer +to fight for him." + +"I to fight with the king!" cried Sir Accalon. "He would surely +overthrow me." + +"He cannot," said Morgan le Fay, "because you are to fight with +his sword. A little while ago he sent to me for Excalibur and the +scabbard, but I returned him a false sword which looks like +Excalibur, and a false scabbard. You shall take the true ones, +and then you shall surely overcome him and rule this land." + +Then Sir Accalon was glad, and he hastened with the lady to the +castle of Sir Ontzlake. They found him groaning because he was +ill and because Sir Damas had sent him a challenge to fight with +a knight, and he could not accept it. He was much relieved when +Morgan le Fay told him that Sir Accalon would fight in his place. + +Early in the afternoon, King Arthur and Sir Accalon rode into the +field where the combat was to be held. Arthur did not know who +Sir Accalon was, nor did any one else, except Morgan le Fay. Two +sides of the field were full of people who came to watch, half of +whom were friends of Sir Damas, and the other half were friends +of Sir Ontzlake. + +Arthur and Sir Accalon rode at each other so furiously that at +the shock of the meeting both fell off their horses. Then they +began to fight fiercely with their swords. The king could make no +headway with his false steel, but whenever Sir Accalon struck at +Arthur he drew blood. + +The king was much amazed. He grew weaker and weaker, but still he +kept on his feet. Those who watched him were sorry for him; they +thought they had never seen a man fight so bravely. At last +Arthur's sword broke, and fell in two pieces on the ground. When +Sir Accalon saw this, he cried: + +"Now, yield to me." + +"I will never yield," said the king, "and if you do not get me +another sword, you will be shamed before all men, for it is an +unknightly thing to fight with a defenseless man." + +"I do not care," said Sir Accalon. "If you will not yield, defend +yourself with your shield as best you can." + +He rushed at the king. Arthur was so weak that he could hardly +stand, but he guarded himself as well as he could with his +shield. Soon he could do no more, and fell to the ground. + +At this moment the Lady of the Lake, who had given Arthur his +sword, came upon the field. She was invisible, but anyone who had +listened intently could have heard a sound like the ripple of +water as she walked. She caused Excalibur to fall out of the hand +of Sir Accalon and drop near Arthur. + +When it fell, Arthur saw that it was his own Excalibur. He +grasped its handle and some of his strength came back. He +struggled to his feet, and rushing up to Sir Accalon, seized the +scabbard of Excalibur and threw it far over the field. + +"Now," he said, "send for a second sword and fight with me." + +Then Sir Accalon was afraid. Yet he thought that Arthur was so +weak that he could still be overcome. So he sent for a second +sword, and they began to fight again. Arthur's strength, however, +had largely returned, and in a short time he gave Sir Accalon a +mortal stroke. + +Sir Accalon fell to the ground, and the king, leaning over him, +cried: + +"Tell me who you are." + +Then Sir Accalon was filled with remorse, and he said: + +"Oh, my king, I have been a traitor to you, but now I am dying, +and I am sorry for what I have done. I deserve my death." + +He told the king his name, and all about his treachery, and that +of Morgan le Fay. + +King Arthur was sad. + +"It is very hard to be deceived in a friend," he said, "but I +forgive you freely. I will try to cure your wound, and sometime I +shall trust you again." + +"You cannot cure me," said Sir Accalon. "I am dying. Let them +carry me off the field." + +So he was taken to a neighboring abbey, while the people crowded +about the king to congratulate him, but Arthur said: + +"I am sad at heart. My victory is no comfort to me, for to-day I +have lost a friend whom I believed true." + +Then he called the two brothers, Sir Damas and Sir Ontzlake, and +judged their cause. He decided that their property must be +divided equally between them, and that they must be friends. They +promised never to quarrel again. Arthur told them that they must +be kind to other knights and to all people. He said that if he +heard that they were not, he would come and punish them. + +After this, Sir Damas gave back to the twenty knights all their +money, and they went on their way rejoicing. King Arthur mounted +his horse and rode over to the abbey, where he sat by the bed of +Sir Accalon till the poor knight died. Then the king went back +alone to his Court at Camelot. + +[Illustration: The Holy Grail] + + + + +[Illustration] HOW ARTHUR FOUGHT WITH A GIANT + + +Once upon a time King Arthur and some of his knights were sailing +in a ship. The king, being tired, went to sleep in his cabin, and +began to dream. It seemed to him that he was sailing with his +people when a great dragon flew out of the west. This dragon had +a blue head and a gold back. Underneath he shone like a rainbow. +Flames of fire rushed out of his mouth and covered land and sea. + +As he flew, there came out of the east a great bear, very rough, +and as black as coal, and with wings that flapped like windmills. +The bear and the dragon roared loudly, and they began to fight +and struggle till the sea was all red with blood. At last the +dragon conquered. + +When the king awoke from this dream he sent for Merlin and told +him of it, and asked for an explanation. + +"My lord," Merlin replied, "the dragon betokens yourself; the +colors on its body are signs of your glory. The bear betokens +some tyrant who torments the people and whom you will slay." + +Soon after this, the ship in which the company was, came in sight +of land. When they had anchored, the knights noticed on the beach +a crowd of people who were weeping. Descending from the ship, +Arthur asked one of the men what troubled them, and what was the +name of their country. + +"Good sir," returned the man, "this is the country of Brittany, +and we weep because our county is desolated by a giant. He makes +us bring him food. First, he ate up all the oxen we had, and then +our horses. Next he demanded our children, and now there are no +little ones in the land. To-day he took our good duchess of +Brittany, and carried her off to his mountain." + +"Alas!" said the king. "It grieves me to hear this, not only +because a cruel deed has been done, but because the duchess of +Brittany is my cousin's wife. I must save this lady. I will fight +with the giant." + +"Good sir," cried the people in amazement, "it is not possible! A +whole company of us dare not attack him, and yet we account +ourselves brave men." + +"That may well be," replied Arthur, "and yet with my good sword +and scabbard, I have no fear." + +Then the men said: + +"If you will go, my lord, yonder is the great mountain where the +giant lives. At the top, two huge fires burn continually in front +of a cave, and in that cave are greater treasures than you can +dream of. They are all yours if you will but slay this monster." + +Arthur replied nothing to them, but called Sir Kay and Sir +Bedivere, and rode with them to the foot of the mountain. From +that point he ascended alone. When he was nearly to the top he +came upon a woman, clad all in black, who sat weeping by the side +of a newly-made grave. + +"Good woman, why do you weep?" asked Arthur. + +"Hush, hush!" she cried, "or the giant will hear you and come and +kill you. He can hear me, but the sound of weeping delights him, +and therefore I need not restrain my grief." + +"Why do you grieve?" the king asked. + +"Alas! Because my good mistress, the duchess of Brittany, is +dead. The giant has killed her." + +At that Arthur gripped tightly the handle of his sword and said: + +"I will kill this wretch before I am an hour older." + +"Ah, my lord," said the woman, "the greatest kings in the country +are afraid of him. He has a coat embroidered with the beards of +fifteen of them. He demanded these beards as a sign that they +acknowledged him as lord." + +"There is at least one king who does not acknowledge him as +lord," shouted Arthur, as he strode hastily forward. + +When he reached the top he saw the giant asleep in front of the +two great fires before the cave. He was taller than the tallest +pine that ever grew. His arms were as big as the trunk of an oak +tree. His mouth was as large as a cave, and from it and his +nostrils came forth fire and flame like that from the mountain of +Vesuvius. Although his huge eyes were closed, flashes of +lightning seemed to shoot from beneath the lids. At his side was +an iron club as large as a steeple. About him stood trembling old +women fanning him as he slept. + +King Arthur approached the monster, and said to him: + +"Wretch, awake and fight, for your hour has come." + +The giant, starting up, looked down scornfully upon the king and, +laughing, threw his great club at Arthur. But the king leapt +aside and the club fell harmlessly on the ground, making a hollow +where it struck. + +Then Arthur rushed toward the giant, waving his good sword +Excalibur. The giant caught him in his arms, in order to squeeze +him to death. The king's armor pressed closer and closer about +him, and he began to lose his strength. But he kept his hand upon +his scabbard, and so did not die. + +In a few minutes the monster, making sure that Arthur was dead, +dropped him to the ground. After the king had recovered himself, +he sprang to his feet, and taking his sword, threw it at the +giant. The good steel pierced his neck, and he sank to the +ground, shouting so loudly that Sir Kay and Sir Bedivere at the +foot of the mountain heard, and trembled for their master's +safety. + +Then the giant again seized Arthur in his arms, and the two began +to roll down the mountain side. Whenever Arthur was able to, he +struck at the giant with his dagger, wounding him sorely. At +last, still struggling and rolling, they came to the spot where +Sir Kay and Sir Bedivere were. These two loosed the giant's arms +from the king, who then gave one last blow to the monster, +killing him. Then he sent Sir Kay and Sir Bedivere for his sword +Excalibur. + +When the people on the seashore heard what Arthur had done, they +fell on their knees and thanked him, offering him all the giant's +treasure. He said, however, that he would leave it with them to +divide among the poor people of the country. For himself, all he +wanted was the giant's iron club. + +The people sent fifty men to the top of the mountain to get it +for him. As they had no horses, it was a long time before they +could drag the club to the seashore. There they put it on a +barge. It was so heavy that it pressed the barge down till the +water came almost to the edge of the vessel. Then King Arthur +bade the people good-by, and took ship with his knights. The +grateful men of Brittany stood on the shore, and shouted and +waved until the ship could no longer be seen. + +[Illustration: The Shield] + + + + +[Illustration] HOW ARTHUR FOUGHT WITH ROME + + +In the time of the great Roman, Julius Caesar, about five hundred +years before King Arthur was born, the people of Rome conquered +Britain. They made many improvements in the land, building roads +and walls, the remains of which may be seen to this day. But they +also forced the Britons to pay them much money. All the kings did +this up to the time of Arthur. He, however, considered that +England was his own. He had conquered the lesser kings, and made +one realm of all the land, over which he ruled with wise +government. So he refused to send any money to Rome. + +Once King Arthur's knights were all together in the great hall. +It was a time of peace, and they spent the days in riding and +hunting. On this day, while the king was sitting on his throne, +twelve old men entered, each bearing a branch of olive, as a sign +that they came in peace. They were the messengers of the emperor +of Rome, and, after bowing to the king, they said: + +"Sir, our mighty emperor sends you greeting, and commands you to +acknowledge him as lord, and to send him the money due him from +your realm. Your father and his predecessors did this, and so +must you. If you refuse, the emperor will make such war against +you that it will be an example to all the world." + +At this the young knights laid their hands to their swords, but +the older knights, who had self-control enough to hide their +feelings, waited to see what the king would do. + +Arthur bowed courteously to the messengers, and told them that he +would soon give them an answer. He commanded a knight to take +them to a lodging, and to see that they had all they needed, and +he ordered that no harm should be done them. Then he called a +council of his great lords and asked their advice. + +Sir Lancelot, Arthur's favorite lord, spoke first, saying: + +"My lord, we have rested for many weeks, and can make sharp war +now. In days gone by, we should not have dared attack the Romans, +and indeed, our attempt will make the world wonder. But of a +truth, we ought to fight." + +Then spoke King Angus of Scotland: + +"My lord Arthur, you are the greatest lord on earth. You have +made all of us lesser kings your subjects, and bound the kingdom +together, and stopped our civil wars. We love you and we will +help you. We pray you to make war on these Romans. When they +ruled our elders, they demanded much gold and made our people +very poor. If you will fight, I will furnish you with twenty +thousand men, and will bear all the cost of them myself." + +Then all the other lords promised to furnish men and arms. When +Arthur heard this, he was glad of their courage and good will. +He called in the messengers and said to them: + +"Return to your emperor. Tell him that I refuse his command, for +I owe him nothing. I have won this kingdom by my own strength. +Tell him that I shall come with all my army to Rome and make him +acknowledge me as lord." + +Then Arthur told his treasurer to give the messengers gifts, and +to take them safely out of the country. Sir Lancelot conducted +them to the sea, where they took ship and sailed to France. On +they journeyed over the Alps and into Italy. When they told the +emperor of Rome their message, he said: + +"I had thought Arthur would yield." + +But the messengers said: + +"Sir, his face would have told you, if you had seen it, that he +would never yield. In truth, there is need of fear, for he is a +great king and surrounded by great knights." + +"This is foolish talk," the emperor said. "Remember that we are +Romans. We have ruled the world for centuries, and a little king +of little England shall not make us fear. You say that he is +coming to fight with us. We will take a few troops and go +forthwith to France to meet him." + +The messengers begged the emperor to take many troops. + +"My lord emperor," they said, "these men of Arthur are very +numerous and very brave." + +So at last the emperor brought all his men to France, and there, +whenever he found people who were loyal to Arthur, he killed and +laid waste. + +Meanwhile, Arthur had gathered together all his troops. He bade +farewell to Queen Guinevere, who was so grieved that she fell in +a swoon. Then he rode off at the head of his men till they came +to the sea, and there they embarked in ten thousand boats and +sailed to France. + +They marched till they came near to the troops of the emperor of +Rome, where they rested for the night. In the morning they rose +at dawn and looked at the Roman legions. These were encamped in a +green field which glittered with the gold on their tents and +armor. The emperor's tent was of purple silk and bore on the top +a golden eagle, the emblem of Rome. + +Two of Arthur's knights, Sir Lancelot and Sir Gawain, rode out to +the emperor, and told him that their king had come. + +"That I see," said the emperor laughing, "and he shall soon +return." + +The two knights made no answer, but rode back to Arthur. Soon all +the soldiers on each side made ready for fighting. The preparation +was careful, for they knew that the contest was to be a great +one. The emperor of Rome addressed his soldiers: + +"Romans, remember that Rome is the chief city of the world. I do +not say fight as men; I say to you, fight as Romans. Then you +will surely conquer these Britains." + +King Arthur galloped up and down before the front rank of his +men, looking at them carefully. He was on a beautiful white horse +whose mane rose and fell in the wind like a wave of the sea. His +soldiers cheered lustily for their beloved commander. Then King +Arthur raised his hand for silence, and spoke in a loud, clear +voice: + +"My knights and men whom I love, remember that you are fighting +to-day for your rights and for the independence of Britain. +Strike well, and do not forget that great courage is as powerful +as great numbers." + +With that, he gave the signal for attack. The Romans stood in +full battle array with their emperor in front. Beside him were +sixteen kings with gold helmets and silver armor. The English +approached, shouting a battle-cry. + +Then the Romans, at the call of the trumpet, rushed forward, and +in a moment the two great armies clashed together. Clouds of dust +arose through which could be seen at intervals the heads of +horses and the helmets of men. The few poor shepherds and women +who stood on the outside did not know that the greatest battle of +the time was going on under that cloud of dust. + +[Illustration: _"King Arthur raising his hand for silence"_] + +Inside the cloud there was great confusion. Britains and Romans +were fighting side by side, so closely packed that sometimes it +was hard to strike. All fought bravely, but no one did so well as +Arthur and Sir Lancelot. The battle did not cease until it was +dark. Each side had lost many men. King Arthur wept as he rode +over the field and counted his dead knights, and even his +beautiful horse drooped its head as if it, also, understood. + +But the next day the two armies began to fight again, and when +the emperor finally saw that his men were losing and that most of +the kings who were helping him were dead, he said: + +"This Arthur is a demon and not a man. I will fight with him +myself and end this battle." And before any one could stop him, +he spurred up to King Arthur and said: + +"You on the white horse who refuse to pay me tribute, come out +that I may kill you." + +Then Arthur rode quickly towards the emperor. The two men began +to fight, and Arthur soon saw that he was contending with a +powerful man. He gave the emperor many a stroke with Excalibur, +but he himself received deep blows. At last the emperor pierced +Arthur's helmet, and wounded him deeply in the cheek. + +King Arthur raised his good Excalibur with a last effort and +struck his enemy with it so fiercely on the head that the blow +cleft the helmet and pierced to the emperor's chin. He fell from +his horse without a moan. When the Romans near by saw that their +ruler was dead, they gave a great cry of grief and rushed upon +Arthur, but his good knights protected him. + +At last, seeing themselves conquered, the Romans surrendered. +Arthur found among his prisoners three senators, and among the +dead, sixty senators, the sixteen kings, and the emperor. + +He was sorrowful, for he knew that they were great men. So he had +them embalmed and laid in chests of lead. Around each chest flags +were wound, and the shields of the dead warriors placed on top. +Then he said to the three surviving senators: + +"Take these noble dead bodies back to Rome. When the Romans see +them they will never again dare ask tax or tribute of me. I will +not go to Rome and take the city from you, but if ever you send +to me for gold, I shall invade your land and never rest till all +Italy is mine." + +The senators bowed their heads. Then they laid the body of the +emperor on a car, all alone, with the gold eagle above him. They +laid the bodies of the kings and the senators two by two on +chariots, and so went slowly towards Rome. And never again did +the kings of Britain have to pay a tax to the Romans. + +[Illustration: The Holy Grail] + + + + +[Illustration] THE KNIGHT WITH the BADLY MADE COAT + + +One day when Arthur and his knights were in the hall of the Round +Table, a young man entered. He was so large that his shoulders +were as wide as the doorway, and he could hardly squeeze through. +The knights looked at him in amazement, for he was almost a +giant. + +When he came closer to them, they saw that he had on a coat which +was far too large for him. It hung in wrinkles and folds all over +his back, and the sleeves were so long that he had to turn them +up almost to the elbow. The coat was of rich material, gold +cloth, but it was old and blood-stained. + +The young man strode up to the king and said: + +"My lord, my name is Brune. I can tell you no more than that. I +beg you to make me a knight." + +At this Sir Kay laughed and said: + +"He must be called The Knight with the Badly Made Coat." + +"Call me what you will," said the young man. "Yes, I take that +name, for I will not tell my real one." + +Then Arthur spoke to him gently: + +"Young man, you ask a great thing. All those in my Court who are +made knights must serve for a long time as squires. If they prove +themselves loyal and brave, I make them knights. But I must +always know whence they come, and who their fathers are." + +"My lord," said the young man, "I do indeed ask a great thing. I +would gladly tell you more of myself, but I am under a vow to +reveal no more than you already know. Yet I will tell you this, +further. I am the son of a noble who was as big as a giant. My +good father was very peaceable and did not care to fight; so he +never came to your Court, and you did not hear of him. He lived +at home with my mother and me, and the simple people who plowed +the land about our castle. + +"Every one ought to have loved him; but he had one enemy. One +day, six years ago, when I was only a boy, my father and I were +in the forest. My father was sleeping at the foot of a tree, and +I was bathing in a brook near by. This enemy, who wanted my +father's lands, came up and drove his sword into my father's +heart. Then he rode away. I ran up to my dead father and took off +the coat which he wore and put it on. I swore never to take it +off, and never to tell my father's name or where I came from, +till I had avenged his death. + +"Then I rode home to our castle, but our enemy had taken +possession of it, and had made my mother prisoner. As I was not +yet grown up I vowed that I would stay with the good shepherds +near by till I was strong enough to pull up a young tree by the +roots. Then I would go to King Arthur's Court and ask to be made +a knight. So every month I have tried to uproot a young tree. +This morning I succeeded, and here, my lords, I am." + +The knights were much moved and prayed the king to make him a +knight. They said that they would teach him to use arms. The king +said that he would wait to see what sort of man Brune was. + +A few days after this all the knights rode off to a tournament +and Brune was left at home with a few soldiers. He was in the +castle yard practicing some of the lessons in warfare which the +knights had been teaching him. While he was hard at work, Queen +Guinevere with twelve soldiers who were her bodyguard passed by. + +As she was speaking kindly to Brune, they heard a terrible noise, +and looking in the direction from which it came, saw a dreadful +sight. A fierce lion which had been confined in a tower of stone +had broken out of its prison and was rushing towards them. The +twelve soldiers fled, leaving the queen and Brune alone. + +"Ah," said Brune, "not all the cowards in the world are dead." + +[Illustration: _"The king touched him lightly with his sword"_] + +He stood still while the lion bounded towards him. He had dropped +his sword, and as the beast leaped upon him, he seized its head +in his hands. Then he slowly, slowly, bent its head back. It was +a strong lion, and with the effort the muscles on Brune's neck +stood out like great ropes. Presently, the queen and Brune heard +a loud crack and they knew that the lion's neck was broken. Brune +loosed his hold, and the huge tawny body dropped to the ground, +quivered a moment, and was still. + +While this was going on, the king and his knights returned. They +saw at a glance what Brune had done, and cheered him loudly. The +king rode up to him. + +"Kneel down," he said. + +Brune knelt down by the body of the lion, and the king touched +him lightly with his sword, saying: + +"Sir Brune, I make you a knight of my Round Table. Be always +loyal, brave, and merciful." + +Then all the knights were glad, but Sir Brune was gladdest of +all. + +[Illustration: The Two Horses] + + + + +[Illustration] SIR LANCELOT & SIR BRUNE + + +After Sir Brune, the Knight with the Badly Made Coat, had been at +Arthur's Court for some months, he became eager to seek for the +enemy of his father. Sir Lancelot, who took an interest in the +big young knight, advised him to wait and try his strength at +some smaller adventure first. + +One day, when Sir Lancelot was away hunting, a damsel entered +Arthur's hall. She carried a black shield which had painted on it +a white hand holding a sword. She bowed to the king and said: + +"My lord, I come for a knight to undertake the adventure of the +black shield." + +"And what is that adventure, fair damsel?" asked the king. + +"That I may not tell you," answered the damsel, "except that it +will cause much fighting and bloodshed to the knight who chooses +it." + +Some of the knights were eager to go, and Sir Kay pressed forward +to finger the shield. + +"Do not touch it, good Sir Kay," said the maiden, "for this +adventure is not for you. I am to choose the knight." + +She passed up and down the hall, looking into the face of each +one. When she had seen them all she came back to Sir Brune and +said: + +"Young Knight with the Ugly Coat, will you take this shield?" + +"Gladly, if my king allows," said the knight. + +Then Arthur gave his permission, and Sir Brune followed the +damsel out of the hall. Her horse was black, and wore white +trappings. Sir Brune's horse was as brown as an autumn leaf. The +two mounted and rode away. Sir Brune began to talk to the damsel, +whose name was Elinor. At first she was agreeable, but after they +had ridden many miles she became scornful, and told him she was +sorry she had chosen him. + +Sir Brune felt sad, because he had begun to love the damsel. He +was afraid she did not like him because his coat was poor. He did +not speak to her any more, but rode on sorrowfully beside her. +After a long time they came to a castle enclosed by high walls. +The gate stood open, and the damsel Elinor pointed to it and +said, sighing: + +"Since you have not left me as I hoped you would, go in there. +You will find your first adventure. I may not tell you what it +is." + +Sir Brune galloped inside the gate. There he saw a hundred +knights on horseback, armed and waiting for him. He had to think +and act quickly. So he decided to rush in between the knights and +put his back against the castle wall. Then he could fight with +his back protected. He did this, though not without receiving +some spear-wounds. Then he began to fight. + +The lady of the castle, whom the knights were keeping prisoner, +watched the fight out of the window, and grieved for the brave +young man who had so many against him. She began to speak to him +in a low voice: + +"Young knight, if you can only get to the left side of the castle +wall, there is a secret door through which you can escape. If you +look, you will see that one portion of the wall is made of black +stones. Strike the stones with the hilt of your sword, and a door +will open through which you can ride out." + +The other knights did not hear what the lady said, for they were +farther away from her than Sir Brune was. Even he could hardly +catch her words. He took a quick glance to the left and saw that +there was indeed a portion of the wall marked with black stones. +Then he began to work his way carefully towards the secret gate. + +He was obliged to move slowly for fear the knights would guess +what he was doing. Moreover, it was becoming very hard to fight, +because of his many wounds. However, he at last came near the +door; then he backed his brown horse up against it, struck the +black stones with the handle of his sword, and the door opened. +The knights shouted with rage, but they were unable to reach him +in time. Sir Brune escaped, leaving behind him twelve men dead. + +He was very weak, and he made his way painfully to the side of +the wall where the maiden Elinor waited for him. She ran to meet +him, and led him gently to a brook in a forest near by. There she +took off his armor and bathed his wounds, anointing them with a +precious salve she carried. + +Sir Brune thought that she was sorry because she had been +scornful of him, and he began to talk to her. But she said: + +"Do not talk to me. If you want to please me, go back to Arthur's +Court." + +Sir Brune did not know why she spoke so, but he was too tired to +think. So he lay down on the grass by the brook and went to +sleep. + +Meantime, at Arthur's Court Sir Lancelot had returned from his +hunting expedition, and was told how Sir Brune had gone out with +a damsel on the adventure of the shield. + +"Oh!" cried Sir Lancelot, "what have you done! He will surely be +killed. Merlin has told me what this adventure of the shield is. +Many and many a knight has taken it up and each has been killed. +A knight who vows to follow this adventure has to meet dangers of +all sorts. This young untried Sir Brune will certainly be +killed." + +He called for his horse and arms, and said to the king: + +"My lord, I will ride after this poor young man and give him what +help I can. Perhaps I shall be too late; but if not, I shall ask +him to give me this adventure of the shield." + +Then Sir Lancelot mounted his horse and rode after Sir Brune. +When he came near the brook where Sir Brune and the damsel had +rested, he heard the sound of a great combat. Spurring forward he +saw Sir Brune, fighting single-handed against six knights. Sir +Lancelot rushed to the rescue and quickly overthrew the enemy. He +found that they belonged to the company of the hundred knights +whom Sir Brune had attacked. He ordered them, first of all, to +free the lady of the castle, and then to go to Arthur's Court and +surrender themselves to the mercy of the king. + +Poor Sir Brune was almost dead, but Sir Lancelot revived him, and +in a feeble voice he thanked Sir Lancelot for his help. But the +damsel begged: + +"Take him back to the Court of your king. I do not want him to +follow this quest any longer." + +"This is surely ungrateful of you," said Sir Lancelot. "He has +fought bravely and well." + +"The maiden scorns me, though I love her," bitterly said Sir +Brune. + +Then the damsel Elinor cried out: + +"I will tell the truth. I love you and I am afraid you will be +killed. Therefore, I wish you to return to Camelot." + +Sir Brune was very glad, and he said: + +"I have pledged my word and must follow this quest. When I have +succeeded we shall go together back to Arthur's Court." + +"Give this adventure to me," said Sir Lancelot, "and go back now +with the damsel." + +But Sir Brune refused. Then Sir Lancelot said that they must +undertake the adventure together, and Sir Brune consenting, they +rode slowly forward. Soon they came to an abbey, where they +rested for some days until Sir Brune was well. + +Then they traveled as the damsel gave directions. She always knew +what they had to do. At times they passed through woods full of +wild beasts, some of which attacked