The Story of King Arthur and his Knights
boon!” And Arthur said, “Alas! how is this? Dost thou, my father, ask a
boon of me who may have all in the world that is mine to give? Ask what
thou wilt and it is thine!” Then Sir Ector said, “I do beseech this of
thee: that when thou art King thy brother Kay may be Seneschal of all
this realm.” And Arthur said, “It shall be as thou dost ask.” And he
said, “As for thee, it shall be still better with thee, for thou shalt
be my father unto the end!” Whereupon so saying, he took Sir Ector’s
head into his hands and he kissed Sir Ector upon the forehead and upon
the cheeks, and so sealed his plighted word.
But all this while Sir Kay had stood like unto one struck by thunder,
and he wist not whether to be uplifted unto the skies or to be cast down
into the depths, that his young brother should thus have been passed by
him and exalted unto that extraordinary altitude of fortune. Wherefore
he stood like to one bereft of life and motion.
And let it here be said that Arthur fulfilled all that he had thus
promised to his father--for, in after times, he made Sir Kay his
Seneschal, and Sir Ector was to him a father until the day of his death,
which same befell five years from that time.
* * * * *
Thus I have told you how the royalty of Arthur was first discovered. And
now, if you will listen, ye shall hear how it was confirmed before all
the world.
[Illustration] Chapter Third.
_How Several Kings and High Dukes Assayed to Draw the Sword Out of the
Anvil and How They Failed. Likewise How Arthur Made the Assay and
Succeeded Therein._
So when the morning of Christmas day had come, many thousands of folk of
all qualities, both gentle and simple, gathered together in front of the
cathedral for to behold the assay of that sword.
Now there had been a canopy of embroidered cloth of divers colors spread
above the sword and the anvil, and a platform had been built around
about the cube of marble stone. And nigh unto that place there had been
a throne for the Archbishop established; for the Archbishop was to
overlook that assay and to see that every circumstance was fulfilled
with due equity and circumspection.
So, when the morning was half gone by, the Archbishop himself came with
great pomp of estate and took his seat upon the high throne that had
been placed for him, and all his court of clerks and knights gathered
about him, so that he presented a very proud and excellent appearance of
courtliness.
Now unto that assay there had gathered nineteen kings and sixteen dukes,
and each of these was of such noble and exalted estate that he
entertained high hopes that he would that day be approved before the
world to be the right king and overlord of all Britain. Wherefore after
the Archbishop had established himself upon his throne, there came
several of these and made demand that he should straightway put that
matter to the test. So the Archbishop commanded his herald for to sound
a trumpet, and to bid all who had the right to make assay of the sword
to come unto that adventure, and the herald did according as the
Archbishop ordered.
[Sidenote: King Lot of Orkney maketh assay of the sword and faileth.]
And when the herald had sounded his trumpet there immediately appeared
the first of those kings to make trial of the sword, and he who came was
King Lot of Orkney and the Isles. With King Lot there came eleven
knights and five esquires, so that he appeared in very noble estate before
the eyes of all. And when King Lot had arrived at that place, he mounted the
platform. And first he saluted the Archbishop, and then he laid his
hands to the pommel of the sword in the sight of all. And he bent his
body and drew upon the sword with great strength, but he could not move
the blade in the anvil even so much as the breadth of a hair, for it
stood as fast as the iron in which it was planted. And after that first
assay he tried three times more, but still he was altogether unable to
move the blade in the iron. Then, after that he had thus four times made
assay, he ceased his endeavor and came down from that place. And he was
filled with great anger and indignation that he had not succeeded in his
endeavor.
[Sidenote: Sundry others make assay and fail.]
And after King Lot there came his brother-in-law, King Urien of Gore,
and he also made assay in the same wise as King Lot had done. But
neither did he succeed any better than that other king. And after King
Urien there came King Fion of Scotland, and after King Fion there came
King Mark of Cornwall, and after King Mark there came King Ryence of
North Wales, and after King Ryence there came King Leodegrance of
Cameliard, and after him came all those other kings and dukes before
numerated, and not one of all these was able to move the blade. And some
of these high and mighty lords were filled with anger and indignation
that they had not succeeded, and others were ashamed that they had
failed in that undertaking before the eyes of all those who looked upon
them. But whether they were angry or whether they were ashamed it in no
wise helped their case.
Now when all the kings and dukes had thus failed in that adventure, the
people who were there were very much astonished, and they said to one
another, “How is this? If all those kings and dukes of very exalted
estate have failed to achieve that adventure, who then may hope to
succeed? For here have been all those who were most worthy of that high
honor, and all have tried to draw that sword and all have failed. Who
then is there now to come after these who may hope to succeed?”
[Sidenote: The kings and dukes are discontented.]
And, likewise, those kings and dukes spoke together in the same manner.
