Read Online The Acts of King Arthur and His Noble Knights by John Steinbeck - Free Book Online Page A

went to Merlin and took him by the hand and led him to Queen Igraine. He asked quietly, “Is this my mother?”
    And Merlin said, “Yes, my lord, she is your mother.”
    Then King Arthur took his mother in his arms and kissed her, and he wept and she comforted him. After a time the king threw up his head and his eyes shone and he cried out that there should be a feast of gladness—a great feast to last eight days.
    It was the custom then that all of the barons and knights and retainers feasted in the great hall seated at two long tables on either side in order of their nobility and importance, while the king and great officers and ladies sat at a raised table at the end facing the assembled court. And as they feasted and drank, men came to entertain the king—singers and musicians and tellers of stories—and these stood between the long tables and faced the high seat of the king. But also to the feasts came people bringing gifts and honors or begging justice from the king’s hand against malefactors. Here also stood the knights asking permission to go questing, and returning, they stood in the same place and told of their adventures. There was much more than eating and drinking at a feast.
    To Arthur’s feast a squire rode into the great hall on horseback and he carried before him in his arms a dead knight. He told how in the forest a knight had set up a pavilion by a well and challenged every passing knight. The squire said, “This man has slain this good knight, Sir Miles, who was my master. I beg you, my lord, that Sir Miles may be buried honorably and that some knight may go out to revenge him.” Then there was a great noise in the court and everyone shouted his advice.
    Young Gryfflet, who was only a squire, stepped before the king and asked in recognition of his service in the war that Arthur might give him knighthood.
    The king protested, “You are too young, too tender of age to take so high and stern an order on you.”
    â€œSir,” said Gryfflet, “I beg you to make me a knight.”
    And Merlin said, “It would be a pity to do this and send him to his death, for he will be a good fighting man when he is of age and he will be loyal to you all his life. But if he goes against the knight in the forest, you may never see him again, for that knight is one of the best and strongest and cleverest knights in the world.”
    Arthur considered and he said, “Because of your service to me, I cannot refuse you even if I wished to,” and he touched Gryfflet with his sword and made him a knight. And then Arthur said, “Now that I have given you the gift of knighthood, I claim a gift from you.”
    â€œWhatever you wish, I will do,” said Sir Gryfflet.
    King Arthur said, “You must promise me, on your honor, that you will run only one course against the knight in the forest, only one, and that you will then come back here without further fighting.”
    â€œI promise this,” said Sir Gryfflet.
    Then Gryfflet armed himself quickly, and mounted his horse and took shield and spear, and he rode at great speed until he came to the well near the forest path. Beside it he saw a rich pavilion, and a war horse ready saddled and bridled. On a tree nearby there hung a shield of bright colors and a spear leaned against the tree beside it. Then Gryfflet struck the shield with the butt of his spear and knocked it to the ground. And an armored man came from the tent and asked, “Why did you strike down my shield, sir?”
    â€œBecause I want to joust with you,” said Gryfflet.
    Then the knight sighed. “Sir,” he said, “it is better if you do not. You are very young and inexperienced. I am much stronger than you and tempered in war. Do not force me to fight you, young sir.”
    â€œYou have no choice,” Sir Gryfflet said. “I am a knight and I have challenged you.”
    â€œIt is not fair,” said the knight,