Roger Lancelyn Green (1918–1987)

KING ARTHUR AND THE KNIGHTS OF THE TOUND TABLE

CHAPTER I

HOW THE KING WAS CHOSEN

IN THE great days of chivalry in England, long, long years ago,
a child was born to King Uther Pendragon and Queen Igraine.
Those times were very hard, fierce and unsettled, with bickerings
between the knights and wars between the kings.

The King's wise counsellor, Merlin, came to him in the great
tapestried chamber where he sat. The cold east wind sifted in
through the unglazed windows and harried the flames up the
stone chimney, so that smoke puffed out into the room.

"This court is no place in which to bring up your son," Merlin
said. "Let some brave knight of yours take him and teach him,
as befits a man, all the noble deeds of arms that he must do l'"
"But whom can I trust?" said the King

"Sir Ector, lord of wide lands in England and in Wales, shall
take him-he is faithful and true !"

"As you will," said King Uther, and he sighed, for he knew
in his secret heart that he himself would never live to see his boy,
Arthur, mount his first horse or splinter his first lance

So through the echoing passages they carried the baby boy, all
dressed in cloth-of-gold, to the postern gate of the castle. There
Sir Ector was waiting as he had been told to do, and he took
charge of the small bundle.

During the next two years the unrest in the kingdom grew
worse, and King Uther was a sick man and could not hold the
people together. Battles broke out, great castles were besieged
and taken, and men died by sword and lance.

King Uther fought his last battle on the grassy fields at St.
Albans and won a last victory over his enemies. But after a
triumphal entry into the frowning city of London, he lay down
to die, heedless of the cheering people and fluttering banners...… (más)