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+*** START OF THE PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK 14628 ***
+
+_The Sweet and Touching Tale of_
+
+FLEUR & BLANCHEFLEUR
+
+[Illustration]
+
+
+
+
+_The Sweet and Touching Tale of_
+FLEUR & BLANCHEFLEUR
+
+A Mediæval Legend Translated from
+the French by Mrs. Leighton, with
+Thirty-seven Coloured Illustrations by
+Eleanor Fortescue Brickdale
+
+[Illustration]
+
+PUBLISHED IN LONDON BY
+DANIEL O'CONNOR, AT 90 GREAT
+RUSSELL STREET, W.C.1. 1922
+
+
+
+
+
+_The Sweet and Touching Tale of_
+
+FLEUR & BLANCHEFLEUR
+
+
+
+
+_Chapter I_
+
+
+It is recorded by ancient chronicles that in the year of grace 624 a
+certain heathen King of Spain, Fenis by name, whose Queen was also a
+heathen, crossed over the sea with a mighty host into Christendom, and
+there, in the space of three days, made such havoc of the land, with
+destruction of towns, churches, and cloisters, that for full thirty
+miles from the shore where he had landed, not a human being or
+habitation was left to show where happy homes had been. Moreover, this
+King Fenis, while lading his ships with the booty thus ill-got, posted
+forty of his men in ambush over against the highway, there to lie in
+wait for any pilgrims who might pass by; and when presently a weary
+pilgrim band was seen toiling down the steep slope of a mountain nigh at
+hand, the forty thieves rushed out upon the pilgrims and threatened them
+with death, to escape which they readily parted with their goods; one
+only of the band showed fight, and he was a Count of France, conducting
+his daughter, a new-made widow, to the shrine of St. James at
+Compostella, where she had vowed to offer up prayer for her lord, lately
+slain in battle.
+
+Bravely this Count fought, but all in vain, for, overborne by numbers,
+he was killed, and his daughter carried a captive to the heathen King
+Fenis, who, straightway taking ship, sailed back to Spain, and, when
+King Fenis was come home again, he divided the spoil among his soldiery,
+giving a portion to each man according to his rank; but the Christian
+lady he bestowed upon his Queen, who, long desirous of such an
+attendant, received her gladly into the royal apartments, suffering her
+to retain her Christian creed: in return for this kindness, the captive
+lady did good service, waiting faithfully both late and early on the
+Queen, and giving her instruction in the French tongue. Moreover, by her
+gentleness, wisdom, and discretion, this Christian captive won all
+hearts in the heathen court.
+
+[Illustration]
+
+Now it happened that on Palm Sunday after these things the Queen gave
+birth to a lovely boy, whom the learned heathen masters, because he was
+born in the season of flowers, named Fleur; [more correctly 'Floire.']
+and on that same Palm Sunday the Christian captive lady bore a daughter,
+whom with her own hands she baptized, giving her the name of
+Blanchefleur.
+
+At the birth of his son, King Fenis rejoiced, and made great
+festivities; also he commanded that the infant should be nursed by a
+heathen, but brought up by the Christian captive, who, thus being
+charged with both children, tended them with such loving care that she
+scarce knew which was dearest to her, the King's son or her own
+daughter. So tended, the two children grew to be the sweetest and
+loveliest ever seen, and such was the love that they bore each one to
+the other that they could not endure to be parted.
+
+[Illustration]
+
+[Illustration]
+
+
+
+
+_Chapter II_
+
+
+[Illustration]
+
+When some time had passed and King Fenis marked that the intelligence of
+his son was now beginning to awake, he called the child to him and said:
+'Fleur, now must you go diligently to school and learn of the wise
+Master Gaidon.' But for all answer to this command Fleur burst into
+tears, crying out:
+
+'Father! neither reading, writing, nor aught else will I learn, except I
+have Blanchefleur to be my fellow scholar.' To this the king consented,
+so the two children with great joy went hand in hand to school, and
+there by mutual aid and encouragement so quickly acquired the rudiments
+of learning that in no long time they were able to exchange love
+letters, which, being written in the Latin tongue, were not understood
+by the other scholars.
+
+[Illustration]
+
+The tender love which, thus growing with their growth, knit the hearts
+of these two children together, began, however, to cause displeasure to
+the King, who, fearing lest it should tend to thwart his plan of wedding
+his son to a royal bride, determined to part the two, if by fair
+means--well! if not, then by Blanchefleur's death; but the Queen, in
+dread that her son might die of grief, pled with her lord to spare
+Blanchefleur, saying: 'Sir! rather command Master Gaidon, under pretext
+of failing health, to give up his charge. Thus shall occasion be made
+for sending Fleur to school at Montorio, where my aunt is Duchess, and
+among the many high-born maidens there assembled, haply he may find
+another love.'
+
+[Illustration]
+
+To this plan the King consented, yet found not in it the help he hoped;
+for, on hearing that he was to go to Montorio, leaving his Blanchefleur
+at home to tend her mother, who, like Master Gaidon, was commanded to
+feign herself sick, Fleur became so frantic with grief that, to calm his
+transports, the King and Queen were fain to promise that, in two weeks'
+time, Blanchefleur should follow him to Montorio.
+
+Somewhat comforted by this promise, Fleur took a tender farewell of his
+love, whom he fondly kissed and embraced in the presence of her mother
+and his own father.
+
+[Illustration]
+
+King Fenis, though by no means best pleased with his son's deportment,
+yet sent him nobly equipped and provided to Montorio, where, on arrival,
+Fleur was warmly welcomed by Duke Toras, the Duchess, and their daughter
+Sibylla, and, when recovered from the fatigue of travel, was by Sibylla
+conducted to school, where many a fair and noble damsel was to be
+seen. All was in vain: no matter what of beauty or of loveliness might
+meet his eye or strike his ear, the thoughts of Fleur were ever and only
+with his Blanchefleur, for whose sake he heaved many a sigh and dropped
+many a tear against the day appointed for her coming; and when it came
+and brought her not, because his parents trusted that she was now
+forgotten, Fleur drooped and pined; unable, from heaviness of heart, to
+eat, drink, or sleep; and when his chamberlain saw that Fleur was sick
+he hasted back to tell King Fenis, who, calling for his Queen, took
+counsel with her on the matter. 'What remedy there be for Fleur I know
+not,' said the King, 'but this thing I know full well, that Blanchefleur
+has cast a spell upon him, and by enchantment has bound him so fast in
+love to her that he can look on none other than herself; so go, fetch me
+Blanchefleur, that she may die and be forgotten.'
