One day there came to Camelot a squire on horseback leading a knight before him who had been killed. He told that there was a knight in the forest who had reared a pavillion by a well, and how the knight had slain his master, a good knight; he besought that his master might be buried and some knight avenge his death.
There was much stir in the Court bacause of this knight's death, everyone giving his advice, and a young squire named Grifflet, who was about the same age as Arthur, came to the king and besought him to make him a knight.
"You are too young," said Arthur,"to take so high an order."
"Sir," said Grifflet,"I beseech you make me a knight."
"Sir, it were a great pity to lose Grifflet," said Merlin,"For he will be a passing good man when he is of age, abiding with you the term of his life."
So the king made him a knight. "Now," he said,"since I have made you a knight, you must give me a gift."
"What you will," said Grifflet.
Then the king made him promise that when he had fought the knight at the fountain he would return straight to Camelot without further debate.
So Grifflet took his horse in great haste, and got his shield ready, and took a lance in his hand, and rode at a gallop till he came to the fountain. There he saw a rich pavillion, and near by under a cloth stood a fair horse, well saddled and bridled, and on a tree a shield of many colors, and a great lance. Grifflet smote on the shield with the butt of his lance so that it fell down.
With that the knight came out of the pavillion and said,"Fair knight, why smote you down my shield?"
"Because I would joust with you," said Grifflet.
"It is better you do not," said the knight,"for you are but young and lately made a knight, and your might is nothing to mine."
"As for that," said Grifflet,"I will joust with you."
"I am loath to do it," said the knight,"but since I must I will make ready. Whence be ye?"
"Sir, I am of Arthur's court."
The two knights ran together so that Grifflet's lance was all shivered to pieces, and the other knight, who's name was Pellinore, smote Grifflet through the shield and left side, and broke his own lance, while knight and horse fell down.
When Pellinore saw Grifflet lying on the ground he dismounted and was very sad for he thought he had slain him. He unlaced his helm and gave him air, and set him on his horse again saying he had a mighty heart and if he lived would prove a passing good knight. So Grifflet rode back to Camelot, where great dole was made for him. But he was healed.
King Arthur was very wrathful because of the hurt to Sir Grifflet, and he commanded one of his men to have his horse and armor ready and waiting for him before daylight the following morning. On the morrow, before dawn, he mounted his horse, telling the man to wait there until he returned.
He rode softly till day and then he saw Merlin being chased by three peasants who would have slain him. The King rode towards them and bade them flee. They were frightened when they saw a knight and fled.
"Oh, Merlin," said Arthur,"you would have been slain for all your crafts, had I not been here!"
"Nay, not so," said Merlin,"for I could save myself if I would. And you are nearer to your death than I am, for you are going towards your death if you are not careful."
As they went thus talking they came to the fountain and the rich pavillion there beside it. Then King Arthur saw a knight seated on a chair and fully armed.
"Sir knight," said Arthur, for what reason do you abide here so that no knight may ride this way unless he jousts with you? I advise you to leave that custom."
"This custom," said Pellinore,"I have used, and will use despite who saith nay; and whoever is grieved with my custom, let him mend it who will."
"I will amend it," said Arthur.
"I shall prevent it," said Pellinore.
He quickly mounted his horse, adjusted his shield, and took his lance. They met so hard against each other's shields that thier lances broke. Then Arthur at once pulled out his sword.
"Nay, not so," said the knight,"it is fairer that we joust once more."
"I would, readily," said Arthur,"if I had any more lances."
"I have enough," said Pellinore.
A squire came and brought two good lances, and again the knight and the king spurred together with all thier might, so that both lances were broken off short. Then Arthur set his hand on his sword.
"Nay," said the knight,"you shall do better. You are as good a jouster as any I've met so far, and for the love of the high order of knighthood let us joust once more."
"I assent," said Arthur.
Then two more great lances were brought and each knight took one, then they ran together so that Arthur's lance was shivered. But Pellinore hit him so hard in the ceneter of the shield that both man and horse fell to the ground. Then Arthur eagerly pulled out his sword saying,"I will fight you on foot, Sir Knight, for I have lost the honor on horseback." And he ran towards Pellinore with his sword drawn.
