Английские легенды / The English Legends

Chapter 3,

in which Arthur defeated all the kings who didn’t want to acknowledge his rule, got himself a queen and the Round Table

After he was crowned, King Arthur made it known through criers that he was preparing a big feast at Pentecost^[15] at the city of Carlion. To the feast came King Lot of Lothian and of Orkney, with five hundred knights with him. Also there came to the feast King Uriens of Gore with four hundred knights with him. Also there came to that feast King Nentres of Garlot, with seven hundred knights with him. Also there came to the feast the king of Scotland with six hundred knights with him, and he was but a young man. Also there came to the feast a king that was called the King with the Hundred Knights, but he and his men had very good weapons and armor. Also there came the king of Carados with five hundred knights.

King Arthur was glad to see them, because he thought that they came to show him respect and to join his feast. The king was very happy and sent great presents to those kings and knights. But the kings didn’t take the gifts, and sent the messengers back, saying that they had no joy in receiving gifts from a beardless boy that came from low blood. They also said that they wouldn’t take his gifts, but instead came to deliver him the gift of their own: with hard swords between the neck and the shoulders. They didn’t believe in Arthur’s rights to the throne, and came to save a noble realm from such a young and simple boy.

Following the advice of his barons, king Arthur took five hundred knights and went to live in a strong tower.

The kings and the knights laid siege to that tower, but Arthur and his men had lots of supplies that would last them long^[16].

After fifteen days, Merlin came to the city of Carlion. All the kings were glad to see him, and asked him this. “For what cause is that boy Arthur made king?” they asked.

“Sirs,” said Merlin, “I shall tell you the cause. He is King Uther Pendragon’s son, rightfully born from Igraine, the duke’s wife of Tintagil.”

“Then he is a bastard,” said the kings. “And has no claim to the throne.”

“That is not so,” Merlin answered.

“After the death of the duke, more than after three hours, Arthur was conceived. And in thirteen days after that King Uther wed Igraine, so that proves that he is no bastard and a rightful heir to the throne. And he will overcome anybody who says no to that, he will either slay them, or make them serve him. He will be king of all England, and with that he will have Wales, Ireland, and Scotland, and many more realms that I will not name.”

Some of the kings believed Merlin’s words, some of them laughed at him, for instance^[17], King Lot, and some other men called Merlin a witch. What they did agree on was that King Arthur should come out from his tower and speak with the kings, and they guaranteed his safety. So Merlin went to Arthur and told him what he should do.

“Come out boldly and speak with them like their king and ruler,” said Merlin. “They will not harm you this time, and after that you will defeat those of them who do not pledge their loyalty^[18] to you.”

So Arthur put on a chainmail under his gown, and came out and spoke to the kings harshly, like their king and ruler. Some of the kings and the knights appreciated his confidence, but others were very angry that such a young man with so few knights by his side spoke to them this way. Strong words were said from the both sides. After that Arthur returned to his tower and started preparing his knights for a fight.

Merlin went to speak to the kings and asked them what they were planning to do.

“Although whatever it is^[19], you better bow before King Arthur,” Merlin added. “Because you will not win tonight, even if you had ten times more men than him.”

“Why should we listen to a dream-reader?” King Lot asked, preparing for battle.

Having heard that, Merlin vanished away^[20], and came back to Arthur.

“Attack them fiercely,” he said, “Because tonight you will win the battle. But remember: only use your sword from the stone when you think the battle is almost lost, and then you will have your victory.”

So Arthur came out with his knights, and there was a great battle. Sir Baudwin, Sir Kay, and Sir Brastias fought bravely besides King Arthur and slain great many enemies. King Arthur on horseback did marvelous deeds of arms with his sword, and many of the kings had great joy seeing his deeds. Then King Lot, King with the Hundred Knights, and King Carados attacked from behind, and went straight to King Arthur. King Arthur turned to face them, but when he came to fight King Lot, his horse was slain underneath him. Four of his knights got him up and set him on another horse. Then Arthur drew the sword he got from the stone, and it was so bright in his enemies’ eyes, that it gave light like thirty torches. So he rode forward and slew many people.