+
+Once more did the Queen plead for Blanchefleur's life.
+
+[Illustration]
+
+'Sir,' said she, 'it is ill said that Blanchefleur has bewitched our
+child, for she loves him with a love that passes words, and has known no
+joy since he departed, but sits alone in tears and sorrow, refusing to
+eat.'
+
+[Illustration]
+
+Thus did the Queen save Blanchefleur from a cruel death, and thus did
+she further counsel her lord: 'Ah, sir!' said she, ''twere sin and shame
+to slay the child thus untried and unheard; better far, let her be taken
+to the harbour, and there sold away into distant lands and never be
+heard of more.'
+
+Approving the counsel of his Queen, King Fenis sent for two rich
+merchants, and bade them take Blanchefleur and sell her to foreign
+traders at the harbour of Nicæa, which they promised faithfully to do.
+
+When dismissed from the presence of the King and Queen, these two
+merchants hastened to the port of Nicæa, and, out of the many foreign
+traders who there bought and sold, chose two rich dealers from a distant
+land, who purchased Blanchefleur at a price that caused the vendors to
+rejoice, for these men gave 100 pounds of gold, 100 of silver, 100 webs
+of Indian silk, 100 scarlet mantles, 100 good horses, and 300 birds,
+such as falcons, hawks, and sparrow-hawks: last and greatest of all,
+they gave a cup matchless in beauty and beyond all price. Vulcan had
+made this cup, and on it he had pictured how Paris, son of Priam, king
+in Troy, had carried off Helena, and was pursued in wrath by Menelaus,
+Helena's lord, together with his brother Agamemnon, at the head of a
+mighty host; and how the Greeks besieged and stormed Troy town, which
+the Trojans for their part defended, and when the city was taken, Æneas
+brought away the cup and gave it to a brother of his love Lavinia.
+
+[Illustration]
+
+When the purchase was completed, these traders led Blanchefleur away to
+Babylon, and offered her for sale to its Admiral, whom she pleased so
+well that he bought her for ten times her weight in gold from these
+merchants, who, well pleased with the price bestowed, departed after
+thanks given to the Admiral, who, judging from her great beauty and rich
+attire that his new purchase must come of noble race, resolved to break
+his rule of oft-repeated marriage by plighting his troth once and for
+all to her and her alone. With this intent accordingly he sent
+Blanchefleur to the women's tower, appointing twenty-five maidens for
+her service and solace, seeing that she was ere long to be crowned Queen
+of Babylon.
+
+No sooner, however, did Blanchefleur, a helpless stranger in a distant
+land, find herself in a chamber alone and undisturbed, than, giving way
+to tears and lamentations, she cried, 'Alas, Fleur! who has torn us
+asunder? Never shall I cease to love and mourn you, for well know I that
+your heart is rent with the same pangs of love and grief, and that we
+both must surely die, for without love who would consent to live?'
+
+
+
+
+_Chapter III_
+
+
+Now, leaving Blanchefleur thus bewailing herself at Babylon, let us
+return to King Fenis and his Queen. On receiving at the hands of the two
+merchants the goodly treasure paid as Blanchefleur's price, King Fenis
+was well pleased, but not so the Queen, who in trouble of spirit cried,
+'Now must we take good heed what we do, lest Fleur our son die of
+grief.' King Fenis accordingly, after taking thought upon the matter,
+caused a tomb of exceeding beauty to be made, of ivory, of marble, and
+of crystals, and in the tomb was set a coffin, and on the coffin were
+figured in gold the images of two children in the likeness of Fleur and
+Blanchefleur; on the head of each child was a crown of gold, and in that
+of Fleur was set a carbuncle that sparkled bright by night as in the
+day. Moreover, long pipes were laid down, which, catching the wind as it
+blew, caused the children to fondle and embrace each other as though in
+sport and play, and when the wind ceased they stood still, each one
+proffering to the other the flowers it held, and all seemed natural as
+life itself.
+
+Never had maiden a costlier tomb, for it was encrusted with precious
+gems, such as sapphires, chalcedonies, amethyst, topaz, turquoise,
+jasper, chrysolite, diamond, and jacinth; also in letters of gold it
+bore this inscription:
+
+  _'Here lies Blanchefleur, who loved young Fleur
+  with tender love and true.'_
+
+[Illustration: Who loved young Fleur with tender love and true]
+
+When all things were now ready, King Fenis, bidding his people beware
+for their lives of breathing a word to the effect that Blanchefleur,
+being yet alive, was not buried in this tomb, sent to Montorio, bidding
+his son return home. Joyfully did Fleur, all unknowing what had passed,
+obey the summons, and when, after greeting and salutation offered to his
+parents, he asked for Blanchefleur, and no man dared to answer him, he
+ran to her mother's chamber and asked where was Blanchefleur, whom he
+had left there.
+
+'Fleur,' said the mother, 'I know not where she is.'
+
+'Mock me not,' cried he, 'but say where is she whom for these three long
+weeks I have not seen?'
+
+Then said the lady, 'Blanchefleur is dead and buried.'
+
+At these words spoken Fleur fell stunned and senseless as though from a
+heavy blow, and the mother in her terror gave a cry, which, being heard
+throughout the court, brought the King and Queen running in, to behold
+with horror and dismay their child stretched lifeless on the ground.
+
+When at length Fleur came to himself, neither prayers nor threats
+availed to calm the violence of his grief, but when he begged to see his
+beloved's tomb, the Queen his mother led him by the hand to the vault
+where she was supposed to lie; and, when Fleur read the golden letters
+that told how Blanchefleur lay within the tomb, he thrice fell fainting
+on it, and when at length his spirit came again, he cried, kneeling upon
+the tomb, 'Alas, my Blanchefleur! why have you forsaken me? We who lived
+and loved, should we not have died together? Woe, woe is me thus left
+without my love; Oh, cruel Death, to take my dear away! Why tarry now?
+come, take my life, or I myself will take it, and so pass to those
+bright fields of light where dwells the soul of Blanchefleur amid the
+flowers!'
