Top 3 Le Morte D'Arthur quotes
" Whoso pulleth out this sword from this stone ... is rightwise king born of all England."
The narrator, Book 1
These are the words that Merlin inscribes around the stone that has Excalibur sheathed in it. This is Merlin's method of orchestrating the rise of King Arthur, an infant he had taken at birth to be raised by a Knight. Merlin displays his ability to perceive the future early in the story, as he makes Uther give up Arthur in return for aid with Igraine.
"Arthur was ware of an arm clothed in white samite, that held a fair sword in [the midst of lake]. "
The Narrator, Book 1
Mallory chooses to include both popular accounts of how King Arthur gained his legendary sword, Excalibur. The first account claims that Arthur had drawn the sword from a stone, but another account claims that it was given to him by the lady of the lake. In this quote, Mallory refers to an arm covered in silk extending out of the water to hand Arthur his sword. The lady of the Lake seems like a pagan figure whose power seems to be sourced from nature instead of heaven.
" Hie iacet Arthurus, rex quondam rexque futurus."
The Narrator, Book 21
These are the words that are inscribed on the tomb that is believed to contain King Arthur's remains. "Here lies Arthur, King once, King to be." Mallory borrowed the phrase from an old Arthurian legend and included it in his work because of the historical legitimacy it seems to lend. Furthermore, the phrase also transforms Arthur's death into a mystical death and suggests that the great king could return. Perhaps he meant to send the people of England a message of hope at the conclusion of his book.
