Stories from Le Morte D'Arthur and the Mabinogion

ared by all men; yet, when he sought the love of the fair Igraine of Cornwall, she would have naught t

merely by wishing himself there. One day, suddenly he stood at Uther's bedside, and said: "Sir King, I know thy grief, and am ready to help thee. Only promise to give me, at his birth, the son that shall be born to t

t should be as he had said. Three days later, a prince was born, and, with pomp and ceremony, was christened by the name of Arthur; but immediately th

and barons, and said to them: "My death draws near. I charge you, therefore, that ye obey my son even as ye have obeyed me;

of them would have been willing to be ruled by a child; rather, each thought himself fitted to be king, and, strengthening his o

keep him safe from the fierce barons until he should be of age to rule wisely and well, and perform all the wonders prophesied of him. He gave the child to th

istmas-time all the chief men of the realm to the great cathedral in London; "For," said Merlin, "there shall be seen a great marvel by which it shall be made clear to all men who is the lawful Ki

en they had prayed, and were coming forth from the cathedral, they saw a strange sight. There, in the open space before the church, stood, on a great sto

the least knight; and each in turn, having put forth his utmost strength, failed to move the sword one inch, and drew back ashamed. So the Archbishop dismissed the company, and having appointed guards to watch over the

nd. Immediately Arthur turned back to fetch it for him, only to find the house fast shut, for all were gone to view the tournament. Sore vexed was Arthur, fearing lest his brother Kay should lose his chance of gaining glory, till, of a sudden, he bethought him of the sword in the great anvil before the cathedral. Thither he rode with all spe

en the three sought the Archbishop, to whom they related all that had happened; and he, much marvelling, called the people together to the great stone, and bade Arthur thrust back the sword and draw it forth again in the presence of all, which he did with ease. But an angry murmur arose from the barons, who cried that what a boy could do, a man could do; so, at the Archbishop's word, the sword was put back, and each man, whether baron

Nor was he forgetful of those that had been his friends; for Kay, whom he loved as a brother, he m