ming himself. The Wart learns the second lesson during his conversation with the badger. The badger ends his story about how humanity was given dominion over the animals by noting that humanity has not handled its responsibility well. The freedom to do anything--the kind of freedom that a King of England has--must be accompanied by a sense of the responsibility to do the right thing. The rest of this section is concerned with the practical matter of Kay's knighting, King Uther's death, and the journey to London where the Wart pulls the sword out of the stone and becomes the next King of England. Because of his 'backsight,' Merlyn knows that his time with the Wart is over; the next time he sees him he will be called King Arthur. From the moment that the Wart knows he will be King, we see the difference that Merlyn's education has made: the Wart is more shocked than pleased, and his first impulse is to prevent Sir Ector from kneeling in front of him. ...
