Король Артур и рыцари Круглого стола

           WhentheyhadbroughtthewholetoSalisbury,Aurelius,withthecrownuponhishead,keptforfourdaysthefeastofPentecostwithroyalpomp;andinthemidstofalltheclergyandthepeople,Merlinraisedupthestones,andsetthemroundthesepulchreoftheknightsandbarons,astheystoodinthemountainsofIreland.

           Thenwasthemonumentcalled“Stonehenge,”whichstands,asallmenknow,upontheplainofSalisburytothisveryday.

           SoonthereafteritbefellthatAureliuswasslainbypoisonatWinchester,andwashimselfburiedwithintheGiants’Dance.

           Atthesametimecameforthacometofamazingsizeandbrightness,dartingoutabeam,attheendwhereofwasacloudoffireshapedlikeadragon,fromwhosemouthwentouttworays,onestretchingoverGaul,theotherendinginsevenlesserraysovertheIrishsea.

           Attheappearanceofthisstaragreatdreadfelluponthepeople,andUther,marchingintoCambriaagainstthesonofVortigern,himselfwasverytroubledtolearnwhatitmightmean.ThenMerlin,beingcalledbeforehim,criedwithaloudvoice:“Omightyloss!OstrickenBritain!Alas!thegreatprinceisgonefromus.AureliusAmbrosiusisdead,whosedeathwillbeoursalso,unlessGodhelpus.Haste,therefore,nobleUther,todestroytheenemy;thevictoryshallbethine,andthoushaltbekingofallBritain.Forthestarwiththefierydragonsignifiesthyself;andtherayoverGaulportendsthatthoushalthaveason,mostmighty,whomallthosekingdomsshallobeywhichtheraycovers.”

           Thus,forthesecondtime,didMerlinforetellthecomingofKingArthur.