+
+After this lament Fleur arose, and drawing a golden stilus from its
+case, he said, 'This stilus, her parting gift, and all now left to me
+of Blanchefleur, shall be my comfort by taking me from a world in which
+without her I cannot bear to live.' So saying, Fleur would have stabbed
+himself to the heart with the golden stilus, but the Queen his mother
+tore it from his hand, crying: 'What madness were it to lose your life
+for love! Be well assured that never thus could you come to Blanchefleur
+in her flowery meads; rather would you be sent to dwell in eternal grief
+and pain with Pyramus and Thisbe, who for a like offence were condemned
+to seek forever the comfort that they shall never find in love: take
+heart, therefore, my child, for I have skill to call your Blanchefleur
+back to life.'
+
+[Illustration]
+
+After these words spoken to Fleur, the Queen, in sore trouble of spirit,
+sought her lord the King, and showing to him the golden stilus, said,
+'Sir, take pity on your child, for with this golden stilus he had done
+himself to death but for my staying hand; and, sir, were he, our only
+child, to die, bethink you how grievous would be our loss! Say then,
+sir, what think you were best to do?' To the entreaties of his Queen,
+King Fenis thus made reply: 'Tell Fleur to be comforted, seeing that his
+Blanchefleur lives.'
+
+Glad at heart to be bearer of such a message, the Queen hasted to her
+son, and, taking him apart, she said to the sorrowing Fleur, 'Weep no
+more, but know the truth; your love lies not in the tomb.'
+
+Then, opening the coffin and showing to him its emptiness, the Queen
+told all to Fleur: how she and the King his father had sent him to
+Montorio, that there he might forget his Blanchefleur, a Christian and a
+slave, and choose in her stead a heathen bride of royal race, and how,
+finding him still faithful, King Fenis could have slain Blanchefleur,
+but, yielding to his Queen's entreaties, had spared her life and sold
+her for much gold into distant lands.
+
+Then, standing before that empty grave, Fleur rejoiced with exceeding
+joy, and vowed a vow that he would go forth and search through the wide
+world till he found his love or died in the attempt.
+
+
+
+
+_Chapter IV_
+
+[Illustration]
+
+
+When Fleur had thus learned all the truth, he left the empty tomb and
+sought his father, saying, 'Father, let me go forth into the wide world
+to seek my Blanchefleur, for till she is found I can know neither peace
+nor joy.' Hearing these words from his son, King Fenis was sorely
+troubled, cursing in his heart the day on which he had sold
+Blanchefleur, whom now he would fain have bought back ten pounds dearer
+than he sold her, did he but know where she was to be found.
+
+'Abide with me, O Fleur, my son!' pleaded the King, 'and I will wed you
+to a royal bride!'
+
+[Illustration]
+
+'Not so, my father!' Fleur replied; 'for there lives no woman upon earth
+that I can love save Blanchefleur, and her alone; so be content to let
+me go!'
+
+'If needs must, then go,' said King Fenis, yielding to his son's desire,
+'and I will make provision of all things needful for your journey.'
+
+''Twere best,' said Fleur, 'for me to travel as a merchant; so give me,
+I pray you, twelve mules, three laden with skins, three with coin of the
+realm, two with costly apparel of silk, velvet and scarlet, and the
+other four with furs. Give me also twelve muleteers to lead the mules,
+and twelve men-at-arms to be my guard; likewise one of your stewards,
+and a chamberlain of wisdom and discretion; last of all, send with me
+the two merchants, who, having sold Blanchefleur into distant lands,
+will best know how and where to seek her.'
+
+[Illustration]
+
+[Illustration]
+
+At the thought and talk of parting the King wept sore, yet gave to his
+son according to his desire, adding thereto a palfrey, richly
+caparisoned; and when Fleur, wearing golden spurs, was mounted on the
+palfrey and would be gone, his mother came to say farewell, and gave him
+as her parting gift a ring, which she bade him ever wear, for the fair
+gem set in this golden ring had magic power to ward off hurt from foe,
+or fire, or water, or of wild beasts, nor while he wore it could any man
+refuse him aught he asked: so Fleur, with heartfelt thanks to his mother
+for so great a gift, put the ring upon his ringer. Then came good-bye,
+said with sorrow sore and deep on either side, more especially by
+father and mother, who with sinking hearts thrice kissed their son, well
+knowing that they should see his face no more.
+
+[Illustration]
+
+Thus provided and equipped with loving care did Fleur ride forth into
+the wide world in quest of Blanchefleur, steadfastly purposing to find
+her or perish in the quest; and, having left his home, he rode with all
+his train to the seaport of Nicæa, where Blanchefleur had been sold, and
+when come there he took his lodgings in the house of a rich man, who
+nobly entertained his guest; but Fleur, thinking only of his love, sate
+dolefully at table, scarce knowing what or if he ate, and this his
+mournful mien being perceived by the hostess, she bade her husband mark
+it too, saying, 'Master, see you how sad and thoughtful is that young
+man who sits and sighs? He calls himself a merchant, but I misdoubt me
+what may be the wares he seeks!' Then turning to Fleur himself this
+hostess said, 'Young sir, in sitting thus sad and silent, and keeping
+fast where a feast is spread; likewise, in age, mien, and bearing, you
+recall to my remembrance a fair maiden who no long time ago was here,
+and sate sighing as you now do. Her name was Blanchefleur, and Fleur
+the name of him she mourned, and for whose sake she was brought to this
+port of Nicæa and sold for a great price to merchants who were leading
+her away to Babylon, there, as they hoped, to sell her again at double
+the price they gave.'
+
+At the sound of Blanchefleur's name Fleur answered not, but for very
+bewilderment of joy overturned the wine-cup before him with his knife.
+When somewhat come to himself, he drew from his stores a golden cup and
+offered it to the hostess, saying, 'Accept this cup as payment, both for
+the wine which has been spilt and for the tidings you have given of my
+lost Blanchefleur;' and when the hostess had thanked him, Fleur arose
+and went to the harbour, and there hired a ship in which to sail to
+Babylon; and when the ship was ready he and his servants, and all that
+they had, embarked in it, and sailed on and on till they came to a city
+called Bagdad; and at Bagdad they landed, and took up their abode with a
+rich man, who set the best of everything before them; but though Fleur
+sate at the table, his thoughts were far away with his lost love.
