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diff --git a/.gitattributes b/.gitattributes new file mode 100644 index 0000000..6833f05 --- /dev/null +++ b/.gitattributes @@ -0,0 +1,3 @@ +* text=auto +*.txt text +*.md text diff --git a/4926.txt b/4926.txt new file mode 100644 index 0000000..c4d8895 --- /dev/null +++ b/4926.txt @@ -0,0 +1,14567 @@ +The Project Gutenberg EBook of The Age of Chivalry, by Thomas Bulfinch +(#2 in our series by Thomas Bulfinch) + +Copyright laws are changing all over the world. Be sure to check the +copyright laws for your country before downloading or redistributing +this or any other Project Gutenberg eBook. + +This header should be the first thing seen when viewing this Project +Gutenberg file. Please do not remove it. Do not change or edit the +header without written permission. + +Please read the "legal small print," and other information about the +eBook and Project Gutenberg at the bottom of this file. Included is +important information about your specific rights and restrictions in +how the file may be used. You can also find out about how to make a +donation to Project Gutenberg, and how to get involved. + + +**Welcome To The World of Free Plain Vanilla Electronic Texts** + +**eBooks Readable By Both Humans and By Computers, Since 1971** + +*****These eBooks Were Prepared By Thousands of Volunteers!***** + + +Title: The Age of Chivalry + +Author: Thomas Bulfinch + +Release Date: January, 2004 [EBook #4926] +[Yes, we are more than one year ahead of schedule] +[This file was first posted on March 27, 2002] + +Edition: 10 + +Language: English + +Character set encoding: ASCII + +*** START OF THE PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK, THE AGE OF CHIVALRY *** + + + + +Robert Rowe, Charles Franks and the Online Distributed Proofreading Team. + + + +BULFINCH'S MYTHOLOGY + +THE AGE OF FABLE + +THE AGE OF CHIVALRY + +LEGENDS OF CHARLEMAGNE + +BY THOMAS BULFINCH + +COMPLETE IN ONE VOLUME + + +[Editor's Note: The etext contains only THE AGE OF CHIVALRY] + + + + + +PUBLISHERS' PREFACE + + +No new edition of Bulfinch's classic work can be considered +complete without some notice of the American scholar to whose wide +erudition and painstaking care it stands as a perpetual monument. +"The Age of Fable" has come to be ranked with older books like +"Pilgrim's Progress," "Gulliver's Travels," "The Arabian Nights," +"Robinson Crusoe," and five or six other productions of world-wide +renown as a work with which every one must claim some acquaintance +before his education can be called really complete. Many readers +of the present edition will probably recall coming in contact with +the work as children, and, it may be added, will no doubt discover +from a fresh perusal the source of numerous bits of knowledge that +have remained stored in their minds since those early years. Yet +to the majority of this great circle of readers and students the +name Bulfinch in itself has no significance. + +Thomas Bulfinch was a native of Boston, Mass., where he was born +in 1796. His boyhood was spent in that city, and he prepared for +college in the Boston schools. He finished his scholastic training +at Harvard College, and after taking his degree was for a period a +teacher in his home city. For a long time later in life he was +employed as an accountant in the Boston Merchants' Bank. His +leisure time he used for further pursuit of the classical studies +which he had begun at Harvard, and his chief pleasure in life lay +in writing out the results of his reading, in simple, condensed +form for young or busy readers. The plan he followed in this work, +to give it the greatest possible usefulness, is set forth in the +Author's Preface. + +"Age of Fable," First Edition, 1855; "The Age of Chivalry," 1858; +"The Boy Inventor," 1860; "Legends of Charlemagne, or Romance of +the Middle Ages," 1863; "Poetry of the Age of Fable," 1863; +"Oregon and Eldorado, or Romance of the Rivers,"1860. + +In this complete edition of his mythological and legendary lore +"The Age of Fable," "The Age of Chivalry," and "Legends of +Charlemagne" are included. Scrupulous care has been taken to +follow the original text of Bulfinch, but attention should be +called to some additional sections which have been inserted to add +to the rounded completeness of the work, and which the publishers +believe would meet with the sanction of the author himself, as in +no way intruding upon his original plan but simply carrying it out +in more complete detail. The section on Northern Mythology has +been enlarged by a retelling of the epic of the "Nibelungen Lied," +together with a summary of Wagner's version of the legend in his +series of music-dramas. Under the head of "Hero Myths of the +British Race" have been included outlines of the stories of +Beowulf, Cuchulain, Hereward the Wake, and Robin Hood. Of the +verse extracts which occur throughout the text, thirty or more +have been added from literature which has appeared since +Bulfinch's time, extracts that he would have been likely to quote +had he personally supervised