_Of a damsel which came girt with a sword for to find a man of such
virtue to draw it out of the scabbard._
After the death of Uther Pendragon reigned Arthur his son, the which
had great war in his days for to get all England into his hand. For
there were many kings within the realm of England, and in Wales,
Scotland, and Cornwall. So it befel on a time when king Arthur was at
London, there came a knight and told the king tidings how that the king
Ryons of North Wales had reared a great number of people, and were
entered into the land, and burnt and slew the king’s true liege people.
If this be true, said Arthur, it were great shame unto mine estate but
that he were mightily withstood. It is truth, said the knight, for I
saw the host myself. Well, said the king, let make a cry, that all the
lords, knights, and gentlemen of arms, should draw unto a castle,
called Camelot in those days, and there the king would let make a
council general, and a great justs.
So when the king was come thither with all his baronage, and lodged as
they seemed best, there was come a damsel the which was sent on message
from the great lady Lile of Avelion. And when she came before king
Arthur, she told from whom she came, and how she was sent on message
unto him for these causes. Then she let her mantle fall that was richly
furred; and then was she girt with a noble sword, whereof the king had
marvel, and said, Damsel, for what cause are ye girt with that sword?
it beseemeth you not. Now shall I tell you, said the damsel: this sword
that I am girt withal doth me great sorrow and cumberance, for I may
not be delivered of this sword but by a knight, but he must be a
passing good man of his hands and of his deeds, and without villainy or
treachery, and without treason. And if I may find such a knight that
hath all these virtues, he may draw out this sword out of the sheath.
For I have been at king Ryons’; it was told me there were passing good
knights, and he and all his knights have assayed it, and none can
speed. This is a great marvel, said Arthur; if this be sooth, I will
myself assay to draw out the sword, not presuming upon myself that I am
the best knight, but that I will begin to draw at your sword in giving
example to all the barons, that they shall assay every one after other
when I have assayed it. Then Arthur took the sword by the sheath and by
the girdle, and pulled at it eagerly, but the sword would not out. Sir,
said the damsel, ye need not to pull half so hard, for he that shall
pull it out, shall do it with little might. Ye say well, said Arthur:
now assay ye, all my barons, but beware ye be not defiled with shame,
treachery, nor guile. Then it will not avail, said the damsel, for he
must be a clean knight without villainy, and of a gentle stock of
father side and mother side. Most of all the barons of the Round Table
that were there at that time assayed all by row, but there might none
speed; wherefore the damsel made great sorrow out of measure, and said,
Alas! I wend in this court had been the best knights, without treachery
or treason. By my faith, saith Arthur, here are good knights as I deem
any been in the world, but their grace is not to help you, wherefore I
am displeased.