them. Again they passed over +enchanted meadows where wicked magicians tried to cast spells +over them. They also fought with many knights. However, they +escaped all dangers, although it is certain that Sir Brune would +never have succeeded without the help of Sir Lancelot. + +At length the damsel Elinor told them that they were nearing the +last adventure. She pointed to a castle on a hill; a square +structure built of black stones, with a turret on top. The damsel +told them that at the gate of the castle were two huge dragons. +These they must slay. + +"Whose is the castle?" asked Sir Brune. + +"It belongs now to the wicked Lord Brian of the Isles," answered +the damsel. + +At this Sir Brune gave such a loud shout that the dragons on top +of the hill heard him and roared in reply. + +"Ah!" cried he, "that is the name of my enemy, who killed my dear +father. At last I shall slay him." + +He rode off so quickly that Sir Lancelot had much trouble to keep +up with him. It seemed scarcely five minutes before they came to +the dragons; terrible creatures, all of green, with eyes and +tongues of flame. And their wings were as large as the sails of a +ship. + +Sir Brune had never before seen a dragon, but he was not afraid. +He fought very bravely, and even when the teeth of the dragons +crunched on his helmet, he did not lose courage. After a fierce +fight of half an hour, the two knights had killed the dragons. + +They hoped to rest, but at that moment the castle gate opened +and a porter appeared. + +"Enter and fight," he said. + +Both spurred forward, but the porter said: + +"One only may enter." + +"Let me go," said Sir Brune to Sir Lancelot. "Remember I am to +avenge my father's death. It may be that Lord Brian of the Isles +is waiting just inside the gate." + +Sir Lancelot consented, and the porter led in Sir Brune and +locked the gate. Inside were two great knights, the brothers of +Lord Brian of the Isles. They were almost as large as Sir Brune. +Together they set upon him. He was already tired from his fight +with the dragons, but his desire to avenge his father strengthened +his arm. One brother was soon overthrown. When the other saw +that, he yielded. Then Sir Brune sent them both to Sir Lancelot +outside the gate. + +While Sir Brune was looking about him, a third knight appeared at +the end of the courtyard. He was quite as large as Sir Brune, and +as he came spurring up, the noise of his horse's hoofs was +deafening. Sir Brune recognized him as Sir Plenorius, the cousin +of Lord Brian. + +"Ah!" cried he, "where is that wretch, Lord Brian? Am I to fight +with all his family before I meet with him?" + +Sir Plenorius wasted no words. He rushed upon Sir Brune and +struck him with his long spear. The blow broke Sir Brune's +helmet, and he had much trouble to guard his head with his +shield. He fought courageously, but he became weaker and weaker. +Then Sir Plenorius stopped fighting. + +"I know you will never yield," he said. "You are the bravest +knight I have yet seen. In truth, I loved your good father, and +grieved because my cousin slew him. I have no love for my cousin, +Lord Brian of the Isles, but I am vowed to fight for him as long +as he lives, or until I am overcome." + +Sir Brune was about to answer, but he fell back in a swoon. Sir +Plenorius lifted him gently in his arms and bore him into the +castle. He carried him up the winding stairs to the turret room, +and gently laid him on a bed. Then he went back to the courtyard. + +Meantime, Sir Lancelot, hearing the porter shout that Sir Brune +was killed, beat on the gate, but nobody would let him in. Then +with great difficulty he climbed the castle wall and leaped down. +Sir Plenorius was just about to care for the horse of Sir Brune. + +"Give me back my friend!" cried Sir Lancelot, fiercely. "Where is +my friend?" + +Then he began to fight with Sir Plenorius. Sir Plenorius was so +much larger than Sir Lancelot that he thought he could easily +overcome him. As the fight went on, however, he found himself all +but defeated. + +"Yield now to me," said Sir Lancelot. "I am Sir Lancelot of the +Lake." + +Then Sir Plenorius said: + +"Ah, my good lord, I know of your fame. If we go on fighting, you +will certainly kill me. Yet I do not want to yield, so I ask you +to treat me as I have treated Sir Brune." + +When Sir Lancelot heard how Sir Plenorius had spared Sir Brune, +he said: + +"You are a gentle knight. I am sorry you are vowed to the service +of Lord Brian of the Isles. He shall surely die." + +Sir Plenorius answered: + +"When he is dead, I will come to Arthur's Court as one of his +followers." + +All this time Sir Brune was lying in a swoon on the bed in the +turret room. But at last he came to himself and looked about him. +He saw near him his sword and shield; so he lifted them up beside +him. As he lay still, trying to recover his strength, he heard +stealthy footsteps coming up the turret stairs. They came nearer +and nearer. Suddenly, in rushed Lord Brian of the Isles. He knew +that Sir Brune was there, alone and wounded, and he intended to +kill him as he lay defenseless. Sir Brune understood this and he +cried: + +"Ah, wretch, you were ever a coward. You come to kill me as I lie +wounded here, just as you killed my poor father while he slept. +But the sight of you makes me forget my wounds." + +At these words, and at the fierce rage which shone in Sir +Brune's eyes, Lord Brian, who was indeed a coward, tried to +retreat. But Sir Brune sprang to the doorway. + +"You shall never go down by these stairs, villain," he said, "for +I will kill you!" + +Lord Brian rushed to the window and sprang out upon the +battlements. Sir Brune followed him, though with difficulty. The +two began to fight, and Sir Brune soon saw that his enemy was +trying to push him close to the edge of the battlements, that he +might fall down into the courtyard below. + +Sir Brune, at this, put himself behind Lord Brian, determined to +cast him off instead. Slowly he pushed him, until Lord Brian was +but a step from the edge. Then Sir Brune lifted his shield and +struck his enemy with it. The wicked lord lost his footing, and +was dashed to pieces at the feet of Sir Lancelot and Sir +Plenorius in the courtyard below. + +They ordered his soldiers to bury him, and while Sir Lancelot +went to care for Sir Brune, Sir Plenorius went down the hill to +find the damsel Elinor. She came back with tears of joy to Sir +Brune. + +[Illustration: _"He pushed him until he was but a step from the +edge"_] + +When Sir Brune was well enough to travel, he visited all the +castles of Lord Brian, in search of his lost mother. He was very +much afraid that she was dead, but at last he found her alive, in +the very castle which had belonged to his father. There was great +joy at their meeting. He took her to Arthur's Court, whither Sir +Lancelot had already conducted the damsel Elinor. A few days +afterward Sir Brune and the damsel were married amid great +festivities. + +[Illustration: The Shield and the Sword] + + + + +[Illustration] THE ADVENTURE OF KING PELLENORE + + +In Arthur's Court, every knight or lady who was found unworthy +was banished; yet it often took some time to discover one's real +character. + +One of the ladies of Arthur's Court was named Vivien. She was +very pretty, and as graceful as a willow wand, and so bright and +attractive in her ways that no one suspected her of being very +wicked. + +Among Arthur's bravest warriors was King Pellenore. He had once +had a great fight with Arthur, but after that they had become +friends, and King Pellenore had been made a Knight of the Round +Table. He was not often at court, for he spent much of his time +seeking for adventures. Now and then he would return and put +away his armor. Then he rode with the ladies or talked to the +other knights. + +The lady Vivien admired King Pellenore for his valor and his +mighty deeds, and whenever she could she talked with him about +his adventures. One afternoon she begged him to go for a long +ride with her through the forest. So their horses were brought +and they set forth. Just as they were passing a thick part of the +wood, a beautiful golden-haired lady stepped out. + +"Good sir knight," she cried to King Pellenore, "I ask your help. +I am here in the wood with the dear lord who is to be my husband. +He is sore wounded, for an enemy crept up behind him as we were +riding to Arthur's Court, and thrust a sword in his back." + +Then King Pellenore turned his horse's head toward the maiden. + +"Gladly will I help," he said; "lead me, maiden." + +But Vivien called him back. + +"Do not go with her," she said. "She may be a witch. Ride on with +me." + +"She is no witch, but a good maiden," said King Pellenore. + +Then the golden-haired lady spoke again. "Oh, sir knight, help +me! I must go to Arthur's Court to see my father. My dear lover +is going to ask permission to marry me. Help us or he will die." + +"Assuredly I will help you, damsel," said King Pellenore. + +Vivien held his arm, but he put her gently aside. When the wicked +woman saw that he was going to leave her, she made her horse +plunge and throw her to the ground. There she lay as if in a +faint. + +King Pellenore did not know what to do. He felt as if he must +help the beautiful lady, and yet he could not leave Vivien. So he +said: + +"Fair damsel, you shall have my help. I have never wanted to aid +anyone so much as I do you. I must save your lover and bring you +both to Arthur's Court. But let me first ride back with this lady +who has swooned. Then I will return here to you." + +"Alas, alas, I fear it will be too late," cried the damsel, +turning back into the forest. + +Then King Pellenore lifted Vivien on her horse, and tied her to +its back by her long green scarf. At this she opened her eyes and +groaned, and said that she was very sick. She made him ride very +slowly to the court. + +King Pellenore did not talk to her. He was thinking all the time +of the golden-haired maiden. As soon as he reached the city gate +he gave Vivien over into the care of a knight who was passing, +and galloped back to the woods. + +When he reached the spot where the beautiful damsel had spoken to +him, he turned into the thick part of the wood and followed a +narrow path. It was so narrow that the branches of the trees on +both sides struck his shoulders, but still he hurried on. The +path ended in a glade, and there he saw the lady and her lover +lying on the grass. + +"Alas, alas!" the lady said, "my dear lord is dead and I am +dying." + +Then King Pellenore saw that the fair young knight who lay on the +ground was very pale and quiet, and that all the grass about was +blood-stained. + +"Ah, good knight," said the lady, "after you left me, a lion ran +out of the wood and slew my lover with one stroke of his paw. He +has wounded me so sorely that I too shall die." + +Then King Pellenore wept. + +"I wish that I had made Vivien wait here," he said, "and had +helped you. I fear I have done wrong." + +He sat down and took her golden head on his knee, and spoke to +her gently till she died. Then he put her body and her lover's +body on his horse, and walked beside them sorrowfully until he +reached Arthur's Court. + +Near the great hall he met Arthur and Merlin and several knights. + +"I am a miserable man," he said. + +Then the wise Merlin said: "You are more miserable than you know. +This beautiful lady was your own daughter who was stolen from you +as a child. Only lately she learned who her father was. She was +coming here to seek you." + +Then King Pellenore wept loudly. + +"This is my punishment," he cried, "for not aiding the maiden. +The one who needs help most should be given it first, and she +needed it more than Vivien. I am indeed punished." + +"And you shall be punished yet more," said Merlin; "and in good +time, Vivien also for the part she took. Some day the friend whom +you most trust shall deceive you, and you shall be betrayed to +death." + +King Pellenore bowed his head meekly. + +"I have deserved it," he said. "And now I must bury my dear child +and her lover." + +The beautiful golden-haired lady and her lover were buried with +great mourning, and it was many a day before King Pellenore cared +to seek for adventures. + +[Illustration: The Shield] + + + + +[Illustration] SIR LANCELOT & HIS FRIENDS + + +Sir Lancelot was acknowledged by all the knights of the Round +Table to be the bravest of their number, and the one whom the +king loved most. He was not often at court, because he was nearly +always engaged in adventures which took him away from the town of +Camelot. The knights were always sorry when he went away, yet +they were sure he would return safely and with much to tell them. + +One day Sir Lancelot called his nephew Sir Lionel, and told him +to mount his horse, for they must go to seek adventures. Sir +Lionel was very glad, for it was a great honor to be chosen as a +companion by Sir Lancelot. They rode off through a deep forest, +and then across a wide, treeless plain. The sun was shining hot +and bright, and when they reached a clump of trees, Sir Lancelot +bade Sir Lionel dismount. Then the two sat in the shade to rest. + +It was not long before Sir Lancelot fell asleep. While Sir Lionel +kept guard, he saw three knights furiously pursued by another +knight, who was very large. This knight overtook the three +knights, one after another, and overthrew them, and bound them by +the reins of their bridles. Sir Lionel, who was young and +self-confident, thought that he would like to fight with this +knight. So he mounted his horse very quietly without waking his +uncle, and rode into the plain. + +When the big knight saw him coming, he laughed and rode up +quickly. At the very first stroke, young Sir Lionel fell to the +earth. The strong knight bound him fast to the other three +knights and drove them all to his castle. There he took off their +armor and clothes, and beat them with thorny sticks. After that +he threw them into a deep dungeon where there were many other +knights. + +Meanwhile Sir Hector, the foster father of King Arthur, hearing +that Sir Lancelot and Sir Lionel had gone in search of adventures, +determined to join them; so he rode hastily in pursuit. When he +had gone some distance through the forest, he met a wood-cutter, +and asked him if he had seen Sir Lancelot and Sir Lionel. The man +replied that he had not. + +"Then do you know of any adventure which I can seek?" asked Sir +Hector. + +The man answered: + +"Sir, a mile from here is a strong castle. On one side of it is a +large stream, and by that stream a large tree. At the foot of the +tree is a basin of copper. Go and strike on that three times with +your spear and you will meet with an adventure." + +"Thank you heartily," said Sir Hector. + +He rode on and soon came to the tree. Hanging on it were a great +many shields, and among them Sir Lionel's. There were also +shields which belonged to other knights of the Round Table. Sir +Hector knew that the knights must be prisoners, and he grew very +angry. + +He struck sharply on the copper basin, and at once a huge knight +appeared. + +"Come forward and fight!" cried the knight. + +"That I will," said Sir Hector. + +"But I shall win," said the knight, "for I am the great Sir +Turquaine." + +Sir Hector had heard of this powerful knight whom so many of +Arthur's lords had tried in vain to overthrow. But he was a brave +old man, and so he began to fight fearlessly. He wounded the big +knight once, but the knight wounded him many times, and at last +overcame him. He picked Sir Hector up and carried him under his +right arm into the castle. + +"You are very brave," he said, when they had reached the great +hall. "You are the first knight who has wounded me these twelve +years. Now I shall give you your freedom if you will swear to be +a follower of mine." + +"I shall never swear that," said