Then King Arthur got his spear in both his hands, and ran towards Sir Modred, crying, "Traitor, now is thy death-day come!" And when Sir Modred heard his words, and saw him come, he drew his sword and stood to meet him. Then King Arthur smote Sir Modred through the body more than a fathom. And when Sir Modred felt he had his death wound, he thrust himself with all his might up to the end of King Arthur"s spear, and smote his father, Arthur, with his sword upon the head, so that it pierced both helm and brain-pan.
And therewith Sir Modred fell down stark dead to the earth, and King Arthur fell down also in a swoon, and swooned many times.
Then Sir Lucan and Sir Bedivere came and bare him away to a little chapel by the sea-sh.o.r.e. And there Sir Lucan sank down with the bleeding of his own wounds, and fell dead.
And King Arthur lay long in a swoon, and when he came to himself, he found Sir Lucan lying dead beside him, and Sir Bedivere weeping over the body of his brother.
Then said the king to Sir Bedivere, "Weeping will avail no longer, else would I grieve forevermore. Alas! now is the fellowship of the Round Table dissolved forever, and all my realm I have so loved is wasted with war. But my time hieth fast, wherefore take thou Excalibur, my good sword, and go therewith to yonder water-side and throw it in, and bring me word what thing thou seest."
So Sir Bedivere departed; but as he went he looked upon the sword, the hilt whereof was all inlaid with precious stones exceeding rich. And presently he said within himself, "If I now throw this sword into the water, what good should come of it?" So he hid the sword among the reeds, and came again to the king.
"What sawest thou?" said he to Sir Bedivere.
"Lord," said he, "I saw nothing else but wind and waves."
"Thou hast untruly spoken," said the king; "wherefore go lightly back and throw it in, and spare not."
Then Sir Bedivere returned again, and took the sword up in his hand; but when he looked on it, he thought it sin and shame to throw away a thing so n.o.ble. Wherefore he hid it yet again, and went back to the king.
"What saw ye?" said King Arthur.
"Lord," answered he, "I saw nothing but the water ebbing and flowing."
"Oh, traitor and untrue!" cried out the king; "twice hast thou now betrayed me. Art thou called of men a n.o.ble knight, and wouldest betray me for a jewelled sword? Now, therefore, go again for the last time, for thy tarrying hath put me in sore peril of my life, and I fear my wound hath taken cold; and if thou do it not this time, by my faith I will arise and slay thee with my hands."
Then Sir Bedivere ran quickly and took up the sword, and went down to the water"s edge, and bound the girdle round the hilt and threw it far into the water. And lo! an arm and hand came forth above the water, and caught the sword, and brandished it three times, and vanished.
So Sir Bedivere came again to the king and told him what he had seen.
"Help me from hence," said King Arthur; "for I dread me I have tarried over long."
Then Sir Bedivere took the king up in his arms, and bore him to the water"s edge. And by the sh.o.r.e they saw a barge with three fair queens therein, all dressed in black, and when they saw King Arthur they wept and wailed.
"Now put me in the barge," said he to Sir Bedivere, and tenderly he did so.
Then the three queens received him, and he laid his head upon the lap of one of them, who cried, "Alas! dear brother, why have ye tarried so long, for your wound hath taken cold?"
With that the barge put from the land, and when Sir Bedivere saw it departing, he cried with a bitter cry, "Alas! my lord King Arthur, what shall become of me now ye have gone from me?"
"Comfort ye," said King Arthur, "and be strong, for I may no more help ye. I go to the Vale of Avilion to heal me of my grievous wound, and if ye see me no more, pray for my soul."
Then the three queens kneeled down around the king and sorely wept and wailed, and the barge went forth to sea, and departed slowly out of Sir Bedivere"s sight.
THE END