+
+'Sir,' said the host, marking the dejection of his guest, 'why do you
+not eat? Is the fare not to your taste?' And when Fleur answered not to
+his inquiries, the host continued, 'Young sir, give ear to me! I will
+tell you somewhat to distract your thoughts. No long time ago some
+merchants came to this house to spend the night, and with them they
+brought a maiden, who for fairness of face and sorrow of heart resembled
+you, for she sate weeping, and would neither eat nor drink, and by those
+of her company she was called Blanchefleur.'
+
+'Sir host!' cried Fleur with altered mien, 'can you not tell me more?
+Marked you not what road the travellers took on leaving you?'
+
+'Young sir,' replied the host, 'they took the road to Babylon.'
+
+Then Fleur arose, and brought from his store a golden cup and a scarlet
+mantle. 'Take these,' said he to the host, 'as my gift, but keep your
+thanks for Blanchefleur, who reigns within my heart.'
+
+[Illustration]
+
+Well pleased with such a lordly gift, the host wished his guest
+God-speed and good-luck to find his love.
+
+Supper over, the company retired to rest, and at the morrow's early dawn
+Fleur himself awoke his chamberlain and bade him rouse their people, as
+he would be up and away; so when all was ready they set forth, guided
+through the city by their host, and when he had set them on the right
+way, they rode on and on till they came to a great river, and saw on its
+farther side a city, Montfelis by name; and here was no bridge, but only
+a horn hanging on a cypress tree for those to blow who would call the
+ferryman.
+
+So Fleur blew the horn, which being heard in Montfelis, presently a
+large boat appeared in which the servants and baggage were ferried
+across the river, but the master ferryman took Fleur alone in a little
+boat.
+
+[Illustration]
+
+'Young sir,' said the boatman, marking the doleful bearing of his
+passenger, 'whither go you and what seek you in this land?'
+
+'As you may see, we are merchants,' replied Fleur, 'and on our way to
+Babylon, but as to-night it is too late to travel farther, can you tell
+us of any hostelry where we and our horses may stay the night?'
+
+'Sir,' said the boatman, 'truly I know of an inn to suit your purpose,
+but the cause which moved me to ask your journey's purpose is, that not
+long ago we ferried across this river a maiden who resembled you in form
+and sadness, and by the people with her she was called Blanchefleur;
+this Blanchefleur was the fairest creature ever seen; and in my own
+house she told me that she was loved by a heathen prince, and because of
+him had been sold away into distant lands.'
+
+Starting up in eager haste at sound of Blanchefleur's name, Fleur cried,
+'And whither went the maiden Blanchefleur on leaving you?'
+
+[Illustration]
+
+'Young sir,' replied the boatman, as I have heard tell, Blanchefleur
+was sold to the Admiral of Babylon, and he loved her more than all his
+wives.'
+
+At these tidings Fleur rejoiced; but, fearing for his life, he let drop
+no word of seeking Blanchefleur.
+
+After lodging for the night in the ferry-house, Fleur asked his host if
+he could commend him to any good friend in Babylon for lodging and
+furtherance in his trade.
+
+'Yes, truly that I can,' replied the boatman. 'At the entrance to
+Babylon you will find a river, and on the river a bridge, and on the
+bridge a toll-keeper, to whom, if you give this ring from me, you will
+be welcome.'
+
+
+
+
+_Chapter V_
+
+
+Having said adieu to the friendly boatman, Fleur pushed on with such
+diligence that by eventide he reached the bridge which guarded the
+approach to Babylon, and, on presenting the ring to the toll-keeper, was
+by him kindly received and taken for the night to his house in the city.
+
+Next day, when Fleur went forth to view the city, and beheld how great
+was the Admiral's might and how strong were the town's defences, his
+heart fainted within him. 'Alas!' thought he, 'I am now where
+Blanchefleur is, but what does that avail me? It was ill done to leave
+my father's house, where I might have found another love, and even now
+'twere best to turn and save my life, for did the Admiral but hear of me
+I were a dead man, seeing that not for all the treasure of all the world
+would he give up my Blanchefleur; so what seek I here, where I have none
+to trust and no hope of help?'
+
+While Fleur yet stood thus rapt in melancholy meditation, his host came
+up and thus accosted him: 'Friend! why stand you thus looking so
+ill-pleased? if any thing be amiss in your food and lodging, tell me and
+it shall be mended.'
+
+'Sir,' replied Fleur, 'all in your house is so well appointed that my
+whole life were scarce long enough to give you thanks equal to the
+service I have received; but, from fear of failing in the business that
+calls me here, I am sorely troubled and distressed.'
+
+'Let us first to dinner, and after that we will talk your matter over,'
+said the host.
+
+So the two went home and sate them down to table; but Fleur, marking
+that his servant had served him with the cup that was Blanchefleur's
+price, was so pierced to the heart with sorrow at the sight that the
+tears streamed from his eyes, and Lycoris, the hostess, in pity for his
+pain, said to her husband Daries, 'Quick, sir! let us clear the table,
+for this young man seeks other support than food.'
+
+[Illustration]
+
+So, when the table was cleared, Daries desired his guest to declare his
+grief, if so be that help for it might be found in counsel. But said
+Lycoris again: 'Sir, so far as I can judge by his mien and bearing, I
+deem that this youth grieves for the maiden Blanchefleur, who, now shut
+up in the Admiral's high tower, spent two weeks with us in grievous
+sorrow of heart, bewailing her sad fate in being thus sold away far from
+the youth she loved, and for whose sake she shed many a tear and heaved
+many a sigh; and, as you may remember, sir, on leaving us this
+Blanchefleur was bought by the Admiral for ten times her weight in gold.
+Now, to my thinking, this youth is brother or lover to the maiden
+Blanchefleur.'
+
+'No brother but her lover am I!' cried Fleur in glad surprise; then
+bethinking him how by such heedless speech his life was put in peril,
+he cried again: 'No! no! I don't mean that; I am brother and not lover
+to Blanchefleur. We are children of the same parents.'
+
+'With all respect for your word, young sir, you contradict yourself in
+one breath,' said Daries the host. 'Best speak the truth out plainly as,
+forsooth, I now do in declaring that it were madness to come in quest of
+the maiden Blanchefleur; for, if the Admiral but hears of you, you are a
+dead man.'
+
+[Illustration]
+
+'Sir,' said Fleur, 'hear the whole truth--I am son to the King of Spain,
+and seek my stolen Blanchefleur, without whom I cannot live; help me to
+her, and I will give you gold to your heart's content, for ere another
+moon has waxed and waned, find her I must or die.'
