THE SWORD of AVALON
by William Elliot Griffis · from Welsh Fairy Tales
Adapted Version
Long ago, King Arthur was a good king. He had brave knights. They fought many battles. They fought big dragons. They saved good folk. But all folk were tired of fighting. People did not want more wars. They wanted peace. They wished for kind ways. They worked very hard. They wanted to keep their coins. They wanted to be happy. The fighting made them sad. It made them very sad. They wanted a quiet life.
King Arthur was a very wise king. He saw that times were changing. People did not want fighting. They wanted quiet days. He wanted his people to be strong. He wanted new kinds of strength. Not just with sharp swords. Not just with big battles. He wanted peace for all. He wanted kind hearts. He wanted good ideas. He knew this was important. He thought about it much.
Then came a last big fight. King Arthur fought Modred. Modred was a bad man. He caused much trouble. The fight was very sad. King Arthur got very, very hurt. He was too tired to fight no more. He felt very weak. His body ached. He knew his time was short. He still thought of his people. He loved them very much. He wanted them to be safe. He wanted them to be well.
King Arthur lay down. He was very tired. His eyes were dim. He called his brave knight. The knight came close. He felt very sad. "Take my special sword," Arthur said. "It is a magic sword. Go to a magic place. Go to the deep water there. Throw my sword into the water. Do this for me, good knight." The knight nodded slowly. He felt a heavy heart.
The knight went to the water. He walked a long way. He held the sword tight. He threw the sword far. It splashed in the water. But the sword did not sink. It floated on the water. It glowed with magic light. It shone very bright. It held Arthur's spirit. It held his kind heart. It was a special sign.
A magic hand came up. It came from the deep water. It was a soft, white hand. It took the sword gently. It held the sword high. It waved the sword three times. One, two, three waves. Then the hand went down. The sword went with it. It was a wondrous sight. The knight watched it go. He felt a strange peace.
This was a special promise. It was a magic sign. Arthur's spirit lived on. His kindness lived on. His good heart lived on. He would help his people. He would guide them always. They would be brave and good. They would be kind too. This promise gave them hope. It made their hearts feel warm. It was a gift from the king.
The Welsh people would be strong. Very strong indeed. Not by fighting with swords. Not by big, loud battles. But by their stories. By their happy songs. By their kind hearts. By their clever words. They would build a new strength. A strength of peace. A strength of love. This was a new way. A better way for all.
Clever people told Arthur's tales. They told them far and wide. They were tale tellers. They were sweet singers. They shared the king's stories. These stories taught good lessons. They taught kindness to all. They taught being brave. They taught how to be fair. They taught how to help friends. Many folk listened well. They learned from these tales.
People made pretty buildings. They built them tall and grand. They made bright windows. The windows shone like jewels. They put Arthur's stories there. Pictures showed brave knights. Pictures showed kind queens. These showed good friends. They showed respect for all. They showed love for the land. All folk could see them. All folk could learn from them. The art told the tales.
Many years passed. Many seasons came and went. Other clever people told stories. They told Arthur's stories again. They made them famous. These tales went everywhere. All folk learned about Welsh songs. All folk learned about Welsh words. They learned about Welsh ways. The stories kept the past alive. They made the future bright. They were a strong bond.
The Welsh people became strong. They were strong with their hearts. They were strong with their minds. They were strong with their spirit. They won without fighting. They won with kind deeds. They helped other people. These people needed hope. They needed a helping hand. The Welsh shared their stories. They shared their songs. They shared their peace. They showed a new path.
King Arthur's spirit lived on. His kindness lived on. His good magic lived on. It made the Welsh people strong always. Their hearts were brave. Their stories were brave. Their songs were brave. True strength is in our hearts. True strength is in our stories. Not just in big fights. Not just with sharp swords. This strength lasts for all time. It is a gift from King Arthur.
Original Story
THE SWORD OF AVALON
Many of the Welsh tales are about fighting and wars and no country as small as Wales has so many castles. Yet these are nearly all in ruins and children play in them. This is because men got tired of battles and sieges.
