But when the King came to himself, he saw his foe lie, still as in death, on the ground beside him; and he was grieved, and said:  “Merlin, what have ye done to this brave knight?  Nay, if ye have slain him, I shall grieve my life long; for a good knight he is, bold and a fair fighter, though something wanting in knightly courtesy.”  “He is in better case than ye are, Sir King, who so lightly imperil your person, and thereby your kingdom’s welfare; and, as ye say, Pellinore is a stout knight, and hereafter shall he serve you well.  Have no fear.  He shall wake again in three hours and have suffered naught by the encounter.  But for you, it were well that ye came where ye might be tended for your wounds.”  “Nay,” replied the King, smiling, “I may not return to my court thus weaponless; first will I find means to purvey me of a sword.”  “That is easily done,” answered Merlin; “follow me, and I will bring you where ye shall get you a sword, the wonder of the world.”

So, though his wounds pained him sore, the King followed Merlin by many a forest path and glade, until they came upon a mere, bosomed deep in the forest; and as he looked thereon, the King beheld an arm, clothed in white samite, shoot above the surface of the lake, and in the hand was a fair sword that gleamed in the level rays of the setting sun.  “This is a great marvel,” said the King, “what may it mean?” And Merlin made answer:  “Deep is this mere, so deep indeed that no man may fathom it; but in its depths, and built upon the roots of the mountains, is the palace of the Lady of the Lake.  Powerful is she with a power that works ever for good, and she shall help thee in thine hour of need.  For thee has she wrought yonder sword.  Go now, and take it.”

Then was Arthur aware of a little skiff, half hidden among the bulrushes that fringed the lake; and leaping into the boat, without aid of oar, he was wafted out into the middle of the lake, to the place where, out of the water, rose the arm and sword.  And leaning from the skiff, he took the sword from the hand, which forthwith vanished, and immediately thereafter the skiff bore him back to land.

Arthur drew from its scabbard the mighty sword, wondering the while at the marvel of its workmanship, for the hilt shone with the light of many twinkling gems—­diamond and topaz and emerald, and many another whose names none know.  And as he looked on the blade, Arthur was aware of mystic writings on the one side and the other, and calling to Merlin, he bade him interpret them.  “Sir,” said Merlin, “on the one side is written ‘Keep me,’ and on the other ‘Throw me away.’” “Then,” said the King, “which does it behove me to do?” “Keep it,” answered Merlin; “the time to cast it away is not yet come.  This is the good brand Excalibur, or Cut Steel, and well shall it serve you.  But what think ye of the scabbard?” “A fair cover for so good a sword,” answered Arthur.  “Nay, it is more than that,” said Merlin, “for, so long as ye keep it, though ye be wounded never so sore, yet ye shall not bleed to death.”  And when he heard that, the King marvelled the more.