And many essayed, but none might stir the sword.

And on New Year’s Day the barons made a joust, and Sir Ector rode to the jousts; and with him rode Sir Kaye, his son, and young Arthur, that was his nourished brother.

And Sir Kaye, who was made knight at Allhallowmas afore, had left his sword at his father’s lodging, and so prayed young Arthur to ride for it.  Then Arthur said to himself, “I will ride to the churchyard and take the sword that sticketh in the stone for my brother Kaye.”  And so, lightly and fiercely, he pulled it out of the stone, and took horse and delivered to Sir Kaye the sword.  “How got you this sword?” said Sir Ector to Arthur.  “Sir, I will tell you,” said Arthur; “I pulled it out of the stone without any pain.”  “Now,” said Sir Ector, “I understand you must be king of this land.”  “Wherefore I?” said Arthur.  “And for what cause?” “Sir,” said Sir Ector, “for God will have it so.”  And therewithal Sir Ector kneeled down to the earth, and Sir Kaye also.

Then Sir Ector told him all how he had betaken him to nourish him; and Arthur made great moan when he understood that Sir Ector was not his father.

And at the Feast of Pentecost all manner of men essayed to pull out the sword, and none might prevail but Arthur, who pulled it out before all the lords and commons.  And the commons cried, “We will have Arthur unto our king.”  And so anon was the coronation made.

And Merlin said to King Arthur, “Fight not with the sword that you had by miracle till you see that you go to the worst, then draw it out and do your best.”  And the sword, Excalibur, was so bright that it gave light like thirty torches.

II.—­The Marriage of Arthur

In the beginning of King Arthur, after that he was chosen king by adventure and by grace, for the most part the barons knew not that he was Utherpendragon’s son but as Merlin made it openly known.  And many kings and lords made great war against him for that cause, but King Arthur full well overcame them all; for the most part of the days of his life he was much ruled by the counsel of Merlin.  So it befell on a time that he said unto Merlin, “My barons will let me have no rest, but needs they will have that I take a wife, and I will none take but by thy advice.”

“It is well done,” said Merlin, “for a man of your bounty and nobleness should not be without a wife.  Now, is there any fair lady that ye love better than another?”

“Yea,” said Arthur; “I love Guinever, the king’s daughter, of the land of Cameliard.  This damsel is the gentlest and fairest lady I ever could find.”

“Sir,” said Merlin, “she is one of the fairest that live, and as a man’s heart is set he will be loth to return.”