The Project Gutenberg eBook, Historic Tales, Vol. XIII (of 15), by Charles Morris
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Title: Historic Tales, Vol. XIII (of 15) The Romance of Reality. King Arthur, Vol. I
Release Date: April 6, 2010 [eBook #31900]
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Author of "Half-Hours with the Best American Authors," "Tales from the Dramatists," etc.
Copyright, 1891, by J. B. LIPPINCOTT COMPANY.
Copyright, 1904, by J. B. LIPPINCOTT COMPANY.
Copyright, 1908, by J. B. LIPPINCOTT COMPANY.
II.--ARTHUR'S WARS AND THE MYSTERY OF HIS BIRTH 28
I.--HOW BALIN WON AND USED THE ENCHANTED SWORD 55
II.--HOW ARTHUR TRIUMPHED OVER THE KINGS 65
III.--HOW BALIN GAVE THE DOLOROUS STROKE 72
I.--THE ADVENTURE OF THE ENCHANTED SHIP 94
II.--THE COMBAT OF ARTHUR AND ACCOLAN 102
IV.--THE COUNTRY OF STRANGE ADVENTURES 120
I.--HOW TROUBLE CAME TO LIONEL AND HECTOR 137
III.--HOW LANCELOT AND TURQUINE FOUGHT 153
I.--THE KNIGHTING OF KAY'S KITCHEN BOY 179
II.--THE BLACK, THE GREEN, AND THE RED KNIGHTS 187
III.--THE RED KNIGHT OF THE RED LAWNS 201
TRISTRAM OF LYONESSE AND THE FAIR ISOLDE.
V.--THE KNIGHT WITH THE COVERED SHIELD 345
KING ARTHUR'S ROUND TABLE, WINCHESTER CATHEDRAL 179
TRISTRAM THEREUPON DEPARTED TO HIS PAVILION 325
ADMISSION OF SIR TRISTRAM TO THE KING OF THE ROUND TABLE 359
Geoffrey of Monmouth, the famous chronicler of legendary British history, tells us,--in reference to the time when the Celtic kings of Britain were struggling against the Saxon invaders,--that "there appeared a star of wonderful magnitude and brightness, darting its rays, at the end of which was a globe of fire in the form of a dragon, out of whose mouth issued two rays; one of which seemed to stretch itself beyond the extent of Gaul, the other towards the Irish Sea, and ended in two lesser rays." He proceeds to say, that Merlin, the magician, being called on to explain this portent, declared that the dragon represented Uther, the brother of King Ambrose, who was destined himself soon to become king; that the ray extending towards Gaul indicated a great son, who should conquer the Gallic Kingdoms; and that the ray with two lesser rays indicated a daughter, whose son and grandson should successively reign over Britain. Uther, in consequence, when he came to the throne, had two gold dragons made, one of which he placed in the cathedral of Winchester, which it brightly illuminated; the other he kept, and from it gained the name of _Pendragon_. The powerful ray represented his great son Arthur, destined to become the flower of chivalry, and the favorite hero of mediæval romance.