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"Caradoc was the son of Ysenne, the beautiful
niece of Arthur. He was ignorant who his father
was, till it was discovered in the following manner:
When the youth was of proper years to receive
the honors of knighthood, King Arthur held a grand
court for the purpose of knighting him. On this
occasion a strange knight presented himself, and
challenged the knights of Arthur's court to exchange
blow for blow with him.
His proposal was this - to lay his neck on a block
for any knight to strike, on condition that, if
he survived the blow, the knight should submit
in turn to the same experiment. Sir Kay, who was
usually ready to accept all challenges, pronounced
this wholly unreasonable, and declared that he
would not accept it for all the wealth in the
world. And when the knight offered his sword,
with which the operation was to be performed,
no person ventured to accept it, till Caradoc,
growing angry at the disgrace which was thus incurred
by the Round Table, threw aside his mantle and
took it.
"Do you do this as one of the best knights?" said
the stranger.
"No," he replied, "but as one of the most foolish."
The stranger lays his head upon the block, receives
a blow which sends it rolling from his shoulders,
walks after it, picks it up, replaces it with
great success, and says he will return when the
court shall be assembled next year, and claim
his turn. When the anniversary arrived both parties
were punctual to their engagement. Great entreaties
were used by the king and queen, and the whole
court, in behalf of Caradoc, but the stranger
was inflexible.
The young knight laid his head upon the block,
and more than once desired him to make an end
of the business, and not keep him longer in so
disagreeable a state of expectation. At last the
stranger strikes him gently. With the side of
the sword, bids him rise, and reveals to him the
fact that he is his father, the enchanter Eliaures,
and that he gladly owns him for a son, having
proved his courage, and fidelity to his word."
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