huntng。Assoonashewasntheforestthekngsawagreathartaforehm。Thshartwllchase，sadKngArthur，andsohespurredthehorse，androdeafterlong，andsobyfneforceofthewaslketohavesmttenthehart；whereastheknghadchasedthehartsolong，thathshorselosthsbreath，andfelldowndead。Thenayeomanfetchedtheknganotherhorse。
　　Sothekngsawthehartenbushed，andhshorsedead，hesethmdownbyafountan，andtherehefellngreatthoughts。Andashesatso，hmthoughtheheardanoseofhounds，tothesumofthrty。Andwththatthekngsawcomngtowardhmthestrangestbeastthateverhesaworheardof；sothebeastwenttothewellanddrank，andthenosewasnthebeast’sbellylkeuntothequestngofthrtycouplehounds；butallthewhlethebeastdranktherewasnonosenthebeast’sbelly：andthere。wththebeastdepartedwthagreatnose，whereoftheknghadgreatmarvel。Andsohewasnagreatthought，andtherewthhefellasleep。RghtsotherecameaknghtafootuntoArthurandsad，Knghtfullofthoughtandsleepy，tellmefthousawestastrangebeastpassthsway。Suchonesaw，sadKngArthur，thatspasttwomle；whatwouldyewththebeast？sadArthur。Sr，havefollowedthatbeastlongtme，andklledmnehorse，sowouldGodhadanothertofollowmyquest。Rghtsocameonewththekng’shorse，andwhentheknghtsawthehorse，heprayedthekngtogvehmthehorse：
　　forhavefollowedthsquestthstwelvemonth，andether
　　shallachevehm，orbleedofthebestbloodofmybody。
　　Pellnore，thattmekng，followedtheQuestngBeast，andafterhsdeathSrPalamdesfollowedt。
　　HowKngPellnoretookArthur’shorseandfollowedtheQuestngBeast，andhowMerlnmetwthArthur。
　　SRknght，sadthekng，leavethatquest，andsuffermetohavet，andwllfollowtanothertwelvemonth。Ah，fool，sadtheknghtuntoArthur，tsnvanthydesre，fortshallneverbeachevedbutbyme，ormynextkn。
　　Therewthhestarteduntothekng’shorseandmountedntothesaddle，andsad，Gramercy，thshorsesmyown。Well，sadthekng，thoumaysttakemyhorsebyforce，butanmghtprovetheewhetherthouwerebetteronhorsebackor——Well，sadtheknght，seekmeherewhenthouwlt，andherenghthswellthoushaltfndme，andsopassedonhsway。Thenthekngsatnastudy，andbadehsmenfetchhshorseasfastasevertheymght。RghtsocamebyhmMerlnlkeachldoffourteenyearofage，andsalutedthekng，andaskedhmwhyhewassopensve。maywellbepensve，sadthekng，forhaveseenthemarvellestsghtthateversaw。Thatknowwell，sadMerln，aswellasthyself，andofallthythoughts，butthouartbutafooltotakethought，fortwllnotamendthee。Also
　　knowwhatthouart，andwhowasthyfather，andofwhomthouwertbegotten；KngUtherPendragonwasthyfather，andbegattheeongrane。Thatsfalse，sadKngArthur，howshouldestthouknowt，forthouartnotsooldofyearstoknowmyfather？
　　Yes，sadMerln，knowtbetterthanyeoranymanlvng。
　　wllnotbelevethee，sadArthur，andwaswrothwththechld。
　　SodepartedMerln，andcameagannthelkenessofanoldmanoffourscoreyearofage，whereofthekngwasrghtglad，forheseemedtoberghtwse。
　　Thensadtheoldman，Whyareyesosad？maywellbeheavy，sadArthur，formanythngs。Alsoherewasachld，andtoldmemanythngsthatmeseemethheshouldnotknow，forhewasnotofagetoknowmyfather。Yes，sadtheoldman，thechldtoldyoutruth，andmorewouldhehavetoldyouanyewouldhavesufferedhm。ButyehavedoneathnglatethatGodsdspleasedwthyou，foryehavelanbyyoursster，andonheryehavegottenachldthatshalldestroyyouandalltheknghtsofyourrealm。
