Sir Ector

Now when Merlin carried away Arthur, for Merlin was the old man who had stood at the postern gate, he had known all that would happen, and had taken the child to keep him safe from the fierce barons until he should be of age to rule wisely and well, and perform all the wonders prophesied of him.

He gave the child to the care of the good knight Sir Ector to bring up with his son Kay, but revealed not to him that it was the son of Uther Pendragon that was given into his charge.

At last, when years had passed and Arthur was grown a tall youth well skilled in knightly exercises, Merlin went to the Archbishop of Canterbury and advised him that he should call together at Christmas time all the chief men of the realm at the great cathedral in London.

For, said Merlin, there shall be seen a great marvel by which it shall be made clear to all men who is the lawful king of this land.

Then the archbishop decreed that each should make the venture in turn, from the greatest baron to the least knight, and each in turn, having put forth his utmost strength, failed to move the sword one inch and drew back ashamed.

So the archbishop dismissed the company, and having appointed guards to watch over the stone, sent messengers through all the land to give word of great jousts to be held in London at Easter, when each knight could give proof of his skill and courage and try whether the adventure of the sword was for him.

Among those who rode to London at Easter was the good Sir Ector, and with him his son, Sir Kay, newly made a knight, and the young Arthur.

When the morning came that the joust should begin, Sir Kay and Arthur mounted their horses and set out for the lists.

HOW ARTHUR BECAME KING Once upon a time, a thousand years before Columbus discovered America, and when Rome was still the greatest city in the world, there lived a brave and beautiful youth whose name was Arthur.

His home was in England, near London, and he lived with the good knight Sir Hector, whom he always called Father.

They dwelt in a great square castle of grey stone, with a round tower at each corner.

It was built about a courtyard, and was surrounded by a moat, across which was a drawbridge that could be raised or lowered.

Better still, he liked to see the pretty, happy faces of the ladies, and hear their gay voices.

In those troublous times, however, the roads were so insecure that such companies did not often pass.

Sometimes the knights and ladies came to visit Sir Hector.

Then Arthur would hurry from the forest to the castle.

He turns the pair into fish, where they are hunted by a larger fish, and Merlin uses this as an excuse to teach Arthur to use brain over brawn to win a battle.

Sir Ector also becomes suspicious of Merlin and Arthur's behavior.

That day, Merlin turns the pair into squirrels.

There, a female squirrel chooses Arthur as her mate, but they need to expose the truth, proving this to be a lesson about love and heartbreak.

Sir Ector, meanwhile, sees the magic that Merlin and Arthur have been using to complete his chores, and this causes Arthur to lose his position as Kay's squire, as well as his trip to London.

The pair shift focus to Arthur's studies.

However, Archimedes takes the lead as he believes that Arthur needs to learn from the past as opposed to the future that Merlin sees.

That would make sense.

Now, when Merlin carried away Arthur, for Merlin was the old man who had stood at the postern gate, he had known all that would happen, and had taken the child to keep him safe from the fierce barons until he should be of age to rule wisely and well, and perform all the wonders prophesied of him.

He gave the child to the care of the good knight Sir Ector to bring up with his son Kay, but revealed not to him that it was the son of Uther Pendragon that was given unto his charge.

At last, when years had passed and Arthur was grown a tall youth, well skilled in knightly exercises, Merlin went to the Archbishop of Canterbury and advised him that he should call together at Christmastime all the chief men of the realm to the great cathedral in London.

"For," said Merlin, "there shall be seen a great marvel by which it shall be made clear to all men who is the lawful king of this land." The Archbishop did as Merlin counseled.

Then the archbishop decreed that each should make the venture in turn, from the greatest baron to the least knight, and each in turn, having put forth his utmost strength, failed to move the sword but one inch, and drew back ashamed.

So the archbishop dismissed the company, and having appointed guards to watch over the stone, sent messengers to all the land to give word of great jousts to be held in London at Easter, when each knight could give proof of his skill and courage, and try whether the adventure of the sword was for him.

Among those who rode to London at Easter was the good Sir Ector, and with him his son, Sir Kay, newly made a knight, and the young Arthur.

