April 17, 2025 • 24 mins
A retelling of the classic Arthurian legends, this collection of twelve tales captures the grandeur, mystery, and moral depth of King Arthur’s court and the quest for the Holy Grail. Designed for young readers and educators, it brings timeless ideals to life.
Mark as Played
Transcript
Episode Transcript
Available transcripts are automatically generated. Complete accuracy is not guaranteed.
Speaker 1 (00:00):
According by Rachel Maguire the Story of King Arthur in
(00:03):
Twelve Tales by Wanona Caroline Martin chapter twelve.
Speaker 2 (00:09):
The passing of Arthur.
Speaker 1 (00:11):
Then from the dawn, it seemed there came but faint,
as from beyond the limit of the world, like the
last decae, born of a great cry. Sounds as if
some fair city were one voice around a king returning
from his wars. Tennyson's passing of Arthur. Even before the
days of the Great Quest, when the flower of chivalry
(00:33):
bloomed at the height of its glory in Arthur's halls,
there had already crept into the Eden, among the blossoms
of loyalty, high ideals, and purity, the green eyed serpent jealousy,
and the traitor, so long unsuspected, was none other than
the king's own nephew, Mordred. This Judas had watched Arthur's
rise to power in Launcelot's ever widening reputation for Pluesce
(00:54):
with a heart growing more and more envious as the
years went by, and always he had been waiting for
an opportunity to carry out his wicked designs. To be sure,
while the round table flourished, and when the king was
constantly surrounded by his hundred and forty eight faithful knights.
There seemed little chance of his being able to do
great harm. But now at last he believed that his
(01:15):
hour had come. One by one, the broken remnant of
the Graale seekers had struggled back to Camelot. Yet when
all had arrived, who might ever be expected There was
but a tenth of the former number.
Speaker 2 (01:27):
And even these, for the.
Speaker 1 (01:28):
Most part, had passed through such terrible experiences that they
were no longer than men they had been in the
brave days of old, So that Arthur was forced to exclaim, Oh,
my knights, was I too dark a prophet when I
foretold that most of you would follow not the holy
light of the Grail, but wandering fires that would lead
you at last into the quagmire of doubt and empty dreams.
(01:50):
Having thus spoken, the King, in a vain attempt to
persuade himself that all might yet be well with the realm,
if not with his own heart, raised to knighthood men
to fill the vacant places. And these knights, with the
remnant of the old order, rode forth to Hawk and
to Hunt, to Joust, and to Tawney, and to assail
the heathen, who now more than ever broke over the borders.
(02:11):
Yet all was not as it had been, and Arthur
knew it, and bores a Launcelot, and the fair Gwineverd
knew it, and worst of all, Mordred knew it and
said to himself, now is my time to strike. And
strike he did in the spot where he knew the
king to be most vulnerable, For he accused Launcelot, he
whom Arthur loved and trusted above all other men, of treason.
(02:33):
And so subtly did he mingle a grain of truth
with the mass of his infamous lies, that the King
at last believed the slander, and with bitter words of reproach,
ordered his greatest knight from his realm. But even before
Launcelot had managed to make his escape to his own
city of Benwick across the sea, a skirmish took place
between the knights who remained on Arthur's side and those
(02:54):
who took the part of Launcelot.
Speaker 2 (02:56):
In that terrible civil strife, and in that.
Speaker 1 (02:58):
Encounter where a man scared he knew which was friend
and which was foe, it chanced that the noble Gareth
was slain as was also his older brother Gherers. Thereupon, Gawayne,
the one remaining son of good Queen Bellaesant, maddened by
the thought of the death of both his brothers, swore
vengeance upon Launcelot, whom he held responsible, and joined with Mordred,
(03:21):
the depth of whose plot he did not suspect for
a moment in filing the flame of the king's anger,
so that at last the two together persuaded Arthur that
Launcelot had withdrawn to Benwick to raise a force that
he might return and march against Camelot. Then the king,
having marshaled his own troops, turned to his nephew, saying, Mordred,
I am about to lay siege to this traitor Launcelot,
(03:44):
before he has time to.
Speaker 2 (03:44):
Land in Britain.
Speaker 1 (03:46):
I leave you therefore, because you are nearest to me
in blood to rule in my stare during my absence,
and I.
Speaker 2 (03:52):
Also leave my queen in your charge.
Speaker 1 (03:55):
Then Mordred bowed low to conceal his crafty smile, for
he saw that his plot was now worth looking out
to absolute perfection.
Speaker 2 (04:03):
Within a few weeks.
Speaker 1 (04:04):
Therefore, Arthur, accompanied by Gawayne, who still swore vengeance upon
Launcelot stood with a great army outside the gates of
Benwick and challenged the inhabitants to combat. For a while,
Much to the king's surprise, there was no response, for Launcelot,
wronged as he had been, still could not bear the
thought of raising his hand against his lee lord and
former friend, so that he was deaf to the entreaties
(04:26):
of his knights, who feared that his silence might be
misinterpreted for cowardice. The first to plead with him was
our old acquaintance, Sir Bagdamagus, who was now healed of
the wound he had received from the White Knight when
he had rashly borne the mystic shield intended only for Galahad,
said he, Launcelot, your courtesy will be our ruin, for
Arthur's army will override the whole land and lay it waste,
(04:49):
while we hide here in our holes like frightened rabbits.
Then came the Seven Brothers of north Wales, men strong
and brave as might be found in any land, saying
for for the sake of your honor and ours, Sir Launcelot,
give us leave to meet the enemy in the open field.
For we have never been wont to cower behind castle walls,
but Launcelot only shook his head hat sadly, saying the enemy,
(05:14):
alas I cannot fight against my king. Wait, I pray
you until I have sent a messenger to Arthur, asking
for a treaty of peace.
Speaker 2 (05:24):
So the mighty.
Speaker 1 (05:25):
Launcelot, he who had never quailed before sword or lance
were battering ram, sent forth a damosel accompanied by a dwarf,
to beg the king to return in peace to Britain.
Speaker 2 (05:34):
And doubtless Arthur.