the new edition. + +Finally, the index has been thoroughly overhauled and, indeed, +remade. All the proper names in the work have been entered, with +references to the pages where they occur, and a concise +explanation or definition of each has been given. Thus what was a +mere list of names in the original has been enlarged into a small +classical and mythological dictionary, which it is hoped will +prove valuable for reference purposes not necessarily connected +with "The Age of Fable." + +Acknowledgments are due the writings of Dr. Oliver Huckel for +information on the point of Wagner's rendering of the Nibelungen +legend, and M. I. Ebbutt's authoritative volume on "Hero Myths and +Legends of the British Race," from which much of the information +concerning the British heroes has been obtained + + + + + +AUTHOR'S PREFACE + + +If no other knowledge deserves to be called useful but that which +helps to enlarge our possessions or to raise our station in +society, then Mythology has no claim to the appellation. But if +that which tends to make us happier and better can be called +useful, then we claim that epithet for our subject. For Mythology +is the handmaid of literature; and literature is one of the best +allies of virtue and promoters of happiness. + +Without a knowledge of mythology much of the elegant literature of +our own language cannot be understood and appreciated. When Byron +calls Rome "the Niobe of nations," or says of Venice, "She looks a +Sea-Cybele fresh from ocean," he calls up to the mind of one +familiar with our subject, illustrations more vivid and striking +than the pencil could furnish, but which are lost to the reader +ignorant of mythology. Milton abounds in similar allusions. The +short poem "Comus" contains more than thirty such, and the ode "On +the Morning of the Nativity" half as many. Through "Paradise Lost" +they are scattered profusely. This is one reason why we often hear +persons by no means illiterate say that they cannot enjoy Milton. +But were these persons to add to their more solid acquirements the +easy learning of this little volume, much of the poetry of Milton +which has appeared to them "harsh and crabbed" would be found +"musical as is Apollo's lute." Our citations, taken from more than +twenty-five poets, from Spenser to Longfellow, will show how +general has been the practice of borrowing illustrations from +mythology. + +The prose writers also avail themselves of the same source of +elegant and suggestive illustration. One can hardly take up a +number of the "Edinburgh" or "Quarterly Review" without meeting +with instances. In Macaulay's article on Milton there are twenty +such. + +But how is mythology to be taught to one who does not learn it +through the medium of the languages of Greece and Rome? To devote +study to a species of learning which relates wholly to false +marvels and obsolete faiths is not to be expected of the general +reader in a practical age like this. The time even of the young is +claimed by so many sciences of facts and things that little can be +spared for set treatises on a science of mere fancy. + +But may not the requisite knowledge of the subject be acquired by +reading the ancient poets in translations? We reply, the field is +too extensive for a preparatory course; and these very +translations require some previous knowledge of the subject to +make them intelligible. Let any one who doubts it read the first +page of the "Aeneid," and see what he can make of "the hatred of +Juno," the "decree of the Parcae," the "judgment of Paris," and +the "honors of Ganymede," without this knowledge. + +Shall we be told that answers to such queries may be found in +notes, or by a reference to the Classical Dictionary? We reply, +the interruption of one's reading by either process is so annoying +that most readers prefer to let an allusion pass unapprehended +rather than submit to it. Moreover, such sources give us only the +dry facts without any of the charm of the original narrative; and +what is a poetical myth when stripped of its poetry? The story of +Ceyx and Halcyone, which fills a chapter in our book, occupies but +eight lines in the best (Smith's) Classical Dictionary; and so of +others. + +Our work is an attempt to solve this problem, by telling the +stories of mythology in such a manner as to make them a source of +amusement. We have endeavored to tell them correctly, according to +the ancient authorities, so that when the reader finds them +referred to he may not be at a loss to recognize the reference. +Thus we hope to teach mythology not as a study, but as a +relaxation from study; to give our work the charm of a story-book, +yet by means of it to impart a knowledge of an important branch of +education. The index at the end will adapt it to the purposes of +reference, and make it a Classical Dictionary for the parlor. + +Most of the classical legends in "Stories of Gods and Heroes" are +derived from Ovid and Virgil. They are not literally translated, +for, in the author's opinion, poetry translated into literal prose +is very unattractive