Le Morte d’Arthur · Chapter
How King Arthur held in Wales, at a Pentecost, a great feast, and what kings and lords came to his feast. explained
King Arthur holds a great Pentecost feast in Carlion, attended by several kings including King Lot, King Uriens, King Nentres, the King of Scotland, the King with the Hundred Knights, and the King of Carados.
What happens
King Arthur holds a great Pentecost feast in Carlion, attended by several kings including King Lot, King Uriens, King Nentres, the King of Scotland, the King with the Hundred Knights, and the King of Carados. The kings refuse Arthur's gifts, insult him as a beardless boy of low blood, and threaten him with hard swords. Arthur retreats to a tower with five hundred men and is besieged. Merlin arrives, reveals Arthur's true parentage as the son of Uther Pendragon and Igraine, and proves he is no bastard. Some kings believe Merlin, but others scorn him. Merlin arranges a safe meeting between Arthur and the kings, urging Arthur to act boldly as their king.
Themes in this chapter
Kingship and Governance
Arthur's authority is challenged by rival kings who question his lineage and right to rule, highlighting the precarious nature of kingship and the need for legitimacy.
Betrayal and Treachery
The kings attend Arthur's feast under pretense of love but reveal their true intent to overthrow him, a form of betrayal.
Characters to notice
- King Arthur
Hosts the Pentecost feast in Carlion, is insulted by the kings, retreats to a tower, and is advised by Merlin to face them boldly.
- Merlin
Arrives at Carlion, reveals Arthur's true parentage to the kings, and arranges a safe meeting between Arthur and the kings.
- King Lot of Lothian
Attends the feast with five hundred knights, scorns Merlin's words, and is one of the kings opposing Arthur.
- Uther Pendragon
Mentioned by Merlin as Arthur's father, begotten on Igraine after the duke's death.
- Igraine
Mentioned as the wife of the Duke of Tintagil and later wedded to King Uther Pendragon, mother of Arthur.
Key passages
“But the kings would none receive, but rebuked the messengers shamefully, and said they had no joy to receive no gifts of a beardless boy that was come of low blood, and sent him word they would none of his gifts, but that they were come to give him gifts with hard swords betwixt the neck and the shoulders”
The kings refused Arthur's gifts, insulted him as a beardless youth of low birth, and threatened to give him gifts of hard blows with their swords.
The kings openly defy Arthur's authority and threaten violence, setting the stage for conflict.
“Nay, said Merlin, after the death of the duke, more than three hours, was Arthur begotten, and thirteen days after King Uther wedded Igraine; and therefore I prove him he is no bastard.”
Merlin declared that Arthur was conceived more than three hours after the duke's death, and King Uther married Igraine thirteen days later, proving Arthur is not a bastard.
Merlin provides the legal and moral justification for Arthur's legitimacy as king.