Speaker 1 (05:35):
Whose heart was no more in the war than Launcelot's,
would have yielded to the entreaty had it not been
for Gawayne, who still goaded him on, so that the
reply was the leading of the royal host to the
very wars of the city, and the beginning of the siege.
Then at last Launcelot gave the word, and his army
marched out in battle array from behind the walls of Benwick,
that they might meet the enemy in the open field.
(05:59):
All day long, the terrible struggle raged, but Launcelot had
given strict orders that harm should be done neither to
the king nor to Gawaine, and the soldiers obeyed this command.
Until Arthur, no longer realizing fully what he did, charged
against the goods Sir Boors, who, as Launcelot's cousin, was
fighting on his relative side. Boors met the child with
his spear, but in so doing threw the king from
(06:19):
his horse. Launcelot, however, who had himself taken little part
in the combat, saw the fall of his lifelong friend
and dashed to where Arthur lay. Leaping from his own charger,
he raised the king from the ground, saying, sadly, Sire,
take my horse. You and your soldiers fight against me
without mercy, but I cannot fight against my sovereign nor
see him overthrown. Then Arthur, who could not look into
(06:43):
his old friend's eyes, took the horse and rode from
the field, calling his men after him, and Launcelot, with his.
Speaker 2 (06:49):
Army, retreated into the city.
Speaker 1 (06:52):
Now, in all probability, this would have ended the struggle,
for the king's own noble nature was conquered by the
nobility of Launcelot. But Gawaine would not have it so,
and because Arthur flatly refused to send his army into
the fields, again, made the following proposition. Sire said he
I will meet the traitor in single combat. Then we
will fight until one shall kill the other, and that
(07:13):
will end the war.
Speaker 2 (07:15):
So a message to that.
Speaker 1 (07:16):
Effect was sent to Launcelot, and it was finally agreed
that the two should meet the following morning just outside
the gate of the city. Now Gawaine had arranged that
the contest should take place in the morning for the
simple reason that long before a magician had bestowed upon
him the gift of growing stronger every minute of the
day from nine o'clock till noon, at which hour he
possessed three times his natural strength that immediately after which
(07:40):
time he returned to his normal condition. Launcelot, having never
happened to joust with Gawain, knew nothing about this peculiarity.
But he had not been fighting long on this day
before he realized that he had an opponent of unusual prowess.
In fact, it seemed that he could not strike Gawain
at all, but was forced to use all his strength
in simple defense. So for a long time neither was
(08:04):
greatly harmed. But when high noon was past, Launcelot suddenly
felt a change come.
Speaker 2 (08:08):
Over his antagonist.
Speaker 1 (08:11):
Then he aimed a mighty blow so that Gawayne fell
badly wounded, and Launcelot stood still beside him, resting on
his sword. Why do you stop fighting, cried Gawain, maddened
by the agony of his wound. We have sworn to
find it out to the end. Therefore kill me now
and finish you know, replied Launcelot, gravely and sadly, that
a knives may not slay one who is helpless, and least.
Speaker 2 (08:32):
Of all one who has been his friend.
Speaker 1 (08:34):
Kill me and make an end, persisted Gawaine, For I
am no friend of yours, and I swear by the
death of my two brothers that if you let me live,
I will fight you again as soon as I am able.
Unless you have grown too great a coward to risk
the encounter to this taunt, coming as it did from
the lips of a man in terrible pain. Launcelot made
no answer, but gave the order that Gawain be carried
(08:55):
back to his tent, while he himself returned to his
own fortress. Some weeks now passed by while Gawaine lay
ill of his wound, and during that time Arthur would
doubtless have returned to Britain, had he not feared the
roughness of the journey for the sick man. No sooner, however,
was Gawayne on his feet once more than he challenged
Launcelot for the second time. So they fought, and the
(09:17):
combat ended just as it had the first time, Launcelot
wounding Gawayne in the very place where he had wounded
him before, and Gawayne vowing to continue the contest as
soon as he was able, which he doubtless would have
done had it not been for an occurrence which suddenly
changed the plans of the King's army. One terrible day,
when Arthur, sick at heart and longing for a glimpse
of Britain, and his fair Queen were sitting in the
(09:39):
door of his tent, the following message was delivered into
his hands. Your nephew, Mordred has spread the report throughout
the kingdom that you have been slain in battle. He
has also caused himself to be crowned king in your stead,
and as at this moment, besieging the Queen in the
Tower of London, whither she has fled for refuge, having
refused to become his wife. Like a flash, as if
(09:59):
the the entire story had been written there on the
fateful sheet that lay before him. Arthur understood at last
the whole treacherous design of his nephew, and he realized,
in bitterness of spirit that his real enemy was Mordred
and not Launcelot.
Speaker 2 (10:14):
That very night, therefore, he gave the order for the
army to begin.
Speaker 1 (10:17):
Its march towards the coast, so that when morning dawned,
Launcelot looked out to behold the plain before the city
walls evacuated. But he had no idea why the king
had so suddenly raised the siege. And now it was
Gawaine's turn to be filled with shame and grief, for
he realized that he had been but playing into the
hands of the traitor. Sire, said he to the harassed king.
(10:38):
I have helped to bring all this trouble upon you
by my obstinacy concerning Launcelot. But I know now that
his heart is still loyal to you, as his whole.
Speaker 2 (10:47):
Behavior has shown send for him.
Speaker 1 (10:49):
Therefore, I pray you lay the full blame of this
strife upon me and ask his help in winning back
Britain from Mordred. But Arthur only shook his head and answered, sadly, no, Gawaine,
we have gone too far, and I have wronged him
too deeply.
Speaker 2 (11:04):
I cannot ask his help now.
Speaker 1 (11:06):
Henceforth I must fight my battles alone.
Speaker 2 (11:09):
So the royal fleet of.
Speaker 1 (11:10):
Ships and galleys set sail for Dover. Whether Mordred led
his host to prevent, if possible, the king's landing. This
he was not able to do, but a terrible battle
took place, in which many on both sides were killed
or wounded. Mordred, however, was driven back and obliged to retreat.