　　Whatareye，sadArthur，thattellmethesetdngs？amMerln，andwashenthechld’slkeness。Ah，sadKngArthur，yeareamarvellousman，butmarvelmuchofthywordsthatmustdenbattle。Marvelnot，sadMerln，fortsGod’swllyourbodytobepunshedforyourfouldeeds；butmaywellbesorry，sadMerln，forshalldeashamefuldeath，tobeputntheearthquck，andyeshalldeaworshpfuldeath。Andastheytalkedths，cameonewththekng’shorse，andsothekngmountedonhshorse，andMerlnonanother，andsorodeuntoCarlon。AndanonthekngaskedEctorandUlfushowhewasbegotten，andtheytoldhmUtherPendragonwashsfatherandQueengranehsmother。ThenhesadtoMerln，wllthatmymotherbesentforthatmayspeakwthher；andfshesaysoherselfthenwllbelevet。nallhaste，thequeenwassentfor，andshecameandbroughtwthherMorganleFay，herdaughter，thatwasasfaraladyasanymghtbe，andthekngwelcomedgranenthebestmanner。
　　HowUlfusmpeachedQueengrane，Arthur’smother，oftreason；
　　andhowaknghtcameanddesredtohavethedeathofhsmasterrevenged。
　　RGHTSOcameUlfus，andsadopenly，thatthekngandallmghthearthatwerefeastedthatday，Yearethefalsestladyoftheworld，andthemosttratressuntothekng’sperson。
　　Beware，sadArthur，whatthousayest；thouspeakestagreatword。amwellware，sadUlfus，whatspeak，andheresmyglovetoprovetuponanymanthatwllsaythecontrary，thatthsQueengranescauserofyourgreatdamage，andofyourgreatwar。For，anshewouldhaveutteredtnthelfeofKngUtherPendragon，ofthebrthofyou，andhowyewerebegottenyehadneverhadthemortalwarsthatyehavehad；forthemostpartofyourbaronsofyourrealmknewneverwhosesonyewere，norofwhomyewerebegotten；andshethatbareyouofherbodyshouldhavemadetknownopenlynexcusngofherworshpandyours，andnlkewsetoalltherealm，whereforeproveherfalsetoGodandtoyouandtoallyourrealm，andwhowllsaythecontrarywllprovetonhsbody。
　　Thenspakegraneandsad，amawomanandmaynotfght，butratherthanshouldbedshonoured，therewouldsomegoodmantakemyquarrel。More，shesad，Merlnknowethwell，andyeSrUlfus，howKngUthercametomentheCastleofTntaglnthelkenessofmylord，thatwasdeadthreehoursto-fore，andtherebygatachldthatnghtuponme。AndafterthethrteenthdayKngUtherweddedme，andbyhscommandmentwhenthechldwasborntwasdelvereduntoMerlnandnourshedbyhm，andsosawthechldneverafter，norwotnotwhatshsname，forknewhmneveryet。Andthere，Ulfussadtothequeen，Merlnsmoretoblamethanye。Wellwot，sadthequeen，bareachldbymylordKngUther，butwotnotwherehesbecome。ThenMerlntookthekngbythehand，sayng，Thssyourmother。AndtherewthSrEctorbarewtnesshowhenourshedhmbyUther’scommandment。AndtherewthKngArthurtookhsmother，Queengrane，nhsarmsandkssedher，andetherweptuponother。Andthenthekngletmakeafeastthatlastedeghtdays。
　　Thenonadaytherecamenthecourtasqureonhorseback，leadngaknghtbeforehmwoundedtothedeath，andtoldhmhowtherewasaknghtntheforesthadrearedupapavlonbyawell，andhathslanmymaster，agoodknght，hsnamewasMles；whereforebeseechyouthatmymastermaybebured，andthatsomeknghtmayrevengemymaster’sdeath。Thenthenosewasgreatofthatknght’sdeathnthecourt，andeverymansadhsadvce。ThencameGrfletthatwasbutasqure，andhewasbutyoung，oftheageofthekngArthur，sohebesoughtthekngforallhsservcethathehaddonehmtogvetheorderofknghthood。
