ILLUSTRATIONS
| COLOURED PLATES |
| |
| Lancelot bears off Guenevere (p. [153]) | | [Frontispiece] |
| Arthur meets the Lady of the Lake | to face p. | [14] |
| Lancelot at the Chapel | " | [77] |
| Guenevere and Sir Bors | " | [106] |
| Lancelot brings Guenevere to Arthur | " | [132] |
| Alix kisses Rainouart | " | [275] |
| Slagfid pursues the Wraith over the Mountains | " | [301] |
| The Chariot of Freya | " | [318] |
| FULL-PAGE PLATES |
| |
| How Arthur drew the Sword | to face p. | [4] |
| Arthur and the Questing Beast | " | [10] |
| The Death of Balin and Balan | " | [20] |
| Merlin and Vivien | " | [31] |
| Morgan Le Fay casts away the Scabbard | " | [34] |
| Gareth and Linet | " | [41] |
| Linet and the Black Knight | " | [46] |
| The Lady of Lyonesse sees Sir Gareth | " | [54] |
| Sir Galahad opens the Tomb | " | [72] |
| Sir Percivale slays the Serpent | " | [80] |
| Lancelot and the Dwarf | " | [96] |
| Arthur and Guenevere kiss before all the People | " | [108] |
| Elaine ties her Sleeve round Sir Lancelot'sHelmet | " | [116] |
| The Black Barget | " | [127] |
| The Archers threaten Lancelot | " | [138] |
| Sir Mordred | to face p. | [164] |
| Excalibur returns to the Mere | " | [168] |
| Charlemagne | " | [178] |
| Marsile threatens Ganélon with a Javelin | " | [184] |
| Roland winds his horn in the Valley of Roncevalles........ | " | [202] |
| Grania questions the Druid | " | [216] |
| Diarmid seizes the Giant's Club | " | [230] |
| Diarmid and Grania in the Quicken Tree | " | [236] |
| The Death of Diarmid | " | [242] |
| Vivian's last Confession | " | [256] |
| The Lady Alix stays the wrath of WilliamShort Nose | " | [270] |
| The Lady Gibourc with Rainouart in theKitchen | " | [278] |
| Rainouart stops the Cowards | " | [282] |
| The Three Women by the Stream | " | [294] |
| Wayland mocked by the Queen and Banvilda | " | [310] |
| The Merman warns Banvilda in vain | " | [314] |
| 'There is pith in your arm,' said Robin Hood | " | [346] |
| Robin Hood shoots his last Arrow | " | [354] |
| Grettir feels Karr's grip | " | [362] |
| Grettir overthrows Thorir Redbeard | " | [372] |
| |
| IN TEXT |
| PAGE |
| The Damsel warns Sir Balin | [19] |
| How Sir Bors was saved from killing his Brother | [88] |
| Sir Mador accuses Guenevere | [104] |
| Guenevere sends her Page to Lancelot for help | [136] |
| Lancelot comes out of Guenevere's room | [148] |
| The Dream of Charlemagne | [193] |
| The Captives: William Short Nose rides to the rescue | [263] |
| The Witch Thurid cuts a charm on the log | [381] |
TALES OF THE ROUND TABLE
THE DRAWING OF THE SWORD
Long, long ago, after Uther Pendragon died, there was no King in Britain, and every Knight hoped to seize the crown for himself. The country was like to fare ill when laws were broken on every side, and the corn which was to give the poor bread was trodden underfoot, and there was none to bring the evildoer to justice. Then, when things were at their worst, came forth Merlin the magician, and fast he rode to the place where the Archbishop of Canterbury had his dwelling. And they took counsel together, and agreed that all the lords and gentlemen of Britain should ride to London and meet on Christmas Day, now at hand, in the Great Church. So this was done. And on Christmas morning, as they left the church, they saw in the churchyard a large stone, and on it a bar of steel, and in the steel a naked sword was held, and about it was written in letters of gold, 'Whoso pulleth out this sword is by right of birth King of England.' They marvelled at these words, and called for the Archbishop, and brought him into the place where the stone stood. Then those Knights who fain would be King could not hold themselves back, and they tugged at the sword with all their might; but it never stirred. The Archbishop watched them in silence, but when they were faint from pulling he spoke: 'The man is not here who shall lift out that sword, nor do I know where to find him. But this is my counsel—that two Knights be chosen, good and true men, to keep guard over the sword.'