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Chapter IV
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“Thisisagreatmarvel,”saidKingArthur;“Iwillmyselftrytodrawforththissword,notthinkinginmyheartthatIamthebestknight,butrathertobeginandgiveexamplethatallmaytryafterme.”Sayingthis,hetooktheswordandpulledatitwithallhismight,butcouldnotshakeormoveit.
“Thouneedestnotstrivesohard,Lord,”saidthedamsel,“forwhoevermaybeabletopullitforthshalldosoveryeasily.”“Thousayestwell,”repliedtheking,rememberinghowhehadhimselfdrawnforththeswordfromthestonebeforeSt.Paul’s.“Nowtryye,allmybarons;butbewareyebenotstainedwithshame,oranytreachery,orguile.”Andturningawayhisfacefromthem,KingArthurmusedfullheavilyofsinswithinhisbreastheknewof,andwhichhisfailurebroughttomindrightsadly.
Thenallthebaronspresenttriedeachafterother,butcouldnoneofthemsucceed;whereatthedamselgreatlywept,andsaid,“Alas,alas!Ithoughtinthiscourttohavefoundthebestknight,withoutshameortreacheryortreason.”
NowbychancetherewasatthattimeapoorknightwithKingArthur,whohadbeenprisonerathiscourtforhalfayearandmore,chargedwithslayingunawaresaknightwhowasacousinoftheking’s.HewasnamedBalinleSavage,andhadbeenbythegoodofficesofthebaronsdeliveredfromprison,forhewasofgoodandvaliantaddressandgentleblood.