But when all was over, it was found that Gawaine
had been wounded for the third time in the same
(11:31):
place where Launcelot had wounded him, and now it was
very evident that he had not long to live. When
he realized that, he secretly called a messenger to his
side and gave him orders to proceed at once to Benwick,
where he was to tell Launcelot that the whole blame
for the king's conduct lay with him Gawayne, and he
was also to implore the great Knights, in the name
of the old friendships of the Round Table, to forgive
(11:53):
the wrong that had been done him, and to hasten
with all speed to the aid of his sovereign of
this message, Arthur, of course me nothing but Launcelot. You
may rest assured, great, true hearted, noble Knight, that he
really was never hesitated for a moment after it reached him,
but set sail at once for Britain, where such was
the fatality that now seemed to hang over all that
(12:13):
concerned the once flourishing round table. He arrived one day
too late, so Gawayne, having with his last breath done
his best to set things right, died and then began
the slow but sure retreat of Modred before the royal
army across.
Speaker 2 (12:28):
The island of Britain.
Speaker 1 (12:30):
Day by day the King pushed him farther and farther
to the westward, until at last both pursuer and pursued
found themselves in Cornwall, where retreat was no longer possible.
There each made ready for that dread battle in the west.
That night, however, the King had a strange dream. It
seemed to him that there came, blown along lightly by
a wandering wind, the ghost of Gawayne, And as the
(12:53):
phantom passed, it cried, hail, noble King, tomorrow, if you fight,
you will pass away, and woe will go to Britain.
Therefore delay the battle for a season, for Launcelot and
his knights are on their ways.
Speaker 2 (13:05):
To help you. The king awoke with a start, exclaiming,
who spoke? Was it a dream?
Speaker 1 (13:11):
It was like the voice of Gawayne. Can it be
that he haunts these wastes and wilds? Knowing that the
end of the round table is at hand, Sir Bedevere,
who was the first man whom Arthur had knighted, and
who was still his faithful follower in this hour of darkness,
endeavored to reassure his sovereign. Nevertheless, when morning came, the
King sent messages to Mordred, asking for a meeting that
(13:34):
they might agree upon a truce. Finally, it was arranged
that Arthur and Mordred, each accompanied by fourteen knights, should
meet half way between the lines of the two armies. Arthur, however,
so shattered with his former faith in human nature, said
to those of his men who were to remain behind, watch,
I pray you for our suspect treachery, And if you
(13:55):
see a sword drawn on either side, do not wait
for any other signal, but begin the battle at once.
Now was the ill fortune of that fatal day would
have it while the King and his nephew were deep
in conference, a small adder.
Speaker 2 (14:08):
Crept from under a bush and stung the foot of
one of the knights.
Speaker 1 (14:12):
In an instant forgetting the strict instructions as to use
the weapons, the man drew his sword to kill the snake,
and the naked steal glittered for a moment in the
morning sunlight.
Speaker 2 (14:21):
The Royal army, however, too far.
Speaker 1 (14:23):
Off to see the adder, caught only the flash of
that drawn sword, and mistook it for a signal for battle. Then,
though neither Arthur nor more did realized in any way
what had happened, while each suspected the other of treachery,
the trumpets blew, and the knights charged forward, so that
the two great waves of men and horses broke upon
each other with a mighty crash and clang of arms,
(14:43):
and thus was joined that last weird battle of the West.
Speaker 2 (14:47):
All day long it raised, while.
Speaker 1 (14:48):
A death white mist crept up from the sea, chilling
the blood and blinding the eyes, so that friend slew friend,
not knowing whom he slew, and all fought as men possessed,
some haunted by visions of their youth, and others by
the faces of old ghosts upon the battlefield. The air
was filled with a crash of splintering weapons and the
shattering of helmet and armor, mingled with the shouts of
(15:10):
those who prevailed, and the shrieks of the wounded and
the moans of the dying. All day long, the forces
swayed to and fro until toward evening, an unearthly hush
fell upon the scene. Then a bitter wind from the
north blew aside the mist, revealing to the few survivors
the field of carnage, over which the relentless tide was
(15:31):
already creeping. The king, however, still stood erect, and by
his side were Bedevere and another faithful follower, Seleucan. As
the three gazed upon the ghastly spectacle before them, they
suddenly beheld, rising victorious upon a heap of slain, the
form of Mordred, the only survivor of his army. But
(15:52):
at that sight blind fury sees the king in brandishing excalibur.
He rushed forward like a lion and fell upon the traitor, whom,
with one terrible blow he fell to the earth. In
his eagerness, however, he had thought only of attack, and
nothing of defense. Thus it happened that Mordred, as he fell,
struck the king in afflicting a deadly wound, so that
Arthur dropped fainting over his enemy's expiring body. In a moment,
(16:17):
Bedivere and Lucan were at his side. Together they tried
to lift him, but Lucan, faithful though he was, could
serve his sovereign no more, for he too had been wounded, and,
now overcome by his last effort, dropped dead beside the
body of Mordred the Traitor, And now Bedevere alone of
all the knights of the Round Table, was left to
(16:37):
care for the stricken king.
Speaker 2 (16:40):
Tenderly.
Speaker 1 (16:41):
He bore him to a ruined chapel in a field nearby,
and there, at the foot of a broken cross, he
ministered to him. Presently Arthur stirred slightly. Then he opened
his eyes and said, brokenly, they sleep the man I loved.
And a little later he whispered weakly, perish by the
people whom I made overall is the trail of the
(17:04):
serpent into every holy fellowship the Judas creeps. After a while, however,
he was able to rouse himself and to speak in
a firmer voice, Bedevie, my first and my last night,
he said, there yet remains one thing that you may
do for me, before I passed to the vale of
(17:24):
Avalon for the healing of my wound. Take Excalibur, throw
it into the middle of the mere. Then return quickly
and tell me what you have seen. Strange words these
about his passing, Yet they echoed an old prophecy of Merlin's,
who wise man, though he was, had long since brought
about his own destruction by his folly. Bedevere, however, took
(17:47):
the wonderful weapon and climbed by a rugged, zig zagged path.
