116 THE ELSON READERS BOOK VII (7th Grade) conquer them. But the Britons resisted the invaders, and among the strong British chieftains the name of Arthur stands preeminent. Historians generally agree that a ruler of this name actually lived about the close of the fifth century or the beginning of the sixth. Arthur became not only the great national hero, but also the champion of Christianity against heathen invaders. He is said to have united the scattered British clans and to have defeated the invaders in twelve great battles. In their days of distress many of the Britons fled across the Charnel and settled among their kindred, the Bretons of northern France. From here British bards with their harps wandered throughout all Christendom, singing of Arthur's heroic deeds. As time went on, these tales of Arthur became blended with the fairy stories of the old happy dream-life of early Britain. When chivalry was at its height, from the twelfth to the fifteenth century, the strolling minstrels took up the numerous legends that had grown up around the name of Arthur, adapting them to the ideals of the times and to the tastes of their audiences in court and castle and market place. In these songs and legends, Arthur appeared as a great king surrounded at his "Table Round" by valiant knights who, under vows of purity and holiness, went forth in daily quest of noble deeds. Early in the twelfth century the legends were carried back to England. A Welsh priest, Geoffrey of Monmouth, gave a form to these tales which became widely popular; later, from this version and others, Sir Thomas Malory wrote his story, "Le Morte d'Arthur" (The Death of Arthur). In 1485, William Caxton, the first English printer, published Malory's story, which became the chief source of modern poets who have written on this theme. Among these, the English poet, Tennyson, in his beautiful "Idylls of the King," has best told the story of Arthur and his knights. Discussion. 1. Is there a historical basis for the stories of Arthur? 2. How did they become interwoven with myth and legend? 3. When Arthur became king, what was the condition of the people of Britain? 4. Why did the barons oppose Arthur? 5. What reforms did Arthur introduce? 6. Find lines which show that Arthur thought of the poor as well as of the rich and great. 7. What was the Round Table? 8. Find the lines that tell of the vows made by the knights. 9. What did the knights promise first? 10. Why do you think Arthur put this first? 11. What reason did Arthur give the sorceress for not wishing to remain longer in her castle? 12. Find a word in this speech that explains Arthur's life. 13. Find lines that show Arthur's generosity toward a foe. 14. What ideals of conduct did these stories uphold in times when might was greater than right? 15. The stories of King Arthur and his knights found in this book are modified from the version of Sir Thomas Malory; make a list of quaint expres sions which show that the use of the English language has changed since the time of Malory. 16. What fine qualities of human nature, about which you read on page 102, have you noted in this story? 17. Find in the Glossary the meaning of: postern-gate; realm; counseled; clamoring; decreed; scabbard (pp. 104-106); oppression; lurk; peasant; Christendom; Pentecost (pp. 107-108); sorceress; turret; portcullis; salutation; petition; squire; page; fain; estate; battlement; succor; vigil; vassal; behoove; mere; samite; fathom; anon; wafted; mystic (pp. 109-115). 18. Pronounce: bade; tournament; sovereign (pp. 105-106); courteous (p. 109); stanch (p. 113). Phrases for Study confusion was supreme, 104, 20 knightly exercises, 104, 32 under pain of a fearful curse, 105, 3 thinking no marvel, 106, 6 crave a boon, 109, 32 bear himself meetly, 111, 22 in league with evil, 111, 35 Class Reading. Arthur's adventure with the sorceress, page 109, line 8, to page 112, line 12; the finding of Excalibur, page 114, line 10, to page 115, line 19; bring to class and read the song of Arthur's knighthood in "The Coming of Arthur," Tennyson. Outline for Testing Silent Reading. (a) The birth of Arthur; (b) How he became King; (c) How King Arthur took a wife; (d) The Order of the Round Table; (e) The vows of true knighthood; (f) The finding of the sword Excalibur. Library Reading. The Boy's King Arthur, Lanier, illustrated by Wyeth; The Romance of King Arthur, illustrated by Rackham; The Story of King Arthur and His Knights, Pyle. 118 THE ELSON READERS BOOK VII (7th Grade) THE STORY OF GARETH* HOW BEAUMAINS CAME TO KING ARTHUR'S COURT King Arthur had a custom that at the feast of Pentecost he would not go to meat until he had heard or seen a great marvel. And because of that custom all manner of strange adventures came before him at that feast. Б So Sir Gawain, a little before noon of the day of Pentecost, saw from a window three men on horseback and a dwarf on foot, and one of the men was higher than the other two, by a foot and a half. Then Sir Gawain went unto the King and said, "Sir, go to your meat, for here at hand come strange adventures." 