When the morning came that the jousts should begin, Sir Kay and Arthur mounted their horses and set for the lists.

Therefore put the sword back into the stone, and let me see you take it out.

that is soon done said arthur replacing the sword and sir ector himself tried to draw it but he could not now it is your turn he said to sir kay but sir kay fared no better than his father though he tugged with all his might and main now you arthur and arthur pulled it out as easily as if it had been lying in its sheath and as he did so sir ector and sir kay sank on their knees before him why do you my father and brother kneel to me asked arthur in surprise nay nay my lord answered sir ector i am not your father though till to-day i could not tell you who your father really is you are the son of uther pendragon and you were brought to me when you were born by merlin himself who promised that when the time came you should know from whom you sprang when arthur heard that sir ector was not his father he wept bitterly if i am king he said at last ask what you will and i shall not fail you for to you and to my lady and mother i owe more than to any one in the world for she loved me and treated me as her son sir replied sir ector i only ask that you will make your foster-brother sir kay seneschal of all your lands that i will readily answered arthur and while he and i live no other shall fill that office sir ector then bade them seek out the archbishop with him and they told him all that had happened concerning the sword which arthur had left standing in the stone and on twelfth day the knights and barons came again but none could draw it out but arthur when they saw this many of the barons became angry and cried out that they would never own a boy for king whose blood was no better than their own so it was agreed to wait till candlemas when more knights might be there and meanwhile the same two men who had been chosen before watched the sword night and day but at candlemas it was the same thing and at easter and when pentecost came the common people who were present and saw arthur pull out the sword cried with one voice that he was their king and they would kill any man who said differently Then rich and poor fell on their knees before him, and Arthur took the sword and offered it upon the altar where the archbishop stood, and the best man who was there made him knight.

After that the crown was put on his head, and he swore to his lords and commons that he would be a true king, and would do to them justice all the days of his life.

part one story two of tales of king arthur and the round table the sword excalibur king arthur accompanied by merlin the magician had left the comfort of the court to seek adventures he had fought a hard battle with the tallest knight in all the land and though he struck hard and well he would have been slain had not merlin enchanted the knight and cast him into a deep sleep and brought the king to a hermit who had studied the art of healing and cured all his wounds in three days then arthur and merlin waited no longer but gave the hermit thanks and departed as they rode together arthur said i have no sword but merlin bade him be patient and he would soon give him one in a little while they came to a large lake and in the midst of the lake arthur beheld an arm rising out of the water holding up a sword look said merlin that is the sword i spoke of and the king looked again and the maiden stood upon the water that is the lady of the lake said merlin and she is coming to you and if you ask her courteously she will give you the sword so when the maiden drew near arthur saluted her and said maiden i pray you tell me whose sword is that which an arm is holding out of the water i wish it were mine for i have lost my sword that sword is mine king arthur answered she and i will give it to you if you in return will give me a gift when i ask you by my faith said the king i will give you whatever gift you ask well said the maiden get into the barge yonder and row yourself to the sword and take it and the scabbard with you for this was the sword excalibur as for my gift i will ask it in my own time then king arthur and merlin dismounted from their horses and tied them up safely and went into the barge and when they came to the place where the arm was holding the sword arthur took it by the handle and the arm disappeared and they brought the sword back to land as they rode the king looked lovingly on his sword which merlin saw and smiling said which do you like best the sword or the scabbard i like the sword answered arthur you are not wise to say that replied merlin for the scabbard is worth ten of the sword and as long as it is buckled on you you will lose no blood however sorely you may be wounded So they rode into the town of Carleon, and Arthur's knights gave them a glad welcome, and said it was a joy to serve under a king who risks his life as much as any common man.

