The Portland daily press., 1881-06-29
WEDNESDAY MORNING, JUNE 20.
The Passing of Arthur.
An Old Tale Commended to Boys Search
ing for Something to Read"
IRON the "Boys' King Arthur


bring IA persons, And they came with this
word unto King Arthur, and then said he, 'I
am glad that this is DONE" And so he went
into the fields; and when King Arthur should
depart, he warned all his host that and they
saw any sword drawn, "look that We come ON
fierccly, and STAY that traitor Sir Mordred, for
in no wise trust him. In like wise Sir Nor
bred did warn his host that "if 70 see any man.
ner of sword drawn, look that ye come on
fiercely, and so slay all that ever standeth be-
fore you, for in no wise will not trust for this
treatise, for 1 know well that my uncle will be
avenged upon me-"
And SO they met as their appointment was,
and were agreed and accorded thoroughly,
and wine was fetched and they drank. Right
so came an adder out of little heath bush,
and it stung knight on the foot; and when
the knight felt him stung. he looked down
and saw the adder, and thought of none other
harm. And when the hosts ON both parties
saw that sword drawn, they blew trumpets and
horns and shouted grimly. And so both hosts
drewed them together, and King Arthur took
his horse, and said, ''Alas, this unhappy day!"
and so rode he to his party. And so Sir Nor
dred did in like wise: and never was there
seen q more dolefuller battle in no Christian
land, for there was but rashing and riding,
foining and striking, and many grim word
was there spoken either to other, and many
deadly stroke. And ever they fought still till
it was nigh night, and by that time was there
an hundred thousand laid dead upon the
down. Then was King Arthur wroth out of
measure, when he saw his people SO slain from
him. Then the king looked about him, and
then was he ware that Of all his host, and of
all his good knights, were left no more alive
but two knights, that was Sir Lucan the butler,
and Sir Bedivere his brother, and they were
right sore wounded.
"Jesu mercy!" said King Arthur, where
are all my noble knights become? Alasi that
ever l should see this doleful day; for now,"
said King Arthur, 81 am come unto mine end !;
but would to God that I wist where that traitor
Sir Nordred is, which has caused all this mis-
chief" 800.
Then was King Arthur ware where Sir Nor
bred leaned upon his sword among great
heap of dead men.
"Now give me my SPEAR" said King Arthur
to Sir Lucan, for yonder I have espied the
traitor which hath wrought all this VICE."
"Sir, let him be-" said Sir Lucan, "for he is
unhappy; and if ye pass this unhappy day We
shall be right well revenged upon him. My
good lord, remember we'll your dream that We
had this night and what the spirit of Sir Ga
waine told you this night; yet God of his great
fore, for Gods sake, my lord, leave off by this
for blessed be God ye have won the field; for
here we be three on live, and with Sir Mordred
is none alive. And if We leave off now, this
wicked day of destiny is DONE"
"Betide me death, betide me life, "said the
king, "now I see him yonder alone he shall
never escape my hands, for at better vantage
shall never have him.
"God speed you WE'LL" said Sir Bedivere.
Then the king gat his spear in both his
hands, and ran toward Sir Mordred, crying
Traitor, now is thy death day come"
And when Sir Mordred heard King Arthur,
he ran unto him with his sword drawn in his
hand. And then King Arthur smote Sir Nor
dred under the shield with foin of his spear
throughout the body more than fathom.
And when Sir Mordred felt that he had his
deaths wound, he thrust himself, with the
might that he had, up to the fur of King Ar
thurs spear. And right SO he smote the king
with his sword holden in both his hands, on
the side of the head, that the sword pierced
the helmet and the brain-pan. And there
withal Sir Mordred fell stark dead to tho earth
And the noble Arthur fell in swoon to the
earth, and there he swooned oftentimes. And
Sir Lucan the butler and Sir Bedivere often
times heaved him up, and SO weakly they led
him betwixt them both to a little chapel not
far from the sea side. And when the king was
bnere, Ho nlu VIGIL 6aSou. linen
heard they people cry in the field.
'Now go then, Sir Lucan,' said the king,
''and do me to wit what betokens that noise in
the field.''
