Король Артур и рыцари Круглого стола
Chapter I
AndUther,whenhewasmadeking,rememberedMerlin’swords,andcausedtwodragonstobemadeingold,inlikenessofthedragonhehadseeninthestar.OneofthesehegavetoWinchesterCathedral,andhadtheothercarriedintoallhiswarsbeforehim,whencehewaseveraftercalledUtherPendragon,orthedragon’shead.
Now,whenUtherPendragonhadpassedthroughalltheland,andsettledit—andevenvoyagedintoallthecountriesoftheScots,andtamedthefiercenessofthatrebelpeople—hecametoLondon,andministeredjusticethere.AnditbefellatacertaingreatbanquetandhighfeastwhichthekingmadeatEaster-tide,therecame,withmanyotherearlsandbarons,Gorloïs,DukeofCornwall,andhiswifeIgerna,whowasthemostfamousbeautyinallBritain.Andsoonthereafter,Gorloïsbeingslaininbattle,UtherdeterminedtomakeIgernahisownwife.Butinordertodothis,andenablehimtocometoher—forshewasshutupinthehighcastleofTintagil,onthefurthestcoastofCornwall—thekingsentforMerlin,totakecounselwithhimandtoprayhishelp.This,therefore,Merlinpromisedhimononecondition—namely,thatthekingshouldgivehimupthefirstsonbornofthemarriage.ForMerlinbyhisartsforeknewthatthisfirstbornshouldbethelong-wishedprince,KingArthur.
WhenUther,therefore,wasatlengthhappilywedded,Merlincametothecastleonacertainday,andsaid,“Sir,thoumustnowprovidetheeforthenourishingofthychild.”
Andtheking,nothingdoubting,said,“Beitasthouwilt.