Everybody knows that after King Arthur's knights had punched and speared, whacked and chopped at each other with axe and sword long enough, had slain dragons and tamed monsters, and rescued princesses from cruel uncles, and good men from dark dungeons, even the plain people, such as farmers and mechanics, had enough and wanted no more. Besides this, they wished to be treated more like human beings, and not have to work so hard and also to keep their money when they earned it.
Even King Arthur himself, towards the end of this era, saw that fashions were changing and that he must change with them. Hardware was too high in price, and was no longer needed for clothing. He was wise enough to see that battle axes, maces, swords, lances and armor had better be put to some better use, when iron was getting scarce and wool and linen were cheaper. Even the stupid Normans learned that decency and kindness cost less, and accomplished more in making the Welshery loyal subjects of the king.
So when, after many battles, King Arthur went out to have a little war of his own, and to enjoy the fight, in which he was mortally wounded, he showed his greatness, even in the hour of death. In truth, it is given to some men, like Samson, to be even mightier when they die, than when following the strenuous life. So it was with this great and good man of Cymry. His love for his people never ceased for one moment, and in his dying hour he left a bequest that all his people have understood and acted upon.
Thus it has come to pass that the Welsh have been really unconquerable, by Saxon or Norman, or even in these twentieth century days by Teutons. Though living in a small country, they are among the greatest in the world, not in force, or in material things, but in soul. When Belgium was invaded, they not only stood up in battle against the invader, but they welcomed to their homes tens of thousands of fugitives and fed and sheltered them.
Brave as lions, their path of progress has been in faithfulness to duty, industry, and patience, and along the paths of poetry, music and brotherhood. Their motto for ages has been, "Truth against the World."
Now the manner of King Arthur's taking off and his immortal legacy was on this fashion:
After doing a great many wonderful things, in many countries, King Arthur came back to punish the wicked man, Modred. In the battle that ensued, he received wounds that made him feel that he was very soon to die. So he ordered his loyal vassal to take his sword to the island of Avalon. There he must cast the weapon into the deep water.
But the sword was part of the soul of Arthur. It would not sink out of sight, until it had given a message, from their king to the Welsh, for all time.
After it had been thrown in the water, it disappeared, but rose again. First the shining blade, and then the hilt, and then a hand was seen to rise out of the flood.
Thrice that hand waved the sword round and round.
This was the prophecy of "the deathless from the dead." King Arthur's body might be hid in a cave, or molder in the ground, but his soul was to live and cheer his people. His beloved Cymric nation, with their undying language, were to rise in power again.
And the resurrection has been glorious. Not by the might of the soldier, or by arms or war—though the Welsh never flinch from duty, or before the foe—but by the power of poet, singer and the narrator of stories, that touch the imagination, and fire the soul to noble deeds, have these results come.
Arthur's good blade, thus waved above the waters, became a veritable sword of the Spirit.
Men of genius arose to flush with color the old legends. Prophets, preachers, monks, missionaries carried these all over Europe, and made them the vehicles of Christian doctrine. In their new forms, they fired the imagination and illuminated, as with ten thousand lamps, many lands and nations, until they held every people in spell. In miracle and morality play, they reappeared in beauty. They attuned the harp and instrument of the musician and the troubadour, and these sang the gospel in all lands, north and south, while telling the stories of Adam, and of Abraham, of Bethlehem, and of the cross, of the Holy Grail, and of Arthur and his Knights. All the precious lore of the Celtic race became transfigured, to illustrate and enforce Christian truth. The symbolical bowl, the Celtic caldron of abundance, became the cup of the Eucharist and the Grail the symbol of blessings eternal.
By the artists, in the stained glass, and in windows of the great churches, which were built no longer of wood but of stone, that blossomed under the chisel, the old legends were, by the new currents of truth, given a mystic glow. As wonderful as the rise of Gothic architecture and the upbuilding of cathedrals, as glorious as the light and art, that beautify the great temples of worship, was this re-birth of the Arthurian legends.
