Stories from Le Morte DArthur and the Mabinogion | Page 5

stood the marvellous
palace built for the king by Merlin, is perhaps the village of Queen's
Camel in Somersetshire. If it is borne in mind that the French call
Wales Pays de Galles, it is not difficult to see that North Galis may
well be North Wales. Gore is the peninsula of Gower; Liones probably
the land south-west of Cornwall, now sunk beneath the sea; and
Avalonia was the name given to one of the many small islands of the
once marshy, low-lying shore of Somersetshire, which became
afterwards better known as Glastonbury.
Happily, it is neither on their history nor on their geography that the

tales depend for their interest. As long as a story of adventure thrills; as
long as gentleness, courtesy and consideration for the weak excite
respect, so long will be read the tales of the brave times
"When every morning brought a noble chance, And every chance
brought out a noble knight."

STORIES FROM LE MORTE D'ARTHUR AND THE
MABINOGION

BOOK I
THE COMING OF ARTHUR

CHAPTER I
OF ARTHUR'S BIRTH; AND HOW HE BECAME KING
Long years ago, there ruled over Britain a king called Uther Pendragon.
A mighty prince was he, and feared by all men; yet, when he sought the
love of the fair Igraine of Cornwall, she would have naught to do with
him, so that, from grief and disappointment, Uther fell sick, and at last
seemed like to die.
Now in those days, there lived a famous magician named Merlin, so
powerful that he could change his form at will, or even make himself
invisible; nor was there any place so remote but that he could reach it at
once, 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 thee, and thou shalt have thy heart's desire." To this the king
agreed joyfully, and Merlin kept his word: for he gave Uther the form
of one whom Igraine had loved dearly, and so she took him willingly
for her husband.
When the time had come that a child should be born to the King and
Queen, Merlin appeared before Uther to remind him of his promise;
and Uther swore it 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 thereafter, the King commanded that the
child should be carried to the postern-gate, there to be given to the old
man who would be found waiting without.
Not long after, Uther fell sick, and he knew that his end was come; so,
by Merlin's advice, he called together his knights 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; and my curse upon him if he claim
not the crown when he is a man grown." Then the King turned his face
to the wall and died.
Scarcely was Uther laid in his grave before disputes arose. Few of the
nobles had seen Arthur or even heard of him, and not one of them
would have been willing to be ruled by a child; rather, each thought
himself fitted to be king, and, strengthening his own castle, made war
on his neighbours until confusion alone was supreme, and the poor
groaned because there was none to help them.
Now when Merlin carried away Arthur--for Merlin was the old man
who had stood at the postern-gate--he had known all that would happen,
and had taken the child to 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 the care of the good knight Sir
Ector to bring up with his son Kay, but revealed not to him that it was
the son of Uther Pendragon that was given into his charge.
At last, when years had passed and Arthur was grown a tall youth well
skilled in knightly exercises, Merlin went to the Archbishop of
Canterbury and advised him that he should call together at
Christmas-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 King of this
land." The Archbishop did as Merlin counselled. Under pain of a
fearful curse, he bade barons and knights come to London to keep the
feast, and to pray heaven to send peace to the realm.
The