第 二十九 章 · Of a damosel which came girt with a sword for to find a man

. Of a damosel which came girt with a sword for to find a man

of such virtue to draw it out of the scabbard.

After the death of Uther Pendragon reigned Arthur his son, the which

had great war in his days for to get all England into his hand. For

there were many kings within the realm of England, and in Wales,

Scotland, and Cornwall. So it befell on a time when King Arthur was at

London, there came a knight and told the king tidings how that the King

Rience of North Wales had reared a great number of people, and were

entered into the land, and burnt and slew the king’s true liege people.

If this be true, said Arthur, it were great shame unto mine estate but

that he were mightily withstood. It is truth, said the knight, for I

saw the host myself. Well, said the king, let make a cry, that all the

lords, knights, and gentlemen of arms, should draw unto a castle called

Camelot in those days, and there the king would let make a

council-general and a great jousts.

So when the king was come thither with all his baronage, and lodged as

they seemed best, there was come a damosel the which was sent on

message from the great lady Lile of Avelion. And when she came before

King Arthur, she told from whom she came, and how she was sent on

message unto him for these causes. Then she let her mantle fall that

was richly furred; and then was she girt with a noble sword whereof the

king had marvel, and said, Damosel, for what cause are ye girt with

that sword? it beseemeth you not. Now shall I tell you, said the

damosel; this sword that I am girt withal doth me great sorrow and

cumbrance, for I may not be delivered of this sword but by a knight,

but he must be a passing good man of his hands and of his deeds, and

without villainy or treachery, and without treason. And if I may find

such a knight that hath all these virtues, he may draw out this sword

out of the sheath, for I have been at King Rience’s it was told me

there were passing good knights, and he and all his knights have

assayed it and none can speed. This is a great marvel, said Arthur, if

this be sooth; I will myself assay to draw out the sword, not presuming

upon myself that I am the best knight, but that I will begin to draw at

your sword in giving example to all the barons that they shall assay

everych one after other when I have assayed it. Then Arthur took the

sword by the sheath and by the girdle and pulled at it eagerly, but the

sword would not out.

Sir, said the damosel, you need not to pull half so hard, for he that

shall pull it out shall do it with little might. Ye say well, said

Arthur; now assay ye all my barons; but beware ye be not defiled with

shame, treachery, nor guile. Then it will not avail, said the damosel,

for he must be a clean knight without villainy, and of a gentle strain

of father side and mother side. Most of all the barons of the Round

Table that were there at that time assayed all by row, but there might

none speed; wherefore the damosel made great sorrow out of measure, and

said, Alas! I weened in this court had been the best knights without

treachery or treason. By my faith, said Arthur, here are good knights,

as I deem, as any be in the world, but their grace is not to help you,

wherefore I am displeased.