One day King Arthur rode forth, and on a sudden he was ware of three churls chasing Merlin, to have slain him.  And the king rode unto them and bade them, “Flee, churls!” Then were they afraid when they saw a knight, and fled.  “O Merlin,” said Arthur, “here hadst thou been slain, for all thy crafts, had I not been by.”  “Nay,” said Merlin, “not so, for I could save myself if I would; but thou art more near thy death than I am.”  So, as they went thus talking, King Arthur perceived where sat a knight on horseback, as if to guard the pass.  “Sir knight,” said Arthur, “for what cause abidest thou here?” Then the knight said, “There may no knight ride this way unless he just with me, for such is the custom of the pass.”  “I will amend that custom,” said the king.  Then they ran together, and they met so hard that their spears were shivered.  Then they drew their swords and fought a strong battle, with many great strokes.  But at length the sword of the knight smote King Arthur’s sword in two pieces.  Then said the knight unto Arthur, “Thou art in my power, whether to save thee or slay thee, and unless thou yield thee as overcome and recreant, thou shalt die.”  “As for death,” said King Arthur, “welcome be it when it cometh; but to yield me unto thee as recreant, I will not.”  Then he leapt upon the knight, and took him by the middle and threw him down; but the knight was a passing strong man, and anon he brought Arthur under him, and would have razed off his helm to slay him.  Then said Merlin, “Knight, hold thy hand, for this knight is a man of more worship than thou art aware of.”  “Why, who is he?” said the knight.  “It is King Arthur.”  Then would he have slain him for dread of his wrath, and lifted up his sword to slay him; and therewith Merlin cast an enchantment on the knight, so that he fell to the earth in a great sleep.  Then Merlin took up King Arthur, and set him on his horse.  “Alas!” said Arthur, “what hast thou done, Merlin? hast thou slain this good knight by thy crafts?” “Care ye not,” said Merlin; “he is wholer than ye be.  He is only asleep, and will wake in three hours.”

Then the king and he departed, and went till they came to a hermit, that was a good man and a great leech.  So the hermit searched all his wounds, and applied good salves; and the king was there three days, and then were his wounds well amended, that he might ride and go.  So they departed, and as they rode Arthur said, “I have no sword.”  “No matter,” said Merlin; “hereby is a sword that shall be yours.”  So they rode till they came to a lake, which was a fair water and broad.  And in the midst of the lake Arthur was aware of an arm clothed in white samite, [Footnote:  Samite, a sort of silk stuff.] that held a fair sword in the hand.  “Lo!” said Merlin, “yonder is that sword that I spake of.  It belongeth to the Lady of the Lake, and, if she will, thou mayest take it; but if she will not, it will not be in thy power to take it.”

So Sir Arthur and Merlin alighted from their horses, and went into a boat.  And when they came to the sword that the hand held Sir Arthur took it by the handle and took it to him, and the arm and the hand went under the water.