The Story of KING ARTHVR and his Knights

Written and Illustrated by HOWARD PYLE. NEW YORK: CHARLES SCRIBNER’S SONS 1903. Copyright, 1903, By CHARLES SCRIBNER’S SONS. ——— Published, November, 1903

After several years of contemplation and of thought upon the matter herein contained, it has at last come about, by the Grace of God, that I have been able to write this work with such pleasure of spirit that, if it gives to you but a part of the joy that it hath afforded me, I shall be very well content with what I have done.

For when, in pursuing this history, I have come to consider the high nobility of spirit that moved these excellent men to act as they did, I have felt that they have afforded such a perfect example of courage and humility that anyone might do exceedingly well to follow after their manner of behavior in such measure as he is able to do.

For I believe that King Arthur was the most honorable, gentle Knight who ever lived in all the world. And those who were his fellows of the Round Table—taking him as their looking-glass of chivalry—made, altogether, such a company of noble knights that it is hardly to be supposed that their like will ever be seen again in this world. Wherefore it is that I have had such extraordinary pleasure in beholding how those famous knights behaved whenever circumstances called upon them to perform their endeavor.

So in the year of grace one thousand nine hundred and two I began to write this history of King Arthur and his Knights of the Round Table and, if I am able so to do, I shall endeavor, with love of that task, to finish the same at some other time in another book and to the satisfaction of whosoever may care to read the story thereof.

The Book of King Arthur

PART I THE WINNING OF KINGHOOD

Chapter First

How Sir Kay did Combat in a Great Tournament at London Town and of How He Brake His Sword. Likewise, How Arthur Found a New Sword For Him9

Chapter Second

How Arthur Twice Performed the Miracle of the Sword Before Sir Ector and of How His Birthright Was Discovered Unto Him21

Chapter Third

How Several Kings and High Dukes Assayed to Draw the Sword Out of the Anvil and How They Failed. Likewise How Arthur Made the Assay and Succeeded Therein29

PART II THE WINNING OF A SWORD

Chapter First

How There Came a Certain Wounded Knight Unto the Court of King Arthur, How a Young Knight of the King’s Court Sought To Avenge Him and Failed and How the King Thereupon Took That Assay Upon Himself41

Chapter Second

How King Arthur Fought With the Sable Knight and How He Was Sorely Wounded. Likewise How Merlin Brought Him Safe Away From the Field of Battle53

Chapter Third

How King Arthur Found a Noble Sword In a Very Wonderful Manner. And How He Again Fought With It and Won That Battle 65

PART III THE WINNING OF A QUEEN

Chapter First

How King Arthur Went to Tintagalon with Four of His Court, and How He Disguised Himself for a Certain Purpose79

Chapter Second

How King Ryence Came to Cameliard and How King Arthur Fought With the Duke of North Umber91

Chapter Third

How King Arthur Encountered Four Knights and of What Befell Thereby101

Chapter Fourth

How the Four Knights Served the Lady Guinevere113

Chapter Fifth

How King Arthur Overcame the Enemies of King Leodegrance, and How His Royalty Was Proclaimed125

Chapter Sixth

How King Arthur Was Wedded in Royal State and How the Round Table Was Established139

The Book of Three Worthies

PART I THE STORY OF MERLIN

Chapter First

How Queen Morgana le Fay Meditated Evil Against King Arthur and How She Sent a Damsel to Beguile the Enchanter, Merlin163

Chapter Second

How Merlin Journeyed With Vivien Unto the Valley of Joyousness and How He Builded for Her a Castle at That Place. Also, How He Taught Her the Wisdom of Magic and of How She Compassed His Downfall Thereby173

Chapter Third

How Queen Morgana le Fay Returned to Camelot and to the Court With Intent to Do Ill to King Arthur. Also How King Arthur and Others Went a-Hunting and of What Befell Thereby181

Chapter Fourth

What Befell Sir Accalon, and How King Arthur Fought an Affair-at-Arms With Swords, and How He Came Nigh to Losing His Life Thereby191

PART II THE STORY OF SIR PELLIAS

Chapter First

How Queen Guinevere Went a-Maying and of How Sir Pellias Took Upon Him a Quest in Her Behalf205

Chapter Second

How Sir Pellias Overcame a Red Knight, Hight Sir Adresack, and of How He Liberated XXII Captives From That Knight’s Castle215

Chapter Third

How Sir Pellias Did Battle With Sir Engamore, Otherwise the Knight of the Green Sleeves, and of What Befell the Lady Ettard227

Chapter Fourth

How Queen Guinevere Quarrelled With Sir Gawaine, and How Sir Gawaine Left the Court of King Arthur For a While241

Chapter Fifth

How Sir Gawaine Met Sir Pellias and How He Promised to Aid Him With the Lady Ettard255

Chapter Sixth

How the Lady of the Lake Took Back Her Necklace From Sir Pellias267

PART III THE STORY OF SIR GAWAINE

Chapter First

How a White Hart Appeared Before King Arthur, and How Sir Gawaine and Gaheris, His Brother, Went in Pursuit Thereof, and of What Befell Them in That Quest281

Chapter Second

How King Arthur Became Lost in the Forest, and How He Fell Into a Very Singular Adventure in a Castle Unto Which He Came295

Chapter Third

How King Arthur Overcame the Knight-Enchanter, and How Sir Gawaine Manifested the High Nobility of His Knighthood305