Stories of King Arthur and His Knights | Page 6

not the old
chronicle maketh no mention) all were at their prayers long ere day.
When matins were done and they came out of the church, there was
seen in the churchyard a great square stone, in the midst of which was
an anvil of steel, a foot high, with a fair sword naked at the point
sticking through it. Written in gold about the sword were letters that
read thus: "Whoso pulleth out this sword from this stone and anvil is
rightwise king born of all England."
[Illustration: The Dedication.]
All the people marvelled at the stone and the inscription, and some
assayed--such as would be king--to draw out the sword. But none might
stir it, and the Archbishop said: "He is not here that shall achieve this
sword, but doubt not God will make him known. This now is my

counsel, that we cause to be chosen ten knights, men of good fame, to
guard this sword until the rightful possessor shall appear."
So it was ordained, and it was proclaimed that every man should assay
that would, to win the sword. And upon New Year's Day the barons
held jousts and a tournament for all knights that would engage. All this
was ordained for to keep the lords and the commons together, for the
Archbishop trusted that God would soon make him known that should
win the sword. So upon New Year's Day the barons rode to the field,
some to joust and some to tourney; and it happened that Sir Ector rode
also, and with him Sir Kay, his son, that had just been made knight, and
young Arthur that was his foster-brother.
As they rode to the joust-ward Sir Kay suddenly missed his sword,
which he had left at his father's lodging, and he begged young Arthur to
ride and fetch it. "I will gladly," said Arthur, and he hastened off home.
But the lady and all the household were out to see the jousting, and he
found nobody at home to deliver him the sword. Then was Arthur
troubled, and said to himself, "I will ride to the churchyard and take the
sword that sticketh in the stone, for my brother Sir Kay shall not be
without a sword this day."
So when he came to the great stone Arthur alighted, and tied his horse
to the stile. He then went straight to the tent of the guards, but found no
knights there, for they were at the jousting. So he took the sword by the
handles, and lightly and fiercely pulled it out of the anvil; then he
mounted his horse and rode his way till he came to his brother Sir Kay,
and delivered him the sword.
As soon as Sir Kay saw the sword, he knew well it was that one of the
stone, and so he rode away to his father, Sir Ector, and said: "Sir, lo
here is the sword of the stone; wherefore I must be king of this land."
When Sir Ector beheld the sword, all three returned to the church and
entered it. Anon Sir Ector made Sir Kay to swear upon a book how he
came by that sword. And Sir Kay answered that Arthur had brought it
to him. "And how gat ye the sword?" said he to Arthur; and when Sir
Ector heard how it had been pulled from the anvil, he said to Arthur:

"Now I understand ye must be king of this land."
"Wherefore I?" said Arthur, "and for what cause?"
"Sir," said Ector, "for God will have it so; for there should never man
have drawn out this sword but he that shall be rightwise king. Now let
me see whether ye can put the sword there as it was, and pull it out
again."
"That is no mastery," said Arthur, and so he put it into the stone.
Therewith Sir Ector assayed to pull out the sword, and failed. Then Sir
Kay pulled at it with all his might, but it would not yield.
"Now shall ye assay again," said Sir Ector to Arthur.
"I will well," said Arthur, and pulled it out easily a second time.
Now was Sir Ector sure that Arthur was of higher blood than had been
thought, and that the rightful king had been made known. And he told
his foster-son all, how he was not his father, but had taken him to
nourish at Merlin's request. Arthur was grieved indeed when he
understood that Sir Ector was not his father, and that the good lady that
had fostered and kept him as her own son was not his true mother, and
he said to Sir Ector, "If ever it be God's will that I be king, as ye say, ye
shall desire of me what