There he drew forth the sword and was about to
fling it into the water. But as he brandished to laugh,
the moon crept from behind a cloud, and its light
sparkled for a moment in the keen, frosty air upon
the bedued hilt, revealing the two inscriptions which Bedevere was
not able to read, Take me and cast me away.
(18:11):
Then his purpose wavered, for he said to himself, after all,
the King's mind wanders, and if I throw this sword away,
what melicor record of my lord will be left for
future generations. So he took Excalibur and hid it among
the many knotted flags that whistled dry and stiff by
the water's edge. Then he strode back to the helpless king.
(18:32):
How you performed my mission? Inquired Arthur, what have you
seen and heard?
Speaker 2 (18:36):
Sire?
Speaker 1 (18:37):
I heard the waters lapping on the rocks and washing
among the reeds, was the reply. Oh, Bedevere, cried the king.
You have betrayed the honor of your knighthood by acting
out this lie. Return and throw the brand into the mere.
Then come back quickly and tell me what you have seen.
So Bedevere departed a second time, but again the glitter
of the jewel stayed his hand, and he returned without
(18:57):
having accomplished his Errand then Arthur, breathing more heavily than before,
repeated his question, what have you seen and heard? And
Bedevere answered once again, I heard the water lapping on
the cragsire, and the long ripple washing in the reeds.
At this the King's anger flamed. Traitor unkind untrue, he
cried in scorn. You are the last of my knights
(19:19):
left me, and she will not do my bidding. So
does authority forget a dying king? Then Badevere, who after
all loved his sovereign with all his heart was filled
with remorse and shame, and leapt along the path till
he stood once more at the water's edge. There he
drew Excalibur from the bushes, and, closing his eyes so
that he might not again be tempted, hurled the beautiful
(19:42):
sword with all his might toward.
Speaker 2 (19:43):
The middle of the mere.
Speaker 1 (19:46):
Round and round it worled, making lightnings in the splendor
of the moon. But lo before it reached the crest
of the waves, a mighty arm clothed in white sight
rose from the bosom of the lake and caught it
by the hilt, brandishing it three times, after which it
drew the mystic weapon beneath the mire. Whence it had
come presently, Bedivere, well nigh, overcome with awe and wonder,
(20:08):
made his way back to the king's side and Arthur
when he saw his knight's eyes, sad as one whose
mind was set at rest. Now, I know, Bedivere, that
you have obeyed my command. After a while, when he
had lain for some time in silence, he looked up
into his Knight's face, saying softly, the end DAWs near
(20:28):
carry me.
Speaker 2 (20:29):
I pray you to the water's edge.
Speaker 1 (20:33):
Bedivere, with tears in his eyes, obeyed, and as they
reached the mere, shining in the pure cold light of
the wintry moon, he beheld a dusky barge.
Speaker 2 (20:41):
Moving toward them.
Speaker 1 (20:44):
Its decks were thronged with black robed figures, whose faces
were hidden in their hoods. But among the rest stood
three queens in crowns of gold, and from them came
a wailing sound of lamentation, a cry that shivered to
the tingling stars. Amy in the barge, said the king faintly,
as the little craft came to shore. Presently the barge
(21:06):
began to put off from the shore, and Bedivere was
left standing alone, crying brokenly.
Speaker 2 (21:12):
Oh, whither shall I go?
Speaker 1 (21:14):
For the days of knightly glory are dead and the
round table is no more. Softly, faintly across the gleaming waters,
came in answer in the king's own dear, familiar voice, Bedevere,
do not grieve, but go your way and live out
the rest of your life as duty calls you. My
(21:34):
life's work is done, And I passed to the island
valley of Avalon, where come neither hail.
Speaker 2 (21:39):
Nor snow nor wind, nor the sun's heat.
Speaker 1 (21:43):
But where all things rest and thrive, amid wooded meadows,
ringed round with summer seas thither I go for the
healing of my wound. And when I am well, perchance,
should Britain need me, I will come again. Until then,
for the old order changes, yielding place to new Farewell.
(22:04):
Then the barred, like a full breast of swan, moved
farther and farther into the distance, until Bedevere's straining eyes
could see but its hull like one black dart against
the dawn. Presently the whaling died away along the mire,
while the lonely knight's cry of despair seemed answered in
the words of Merlin's weird rhyme, from the great Deep
(22:25):
to the great Deep he goes. And then with the dawn,
there seemed to come, faintly, as from beyond the limits
of the world, a sound like the last echo of
a great burst of triumph, as if the people of
some fair city were well welcoming their king returning victorious.
Speaker 2 (22:43):
From his wars. Such was the passing of Arthur.
Speaker 1 (22:47):
But what of the two who had been nearest and
dearest to him in life?
Speaker 2 (22:52):
Gwillevere, when she heard the news of that terrible.
Speaker 1 (22:54):
Battle, left the Tower of London and sought retreat among
the sisters in the Abbey of Almsbury.
Speaker 2 (22:59):
And while she took the veil herself. There she lived
a gentle, patient, helpful life.
Speaker 1 (23:05):
Caring for the sick and ministering to the poor, until
at the death of the Abyss she was selected to
fill the vacant place.
Speaker 2 (23:13):
So for the last three years.
Speaker 1 (23:14):
Of her life, Gwinevere, the former Queen of Britain, was
Abyss of Lmsbury and Launcelot, who, with all his anxious
haste to reach his sovereign had nevertheless arrived too late. He, likewise,
forsaking the helmet for the cowal, passed from the noiseful
life of arms and acts of prowess done in tournament
and tilt into the silent life of prayer, And with
(23:36):
him into his retreat went Bedevere and Boors. Thus was
fulfilled the prophecy that the mighty Launcelot of the Lake,
against whose soul the powers of darkness had waged relentless warfare,
should die a holy man. End of Tale twelve End
of the Story of King Arthur. In twelve Tales by
(23:57):
Wenonah Caroline Martin
According by Rachel Maguire the Story of King Arthur in
(00:03):
Twelve Tales by Wanona Caroline Martin chapter twelve.