And he saw there a fair altar covered with a silken cloth, and a candlestick which had six branches, all of shining silver.

a great light streamed from it and at this sight sir launcelot would fain have entered in but he could not so he turned back sorrowful and dismayed and took the saddle and bridle off his horse and let him pasture where he would while he himself unlaced his helm and ungirded his sword and lay down to sleep upon his shield at the foot of the cross as he lay there half waking and half sleeping he saw two white palfreys come by drawing a litter wherein lay a sick knight when they reached the cross they paused and sir launcelot heard the knight say o sweet lord when shall this sorrow leave me and when shall the holy vessel come by me through which i shall be blessed for i have endured long though my ill deeds were few thus he spoke and sir launcelot heard it and of a sudden the great candlestick stood before the cross though no man had brought it and with it was a table of silver and the holy vessel of the grail which launcelot had seen aforetime then the knight rose up and on his hands and knees he approached the holy vessel and prayed and was made whole of his sickness after that the grail went back into the chapel and the light and the candlestick also and sir launcelot would fain have followed but could not so heavy was the weight of his sins upon him and the sick knight arose and kissed the cross and saw sir launcelot lying at the foot with his eyes shut i marvel greatly at this sleeping knight he said to his squire that he had no power to wake when the holy vessel was brought hither i dare right well say answered the squire that he dwelleth in some deadly sin whereof he was never confessed by my faith said the knight he is unhappy whoever he is for he is of the fellowship of the round table which have undertaken the quest of the grail sir replied the squire you have all your arms here save only your sword and your helm take therefore those of this strange knight who has just put them off and the knight did as his squire said and took sir lancelot's horse also for it was better than his own after they had gone sir launcelot waked up wholly and thought of what he had seen wondering if he were in a dream or not suddenly a voice spoke to him and it said sir launcelot more hard than is the stone more bitter than is the wood more naked and barren than is the leaf of the fig-tree art thou therefore go from hence and withdraw thee from this holy place when sir launcelot heard this his heart was passing heavy and he wept cursing the day when he had been born but his helm and sword had gone from the spot where he had laid them at the foot of the cross and his horse was gone also and he smote himself and cried my sin and my wickedness have done me this dishonour for when i sought worldly adventures i ever achieved them and had the better in every place and never was i discomfited in any quarrel were it right or wrong but now i take upon me the adventures of holy things i see and understand that my old sin hinders me so that i could not move or speak when the holy grail passed by thus he sorrowed till it was day and he heard the bird sing and at that he felt comforted and as his horse was gone also he departed on foot with a heavy heart end of part two story four part two story five the adventure of sir percival all this while sir percival had pursued adventures of his own and came nigh unto losing his life but he was saved from his enemies by the good knight sir galahad whom he did not know although he was seeking him for sir galahad now bore a red shield and not a white one and at last the foes fled deep into the forest and sir galahad followed but sir percival had no horse and was forced to stay behind then his eyes were opened and he knew it was sir galahad who had come to his help and he sat down under a tree and grieved sore while he was sitting there a knight passed by riding a black horse and when he was out of sight a yeoman came pricking after as fast as he could and seeing sir percival asked if he had seen a knight mounted on a black horse yes sir forsooth answered sir percival why do you want to know ah sir that is my steed which he has taken from me and wherever my lord shall find me he is sure to slay me well said sir percival thou seest that i am on foot but had i a good horse i would soon come up with him take my hackney said the yeoman and do the best you can and i shall follow you on foot to watch how you speed so sir percival rode as fast as he might and at last he saw that knight and he hailed him the knight turned and set his spear against sir percival and smote the hackney in the breast so that he fell dead to the earth and sir percival fell with him then the knight rode away but sir percival was mad with wrath and cried to the knight to return and fight with him on foot but the knight answered not and went on his way when sir percival saw that he would not turn he threw himself on the ground and cast away his helm and sword and bemoaned himself for the most unhappy of all nights and there he abode the whole day and being faint and weary slept till it was midnight at midnight he waked and saw before him a woman who said to him right fiercely sir percival what doest thou here neither good nor great ill answered he if thou wilt promise to do my will when i call upon thee said she i will lend thee my own horse and he shall bear thee whither thou shalt choose this sir percival promised gladly and the woman went and returned with a black horse so large and well apparelled that sir percival marvelled but he mounted him gladly and drove in his spurs and within an hour and less the horse bare him four days journey thence and would have borne him into a rough water had not sir percival pulled at his bridle the knight stood doubting for the water made a great noise and he feared lest his horse could not get through it still wishing greatly to pass over he made himself ready and signed the sign of the cross upon his forehead at that the fiend which had taken the shape of a horse shook off sir percival and dashed into the water crying and making great sorrow and it seemed to him that the water burned then sir percival knew that it was not a horse but a fiend which would have brought him to perdition and he gave thanks and prayed all that night long as soon as it was day he looked about him and saw he was in a wild mountain girt round with the sea and filled with wild beasts then he rose and went into a valley and there he saw a young serpent bring a young lion by the neck and after that there passed a great lion crying and roaring after the serpent and a fierce battle began between them sir percival thought to help the lion as he was the more natural beast of the twain and he drew his sword and set his shield before him and gave the serpent a deadly buffet when the lion saw that he made him all the cheer that a beast might make a man and fawned about him like a spaniel and stroked him with his paws and about noon the lion took his little whelp and placed him on his back and bare him home again and sir percival being left alone prayed till he was comforted but at eventide the lion returned and couched down at his feet and all night long he and the lion slept together end of part two story five part two story six of tales of king arthur and the round table by andrew lang an adventure of sir launcelot as launcelot went his way through the forest he met with many hermits who dwell therein and had adventure with the knight who stole his horse and his helm and got them back again and he learned from one of the hermits that sir galahad was his son and that it was he who at the feast of pentecost had sat in the siege perilous which it was ordained by merlin that none should sit in save the best knight in the world all that night sir launcelot abode with the hermit and laid him to rest a hair-shirt always on his body and it pricked him sorely but he bore it meekly and suffered the pain when the day dawned he bade the hermit farewell as he rode he came to a fair plain in which was a great castle set about with tents and pavilions of divers hues here were full five hundred knights riding on horseback and those near the castle were mounted on black horses with black trappings and they that were without were on white horses and their trappings white and the two sides fought together and sir launcelot looked on at last it seemed to him that the black knights nearest the castle fared the worst so as he ever took the part of the weaker he rode to their help and smote many of the white knights to the earth and did marvellous deeds of arms but always the white knights held round sir launcelot to tire him out and as no man may endure for ever in the end sir launcelot waxed so faint of fighting that his arms would not lift themselves to deal a stroke then they took him and led him away into the forest and made him alight from his horse and rest and when he was taken the fellowship of the castle were overcome for want of him never ere now was i at tournament or jousts but i had the best moaned sir launcelot to himself as soon as the knights had left him and he was alone but now am i shamed and i am persuaded that i am more sinful than ever i was sorrowfully he rode on till he passed a chapel where stood a nun who called to him and asked him his name and what he was seeking so he told her who he was and what had befallen him at the tournament and the vision that had come to him in his sleep ah lancelot said she as long as you were a knight of earthly knighthood you were the most wonderful man in the world and the most adventurous but now since you are set among knights of heavenly adventures if you were worsted at that tournament it is no marvel for the tournament was meant for a sign and the earthly knights were they who were clothed in black in token of the sins of which they were not yet purged and the white knights were they who had chosen the way of holiness and in them the quest was already begun thus you beheld both the sinners and the good men and when you saw the sinners overcome you went to their help as they were your fellows in boasting and pride of the world and all that must be left in that quest and that caused your misadventure Now that I have warned you of your vainglory and your pride, beware of everlasting pain, for of all earthly knights I have pity of you, for I know well that among earthly sinful knights you are without peer.

