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The knights and kings were terribly angry that a boy from nowhere in
particular had beaten them； and they refused to acknowledge him king。
They appointed another day； for another great trial。
Three times they did this； and every time the same thing happened。
At last； at the feast of Pentecost； Arthur again pulled out the sword
before all the knights and the commons。 And then the commons rose up
and cried that he should be king； and that they would slay any who denied
him。
So Arthur became king of Britain； and all gave him allegiance。
TARPEIA
There was once a girl named Tarpeia； whose father was guard of the
outer gate of the citadel of Rome。 It was a time of war；the Sabines were
besieging the city。 Their camp was close outside the city wall。
Tarpeia used to see the Sabine soldiers when she went to draw water
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from the public well； for that was outside the gate。 And sometimes she
stayed about and let the strange men talk with her； because she liked to
look at their bright silver ornaments。 The Sabine soldiers wore heavy
silver rings and bracelets on their left arms；some wore as many as four or
five。
The soldiers knew she was the daughter of the keeper of the citadel；
and they saw that she had greedy eyes for their ornaments。 So day by day
they talked with her； and showed her their silver rings； and tempted her。
And at last Tarpeia made a bargain； to betray her city to them。 She said she
would unlock the great gate and let them in； IF THEY WOULD GIVE
HER WHAT THEY WORE ON THEIR LEFT ARMS。
The night came。 When it was perfectly dark and still； Tarpeia stole
from her bed； took the great key from its place； and silently unlocked the
gate which protected the city。 Outside； in the dark； stood the soldiers of the
enemy； waiting。 As she opened the gate； the long shadowy files pressed
forward silently； and the Sabines entered the citadel。
As the first man came inside； Tarpeia stretched forth her hand for her
price。 The soldier lifted high his left arm。 〃Take thy reward！〃 he said； and
as he spoke he hurled upon her that which he wore upon it。 Down upon
her head crashed not the silver rings of the soldier； but the great brass
shield he carried in battle！
She sank beneath it； to the ground。
〃Take thy reward；〃 said the next； and his shield rang against the first。
〃Thy reward；〃 said the nextand the next and the nextand the next；
every man wore his shield on his left arm。
So Tarpeia lay buried beneath the reward she had claimed； and the
Sabines marched past her dead body； into the city she had betrayed。
THE BUCKWHEAT＇1＇
＇1＇ Adapted from Hans Christian Andersen。
Down by the river were fields of barley and rye and golden oats。
Wheat grew there； too； and the heaviest and richest ears bent lowest； in
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humility。 Opposite the corn was a field of buckwheat； but the buckwheat
never bent； it held its head proud and stiff on the stem。
The wise old willow…tree by the river looked down on the fields； and
thought his thoughts。
One day a dreadful storm came。 The field… flowers folded their leaves
together； and bowed their heads。 But the buckwheat stood straight and
proud。
〃Bend your head； as we do；〃 called the field… flowers。
〃I have no need to；〃 said the buckwheat。
〃Bend your head； as we do！〃 warned the golden wheat…ears； 〃the angel
of the storm is coming； he will strike you down。〃
〃I will not bend my head；〃 said the buckwheat。
Then the old willow…tree spoke： 〃Close your flowers and bend your
leaves。 Do not look at the lightning when the cloud bursts。 Even men
cannot do that； the sight of heaven would strike them blind。 Much less can
we who are so inferior to them！〃
〃‘Inferior；' indeed！〃 said the buckwheat。 〃Now I WILL look！〃 And he
looked straight up； while the lightning flashed across the sky。
When the dreadful storm had passed； the flowers and the wheat raised
their drooping heads； clean and refreshed in the pure； sweet air。 The
willow…tree shook the gentle drops from its leaves。
But the buckwheat lay like a weed in the field； scorched black by the
lightning。
THE JUDGMENT OF MIDAS＇1＇
＇1＇ Adapted from Old Greek Folk…Stories； by Josephine Preston
Peabody。 （Harrap & Co。 9d。）
The Greek God Pan； the god of the open air； was a great musician。 He
played on a pipe of reeds。 And the sound of his reed…pipe was so sweet
that he grew proud； and believed himself greater than the chief musician
of the gods； Apollo； the son…god。 So he challenged great Apollo to make
better music than he。
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Apollo consented to the test； for he wished to punish Pan's vanity； and
they chose the mountain Tmolus for judge； since no one is so old and wise
as the hills。
When Pan and Apollo came before Tmolus； to play； their followers
came with them； to hear； and one of those who came with Pan was a
mortal named Midas。
First Pan played； he blew on his reed…pipe； and out came a tune so
wild and yet so coaxing that the birds hopped from the trees to get near；
the squirrels came running from their holes； and the very trees swayed as
if they wanted to dance。 The fauns laughed aloud for joy as the melody
tickled their furry little ears。 And Midas thought it the sweetest music in
the world。
Then Apollo rose。 His hair shook drops of light from its curls； his
robes were like the edge of the sunset cloud； in his hands he held a golden
lyre。 And when he touched the strings of the lyre； such music stole upon
the air as never god nor mortal heard before。 The wild creatures of the
wood crouched still as stone； the trees kept every leaf from rustling； earth
and air were silent as a dream。 To hear such music cease was like bidding
farewell to father and mother。
When the charm was broken； the hearers fell at Apollo's feet and
proclaimed the victory his。 All but Midas。 He alone would not admit that
the music was better than Pan's。
〃If thine ears are so dull； mortal；〃 said Apollo； 〃they shall take the
shape that suits them。〃 And he touched the ears of Midas。 And straightway
the dull ears grew long； pointed； and furry； and they turned this way and
that。 They were the ears of an ass！
For a long time Midas managed to hide the tell…tale ears from
everyone； but at last a servant discovered the secret。 He knew he must not
tell； yet he could not bear not to； so one day he went into the meadow；
scooped a little hollow in the turf； and whispered the secret into the earth。
Then he covered it up again； and went away。 But； alas； a bed of reeds
sprang up from the spot； and whispered the secret to the grass。 The grass
told it to the tree…tops； the tree…tops to the little birds； and they cried it all
abroad。
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