+
+'Life,' replied Daries, 'were ill lost for sake of a maiden, whom no aid
+of mine can make your own, seeing that not, were the whole world to help
+you, could Blanchefleur be taken from the Admiral, Lord of a hundred
+kings, whose city Babylon is a four-square of twenty miles, and has for
+its defence walls full seventy feet in height, built of a stone so hard
+that no engine of war from enemies without can pierce their stony front,
+and in these walls are three-and-thirty doors of solid steel let in with
+cunning art, and high uplifted are seven hundred towers, the loftiest
+ever seen by mortal eye, and these towers are guarded by seven hundred
+great lords, each one of whom is great as any king; and if all these
+suffice not to prove the madness of your quest, know that in the heart
+of the city a mighty castle stands; four stories high is the castle, and
+on the fourth and topmost dwells your Blanchefleur, together with four
+other noble damsels in a fair chamber, whose windows are cased in wood
+of the sweet-scented myrtle tree, while its doors are formed of ebony
+that never yields to fire, and this ebony is overlaid with beaten gold,
+on which are graven strange devices of words and scroll and flower-work,
+and, because none but maidens dwell there, this tower is called the
+Maidens' Tower. In its midst stands a crystal pillar, and from the
+pillar gushes forth a fountain, whose waters are led on arches into
+every room, and so back into the pillar; and from the maidens' chamber a
+winding stair leads to that wherein dwells the Admiral himself, and
+whither, for fourteen days' service at a time, two maidens must wait
+morning and evening on their Lord, one with a fair linen towel, the
+other with water in a golden bowl. Fierce and cruel beyond words is the
+watchman of this tower, and any man who, without good and lawful cause,
+approaches it, he slays. Besides all this, the tower day and night is
+guarded by sixteen furious men, who never close their eyes in sleep;
+and there is yet another strange thing which you shall hear.
+
+[Illustration]
+
+'Every springtide the Admiral takes to him a wife; and when the year is
+out, he calls to him all the lords, kings, and princes of his realm, and
+in their presence casts off his wife, and causes a knight to behead her,
+that no man may wed her after him; thus with the bitterness of an early
+death does she pay for the fleeting honour of royal wedlock; and when
+his wife is dead, the Admiral, with intent to replace her with another,
+summons the maidens who are within the tower to appear before him in a
+garden, which trembling they enter, none coveting the fatal honour of
+his choice. This garden, which walls of gold and lapis-lazuli enclose,
+contains noble trees of every kind, so that in it may be found at all
+seasons every fruit known to mankind; precious spices also abound, such
+as ginger, cinnamon, balm, cloves, nutmeg, and mace; all which, together
+with the scent of flowers and the song of birds, makes of this garden a
+very earthly paradise. In the midst of this paradise gushes forth a
+spring of clear water, and overhanging the spring is a tree, ever green
+and ever putting forth fresh blossoms and varied fruits.
+
+'Beneath this tree the Admiral, surrounded by his lords, takes his seat;
+and when seated, he causes the maidens one by one to cross the stream
+before him; if they be good maidens and true the water remains clear as
+crystal, but if it turn dark and turbid they may prepare for death. This
+ordeal passed, the Admiral calls the maidens before him beneath the
+blooming tree, which by magic art drops one of its rosy blossoms on her
+whom its Lord loves best, and who accordingly becomes Queen for one
+fleeting year. Now, dear youth, bethink you what wise man would cheer
+you on in the quest of Blanchefleur, seeing that, ere this very month be
+out, the Admiral will hold this marriage feast with a new-made wife, who
+all say will be this Blanchefleur, whose loveliness has won his heart?
+Moreover, for some time past, it is she and Clarissa, her companion, who
+have been called to wait on their Lord, morning and evening, with the
+linen towel and the golden bowl; for which cause they live in daily
+terror of being chosen, the one or other, to be his crowned victim.'
+
+'Oh good mine host!' cried Fleur, goaded to madness by what he heard,
+'help me with your counsel how to act. My Blanchefleur will I claim
+within that garden, for she is mine, and mine alone. What if I die?
+Death for her sake is sweet, as it but sends me on before to that fair
+paradise whither her soul will follow mine, to dwell for ever amid the
+flowers.'
+
+'Young man,' said the host, 'by your readiness to brave all perils--nay,
+even death itself--for sake of your dear love, I see that you are
+steadfast of purpose; and therefore, though perilling my own life
+thereby, I will give you counsel which, if followed, shall not turn to
+your hurt.' So saying, Daries took Fleur aside, and in secret unfolded
+to him a plan, which Fleur accepting with grateful heart followed out in
+such wise as the coming chapter will record.
+
+
+
+
+_Chapter VI_
+
+[Illustration]
+
+
+Arising betimes next day, Fleur, as instructed by his host, arrayed
+himself with great magnificence, and in this bravery of attire started
+for the Maidens' Tower. When come there, he set with great seeming
+earnestness and diligence to measuring the tower's dimensions of height,
+depth, length, and breadth; soon, however, his business was rudely
+interrupted by the watchman, who, catching sight of this measuring
+stranger, shouted at him for a spy, asking by what right or by whose
+leave he came there to meddle with the tower of the Lord High Admiral of
+Babylon.
+
+Unabashed by this rough reception, Fleur replied in easy, careless
+phrase: 'Friend, the shape and form of your tower please me so well that
+I am taking their dimensions, with intent, on returning to my own land,
+of building me such a tower to be my treasure-house; and taking this one
+of yours to be used for the like purpose, I would fain seek admittance
+to examine it within as well as without, which admittance might indeed
+be granted to me without fear by you and your Lord, seeing that I am
+wealthier than the two of you put together.'
+
+'In mistrusting this man I erred,' thought the watchman; 'for, indeed,
+such rich attire would ill become a spy.' So, after putting some
+searching questions to test his quality, the watchman, eased of doubt by
+the ready answers he received, invited the stranger to step into his
+house and play a game of chess; and when Fleur, accepting the challenge
+and invitation, was come in, his host and opponent said, 'Now, sir, say
+what shall be the stakes?'
+
+'A hundred byzants a side,' said Fleur.
+
+'Done with you!' cried the host; and when, at his call, a chess-board of
+ebony and ivory was brought, the two sate down to play.