part two story seven of tales of king arthur and the round table an adventure of sir when sir gawaine departed he rode long without any adventure from whitsunday to michaelmas he rode and found not the tenth part of the adventures he was wont to do but it befell on a day that he met sir ector de maris at which they rejoiced exceedingly complaining to one another of the lack of adventure in the quest on which they were set truly said sir gawaine to sir ector i am nigh weary of this quest and loathe to follow it to further strange countries one thing seems strange to me said sir ector i have met with twenty knights and they all complain as i do i wonder said sir gawaine where your brother is i can hear nothing of him answered sir ector nor of sir galahad sir percival or sir bors but they fare well no doubt for they have no peers as they sat talking there appeared before them a hand showing unto the elbow covered with red samite and holding a great candle that burned right clear and the hand passed into the chapel and vanished they knew not where then they heard a voice which said knights full of evil faith and poor belief these two things have failed you and therefore you may not come to the adventure of the holy grail and thereat they went to a holy man to whom they confessed their sins said he this is the meaning of the vision you have failed in three things charity fasting and truth and have been great murderers sir said gawaine by your words it seems that our sins will not let us labour in that quest truly answered the hermit there be an hundred such as you to whom it will bring naught but shame so gawaine departed and followed sir ector who had ridden on before part two story seven part two story eight the adventure of sir bors when sir bors left camelot on his quest he met a holy man riding on an ass and sir bors saluted him anon the good man knew him to be one of the knights who were in quest of the holy grail what are you said he and sir bors answered i am a knight that fain would be counselled in the quest of the grail for he shall have much earthly worship that brings it to an end that is true said the good man for he will be the best knight in the world but know well that there shall none attain it but by holiness and by confession of sin so they rode together till they came to the hermitage and the good man led sir bors into the chapel where he made confession of his sins and they ate bread and drank water together now said the hermit i pray you that you eat none other till you sit at the table where the holy grail shall be sir answered sir bors i agree thereto but how know you that i shall sit there that know i said the holy man but there will be but few of your fellows with you also instead of a shirt you shall wear this garment until you have achieved your quest and sir bors took off his clothes and put on instead a scarlet coat then the good man questioned him and marvelled to find him pure in life and he armed him and bade him go after this sir bors rode through many lands and had many adventures and was often sore tempted but remembered the words of the holy man and kept his life clean of wrong and once he had by mischance almost slain his own brother but a voice cried flee bors and touch him not and he hearkened and stayed his hand and there fell between them a fiery cloud which burned up both their shields and they two fell to the earth in a great swoon but when they awakened out of it bor saw that his brother had no harm with that the voice spoke to him saying bors go hence and bear your brother fellowship no longer but take your way to the sea where sir percival abides till you come then sir bors prayed his brother to forgive him all he had unknowingly done and rowed straight to the sea on the shore he found a vessel covered with white samite and as soon as he stepped in the vessel it set sail so fast it might have been flying and sir bors lay down and slept till it was day When he waked he saw a knight lying in the midst of the ship, all armed save for his helm, and he knew him for Sir Percival, and welcomed him with great joy, and they told each other of their adventures and their temptations, and had great happiness in each other's company.

