"On Whitsunday, at the time called "underne," which was nine in themorning, King Arthur and his knights sat at the Round Table, where onevery seat there was written, in letters of gold, the name of a knightwith "here ought to sit he," or "he ought to sit here;" and thus went theinscriptions until they came to one seat (or _siege_ in French)called the "Siege Perilous," where they found newly written letters ofgold, saying that this seat could not be occupied until four hundred andfifty years after the death of Christ; and that was this very day. Thenthere came news of a marvellous stone which had been seen above the water,with a sword sticking in it bearing the letters, "Never shall man take mehence, but only he by whose side I ought to hang, and he shall be the bestknight of the world." Then two of the knights tried to draw the sword andfailed to draw it, and Sir Lancelot, who was thought the best knight inall the world, refused to attempt it. Then they went back to their seatsaround the table.Then when all the seats but the "Siege Perilous" were full, the hall wassuddenly darkened; and an old man clad in white, whom nobody knew, camein, with a young knight in red armor, wearing an empty scabbard at hisside, who said, "Peace be with you, fair knights." The old man said, "Ibring you here a young knight that is of kings' lineage," and the kingsaid, "Sir, ye are right heartily welcome.
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