+
+Now Fleur wore upon his finger that priceless ring, his mother's parting
+gift, and in playing took heed to keep its gem turned outwards towards
+his opponent, who, seeing, coveted the jewel; and by keeping his eye on
+it and off the board, speedily lost the game, and with it, to his fury,
+the double stakes; but Fleur, forewarned by the friendly Daries that his
+antagonist's greed of gain equalled his love of chess, refused to take
+the winnings, and was accordingly invited by the grateful loser to come
+and play a return match on the morrow. Fleur accepted the challenge, and
+next day staking two hundred byzants against as many on the watchman's
+side, he again contrived, by help of the ring, to win the game and
+stakes, and as before handed over the latter to his antagonist, who,
+equally amazed and delighted by such unwonted liberality, declared
+himself ready to perform any service for so generous a player. Next day
+the stakes rose to four hundred byzants on either side, and were won by
+Fleur, who promptly relieved the horror of his host at such heavy loss
+by handing over to him the entire eight hundred. Overcome by such
+liberality, the watchman invited his noble opponent to a collation in
+his chamber on the following day; and when Fleur thus bidden appeared,
+he brought with him his splendid drinking-cup, and placed it on the
+board before him.
+
+[Illustration]
+
+The watchman, unable to keep his eyes off the cup, so greatly did he
+admire it, offered, if his guest would play him for it, to stake a
+thousand byzants on his side.
+
+'Sell or game away the cup I may not,' replied Fleur; 'but for help in
+the time of need I will freely give it.'
+
+Then, overcome by greed of so goodly a gift, the watchman swore to Fleur
+that he would be his man, and do service good and true, whensoever and
+howsoever he might be called on.
+
+Having thus made sure of the guardian of the tower, Fleur plainly said
+that he must find his way within to his beloved or die.
+
+'Ah, friend!' cried the watchman, sorely repenting him of his rash
+promise; 'I fear me your riches have lured me on to the destruction of
+us both; nevertheless, the word that I have given I will keep, so return
+now to your lodging, and there abide for two days; and on the third,
+which will be May Day, come again to me, all clad from head to foot in
+rosy red, and you shall be borne up to the topmost story of the tower
+where Blanchefleur dwells.'
+
+
+
+
+_Chapter VII_
+
+
+[Illustration]
+
+At the bidding of his watchman friend Fleur went back to his lodging,
+and there in hope and joy abode for two long days; and when the third,
+which was May Day, dawned, he arose and clad himself from head to foot
+in rosy red and hasted to the tower; and when he came to the guard-room,
+he found a great basket on the floor, and heaped up around the basket
+were all the fresh-blown flowers of spring that the watchman had caused
+to be gathered from the gardens of Babylon, as May-Day offering to
+Blanchefleur.
+
+'Sir,' said the watchman, 'here lay you down within the basket and stir
+not.'
+
+So when Fleur was laid down flat and still, within the basket, the
+watchman put a hat of red upon his head, and, this done, covered him all
+over with piles of flowers. This done, he called two strong porters and
+said, 'Carry up this basket of flowers as my May-Day offering to the
+maiden Blanchefleur, and when you have presented it, tarry not, but come
+again to me.'
+
+So the porters, obedient to their officer, took up the basket and began
+to ascend the stairs; but ere they were half-way up, they began to halt
+and curse, vowing that never in all their days had they carried such
+heavy flowers; and when at length the top was reached, they mistook the
+chamber, for they knocked at Clarissa's door, shouting, 'Here, open! to
+receive the watchman's May-Day offering to the maiden Blanchefleur.'
+
+[Illustration]
+
+And at the sound of Blanchefleur's name Clarissa ran and opened wide the
+door; but without telling the porters of their error, she suffered them
+to bring their flowery burden in and then depart. When they were gone,
+Clarissa came and took from the basket a flower that pleased her,
+whereupon Fleur, thinking she was Blanchefleur, sprang out, and so
+startled the maiden that she cried in fright: 'Oh! what is that? Oh!
+what can that be?' And at her cry the other maidens came running in to
+know what had affrighted Clarissa, their companion, but Fleur they
+marked not, because he had laid him down again beneath the blossoms,
+and, being clothed in rosy red, was not distinguished from the roses
+which were his bed; then Clarissa, calling to mind how often she had
+heard Blanchefleur speak of a youth in Spain of form and face resembling
+her own, bethought her that this May-Day offering might be the Spanish
+love of Blanchefleur; so with a laugh she dismissed the maidens who were
+her fellows, saying that a hornet springing out from amid the flowers
+had frighted her. Reader, picture to yourself the terror of Fleur on
+finding he was discovered! But fortune was kind, for Clarissa, the
+captive daughter of a Duke of Alemannia, was the bosom friend of lovely
+Blanchefleur, and often had the two together bemoaned their lot in being
+the pair appointed to wait morning and evening on the Admiral with the
+linen hand-towel and water in the golden bowl.
+
+[Illustration]
+
+Now as the chambers of these two maidens adjoined, and a door led from
+the one into the other, Clarissa with care closed her outer door and
+passed through the inner one into the chamber of Blanchefleur, whom she
+found sitting all woebegone and rapt in thought of her absent love.
+
+'Blanchefleur!' cried Clarissa, 'come with me and I will show you
+flowers such as you never saw before.'
+
+[Illustration]
+
+'Alas! Clarissa,' replied the mournful, drooping Blanchefleur, 'my
+heart is too heavy to be cheered by flowers, seeing that I am so far
+from my love and he from me.'
+
+'Cease your wailing,' cried Clarissa, 'and dear as your love may be, yet
+come and see the lovely flowers!'
+
+So Blanchefleur slowly rising came to see the flowers, whereupon Fleur,
+who heard the voice and knew his love was near, sprang from among the
+blossoms, all clad like the roses in rosy red, and Blanchefleur knew
+him, and he knew her, and they gazed speechless with love and joy face
+to face upon each other, and silently they fell on each other's neck
+with kisses and fond embraces, until at length Blanchefleur found words
+to say, 'Clarissa! behold my love! my heart's delight, my comfort, and
+my joy!' Then the two joined in praying good Clarissa not to part their
+love by declaring it, as that would be their death.
+
+'Have no fear,' replied Clarissa; 'I will help you as best I can; the
+food and wine that are brought for two will suffice for three, and you
+will find me ever true.'
