Sidney Lanier - The Boys King Arthur

THE BOYS

KING ARTHUR

THE BOYS

KING ARTHUR

SIDNEY LANIER

ILLUSTRATION BY

N. C. WYETH

DOVER PUBLICATIONS, INC.
MINEOLA, NEW YORK

In this edition of Mr. Laniers classic Boys King Arthur omission has been made of some minor passages and introductory matter all the greater tales, those of Arthur, Launcelot, Tristram, Gareth, Galahad, Percival, and the Holy Grail, being retained.

I T befell in the days of the noble Utherpendragon, when he was King of England, [that there was born to him a son who in after time was King Arthur. Howbeit the boy knew not he was the kings son. For when he was but a babe] the king commanded two knights and two ladies to take the child bound in rich cloth of gold, and deliver him to what poor man you meet at the postern gate of the castle. So the child was delivered unto Merlin, and so he bare it forth unto Sir Ector, and made an holy man to Christen him, and named him Arthur; and so Sir Ectors wife nourished him. Then within two years King Uther fell sick of a great malady; [and thereof he died]. Then stood the realm in great [danger] a long while, for every lord made him strong, and many weened [thought] to have been king. [And so, by Merlins counsel, all the lords of England came together in the greatest church of London on Christmas morn before it was day, to see if God would not show by some miracle who should be king.] And when the first mass was done there was seen in the church-yard, against the high altar, a great stone four-square, like to a marble stone, and in the midst thereof was an anvil of steel, a foot of height, and therein stuck a fair sword naked by the point? and letters of gold were written about the sword that said thus: W HO SO PULLETH OUT THIS SWORD OF THIS STONE AND ANVIL, IS RIGHTWISE KING BORN OF E NGLAND .

So when all the masses were done, all the [lords] went for to behold the stone and the sword. And when they saw the scripture, some assayed [tried] such as would have been king. But none might stir the sword nor move it.

He is not yet here, said the archbishop, that shall achieve the sword, but doubt not God will make him to be known. But this is my counsel, said the archbishop, that we let purvey [provide] ten knights, men of good fame, and they to keep this sword.

And upon New Years day the barons let make a tournament for to keep the lords together, for the archbishop trusted that God would make him known that should win the sword. So upon New Years day when the service was done the barons rode to the field.

And so it happened that Sir Ector rode to the jousts, and with him rode Sir Kay, his son, and young Arthur that was his nourished brother. [But Sir] Kay had lost his sword, for he had left it at his fathers lodging, and so he prayed young Arthur to ride for his sword. I will with a good will, said Arthur, and rode fast after the sword; and when he came home, the lady and all were gone out to see the jousting. Then was Arthur wroth, and said to himself, I will ride to the church-yard and take the sword with me that sticketh in the stone, for my brother Sir Kay shall not be without a sword this day. And so when he came to the church-yard Arthur alighted, and tied his horse to the stile, and so went to the tent, and found no knights there, for they were all at the jousting; and so he handled the sword by the handles, and lightly and fiercely he pulled it out of the stone, and took his horse and rode his way till he came to his brother Sir Kay, and delivered him the sword. And as soon as Sir Kay saw the sword, he wist [knew] well that it was the sword of the stone, and so he rode 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, he returned again and came to the church, and there they alighted, all three, and went into the church, and anon he made Sir Kay to swear upon a book how he came to that sword.

Sir, said Sir Kay, by my brother Arthur, for he brought it to me.

How gate [got] you this sword? said Sir Ector to Arthur.

Sir, I will tell you. When I came home for my brothers sword, I found nobody at home for to deliver me his sword, and so I thought my brother Sir Kay should not be swordless, and so I came thither eagerly and pulled it out of the stone without any pain.

Found ye any knights about this sword? said Sir Ector.

Nay, said Arthur.

Now, said Sir Ector to Arthur, I understand that you must be king of this land.

Wherefore I? said Arthur.

Sir, said Ector, for there should never man have drawn out this sword but he that shall be rightwise king of this land. 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 in the stone. Therewith Sir Ector assayed to pull out the sword, and failed.

Now assay, said Sir Ector to Sir Kay. And anon he pulled at the sword with all his might but it would not be. Now shall ye assay, said Sir Ector to Arthur.

I will well, said Arthur, and pulled it out easily. And therewithal Sir Ector kneeled down to the earth, and Sir Kay.

Alas, said Arthur, mine own dear father and brother, why kneel ye to me?

Nay, nay, my lord Arthur, it is not so: I was never your father nor of your blood, but I wote [know] well ye are of an higher blood than I weened [thought] ye were. And then Sir Ector told him all. Then Arthur made great moan when he understood that Sir Ector was not his father.

Sir, said Ector unto Arthur, will ye be my good and gracious lord when ye are king?

Else were I to blame, said Arthur, for ye are the man in the world that I am most beholding [obliged] to, and my good lady and mother your wife, that as well as her own hath fostered and kept me. And if ever it be Gods will that I be king, as ye say, ye shall desire of me what I may do, and I shall not fail you.

Sir, said Sir Ector, I will ask no more of you but that you will make my son, your fostered brother Sir Kay seneschal of all your lands.

That shall be done, sir, said Arthur, and more by the faith of my body; and never man shall have that office but he while that he and I live.

Therewithal they went unto the archbishop, and told him how the sword was achieved, and by whom. And upon the twelfth day all the barons came thither for to assay to take the sword. But there afore them all, there might none take it out but only Arthur; wherefore there were many great lords wroth, and said, It was great shame unto them all and the realm to be governed with a boy of no high blood born. And so they fell out at that time, that it was put off till Candlemas, and then all the barons should meet there again. But always the ten knights were ordained for to watch the sword both day and night; and so they set a pavilion over the stone and the sword, and five always watched. And at Candlemas many more great lords came thither for to have won the sword, but none of them might prevail. And right as Arthur did at Christmas he did at Candlemas, and pulled out the sword easily, whereof the barons were sore aggrieved, and put it in delay till the high feast of Easter. And as Arthur sped afore, so did he at Easter; and yet there were some of the great lords had indignation that Arthur should be their king, and put it off in delay till the feast of Pentecost.

And at the feast of Pentecost all manner of men assayed to pull at the sword that would assay, and none might prevail; but Arthur pulled it out afore all the lords and commons that were there, wherefore all the commons cried at once: We will have Arthur unto our king; we will put him no more in delay; for we all see that it is Gods will that he shall be our king, and who that holdeth against it we will slay him. And therewithal they kneeled down all at once, both rich and poor, and cried Arthur mercy, because they had delayed him so long. And Arthur forgave it them, and took the sword between both his hands, and offered it upon the altar where the archbishop was, and so was he made knight of the best man that was there. And so anon was the coronation made, and there was he sworn to the lords and commons for to be a true king, to stand with true justice from thenceforth all the days of this life. Also then he made all lords that held of the crown to come in, and to do Service as they ought to do. And many complaints were made unto King Arthur of great wrongs that were done since the death of King Uther, of many lands that were bereaved of lords, knights, ladies and gentlemen. Wherefore King Arthur made the lands to be given again unto them that owned them. When this was done that the king had stablished all the countries about London, then he let make Sir Kay seneschal of England; and Sir Baudwin of Britain was made constable; and Sir Ulfius was made chamberlain; and Sir Brastias was made warden to wait upon the north from Trent forwards, for it was that time for the most part enemy to the king.