ARTHUR MADE KING.

When Uther passed away, the realm
Fell in great jeopardy,
For many wended to be king
Through might and bravery.

Then Merlin to the Archbishop
Of Canterbury went,
And they together council took
This evil to prevent.

Thus they agreed -- that every lord,
On pain of curses deep,
And every gentleman-at-arms
A solemn tryst should keep,

On Christmas day, at London town,
Since Christ, as all do know,
Was then created Lord of all
The kingdoms here below;
So who should reign o'er England fair
By miracle might show.

Some nobles made them passing clean
From vice or crime, for fear
Their prayers might enter gracelessly,
Within Christ Jesus' ear.
Inside the church on Christmas day
(It was St. Paul's, I ween),
A mightly host of knights and lords
And commoners is seen.

But ere they read the early mass,
Or early matins sing,
Unto the Lord Archbishop there
This startling news they bring:

'Outside, within the churchyard gate,
Near to the altar stone,
There stands a large square marble slab
With anvil perched thereon;

'And in the anvil, of pure steel
A naked sword doth sit,
Of finest point, and all around
Are golden letters writ:

'"Whoso from out this marble stone
With his own powerful hand
Shall pluck this sword, he shall be Lord
And King of all England."'

The Lord Archbishop ordered then
That none should touch the stone,
But all within the church should pray
Until High Mass was done,
And when all prayers were finishèd
(This was his Grace's will),
Ten knights of stainless troth and fame
Should guard the sword from ill;

That jousts and tournaments be held
Upon the New Year's day;
That all who willed their prowess try
To pluck the sword away.

Thereto there flocked a gallant host
Of knights and ladies gay;
Sir Ector brought young Arthur there,
And his own son, Sir Kay.

But then befel a woful chance --
Sir Kay had lost his sword,
In sooth, had left it at his home.
Then uttered he this word:

'O foster brother! backward speed,
Ride fast for love of me,
And when thou reachest Ector's house,
My sword bring back to me.'

'That will I,' said the gallant youth,
Riding away alone;
But when he reached the castle gate
He found the wardour gone,
And all the inmates, great and small,
Off to the tournament;
Baffled and wroth he turned his horse
And to the churchyard went.

'Ten thousand pities 'twere,' he said,
'My dearest brother Kay
Should at the joust withouten sword
Appear in disarray.

Whereat he lighted from his horse,
And tied it to the stile,
While to the tent he bent his steps
And loitered there awhile,

To see if the ten guards were there --
He recked not that they went
With all the world, both rich and poor,
To the great tournament.

So when he found no knights were there
But to the jousting gone,
Lightly yet fierce the sword he seized,
And pulled it from the stone,

And to Sir Kay delivered it,
Who wist, as soon as seen,
That 'twas the sword from out the stone;
Then said, 'Full well I ween

I have the sword, and I must be
The King of all Englànd.
But when he showed it to his sire
Sir Ector gave command

That to the church he should repair
And swear upon the book
How gat he then the sword; but he,
Fearing his sire's rebuke,

Told how his foster brother came
When all the knights were gone,
And light and fiercely plucked the sword
From out the magic stone.

'Now try again,' Sir Ector said;
Whereat they all assayed,
But none save Arthur there availed
To sunder out the blade.

And thrice again he made assay,
And thrice the sword came free;
Sir Ector and Sir Kay fell down
Upon their bended knee.
'O father! why,' young Arthur said,
'Your homage pay to me?'

'Because that God has willed it so.
Thou art no son of mine:
'Twas Merlin brought thee to my arms
From some far nobler line.

'But, O my liege! for King thou art,
Wilt thou to mine and me,
Who nurtured thee and brought thee up,
A gracious sovereign be?

But Arthur wept and made great dole
At what Sir Ector said,
That he no sire or mother had,
Then sweetly answerèd:

'Else were I much to blame! I am
Beholden so to you,
Command me, and may God me help
I will your bidding do.'

'Sir,' said Sir Ector, 'I will ask
No more than that of all
The lands you govern, my son Kay
Be made the Seneschal.'

Replied young Arthur, 'That shall be;
I here my promise give,
That none but he that office fill
While he or I shall live.'

Then happèd it that on Twelfth day
The Barons all assay
To pluck the sword, but none prevail
Save Arthur on that day.

Then waxed they wroth, and Candlemas
Was fixed for the assay,
Yet still no knight but Arthur
Could pluck the sword away.

Then at high feast of Eastertide,
Also at Pentecost,
None but young Arthur loosed the sword --
The knights their temper lost.

But when the Lord Archbishop came,
All cried with one accord,
'We will have Arthur for our King,
God wills him for our lord.'

And down on bended knee they fell
To pay him homage due;
And thus he won Excalibur
And all fair England too.

Soon Scotland, and the North, and Wales,
To him obeisance made,
Won by prowess of his knights
And of his trusty blade.