For now, again, the old virtues of the knightly days—loyalty, obedience, redress of wrongs, reverence of womanhood, and the application of Christian ethics to the old rude rules of decency, lifted the life of the common people to a nobler plane and ushered in the modern days.
Then, after seven hundred years, a host of singers, Tennyson leading them all, attuned the old Celtic harp. They reset for us the Cymric melody and colorful incidents in "the light that never was on sea or land." The old days live again in a greater glory.
Lady Guest put the Mabinogion into English, and Renan, and Arnold, and Rolleston, and Rhys, in prose, competed in praise of the heritages from the old time. Popular education was diffused. The Welsh language rose again from the dead. Cardiff holds in pure white marble the most thrilling interpretation of Welsh history, in the twelve white marble statues of the great men of Wales. The Welsh people, by bloodless victory, have won the respect of all mankind.
They set a beacon for the oppressed nations. In the World War of 1914-1918, they helped to save freedom and civilization. They were in the van.
Long may the sword of Arthur wave!
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Story DNA
Moral
True strength and enduring legacy come not from physical might or conquest, but from the spirit, culture, and noble deeds of a people.
Plot Summary
After King Arthur is mortally wounded in his final battle, he commands his loyal vassal to cast his legendary sword into the waters of Avalon. The sword, embodying Arthur's spirit, rises from the water, waved thrice by a mysterious hand, delivering a prophecy of the Welsh people's spiritual resurrection. This act symbolizes that the Welsh nation's true strength and enduring legacy will come not from warfare, but from their unconquerable spirit, language, poetry, music, and the noble virtues inspired by their legends, leading to a cultural and moral triumph that influences Europe and earns them global respect.
Themes
Emotional Arc
suffering to triumph
Writing Style
Narrative Elements
Cultural Context
The story uses the Arthurian legend as an allegory for Welsh national identity and resilience against invaders (Saxons, Normans, Teutons), emphasizing cultural and spiritual strength over military might, particularly in the context of World War I (1914-1918).
Plot Beats (13)
- The era of King Arthur's knights and constant warfare is drawing to a close, with people desiring peace and better treatment.
- King Arthur himself recognizes the changing times and the need for a shift from physical conflict to other forms of strength.
- In his final battle against Modred, King Arthur is mortally wounded.
- On his deathbed, Arthur commands his loyal vassal to take his sword to Avalon and cast it into the deep water.
- The sword, imbued with Arthur's spirit, does not immediately sink but delivers a message to the Welsh people.
- A hand emerges from the water, waving the sword three times before it disappears.
- This act is interpreted as a prophecy of 'the deathless from the dead,' signifying Arthur's soul living on to inspire his people.
- The prophecy foretells the Welsh nation's rise in power, not through military might, but through their enduring language and cultural spirit.
- Men of genius, prophets, preachers, and missionaries arise, using the Arthurian legends to spread Christian doctrine and inspire noble deeds across Europe.
- Artists incorporate these legends into Gothic architecture and stained glass, giving them a mystic glow and promoting virtues like loyalty and reverence.
- Centuries later, poets and scholars like Tennyson and Lady Guest revive the Celtic legends, bringing them to new glory and promoting Welsh culture and language.
- The Welsh people, through cultural and spiritual strength, achieve bloodless victories and earn worldwide respect, serving as a beacon for oppressed nations.
- The story concludes by affirming the enduring power of Arthur's 'sword of the Spirit' and the unconquerable nature of the Welsh soul.
Characters
King Arthur
A powerful and seasoned warrior, likely of a robust build from years of battle. His face would show the wisdom and weariness of a king who has led many campaigns, but also a deep-seated kindness. As a legendary Welsh king, he would likely have features consistent with Celtic heritage, perhaps a strong jawline and broad shoulders.
Attire: Though the story mentions armor being put aside, in his final battle he would have worn practical, high-quality medieval Welsh or British armor, likely of polished steel, possibly adorned with subtle Celtic knotwork or a dragon motif. Underneath, he would wear a padded gambeson and sturdy linen or wool garments. His final appearance would be in battle-worn but regal attire.
