The Story of King Arthur and his KnightsPyle, Howard
General
The Story of King Arthur and his Knights
Pyle, Howard
Arthur, King -- Legends; Arthurian romances -- Adaptations; Folklore -- England; Knights and knighthood -- Folklore
“Well,” said Sir Accalon, “as for the shame I will not spare thee unless
thou dost yield to me.” And King Arthur said, “I will not yield me.”
Thereupon Sir Accalon said, “Then stand thou away from me so that I may
strike thee.” And, when King Arthur had done as Sir Accalon bade him,
Sir Accalon smote him such a woful blow that the King fell down upon his
knees. Then Sir Accalon raised Excalibur with intent to strike King
Arthur again, and with that all the people who were there cried out upon
him to spare so worshipful a knight. But Sir Accalon would not spare
him.
[Sidenote: _Vivien gets a spell upon Sir Accalon._]
Then Vivien said unto herself, “Certes, that must be King Arthur who is
so near to his death, and I do make my vow that it would be a great pity
for him to die after he hath fought so fiercely.” So when Sir Accalon
raised his sword that second time with intent to strike his enemy,
Vivien smote her hands with great force, and emitted at the same time a
spell of such potency that it appeared to Sir Accalon upon the instant
as though he had received some very powerful blow upon his arm. For with
that spell his arm was benumbed all from the finger-tips unto the hollow
of his armpit, and thereupon Excalibur fell out of Sir Accalon’s hands
and into the grass.
Then King Arthur beheld the sword and he perceived that it was Excalibur
and therewith he knew that he had been betrayed. Wherefore he cried out
thrice, in a very loud voice, “Treason! Treason! Treason!” and with that
he set his knee upon the blade and before Sir Accalon could stay him he
had seized it into his hands.
[Sidenote: _King Arthur overcometh Sir Accalon._]
Then it appeared to King Arthur that a great virtue had come into him
because of that sword. Wherefore he arose from his knees and ran at Sir
Accalon and smote him so sorely that the blade penetrated his armor to
the depth of half a palm’s breadth. And he smote him again and again and
Sir Accalon cried out in a loud voice, and fell down upon his hands and
knees. Then King Arthur ran to him and catched the sheath of Excalibur
and plucked it away from Sir Accalon and flung it away, and thereupon
the wounds of Sir Accalon burst out bleeding in great measure. Then King
Arthur catched the helmet of Sir Accalon and rushed it off his head with
intent to slay him.
Now because King Arthur was blinded with his own blood he did not know
Sir Accalon, wherefore he said, “Sir Knight, who art thou who hast
betrayed me?” And Sir Accalon said, “I have not betrayed thee. I am Sir
Accalon of Gaul and I am knight in good worship of King Arthur’s Court.”
But when King Arthur heard this he made great outcry and he said, “How
is this? Know you who I am?” And Sir Accalon said, “Nay, I know you
not.” Then King Arthur said, “I am King Arthur who am thy master.” And
upon this he took off his helmet and Sir Accalon knew him.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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