+
+[Illustration]
+
+Then the two lovers went into Blanchefleur's chamber, and sitting them
+down upon the bed, which was spread with a gold-embroidered silken
+cover, they told each other all that had befallen them since their
+parting.
+
+'Ah, love!' sighed Fleur, 'what have I not suffered for your sake? I had
+well-nigh died of sorrow.'
+
+'And I,' said Blanchefleur, 'since the day on which you departed to
+Montorio, have known no joy, but have gone mourning for my love;' and
+then again the lovers kissed each other, and Fleur showed Blanchefleur
+the ring, his mother's parting gift, and told her of its magic power.
+
+Meanwhile good Clarissa, trembling lest the secret of her friend should
+be betrayed, guarded it with jealous care as though it had been her own:
+so these three lived and ate and drank together, letting no living soul
+share their secret, and the lovers, happy as the day was long, would
+gladly thus have lived and died together, but, alas! the course of true
+love never can run smooth, and all too soon was their joy turned into
+sorrow.
+
+One morning Clarissa woke to find the sun already high in the heavens;
+so, running in to Blanchefleur, she bade her too arise, as it was late,
+and full time that both were in attendance on their Lord.
+
+'Go on before,' said Blanchefleur, half-waking and half-dreaming, and I
+will follow;' and she came not, but fell asleep again. So when Clarissa,
+returning from the spring with her golden bowl, again knocked, and this
+time got no answer, she hasted to the Admiral, thinking to find
+Blanchefleur gone on before to him, but she found her not.
+
+'Why tarries Blanchefleur?' asked the Admiral, wondering that Clarissa
+came alone.
+
+'Sire,' said Clarissa, 'all through the night, Blanchefleur was reading
+in her psalter and praying long life for you, and towards the morning
+she fell asleep and slumbers still.'
+
+'That,' said the Admiral, well pleased, 'was a good work, and as reward
+for it Blanchefleur shall be my bride.'
+
+Next morning the same thing happened. Again Clarissa overslept herself,
+and on waking found the sun already high in the heavens; again she
+called to Blanchefleur to make ready while she filled her golden bowl
+with water at the spring, and again Blanchefleur, half-waking and
+half-dreaming, replied, 'I come,' and came not, but fell back in
+slumber, so that Clarissa on hasting to their Lord found no Blanchefleur
+there.
+
+'Where,' again asked the Admiral, 'is Blanchefleur?'
+
+'Sire,' said Clarissa, 'I called in passing at her door ere filling my
+golden bowl with water at the spring, and Blanchefleur said she would be
+here before me.'
+
+In some surprise the Admiral then bade a chamberlain go see why
+Blanchefleur tarried: so the chamberlain hasted to Blanchefleur's
+chamber, which was all ablaze with precious stones, and there, locked in
+each other's arms, found Fleur and Blanchefleur, and, taking Fleur in
+his tender beauty to be Clarissa, the chamberlain had not the heart to
+wake the two, but hasted back to tell his Lord how sweetly Blanchefleur
+and Clarissa slept, and, lo! Clarissa stood before him.
+
+As for the Admiral, he turned white with fury.
+
+
+
+
+_Chapter VIII_
+
+[Illustration]
+
+
+'Give me my sword,' cried the Admiral, 'and with it I will soon find who
+is this feigned Clarissa, for here the true one stands before me.' So
+saying, the furious Lord went with the chamberlain to Blanchefleur's
+chamber, and when the thick silken curtains were drawn aside and the
+bright sunlight streamed in, he beheld the sleeping pair, and so fair
+was Fleur that even the Admiral in his fury doubted if he were not a
+maiden, but all the same with uplifted sword he prepared to smite both
+Fleur and Blanchefleur to the death, when suddenly they awoke, and
+seeing before them this furious Lord with uplifted sword they shed
+bitter tears, well knowing that they must die. 'Miscreant!' cried the
+Admiral to Fleur, 'who are you, and how dared you enter into my Tower?
+For so doing you shall die the death.'
+
+'Have mercy, sire,' said Fleur, 'on the maiden Blanchefleur and on me,
+for we love each other with a love more true and tender than has e'er
+been known before!'
+
+Then came forward the chamberlain and prayed his Lord to spare the
+captives that they might have due trial for their offence.
+
+To this respite the Admiral consented, but, fearing lest the prisoners
+might escape, he commanded that they were to be bound with ropes until
+by the lords of all the land sentence should be passed upon them. Now as
+the Admiral's yearly wedding festival was near at hand, the great lords
+of the realm, such as kings, dukes, counts and barons, were already
+assembled in Babylon; so they appeared without delay at the summons of
+their Lord in his glorious hall, which for splendour could not have been
+matched by Priam, King of Troy, for it was a full mile square, and
+crystal pillars supported its lofty dome. When, therefore, the Admiral
+was enthroned in majesty with all his lords around him, silence was
+commanded, while he thus addressed the assembly:
+
+'My lords, hearken unto me, your King, and pass a sentence on these
+prisoners that will redound to my honour and your own. Behold this
+Blanchefleur, whom for a great price of ten times her own weight in gold
+I bought, thinking to promote her to honour by taking her as my one and
+only wedded wife on the day appointed for my marriage festival, and
+until that day came, that my eyes might be gladdened by her beauty, I
+brought her into my Maidens' Tower and ordained that she and Clarissa,
+her companion, should wait morning and evening upon me with a fair
+linen towel and water in a golden bowl; yet scarce had this Blanchefleur
+been for four months within my Tower than she betrayed me for another,
+whom with herself I had in righteous indignation well-nigh slain. So
+now, my lords, it is for you to pass judgment just and unbending upon
+these offenders.'
+
+[Illustration]
+
+Responding to the call of their King and Admiral, these lords with one
+consent passed sentence of death upon the prisoners, though differing
+among themselves as to the execution of the same. Some were for hanging,
+others for the bow-string, while others again proposed that the culprits
+should be torn asunder by wild horses; most, however, were in favour of
+burning, or perhaps drowning with a heavy stone round the neck: on one
+point, however, all agreed--viz. that the guilty pair must die.
+
+Then arose a certain king, Aliers by name, and thus spoke. 'It is a
+shame and disgrace,' said he, 'to hear in a royal court such babel of
+voices, each crying for a different opinion. Be so good, my lords, as to
+depute one among you to speak for all. Moreover, having now heard the
+accusation of His Highness, it is but just to listen to the prisoners'
+defence.'
