waist, and
reaching half-way to the knee.

When it was time to begin the heralds blew the trumpets, the
ladies bent over eagerly, and the knights spurred their horses
forward, riding with their lances in rest. In a moment clouds of
dust arose, circling up as high as the plumes on the knights'
helmets, and their lances crashed against each other's shields.
Many of the lances broke. Sometimes the shock of contact
overthrew a knight. But no one was hurt, for the good King Arthur
had ordered that the combats should be friendly.

When the jousting had lasted for several hours, those knights who
had shown themselves the stronger, received prizes from the
ladies. The prizes were suits of armor ornamented with gold, and
swords with jeweled hilts. The knight who, of all, was the
strongest, chose the lady whom he considered most beautiful, and
crowned her "The Queen of Love and Beauty."

During the month of feasting, Arthur made knights of some of the
squires. A young squire was first obliged to show his skill in
tilting at the quintain. Then his father presented him with
falcons and sparrowhawks for hunting, and arms and robes. He also
gave robes and arms to his son's companions, and, to their
mothers and sisters, furs and embroidered robes, and belts of
gold. Finally he gave money to the singers and players, and
servants, and to the poor people of Camelot.

At about sunset the young squire went into the church, where the
Archbishop of Canterbury held a solemn service. The youth took
the armor which he had chosen, and placed it on the floor in
front of the altar. He was then left alone, and all night long he
prayed fervently to God to give him strength to be a noble and
true knight. In the morning the king came to the church, attended
by his nobles and by the archbishop. The squire laid his sword on
the altar, thus signifying his devotion to Christ and his
determination to lead a holy life. King Arthur bound the sword
and spurs on the young man, and, taking Excalibur, he smote him
lightly on the shoulder with it, saying, "Be thou a true and
faithful knight."

Then the squire took a solemn oath to protect all who were in
distress, to do right, to be a pure knight, and to have faith in
God. After that the Archbishop of Canterbury preached a solemn
sermon.

When the month of feasting and holiday was ended, the members of
the Court returned to their usual habits of life. The Knights of
the Round Table went forth to right