t is somewhat too young to serve as a
trimming to his mantle. This, then, you may tell your king. Neither I
nor my lords owe him any homage. But if he shall not before many days do
me homage on both his bended knees, by the faith of my body he shall
lose his head, in requital for the shameful and discourteous message
that he has sent me. Bear you this answer to your king."

And so the messenger departed.

CHAPTER IV.

GUENEVER AND THE ROUND TABLE.

And now we have to tell the story of how King Arthur got his fair wife
Guenever, and how the Round Table was brought to England's realm.

After the defeat of the eleven kings, Arthur had rescued King
Leodegrance of Cameliard from King Ryons, and put the latter with all
his host to flight. And at the court of Leodegrance he saw his charming
daughter Guenever, whom he ever after loved.

So it fell upon a time that Arthur said to Merlin,--

"My barons give me no peace, but day by day insist that I shall take a
wife. But whether I marry or not, I shall take no step without your
counsel and advice."

"Your barons counsel well," said Merlin. "A man of your bounty and
nobleness should not be without a wife. Is there any one woman that you
love beyond others?"

"Yes, by my faith there is," said Arthur. "I love Guenever, the daughter
of King Leodegrance, of Cameliard, he who has in his house the Round
Table, which you have told me he had of my father King Uther. This
damsel is the loveliest lady that I know, or could ever hope to find."

"Of her beauty and fairness no man can question," said Merlin. "If your
heart were not set, I could find you a damsel of beauty and goodness
that would please you as well. But where a man's heart is fixed there
will he turn against the counsel of wise and foolish alike."

"You speak the truth," said Arthur.

Covertly, however, Merlin warned the king that Guenever would bring
trouble to his court and his heart, and counselled him to weigh well
what he thought to do. But Arthur's love was warm, and the wise man's
counsel, as he had said, fell like water on a stone. Thereupon Merlin
went to Cameliard and told King Leodegrance of Arthur's wish.

"This is to me," said Leodegrance, "the best tidings that any man living
could bring; that a monarch of such prowess and nobleness should ask to
wed my daughter. Cheerfully will I give her, and I would give lands in
dowry with her, but of that he has enough already. Yet I can send him a
gif