Английские легенды / The English Legends

But this is my counsel that we let ten honourable knights guard the stone at all times.”

So they put ten knights to guard the stone at all times, and sent criers all over the realm to say that everyone is welcome to come to the church on New Year’s Eve to try and take the sword. On that day, a big jousting tournament was held, so all the barons and knights went there. Sir Ector decided to come as well, bringing with him his son Sir Kay that was made knight shortly before that, and his nourished brother[13 - nourished brother – молочный брат] Arthur.

When they were riding to the jousts-ward, Sir Kay noticed that he had forgotten his sword at home. He asked young Arthur to go and bring this sword to him, because he wanted to fight in the tournament.

Arthur went back, but everybody left home, so he could not get in and bring Sir Kay’s sword. He didn’t want to come back with empty hands, because he didn’t want his brother to miss the tournament.

“I know a sword nearby,” thought Arthur,“that I can bring to Sir Kay so that he would have a sword to fight with.

”

So Arthur went to the churchyard. No one was guarding the stone and the anvil, because all the knights went to the tournament. Arthur took the sword by the handles and easily pulled it from under the anvil.

“Now I have a good sword for Sir Kay,” he said.

So Arthur brought the sword to his brother. Sir Kay immediately recognized the sword. He came to Sir Ector and said, “See, father, this is the sword from the stone. Therefore I am the rightful king of this land.

”

Sir Ector recognized the sword, too. He took Arthur and Sir Kay back to the church, and asked Sir Kay to swear on the Book and answer, where did he get the sword.

“My brother Arthur gave it to me,” said Sir Kay.

“How did you get this sword?” Sir Ector asked Arthur.

“Sir, I will tell you,” Arthur replied. “When I came home, I saw that no one was there, so I couldn’t get Sir Kay’s sword. I didn’t want him to miss the tournament[14 - to miss the tournament – пропустить турнир], so I came here and pulled this sword from the stone without any trouble.

”

“Did you see any knights guarding the sword?” Sir Ector asked.

“No,” Arthur said.

“Now,” said Sir Ector to Arthur, “I understand that you must be the rightful king of this land.”

“Why me?” said Arthur.

“Sir,” said Sir Ector, “It is the will of God, because the man that can pull this sword from the stone should be the rightful king of this land.