Wants: To protect and uplift his Welsh people (Cymry), to ensure their prosperity and spiritual strength, and to transition from an era of war to one of peace and cultural flourishing.
Flaw: His physical mortality, as he is mortally wounded in battle. Perhaps also a lingering attachment to the old ways of battle, even as he recognizes the need for change.
He transitions from a warrior king focused on physical battles to a spiritual leader whose legacy inspires cultural and moral progress, even after his death. His physical end marks the beginning of his immortal spiritual influence.
Wise, benevolent, courageous, strategic, deeply devoted to his people. He is capable of great violence in war but ultimately seeks peace and progress.
Modred
Described as 'the wicked man,' implying a character whose appearance might reflect his villainy, perhaps gaunt or sharp-featured, contrasting with Arthur's noble bearing. As a figure in Welsh legend, he would have features consistent with a medieval British noble.
Attire: As a 'wicked man' who fought against King Arthur, he would have worn armor similar to Arthur's, but perhaps darker, less adorned, or more utilitarian, reflecting his ambition rather than noble purpose. Medieval British plate armor, possibly with a dark surcoat.
Wants: To usurp King Arthur's throne and power.
Flaw: His wickedness and ambition ultimately lead to his downfall and death.
His arc is brief and ends in his defeat and implied death at Arthur's hand.
Wicked, treacherous, ambitious, rebellious. His actions lead to the final, fatal battle with Arthur.
Loyal Vassal
A trusted knight or retainer, likely of a strong build, capable of carrying out a king's final command. His features would show loyalty and perhaps grief. As a Welsh vassal, he would have features consistent with Celtic heritage.
Attire: As a loyal vassal in battle, he would wear practical, sturdy medieval Welsh or British armor, perhaps less ornate than Arthur's, but still well-maintained. Underneath, he would wear functional linen or wool garments.
Wants: To fulfill his king's dying wish and honor his oath of fealty.
Flaw: His grief and the weight of his king's death might make his task emotionally difficult.
He performs the crucial act of casting the sword, becoming the direct agent of Arthur's spiritual legacy.
Loyal, obedient, dutiful, sorrowful. He carries out Arthur's final, sacred request without question.
The Hand from the Water
A disembodied hand, rising from the water, described as 'a hand.' It is a mystical manifestation, not a human hand in the traditional sense, but a symbol of the magical power of Avalon and the sword.
Attire: N/A (disembodied hand)
Wants: To deliver the prophecy of Arthur's enduring spirit and the future of the Welsh people.
Flaw: N/A (symbolic entity)
Its brief appearance serves to confirm the sword's magical nature and deliver its prophecy.
Mysterious, symbolic, powerful. It acts as a conduit for the sword's message.
Locations
Island of Avalon (Lake/Water's Edge)
A mystical island surrounded by deep, still water, likely a lake or a calm sea inlet. The water is deep enough to receive a thrown sword, and its surface is where the magical reappearance of the sword and the hand occurs.
Mood: Mystical, solemn, sacred, a place of transition and prophecy.
King Arthur's sword, Excalibur, is cast into the water, delivering a final, prophetic message to the Welsh people through its magical reappearance and the waving hand.
Welsh Countryside (General)
A landscape dotted with numerous ruined castles, where children now play. The general environment suggests a history of battles but has transitioned to a more peaceful, pastoral setting.
Mood: Historical, peaceful, resilient, a sense of enduring heritage.
Serves as the backdrop for the historical context of Wales, its many battles, and its eventual shift towards peace and cultural strength, embodying the legacy of Arthur's prophecy.
Great Churches / Cathedrals
Massive stone structures with stained glass windows, built with Gothic architecture, where the Arthurian legends were reinterpreted and illustrated.
Mood: Sacred, awe-inspiring, artistic, reflective, illuminating.
The place where Arthurian legends were 'transfigured' and given new life through Christian doctrine, art, and architecture, becoming vehicles for moral and spiritual teaching.