As Arthur, still gazing at the sword, rowed to shore, Merlin said to him:
"My lord Arthur, which pleases you more, sword or scabbard?"
"Let me assure you," said Merlin, smiling gravely, "that the scabbard is worth ten of the sword. While you have it with you you shall never lose blood, no, no matter how sorely you are wounded. So see that you guard it well."
The king, who was looking at the sword, sighed.
"There is writing on the sword," he said.
"True, my lord, written in the oldest tongue in the world."
"_Take me_ on one side," said Arthur, "and _Cast me away_ on the other. I am glad to take the sword, but it saddens me to think of casting it away."
Merlin's face grew sad, too. He was so wise that he knew what was going to happen in the future, and he was well aware that when the time came to cast the sword away, much evil would have befallen the good King Arthur. But he knew that the time was yet very far off; so he said:
"You have taken the sword. Now use it to make justice and right prevail in all the land. Do not think of casting it away until you must."
Arthur grew joyful again as he felt the strength of the good sword in his hand, and the two rode cheerfully forward through the country.
[Illustration] THE GREAT FEAST & WHAT FOLLOWED
Although Arthur had been crowned king, he was by no means sure that all the nobles of the land would accept him as ruler. In accordance with the custom of the time, he gave a feast in order to find out who were his friends and who his enemies. All who came to the feast would, he supposed, consent to be his followers.
He chose the largest hall in London, and had the walls hung with rich cloths. Upon the floor, strewn with rushes, were placed trestles, and across these, boards were laid. Upon them fine white linen was spread, and golden saltcellars, wine-bowls, and water-jugs set about.
When the guests assembled there were so many that Arthur was delighted, for he thought they were all his friends. He sat at the head of one table, and Sir Hector sat at the head of the other. Arthur wore a gold crown on his head, but it was no brighter than his hair, and the blue turquoises with which it was set were no bluer than his eyes. From his shoulders to the ground hung a magnificent red robe with gold dragons embroidered upon it.