Arthur quotes from King Arthur (2004)

Arthur

Mother! I'm finished.

Arthur

I am to be their commander?

Arthur

And what of their free will?

Arthur

Why did Merlin send you south of the wall?

Arthur

That’s not the bishop.

Arthur

Bishop Germanius. Welcome to Britain. I see your military skills are still of use to you. Your device worked.

Arthur

They do, but they occasionally venture south. Rome’s anticipated withdrawal from Britain has only increased their daring

Arthur

Tristan, ride ahead and make sure the road is clear. Please do not worry, Bishop. We will protect you.

Arthur

Give thanks to God that I survived to see it.

Arthur

I want peace, Lancelot. I’ve had enough. You should visit me.

Arthur

It’s a magnificent place, Rome. Ordered, civilized, advanced- The greatest minds of all the land have come together in one sacred place to help make mankind free.

Arthur

Bishop, please, my quarters have been made available to you.

Arthur

Let us not forget that we are the fortunate ones.

Arthur

Let us raise our wine to those gallant and extraordinary men we have lost but who will be remembered for eternity.

Arthur

They retain the religion of their forefathers. I’ve never questioned that

Arthur

He took my father’s place for me. His teachings on free will and equality have been of great influence. I look forward to our reunion in Rome.

Arthur

On this day. You ask this of my men, on this day?

Arthur

They have risked their lives for fifteen years for a cause not of their own - and now, on the day they are to be liberated, you send them on a mission that is far more dangerous than any other they have undertaken. You tell me, Bishop. How do I go to my men and tell them instead of freedom, I offer death?

Arthur

Everything I’ve done has been for the Church and for Rome. Do not mistake a loyal soldier for a fool, Germanius.

Arthur

You think very hard upon our vow, Bishop, for I will hold you to it. Break it, and no Roman legion, papal army, nor God Himself will protect you. That is my word.

Arthur

Knights. Brothers in arms. Your courage has been tested beyond all limits, but I must ask you now for one further trial.We must leave on a final mission for Rome before our freedom can be granted. Above the wall, there lies a Roman family in need of rescue. They are trapped by Saxons. Our orders are to secure their safety.

Arthur

Bors, these are our orders. We leave at first light and when we return, your freedom will be waiting for you. A freedom we can embrace with

Arthur

O merciful God, I have such need of Your mercy now. Not for myself, but for my knights, for this is truly their hour of need. Deliver them from their trials ahead and I will pay You a thousand fold with any sacrifice You ask of me. And if in Your wisdom, You should determine that sacrifice must be my life for theirs; so that they can once again taste the freedom that is so long been denied to them, I will gladly make that covenant. My death will have a purpose. I ask no more than that.

Arthur

My faith is what protects me, Lancelot. Why do you challenge this?

Arthur

No man fears to kneel before the God he trusts. Without faith, without belief in something, what are we?

Arthur

These people need our help. It is out duty to bring-

Arthur

And yet you choose death for this family!

Arthur

How many times in battle have we snatched victory from the jaws of defeat? Outnumbered, outflanked, but still we triumph? With you at my side, we can do so again. Lancelot, we are knights. What other purpose do we serve if not for such a cause?

Arthur

My duty is also to my men

Arthur

I am Arthur Castus, commander of the Sarmatian knights and by Bishop Germanius of Rome. Open the gate.

Arthur

Our orders are to evacuate you immediately.

Arthur

Which is Alecto?

Arthur

They’re invading from the north.

Arthur

They have. Us. We leave as soon as you’re packed.

Arthur

If I fail to bring you and your son back, my men can never leave this land. (through gritted teeth) So you’re coming with me if I have to tie you to my horse and drag you all the way to Hadrian’s Wall myself. (mock bow) My lord. Lady, my knights are hungry.

Arthur

What is this punishment for? (silence) Answer me!

Arthur

I tell you now. Marius is not of God. And you - all of you - were free from your first breath.

Arthur

Now hear me. A vast and terrible army is coming this way. They will show no mercy, spare no one. Those of you who are able should begin to gather your things and move south, towards Hadrian’s Wall. Those unable shall come with us. (to GANIS) You. Serve me now. Gather these people.

