AND now was come the early fall of the year; that pleasant season when the meadow-land and the wold were still green with summer that had only just passed; when the sky likewise was as of summer-time—extraordinarily blue and full of large floating clouds; when a bird might sing here and another there, a short song in memory of spring-time, when all the air was tempered with warmth and yet the leaves were everywhere turning brown and red and gold, so that when the sun shone through them it was as though a cloth of gold, broidered with brown and crimson2 and green, hung above the head. At this season of the year it is exceedingly pleasant to be a-field among the nut-trees with hawk3 and hound, or to travel abroad in the yellow world, whether it be a-horse or a-foot.
Now this was the time of year in which had been set the marriage of King Arthur and the Lady Guinevere at Camelot, and at that place was extraordinary pomp and glory of circumstance. All the world was astir and in a great ferment4 of joy, for everybody was exceedingly glad that King Arthur was to have him a Queen.
In preparation for that great occasion the town of Camelot was bedight very magnificently, for the stony6 street along which the Lady Guinevere must come to the royal castle of the King was strewn thick with fresh-cut rushes smoothly7 laid. Moreover it was in many places spread with carpets of excellent pattern such as might be fit to lay upon the floor of some goodly hall. Likewise all the houses along the way were hung with fine hangings of woven texture8 interwoven with threads of azure9 and crimson, and everywhere were flags and banners afloat in the warm and gentle breeze against the blue sky, wherefore that all the world appeared to be alive with bright colors, so{140} that when one looked adown that street, it was as though one beheld10 a crooked11 path of exceeding beauty and gayety stretched before him.
Thus came the wedding-day of the King—bright and clear and exceedingly radiant.
King Arthur sat in his hall surrounded by his Court awaiting news that the Lady Guinevere was coming thitherward. And it was about the middle of the morning when there came a messenger in haste riding upon a milk-white steed. And the raiment of that messenger and the trappings of his horse were all of cloth of gold embroidered13 with scarlet14 and white, and the tabard of the messenger was set with many jewels of various sorts so that he glistened15 from afar as he rode, with a singular splendor16 of appearance.
So this herald-messenger came straight into the castle where the King abided waiting, and he said: “Arise, my lord King, for the Lady Guinevere and her Court draweth nigh unto this place.”
Upon this the King immediately arose with great joy, and straightway he went forth17 with his Court of Knights18, riding in great state. And as he went down that marvellously adorned street, all the people shouted aloud as he passed by, wherefore he smiled and bent20 his head from side to side; for that day he was passing happy and loved his people with wonderful friendliness21.
Thus he rode forward unto the town gate, and out therefrom, and so came thence into the country beyond where the broad and well-beaten highway ran winding22 down beside the shining river betwixt the willows23 and the osiers.
Of the Court of the Lady Guinevere.
And, behold24! King Arthur and those with him perceived the Court of the Princess where it appeared at a distance, wherefore they made great rejoicing and hastened forward with all speed. And as they came nigh, the sun falling upon the apparels of silk and cloth of gold, and upon golden chains and the jewels that hung therefrom, all of that noble company that surrounded the Lady Guinevere her litter flashed and sparkled with surpassing radiance.
For seventeen of the noblest knights of the King’s Court, clad in complete armor, and sent by him as an escort unto the lady, rode in great splendor, surrounding the litter wherein the Princess lay. And the framework of that litter was of richly gilded25 wood, and its curtains and its cushions were of crimson silk embroidered with threads of gold. And behind the litter there rode in gay and joyous26 array, all shining with many colors, the Court of the Princess—her damsels in waiting, gentlemen, ladies, pages, and attendants.{141}
So those parties of the King and the Lady Guinevere drew nigh together until they met and mingled27 the one with the other.
King Arthur greets the Lady Guinevere.
Then straightway King Arthur dismounted from his noble horse and, all clothed with royalty28, he went afoot unto the Lady Guinevere’s litter, whiles Sir Gawaine and Sir Ewaine held the bridle29 of his horse. Thereupon one of her pages drew aside the silken curtains of the Lady Guinevere’s litter, and King Leodegrance gave her his hand and she straightway descended30 therefrom, all embalmed31, as it were, in exceeding beauty. So King Leodegrance led her to King Arthur, and King Arthur came to her and placed one hand beneath her chin and the other upon her head and inclined his countenance32 and kissed her upon her smooth cheek—all warm and fragrant33 like velvet34 for softness, and without any blemish35 whatsoever36. And when he had thus kissed her upon the cheek, all those who were there lifted up their voices in great acclaim37, giving loud voice of joy that those two noble souls had thus met together.