Sir Hector; "I am a follower of +King Arthur." + +"I am sorry for that," said Sir Turquaine, "for now I must treat +you as I do all my other prisoners." + +Then he took off Sir Hector's armor and clothes, and beat him +with the thorny stick, and threw him into the dungeon. There the +old man found Sir Lionel and many other knights. + +"Is Sir Lancelot here?" asked Sir Hector, feebly. + +"No," said Sir Lionel, and told how he had left Sir Lancelot +sleeping. + +Then Sir Hector became cheerful. + +"Sir Lancelot will surely find us," he said, "and give us our +freedom." + +But Sir Lancelot still slept on under the tree. Soon four +beautiful ladies rode by, and, seeing a sleeping knight, +dismounted to look at him. They at once recognized him as Sir +Lancelot, the bravest knight in the land. One of these ladies was +Morgan le Fay, whom Arthur had forgiven for her treachery to him. +She said to her companions: + +"I will cast a spell over him, and we will carry him to my +castle. Then, when he wakes, we will make him choose one of us as +his wife." + +The other three agreed, and Morgan le Fay cast her spell. Then +the four women lifted the knight upon his horse and went with him +to the castle of Morgan le Fay. They put the knight in a richly +decorated chamber and left him. + +In the morning he awoke and wondered where he was. Soon a fair +damsel entered with food, and he asked her to explain how he came +to be in that place. + +"Sir, I cannot," she said. "But I can tell you this much: you are +under a spell. In twelve hours the spell will break, and perhaps +I can help you then." + +After the damsel had gone out, the four ladies entered. They were +clad in most beautiful robes. One had on silk that looked like +the foam of the sea. Another had on velvet that seemed like moss +from the forest. The third wore satin that was the color of maple +leaves in autumn. Morgan le Fay wore a robe that looked like a +storm-cloud, and her diamonds were like stars. + +"Choose one of us for your wife," she said, "and you shall be +very happy." + +But Sir Lancelot said: + +"Fair ladies, I have no wish to marry. I would rather fight for +my good King Arthur who needs me." + +At this the ladies were angry. + +"You shall stay here till you choose," they said. "And if you +will not choose, then you shall die in prison." + +They went out, and Sir Lancelot remained alone all day. At dusk +the fair damsel came to him. + +"My lord," she said, "the spell is broken now, and I can help +you. These ladies are not kind to me, and I am going to run away. +I will take you with me on one condition." + +"Name it, damsel," he said. + +"I am a king's daughter," she said. "My father is King +Bagdemagus." + +"He is a good man," Sir Lancelot said. "I know him well." + +"My father has been fighting in a tournament," said the maiden, +"and has been overcome, with all his knights. He feels very sad. +Now, in two days there will be another tournament at which he +must fight. If you help him, he will surely win and be happy +again." + +"I will gladly help him," said Sir Lancelot. + +Then the damsel bade him walk softly with her. She opened twelve +great doors one after another. Each had a lock with a key so +heavy that the maiden had to use both hands to turn it. At last +they reached the courtyard, and there she gave Sir Lancelot his +horse and armor. She also mounted a horse, and the two rode away. + +After riding all night, they came to the court of King +Bagdemagus. He was overjoyed to welcome Sir Lancelot, for well he +knew that none could overcome that good knight in combat. All day +there was music and dancing and feasting. Sir Lancelot, however, +could not be merry. He kept thinking of his nephew, Sir Lionel, +and wondering where he was. + +On the morning of the tournament Sir Lancelot asked King +Bagdemagus to furnish him with a white shield, because he did not +want to be known. The king did so, and also gave each of the +three knights who rode with him a shield of the same color. Sir +Lancelot went with the knights into a little leafy wood near the +field where the tournament was to be held. + +Meanwhile King Bagdemagus rode to the tournament with sixty men, +and met there the king of Northgalis with eighty men. They began +to fight, and soon those on the side of King Bagdemagus began to +be worsted. Then Sir Lancelot, with the three knights, dashed out +of the little wood and into the thick of the fight. + +No one could stand against Sir Lancelot. One of King Arthur's +knights, Sir Modred, the brother of Sir Gawain and Sir Gareth, +was fighting against King Bagdemagus. Not knowing who Sir +Lancelot was, he rushed upon him. Sir Lancelot unhorsed him, but +would not hurt him, because he was a Knight of the Round Table. +Years afterward he was sorry he had not killed him, for Sir +Modred proved to be a traitor to King Arthur. + +Sir Lancelot fought so well that, for his sake, all the prizes of +the tournament were given to King Bagdemagus, who was greatly +rejoiced, and offered large gifts to Sir Lancelot, and begged +him to be his guest for a time. But Sir Lancelot was so anxious +to find out what had become of Sir Lionel that he could not +remain. So the next day he set forth. + +He rode back towards the clump of trees where he had fallen +asleep while Sir Lionel kept watch. On the highway he met a +damsel riding on a white palfrey. + +"Fair damsel," said Sir Lancelot, "can you tell me of any +adventures hereabouts? I am Sir Lancelot of the Lake." + +"Oh, Sir Lancelot," said she, "it is indeed fortunate that you +have come, for there is here a knight named Sir Turquaine who has +put in prison many of the knights of the Round Table. You shall +fight with him for the freedom of your friends." + +Then she turned her horse, and Sir Lancelot gladly followed her. +She brought him to the tree on which hung the shields of his +brother knights. Sir Lancelot let his horse drink a little water, +and then he struck on the iron basin at the foot of the tree so +fiercely that the bottom fell out. + +[Illustration: _"He struck so fiercely the bottom fell out"_] + +No one appeared, however. Then he rode up to the castle of Sir +Turquaine. Near the gate he met the big knight. He was on foot, +driving his horse before him. On the horse lay a knight, securely +bound. Sir Lancelot recognized him as Sir Gaheris, the brother of +Sir Gawain and Sir Gareth. + +"Put down the knight," said Sir Lancelot. "Mount and fight." + +"Gladly," said Sir Turquaine. "Before long you will be sorry for +your challenge." + +Then the two rode at each other. Their horses' feet beat the dust +into clouds, and they used their swords so fiercely that their +armor rang continually like the clanging of heavy bells. They +fought until they were breathless, each bleeding from many +wounds. Then Sir Turquaine, leaning on his sword, said: + +"By my faith, never have I fought with such a strong man before. +I admire you, and I would be your friend. You fight as they say +that knight does whom I hate most in all this world. If you are +not that knight, I give you my friendship, and shall free all my +prisoners for your sake." + +"That is well said," replied Sir Lancelot. "Tell me who this +knight is whom you hate so much." + +"He is Sir Lancelot of the Lake. For hatred of him, I kill or +imprison all the knights of the Round Table whom I can find." + +"Then let us begin to fight again," said Sir Lancelot, "for I am +Sir Lancelot of the Lake." + +Then they struck at each other furiously, and soon gave each +other so many wounds that the ground was covered with blood. Sir +Turquaine was a brave man, but he was not so strong as Sir +Lancelot. After a long conflict he fell, mortally wounded, to the +ground. Then Sir Lancelot unlaced his helmet and eased him as +well as he could till he died. Afterwards he left Sir Turquaine, +and went to the porter who held the keys of the castle. + +Sir Lancelot took the keys and unlocked the doors of the prison. +He led the poor knights out into the daylight and struck off +their chains. Sir Lionel and Sir Hector were overjoyed to see +that their deliverer was indeed Sir Lancelot. Each knight found +his own armor in the armory, and his own horse in the stables. +After that a servant came with four horses laden down with +venison, and the poor knights, who for a long time had had +nothing but bread and water, enjoyed a good meal. Then Sir +Lancelot rode away in search of new adventures. + +[Illustration: The Holy Grail] + + + + +[Illustration] HOW SIR LANCELOT SAVED THE QUEEN + + +One day in May Queen Guinevere invited ten ladies and ten knights +to ride a-Maying with her the next morning in the woods. So at +the appointed time they assembled, all dressed in green silk and +green velvet, the color of young grass. The knights wore white +plumes in their helmets, and the ladies wore white May-blossoms +in their hair. They rode off very happily, telling the king that +they would return before noon. + +Now the good King Bagdemagus, for whom Sir Lancelot had fought, +had a bad son named Sir Malgrace. For a long time he had wanted +to capture the queen and carry her off to his castle. He had been +afraid to try, however, because of her large bodyguard. All the +young knights of the Round Table liked to ride with her and +protect her. They took good care of all the ladies of the Court, +but they loved the queen most. + +When Sir Malgrace heard that the queen was out a-Maying with only +a few knights, and these not fully armed, he determined to take +her prisoner. So he called together eighty men-at-arms and a +hundred archers, and set out. Soon he came upon her and her +attendants. They were sitting on a little hill, with wreaths of +flowers and leaves on their arms and necks. Before they could +rise to their feet, Sir Malgrace and his men dashed upon them. + +"Traitor!" cried the queen. "What would you do?" + +"I will carry you to my castle, fair queen," he said. "And never +again shall you go free." + +"I will not go with you," said the queen. + +Then the ten knights drew their swords and set on the hundred and +eighty men of Sir Malgrace. They fought so well that they +overthrew forty. Still, they could do little against such +numbers, and soon all were wounded. When the queen saw this, she +cried out: + +"Sir Malgrace, do not slay my noble knights, and I will go with +you. I would rather die than cause them further harm." + +The knights said that they would rather perish than be prisoners +to Sir Malgrace. However, upon an order from their lord, the +archers tied up the wounds of the queen's followers, and put them +on horseback. Then the whole company rode slowly towards the +castle of Sir Malgrace. + +Sir Malgrace kept close to the queen for fear she would escape. +Once when they were in a thick part of the wood he rode ahead to +break the branches so that they should not strike her face. Then +the queen whispered to a little maiden who rode near her: + +"If you can do so, slip away from the company. You are so small +that perhaps they will not notice you. Take this ring and give it +to our greatest knight, Sir Lancelot, and pray him to come and +rescue me." + +The little maid waited until she thought the time for escape had +come, and rode off as quietly as she could. Sir Malgrace saw her +go, and suspected that the queen had sent her. He ordered his +archers to shoot at the child, but she escaped unhurt. + +"Madam," said Sir Malgrace to the queen, "I know well that you +have sent for Sir Lancelot, but you may be sure that hither he +shall never come." + +Then Sir Malgrace ordered his archers to stand guard on the road +and shoot down any knight they saw. + +"But if he should be Sir Lancelot," he said, "be sure that you do +not venture very close to him, for he is hard to overcome." + +Meantime the little maid reached Arthur's Court in safety. She +found the king and his knights very anxious because the queen had +not returned. She told her story, and gave the queen's ring to +Sir Lancelot. + +"Bring me my armor!" shouted Sir Lancelot. "I will rescue my good +and dear queen before the night falls. I would rather see her +safe here again than own all France." + +He put on his armor and mounted his white horse and rode off +without delay. The little maid led him to the place where the ten +knights had fought with the hundred and eighty. From this point +he traced them by the blood on the grass and on the road. At last +he reached the archers. + +"Turn back," they said. "No one may pass here." + +"That I will not," said Sir Lancelot. "I am a Knight of the Round +Table, and therefore have the right of way throughout the land." + +At that they shot their arrows at him. He was wounded with many +of them, and his white horse was killed. Sir Lancelot tried to +reach the men, but there were so many hedges and ditches in the +way that he could not. They hastened back to tell Sir Malgrace +that a knight whom they had not succeeded in killing was coming +to the castle. + +Sir Lancelot tried to walk, but his armor was too heavy for him +to carry in his wounded state. He dared not leave any of it +behind, for he would need it all in fighting. Just as he was +wondering what he could do, a carter passed him, driving a rough +wagon. + +"Carter," said Sir Lancelot, "let me ride in your wagon to the +castle of Sir Malgrace." + +The carter was amazed, for in that day a knight never entered +into a cart unless he was a condemned man going to be hanged. Sir +Lancelot, however, did not stop to explain. He jumped into the +cart and told the driver to go quickly. + +Some of the ladies of Queen Guinevere were looking out of their +window, and one said to her: + +"See, my queen, there is a poor knight going to be hanged." + +The queen looked out of the window and recognized Sir Lancelot by +the three lions blazoned upon his shield. She was overjoyed, and +waved him a glad greeting as he came up to the castle gate. + +Sir Lancelot beat on the gate with his shield, and cried: + +"Come out, false traitor, Sir Malgrace; come out and fight. If +you do not, you will be branded as a coward forever." + +At first Sir Malgrace thought that he would keep his gates shut +fast and not answer the challenge. But in those days it was a +sign of great cowardice not to accept a challenge. Moreover, +since Sir Lancelot had been able to reach the castle in spite of +the archers, he was afraid other knights of the Round Table might +do the same. Then they would besiege him and force him to +surrender. Still he was afraid to fight. So he went to Queen +Guinevere and said: + +"Fair queen, remember how I saved your ten knights when I could +have killed them. Now I am sorry I took you prisoner. I beg that +you will go to Sir Lancelot and urge him not to fight. Then I +will entertain him in this castle with the best I have, and +to-morrow you shall all go back to the court." + +Then the queen said: + +"Peace is always better than war. I will do the best I can." + +So she went down to Sir Lancelot, who still beat upon the gate, +and besought him to come in peaceably, for Sir Malgrace was +sorry for what he had done. Sir Lancelot was unwilling, for he +knew that Sir Malgrace was a traitor, deserving punishment. +Still, he could not refuse the queen anything she asked him, and, +therefore, he entered the castle. + +Sir Malgrace greeted him with politeness, and served to him and +to the others of Arthur's Court, a great banquet. After that, to +the surprise of everyone, he rose and accused the queen of +treason. All the company was astonished. Sir Lancelot was very +angry. + +"If you say the queen is a traitress," he cried, "you shall fight +with me, although you were afraid just now." + +"I am not afraid to fight," said Sir Malgrace. + +"When and where will you meet me in combat?" asked Sir Lancelot. + +"In eight days," replied Sir Malgrace, "in the field near +Westminster." + +Sir Lancelot agreed to this. Then