Part 2 Text: King Arthur King Arthur, if he ever existed, was probably a Celtic ruler who fought the Anglo-Saxons, but we know nothing more about him. The fourteenth-century legend created around Arthur the imagined magic and mystery of the Celts. Arthur was a famous king of England. He lived such a long time ago that we know very little about him. This king had such strange adventures, and did such wonderful things, that people have never tired of writing and reading about him and his famous Knights of the Round Table who gathered together. It was not until Arthur had grown to young manhood, that he knew he was of royal blood. It happened that the baby was given to Merlin. He knew all things as he was a magician. Merlin took him to Sir Ector, who brought the child up as his own son, and Sir Ector's wife cared for him, and they called him Arthur. When King Uther who was Arthur's father died, every lord in England wanted to be king. The wise Merlin had promised that it should be made known to them, by a wonderful sign, who should be king. So he called all the lords together in a great church in London. After the first prayers were said, a large four-sided stone was discovered in the churchyard in which was a sword called Excalibur. Around the sword, written in letters of gold, were these words: "Whoso pulleth out this sword of this stone, is rightwise King born of England." The lords tried to move the stone, but in vain. So it was decided that ten famous knights should guard the sword until one came who should be able to move it. There was a great contest in England. All the barons came to the contest to try their skill. Among them rode Sir Ector, and with him his son Sir Kay and young Arthur. Sir Kay had no sword with him. He asked Arthur to ride home for his sword and bring it to him. Arthur rode as fast as he could; but when he reached the castle there was no one there to give him his brother's sword, for all had gone to the contest. Then Arthur said to himself: "I will ride to the churchyard, and take the sword from within the stone." When Arthur got to the churchyard, there 39was no one there. All the knights had gone to the contest. Then Arthur, quickly and easily, pulled the sword out of the stone, and rode away to give it to his brother. When Sir Ector looked at the sword, he rode again to the churchyard, with Sir Kay and Arthur. Then Sir Ector told Arthur to put the sword as it had been before, and he put the sword in the stone easily. Then Sir Ector tried to pull it out, but he could not move it. "Now you try," said Sir Kay to Arthur. Arthur pulled the sword out as easily as he had done before. Then Sir Ector and Sir Kay both knelt on the ground before him. "My father and my brother!" cried Arthur. "Why should you kneel to me?" "No, no, I am not your father," exclaimed Sir Ector, "nor am I even of your blood, which I now know is higher than I thought." Then Sir Ector told Arthur how he was brought to him, soon after he was born. Arthur became a king. He righted many wrongs that had been done since his father's death. The lands that had been taken from lords were returned to them, and he ruled the kingdom well.Task 1. Find in the text English sentences which correspond to the following Russian sentences. 1. Артур не знал, что в его жилах течет королевская кровь, пока он не достиг юношеского возраста. 40 2. Мудрый Мерлин пообещал, что им будет известно с помощью чудесного знамения, кто станет королем. 3. «Тот, кто сумеет вынуть этот меч из камня, тот настоящий король Англии». 4. Было решено, что десять именитых рыцарей будут охранять меч, пока не придет тот, кто сможет вынуть его. 5. Затем сэр Эктор и сэр Кэй встали перед ним на колени. 6. Король Артур исправил много ошибок, которые были совершены со времени смерти его отца. Task 2. Answer the questions. 1. Who brought Arthur up? 2. How did it become known to people who should be King? 3. What was written on the stone? 4. Why did Arthur take the sword from the stone? Did he do it easily? Why? 5. How did Arthur rule his kingdom? Task 3. Read the text carefully and agree or disagree with the statements given below. 1. King Arthur was a Celtic ruler. 2. Arthur was brought up by Merlin. 3. King Uther was Arthur's father. 4. Arthur, quickly and easily, pulled the sword out of the stone. 5. King Arthur returned the lands to the Anglo-Saxons.