+
+'Not so,' cried Basier, King of Arabia, 'not so, my lords. If these
+prisoners have betrayed our Lord the Admiral, let them die unheard, like
+thieves caught in the act and punished red-handed without form of
+trial.'
+
+The Admiral now commanded the prisoners to be produced, who when they
+appeared were very sad, regarding each other with tender pity.
+
+'My Lord,' said Fleur to the Admiral, 'being guilty I am prepared to
+die, but spare my Blanchefleur, for she is innocent, seeing that without
+her knowledge I came within your Tower.'
+
+'My Lord,' cried Blanchefleur, 'the guilt is mine, for had I not been in
+your Tower never would Fleur have sought to enter it. Moreover, it were
+shame that a king's son should die for me, who am but the daughter of
+his handmaid.'
+
+'Not so, my Lord,' cried Fleur again; 'let me die, that Blanchefleur may
+live.'
+
+'Be easy,' said the Admiral, 'for with my own hand I will slay you
+both.' So saying, he made for the prisoners with his drawn sword,
+whereupon Blanchefleur sprang forward and offered her neck for the blow,
+but was dragged back by Fleur, who with indignant tears exclaimed:
+'What! Shall I, to my shame, suffer you, a woman, to die for me, who am
+a man, before the eyes of this great assembly?' And so saying, Fleur
+extended his neck instead for the death-blow, but Blanchefleur in turn
+pulled him back by his clothes and ran in before him, holding out her
+neck. Thus for some time these lovers strove, each seeking to die before
+the other, until for pity the lords began to weep, and even the Admiral,
+feeling his heart relent, let the sword drop from his hands.
+
+Then stepped forward a certain Duke, and in the name of all present
+made earnest petitions for the prisoners' lives. 'Methinks,' said he,
+'that for the safety and honour of our Lord the Admiral 'twere best to
+spare the prisoners, whose death would profit him not, whereas by
+freeing them on condition that Fleur revealed in what wise he stole into
+the Tower, His Highness may discover and punish his unfaithful
+servants.'
+
+The Admiral, marking that all his lords were inclined to mercy, agreed
+to this Duke's proposal and offered their lives to the captives if Fleur
+would but tell how he made his way into the Tower.'
+
+'That, sire, replied Fleur, 'I may only do under promise of pardon to
+those who were my helpers.'
+
+'No! no!' cried the Admiral, furious at the thought of further mercy.
+'They shall all die, every man among them.'
+
+Then came forward a Bishop, who, falling at the Admiral's feet,
+entreated that the gracious mercy of His Highness might be extended to
+all concerned; 'for,' said the Lord Bishop, 'it would please the
+assembled company better to hear the prisoners' story than to behold
+their death.' These words of the Bishop were supported by all the lords,
+who with one acclaim called on their King and Admiral to pardon the
+prisoners at the prayer of his faithful subjects. So the Admiral gave
+ear to the prayer of his lords and pardoned the lovers and all and
+sundry who were their helpers, and when this was done Fleur arose and
+told the whole sweet and touching story of Blanchefleur and himself from
+the time of their birth up to the moment when they were found together
+in the Tower, and when his tale was told Fleur knelt down before the
+Admiral and entreated His Highness with tears for the gift of
+Blanchefleur, for whose sake he had done and suffered so great things;
+seeing, moreover, that without her he could not live, nor indeed could
+she, if torn from him, find life endurable.
+
+Then the Admiral took Fleur by the hand, and kissing him bade him sit
+by his side as beseemed the son of a king, and taking Blanchefleur also
+by the hand His Highness said to Fleur: 'Friend, herewith I give and
+grant to you the maiden Blanchefleur, together with pardon full and free
+of all offence committed by you against my kingly power and majesty.'
+
+[Illustration]
+
+Overcome with joy and gratitude, those lovers sank at the feet of their
+benefactor, who raised and kissed them, and after that he made Fleur a
+knight according to the fashion of the land.
+
+
+
+
+_Chapter IX_
+
+
+[Illustration]
+
+Now when all had turned out thus happily for Fleur and Blanchefleur, the
+Admiral proclaimed a great festival, and in pomp and splendour led to
+church Clarissa, daughter of the Duke of Alemannia, and there took her
+as his one and only wedded wife, to have and to hold, for better for
+worse, to his life's end: in the same church also and at the same time
+were Fleur and Blanchefleur united in holy wedlock. Then came the feast,
+at which the Admiral sat enthroned with his bride Clarissa on one side,
+and Fleur and Blanchefleur on the other, and after them all the lords of
+the realm, placed in order according to their rank. When the banquet was
+over the wedding guests diverted themselves with jousting, tilting,
+wrestling, and jumping matches, not forgetting music and song, that
+lasted for days together, and while the merry-making was at its height,
+behold! there came ambassadors bearing tidings from Spain that King
+Fenis and his Queen were dead, and the mourning country stood in sore
+need of the absent Fleur, heir and successor to the King deceased: and
+at these heavy tidings the joy of Fleur was turned to sorrow, and,
+seeking the Admiral, he prayed His Highness for permission to depart to
+his own country, which so sorely needed its King and ruler; but the
+Admiral, loath to part with the guest he had learned to love, sought to
+persuade Fleur, by promise of a greater and richer kingdom than his own,
+to give up land and people and abide with him; but when Fleur, whose
+heart was true to his home and Spain, would not be tempted from his
+purpose, the Admiral, commending his departing guests to the care of his
+gods, speeded him on his way with many a rich and costly gift. Thus did
+Fleur and Blanchefleur take their journey back again to Spain, and when
+they were come the people received them with great joy, and crowned
+Fleur King in the place of his father Fenis, and Blanchefleur they
+crowned as Queen, and so this happy pair lived on united in tender love
+together to their hundredth year, and when Fleur was made King he
+embraced the Christian faith of his Blanchefleur, and caused all his
+people to become Christians and receive baptism, and soon after these
+things Fleur inherited the land of Hungary from his uncle, who died
+childless; but to Fleur and his Queen Blanchefleur was born a daughter,
+Bertha by name, who became wife to King Pepin of France, and mother of
+Charles, that great Emperor whose fame is known throughout the world.
+
+[Illustration: FINIS]
+
+
+
+
+
+End of the Project Gutenberg EBook of Fleur and Blanchefleur, by Mrs. Leighton
+
+*** END OF THE PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK 14628 ***