Part 5 (1/2)

[Ill.u.s.tration] THE COMING of GARETH

The beautiful Queen Bellicent had many sons, all of whom had gone out in the world except the youngest. His name was Gareth. His two brothers, Gawain and Modred, were with the good King Arthur, and Gareth longed to join them. His mother, however, would not let him go.

”You are not yet a man,” she said. ”You are only a child. Stay a little longer with me.”

So Gareth stayed. One day he came to his mother and said:

”Mother, may I tell you a story?”

”Gladly,” she replied.

”Then, mother, once there was a golden egg which a royal eagle had laid, away up in a tree. It was so high up that it could hardly be seen. But a youth, who though poor was brave, saw it, and longed for it. He knew that if he could get it, it would bring wealth and prosperity to him. So he tried to climb. One who loved him stopped him, saying, 'You will fall and be killed if you try to reach that height.' Therefore the poor boy did not climb, and so did not fall; but he pined away with longing till his heart broke and he died.”

Queen Bellicent answered:

”If the person who held him back had loved him, that person would have climbed, and found the egg, and given it to the youth.”

”That could not be,” said Gareth. ”Mother, suppose the egg were not gold, but steel, the same steel that Arthur's sword Excalibur is made of.”

The queen grew pale, for she now understood his meaning.

But Gareth spoke on:

”Dear mother, the gold egg is the glory to be won at Arthur's Court; I am the poor youth, and you are the one who holds me back. Mother, let me go!”

Then Bellicent wept, and she said:

”Oh, my son, do not leave me. You love me more than Gawain and Modred. You are all I have left in the world.”

But Gareth replied:

”Mother, I waste my strength here.”

”No, no,” she said. ”You shall hunt; you shall follow the deer and the fox, and so grow strong. Then I will find you a beautiful wife, and we shall all live together till I die.”

Gareth shook his head.

”No, mother. I do not want a wife until I have proved myself to be a worthy and brave knight. I wish to follow Arthur, my good king and uncle.”

”Perhaps he is not the true king and your uncle,” Bellicent said.

”At least wait a little till he has shown himself to be the greatest king in the world. Stay with me.”

”Nay, mother,” he said. ”I must go.”

Then the queen thought of a plan which she hoped would soon make him willing to stay home.

”If I let you go, my son, you must make me a promise. The promise will prove your love to me.”

”I will make a hundred promises,” cried young Gareth, ”if you will only let me go.”