The kings started to slowly retreat their forces. Merlin advised Arthur what to do: not to try and slay them all, but rather to send his knights to press the kings and drive them on a hill^[21] above the sea. So the kings fought fiercely, almost surrounded by Arthur’s forces and retreating step by step, until at one moment they found that there is no way to go. Arthur and his men are on one side, a cliff above the sea is on the other side.

“This young man isn’t as young and helpless as we thought,” said King Uriens to King Lot. “It seems that^[22] we should bow to him indeed, unless we’d rather jump into the sea and die.”

The kings talked with each other like that, and finally concluded that King Arthur has proven himself worthy indeed, so they pledged their loyalty to him. Not all of the kings did that gladly, but they decided to join the others, at least for now.

After that there came a time for great joy. King Arthur fell in love with a daughter of one of his allies, King of the land of Cameliard, and her name was Guenever. Meanwhile, the lords from his council said that Arthur needs a wife. So he came to seek Merlin’s advice.

“My barons will let me have no rest, but say that I need to take a wife,” he said to Merlin. “But I don’t want to wed anyone without asking for your counsel first.”

“It would be good,” said Merlin, “for you to take a wife, because a man of your blood and rank should not be without a wife. Is there any woman that you love more than others?”

“Yes,” said King Arthur, “I love Guenever, the daughter of king Leodegrance of the land of Cameliard. She is the fairest and the most beautiful lady that I know living, or that I ever could find.”

“Sir,” said Merlin, “As for her beauty and fairness, had you not loved her, I could find you a woman to your liking. But if a man’s heart is set, he will hate to change it.”

“That is truth,” said Arthur.

So they arranged a marriage between King Arthur and Guenever.

“That is very good news,” said King Leodegrance, “My daughter will have the best husband possible. As for my lands, I hear that King Arthur has so many lands that he does not need more, so I shall give him the Table Round, which Uther Pendragon gave me long ago. This table is round, and there are places for a hundred knights and fifty. A hundred good knights I have myself, but the other fifty Arthur will have to find himself.”

When they delivered the Table Round to London and placed it in Arthur’s castle, the chairs for that table had knights’ names appeared on them. That way, each knight had a set place, which did not change so that nobody would fight over a better place. More so, since the table was round, every knight was at the same distance from the King, who was sitting with his queen in the middle.

Excercises

I. Выберите верный вариант:

a)

1. King Arthur married a lady named Guenever.

2. King Arthur never married.

3. King Arthur married a lady named Igraine.

4. King Arthur married a lady named Merlin.

b)

1. The knights and King Arthur exchanged gifts.

2. The knights took King Arthur’s gifts, but offered nothing in return.

3. The knights took King Arthur’s gifts, and had gifts for him, but he didn’t want them.

4. The knights didn’t want King Arthur’s gifts, and he didn’t want their gifts.

c) How did Merlin advise King Arthur to talk to the kings?

1. He told Arthur to speak harshly, like a king.

2. He told Arthur to speak softly, and offer rich gifts.

3. He told Arthur to speak to them like equals.

4. He told Arthur to yell at them and call them cowards.

d) What did King Leodegrance give Arthur for his wedding?

1. Some of his lands.

2. The Table Round.

3. The Table Round and some lands.

4. The Table Round and a hundred knights.

e) How many places did Table Round havefor the knights?

1. 50

2. 150

3. 100

4. 180

f) What is a bastard?

1. A bad man.

2. A son born outside of marriage.

3. A man who wants to be a king but doesn’t have a right to.

4. An animal with four legs and two horns.

g) What did the kings do when they found out they were on a cliff above the sea, with nowhere to run?

1. They bowed to King Arthur as their king.

2. They fought to death.

3. They jumped from the cliff into the sea and died.

4. They fought with King Arthur’s forces and escaped.

II. Расставьте наречия fiercely, slowly, boldly, rightfully

1. You should attack them __________

2. The kings retreated their forces ____________

3. He claimed the throne __________________

4. Go out and speak to them _________________

III. Расставьте прилагательные fair, angry, rightful, strong

1. Arthur is a ________ heir.

2. Guenever was a ____________ lady.

3. The lords were __________ to see Arthur as their king.

4. They went to live in a ____________ tower.