Excalibur

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"The Lady of the Lake — her arm clad in the purest shimmering samite, held aloftExcalibur from the bosom of the water, signifying by divine providence that I, Arthur, was to carry Excalibur. THAT is why I am your king!"

King Arthur's history and legend is intimately linked to the magic and mystery of this magnificent sword, "Excalibur." As Merlin the wizard proclaimed, only one shall be able to remove the sword from the stone, and he shall be king.

Arthur knelt in front of the stone and took the sword and beheld his destiny. He later took Excalibur to the cathedral and offered it at the holy altar. Arthur was anointed with the Sacred Oil and in the presence of all the common people whereas he solemnly swore to be a loyal king and to defend Truth and Justice all the days of his life.

The actual facts of King Arthur's life have been mixed through time and legend, yet the story of King Arthur, his noble Knights of the Round Table, and this legendary magic sword "Excalibur" remain popular and have great appeal to a vast and loyal audience today.

Arthur, a prince of the Britons, who is supposed to have lived about the sixth century. He is pictured in legend as the champion of the British tribes against the Saxon invaders, and as the ideal of a knightly hero. The son of King Arthur, he became leader of the Britons after his father's death. He married Guenevere, the fairest princess in the land, and with her lived in splendid state at Caerleon, in Wales, surrounded by hundreds of knights and beautiful ladies, patterns of valor, breeding and grace to all the world.

Twelve knights, the bravest of the throng, formed the center of the retinue, and sat with the king at a round table, known as the famous Knights of the Round Table. From Arthur's court knights went forth to all countries in search of adventure, to protect women, chastise oppressors, liberate the enchanted, enchain giants and malicious dwarfs.

Among the most renowned of these heroes of legend were Percival, Tristram, Gallahad, Lancelot and the enchanter, Merlin. Arthur was killed in battle by his nephew, Modred, who had revolted against him. His body was carried by fairies to the Isle of Avalon to be cured, whence he is expected to return some day to lead the Britains again against the Saxons.

Many critics doubt the existence of Arthur, and, of course, the stories that have gathered about his name are many of them only beautiful legends. His fancied adventures have been sung in many languages, but for English readers they are told most beautifully in Tennyson's Idylls of the King. At Innsbruck, in the Franciscan church, is a magnificent ideal, life-sized, bronze figure of Arthur.

Excalibur