Speaker 2 (00:09):
The passing of Arthur.
Speaker 1 (00:11):
Then from the dawn, it seemed there came but faint,
as from beyond the limit of the world, like the
last decae, born of a great cry. Sounds as if
some fair city were one voice around a king returning
from his wars. Tennyson's passing of Arthur. Even before the
days of the Great Quest, when the flower of chivalry
(00:33):
bloomed at the height of its glory in Arthur's halls,
there had already crept into the Eden, among the blossoms
of loyalty, high ideals, and purity, the green eyed serpent jealousy,
and the traitor, so long unsuspected, was none other than
the king's own nephew, Mordred. This Judas had watched Arthur's
rise to power in Launcelot's ever widening reputation for Pluesce
(00:54):
with a heart growing more and more envious as the
years went by, and always he had been waiting for
an opportunity to carry out his wicked designs. To be sure,
while the round table flourished, and when the king was
constantly surrounded by his hundred and forty eight faithful knights.
There seemed little chance of his being able to do
great harm. But now at last he believed that his
(01:15):
hour had come. One by one, the broken remnant of
the Graale seekers had struggled back to Camelot. Yet when
all had arrived, who might ever be expected There was
but a tenth of the former number.
Speaker 2 (01:27):
And even these, for the.
Speaker 1 (01:28):
Most part, had passed through such terrible experiences that they
were no longer than men they had been in the
brave days of old, So that Arthur was forced to exclaim, Oh,
my knights, was I too dark a prophet when I
foretold that most of you would follow not the holy
light of the Grail, but wandering fires that would lead
you at last into the quagmire of doubt and empty dreams.
(01:50):
Having thus spoken, the King, in a vain attempt to
persuade himself that all might yet be well with the realm,
if not with his own heart, raised to knighthood men
to fill the vacant places. And these knights, with the
remnant of the old order, rode forth to Hawk and
to Hunt, to Joust, and to Tawney, and to assail
the heathen, who now more than ever broke over the borders.
(02:11):
Yet all was not as it had been, and Arthur
knew it, and bores a Launcelot, and the fair Gwineverd
knew it, and worst of all, Mordred knew it and
said to himself, now is my time to strike. And
strike he did in the spot where he knew the
king to be most vulnerable, For he accused Launcelot, he
whom Arthur loved and trusted above all other men, of treason.
(02:33):
And so subtly did he mingle a grain of truth
with the mass of his infamous lies, that the King
at last believed the slander, and with bitter words of reproach,
ordered his greatest knight from his realm. But even before
Launcelot had managed to make his escape to his own
city of Benwick across the sea, a skirmish took place
between the knights who remained on Arthur's side and those
(02:54):
who took the part of Launcelot.
Speaker 2 (02:56):
In that terrible civil strife, and in that.
Speaker 1 (02:58):
Encounter where a man scared he knew which was friend
and which was foe, it chanced that the noble Gareth
was slain as was also his older brother Gherers. Thereupon, Gawayne,
the one remaining son of good Queen Bellaesant, maddened by
the thought of the death of both his brothers, swore
vengeance upon Launcelot, whom he held responsible, and joined with Mordred,
(03:21):
the depth of whose plot he did not suspect for
a moment in filing the flame of the king's anger,
so that at last the two together persuaded Arthur that
Launcelot had withdrawn to Benwick to raise a force that
he might return and march against Camelot. Then the king,
having marshaled his own troops, turned to his nephew, saying, Mordred,
I am about to lay siege to this traitor Launcelot,
(03:44):
before he has time to.
Speaker 2 (03:44):
Land in Britain.
Speaker 1 (03:46):
I leave you therefore, because you are nearest to me
in blood to rule in my stare during my absence,
and I.
Speaker 2 (03:52):
Also leave my queen in your charge.
Speaker 1 (03:55):
Then Mordred bowed low to conceal his crafty smile, for
he saw that his plot was now worth looking out
to absolute perfection.
Speaker 2 (04:03):
Within a few weeks.
Speaker 1 (04:04):
Therefore, Arthur, accompanied by Gawayne, who still swore vengeance upon
Launcelot stood with a great army outside the gates of
Benwick and challenged the inhabitants to combat. For a while,
Much to the king's surprise, there was no response, for Launcelot,
wronged as he had been, still could not bear the
thought of raising his hand against his lee lord and
former friend, so that he was deaf to the entreaties
(04:26):
of his knights, who feared that his silence might be
misinterpreted for cowardice. The first to plead with him was
our old acquaintance, Sir Bagdamagus, who was now healed of
the wound he had received from the White Knight when
he had rashly borne the mystic shield intended only for Galahad,
said he, Launcelot, your courtesy will be our ruin, for
Arthur's army will override the whole land and lay it waste,
(04:49):
while we hide here in our holes like frightened rabbits.
Then came the Seven Brothers of north Wales, men strong
and brave as might be found in any land, saying
for for the sake of your honor and ours, Sir Launcelot,
give us leave to meet the enemy in the open field.
For we have never been wont to cower behind castle walls,
but Launcelot only shook his head hat sadly, saying the enemy,
(05:14):
alas I cannot fight against my king. Wait, I pray
you until I have sent a messenger to Arthur, asking
for a treaty of peace.
Speaker 2 (05:24):
So the mighty.
Speaker 1 (05:25):
Launcelot, he who had never quailed before sword or lance
were battering ram, sent forth a damosel accompanied by a dwarf,
to beg the king to return in peace to Britain.
Speaker 2 (05:34):
And doubtless Arthur.
Speaker 1 (05:35):
Whose heart was no more in the war than Launcelot's,
would have yielded to the entreaty had it not been
for Gawayne, who still goaded him on, so that the
reply was the leading of the royal host to the
very wars of the city, and the beginning of the siege.
Then at last Launcelot gave the word, and his army
marched out in battle array from behind the walls of Benwick,
that they might meet the enemy in the open field.
(05:59):
All day long, the terrible struggle raged, but Launcelot had
given strict orders that harm should be done neither to
the king nor to Gawaine, and the soldiers obeyed this command.
