King Arthur and His Knights | Page 6

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