adapted from The Legends of King Arthur and His Knights

Question

by James Knowles

It befell that King Arthur said to Merlin, "My lords and knights do daily pray me now to marry; but I will not without thy counsel, for thou hast ever helped me since I came first to this crown."
"It is well," said Merlin, "that thou shouldst marry, but is there any lady whom thou lovest better than another?"
"Yea," said King Arthur, "I love Guinevere, the daughter of King Leodegrance, and as I think, that damsel is the gentlest and the fairest lady living."
"Sir," answered Merlin, "as for her beauty, she is one of the fairest that do live; but if ye had not loved her as ye do, I would fain have had ye choose some other who was both fair and good. But where a man's heart is set, he will be loath to leave." This Merlin said, knowing the misery that should hereafter happen from this marriage.
Then King Arthur sent word to King Leodegrance that he mightily loved and desired to wed his daughter. Pledging to marry King Arthur, Guinevere rode out to his messengers with a hundred knights. When they came to Camelot, King Arthur made great joy, and all the city with him; riding forth with a great retinue he met Guinevere and her company and led her through the streets filled with people and the ringing of church bells.
Then, the king commanded to prepare the marriage and the coronation with the stateliest pomp that could be made. When the day was come, the archbishops led the king to the cathedral, whereto he walked, clad in his royal robes, a choir of passing sweet music going also with him.
In another part, was Guinevere dressed in her richest ornaments, and led by archbishops and bishops to the chapel, after her there followed many damsels, singing and making every sign of joy.
And when the two processions were come to the church, so wondrous was the music and the singing, that all the knights and barons who were there pressed on each other, as in the crowd of battle, to hear and see the most they might.

2
Read the sentence from the passage.

"Sir," answered Merlin, "as for her beauty, she is one of the fairest that do live; but if ye had not loved her as ye do, I would fain have had ye choose some other who was both fair and good."

Which definition corresponds with the author's use of fairest?

fairest /ˈfer-est/ adj.
attractive in appearance
free from moral stain
kind or dear
pleasing to hear
A.
3
B.
1
C.
2
D.
4

Answer 1

The definition that corresponds with the author's use of "fairest" in the sentence is:

B. 1 - attractive in appearance

Merlin is referring to Guinevere's beauty, indicating that she is one of the most attractive individuals.