Until Arthur, no longer realizing fully what he did, charged
against the goods Sir Boors, who, as Launcelot's cousin, was
fighting on his relative side. Boors met the child with
his spear, but in so doing threw the king from
(06:19):
his horse. Launcelot, however, who had himself taken little part
in the combat, saw the fall of his lifelong friend
and dashed to where Arthur lay. Leaping from his own charger,
he raised the king from the ground, saying, sadly, Sire,
take my horse. You and your soldiers fight against me
without mercy, but I cannot fight against my sovereign nor
see him overthrown. Then Arthur, who could not look into
(06:43):
his old friend's eyes, took the horse and rode from
the field, calling his men after him, and Launcelot, with his.
Speaker 2 (06:49):
Army, retreated into the city.
Speaker 1 (06:52):
Now, in all probability, this would have ended the struggle,
for the king's own noble nature was conquered by the
nobility of Launcelot. But Gawaine would not have it so,
and because Arthur flatly refused to send his army into
the fields, again, made the following proposition. Sire said he
I will meet the traitor in single combat. Then we
will fight until one shall kill the other, and that
(07:13):
will end the war.
Speaker 2 (07:15):
So a message to that.
Speaker 1 (07:16):
Effect was sent to Launcelot, and it was finally agreed
that the two should meet the following morning just outside
the gate of the city. Now Gawaine had arranged that
the contest should take place in the morning for the
simple reason that long before a magician had bestowed upon
him the gift of growing stronger every minute of the
day from nine o'clock till noon, at which hour he
possessed three times his natural strength that immediately after which
(07:40):
time he returned to his normal condition. Launcelot, having never
happened to joust with Gawain, knew nothing about this peculiarity.
But he had not been fighting long on this day
before he realized that he had an opponent of unusual prowess.
In fact, it seemed that he could not strike Gawain
at all, but was forced to use all his strength
in simple defense. So for a long time neither was
(08:04):
greatly harmed. But when high noon was past, Launcelot suddenly
felt a change come.
Speaker 2 (08:08):
Over his antagonist.
Speaker 1 (08:11):
Then he aimed a mighty blow so that Gawayne fell
badly wounded, and Launcelot stood still beside him, resting on
his sword. Why do you stop fighting, cried Gawain, maddened
by the agony of his wound. We have sworn to
find it out to the end. Therefore kill me now
and finish you know, replied Launcelot, gravely and sadly, that
a knives may not slay one who is helpless, and least.
Speaker 2 (08:32):
Of all one who has been his friend.
Speaker 1 (08:34):
Kill me and make an end, persisted Gawaine, For I
am no friend of yours, and I swear by the
death of my two brothers that if you let me live,
I will fight you again as soon as I am able.
Unless you have grown too great a coward to risk
the encounter to this taunt, coming as it did from
the lips of a man in terrible pain. Launcelot made
no answer, but gave the order that Gawain be carried
(08:55):
back to his tent, while he himself returned to his
own fortress. Some weeks now passed by while Gawaine lay
ill of his wound, and during that time Arthur would
doubtless have returned to Britain, had he not feared the
roughness of the journey for the sick man. No sooner, however,
was Gawayne on his feet once more than he challenged
Launcelot for the second time. So they fought, and the
(09:17):
combat ended just as it had the first time, Launcelot
wounding Gawayne in the very place where he had wounded
him before, and Gawayne vowing to continue the contest as
soon as he was able, which he doubtless would have
done had it not been for an occurrence which suddenly
changed the plans of the King's army. One terrible day,
when Arthur, sick at heart and longing for a glimpse
of Britain, and his fair Queen were sitting in the
(09:39):
door of his tent, the following message was delivered into
his hands. Your nephew, Mordred has spread the report throughout
the kingdom that you have been slain in battle. He
has also caused himself to be crowned king in your stead,
and as at this moment, besieging the Queen in the
Tower of London, whither she has fled for refuge, having
refused to become his wife. Like a flash, as if
(09:59):
the the entire story had been written there on the
fateful sheet that lay before him. Arthur understood at last
the whole treacherous design of his nephew, and he realized,
in bitterness of spirit that his real enemy was Mordred
and not Launcelot.
Speaker 2 (10:14):
That very night, therefore, he gave the order for the
army to begin.
Speaker 1 (10:17):
Its march towards the coast, so that when morning dawned,
Launcelot looked out to behold the plain before the city
walls evacuated. But he had no idea why the king
had so suddenly raised the siege. And now it was
Gawaine's turn to be filled with shame and grief, for
he realized that he had been but playing into the
hands of the traitor. Sire, said he to the harassed king.
(10:38):
I have helped to bring all this trouble upon you
by my obstinacy concerning Launcelot. But I know now that
his heart is still loyal to you, as his whole.
Speaker 2 (10:47):
Behavior has shown send for him.
Speaker 1 (10:49):
Therefore, I pray you lay the full blame of this
strife upon me and ask his help in winning back
Britain from Mordred. But Arthur only shook his head and answered, sadly, no, Gawaine,
we have gone too far, and I have wronged him
too deeply.
Speaker 2 (11:04):
I cannot ask his help now.
Speaker 1 (11:06):
Henceforth I must fight my battles alone.
Speaker 2 (11:09):
So the royal fleet of.
Speaker 1 (11:10):
Ships and galleys set sail for Dover. Whether Mordred led
his host to prevent, if possible, the king's landing. This
he was not able to do, but a terrible battle
took place, in which many on both sides were killed
or wounded. Mordred, however, was driven back and obliged to retreat.
But when all was over, it was found that Gawaine
had been wounded for the third time in the same
(11:31):
place where Launcelot had wounded him, and now it was
very evident that he had not long to live. When
he realized that, he secretly called a messenger to his
side and gave him orders to proceed at once to Benwick,
where he was to tell Launcelot that the whole blame
for the king's conduct lay with him Gawayne, and he
was also to implore the great Knights, in the name
of the old friendships of the Round Table, to forgive
(11:53):
the wrong that had been done him, and to hasten
with all speed to the aid of his sovereign of
this message, Arthur, of course me nothing but Launcelot. You
may rest assured, great, true hearted, noble Knight, that he
really was never hesitated for a moment after it reached him,
but set sail at once for Britain, where such was
the fatality that now seemed to hang over all that
(12:13):
concerned the once flourishing round table. He arrived one day
too late, so Gawayne, having with his last breath done
his best to set things right, died and then began
the slow but sure retreat of Modred before the royal
army across.