We lack nothing but Galahad, the good knight, Sir Percival said.

A great sight indeed, and not one that either noble or commoner would willingly miss.

All along the king's highway, therefore, that first crisp winter's morning of the new year rode one of the few true-hearted knights still left in Britain, Sir Ector the Upright, accompanied by his newly knighted son, Sir Kay.

And with them, because he had begged to be permitted to see the tourney, rode a younger son, Arthur, a lad of seventeen, who acted as his brother's squire.

This fair-haired, blue-eyed boy watched eagerly the gathering of the knights, and felt his heart thrill within him at the thought that someday, if he performed his present humble duties as well as lay in his power, he too might hope to receive the order of knighthood.

Kay, however, lost no time in seeking his father, before whom he triumphantly displayed the weapon, crying, See, father, I, your son, have drawn the sword from the anvil.

Therefore, I am the rightful king of Britain.

But the good Sir Ector, after looking first at the sword and then at Kay, laid his hand on the young man's shoulder and said gravely, Kay, Kay, tell me the truth.

By the honor of your knighthood, how came you by that sword? Then Kay, whose eyes could not meet his father's, hung his head in shame and answered, My brother Arthur brought it to me.

He narrated the Winnie the Pooh series in the original films.

Uh, he narrated 1963's The Sword in the Stone and did the voice of Lord Ector in that.

Wow.

And he played the panther Bagheera in 1967's The Jungle Book.