reading. Neither are they in verse, as well +for other reasons as from a conviction that to translate +faithfully under all the embarrassments of rhyme and measure is +impossible. The attempt has been made to tell the stories in +prose, preserving so much of the poetry as resides in the thoughts +and is separable from the language itself, and omitting those +amplifications which are not suited to the altered form. + +The Northern mythological stories are copied with some abridgment +from Mallet's "Northern Antiquities." These chapters, with those +on Oriental and Egyptian mythology, seemed necessary to complete +the subject, though it is believed these topics have not usually +been presented in the same volume with the classical fables. + +The poetical citations so freely introduced are expected to answer +several valuable purposes. They will tend to fix in memory the +leading fact of each story, they will help to the attainment of a +correct pronunciation of the proper names, and they will enrich +the memory with many gems of poetry, some of them such as are most +frequently quoted or alluded to in reading and conversation. + +Having chosen mythology as connected with literature for our +province, we have endeavored to omit nothing which the reader of +elegant literature is likely to find occasion for. Such stories +and parts of stories as are offensive to pure taste and good +morals are not given. But such stories are not often referred to, +and if they occasionally should be, the English reader need feel +no mortification in confessing his ignorance of them. + +Our work is not for the learned, nor for the theologian, nor for +the philosopher, but for the reader of English literature, of +either sex, who wishes to comprehend the allusions so frequently +made by public speakers, lecturers, essayists, and poets, and +those which occur in polite conversation. + +In the "Stories of Gods and Heroes" the compiler has endeavored to +impart the pleasures of classical learning to the English reader, +by presenting the stories of Pagan mythology in a form adapted to +modern taste. In "King Arthur and His Knights" and "The +Mabinogeon" the attempt has been made to treat in the same way the +stories of the second "age of fable," the age which witnessed the +dawn of the several states of Modern Europe. + +It is believed that this presentation of a literature which held +unrivalled sway over the imaginations of our ancestors, for many +centuries, will not be without benefit to the reader, in addition +to the amusement it may afford. The tales, though not to be +trusted for their facts, are worthy of all credit as pictures of +manners; and it is beginning to be held that the manners and modes +of thinking of an age are a more important part of its history +than the conflicts of its peoples, generally leading to no result. +Besides this, the literature of romance is a treasure-house of +poetical material, to which modern poets frequently resort. The +Italian poets, Dante and Ariosto, the English, Spenser, Scott, and +Tennyson, and our own Longfellow and Lowell, are examples of this. + +These legends are so connected with each other, so consistently +adapted to a group of characters strongly individualized in +Arthur, Launcelot, and their compeers, and so lighted up by the +fires of imagination and invention, that they seem as well adapted +to the poet's purpose as the legends of the Greek and Roman +mythology. And if every well-educated young person is expected to +know the story of the Golden Fleece, why is the quest of the +Sangreal less worthy of his acquaintance? Or if an allusion to the +shield of Achilles ought not to pass unapprehended, why should one +to Excalibar, the famous sword of Arthur?-- + + "Of Arthur, who, to upper light restored, + With that terrific sword, + Which yet he brandishes for future war, + Shall lift his country's fame above the polar star." + +[Footnote: Wordsworth] + +It is an additional recommendation of our subject, that it tends +to cherish in our minds the idea of the source from which we +sprung. We are entitled to our full share in the glories and +recollections of the land of our forefathers, down to the time of +colonization thence. The associations which spring from this +source must be fruitful of good influences; among which not the +least valuable is the increased enjoyment which such associations +afford to the American traveller when he visits England, and sets +his foot upon any of her renowned localities. + +The legends of Charlemagne and his peers are necessary to complete +the subject. + +In an age when intellectual darkness enveloped Western Europe, a +constellation of brilliant writers arose in Italy. Of these, Pulci +(born in 1432), Boiardo (1434), and Ariosto (1474) took for their +subjects the romantic fables which had for many ages been +transmitted in the lays of bards and the legends of monkish +chroniclers. These fables they arranged in order, adorned with the +embellishments of fancy, amplified from their own invention, and +stamped with immortality. It may