Король Артур и рыцари Круглого стола
Chapter II
Tothewhichtournamenttherecame,withmanyotherknights,SirEctor,Arthur’sfoster-father,whohadgreatpossessionsneartoLondon;andwithhimcamehisson,SirKey,butrecentlymadeknight,totakehispartinthejousting,andyoungArthuralsotowitnessallthesportsandfighting.
Butastheyrodetowardsthejousts,SirKeyfoundsuddenlyhehadnosword,forhehadleftitathisfather’shouse;andturningtoyoungArthur,heprayedhimtoridebackandfetchitforhim.“Iwillwithagoodwill,”saidArthur;androdefastbackafterthesword.
Butwhenhecametothehousehefounditlockedandempty,forallweregoneforthtoseethetournament.Whereat,beingangryandimpatient,hesaidwithinhimself,“Iwillridetothechurchyardandtakewithmetheswordthatstickethinthestone,formybrothershallnotgowithoutaswordthisday.”
Soherodeandcametothechurchyard,andalightingfromhishorsehetiedhimtothegate,andwenttothepavilion,whichwaspitchednearthestone,whereinabodethetenknightswhowatchedandkeptit;buthefoundnoknightsthere,forallweregonetoseethejousting.
Thenhetooktheswordbyitshandle,andlightlyandfiercelyhepulleditoutofthestone,andtookhishorseandrodeuntilhecametoSirKeyanddeliveredhimthesword.ButassoonasSirKeysawitheknewwellitwastheswordofthestone,and,ridingswiftlytohisfather,hecriedout,“Lo!here,sir,istheswordofthestone,whereforeitisIwhomustbekingofallthisland.