　　HowGrfletwasmadeknght，andjoustedwthaknghtTHOUartfullyoungandtenderofage，sadArthur，fortotakesohghanorderonthee。Sr，sadGrflet，beseechyoumakemeknght。Sr，sadMerln，tweregreatptytoloseGrflet，forhewllbeapassnggoodmanwhenhesofage，abdngwthyouthetermofhslfe。Andfheadventurehsbodywthyonderknghtatthefountan，tsngreatperlfeverhecomeagan，forhesoneofthebestknghtsoftheworld，andthestrongestmanofarms。Well，sadArthur。SoatthedesreofGrfletthekngmadehmknght。Now，sadArthuruntoSrGrflet，sthhavemadeyouknghtthoumustgvemeagft。
　　Whatyewll，sadGrflet。Thoushaltpromsemebythefathofthybody，whenthouhastjoustedwththeknghtatthefountan，whethertfallyebeonfootoronhorseback，thatrghtsoyeshallcomeaganuntomewthoutmaknganymoredebate。wllpromseyou，sadGrflet，asyoudesre。ThentookGrflethshorsengreathaste，anddressedhssheldandtookaspearnhshand，andsoherodeagreatwalloptllhecametothefountan，andtherebyhesawarchpavlon，andtherebyunderaclothstoodafarhorsewellsaddledandbrdled，andonatreeasheldofdverscoloursandagreatspear。ThenGrfletsmoteonthesheldwththebuttofhsspear，thatthesheldfelldowntotheground。Wththattheknghtcameoutofthepavlon，andsad，Farknght，whysmoteyedownmysheld？Forwlljoustwthyou，sadGrflet。tsbetteryedonot，sadtheknght，foryearebutyoung，andlatemadeknght，andyourmghtsnothngtomne。Asforthat，sadGrflet，wlljoustwthyou。Thatsmeloath，sadtheknght，butsthmustneeds，wlldressmethereto。
　　Ofwhencebeye？sadtheknght。Sr，amofArthur’scourt。
　　SothetwoknghtsrantogetherthatGrflet’sspearallto-
　　shvered；andtherewthalhesmoteGrfletthroughthesheldandtheleftsde，andbrakethespearthatthetruncheonstucknhsbody，thathorseandknghtfelldown。
　　HowtwelveknghtscamefromRomeandaskedtruageforthslandofArthur，andhowArthurfoughtwthaknght。
　　WHENtheknghtsawhmlesoontheground，healghted，andwaspassngheavy，forheweenedhehadslanhm，andthenheunlacedhshelmandgathmwnd，andsowththetruncheonhesethmonhshorse，andsobetookhmtoGod，andsadhehadamghtyheart，andfhemghtlvehewouldproveapassnggoodknght。AndsoSrGrfletrodetothecourt，wheregreatdolewasmadeforhm。Butthroughgoodleecheshewashealedandsaved。Rghtsocamentothecourttwelveknghts，andwereagedmen，andtheycamefromtheEmperorofRome，andtheyaskedofArthurtruageforthsrealm，otherelsetheemperorwoulddestroyhmandhsland。Well，sadKngArthur，yearemessengers，thereforeyemaysaywhatyewll，otherelseyeshoulddetherefore。Butthssmneanswer：owetheemperornotruage，nornonewllholdhm，butonafarfeldshallgvehmmytruagethatshallbewthasharpspear，orelsewthasharpsword，andthatshallnotbelong，bymyfather’ssoul，UtherPendragon。Andtherewththemessengersdepartedpassnglywroth，andKngArthuraswroth，fornevltmecametheythen；
　　forthekngwaspassnglywrothforthehurtofSrGrflet。