Thus did King Arthur give welcome unto the Lady Guinevere and unto King Leodegrance her father upon the highway beneath the walls of the town of Camelot, at the distance of half a league from that place. And no one who was there ever forgot that meeting, for it was full of extraordinary grace and noble courtliness.
Then King Arthur and his Court of Knights and nobles brought King Leodegrance and the Lady Guinevere with great ceremony unto Camelot and unto the royal castle, where apartments were assigned to all, so that the entire place was alive with joyousness38 and beauty.
King Arthur and the Lady Guinevere are wedded.
And when high noon had come, the entire Court went with great state and ceremony unto the cathedral, and there, surrounded with wonderful magnificence, those two noble souls were married by the Archbishop.
And all the bells rang right joyfully39, and all the people who stood without the cathedral shouted with loud acclaim, and lo! the King and the Queen came forth all shining, like unto the sun for splendor and like unto the moon for beauty.
Of the feast at the King’s castle.
In the castle a great noontide feast was spread, and there sat thereat four hundred, eighty and six lordly and noble folk—kings, knights, and nobles—with queens and ladies in magnificent array. And near to the King and the Queen there sat King Leodegrance and Merlin, and Sir Ulfius, and Sir Ector the trustworthy, and Sir Gawaine, and Sir Ewaine, and Sir Kay, and King Ban, and King Pellinore and many other famous and exalted41 folk, so that no man had{142} ever beheld such magnificent courtliness as he beheld at that famous wedding-feast of King Arthur and Queen Guinevere.
And that day was likewise very famous in the history of chivalry42, for in the afternoon the famous Round Table was established, and that Round Table was at once the very flower and the chiefest glory of King Arthur’s reign43.
For about mid12 of the afternoon the King and Queen, preceded by Merlin and followed by all that splendid Court of kings, lords, nobles and knights in full array, made progression to that place where Merlin, partly by magic and partly by skill, had caused to be builded a very wonderful pavilion above the Round Table where it stood.
Of the pavilion of the Round Table.
And when the King and the Queen and the Court had entered in thereat they were amazed at the beauty of that pavilion, for they perceived, an it were, a great space that appeared to be a marvellous land of Fay. For the walls were all richly gilded and were painted with very wonderful figures of saints and of angels, clad in ultramarine and crimson, and all those saints and angels were depicted44 playing upon various musical instruments that appeared to be made of gold. And overhead the roof of the pavilion was made to represent the sky, being all of cerulean blue sprinkled over with stars. And in the midst of that painted sky was an image, an it were, of the sun in his glory. And under foot was a pavement all of marble stone, set in squares of black and white, and blue and red, and sundry45 other colors.
In the midst of the pavilion was a Round Table with seats thereat exactly sufficient for fifty persons, and at each of the fifty places was a chalice46 of gold filled with fragrant wine, and at each place was a paten of gold bearing a manchet of fair white bread. And when the King and his Court entered into the pavilion, lo! music began of a sudden for to play with a wonderful sweetness.
Then Merlin came and took King Arthur by the hand and led him away from Queen Guinevere. And he said unto the King, “Lo! this is the Round Table.”
Then King Arthur said, “Merlin, that which I see is wonderful beyond the telling.”
King Arthur is seated at the Round Table.
After that Merlin discovered unto the King the various marvels47 of the Round Table, for first he pointed48 to a high seat, very wonderfully wrought49 in precious woods and gilded so that it was exceedingly beautiful, and he said, “Behold, lord King, yonder seat is hight the ‘Seat Royal,’ and that seat is thine for to sit in.{143}” And as Merlin spake, lo! there suddenly appeared sundry letters of gold upon the back of that seat, and the letters of gold read the name,
ARTHUR, KING.
And Merlin said, “Lord, yonder seat may well be called the centre seat of the Round Table, for, in sooth, thou art indeed the very centre of all that is most worthy40 of true knightliness50. Wherefore that seat shall be called the centre seat of all the other seats.”
