King Arthur and His Knights | Page 5

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