Calico Illustrated Classics: King Arthur and the Knights of the Round Table
Urien of Gore who wed the other daughter Margaise joined them Soon the day of the tournament arrived With his father’s permission Sir Kay entered He asked Arthur to be his squire-at-arms During the first rounds of battle no one had done better than Sir Kay Although many were trampled upon their own horses Sir Kay fought with ease He conquered them all Sir Kay came a voice do battle with me Sir Kay turned to see Sir Balmorgineas He accepted the challenge It was a fierce battle one that left Sir Kay’s sword snapped in two Three knights saw Sir Kay’s trouble and pulled him to safety Arthur ran to Sir Kay and offered him wine Sir Kay said Arthur run to our pavilion and fetch me a new sword Arthur did as he was told But when he got to the pavilion he couldn’t find a sword He feared he would let his brother down Then he remembered the sword he had seen by the 10
cathedral and ran to it Not seeing any guard in sight Arthur leaped upon the rock and pulled the sword from the stone It was his Arthur wrapped the sword in a cloak and ran back to the tournament When Sir Kay unwrapped the cloth he was speechless He recognized the sword at once Arthur he finally said where did thee get this sword 11
chapter 2 The Sword in the Stone thee would Brother said Arthur I will tell the entire truth I couldn’t find a sword in the pavilion Fearing I remembered the sword at the cathedral I pulled it out with ease I wrapped it in my cloak and ran to give it to thee lose thy battle Sir Kay collected his thoughts My brother doesn’t know the significance of what he’s done Why shouldn’t I lay claim to his great feat and reap the glory Give me the cloak and the sword commanded Sir Kay Tell no one what thou hast done Keep it between us Now go tell father to come here right away 12
Young Arthur was completely unaware of what he had done and what it meant He did as Sir Kay told him Father thee must come at once Arthur told Sir Ector Kay needs thee to go straight away to our pavilion I think he has something extraordinary to tell thee When Sir Ector arrived at the pavilion he noticed that Sir Kay’s eyes shone with a brightness never seen before What is the matter son It is a wonderful matter said Sir Kay He took his father by the arm and led him to a table in the center of the pavilion Upon the table lay the cloak which Sir Kay unwrapped to reveal the sword’s blade It glistened with splendor Sir Ector gasped What do my eyes see It’s the sword that stood embedded in the stone said Sir Kay I beg of thee Please tell me what this means Sir Ector replied First tell me how thee came upon the sword 13