Speaker 2 (12:28):
The island of Britain.
Speaker 1 (12:30):
Day by day the King pushed him farther and farther
to the westward, until at last both pursuer and pursued
found themselves in Cornwall, where retreat was no longer possible.
There each made ready for that dread battle in the west.
That night, however, the King had a strange dream. It
seemed to him that there came, blown along lightly by
a wandering wind, the ghost of Gawayne, And as the
(12:53):
phantom passed, it cried, hail, noble King, tomorrow, if you fight,
you will pass away, and woe will go to Britain.
Therefore delay the battle for a season, for Launcelot and
his knights are on their ways.
Speaker 2 (13:05):
To help you. The king awoke with a start, exclaiming,
who spoke? Was it a dream?
Speaker 1 (13:11):
It was like the voice of Gawayne. Can it be
that he haunts these wastes and wilds? Knowing that the
end of the round table is at hand, Sir Bedevere,
who was the first man whom Arthur had knighted, and
who was still his faithful follower in this hour of darkness,
endeavored to reassure his sovereign. Nevertheless, when morning came, the
King sent messages to Mordred, asking for a meeting that
(13:34):
they might agree upon a truce. Finally, it was arranged
that Arthur and Mordred, each accompanied by fourteen knights, should
meet half way between the lines of the two armies. Arthur, however,
so shattered with his former faith in human nature, said
to those of his men who were to remain behind, watch,
I pray you for our suspect treachery, And if you
(13:55):
see a sword drawn on either side, do not wait
for any other signal, but begin the battle at once.
Now was the ill fortune of that fatal day would
have it while the King and his nephew were deep
in conference, a small adder.
Speaker 2 (14:08):
Crept from under a bush and stung the foot of
one of the knights.
Speaker 1 (14:12):
In an instant forgetting the strict instructions as to use
the weapons, the man drew his sword to kill the snake,
and the naked steal glittered for a moment in the
morning sunlight.
Speaker 2 (14:21):
The Royal army, however, too far.
Speaker 1 (14:23):
Off to see the adder, caught only the flash of
that drawn sword, and mistook it for a signal for battle. Then,
though neither Arthur nor more did realized in any way
what had happened, while each suspected the other of treachery,
the trumpets blew, and the knights charged forward, so that
the two great waves of men and horses broke upon
each other with a mighty crash and clang of arms,
(14:43):
and thus was joined that last weird battle of the West.
Speaker 2 (14:47):
All day long it raised, while.
Speaker 1 (14:48):
A death white mist crept up from the sea, chilling
the blood and blinding the eyes, so that friend slew friend,
not knowing whom he slew, and all fought as men possessed,
some haunted by visions of their youth, and others by
the faces of old ghosts upon the battlefield. The air
was filled with a crash of splintering weapons and the
shattering of helmet and armor, mingled with the shouts of
(15:10):
those who prevailed, and the shrieks of the wounded and
the moans of the dying. All day long, the forces
swayed to and fro until toward evening, an unearthly hush
fell upon the scene. Then a bitter wind from the
north blew aside the mist, revealing to the few survivors
the field of carnage, over which the relentless tide was
(15:31):
already creeping. The king, however, still stood erect, and by
his side were Bedevere and another faithful follower, Seleucan. As
the three gazed upon the ghastly spectacle before them, they
suddenly beheld, rising victorious upon a heap of slain, the
form of Mordred, the only survivor of his army. But
(15:52):
at that sight blind fury sees the king in brandishing excalibur.
He rushed forward like a lion and fell upon the traitor, whom,
with one terrible blow he fell to the earth. In
his eagerness, however, he had thought only of attack, and
nothing of defense. Thus it happened that Mordred, as he fell,
struck the king in afflicting a deadly wound, so that
Arthur dropped fainting over his enemy's expiring body. In a moment,
(16:17):
Bedivere and Lucan were at his side. Together they tried
to lift him, but Lucan, faithful though he was, could
serve his sovereign no more, for he too had been wounded, and,
now overcome by his last effort, dropped dead beside the
body of Mordred the Traitor, And now Bedevere alone of
all the knights of the Round Table, was left to
(16:37):
care for the stricken king.
Speaker 2 (16:40):
Tenderly.
Speaker 1 (16:41):
He bore him to a ruined chapel in a field nearby,
and there, at the foot of a broken cross, he
ministered to him. Presently Arthur stirred slightly. Then he opened
his eyes and said, brokenly, they sleep the man I loved.
And a little later he whispered weakly, perish by the
people whom I made overall is the trail of the
(17:04):
serpent into every holy fellowship the Judas creeps. After a while, however,
he was able to rouse himself and to speak in
a firmer voice, Bedevie, my first and my last night,
he said, there yet remains one thing that you may
do for me, before I passed to the vale of
(17:24):
Avalon for the healing of my wound. Take Excalibur, throw
it into the middle of the mere. Then return quickly
and tell me what you have seen. Strange words these
about his passing, Yet they echoed an old prophecy of Merlin's,
who wise man, though he was, had long since brought
about his own destruction by his folly. Bedevere, however, took
(17:47):
the wonderful weapon and climbed by a rugged, zig zagged path.
There he drew forth the sword and was about to
fling it into the water. But as he brandished to laugh,
the moon crept from behind a cloud, and its light
sparkled for a moment in the keen, frosty air upon
the bedued hilt, revealing the two inscriptions which Bedevere was
not able to read, Take me and cast me away.
(18:11):
Then his purpose wavered, for he said to himself, after all,
the King's mind wanders, and if I throw this sword away,
what melicor record of my lord will be left for
future generations. So he took Excalibur and hid it among
the many knotted flags that whistled dry and stiff by
the water's edge. Then he strode back to the helpless king.
