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King Arthur? Nay, said he, I will not go with you as at this time. Then
he departed from them and took his two cousins with him, and so they
came unto Camelot by the hour of underne on Whitsunday. By that time the
king and the queen were gone to the minster to hear their service. Then
the king and the queen were passing glad of Sir Bors and Sir Lionel,
and so was all the fellowship. So when the king and all the knights were
come from service, the barons espied in the sieges of the Round Table
all about, written with golden letters: Here ought to sit he, and he
ought to sit here. And thus they went so long till that they came to
the Siege Perilous, where they found letters newly written of gold which
said: Four hundred winters and four and fifty accomplished after the
passion of our Lord Jesu Christ ought this siege to be fulfilled. Then
all they said: This is a marvellous thing and an adventurous. In the
name of God, said Sir Launcelot; and then accompted the term of the
writing from the birth of our Lord unto that day. It seemeth me said Sir
Launcelot, this siege ought to be fulfilled this same day, for this is
the feast of Pentecost after the four hundred and four and fifty year;
and if it would please all parties, I would none of these letters were
seen this day, till he be come that ought to enchieve this adventure.
Then made they to ordain a cloth of silk, for to cover these letters in
the Siege Perilous.

Then the king bade haste unto dinner. Sir, said Sir Kay the Steward, if
ye go now unto your meat ye shall break your old custom of your court,
for ye have not used on this day to sit at your meat or that ye have
seen some adventure. Ye say sooth, said the king, but I had so great joy
of Sir Launcelot and of his cousins, which be come to the court whole
and sound, so that I bethought me not of mine old custom. So, as they
stood speaking, in came a squire and said unto the king: Sir, I bring
unto you marvellous tidings. What be they? said the king. Sir, there
is here beneath at the river a great stone which I saw fleet above the
water, and therein I saw sticking a sword. The king said: I will see
that marvel. So all the knights went with him, and when they came to the
river they found there a stone fleeting, as it were of red marble, and
therein stuck a fair rich sword, and in the pommel thereof were precious
stones wrought with subtle letters of gold. Then the barons read the
letters which said in this wise: Nev