King Arthurs Knights | Page 5

wroth, and rode back
wondering how he should obtain a sword for his foster-brother.
Suddenly, as he saw the tower of St. Paul's church through the trees, he
bethought him of the sword in the stone, about which many men had
spoken in his hearing.
'I will ride thither,' said he, 'and see if I may get that sword for my
brother, for he shall not be without a sword this day.'
When he came to the churchyard, he tied his horse to the stile, and went
through the grave-mounds to the tent wherein was the sword. He found
the place unwatched, and the flashing sword was sticking by the point
in the stone.
Lightly he grasped the handle of the sword with one hand, and it came
forth straightway!

Then, glad that his brother should not be without a sword, he swiftly
gat upon his horse and rode on, and delivered the sword to Sir Kay, and
thought no more of aught but the splendid knights and richly garbed
lords that were at the jousts.
But Sir Kay looked at the sword, and the writing, and knew it was the
sword of the stone, and marvelled how young Arthur had possessed
himself thereof; and being of a covetous and sour mind he thought how
he might make advantage for himself. He went to his father, Sir Ector,
and said:
'Lo, father, this is the sword of the stone, and surely am I rightful king.'
Sir Ector knew the sword and marvelled, but his look was stern as he
gazed into the crafty eyes of his son.
'Come ye with me,' he said, and all three rode to the church, and alit
from their horses and went in.
Sir Ector strode up the aisle to the altar, and turning to his son, said
sternly:
'Now, swear on God's book and the holy relics how thou didst get this
sword.'
Sir Kay's heart went weak, and he stammered out the truth.
'How gat you this sword?' asked Sir Ector of Arthur.
'Sir, I will tell you,' said Arthur, and so told him all as it had happened.
Sir Ector marvelled what this should mean; for Arthur had been given
to him to nourish and rear as a week-old child by Merlin, but the
wizard had only told him that the babe was a son of a dead lady, whose
lord had been slain by the pagans.
Then Sir Ector went to the stone and bade Arthur put back the sword
into the wedge of steel, which the young man did easily.

Thereupon Sir Ector strove with all his strength to draw the sword forth
again, but though he pulled till he sweated, he could not stir the sword.
'Now you essay it,' he said to his son. But naught that Sir Kay could do
availed.
'Now do you try,' he bade Arthur.
Arthur lightly grasped the handle with one hand, and the sword came
out without hindrance.
Therewith Sir Ector sank to his knees, and Sir Kay also. And they
bared their heads.
'Alas,' said Arthur, 'my own dear father and brother, why kneel ye so to
me?'
'Nay, nay, my lord Arthur, it is not so,' said Sir Ector, 'for I was never
your father. I wot well ye are of higher blood than I weened. For Merlin
delivered you to me while yet ye were a babe.'
The tears came into Arthur's eyes when he knew that Sir Ector was not
his father, for the young man had loved him as if he were of his own
blood.
'Sir,' said Ector unto Arthur, 'will ye be my good and kind lord when ye
are king?'
'Ah, if this be true as ye say,' cried Arthur, 'ye shall desire of me
whatsoever ye may, and I shall give it you. For both you and my good
lady and dear mother your wife have kept and loved me as your own.'
'Sir,' said Sir Ector, 'I crave a boon of you, that while you live, your
foster-brother, Sir Kay, shall be high seneschal of all your lands.'
'That shall be done, and never man shall have that office but him, while
he and I live,' replied Arthur.
Then hastily Sir Ector rode to the archbishop, and told him how and by

whom the sword had been achieved from the stone. Thereupon the
archbishop let call a great meeting on Twelfth Day of all the kings and
barons.
So on the day appointed, all men gathered in the churchyard of St.
Paul's, and the tent was removed from about the stone. From day dawn
to the evening the kings and princes and lords strove each in his turn to
draw the sword from the stone. But none of them availed to move it.
While they