Король Артур та лицарі Круглого столу

           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.