Queen Guinevere rose with all +her attendants and went into the courtyard. Their horses were +brought them and they mounted. Sir Lancelot was the last to pass +out of the banquet hall. As he was going through the door he +stepped upon a trap which Sir Malgrace had prepared for him. The +trapdoor fell and dropped him into a dark dungeon. + +When the queen and her knights and ladies had ridden out of the +courtyard, they noticed that Sir Lancelot was not with them. They +supposed, however, that he had ridden off by himself, as was +often his custom, so they went without him to Camelot, and told +the king what had happened. He was very angry at Sir Malgrace's +accusation, but he was sure that Sir Lancelot would punish Sir +Malgrace, and so vindicate Queen Guinevere. + +Meantime, the unhappy Sir Lancelot lay bruised in the dungeon, +feeling very sure that Sir Malgrace meant to starve him to death. +He lay hungry and thirsty for nearly two days. Then Sir Malgrace +peeped in to see if he were dead. + +"Ah, traitor!" cried Sir Lancelot, "I shall overcome you yet." + +At that Sir Malgrace shut the trapdoor hastily, as if he were +afraid that Sir Lancelot could leap up ten feet in the air. That +one look, however, cost the wicked knight dear, for the daughter +of the porter saw him shutting the trapdoor, and was curious to +know who was in the dungeon. So at night she opened the trapdoor +and let herself down by a rope. + +When she saw Sir Lancelot she was very sorry for him. He offered +her much money if she would free him. At last she said: + +"I will do it for love of Queen Guinevere and not for money." + +She let him climb up by the rope, and took him out of the +courtyard. He was so sick that he went to a hermit's hut and +rested for several days. When next Sir Malgrace looked into the +dungeon he heard no movement. Then he rejoiced greatly, for he +thought Sir Lancelot was dead. + +When the eighth day had come, all the knights of the Round Table +assembled in the tournament field and waited for Sir Lancelot to +appear. They all thought he would surely come. But Sir Malgrace +rode jauntily about the field. Many of the knights wondered at +his courage, not knowing the reason for his confidence. + +The herald blew his trumpet once, but Sir Lancelot did not +appear; twice, and still he did not come. Then up started several +knights and begged the king to let them fight instead of Sir +Lancelot. + +"He has been trapped," they said, "or he would be here." + +While the king was hesitating whom to choose, in rode Sir +Lancelot. He dashed up to Sir Malgrace. + +"Here I am, traitor," he said. "Now do your worst." + +Then they fought, but at the first stroke Sir Malgrace fell to +the earth. + +"Mercy!" he cried, "I yield to you, Sir Knight. Do not slay me. I +put myself in the king's hands and yours." + +Sir Lancelot was much vexed. He wanted to kill Sir Malgrace for +his treachery, and yet, since the man had asked for mercy, he +could not. So he said: + +"What, coward, would you stop already? Shame upon you! Get up and +fight." + +"I shall not rise unless you take me as one who has yielded," +answered the knight. + +Then Sir Lancelot said: + +"Traitor, I make you this offer: I will take off my helmet, unarm +my left side, and tie my left hand behind my back. In that way I +will fight with you." + +Upon hearing this, Sir Malgrace rose to his feet, sure now of +killing Sir Lancelot. + +"My lord King," cried Sir Malgrace, "you have heard this offer. I +accept." + +The king was very sorry that Sir Lancelot had made the offer. +However, it was impossible to withdraw it. A squire came and +disarmed Sir Lancelot, so that his head and left side were +without cover; and since he had only one arm to fight with, he +could not use his shield. + +Then Sir Malgrace dashed at him, aiming for his left side. Sir +Lancelot waited till he was very near, and then lightly stepped +aside. Before Sir Malgrace could turn, Sir Lancelot lifted his +spear and struck his enemy such a blow that he broke his +breastplate and pierced his heart. + +The body of Sir Malgrace was carried off the field and taken to +the castle of his good father; Queen Guinevere was proclaimed +innocent of treason; and Sir Lancelot was honored more than ever +by his king and his queen. + +[Illustration: The Two Horses] + + + + +[Illustration] SIR LANCELOT AND ELAINE + + +Every year King Arthur's knights held a grand tournament among +themselves, and contended in friendly combat for a prize. This +prize was a diamond. + +Once, in the early days of his kingship, Arthur was walking on a +craggy hill, when he came upon the skeleton of a man who had once +been a ruler. The skull still wore a gold crown set with nine +large diamonds. King Arthur took the crown and had the diamonds +unset. Each year at the friendly tournament he gave one of these +diamonds as a prize. + +There had been eight tournaments, and at each Sir Lancelot had +won the diamond. The jewel that was to be given as a prize at the +ninth tournament was the largest and most beautiful of all. +Everyone, of course, expected that Sir Lancelot would win it, but +only a few days before the contest he announced to the king that +he would not compete. + +Then the queen was vexed, for she loved Sir Lancelot more than +all the other knights, and it gave her great joy to see him +always successful in the tournaments. Therefore she urged him to +change his decision. + +"My queen," he said, "I told the king I would not fight." + +The queen replied: + +"My advice is that you go in disguise. The knights who contest +with you do so but half-heartedly, for they know your great fame +and feel sure of failure. If they did not know who you were, they +would fight better and win more glory for themselves. Then fight +as a stranger knight, and afterwards explain to the king." + +Sir Lancelot took her advice. He rode away over the woods and +hills till he came to the castle of Astolat, where he decided to +stop and ask for a disguise. He knocked on the gate, which was +opened by an old dumb servant, and entered the courtyard. The +lord of Astolat came to meet him with his two sons, Sir Torre and +Sir Lavaine, and his beautiful daughter Elaine. The lord of the +castle said: + +"Fair sir, whoever you are, you are welcome. You seem to me much +like a Knight of the Round Table." + +"That I am," said Sir Lancelot. "Hereafter I will tell you my +name; at present I wish to remain unknown. I must enter the +coming tournament as an unknown knight, and I should like to +leave with you my great shield, for it is as well known in +Camelot as I. Will you keep it and lend me another one?" + +Then answered the Lord of Astolat: + +"You may take the shield of my son Torre. He was hurt in his +first tournament, and has not been able to fight since. My son +Lavaine will gladly go with you to the tournament. Perhaps," +added the lord, laughing, "he can win the diamond, and put it in +his sister Elaine's hair." + +"Nay, father, do not make me ashamed before this noble knight," +said the young Lavaine. "I know I can never win the diamond for +Elaine, but I can at least do my best to fight." + +"Gladly will I take you for a companion," said Sir Lancelot, "and +if you can, win the diamond for this fair maiden." + +"Such a diamond," said Sir Torre, "is fit for a queen, and not +for a simple girl." + +Sir Lancelot smiled to himself. He was sure that he should win +the diamond. Then he meant to give it with the eight others to +Queen Guinevere. He spoke kindly, however, to the beautiful +Elaine. + +"In truth, this fair maiden is fit to be a queen." + +Then Elaine lifted her eyes and looked at him. He was twice as +old as she was. His face was cut and scarred with wounds which he +had received in battle, but as she looked at him, she loved him, +and felt that she would continue to love him till the day of her +death. + +They went into the great hall where a supper was laid. Sir +Lancelot talked of King Arthur and his goodness and all his +glorious deeds. Elaine thought that even Arthur could not be so +brave as this wonderful lord. All night long she dreamed of him. +In the morning she rose early and went down in the courtyard +where Sir Lancelot and Sir Lavaine were mounting their horses. + +"Fair lord," she said boldly to Sir Lancelot, "will you wear my +token in your helmet?" + +Then said Sir Lancelot: + +"Fair maiden, I have never worn favor nor token for any lady in +the tournaments. This is well known to be my custom." + +"But if you wear my token," she said, "there will be far less +likelihood of your being known by your fellow knights." + +"That is very true, my child," he said. "Bring it to me. What is +it?" + +She held it out to him; it was a red sleeve embroidered with +pearls. Sir Lancelot bound it in his helmet and said: + +"I have never done so much before for any maiden." + +[Illustration: _"She staid near it all day long in the turret"_] + +Then he and Sir Lavaine bade Elaine farewell, and the beautiful +maiden ran up to the tower of the castle and watched them from +the window for a long time. When they were out of sight she asked +the old dumb servant to carry Sir Lancelot's shield to the tower. +It was a large shield of silver, with three lions emblazoned upon +it in gold and blue, but its polished surface was covered with +dents and scratches. Elaine knelt before it, and made a story for +each scratch and mark, picturing to herself the contests in which +the good shield had taken part. For many weeks she stayed near it +all day long in the turret, watching for Sir Lancelot and her +brother to return. + +Meanwhile those two had ridden lightly to Camelot, and when they +were almost there, Sir Lancelot told Sir Lavaine his name. The +young man was astonished. He was very happy, too, to think that +he was a companion to the great knight of whom he had heard so +often. + +When Sir Lancelot and Sir Lavaine arrived at the field where the +tournament was to be held, they stood looking at the king, who +sat upon the great carved chair which had dragons' heads for the +arms and the back. On his red robe was embroidered a golden +dragon, and a golden dragon was also on his crown. Above him, set +in a canopy, was the ninth diamond. All about the king to left +and right were rows of ladies whose robes gave to the pavilion in +which they sat the brilliant hues of the rainbow. + +Sir Lancelot said to young Sir Lavaine: + +"Look at the king. You think I am great, but he is greater than +I. I can fight better than he can, but his soul is greater than +mine. Aim to become a Knight of the Round Table, and follow the +example of goodness which Arthur sets for his knights." + +At this moment the trumpets blew as a signal that the tournament +was to begin. The knights spurred their horses forward, and in a +moment their spears and shields clashed. Sir Lancelot rode +lightly here and there, overthrowing everyone with whom he +contested. All wondered at the skill of this unknown knight. Then +Sir Lancelot's kinsmen, his nephew, Sir Lionel, and others, were +angry and jealous. + +"Our Sir Lancelot should be here," they said, "to overcome this +stranger knight." + +"Perhaps this is Sir Lancelot," said one. "Two knights cannot +fight so well in this world. It must be Sir Lancelot." + +"No, no," said the others; "Sir Lancelot would never wear a +lady's favor, and this knight wears a red sleeve embroidered with +pearls. Let us set on this man and teach him that if Sir Lancelot +is not here, we, his kinsmen, will fight for his fame." + +Then all together they bore down on Sir Lancelot. His horse went +down in the shock, and he himself was wounded. A spear had +pierced his breastplate and snapped off in his side. + +Young Sir Lavaine rushed to help Sir Lancelot. The great knight +rose slowly and, with the help of his friend, drove back his kith +and kin to the far side of the field. Then sounded a great blare +of trumpets, and the king proclaimed the stranger knight victor. + +"Come forward," the herald cried, "and take your diamond." + +But poor Sir Lancelot said: + +"Talk not to me of diamonds. Give me air. I fear me I have +received my death wound. Let me go hence, and I bid you follow me +not." + +Sir Lavaine helped him upon his horse, and they two rode slowly +off the field. When they were near the neighboring forest the +great knight fell from his horse and cried: + +"Pull forth the spear-head which is in my side." + +"Oh, my lord," said Sir Lavaine, "I am afraid you will die if I +draw it forth." + +"I shall die if you leave it," said Sir Lancelot. + +So Sir Lavaine drew it forth quickly, causing Sir Lancelot to +faint from the pain. Then a hermit who lived near by came to +them, and bore the wounded knight into his hut, where for many a +week Sir Lancelot lay between life and death. + +When Arthur found that the unknown knight had gone, no one knew +whither, he was sorry. He called the light-hearted Sir Gawain and +said to him: + +"Go forth, take this diamond and seek the stranger knight. Do +not cease from your search till you have left the diamond in his +hand." + +Then Arthur went to the queen. She had been ill and had not +attended the tournament. When the king told her all that had +happened, she cried: + +"A stranger knight! My lord, my lord! That was our dear Sir +Lancelot. He was fighting in disguise." + +"Alas! he is hurt," said the king. "Perhaps he is dying. He said +that he would not fight. He should have told me that he meant to +fight in disguise. The truth, my queen, is always best." + +"Yes, my good lord, I know it," she said. "If I had but let our +Lancelot tell the truth, perhaps he would not have been wounded. +You would have called on his kinsmen to cease." + +For many days the king and Guinevere waited in deep anxiety for +news of Sir Lancelot. Meantime, Sir Gawain rode forth and sought +for the great knight in vain. At last he came to the castle of +Astolat, where he was welcomed by the lord and Sir Torre and the +fair Elaine. He told them the result of the tournament, and how +the stranger knight had won. They showed him Sir Lancelot's +shield. + +"Ah!" said Elaine, when he had told them the name of the unknown +knight, "I knew that he must be great." + +Sir Gawain guessed by the expression of her beautiful face that +she loved Sir Lancelot. So he said: + +"Fair maiden, when he returns here for his shield, give him this +diamond, which is the prize he won. Perhaps he will prize it the +more because you put it into his hand." + +Then Sir Gawain bade them farewell and rode off, lightly singing. +When he told Arthur what he had done, the king said: + +"You should have done as I bade you, Gawain. Sir Lancelot +deceived me about his disguise, and you have disobeyed me. The +kingdom will surely fail if the king and his rules are not +honored. Obedience is the courtesy due to kings." + +Meanwhile the fair Elaine went to her father and said: + +"Dear father, let me go and seek the wounded Sir Lancelot and my +brother." + +"Nay," said the lord, "it is not a fitting thing for a young +maiden like you to seek a wounded knight. He is not your lover. +It cannot be." + +"I would give him his diamond," she said, "and since he is so +sorely wounded, I would take care of him. It is not fitting, my +father, but I cannot live unless I know where he is and how he +does." + +Then, because he loved his child very much and had never refused +any request she made of him, the old lord let her go in care of +Sir Torre. The two rode for a long time, until at last, near +Camelot, they met Sir Lavaine. Elaine ran up to him and cried: + +"Lavaine, take me to Sir Lancelot." + +Sir Lavaine was much astonished that Elaine knew the name of the +stranger knight. He was glad to see her, because he thought she +could help his friend. Sir Lancelot seemed glad to see her, too, +and the beautiful maiden cared for him so tenderly that the old +hermit said he never could have