The Legends of King Arthur and His Knights | Page 9

Ector, much amazed and looking steadfastly on Arthur, "If this indeed be
thus, 'tis thou who shalt be king of all this land--and God will have it so--for none but he
who should be rightful Lord of Britain might ever draw this sword forth from that stone.
But let me now with mine own eyes see thee put back the sword into its place and draw it
forth again."
"That is no mystery," said Arthur; and straightway set it in the stone. And then Sir Ector
pulled at it himself, and after him Sir Key, with all his might, but both of them in vain:
then Arthur reaching forth his hand and grasping at the pommel, pulled it out easily, and
at once.
Then fell Sir Ector down upon his knees upon the ground before young Arthur, and Sir
Key also with him, and straightway did him homage as their sovereign lord.
[Illustration: Then fell Sir Ector down upon his knees upon the ground before young
Arthur, and Sir Key also with him.]
But Arthur cried aloud, "Alas! mine own dear father and my brother, why kneel ye thus
to me?"
"Nay, my Lord Arthur," answered then Sir Ector, "we are of no blood-kinship with thee,
and little though I thought how high thy kin might be, yet wast thou never more than
foster-child of mine." And then he told him all he knew about his infancy, and how a
stranger had delivered him, with a great sum of gold, into his hands to be brought up and
nourished as his own born child, and then had disappeared.
But when young Arthur heard of it, he fell upon Sir Ector's neck, and wept, and made
great lamentation, "For now," said he, "I have in one day lost my father and my mother
and my brother."
"Sir," said Sir Ector presently, "when thou shalt be made king be good and gracious unto

me and mine."
"If not," said Arthur, "I were no true man's son at all, for thou art he in all the world to
whom I owe the most; and my good lady and mother, thy wife, hath ever kept and
fostered me as though I were her own; so if it be God's will that I be king hereafter as
thou sayest, desire of me whatever thing thou wilt and I will do it; and God forbid that I
should fail thee in it."
"I will but pray," replied Sir Ector, "that thou wilt make my son Sir Key, thy
foster-brother, seneschal of all the lands."
"That shall he be," said Arthur; "and never shall another hold that office, save thy son,
while he and I do live."
Anon, they left the church and went to the archbishop to tell him that the sword had been
achieved. And when he saw the sword in Arthur's hand he set a day and summoned all
the princes, knights, and barons to meet again at St. Paul's Church and see the will of
Heaven signified. So when they came together, the sword was put back in the stone, and
all tried, from the greatest to the least, to move it; but there before them all not one could
take it out save Arthur only.
But then befell a great confusion and dispute, for some cried out it was the will of Heaven,
and, "Long live King Arthur," but many more were full of wrath and said, "What! would
ye give the ancient sceptre of this land unto a boy born none know how?" And the
contention growing greatly, till nothing could be done to pacify their rage, the meeting
was at length broken up by the archbishop and adjourned till Candlemas, when all should
meet again.
But when Candlemas was come, Arthur alone again pulled forth the sword, though more
than ever came to win it; and the barons, sorely vexed and angry, put it in delay till Easter.
But as he had sped before so he did at Easter, and the barons yet once more contrived
delays till Pentecost.
But now the archbishop, fully seeing God's will, called together, by Merlin's counsel, a
band of knights and gentlemen-at-arms, and set them about Arthur to keep him safely till
the feast of Pentecost. And when at the feast Arthur still again alone prevailed to move
the sword, the people all with one accord cried out, "Long live King Arthur! we will have
no more delay, nor any other king, for so it is God's will; and we will slay whoso resisteth
Him and Arthur;" and wherewithal they kneeled down all at once, and cried for Arthur's
grace and pardon that they had so long delayed him from his crown. Then he full sweetly
and majestically pardoned them; and taking in his hand