So Sir Lucan departed and he was grievously
wounded in many places. And SO, as he went,
he saw and hearkened by the moonlight, how
the pillagers and robbers were come into the
field TO pill and rob many a full noble knight
of brooches and beads, OF many good ring,
and of many rich jewel; and who that were
not dead all out there they slew them for their
harness and their riches. When Sir Lucan
understood this work, he came to the king as
soon as he might, and told him all what he had
seen and heard.
Therefore by mine advice" said Sir Lucan,
''it is best that we bring you to some town."
81 would that it were So" said the king.
"But may not stand. All, Sir Launcelot, %
said King Arthur, 'this day have sore missed
thee. Alas, that ever was against thee, for
now havo my death, whereof Sir Gawaine
me warned in my dream"
Then Sir Lucan took up the king in one
part, and Sir Bedivere the other part, and in
the lifting the king swooned and Sir Luca IL
fell in swoon with the lift, and Herewith
the noble knights heart brast. And when
King Arthur came to himself again, he beheld
Sir Lucan how he lay foaming at the mouth
'Alas," said the king, "this is unto me full
heavy sight TO see this noble duke so die for my
sake, for he would have helpen me that had
complain him, his heart was SO set to help me.
Now Jesu have mercy upon his soul.''
Then Sir Bedivere wept for the death of his
brother.
"Leave this mourning and weeping" said
the king, 'for all this will not avail me; for,
wit you well, and 1 might live myself, the
death of Sir Lucan would grieve me evermore
but my time hieth FAST" said the king,
Therefore," said King Arthur, sttake thou
Excalibur, my good sword, and go with it to
yonder waterside, and when thou CONTEST there
charge thee throw my sword in that water
and come again and tell me what thou shalt
see there"
''My lord," said Sir Bedivere, your com.
mand shall DO done, and lightly bring you
word again.
And SO Sir Bedivere departed; and by the
way he beheld that noble sword where the
stones, and then he said to himself, eff ]
throw this rich sword into the water, thereof
shall never come good, but harm and loss"
And then Sir Bedivere hid Excalibur under
a tree, and as soon as he might he came AGAR
unto King Arthur, and said he had been at the
water and had thrown the sword into the wa
ter.
"What sawest thou there?" said the king.
'.Sir," said he, 81 saw nothing but waves
and winds.''
THAT is untruly said of thee" said Kins
Arthur, therefore go thou lightly and do my
command, as thou art to me lief and dear
spare not but throw it in"
Then Sir BedHere returned again, and tool
the sword in his hand; and then him thought
1t a sin and shame to throw away that nobl,
sword And so he hid the sword and returned
again and told the king that he had been a
the water and done his command.
"What saw We there?" said the king.
"Sir," said he, 81 saw nothing but the wate
weep and the waves warie."
"Ah, traitor untruel'' said King Arthur
''now thou hast betrayed me two times VIII,
would have wend that thou hadst been unit.
me so self and dear, and thou art named no
BILE knight, andlwouldst betray me for the ricl
sword? But now go again lightly, for thy lon.
tarrying putteth me in great jeopardy of M
life, for have taken cold; and but if thou d,
as command thee, and if ever may see the
L shall Stay thee with my own hands, for tho,
wouldst for my rich sword see me dead.'
Then Sir Bedivere departed and wont to tn
sword, and lightly took it up, and went to th
waters side; and there he bound the girdl
about the hilt, and then he threw the sword a
lar as he might; and there came an arm an,
an hand, and metz and caught it and s.
shook it thrice and brandished. And then the
hand vanished away with the sword in the wa
ter. So Si1Bedivere came again to the king an,
told him what he had seen.
"Alas!" said the king, help me from hence
Tor dread me have tarried overiong."
Then Sir Bediyere took king Arthur on hi;
back and so went with him to the waters side
And when they were at the waters side, eyel
last by tho bank hoved little barge witt
many fair ladies in it, and among them was
queen, and all they had black hoods, and the
wept and shrieked when thew saw King A.
thur. Nov put me into the barge" said tn
king. and so he did coftIv. opd +boro ,ooo;-,a