_Morte D’Arthur_ (The Death of Arthur) is a story of King Arthur and The Round Table, based on the legend entitled _Morte D’Arthur_, which was written by Malory, an English writer of the sixteenth century. King Arthur was a mythical king of the Britons who was supposed to have lived and reigned in the sixth century, and to have united the Britons against the Saxon invaders. According to legend he established a famous order of knighthood known as The Order of The Round Table, so called because of the famous round table, presented to King Arthur by a British king, and capable of seating one hundred and fifty knights. In the course of time the knights of the Round Table became corrupt and forgot their vows, and, led by Modred, the king’s nephew, a number of them rose in rebellion against the king. King Arthur with those knights who remained loyal to him, drove the army of Modred step by step back into Cornwall and beyond it into the land of Lyonnesse, which was said to have extended from Cornwall to the Scilly Isles, but which has since been submerged by the sea. Here in this waste land a great battle was fought, in which the knights on both sides were killed, until at last only King Arthur and his faithful knight Sir Bedivere remained. 5. In his fight with Modred, whom he slew, King Arthur had himself received his death wound. 9. =chancel.= The part of the church set apart for the altar and the choir. 12. =water.= Lake. 14. =The sequel of to-day.= The outcome of to-day’s fight. 21. =Camelot.= The mythical capital of King Arthur’s kingdom, situated somewhere in the west of England. Malory identifies it with the city of Winchester. 23. =Merlin.= A magician and seer of King Arthur’s court. 27. =Excalibur.= The name signifies “cut-steel.” 31. =samite.= A rich silk stuff, interwoven with threads of gold and silver. =mystic.= Having a secret religious significance. 37. =middle mere.= Middle of the lake. 38. =lightly.= Quickly, nimbly. 43. =hest.= Behest, command. 45. =shrine.= See lines 8 and 9. 46. =athwart.= Across. 56. =haft.= Handle. 57. =topaz.= A rich gem, generally of a yellowish colour. =jacinth.= Another form of the word “hyacinth”; a gem of a red colour. 58. =subtlest jewellery.= Most cunning workmanship. 60. Looking swiftly now on one side of the question, now on the other. 63. =many-knotted water-flags.= The common iris, growing in tangled confusion. Or “many-knotted” may refer to the joints in the stalk. 74-5. =as beseem’d thy fealty.= As became thy loyalty. 80. =lief.= Beloved. 86. =chased.= Engraved with an inlaid pattern. 94. Obedience is what binds the subject to the ruler. 99. =empty breath.= Idle words. 102. =joust= (pronounced _just_). A tilt-at-arms, a tournament. 104. =the lonely maiden of the Lake.= A mystical being who dwelt in a wonderful cave in a rock within a lake. In the story of the Round Table she symbolizes religion.