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Chapter III
TowhomKingArthuransweredthatheowedtheemperornotribute,norwouldsendhimany;butsaidhe,“OnafairfieldIwillpayhimhispropertribute—withasharpspearandsword;andbymyfather’ssoulthattributeshallhetakefromme,whetherhewillornot.”Sotheambassadorsdepartedpassingwroth,andKingArthurwasaswrothasthey.
ButonthemorrowofSirGriflet’shurt,thekingcommandedtotakehishorseandarmoursecretlyoutsidethecitywallsbeforesunriseofthenextmorning,and,risingalongwhilebeforedawn,hemountedupandtookhisshieldandspear,andbadehischamberlaintarrytillhecameagain;butheforboretotakeExcalibur,forhehadgivenitforsafetyintochargeofhissister,QueenMorganleFay.AndasthekingrodeatasoftpacehesawsuddenlythreevillainschasingMerlinandmakingtoattackandslayhim.Clappingspurstohishorse,herushedtowardsthem,andcriedoutinaterriblevoice,“Flee,churls,ortakeyourdeaths;”butthey,assoonastheyperceivedaknight,fledawaywiththehasteofhares.
“OMerlin,”saidtheking;“herehadstthoubeenkilled,despitethymanycrafts,hadInotchancedtopass.”
“Notso,”saidMerlin,“forwhenIwould,Icouldhavesavedmyself;butthouartnearertothydeaththanI,forwithoutspecialhelpfromheaventhouridestnowtowardsthygrave.”
Andastheywerethustalking,theycametothefountainandtherichpavilionpitchedbesideit,andsawaknightsittingallarmedonachairintheopeningofthetent.
