Bab Bab 21 · How King Pellinore took Arthur’s horse and followed the

. How King Pellinore took Arthur’s horse and followed the

Questing Beast, and how Merlin met with Arthur.

Sir knight, said the king, leave that quest, and suffer me to have it,

and I will follow it another twelvemonth. Ah, fool, said the knight

unto Arthur, it is in vain thy desire, for it shall never be achieved

but by me, or my next kin. Therewith he started unto the king’s horse

and mounted into the saddle, and said, Gramercy, this horse is my own.

Well, said the king, thou mayst take my horse by force, but an I might

prove thee whether thou were better on horseback or I.—Well, said the

knight, seek me here when thou wilt, and here nigh this well thou shalt

find me, and so passed on his way. Then the king sat in a study, and

bade his men fetch his horse as fast as ever they might. Right so came

by him Merlin like a child of fourteen year of age, and saluted the

king, and asked him why he was so pensive. I may well be pensive, said

the king, for I have seen the marvellest sight that ever I saw. That

know I well, said Merlin, as well as thyself, and of all thy thoughts,

but thou art but a fool to take thought, for it will not amend thee.

Also I know what thou art, and who was thy father, and of whom thou

wert begotten; King Uther Pendragon was thy father, and begat thee on

Igraine. That is false, said King Arthur, how shouldest thou know it,

for thou art not so old of years to know my father? Yes, said Merlin, I

know it better than ye or any man living. I will not believe thee, said

Arthur, and was wroth with the child. So departed Merlin, and came

again in the likeness of an old man of fourscore year of age, whereof

the king was right glad, for he seemed to be right wise.

Then said the old man, Why are ye so sad? I may well be heavy, said

Arthur, for many things. Also here was a child, and told me many things

that meseemeth he should not know, for he was not of age to know my

father. Yes, said the old man, the child told you truth, and more would

he have told you an ye would have suffered him. But ye have done a

thing late that God is displeased with you, for ye have lain by your

sister, and on her ye have gotten a child that shall destroy you and

all the knights of your realm. What are ye, said Arthur, that tell me

these tidings? I am Merlin, and I was he in the child’s likeness. Ah,

said King Arthur, ye are a marvellous man, but I marvel much of thy

words that I must die in battle. Marvel not, said Merlin, for it is

God’s will your body to be punished for your foul deeds; but I may well

be sorry, said Merlin, for I shall die a shameful death, to be put in

the earth quick, and ye shall die a worshipful death. And as they

talked this, came one with the king’s horse, and so the king mounted on

his horse, and Merlin on another, and so rode unto Carlion. And anon

the king asked Ector and Ulfius how he was begotten, and they told him

Uther Pendragon was his father and Queen Igraine his mother. Then he

said to Merlin, I will that my mother be sent for that I may speak with

her; and if she say so herself then will I believe it. In all haste,

the queen was sent for, and she came and brought with her Morgan le

Fay, her daughter, that was as fair a lady as any might be, and the

king welcomed Igraine in the best manner.