_How the letters were found written in the siege perilous, and of the
marvellous adventure of the sword in a stone._
Now, fair sir, said Sir Launcelot, will ye come with me unto the court
of king Arthur? Nay, said he, I will not go with you as at this time.
Then he departed from them and took his two cousins with him, and so
they came unto Camelot by the hour of undorne on Whitsunday. By that
time the king and the queen were gone to the minster to hear their
service: then the king and the queen were passing glad of Sir Bors and
Sir Lionel, and so was all the fellowship. So when the king and all the
knights were come from service, the barons espied in the sieges of the
Round Table, all about written with gold letters. Here ought to sit he,
and he ought to sit here. And thus they went so long until that they
came to the siege perilous, where they found letters newly written of
gold, that said: Four hundred winters and fifty-four accomplished after
the passion of our Lord Jesu Christ ought this siege to be fulfilled.
Then all they said, This is a marvellous thing, and an adventurous. In
the name of God, said Sir Launcelot; and then he accounted the term of
the writing, from the birth of our Lord unto that day. It seemeth me,
said Sir Launcelot, this siege ought to be fulfilled this same day, for
this is the Feast of Pentecost after the four hundred and four and
fifty year; and if it would please all parties, I would none of these
letters were seen this day, till he be come that ought to achieve this
adventure. Then made they to ordain a cloth of silk for to cover these
letters in the siege perilous. Then the king bad haste unto dinner.
Sir, said Sir Kay the steward, if ye go now unto your meat, ye shall
break your old custom of your court. For ye have not used on this day
to sit at your meat or that ye have seen some adventure. Ye say sooth,
said the king, but I had so great joy of Sir Launcelot and of his
cousins, which be come to the court whole and sound, that I bethought
me not of my old custom. So as they stood speaking, in came a squire,
and said unto the king, Sir, I bring unto you marvellous tidings. What
be they? said the king. Sir, there is here beneath at the river a great
stone, which I saw fleet above the water, and therein saw I sticking a
sword. The king said, I will see that marvel. So all the knights went
with him, and when they came unto the river, they found there a stone
fleeting, as it were of red marble, and therein stack a fair and a rich
sword, and in the pomell thereof were precious stones, wrought with
subtil letters of gold. Then the barons read the letters, which said in
this wise: Never shall man take me hence but only he by whose side I
ought to hang, and he shall be the best knight of the world. When the
king had seen these letters, he said unto Sir Launcelot, Fair sir, this
sword ought to be yours, for I am sure ye be the best knight of the
world. Then Sir Launcelot answered full soberly: Certes, sir, it is not
my sword: also, sir, wit ye well I have no hardiness to set my hand to,
for it longed not to hang by my side. Also who that assayeth to take
that sword, and faileth of it, he shall receive a wound by that sword,
that he shall not be whole long after. And I will that ye wit that this
same day will the adventures of the Sancgreal, that is called the holy
vessel, begin.