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Published online by Cambridge University Press: 14 January 2023
Summer was coming in anew, and King Arthur, having spent the whole of Lent at Rouëlent and now wishing to follow custom, arrived at Easter with a mighty throng to hold court at Carlïon. With him were King Engenor and King Aguisait, but I shan’t list all the princes who attended: according to the story I’m relating, when the king held this court at Carlïon so many princes and barons gathered there that most said it was the greatest assembly of knights there’d ever been.
Now, it was King Arthur’s custom that he would never eat at a feast till news arrived at court of some adventure. But alas, on this occasion the day passed and night drew in and adventure there was none: the whole court was troubled and downcast. They waited and waited for some wonder to appear till the time to eat had passed. The king was silent, sombre, vexed that no adventure had arrived, his heart so racked with anguish that it was nearly killing him. The barons came to him and said:
‘In God’s name, sire, have done with this! You can do no good by grieving! Come and eat! Look: your knights in tens and scores are leaving in dismay!’
‘On such a high day as this,’ the king replied, ‘I’ve never eaten – nor will I ever – till an adventure’s appeared from somewhere! God, the giver and bestower of all blessings, has always seen that I observe that custom. If He no longer wishes it to be so, then lose I my dignity – and if He’s stripping me of that I’ll gladly die, I tell you straight!’
Hearing this, the barons waited a long while more to see if some adventure would be forthcoming; when the king saw none appear he was so distraught that he wanted to die, such was the grief he felt.
‘Have the tables set at once,’ he said, ‘and go and eat.’
‘What do you mean, sire?’ said the knights. ‘How can we? Never, please God, will we eat without you.’
‘Yes, you will, sirs,’ the king replied. ‘That’s my wish and prayer.’
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