recovered without her nursing. +When he was well enough, they all rode to the castle of Astolat. + +There Sir Lancelot remained for a few days; then he took his +shield and prepared to return to Camelot. Before he went he asked +Elaine if he could not do something for her in return for her +care of him. + +She grew very pale and then she said: + +"I am going to say something which I should not. I love you. Take +me with you to Camelot." + +Sir Lancelot said very gently: + +"My poor little maiden, if I had meant to take a wife, I should +have wedded earlier. All the court knows that I love only the +king and the queen. You do not really love me. Some day you will +marry a young knight, and then I shall give you many castles and +much land as a dowry." + +"I will have nothing of all that," said Elaine. + +She turned away and climbed up to the tower, while her father +said to Sir Lancelot: + +"I pray you, be discourteous in some way so that she will cease +to love you. Such love is madness." + +"It is not my habit to be discourteous," said Sir Lancelot. +"However, when she stands at the turret window to wave me +farewell, I will not look up at her." + +Sir Lancelot rode sadly away, and did not look up at the window +where Elaine stood. She watched him till he disappeared, and then +she fell in a swoon. Day after day she pined away, and one +morning she said to her father: + +"Dear father, I am going to die. When I am dead, take my bed and +cover it with rich draperies. Then dress me in my most beautiful +clothes; put a letter I have here in my hand, and lay me on the +bed. Set it on a barge, and let our dumb servant steer it down +the river to Camelot." + +Her father wept, and promised to do all that she asked. + +Sir Lancelot had gone to the Court, where he was received with +great rejoicing. For many days the knights and ladies held great +feasting in his honor, and the king and the queen would hardly +allow him to leave their presence. One day while the three stood +looking out of the palace window, they saw a black barge come +slowly down the river. + +It stopped at the palace door, and the king, going down, saw on +it the beautiful maiden Elaine, pale in death. She was dressed in +white satin, and bore a lily in her left hand and a letter in her +right. The king ordered two of his knights, the good Sir Galahad +and Sir Perceval, to carry Elaine into his great hall. Then +Arthur read the letter, which said: + +"Most noble lord, Sir Lancelot of the Lake: I, Elaine, the maid +of Astolat, come to take my last farewell of you, for you left me +without a farewell. I loved you, and my love had no return, and +so I died." + +The knights and ladies wept. Sir Lancelot said to Arthur: + +"My king, I grieve for the death of this maiden, but as I did not +love her, I could not wed her." + +The king answered: + +"You are not to blame, Sir Lancelot. The world has in it much +that is sad as well as much that is joyous. There are happenings +for which no human being can be blamed. It would be a fitting +deed, however, if you had this maiden richly buried." + +Sir Lancelot ordered a splendid funeral, such as should be given +to a queen. Over Elaine's grave was raised a beautiful tomb on +which was carved her figure, with the left hand holding a lily; +at her feet lay the shield of Sir Lancelot, and the sad story of +her death was written on the tomb in letters of gold and blue. + +[Illustration: Two Crossed Swords and a Shield] + + + + +[Illustration] THE SEARCH FOR THE HOLY GRAIL + + +In Arthur's Court there were many virtuous knights and ladies, +but the best of all was a beautiful maiden, sister to Sir +Perceval. She was so good that the evil in the world oppressed +her, and she could be happy only when she was praying for all +people to be made better. + +Once a good old man told her what was meant by the Holy Grail. + +"Grail," he said, "is the word for the cup out of which our Lord +Jesus drank, the night that he held the last supper with his +disciples. Therefore, it is called holy. There is a tradition +which says that for a long time after the death of Christ the +Holy Grail remained on earth, and any one who was sick and +touched it was healed at once. But then people grew to be so +wicked that it disappeared from earth. It is said that if a +person in our day were only good enough, he could see the Holy +Grail." + +"Really see it?" asked the maiden, eagerly, "or see it in a +vision?" + +"I do not know," answered the good old man, "but either one would +be a great happiness. For a real sight of it, or a vision, would +show the person who saw it that he was sinless." + +Then the beautiful maiden prayed more than ever. She became so +thin and pale that it seemed as if she were almost transparent, +and at last she lay dying. One morning she sent for her brother, +Sir Perceval, and for his friend, Sir Galahad. + +Sir Perceval and Sir Galahad were the two best knights in +Arthur's Court. They were not so powerful as Sir Lancelot or Sir +Geraint or Sir Gareth, but they had purer souls than these. When +they came to the bedside of the maiden, she said: + +"Oh, my brother and my friend, I have seen the Holy Grail. Last +night I was awakened by a sound like the music of a silver horn +across the hills. It was more beautiful music than any I have +ever heard. Then through my window shone a long cold beam of +silver light, and slowly across that beam came the Holy Grail. It +was red like a beautiful rose, and the light reflected from it +covered all the walls with a rosy color. And then it vanished. +Now I beg you to seek it; and go to the hall of Arthur and tell +all the other knights to take the quest. If they can but see the +Grail, it will be a sign that they are good, and that the world +is growing better." + +As she spoke, Sir Galahad's face wore an expression so like her +own that Sir Perceval was amazed. But the maiden took from the +side of her bed a sword-belt, and gave it to Sir Galahad. + +"Fair knight," she said, "I have made this golden belt of my +hair, and woven on it, in crimson and silver thread, the device +of the Holy Grail. Put on this belt, bind your sword to it, and +go forth; for you, too, shall see the Holy Grail." + +Then Sir Galahad and Sir Perceval went away quietly, for they saw +that the beautiful maiden had not long to live. That night they +went to Arthur's hall. The king was absent with the queen, but +most of the knights of the Round Table were there, and to them +Sir Galahad and Sir Perceval told the vision that Sir Perceval's +sister had seen. + +As they spoke, suddenly the torches in the hall were +extinguished; there was a loud sound like thunder and a sudden +cracking of the roof. Then a beam of light, seven times stronger +than day, streamed into the room. Across the beam stole the Holy +Grail. But it was covered by a luminous cloud, so that its shape +could not be seen. Slowly it vanished away. + +There was silence in the hall for a long time; the knights were +awe-struck and could not speak. At last Sir Perceval rose in his +seat and said in a low tone: + +"My sister saw the vision of the Holy Grail, but I, because I am +more sinful, have seen it covered with a cloud. Yet because I +wish to see it, I vow to spend twelve months and a day in search +of it. I will pray, and live as holy a life as I can, and +perhaps this vision will be mine." + +Then good Sir Bors, the cousin of Sir Lancelot, made the same +vow, as did also Sir Galahad and Sir Lancelot and Sir Gawain and +many others. After the vows had been taken, King Arthur entered. +When all had been explained to him, his face grew sorrowful. + +"If I had been here," he said, "I should not have allowed you to +swear the vow. None of you really saw the Grail; you say it was +covered with a cloud." + +Then Sir Galahad cried out: + +"My king, I saw the Grail, all crimson like a ruby, and I heard a +voice which said, 'O Galahad, O Galahad, follow me!'" + +"Ah, Galahad," said the king, tenderly, "you are fit for this +quest, this search, but the others are not. Sir Lancelot is our +strongest warrior, but he is not like Sir Galahad. Most of you, +my knights, are men with strength and will to right wrongs; that +is the work you are fitted for. You have fought in twelve great +battles with the heathen, but only one of you is fit for this +holiest of visions. Yet go, and fulfill your vow." + +The faces of the knights were downcast. The king continued: + +"While you are gone, I shall need your strength here at home, but +you will be following a wandering fire. Many of you will never +return." + +All the company felt sad. The next day when the knights departed +upon their quest, the king could hardly speak for grief, and many +of the knights and ladies wept. Those who had sworn the vow went +together to the great gate of the city of Camelot, and there they +separated. + +During the next twelvemonth many a poor laborer who had been +wronged came to Arthur's Court to find a knight who would fight +for him, and many a poor widow and maiden. But because so many of +the knights of the Round Table were absent there was little help +to be had, and Arthur's face grew sadder and sadder as time went +on. + +At last, after the twelvemonth and the day had passed, those in +Camelot began to look for the return of the knights who had taken +the vow. Alas, though they waited all day long, only Sir Gawain, +Sir Bors, Sir Perceval, and Sir Lancelot returned. In the evening +the knights of the Round Table assembled in the great hall. When +each was seated, the king rose, and said to those who had been +upon the quest: + +"My lords, I need only look at your faces to know that you have +fared ill. I dare not think of those of you who have not come +back. And now, Perceval, my knight who, next to Galahad, has the +purest soul, tell me what has happened to you." + +Sir Perceval rose slowly from his chair and said: + +"Dear my liege, when I left your court on the sad morning that we +all set forth, I did not feel the grief that many of the other +knights felt. I had been fighting so well, so many lances had +gone down before my stroke, that I was full of confidence in what +I could do. + +"I rode happily, planning all the great victories I should win. +I was sure if I righted a great many wrongs, I should soon see +the Grail. But after many days I began to grow weary. I was +riding through rough forests, and the branches bruised me and my +horse; there seemed to be no great deeds to do. I could not even +slay wild beasts, and so be of use to the poor country people. My +bed was on the hard ground, and my food was wild berries. + +"One day I came to a great castle, and here I decided to rest. +When I entered, I was warmly greeted and brought to the princess +of the castle. I found her to be one whom I had loved long ago in +her father's court. I was but a young squire and she was a great +princess, and so I had gone away without telling her how dear I +held her. + +"She greeted me kindly, and after a time she began to love me. +Soon I wondered whether I was fit to see the Holy Grail. I +thought perhaps I was one of those who were pursuing a wandering +fire. And then the people of the castle begged me to marry their +princess, and be their lord and live a happy and easeful life. + +"One night I awoke, and thought longingly of the Holy Grail. +Whether I were fit to see the vision or not, I had at least sworn +to seek it for a year and a day. And yet, I had not tried two +months! I rose hastily, dressed, and left the castle. Then for +many days I prayed and mourned. At last I sought a holy hermit, +and told him all I had done and thought since I had left Arthur's +Court. + +"The good hermit, after a short silence, said: 'My son, you have +not true humility. You have been too proud of your strength, and +too sure in the beginning that you were fit for the vision. You +have always thought first of yourself and your own glory, and not +of the good you could do.' + +"I went into the chapel of this hermit, and prayed to be relieved +of the sin of pride. As I prayed, Sir Galahad entered. He was +clad in silver armor, and his face looked like that of an angel. + +"'Oh, my brother,' he said, 'have you not seen the Grail?' And +after I had answered, he said: + +"'From the moment when I left the court of our king, the vision +has been with me. It is faint in the daytime, but at night it +shines blood red. I see it on the mountains, and in the lakes, +and on the marshes. It has made me so strong that everywhere I am +able to do good. I have broken down many evil customs. I have +fought with pagan hordes and been victor, all because of this +blessed vision. Perceval, I have not long to live. I am going to +the great city above, which is more beautiful than any earthly +city. Come out with me this night, and before you die you shall +see this vision.' + +"Then I followed Sir Galahad out of the chapel. We climbed a hill +which was steep and rugged, Sir Galahad going first, and his +silver armor guiding me. When we came to the top, a storm broke +over us, and the lightning seemed to follow us as we descended +the hill on the other side. At the bottom of it there was a great +black swamp, leading to the sea. It was crossed by a huge bridge +built by some forgotten king. Here Sir Galahad left me and ran +over the bridge till he reached the sea. His armor shone like a +star, far away at the edge of the water. And then I saw him no +more. + +[Illustration: _"And across it slowly moved the Holy Grail"_] + +"I knelt on the black ground and wept, and wished that I were as +good as Sir Galahad, and could do deeds as he did, not to win +glory, but to help those who needed help. And as I wept, I was +aware of a great light over me. I looked up and saw a silver +beam, and across it slowly moved the Holy Grail. It was no longer +muffled in a cloud, but shone crimson as a ruby. + +"I made my way back to the chapel and prayed all the rest of the +night. In the morning I found Sir Galahad's body by the sea. He +was beautiful as a saint, though he was worn and thin from long +self-sacrifice. I buried him and then turned my steps to Camelot. + +"And now, my lord Arthur, I shall never fight again. I shall +become a monk and pass my life in prayer as my sister did. Among +my brother monks, there will be very many little deeds of +service I can do. Thus will I spend my life." + +All the knights were very much moved and the king looked +affectionately at Sir Perceval, but he did not speak to him. He +turned to Sir Gawain and said: + +"Sir Gawain, was this quest for you?" + +Then Sir Gawain, always light-hearted and easily turned away from +one thing to another, said: + +"Nay, my king, such a search is not for one like me. In a little +time I became tired. I talked to a holy man who told me that I +was not fit for such a vision. So I journeyed till I came to a +field with silk pavilions and very many knights and ladies. And +with them I lived happily for the year." + +The good king looked displeased, but his face grew tender as he +turned to Sir Bors. + +"Bors," he said, "good, faithful, and honest you have ever been. +Tell me what you have seen." + +Sir Bors, who stood near Sir Lancelot, said: + +"My lord Arthur, after I had started on the quest, I was told +that madness had fallen upon my kinsman, Sir Lancelot. This so +grieved me that I had but little heart to seek for the Holy +Grail. Yet I sought for it. I believed that if God meant me to +see the vision he would send it. + +"I traveled till I came to a people who were heathen. They knew +much of magic, but nothing of God. I stayed with them, and tried +to teach them our faith, but they were angry because I would not +believe in their gods, and they put me into prison. + +"I was there many months in darkness and cold. But I tried to be +patient, and prayed that my patience would count for something, +although I could not do any good deeds. I