The Richmond palladium and sun-telegram. [volume] (Richmond, Ind.) 1907-1939, 1919-05-31
"The Siege Perilous''
Appears In Library


Reeves library. It is a hand-col-
ored Copley print of one of Abbey's
King Arthur series, painted for the
Boston Public Library. 1t is called
the "Siege Perilous."
You may read all about it in the
King Arthur legends at the Library,
but we will give you an outline Of
the story up to the incident told
by the picture.
Long, long ago, when Uther Pen
dragon was ruler of Britain, Mer-
lin, the magician, designed for
him magnificent Round Table"
to use at his feasts. The table was
beautifully carved and furnished
with chairs for one hundred and
fifty knights, and Royal Seat"
for the king. These seats were
called "Sieges," and were inlaid
with ivory and gold and studded
with gems. one but the worthy
could sit in them.
When a knight who had proved
himself fit to sit in one of the
chairs entered the banquet hall,
his name would be flashed in gold
en- letters on the Siege" he was
to claim. If later he died in some
adventure, his name would fade
away and leave room for another.
There was one chair that sur
passed the others In elegance. No
name had ever appeared on it, for
no knight had been found worthy
to sit in it. Many had tried to sit
in it, not waiting for the letters
of gold, but dire calamity or death
Immediately followed, so that it
was called THE Siege Perilous,"
because one sat in it with peril to
his life.
AS time went on the lords of the
court of Uther Pendragon grew
selfish and treacherous and his
kingdom was filled with dissension.
The King grew old and his strength
failed and concern for his young
son Arthur disturbed him. Merlin
the magician came to him and be-
sought him not to leave his heir
unprotected, lest the wicked
knights should kill him to secure
the throne. So the king had Ar
thur secretly taken to one Sir Ec-
tor, who fancied the child and
adopted him as his own, not know
ing he was the son of Uther Pen
dragon.
The wonderful Round Table"
King Uther gave to his friend King
Leodegrance.
Discord and tumult filled Britain
after the kings death, until the
people were so wearied Of strife
that they begged Merlin, the magi-
clan, to find them another king to
sit upon the throne. Accordingly
Merlin brought back the rightful
heir, Arthur, who alone was able
to pass the required tests for king
ship. Arthur restored order in the |
realm and as time went on decided
to choose a queen to share his
throne. His choice fell upon Guini-
we're, the daughter Of his fathers |
friend, Leodegrance.
When the brides father tried to
think of present to send with his
daughter. he said:
Lands he has In abundance, and
money more than enough; what
then can give him that he has
not now?"
Merlin said: ..3.
Give him the Round Table that
Uther Pendragon gave you years
ago, that King Arthur may place
it again in the banquet hall at Cam
eliot"
Thereupon. Leodegrance sent
the Round Table with one hundred
knights of his court as a wedding
gift with Guinivere, and the "Order
OF the Round Table" was estab-
lished at King Arthur's court and
the hundred knights sent by King
found their names
written in gold each at his own
place.
Then King Arthur summoned
Merlin and babe him fill the other
"sieges" from his own brave
knights. After long search, but
Lhirty-two could be found worthy
RI claim tho honor In tho wears