of all liquids bitterest; six phials full they poured in the well; then was the well anon with poison infected.  Then were full blithe the traitors in their life, and forth they went; they durst not there remain.  Then came there forth-right two chamber-knights; they bare in their hands two bowls of gold.  They came to the well, and filled their bowls; back they gan wend to Uther the king, forth into the chamber, where he lay in bed.—­“Hail be thou, Uther!  Now we are come here, and we have brought thee, what thou ere bade, cold well water; receive it with joy.”  Up arose the sick king, and sate on his bed; of the water he drank, and soon he gan to sweat; his heart gan to weaken, his face began to blacken, his belly gan to swell, the king gan to burst.  There was no other hap, but there was Uther the king dead; and all they were dead, who drank of the water.

When the attendants saw the calamity of the king, and of the king’s men, who with poison were destroyed, then went to the well knights that were active, and destroyed the well with painful labour, with earth and with stones made a steep hill.  Then the people took the dead king—­numerous folk—­and forth him carried the stiff-minded men into Stonehenge, and there buried him, by his dear brother; side by side there they lie both.

Then came it all together, that was highest in the land, earls and barons, and book-learned men; they came to London, to a mickle husting, and the rich thanes betook them all to counsel, that they would send messengers over sea into Britanny, after the best of all youth that was in the worlds-realm in those days, named Arthur the strong, the best of all knights; and say that he should come soon to his kingdom; for dead was he Uther Pendragon, as Aurelie was ere, and Uther Pendragon had no other son, that might after his days hold by law the Britons, maintain with worship, and rule this kingdom.  For yet were in this land the Saxons settled; Colgrim the keen, and many thousands of his companions, that oft made to our Britons evil injuries.  The Britons full soon took three bishops, and seven riders, strong in wisdom; forth they gan proceed into Britanny, and they full soon came to Arthur.—­“Hail be thou, Arthur, noblest of knights!  Uther thee greeted, when he should depart, and bade that thou shouldest thyself in Britain hold right laws, and help thy folk, and defend this kingdom, as good king should do, defeat thy enemies, and drive them from land.  And he prayed the mild Son of God to be to thee now in aid, that thou mightest do well, and the land receive from God.  For dead is Uther Pendragon, and thou art Arthur, his son; and dead is the other, Aurelie his brother.”  Thus they gan tell, and Arthur sate full still; one while he was wan, and in hue exceeding pale; one while he was red, and was moved in heart.  When it all brake forth, it was good that he spake; and thus said he there right, Arthur the noble knight:  “Lord Christ, God’s Son, be to us now in aid, that I may in life hold God’s laws!”