had at least been +faithful though I failed. + +"One night a stone slipped from my prison wall, and I could see a +space of sky, with seven stars set across it. Then slowly across +the space glided the Holy Grail. My happiness was great, for I +had seen the vision. + +"The next morning, a maiden who had been secretly converted to +our religion released me from prison, and I came hither." + +Then the king spoke to Sir Lancelot. + +"My Lancelot, the mightiest of us all, have you succeeded in this +quest?" + +Then Sir Lancelot groaned. + +"O, king!" he cried, "your mightiest, yes; and yet, far better it +would be if I were like Sir Galahad. A great sin is on my soul, +and it was to be rid of this sin that I undertook the quest of +the Holy Grail. A hermit told me that only by putting this sin +away should I ever see the vision. I strove so hard against it +that my old sickness came upon me. I became mad, and rode up and +down among waste places, fighting with small men who overthrew +me. The day has been when the very sound of my name would have +made them tremble. + +"At last I came to the sea and saw a boat anchored near the +shore. I stepped into it, loosed the anchor, and floated away. +For seven days I sailed, and at last I came to an old castle. I +entered and heard a voice singing. I followed it up, up for a +thousand steps. At last I came to a door, which burst open before +me. Perhaps I dreamed, and yet I believe I saw the Holy Grail, +though it was veiled and guarded by great angels. I thought I saw +all this, and then I swooned away. When I came to myself, I was +alone in the room. It was many days before I made my way back to +Camelot." + +For a long time there was silence in the hall, and then Sir +Gawain said: + +"Sir king, I can fight, and I always shall fight for you. But I +do not believe in this vision. All the knights were mad, like Sir +Lancelot. They did not really have the vision; it was but fancy." + +Then the king spoke gravely to Sir Gawain. + +"Sir Gawain, you are indeed not fit for such a vision, but you +should not doubt that others have seen it. I was right, my +knights, when I said that most of you would follow a wandering +fire. How many of those who left me have not returned, and never +will!" + +The knights looked at the empty chairs. The king went on: + +"Sir Galahad was the only one who completely saw the vision. He +was indeed blessed, and fit for such a quest. You who were unfit +should have stayed with me to help govern this land." + +The knights were silent and sad; then the king said: + +"My dear knights whom I love, always remember this: whether you +seek for a vision, or do humble service as Sir Perceval will for +his fellow-monks, or fight to right wrongs as Sir Lancelot does, +whatever you do your aim must be to make yourself useful to the +world by the work for which you are best fitted." + +The king rose from the Round Table and left the company, Sir +Lancelot following him. Then the other knights departed, one by +one, and the great hall was left empty, with its shields +glimmering in the moonlight. + +[Illustration: The Knight with the Sword] + + + + +[Illustration] THE DEATH OF ARTHUR + + +King Arthur's Round Table had lasted many years, and the knights +had done much to help the people of the country; yet there were +traitors to the king among his own subjects. One of these +traitors made war in a distant part of the kingdom, and Arthur +went with most of his knights to punish him. His nephew, Sir +Modred, the brother of Sir Gawain and Sir Gareth, ruled in his +stead at Camelot. + +Now Sir Modred was a wicked knight. He hated the king and the +queen, and Sir Lancelot. Since King Arthur was absent a long +time, Sir Modred had the opportunity of doing much harm. He let +evil go unpunished; he allowed bad customs to come into the +country; and at last he raised a rebellion against the good +king. + +When Arthur returned to Camelot to quell this rebellion, he had +lost many of his faithful knights. Sir Hector was dead, and Sir +Ulfius and Sir Brastias; Sir Kay was dead, and Sir Bors, and Sir +Gawain. Sir Lancelot was far away. Sir Bedivere alone remained of +those who had been with Arthur since he had first ruled in Wales +and Britain. + +The king and Sir Bedivere, with the help of such knights as still +were faithful, tried to put down those rebels. They drove the +traitors back until they came at length to Lyonnesse by the sea. +Here the last great battle took place. + +The night before the battle, Sir Bedivere heard the king praying. +Then Arthur slept, and when he awakened he called to his friend: + +"Sir Bedivere," he said, "I have had a dream. I thought that Sir +Gawain came to me and told me that to-morrow I shall die." + +"My lord, it is but a dream," answered Sir Bedivere. "You are +great; you have done much good which will last forever, and you +will live many years yet to perform many gracious acts. The day +will soon dawn, and you will win the battle." + +Arthur shook his head. + +"This is not like my other battles. I have no heart for it. It is +hard to slay my own people, even if they are traitors." + +Day came, but no sun. A cold white mist lay over land and sea. It +chilled the knights to the bone. And when the battle began, the +mist was so thick that no one could see with whom he was +fighting. Friends slew each other, not knowing whom they killed. +Some could not fight at all, for it seemed to them that those +moving on the battle-field were ghosts of warriors long since +slain. There was many a noble deed and many a base one done in +that mist. + +The fighting went on with clashing of lances and shields +throughout the afternoon, and then the sounds grew fainter, till +there was silence. At last, towards sunset, a wind from the west +blew the mist away. Then Arthur, with Sir Bedivere by his side, +looked over the field of battle. He saw but one man standing; +all the rest were dead on the seashore. And the tide had risen, +and was swaying the helpless hands, and tumbling up and down the +hollow helmets and the broken spears that once had fought with +Rome. The king's face was white, and his voice was low as he said +to Sir Bedivere: + +"There lie my slain, who have died for me. I am king only of the +dead." + +"Nay, lord," said Sir Bedivere. "You are king everywhere still. +Now strike a kingly stroke against the one traitor who still +stands." + +Sir Bedivere pointed at the one other living man, and the king +saw that it was Sir Modred. Arthur threw down his scabbard and +lifted his good Excalibur. Then he sprang upon the traitor. Sir +Modred struck the king on the helmet, which had been worn thin in +many battles. The stroke cut through the steel, and wounded +Arthur mortally, but he used his ebbing strength for one last +blow with Excalibur, and killed Sir Modred. + +The king sank to the ground, but Sir Bedivere lifted him, and +bore him to a ruined chapel near the seashore. When he had laid +him down by the broken cross in the chancel, Arthur said: + +"You know well that my Excalibur was given to me by the Lady of +the Lake. I have used it like a king. And now the time has come +to obey the writing on the blade. So take my sword Excalibur, and +throw it far out into the lake." + +Sir Bedivere took the sword and went out from the ruined chapel. +He walked amid the graves of ancient knights over which the sea +wind was singing. He passed the barren cliffs and chasms, and +reached the lake at last. + +He lifted Excalibur, and as he did so the moon came from behind +the clouds. The light fell on the hilt of the sword, and all the +jewels shone. Sir Bedivere looked until his eyes were dazzled; he +could not throw the beautiful weapon away. So he hid it in the +weeds upon the shore of the lake, and returned to the king. + +"What did you see or hear?" asked Arthur. + +Sir Bedivere replied: + +"I heard the ripple washing in the reeds, and the wild water +lapping on the crags." + +King Arthur, faint and pale, said: + +"You have betrayed me. You have acted a lie. Had you thrown the +sword, something would have happened, some sign would have been +given. Go back now, and throw it into the lake." + +Sir Bedivere went back and again picked up Excalibur. As he +looked at it he said aloud: + +"Surely it is not right to throw away such a precious thing. It +would please the eyes of people forever. I know it is wrong to +disobey the king. Yet he is sick; perhaps he does not know what +he is doing. If I keep Excalibur and store it in a great +treasure-house, people will look at it throughout all the coming +years, and feel great reverence for the king who fought with it." + +So again Sir Bedivere hid the sword and returned to the king, who +asked: + +"What have you seen or heard?" + +And Sir Bedivere replied: + +"I heard the water lapping on the crag, and the long ripple +washing in the reeds." + +Then the king was very angry. + +"Ah, unkind!" he cried. "You, too, are a traitor. Because I am +dying, I have no authority. You refuse to obey me, you who are +the last of my knights! Yet it is possible for a man to fail in +his duty twice, and succeed the third time. Go now, and throw +Excalibur." + +Sir Bedivere ran quickly and seized the sword, shutting his eyes +that he might not see its beauty. He whirled it round his head +and threw it far out over the lake. It flashed in the moonlight +and fell. But before it reached the surface of the water, an arm, +clothed in pure white, rose and caught it, brandished it three +times, and then drew it under the water. + +When Sir Bedivere went back to Arthur, the king knew that he had +been obeyed. + +"I am dying," he said. "Lift me on your back and carry me to the +lake." + +Then Sir Bedivere carried the helpless king, walking quickly +through the place of tombs, and over the crags, and past the +chasms, till he came to the smooth shining lake. There beside the +bank was a barge, all black. The deck was covered with stately +figures of people clad in mourning. Among them were three fair +queens with crowns of gold--the three queens who were to help +Arthur at his need. + +They had come to take him away, Sir Bedivere did not know where. +When they saw the wounded king, they gave a cry of grief that +seemed to rise to the stars. Then they lifted him into the barge. +The tallest put his head on her knees, and took off his broken +helmet. She called him by name, weeping bitterly. + +Poor Sir Bedivere cried: + +"Oh, my Lord Arthur, you are leaving me. Where shall I go? The +great Round Table is broken up forever. What shall I do?" + +Then Arthur answered: + +"Old customs pass and new ones come. God makes his world better +in many ways. The Round Table did its work and now has disappeared; +but something else will surely come to advance the cause of +truth and justice. Pray for me and for yourself. More things are +done by prayer than this world dreams of. And now, farewell! You +shall never see me again, my Bedivere. My work is done; yours, +too, is nearly over. Farewell!" + +Then the barge moved slowly away, while those on board lamented. +Sir Bedivere watched it till it disappeared amid the shadows over +the lake. Then he rose slowly and wandered back to Lyonnesse. + +After a time he went to Camelot. There was a new king there, who +was good, and new customs, also good. But Sir Bedivere was too +old to change his way of life. He spent the rest of his days in +Camelot, but he lived only in the past, dreaming of the time when +King Arthur and his knights of the Round Table ruled in the land. + +[Illustration: The Shield and the Sword] + + + + + +End of Project Gutenberg's King Arthur and His Knights, by Maude L. Radford + +*** END OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK KING ARTHUR AND HIS KNIGHTS *** + +***** This file should be named 21865.txt or 21865.zip ***** +This and all associated files of various formats will be found in: + http://www.gutenberg.org/2/1/8/6/21865/ + +Produced by Greg Weeks, Irma Spehar and the Online +Distributed Proofreading Team at http://www.pgdp.net + + +Updated editions will replace the previous one--the old editions +will be renamed. + +Creating the works from public domain print editions means that no +one owns a United States copyright in these works, so the Foundation +(and you!) can copy and distribute it in the United States without +permission and without paying copyright royalties. Special rules, +set forth in the General Terms of Use part of this license, apply to +copying and distributing Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works to +protect the PROJECT GUTENBERG-tm concept and trademark. Project +Gutenberg is a registered trademark, and may not be used if you +charge for the eBooks, unless you receive specific permission. If you +do not charge anything for copies of this eBook, complying with the +rules is very easy. You may use this eBook for nearly any purpose +such as creation of derivative works, reports, performances and +research. They may be modified and printed and given away--you may do +practically ANYTHING with public domain eBooks. Redistribution is +subject to the trademark license, especially commercial +redistribution. + + + +*** START: FULL LICENSE *** + +THE FULL PROJECT GUTENBERG LICENSE +PLEASE READ THIS BEFORE YOU DISTRIBUTE OR USE THIS WORK + +To protect the Project Gutenberg-tm mission of promoting the free +distribution of electronic works, by using or distributing this work +(or any other work associated in any way with the phrase "Project +Gutenberg"), you agree to comply with all the terms of the Full Project +Gutenberg-tm License (available with this file or online at +http://gutenberg.org/license). + + +Section 1. General Terms of Use and Redistributing Project Gutenberg-tm +electronic works + +1.A. By reading or using any part of this Project Gutenberg-tm +electronic work, you indicate that you have read, understand, agree to +and accept all the terms of this license and intellectual property +(trademark/copyright) agreement. If you do not agree to abide by all +the terms of this agreement, you must cease using and return or destroy +all copies of Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works in your possession. +If you paid a fee for obtaining a copy of or access to a Project +Gutenberg-tm electronic work and you do not agree to be bound by the +terms of this agreement, you may obtain a refund from the person or +entity to whom you paid the fee as set forth in paragraph 1.E.8. + +1.B. "Project Gutenberg" is a registered trademark. It may only be +used on or associated in any way with an electronic work by people who +agree to be bound by the terms of this agreement. There are a few +things that you can do with most Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works +even without complying with the full terms of this agreement. See +paragraph 1.C below. There are a lot of things you can do with Project +Gutenberg-tm electronic works if you follow the terms of this agreement +and help preserve free future access to Project Gutenberg-tm electronic +works. See paragraph 1.E below. + +1.C. The Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation ("the Foundation" +or PGLAF), owns a compilation copyright in the collection of Project +Gutenberg-tm electronic works. Nearly all the individual works in the +collection are in the public domain in the United States. If an +individual work is in the public domain in the United States and you are +located in the United States, we do not claim a right to prevent you from +copying, distributing, performing, displaying or creating derivative +works based on the work as long as all references to Project Gutenberg +are removed. Of course, we hope that you will support the Project +Gutenberg-tm mission of promoting free access to electronic works by +freely sharing Project Gutenberg-tm works in compliance with the terms of +this agreement for keeping the Project