(18:32):
How you performed my mission? Inquired Arthur, what have you
seen and heard?
Speaker 2 (18:36):
Sire?
Speaker 1 (18:37):
I heard the waters lapping on the rocks and washing
among the reeds, was the reply. Oh, Bedevere, cried the king.
You have betrayed the honor of your knighthood by acting
out this lie. Return and throw the brand into the mere.
Then come back quickly and tell me what you have seen.
So Bedevere departed a second time, but again the glitter
of the jewel stayed his hand, and he returned without
(18:57):
having accomplished his Errand then Arthur, breathing more heavily than before,
repeated his question, what have you seen and heard? And
Bedevere answered once again, I heard the water lapping on
the cragsire, and the long ripple washing in the reeds.
At this the King's anger flamed. Traitor unkind untrue, he
cried in scorn. You are the last of my knights
(19:19):
left me, and she will not do my bidding. So
does authority forget a dying king? Then Badevere, who after
all loved his sovereign with all his heart was filled
with remorse and shame, and leapt along the path till
he stood once more at the water's edge. There he
drew Excalibur from the bushes, and, closing his eyes so
that he might not again be tempted, hurled the beautiful
(19:42):
sword with all his might toward.
Speaker 2 (19:43):
The middle of the mere.
Speaker 1 (19:46):
Round and round it worled, making lightnings in the splendor
of the moon. But lo before it reached the crest
of the waves, a mighty arm clothed in white sight
rose from the bosom of the lake and caught it
by the hilt, brandishing it three times, after which it
drew the mystic weapon beneath the mire. Whence it had
come presently, Bedivere, well nigh, overcome with awe and wonder,
(20:08):
made his way back to the king's side and Arthur
when he saw his knight's eyes, sad as one whose
mind was set at rest. Now, I know, Bedivere, that
you have obeyed my command. After a while, when he
had lain for some time in silence, he looked up
into his Knight's face, saying softly, the end DAWs near
(20:28):
carry me.
Speaker 2 (20:29):
I pray you to the water's edge.
Speaker 1 (20:33):
Bedivere, with tears in his eyes, obeyed, and as they
reached the mere, shining in the pure cold light of
the wintry moon, he beheld a dusky barge.
Speaker 2 (20:41):
Moving toward them.
Speaker 1 (20:44):
Its decks were thronged with black robed figures, whose faces
were hidden in their hoods. But among the rest stood
three queens in crowns of gold, and from them came
a wailing sound of lamentation, a cry that shivered to
the tingling stars. Amy in the barge, said the king faintly,
as the little craft came to shore. Presently the barge
(21:06):
began to put off from the shore, and Bedivere was
left standing alone, crying brokenly.
Speaker 2 (21:12):
Oh, whither shall I go?
Speaker 1 (21:14):
For the days of knightly glory are dead and the
round table is no more. Softly, faintly across the gleaming waters,
came in answer in the king's own dear, familiar voice, Bedevere,
do not grieve, but go your way and live out
the rest of your life as duty calls you. My
(21:34):
life's work is done, And I passed to the island
valley of Avalon, where come neither hail.
Speaker 2 (21:39):
Nor snow nor wind, nor the sun's heat.
Speaker 1 (21:43):
But where all things rest and thrive, amid wooded meadows,
ringed round with summer seas thither I go for the
healing of my wound. And when I am well, perchance,
should Britain need me, I will come again. Until then,
for the old order changes, yielding place to new Farewell.
(22:04):
Then the barred, like a full breast of swan, moved
farther and farther into the distance, until Bedevere's straining eyes
could see but its hull like one black dart against
the dawn. Presently the whaling died away along the mire,
while the lonely knight's cry of despair seemed answered in
the words of Merlin's weird rhyme, from the great Deep
(22:25):
to the great Deep he goes. And then with the dawn,
there seemed to come, faintly, as from beyond the limits
of the world, a sound like the last echo of
a great burst of triumph, as if the people of
some fair city were well welcoming their king returning victorious.
Speaker 2 (22:43):
From his wars. Such was the passing of Arthur.
Speaker 1 (22:47):
But what of the two who had been nearest and
dearest to him in life?
Speaker 2 (22:52):
Gwillevere, when she heard the news of that terrible.
Speaker 1 (22:54):
Battle, left the Tower of London and sought retreat among
the sisters in the Abbey of Almsbury.
Speaker 2 (22:59):
And while she took the veil herself. There she lived
a gentle, patient, helpful life.
Speaker 1 (23:05):
Caring for the sick and ministering to the poor, until
at the death of the Abyss she was selected to
fill the vacant place.
Speaker 2 (23:13):
So for the last three years.
Speaker 1 (23:14):
Of her life, Gwinevere, the former Queen of Britain, was
Abyss of Lmsbury and Launcelot, who, with all his anxious
haste to reach his sovereign had nevertheless arrived too late. He, likewise,
forsaking the helmet for the cowal, passed from the noiseful
life of arms and acts of prowess done in tournament
and tilt into the silent life of prayer, And with
(23:36):
him into his retreat went Bedevere and Boors. Thus was
fulfilled the prophecy that the mighty Launcelot of the Lake,
against whose soul the powers of darkness had waged relentless warfare,
should die a holy man. End of Tale twelve End
of the Story of King Arthur. In twelve Tales by
(23:57):
Wenonah Caroline Martin
Popular Podcasts
Stuff You Should Know
If you've ever wanted to know about champagne, satanism, the Stonewall Uprising, chaos theory, LSD, El Nino, true crime and Rosa Parks, then look no further. Josh and Chuck have you covered.
Dateline NBC
Current and classic episodes, featuring compelling true-crime mysteries, powerful documentaries and in-depth investigations. Follow now to get the latest episodes of Dateline NBC completely free, or subscribe to Dateline Premium for ad-free listening and exclusive bonus content: DatelinePremium.com
The Breakfast Club
The World's Most Dangerous Morning Show, The Breakfast Club, With DJ Envy, Jess Hilarious, And Charlamagne Tha God!