Martinsburg herald. [volume] (Martinsburg, W. Va.) 1881-1920, 1911-08-19
GREAT LOVE
- STORIES -'
of HISTORY
Arthur and Guinevere
By Albert Poyson Terhnne


She was the finest woman in the
universe. Her stature was noble and
elegant, her complexion fair and her
eyes the fairest blue OF the heavens"
Thus one chronicler describes the
Princes Guinevere, daughter of the old
Celtic king, Leodegraunce. Much Of
her story and Arthur's is SO shrouded
In legend that the actual facts are
hard to determine. Here is the tale
as it 10 generally accepted:
Arthur, Celtic prince, was spirited
away in childhood by loyal servants
to save him from assassination. When
he reached manhood he was made
known to the people and (about 500
A. d. became king Of part of Britain.
lie found the country in terrible con-
dition. Poverty stalked abroad. The
Wilderness had swallowed up most Of
the farmland; robbers and cruel bar
ons oppressed the poor. Arthur set
out to remedy all this. To aid him in
the task he gathered about him a
The KNIGHTS Of band Of mobiles
ss " known as the
the Round Table. knights of the
Round Table" who we're sworn to re-
dress wrongs, help the needy, protect
women and lead upright lives. So
well did Arthur govern and SO ably did
his knights aid him that soon the
kingdom was prosperous and safe.
The bravest of the Knights of the
Round Table was Sir Lancelot of the
Lake. Arthur and Lancelot were as
brothers In their affection for one an
other. The king saw and fell in love
with the beautiful Guinevere. Being
detained at home by affairs of state,
he did not go to her fathers court to
woo her in person, but chose Lancelot
as his messenger.
Now, Lancelot set forth for the cas-
tie of King Leodegraunce with every
idea of fulfilling his royal masters
commands. But at first sight of Guine-
lvere's loneliness he wholly lost his
head. From that moment he blindly
adored her. Honor, loyalty, his
knightly vows-all were swept away
in that mighty tide of love. He could
scarce bring himself to plead Arthur
suit instead of his own Guineyere. on
her part, mistook the handsome stran-
ger at first for Arthur and rejoiced at
the thought that she was to become
his bride. Learning the truth, she was
inconsolable. But the welfare of the
kingdom compelled the two lovers to
set aside their own wishes. Guinevere
sadly accompanied Lancelot back to
Arthur's palace at Camelot and there
welded the unsuspecting monarch.
But she and Lancelot could not for
get each other. Lancelot absented
himself for long intervals from the
court in order to drive Guinevere from
his memory; and the queen sought to
rule wisely at Arthur's side. But, at
last, whispers of her concealed love
for Lancelot were breathed abroad.
The Knights of the Round Table Cos
siped OF 1t. Since the bravest of their
number could so far forget his loyalty
ms to dare INT his eyes to the queen.
the rest began little by little to lose
the exalted ideas that had made the
Round Table SO terrible a menace to
evil doors.
Last OF all, Arthur himself learned
OF the affair. He was Mortified. for
his own simple loyalty could not grasp
the idea that his wife and his dearest
u. friend could have
,.,. kept such a secret
from him. Lance
lot withdrew from court, and Arthur's
advisers persuaded the king to make
war on him. Then it was that Sir
Modred, Arthur's treacherous nephew.
who hated the king and his reforms.
saw that the time was ripe for rebel
lion. He headed a revolution against
his uncle, and the once peaceful land
was plunged once more into the hor-
rors OF warfare. Arthur freely forgave
Guinevere and rode forth at the head
OF his knights to repel Modreds inva-
sion. In great battle near Bath.
England in $40 the two armies met.
Arthur was victorious and Modred
was slain. But Arthur received death
wound during the last charge. The
kingdom and the reforms he had so
wisely built UP crumbled to pieces at
lbs death-destroyed by one woman's
lack of loyalty.
Guinevere, heartbroken. retired to
convent; while Lancelot put aside his
armor for monks gown and ended
his days as holy hermit, praying for
the repose of blameless King Arthurs
soul.