　　Andsohecommandedaprvymanofhschamberthatortbedayhsbesthorseandarmour，wthallthatlongethuntohsperson，bewthoutthectyorto-morrowday。Rghtsoorto-morrowdayhemetwthhsmanandhshorse，andsomountedupanddressedhssheldandtookhsspear，andbadehschamberlantarrytheretllhecameagan。AndsoArthurrodeasoftpacetlltwasday，andthenwashewareofthreechurlschasngMerln，andwouldhaveslanhm。Thenthekngrodeuntothem，andbadethem：Flee，churls!thenweretheyafeardwhentheysawaknght，andfled。OMerln，sadArthur，herehadstthoubeenslanforallthycraftshadnotbeen。Nay，sadMerln，notso，forcouldsavemyselfanwould；andthouartmorenearthydeaththanam，forthougoesttothedeathward，anGodbenotthyfrend。
　　Soastheywentthustalkngtheycametothefountan，andtherchpavlontherebyt。ThenKngArthurwaswarewheresataknghtarmednachar。Srknght，sadArthur，forwhatcauseabdestthouhere，thattheremaynoknghtrdethswaybutfhejoustwththee？sadthekng。redetheeleavethatcustom，sadArthur。Thscustom，sadtheknght，haveusedandwllusemaugrewhosathnay，andwhosgrevedwthmycustomlethmamendtthatwll。wllamendt，sadArthur。
　　shalldefendthee，sadtheknght。Anonhetookhshorseanddressedhssheldandtookaspear，andtheymetsohardethernother’sshelds，thatallto-shveredtherspears。TherewthanonArthurpulledouthssword。Nay，notso，sadtheknght；
　　tsfarer，sadtheknght，thatwetwanrunmoretogetherwthsharpspears。wllwell，sadArthur，anhadanymorespears。haveenow，sadtheknght；sotherecameasqureandbroughttwogoodspears，andArthurchoseoneandheanother；sotheyspurredtherhorsesandcametogetherwthallthermghts，thatetherbraketherspearstotherhands。ThenArthursethandonhssword。Nay，sadtheknght，yeshalldobetter，yeareapassnggoodjousterasevermetwthal，andoncefortheloveofthehghorderofknghthoodletusjoustonceagan。assentme，sadArthur。Anontherewerebroughttwogreatspears，andeveryknghtgataspear，andtherewththeyrantogetherthatArthur’sspearallto-shvered。Buttheotherknghththmsohardnmdstofthesheld，thathorseandmanfelltotheearth，andtherewthArthurwaseager，andpulledouthssword，andsad，wllassaythee，srknght，onfoot，forhavelostthehonouronhorseback。wllbeonhorseback，sadtheknght。ThenwasArthurwroth，anddressedhssheldtowardhmwthhssworddrawn。Whentheknghtsawthat，healghted，forhmthoughtnoworshptohaveaknghtatsuchaval，hetobeonhorsebackandheonfoot，andsohealghtedanddressedhsshelduntoArthur。Andtherebeganastrongbattlewthmanygreatstrokes，andsohewedwththerswordsthatthecantelsflewnthefelds，andmuchbloodtheybledboth，thatalltheplacethereastheyfoughtwasoverbledwthblood，andthustheyfoughtlongandrestedthem，andthentheywenttothebattleagan，andsohurtledtogetherlketworamsthatetherfelltotheearth。Soatthelasttheysmotetogetherthatboththerswordsmeteventogether。ButtheswordoftheknghtsmoteKngArthur’sswordntwopeces，whereforehewasheavy。ThensadtheknghtuntoArthur，Thouartnmydaungerwhethermelsttosavetheeorslaythee，andbutthouyeldtheeasovercomeandrecreant，thoushaltde。Asfordeath，sadKngArthur，welcomebetwhentcometh，buttoyeldmeuntotheeasrecreanthadleferdethantobesoshamed。AndtherewthalthekngleaptuntoPellnore，andtookhmbythemddleandthrewhmdown，andracedoffhshelm。
　　Whentheknghtfeltthathewasadread，forhewasapassngbgmanofmght，andanonhebroughtArthurunderhm，andracedoffhshelmandwouldhavesmttenoffhshead。