amount of time and energy
required for working it up from the original
source.

ARTHUR AND SIR ACCALON

MAUDE RADFORD WARREN

There was a woman in Arthur's Court named Morgan le Fay, who had learned
a great deal about magic. She was a wicked woman, and hated the king
because he was more powerful than she, and because he was so good.

However, she pretended to be a true friend to him, and the king believed
in her. One day when they were talking together, she asked him if he
would not let her take charge of his wonderful sword Excalibur, and its
scabbard. She said that she would guard them so carefully that they
would never be stolen. As she was very eager, Arthur granted her
request.

One day in time of peace, King Arthur went out hunting with a certain
knight named Sir Accalon, who was the lover of Morgan le Fay. They rode
for a long time, and when they were tired, stopped to rest beside a
great lake. As they looked over its shining waters, they saw a beautiful
little ship, which sailed straight towards them, and ran up to the sands
at their feet. It was all covered with golden silks, which waved in the
gentle wind. King Arthur and Sir Accalon climbed into it and examined it
thoroughly, but they found no one on board.

They rested on two couches which were on the deck, until it grew dark.
Then they were about to return home, when all at once, a hundred torches
set on the sides of the ship were lighted, and suddenly there appeared
twelve beautiful damsels who told the two that they were welcome, and
that they should be served with a banquet.

Presently the maidens led the king and the knight into a room which had
a table covered with a white cloth embroidered in purple. It bore many
golden dishes, and each dish had a beautiful design carved upon it. Some
dishes had vine-leaves, others ivy-leaves; some had angels with long
robes sweeping back in graceful lines; and all these dishes held choice
food. The king and Sir Accalon ate to their hearts' content.

Then the damsels led them into two separate chambers. King Arthur was
tired and so sleepy that he gave but one glance at his bedroom. He saw
that it was hung in red silk embroidered with gold dragons and griffins.
Then he threw himself on his bed and slept very soundly.

When he awoke, he found himself not in the pretty bed-chamber, but in a
dark place. He could see nothing, but all about him he heard the sound
of complaining and weeping. He