10 Right so came into the hall two men and upon their shoulders there leaned the goodliest young man and the fairest that ever they all saw, and he was tall and large and broad in the shoulders and the fairest and largest-handed that ever man saw. This young man said, "King Arthur, God bless you and all 15 your fair fellowship. For this cause I am come hither, to pray you to give me three gifts and they shall not be unreasonably asked, but you may honorably grant them me. The first gift I will ask now and the other two I will ask this day twelvemonth." "Now ask," said Arthur, "and ye shall have your asking." "Sir," said the young man, "this is my petition, that ye will give me meat and drink for this twelvemonth, and at that day I will ask mine other two gifts." 20 "My fair son," said Arthur, "ask better, I counsel thee, for this is but simple asking; for my heart tells me that thou shalt 25 prove a man of right great honor." 80 "Sir," said the young man, "be that as it may, I have asked that which I will ask." "Well," said the King, "ye shall have meat and drink enough; I never refused that to friend or foe. But what is thy name?" "I cannot tell you," said the young man. "That is strange," said the King, "that thou knowest not thy name, and thou art the goodliest young man that ever I saw." Then the King charged Sir Kay, the steward, that he should give the young man meat and drink of the best as though he 5 were a lord's son. "There is no need of that," said Sir Kay, "for I am sure he is of lowly birth. If he had come of gentlemen he would have asked of horse and armor, but such as he is, so he asketh. And as he hath no name I shall name him Beaumains, that is, Fair10 hands, and into the kitchen I shall take him." you Then was Sir Gawain wroth, and Sir Lancelot bade Sir Kay cease his mocking of the young man. But Sir Kay bade the young man sit down to meat with the boys of the kitchen, and there he ate sadly. And then Sir Lancelot bade him come to his chamber 15 and there he should have meat and drink enough. And this Sir Lancelot did of his great gentleness and courtesy. And Sir Gawain proffered him meat and drink, but he refused them both and thus he was put into the kitchen. So he endured all that twelvemonth and never displeased man 20 nor child, but always he was meek and kindly. But ever when there was any justing of knights, that would he see if he might. 25 30 So it passed on till the feast of Pentecost. On that day there came a damsel into the hall and saluted the King and prayed for succor for her lady who was besieged in her castle. "Who is your lady, and who besiegeth her?" asked the King. "Sir King," she said, "my lady's name shall ye not know from me at this time, but the tyrant that besiegeth her and destroyeth her lands is called the Red Knight of the Red Lands." "I know him not," said the King. "Sir," said Sir Gawain, "I know him well; men say that he hath seven men's strength, and from him I escaped once barely with my life." "Fair damsel," said the King, "there be knights here who would gladly seek to rescue your lady, but because you will not 33 tell her name, none of my knights shall go with you." Then Beaumains came before the King and said, "Sir King, I have been this twelvemonth in your kitchen and now I will ask my two gifts." "Ask," said the King, "and right gladly will I grant them." "Sir, these shall be my two gifts, first that ye will grant me to have this adventure." "Thou shalt have it," said the King. "Then, sir, this is the other gift, that ye shall bid Sir Lancelot to make me knight. And I pray you let him ride after me and 10 make me knight when I ask him." "All this shall be done," said the King. "Fie on thee," said the damsel; "shall I have none but one that is your kitchen boy?" Then was she wroth and took her horse and departed. 15 And with that there came one to Beaumains and told him his horse and armor were come, and there was a dwarf ready with all things that he needed in the richest manner. So when he was armed there were few so goodly men as he was. Then Sir Kay said all open in the hall, "I will ride after my 20 boy of the kitchen, to see whether he will know me for his better." 25 ВО And as Beaumains overtook the damsel, right so came Sir Kay and said, "Beaumains, what, sir, know ye not me?" "Yea," said Beaumains, "I know you for an ungentle knight of the court, and therefore beware of me." Therewith Sir Kay put his spear in the rest and ran straight upon him, and Beaumains came as fast upon him with his sword and thrust him through the side, so that Sir Kay fell down as if he were dead, and Beaumains took Sir Kay's shield and spear and rode on his way. When Sir Lancelot overtook him, he proffered Sir Lancelot to just and they came together fiercely and fought for an hour, and Lancelot marveled at Beaumains's strength, for he fought more like a giant than a knight. So Sir Lancelot said, "Beaumains, fight not so sore; your quarrel and mine is not so great 85 but we may leave off." |