Gutenberg-tm name associated with +the work. You can easily comply with the terms of this agreement by +keeping this work in the same format with its attached full Project +Gutenberg-tm License when you share it without charge with others. + +1.D. The copyright laws of the place where you are located also govern +what you can do with this work. Copyright laws in most countries are in +a constant state of change. If you are outside the United States, check +the laws of your country in addition to the terms of this agreement +before downloading, copying, displaying, performing, distributing or +creating derivative works based on this work or any other Project +Gutenberg-tm work. The Foundation makes no representations concerning +the copyright status of any work in any country outside the United +States. + +1.E. Unless you have removed all references to Project Gutenberg: + +1.E.1. The following sentence, with active links to, or other immediate +access to, the full Project Gutenberg-tm License must appear prominently +whenever any copy of a Project Gutenberg-tm work (any work on which the +phrase "Project Gutenberg" appears, or with which the phrase "Project +Gutenberg" is associated) is accessed, displayed, performed, viewed, +copied or distributed: + +This eBook is for the use of anyone anywhere at no cost and with +almost no restrictions whatsoever. You may copy it, give it away or +re-use it under the terms of the Project Gutenberg License included +with this eBook or online at www.gutenberg.org + +1.E.2. If an individual Project Gutenberg-tm electronic work is derived +from the public domain (does not contain a notice indicating that it is +posted with permission of the copyright holder), the work can be copied +and distributed to anyone in the United States without paying any fees +or charges. If you are redistributing or providing access to a work +with the phrase "Project Gutenberg" associated with or appearing on the +work, you must comply either with the requirements of paragraphs 1.E.1 +through 1.E.7 or obtain permission for the use of the work and the +Project Gutenberg-tm trademark as set forth in paragraphs 1.E.8 or +1.E.9. + +1.E.3. If an individual Project Gutenberg-tm electronic work is posted +with the permission of the copyright holder, your use and distribution +must comply with both paragraphs 1.E.1 through 1.E.7 and any additional +terms imposed by the copyright holder. Additional terms will be linked +to the Project Gutenberg-tm License for all works posted with the +permission of the copyright holder found at the beginning of this work. + +1.E.4. Do not unlink or detach or remove the full Project Gutenberg-tm +License terms from this work, or any files containing a part of this +work or any other work associated with Project Gutenberg-tm. + +1.E.5. Do not copy, display, perform, distribute or redistribute this +electronic work, or any part of this electronic work, without +prominently displaying the sentence set forth in paragraph 1.E.1 with +active links or immediate access to the full terms of the Project +Gutenberg-tm License. + +1.E.6. You may convert to and distribute this work in any binary, +compressed, marked up, nonproprietary or proprietary form, including any +word processing or hypertext form. However, if you provide access to or +distribute copies of a Project Gutenberg-tm work in a format other than +"Plain Vanilla ASCII" or other format used in the official version +posted on the official Project Gutenberg-tm web site (www.gutenberg.org), +you must, at no additional cost, fee or expense to the user, provide a +copy, a means of exporting a copy, or a means of obtaining a copy upon +request, of the work in its original "Plain Vanilla ASCII" or other +form. Any alternate format must include the full Project Gutenberg-tm +License as specified in paragraph 1.E.1. + +1.E.7. Do not charge a fee for access to, viewing, displaying, +performing, copying or distributing any Project Gutenberg-tm works +unless you comply with paragraph 1.E.8 or 1.E.9. + +1.E.8. You may charge a reasonable fee for copies of or providing +access to or distributing Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works provided +that + +- You pay a royalty fee of 20% of the gross profits you derive from + the use of Project Gutenberg-tm works calculated using the method + you already use to calculate your applicable taxes. The fee is + owed to the owner of the Project Gutenberg-tm trademark, but he + has agreed to donate royalties under this paragraph to the + Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation. Royalty payments + must be paid within 60 days following each date on which you + prepare (or are legally required to prepare) your periodic tax + returns. Royalty payments should be clearly marked as such and + sent to the Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation at the + address specified in Section 4, "Information about donations to + the Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation." + +- You provide a full refund of any money paid by a user who notifies + you in writing (or by e-mail) within 30 days of receipt that s/he + does not agree to the terms of the full Project Gutenberg-tm + License. You must require such a user to return or + destroy all copies of the works possessed in a physical medium + and discontinue all use of and all access to other copies of + Project Gutenberg-tm works. + +- You provide, in accordance with paragraph 1.F.3, a full refund of any + money paid for a work or a replacement copy, if a defect in the + electronic work is discovered and reported to you within 90 days + of receipt of the work. + +- You comply with all other terms of this agreement for free + distribution of Project Gutenberg-tm works. + +1.E.9. If you wish to charge a fee or distribute a Project Gutenberg-tm +electronic work or group of works on different terms than are set +forth in this agreement, you must obtain permission in writing from +both the Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation and Michael +Hart, the owner of the Project Gutenberg-tm trademark. Contact the +Foundation as set forth in Section 3 below. + +1.F. + +1.F.1. Project Gutenberg volunteers and employees expend considerable +effort to identify, do copyright research on, transcribe and proofread +public domain works in creating the Project Gutenberg-tm +collection. Despite these efforts, Project Gutenberg-tm electronic +works, and the medium on which they may be stored, may contain +"Defects," such as, but not limited to, incomplete, inaccurate or +corrupt data, transcription errors, a copyright or other intellectual +property infringement, a defective or damaged disk or other medium, a +computer virus, or computer codes that damage or cannot be read by +your equipment. + +1.F.2. LIMITED WARRANTY, DISCLAIMER OF DAMAGES - Except for the "Right +of Replacement or Refund" described in paragraph 1.F.3, the Project +Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation, the owner of the Project +Gutenberg-tm trademark, and any other party distributing a Project +Gutenberg-tm electronic work under this agreement, disclaim all +liability to you for damages, costs and expenses, including legal +fees. YOU AGREE THAT YOU HAVE NO REMEDIES FOR NEGLIGENCE, STRICT +LIABILITY, BREACH OF WARRANTY OR BREACH OF CONTRACT EXCEPT THOSE +PROVIDED IN PARAGRAPH F3. YOU AGREE THAT THE FOUNDATION, THE +TRADEMARK OWNER, AND ANY DISTRIBUTOR UNDER THIS AGREEMENT WILL NOT BE +LIABLE TO YOU FOR ACTUAL, DIRECT, INDIRECT, CONSEQUENTIAL, PUNITIVE OR +INCIDENTAL DAMAGES EVEN IF YOU GIVE NOTICE OF THE POSSIBILITY OF SUCH +DAMAGE. + +1.F.3. LIMITED RIGHT OF REPLACEMENT OR REFUND - If you discover a +defect in this electronic work within 90 days of receiving it, you can +receive a refund of the money (if any) you paid for it by sending a +written explanation to the person you received the work from. If you +received the work on a physical medium, you must return the medium with +your written explanation. The person or entity that provided you with +the defective work may elect to provide a replacement copy in lieu of a +refund. If you received the work electronically, the person or entity +providing it to you may choose to give you a second opportunity to +receive the work electronically in lieu of a refund. If the second copy +is also defective, you may demand a refund in writing without further +opportunities to fix the problem. + +1.F.4. Except for the limited right of replacement or refund set forth +in paragraph 1.F.3, this work is provided to you 'AS-IS' WITH NO OTHER +WARRANTIES OF ANY KIND, EXPRESS OR IMPLIED, INCLUDING BUT NOT LIMITED TO +WARRANTIES OF MERCHANTIBILITY OR FITNESS FOR ANY PURPOSE. + +1.F.5. Some states do not allow disclaimers of certain implied +warranties or the exclusion or limitation of certain types of damages. +If any disclaimer or limitation set forth in this agreement violates the +law of the state applicable to this agreement, the agreement shall be +interpreted to make the maximum disclaimer or limitation permitted by +the applicable state law. The invalidity or unenforceability of any +provision of this agreement shall not void the remaining provisions. + +1.F.6. INDEMNITY - You agree to indemnify and hold the Foundation, the +trademark owner, any agent or employee of the Foundation, anyone +providing copies of Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works in accordance +with this agreement, and any volunteers associated with the production, +promotion and distribution of Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works, +harmless from all liability, costs and expenses, including legal fees, +that arise directly or indirectly from any of the following which you do +or cause to occur: (a) distribution of this or any Project Gutenberg-tm +work, (b) alteration, modification, or additions or deletions to any +Project Gutenberg-tm work, and (c) any Defect you cause. + + +Section 2. Information about the Mission of Project Gutenberg-tm + +Project Gutenberg-tm is synonymous with the free distribution of +electronic works in formats readable by the widest variety of computers +including obsolete, old, middle-aged and new computers. It exists +because of the efforts of hundreds of volunteers and donations from +people in all walks of life. + +Volunteers and financial support to provide volunteers with the +assistance they need, is critical to reaching Project Gutenberg-tm's +goals and ensuring that the Project Gutenberg-tm collection will +remain freely available for generations to come. In 2001, the Project +Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation was created to provide a secure +and permanent future for Project Gutenberg-tm and future generations. +To learn more about the Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation +and how your efforts and donations can help, see Sections 3 and 4 +and the Foundation web page at http://www.pglaf.org. + + +Section 3. Information about the Project Gutenberg Literary Archive +Foundation + +The Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation is a non profit +501(c)(3) educational corporation organized under the laws of the +state of Mississippi and granted tax exempt status by the Internal +Revenue Service. The Foundation's EIN or federal tax identification +number is 64-6221541. Its 501(c)(3) letter is posted at +http://pglaf.org/fundraising. Contributions to the Project Gutenberg +Literary Archive Foundation are tax deductible to the full extent +permitted by U.S. federal laws and your state's laws. + +The Foundation's principal office is located at 4557 Melan Dr. S. +Fairbanks, AK, 99712., but its volunteers and employees are scattered +throughout numerous locations. Its business office is located at +809 North 1500 West, Salt Lake City, UT 84116, (801) 596-1887, email +business@pglaf.org. Email contact links and up to date contact +information can be found at the Foundation's web site and official +page at http://pglaf.org + +For additional contact information: + Dr. Gregory B. Newby + Chief Executive and Director + gbnewby@pglaf.org + + +Section 4. Information about Donations to the Project Gutenberg +Literary Archive Foundation + +Project Gutenberg-tm depends upon and cannot survive without wide +spread public support and donations to carry out its mission of +increasing the number of public domain and licensed works that can be +freely distributed in machine readable form accessible by the widest +array of equipment including outdated equipment. Many small donations +($1 to $5,000) are particularly important to maintaining tax exempt +status with the IRS. + +The Foundation is committed to complying with the laws regulating +charities and charitable donations in all 50 states of the United +States. Compliance requirements are not uniform and it takes a +considerable effort, much paperwork and many fees to meet and keep up +with these requirements. We do not solicit donations in locations +where we have not received written confirmation of compliance. To +SEND DONATIONS or determine the status of compliance for any +particular state visit http://pglaf.org + +While we cannot and do not solicit contributions from states where we +have not met the solicitation requirements, we know of no prohibition +against accepting unsolicited donations from donors in such states who +approach us with offers to donate. + +International donations are gratefully accepted, but we cannot make +any statements concerning tax treatment of donations received from +outside the United States. U.S. laws alone swamp our small staff. + +Please check the Project Gutenberg Web pages for current donation +methods and addresses. Donations are accepted in a number of other +ways including checks, online payments and credit card donations. +To donate, please visit: http://pglaf.org/donate + + +Section 5. General Information About Project Gutenberg-tm electronic +works. + +Professor Michael S. Hart is the originator of the Project Gutenberg-tm +concept of a library of electronic works that could be freely shared +with anyone. For thirty years, he produced and distributed Project +Gutenberg-tm eBooks with only a loose network of volunteer support. + + +Project Gutenberg-tm eBooks are often created from several printed +editions, all of which are confirmed as Public Domain in the U.S. +unless a copyright notice is included. Thus, we do not necessarily +keep eBooks in compliance with any particular paper edition. + + +Most people start at our Web site which has the main PG search facility: + + http://www.gutenberg.org + +This Web site includes information about Project Gutenberg-tm, +including how to make donations to the Project Gutenberg Literary +Archive Foundation, how to help produce our new eBooks, and how to +subscribe to our email newsletter to hear about new eBooks. diff --git a/21865.zip b/21865.zip Binary files differnew file mode 100644 index 0000000..ac4b737 --- /dev/null +++ b/21865.zip diff --git a/LICENSE.txt b/LICENSE.txt new file mode 100644 index 0000000..6312041 --- /dev/null +++ b/LICENSE.txt @@ -0,0 +1,11 @@ +This eBook, including all associated images, markup, improvements, +metadata, and any other content or labor, has been confirmed to be +in the PUBLIC DOMAIN IN THE UNITED STATES. + +Procedures for determining public domain status are described in +the "Copyright How-To" at https://www.gutenberg.org. + +No investigation has been made concerning possible copyrights in +jurisdictions other than the United States. Anyone seeking to utilize +this eBook outside of the United States should confirm copyright +status under the laws that apply to them. diff --git a/README.md b/README.md new file mode 100644 index 0000000..7b16b48 --- /dev/null +++ b/README.md @@ -0,0 +1,2 @@ +Project Gutenberg (https://www.gutenberg.org) public repository for +eBook #21865 (https://www.gutenberg.org/ebooks/21865) |