Arthur

And the only way out is to the south?

Arthur

They're coming with us.

Arthur

See if there’s still any alive.

Arthur

Water! Give me some water!

Arthur

I’m a Roman officer. You’re safe now. (WOMAN tries to finger his cloak) You’re safe...

Arthur

What is this madness?

Arthur

You mean they refused to be your serfs!

Arthur

Perhaps I should kill you now and seal my fate.

Arthur

Then I shall grant His wish. (to KNIGHTS) Wall them back up.

Arthur

We’re not leaving them

Arthur

Then save your anger for them.

Arthur

Some of your fingers are out of place. I have to push them back. If I don’t do this, there’s a chance you may never use them again.

Arthur

I am.

Arthur

Really? And what did you hear?

Arthur

Listen, Lady, do not pretend that you know anything about me or my men.

Arthur

As many as tried to kill me. It's a natural state of any man to want to live.

Arthur

We’ll sleep here. Take shelter in those trees. Tristan.

Arthur

Your world, Merlin. Not mine. I shall be in Rome.

Arthur

My knights trust me not to betray them to their enemy.

Arthur

You tell that to the knights you killed before my eyes! Whose bones are buried in this earth!

Arthur

You know nothing of the loss I speak! Shall I help you remember? An attack on a village. The screams of an innocent woman.

Arthur

I ran to the burial mound of my father to free her. (back in present scene with MERLIN) To kill you.

Arthur

Father, please... let loose your sword.

Arthur

I feel the heat of that fire on my face even now.

Arthur

There is not destiny. There is only free will.

Arthur

I'm sorry for your loss

Arthur

The path he chose was beyond the reach of the church, Alecto

Arthur

What, that some men are born to be slaves? No, that isn't true.

Arthur

Pelagius, a man as close to me as any there is now teaching that all men are free. Equal. And that each of us has the right to choose his own destiny.

Arthur

Get them all out of the carriages. Tell them to spread out.

Arthur

Ganis, I need you to lead the people. The main Saxon army is inland so if you track the coastline until you’re well south of the wall, you’ll be safe.

Arthur

No. You must bear witness to what you have seen.There’s one thing you must do, and that’s get back to Rome.

Arthur

Hold until I give the command

Arthur

I believe they’re waiting for an invitation. Bors, Tristan.

Arthur

Aim for the wings of the ranks. Make them cluster

Arthur

It’s not going to crack. Fall back. Fall back! (draws Excalibur) Prepare for combat.

Arthur

Bishop Germanius. Friend of my father.

Arthur

It was my father's wish that if he died on this island he would be buried with his knights.

Arthur

It's a family tradition

Arthur

Deeds in themselves are meaningless unless they are done for some higher purpose. We have waged a war to protect a Rome that doesn't exist. Is that the deed I am to be judged by?

Arthur

Pelagius told me once there is no worse death, (voice breaks, he is obviously trying not to cry) than the end of hope.

Arthur

Perhaps the curse is of our own making. And the blessing.

Arthur

You ask me that. You who know me best of all?

Arthur

You be my friend now and do not dissuade me. Seize the freedom you have earned and live it for the both of us. I cannot follow you, Lancelot. I now know that all the blood I have shed, all the lives I have taken have led me to this moment.

Arthur

I fight for a cause beyond Rome’s or your understanding

Arthur

I came to see your face, so that I alone may find you on the battlefield, and it would be good for you if you marked my face, Saxon, for the next time you see it, it will be the last thing you see on this earth.

Arthur

Knights. The gift of freedom is yours by right. But the home we seek resides not in some distant land. It's in us! And in our actions on this day! If this be our destiny, then so be it. But let history remember that as free men, we chose to make it so.

Arthur

It was my life to be taken! Not this! Never this!

Arthur

My brave knights, I have failed you. I neither took you off this island, nor shared your fate.

Arthur

Let every man, woman, child bear witness that from this day, all Britons will be united in one common cause.