Chapter ARTHUR to Arvida of A by Brewer's Readers Handbook

N.B.—Tennyson makes sir Anton the foster-father of Arthur.

Arthur’s Lance, Rhomgomyant.

Arthur’s Mare, Llamrei, which means “bounding, curvetting, spumador.”

Arthur’s Round Table. It contained seats for 150 knights. Three were reserved, two for honour, and one (called the “siege perilous”) for sir Galahad, destined to achieve the quest of the sangreal. If any one else attempted to sit in it, his death was the certain penalty.

There is a table so called at Winchester, and Henry VIII. showed it to Francois I. as the very table made by Merlin for Uther the pendragon.

And for great Arthur’s seat, her Winchester prefers,
Whose old round table yet she vaunteth to be hers.
   —Drayton: Polyolbion, ii. (1612).

Arthur’s Shield, Pridwin. Geoffrey calls it Priwen, and says it was adorned with the picture of the Virgin Mary.—British History, ix. 4 (1142).

In the Mabinogion it is called Wenebgwrthucher.

Arthur’s Sisters [half-sisters], Morgause or Margawse (wife of king Lot); Elain (wife of king Nentres of Carlot); and Morgan le Fay, the “great clark of Nigromancy,” who wedded king Vrience, of the land of Corêe, father of Ewayns le Blanchemayne. Only the last had the same mother (Ygraine or Ygernêe) as the king.—Sir T. Malory: History of Prince Arthur, i. 2.

Arthur’s Sons—Urien, Llew, and Arawn. Borre was his son by Lyonors, daughter of the earl Sanam.—History of Prince Arthur, i. 15. Mordred was his son by Elain, wife of king Nentres of Carlot. In some of the romances collated by sir T. Malory he is called the son of Margause and Arthur; Margause being called the wife of king Lot, and sister of Arthur. This incest is said to have been the cause of Mordred’s hatred of Arthur.—Pt. i. 17, 36, etc.

(In the Welsh “Triads,” Llew is called Llacheu. He is said to have been “most valiant and learned.”)

Arthur’s Spear, Rone. Geoffrey calls it Ron. It was made of ebony.—British History, ix. 4 (1142). (See Lance.)

His spere he nom an honde tha Ron wes ihaten.
   —Layamon: Brut. (twelfth century).

Arthur’s Sword, Escalibur or Excaliber. Geoffrey calls it Caliburn, and says it was made in the isle of Avallon.—British History, ix. 4 (1142).

The temper of his sword, the tried Escalabour,
The bigness and the length of Rone, his noble spear,
With Pridwin, his great shield.
   —Drayton: Polyolbion, iv. (1612).

Arthur (King), in the burlesque opera of Tom Thumb, has Dollallolla for his queen, and Huncamunca for his daughter. This dramatic piece, by Henry Fielding, the novelist, was produced in 1730, but was altered by Kane O’Hara, author of Midas, about half a century later.

Arthur’s Harp, a Lyræ, which forms a triangle with the Pole-star and Arcturus.

Dost thou know the star
We call the “Harp of Arthur” up in heaven?
   —Tennyson: The Last Tournament.

Arthur’s Seat, the hill which overhangs Edinburgh.

Nor hunt the bloodhounds back to Arthur’s seat?
   —Byron: English Bards and Scotch Reviewers.