Then Merlin pointed to the seat that stood opposite to the Seat Royal, and that seat also was of a very wonderful appearance as afore told in this history. And Merlin said unto the King: “My lord King, that seat is called the Seat Perilous51, for no man but one in all this world shall sit therein, and that man is not yet born upon the earth. And if any other man shall dare to sit therein that man shall either suffer death or a sudden and terrible misfortune for his temerity52. Wherefore that seat is called the Seat Perilous.”
“Merlin,” quoth the King, “all that thou tellest me passeth the bound of understanding for marvellousness. Now I do beseech53 thee in all haste for to find forthwith a sufficient number of knights to fill this Round Table so that my glory shall be entirely54 complete.”
Then Merlin smiled upon the King, though not with cheerfulness, and said, “Lord, why art thou in such haste? Know that when this Round Table shall be entirely filled in all its seats, then shall thy glory be entirely achieved and then forthwith shall thy day begin for to decline. For when any man hath reached the crowning of his glory, then his work is done and God breaketh him as a man might break a chalice from which such perfect ichor hath been drunk that no baser wine may be allowed to defile55 it. So when thy work is done and ended shall God shatter the chalice of thy life.”
Then did the King look very steadfastly56 into Merlin’s face, and said, “Old man, that which thou sayest is ever of great wonder, for thou speakest words of wisdom. Ne’theless, seeing that I am in God His hands, I do wish for my glory and for His good will to be accomplished57 even though He shall then entirely break me when I have served His purposes.”
“Lord,” said Merlin, “thou speakest like a worthy king and with a very large and noble heart. Ne’theless, I may not fill the Round Table for thee at this time. For, though thou hast gathered about thee the very noblest Court of Chivalry in all of Christendom, yet are there but two and thirty knights here present who may be considered worthy to sit at the Round Table.{144}”
“Then, Merlin,” quoth King Arthur, “I do desire of thee that thou shalt straightway choose me those two and thirty.”
“So will I do, lord King,” said Merlin.
Merlin chooseth the knights of the Round Table.
Then Merlin cast his eyes around and lo! he saw where King Pellinore stood at a little distance. Unto him went Merlin and took him by the hand. “Behold, my lord King,” quoth he. “Here is the knight19 in all the world next to thyself who at this time is most worthy for to sit at this Round Table. For he is both exceedingly gentle of demeanor58 unto the poor and needy59 and at the same time is so terribly strong and skilful60 that I know not whether thou or he is the more to be feared in an encounter of knight against knight.”
Then Merlin led King Pellinore forward and behold! upon the high seat that stood upon the left hand of the Royal Seat there appeared of a sudden the name,
PELLINORE.
And the name was emblazoned in letters of gold that shone with extraordinary lustre61. And when King Pellinore took his seat, great and loud acclaim long continued was given him by all those who stood round about.
Then after that Merlin had thus chosen King Arthur and King Pellinore he chose out of the Court of King Arthur the following knights, two and thirty in all, and these were the knights of great renown62 in chivalry who did first establish the Round Table. Wherefore they were surnamed “The Ancient and Honorable Companions of the Round Table.”
To begin, there was Sir Gawaine and Sir Ewaine, who were nephews unto the King, and they sat nigh to him upon the right hand; there was Sir Ulfius (who held his seat but four years and eight months unto the time of his death, after which Sir Geheris—who was esquire unto his brother, Sir Gawaine—held that seat); and there was Sir Kay the Seneschal, who was foster brother unto the King; and there was Sir Baudwain of Britain (who held his seat but three years and two months until his death, after the which Sir Agravaine held that seat); and there was Sir Pellias and Sir Geraint and Sir Constantine, son of Sir Caderes the Seneschal of Cornwall (which same was king after King Arthur); and there was Sir Caradoc and Sir Sagramore, surnamed the Desirous, and Sir Dinadan and Sir Dodinas, surnamed the Savage63, and Sir Bruin, surnamed the Black, and Sir Meliot of Logres, and Sir Aglaval and Sir Durnure, and Sir Lamorac (which three young knights were sons of King Pellinore), and there was Sir Griflet and Sir Ladinas and Sir Brandiles and Sir Persavant of Ironside, and Sir Dinas of Cornwall, and Sir Brian of Listinoise, and Sir Palo{145}mides and Sir Degraine and Sir Epinogres, the son of the King of North Umberland and brother unto the enchantress Vivien, and Sir Lamiel of Cardiff, and Sir Lucan the Bottler and Sir Bedevere his brother (which same bare King Arthur unto the ship of Fairies when he lay so sorely wounded nigh unto death after the last battle which he fought). These two and thirty knights were the Ancient Companions of the Round Table, and unto them were added others until there were nine and forty in all, and then was added Sir Galahad, and with him the Round Table was made entirely complete.