When Pellinore saw that, he too alighted, for he thought it no honor to have a knight at such a disadvantage. Then began a strong battle with many great strokes, bith hacking and hewing, till the field was wet with blood. They fought long, and rested, then went to battle again. At last they both smote together so that thier swords met evenly, but Pellinore's sword broke Arthur's in two pieces, and the king was much grieved.
Then the knight said to Arthur:
"You are in danger whether I choose to save you or slay you; and unless you yield to me as overcome and recreant you shall die."
"As for death," said King Arthur,"I welcome it when it comes; but to yield myself as recreant, I had rather die than be so shamed." And with that he leapt up onto Pellinore and threw him to the ground and tore of his helmet.
When the knight felt this he was frightened, though he was a very big and mighty man; but he quickly got Arthur underneath, and raised off his helmet, and would have cut his head off.
But up came Merlin and said:
"Knight, hold your hand, for if you slay that knight you put this realm in the greatest danger that ever the realm was in. For this knight is a man of more honor than you are aware of."
"Why, who is he?" asked Pellinore.
"He is King Arthur," Merlin replied.
Then Pellinore would have slain himself, for dread of his wrath, and lifted up his sword. But Merlin cast an enchantment on the knight so that he fell to the ground in a deep sleep.
After throwing Pellinore into an enchanted sleep, Merlin took King Arthur and rode forth on Pellinore's horse.
"Alas!" said Arthur,"what have you done, Merlin? Have you slain this good knight by your crafts?"
"Do not be troubled," said Merlin,"for he is less hurt than you. He is only asleep and will waken within three hours. There lived no greater knight than he is and he shall hereafter do you right good service. His name is King Pellinore and he shall have two sons who will be great men - Percival and Lamerack of Wales."
Leaving King Pellinore, King Arthur and Merlin went to a hermit who was skilled in the art of healing. He attended so carefully to the king's wounds that in three days the wounds were healed and Arthur was able to go on his way with Merlin. Then as they rode Arthur said,"I have no sword."
"No matter," said Merlin,"near by is a sword that shall be yours if I can get it."
So they rode on till they came to a beautiful lake. And in the midst of the lake Arthur saw an arm clothed in white samite that held in its hand a beautiful sword.
"Lo," said Merlin,"yonder is the sword I spoke of."
With that they saw a damsel rowing across the lake.
"What damsel is that?" Arthur wondered.
"That is Nimue, the Lady of the Lake,"said Merlin, "and within that lake is a rock, and therin is as fair a place as any on earth, and ricjly adorned. This damsel will soon come to you; then speak you fair to her, so that she will give you that sword."
Presently the damsel came to Arthur and saluted him and he her agian.
"My lady," said Arthur,"what sword is that which yonder arm holds above the water?"
"Sir Arthur, King," said Nimue,"that sword is mine and it is called Excalibur, that is as much as to say cut-steel. If you give me a gift when I ask you, you shall have it."
"On my honor as a knight," said Arthur,"I will give you what gift you ask."
"Well," said Nimue,"take that barge and row to the sword. Take it and the scabbard with you. I will ask my gift when I see my time."
So King Arthur and Merlin alighted and tied thier horses to two trees and went into the barge. And when they came to the sword that the hand held Arthur lifted it by the hilt and took it with him. Then the arm went under water and returned moments later with the scabbard. Arthur took this as well and rowed back to the shore.
As they rode back to Camelot Arthur looked at the sword and liked it very much. "Which do you like better?" Merlin asked, "The sword or the scabbard?"
"I like the sword better," replied Arthur.
"Then you are a fool," said Merlin,"for the scabbard is worth ten of the sword. While you wear that scabbard you will lose no blood no matter how sorely wounded you are. Therefore keep the scabbard with you always."
So they returned to Camelot where King Arthur's knights were glad to see him. When they heard of his adventures they marvelled that thier king would put his own life in jeopardy. And all said it was a great honor to be ruled by such a man.
