ing
late that God is displeased with you, for ye have lain by your sister,
and on her ye have gotten a child that shall destroy you and all the
knights of your realm. What are ye, said Arthur, that tell me these
tidings? I am Merlin, and I was he in the child's likeness. Ah, said
King Arthur, ye are a marvellous man, but I marvel much of thy words
that I must die in battle. Marvel not, said Merlin, for it is God's will
your body to be punished for your foul deeds; but I may well be sorry,
said Merlin, for I shall die a shameful death, to be put in the earth
quick, and ye shall die a worshipful death. And as they talked this,
came one with the king's horse, and so the king mounted on his horse,
and Merlin on another, and so rode unto Carlion. And anon the king asked
Ector and Ulfius how he was begotten, and they told him Uther Pendragon
was his father and Queen Igraine his mother. Then he said to Merlin, I
will that my mother be sent for that I may speak with her; and if she
say so herself then will I believe it. In all haste, the queen was sent
for, and she came and brought with her Morgan le Fay, her daughter, that
was as fair a lady as any might be, and the king welcomed Igraine in the
best manner.

CHAPTER XXI. How Ulfius impeached Queen Igraine, Arthur's mother, of
treason; and how a knight came and desired to have the death of his
master revenged.

RIGHT SO came Ulfius, and said openly, that the king and all might hear
that were feasted that day, Ye are the falsest lady of the world, and
the most traitress unto the king's person. Beware, said Arthur, what
thou sayest; thou speakest a great word. I am well ware, said Ulfius,
what I speak, and here is my glove to prove it upon any man that will
say the contrary, that this Queen Igraine is causer of your great
damage, and of your great war. For, an she would have uttered it in
the life of King Uther Pendragon, of the birth of you, and how ye were
begotten ye had never had the mortal wars that ye have had; for the most
part of your barons of your realm knew never whose son ye were, nor of
whom ye were begotten; and she that bare you of her body should have
made it known openly in excusing of her worship and yours, and in like
wise to all the realm, wherefore I prove her false to God and to you and
to all your realm, and who will say the contrary I will prove it on his
body.

Then spake Igraine and said, I am a woman and I may not fight, but
rather than I should