Now as each of these knights was chosen by Merlin, lo! as he took that knight by the hand, the name of that knight suddenly appeared in golden letters, very bright and shining, upon the seat that appertained to him.
But when all had been chosen, behold! King Arthur saw that the seat upon the right hand of the Seat Royal had not been filled, and that it bare no name upon it. And he said unto Merlin: “Merlin, how is this, that the seat upon my right hand hath not been filled, and beareth no name?”
And Merlin said: “Lord, there shall be a name thereon in a very little while, and he who shall sit therein shall be the greatest knight in all the world until that the knight cometh who shall occupy the Seat Perilous. For he who cometh shall exceed all other men in beauty and in strength and in knightly64 grace.”
And King Arthur said: “I would that he were with us now.” And Merlin said: “He cometh anon.”
Thus was the Round Table established with great pomp and great ceremony of estate. For first the Archbishop of Canterbury blessed each and every seat, progressing from place to place surrounded by his Holy Court, the choir65 whereof singing most musically in accord, whiles others swung censers from which there ascended66 an exceedingly fragrant vapor67 of frankincense, filling that entire pavilion with an odor of Heavenly blessedness.
And when the Archbishop had thus blessed every one of those seats, the chosen knight took each his stall at the Round Table, and his esquire came and stood behind him, holding the banneret with his coat-of-arms upon the spear-point above the knight’s head. And all those who stood about that place, both knights and ladies, lifted up their voices in loud acclaim.
Of the ceremony of installation of the Round Table.
Then all the knights arose, and each knight held up before him the cross of the hilt of his sword, and each knight spake word for word as King Arthur spake. And this was the covenant68 of their Knighthood of the Round Table: That they would be gentle unto the weak; that they would be courageous69 unto the{146} strong; that they would be terrible unto the wicked and the evil-doer; that they would defend the helpless who should call upon them for aid; that all women should be held unto them sacred; that they would stand unto the defence of one another whensoever such defence should be required; that they would be merciful unto all men; that they would be gentle of deed, true in friendship, and faithful in love. This was their covenant, and unto it each knight sware upon the cross of his sword, and in witness thereof did kiss the hilt thereof. Thereupon all who stood thereabouts once more gave loud acclaim.
Then all the knights of the Round Table seated themselves, and each knight brake bread from the golden patten, and quaffed70 wine from the golden chalice that stood before him, giving thanks unto God for that which he ate and drank.
Thus was King Arthur wedded unto Queen Guinevere, and thus was the Round Table established.
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1
wedded
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| adj.正式结婚的；渴望…的，执著于…的v.嫁，娶，（与…）结婚( wed的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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2
crimson
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| n./adj.深(绯)红色(的)；vi.脸变绯红色 | |
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3
hawk
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| n.鹰，骗子；鹰派成员 | |
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4
ferment
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| vt.使发酵；n./vt.（使）激动，（使）动乱 | |
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5
adorned
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| [计]被修饰的 | |
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6
stony
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| adj.石头的，多石头的，冷酷的，无情的 | |
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7
smoothly
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| adv.平滑地，顺利地，流利地，流畅地 | |
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8
texture
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| n.(织物)质地；(材料)构造；结构；肌理 | |
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9
azure
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| adj.天蓝色的，蔚蓝色的 | |
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10
beheld
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| v.看，注视( behold的过去式和过去分词 )；瞧；看呀；（叙述中用于引出某人意外的出现）哎哟 | |
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11
crooked
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| adj.弯曲的；不诚实的，狡猾的，不正当的 | |
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12
mid
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| adj.中央的，中间的 | |
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13
embroidered
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| adj．绣花的 | |
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14
scarlet
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| n.深红色，绯红色，红衣；adj.绯红色的 | |
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15
glistened
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| v.湿物闪耀，闪亮( glisten的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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16
splendor
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| n.光彩；壮丽，华丽；显赫，辉煌 | |
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17
forth
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| adv.向前；向外，往外 | |
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knights
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| 骑士； （中古时代的）武士( knight的名词复数 )； 骑士； 爵士； （国际象棋中）马 | |
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19
knight
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| n.骑士，武士；爵士 | |
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20
bent
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| n.爱好，癖好；adj.弯的；决心的，一心的 | |
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21
friendliness
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| n.友谊，亲切，亲密 | |
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22
winding
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| n.绕，缠，绕组，线圈 | |
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23
willows
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| n.柳树( willow的名词复数 )；柳木 | |
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behold
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| v.看，注视，看到 | |
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25
gilded