And by and by there came six of the most worthy--to wit, King Lot, King
Urien, King Pellinore, King Ban, King Ryence, and Duke Clarence of
Northumberland--and these stood before the throne of the Archbishop and
spake to him in this wise: “Sir, here have all the kings and dukes of
this realm striven before you for to draw forth that sword, and lo! not
one of all those who have undertaken that thing hath succeeded in his
undertaking. What, then, may we understand but that the enchanter Merlin hath
set this adventure for to bring shame and discredit upon all of us who are
here, and upon you, who are the head of the church in this realm?
For who in all the world may hope to draw forth a sword-blade out from a
bed of solid iron? Behold! it is beyond the power of any man. Is it not
then plain to be seen that Merlin hath made a mock of us all? Now,
therefore, lest all this great congregation should have been called here
in vain, we do beseech you of your wisdom that you presently choose the
one from among the kings here gathered, who may be best fitted to be
overlord of this realm. And when ye shall have chosen him, we will
promise to obey him in all things whatsoever he may ordain. Verily, such
a choice as that will be better worth while than to spend time in this
foolish task of striving to draw forth a sword out of an anvil which no
man in all the world may draw forth.”
Then was the Archbishop much troubled in spirit, for he said to himself,
“Can it be sooth that Merlin hath deceived me, and hath made a mock of
me and of all these kings and lordly folk? Surely this cannot be. For
Merlin is passing wise, and he would not make a mock of all the realm
for the sake of so sorry a jest as this would be. Certes he hath some
intent in this of which we know naught, being of less wisdom than
he--wherefore I will be patient for a while longer.” Accordingly, having
communed thus within himself, he spake aloud in this wise to those seven
high lords: “Messires,” he said, “I have yet faith that Merlin hath not
deceived us, wherefore I pray your patience for one little while longer.
For if, in the time a man may count five hundred twice over, no one
cometh forward to perform this task, then will I, at your behest,
proceed to choose one from amongst you and will proclaim him King and
Overlord of all.” For the Archbishop had faith that Merlin was about to
immediately declare a king before them all.
* * * * *
Now leave we these and turn we unto Arthur and his father and brother.
For Merlin had bidden those three to abide in their pavilion until such
time as he thought would be fit for them to come out thence. And that
time being now come, Merlin and Sir Ulfius went to the pavilion of Sir
Ector, and Merlin said, “Arthur, arise and come forth, for now the hour
is come for thee to assay before the whole world that miracle which thou
didst of late execute in privacy.” So Arthur did as Merlin bade him to
do, and he came forth from the pavilion with his father and his brother,
and, lo! he was like one who walked in a dream.
[Sidenote: _Merlin bringeth Arthur to the assay._]
So they five went down from thence toward the cathedral and unto that
place of assay. And when they had come to the congregation there
assembled, the people made way for them, greatly marvelling and saying
to one another, “Who are these with the Enchanter Merlin and Sir Ulfius,
and whence come they? For all the world knew Merlin and Sir Ulfius, and
they wist that here was something very extraordinary about to happen.
And Arthur was clad all in flame-colored raiment embroidered with
threads of silver, so that others of the people said, “Certes, that
youth is very fair for to look upon; now who may he be?”
But Merlin said no word to any man, but he brought Arthur through the
press unto that place where the Archbishop sat; and the press made way
for him so that he was not stayed in his going. And when the Archbishop
beheld Merlin come thus with those others, he arose and said, “Merlin,
who are these whom thou bringest unto us, and what is their business
here?” And Merlin said, “Lord, here is one come to make the assay of
yonder sword.” And the Archbishop said, “Which one is he?” and Merlin
said, “This is he,” and he laid his hand upon Arthur.
[Sidenote: _Merlin proclaimeth the royalty of Arthur._]
Then the Archbishop looked upon Arthur and he beheld that the youth was
very comely of face, wherefore his heart went out unto Arthur and he
loved him a very great deal. And the Archbishop said, “Merlin, by what
right doth this young man come hither?” And Merlin made reply, “Lord, he
cometh hither by the best right that there is in the world; for he who
standeth before thee clad in red is the true son of Uther-Pendragon and
of his lawful wife, Queen Igraine.”
Then the Archbishop cried out aloud in great amazement and those who
stood nigh and who heard what Merlin said were so astonished that they
wist not what to think. And the Archbishop said, “Merlin, what is this
that thou tellest me? For who, until now, in all the world hath ever
heard that Uther-Pendragon had a son?”
Unto this Merlin made reply: “No one hath ever known of such a thing
until now, only a very few. For it was in this wise: When this child was
born the spirit of prophecy lay upon me and I foresaw that
Uther-Pendragon would die before a very great while. Wherefore I feared
that the enemies of the King would lay violent hands upon the young
child for the sake of his inheritance. So, at the King’s behest, I and
another took the young child from his mother and gave him unto a third,
and that man received the kingly child and maintained him ever since as
his own son. And as to the truth of these things there are others here
who may attest the verity of them--for he who was with me when the
young child was taken from his mother was Sir Ulfius, and he to whom he
was entrusted was Sir Ector of Bonmaison--and those two witnesses, who