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| a.镀金的，富有的 | |
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26
joyous
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| adj.充满快乐的；令人高兴的 | |
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mingled
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| 混合，混入( mingle的过去式和过去分词 )； 混进，与…交往[联系] | |
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28
royalty
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| n.皇家，皇族 | |
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29
bridle
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| n.笼头，束缚；vt.抑制，约束；动怒 | |
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30
descended
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| a.为...后裔的，出身于...的 | |
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31
embalmed
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| adj.用防腐药物保存（尸体）的v.保存（尸体）不腐( embalm的过去式和过去分词 )；使不被遗忘；使充满香气 | |
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32
countenance
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| n.脸色，面容；面部表情；vt.支持，赞同 | |
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33
fragrant
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| adj.芬香的，馥郁的，愉快的 | |
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velvet
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| n.丝绒，天鹅绒；adj.丝绒制的，柔软的 | |
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35
blemish
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| v.损害；玷污；瑕疵，缺点 | |
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whatsoever
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| adv.（用于否定句中以加强语气）任何；pron.无论什么 | |
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37
acclaim
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| v.向…欢呼，公认；n.欢呼，喝彩，称赞 | |
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joyousness
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| 快乐，使人喜悦 | |
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joyfully
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| adv. 喜悦地, 高兴地 | |
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40
worthy
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| adj.(of)值得的，配得上的；有价值的 | |
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41
exalted
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| adj.(地位等)高的，崇高的；尊贵的，高尚的 | |
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42
chivalry
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| n.骑士气概，侠义；（男人）对女人彬彬有礼，献殷勤 | |
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43
reign
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| n.统治时期，统治，支配，盛行；v.占优势 | |
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44
depicted
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| 描绘，描画( depict的过去式和过去分词 )； 描述 | |
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45
sundry
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| adj.各式各样的，种种的 | |
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46
chalice
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| n.圣餐杯；金杯毒酒 | |
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47
marvels
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| n.奇迹( marvel的名词复数 )；令人惊奇的事物（或事例）；不平凡的成果；成就v.惊奇，对…感到惊奇( marvel的第三人称单数 ) | |
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48
pointed
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| adj.尖的，直截了当的 | |
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49
wrought
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| v.引起；以…原料制作；运转；adj.制造的 | |
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50
knightliness
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| 骑士的，勋爵士的，骑士似的 | |
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51
perilous
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| adj.危险的，冒险的 | |
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52
temerity
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| n.鲁莽，冒失 | |
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53
beseech
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| v.祈求，恳求 | |
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54
entirely
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| ad.全部地，完整地；完全地，彻底地 | |
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55
defile
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| v.弄污，弄脏；n.(山间)小道 | |
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56
steadfastly
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| adv.踏实地，不变地；岿然；坚定不渝 | |
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57
accomplished
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| adj.有才艺的；有造诣的；达到了的 | |
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58
demeanor
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| n.行为；风度 | |
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59
needy
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| adj.贫穷的，贫困的，生活艰苦的 | |
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60
skilful
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| (=skillful)adj.灵巧的，熟练的 | |
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61
lustre
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| n.光亮，光泽；荣誉 | |
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62
renown
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| n.声誉，名望 | |
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63
savage
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| adj.野蛮的；凶恶的，残暴的；n.未开化的人 | |
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64
knightly
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| adj. 骑士般的 adv. 骑士般地 | |
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65
choir
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| n.唱诗班，唱诗班的席位，合唱团，舞蹈团；v.合唱 | |
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66
ascended
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| v.上升，攀登( ascend的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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67
vapor
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| n.蒸汽，雾气 | |
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68
covenant
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| n.盟约，契约；v.订盟约 | |
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69
courageous
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| adj.勇敢的，有胆量的 | |
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70
quaffed
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| v.痛饮( quaff的过去式和过去分词 )；畅饮；大口大口将…喝干；一饮而尽 | |
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