safely be asserted that as long +as civilization shall endure these productions will retain their +place among the most cherished creations of human genius. + +In "Stories of Gods and Heroes," "King Arthur and His Knights" and +"The Mabinogeon" the aim has been to supply to the modern reader +such knowledge of the fables of classical and mediaeval literature +as is needed to render intelligible the allusions which occur in +reading and conversation. The "Legends of Charlemagne" is intended +to carry out the same design. Like the earlier portions of the +work, it aspires to a higher character than that of a piece of +mere amusement. It claims to be useful, in acquainting its readers +with the subjects of the productions of the great poets of Italy. +Some knowledge of these is expected of every well-educated young +person. + +In reading these romances, we cannot fail to observe how the +primitive inventions have been used, again and again, by +successive generations of fabulists. The Siren of Ulysses is the +prototype of the Siren of Orlando, and the character of Circe +reappears in Alcina. The fountains of Love and Hatred may be +traced to the story of Cupid and Psyche; and similar effects +produced by a magic draught appear in the tale of Tristram and +Isoude, and, substituting a flower for the draught, in +Shakspeare's "Midsummer Night's Dream." There are many other +instances of the same kind which the reader will recognize without +our assistance. + +The sources whence we derive these stories are, first, the Italian +poets named above; next, the "Romans de Chevalerie" of the Comte +de Tressan; lastly, certain German collections of popular tales. +Some chapters have been borrowed from Leigh Hunt's Translations +from the Italian Poets. It seemed unnecessary to do over again +what he had already done so well; yet, on the other hand, those +stories could not be omitted from the series without leaving it +incomplete. + +THOMAS BULFINCH. + + + + + +CONTENTS + + +KING ARTHUR AND HIS KNIGHTS + + + I. Introduction + II. The Mythical History of England + III. Merlin + IV. Arthur + V. Arthur (Continued) + VI. Sir Gawain + VII. Caradoc Briefbras; or, Caradoc with the Shrunken Arm + VIII. Launcelot of the Lake + IX. The Adventure of the Cart + X. The Lady of Shalott + XI. Queen Guenever's Peril + XII. Tristram and Isoude + XIII. Tristram and Isoude (Continued) + XIV. Sir Tristram's Battle with Sir Launcelot + XV. The Round Table + XVI. Sir Palamedes + XVII. Sir Tristram +XVIII. Perceval + XIX. The Sangreal, or Holy Graal + XX. The Sangreal (Continued) + XXI. The Sangreal (Continued) + XXII. Sir Agrivain's Treason +XXIII. Morte d'Arthur + + +THE MABINOGEON + + + Introductory Note + I. The Britons + II. The Lady of the Fountain + III. The Lady of the Fountain (Continued) + IV. The Lady of the Fountain (Continued) + V. Geraint, the Son of Erbin + VI. Geraint, the Son of Erbin (Continued) + VII. Geraint, the Son of Erbin (Continued) +VIII. Pwyll, Prince of Dyved + IX. Branwen, the Daughter of Llyr + X. Manawyddan + XI. Kilwich and Olwen + XII. Kilwich and Olwen (Continued) +XIII. Taliesin + + +HERO MYTHS OF THE BRITISH RACE + + +Beowulf +Cuchulain, Champion of Ireland +Hereward the Wake +Robin Hood + +GLOSSARY + + + + + +KING ARTHUR AND HIS KNIGHTS + +CHAPTER I + +INTRODUCTION + + +On the decline of the Roman power, about five centuries after +Christ, the countries of Northern Europe were left almost +destitute of a national government. Numerous chiefs, more or less +powerful, held local sway, as far as each could enforce his +dominion, and occasionally those chiefs would unite for a common +object; but, in ordinary times, they were much more likely to be +found in hostility to one another. In such a state of things the +rights of the humbler classes of society were at the mercy of +every assailant; and it is plain that, without some check upon the +lawless power of the chiefs, society must have relapsed into +barbarism. Such checks were found, first, in the rivalry of the +chiefs themselves, whose mutual jealousy made them restraints upon +one another; secondly, in the influence of the Church, which, by +every motive, pure or selfish, was pledged to interpose for the +protection of the weak; and lastly, in the generosity and sense of +right which, however crushed under the weight of passion and +selfishness, dwell naturally in the heart of man. From this last +source sprang Chivalry, which framed an ideal of the heroic +character, combining invincible strength and valor, justice, +modesty, loyalty to superiors, courtesy to equals, compassion to +weakness, and devotedness to the Church; an ideal which, if never +met with in real life, was acknowledged by all as the highest +model for emulation. + +The word "Chivalry" is derived from the French "cheval," a horse. +The word "knight," which originally meant boy or servant, was +particularly applied to a young man after he was admitted to the +privilege of bearing arms. This privilege was conferred on youths +of family and fortune only, for the mass of the people were not +furnished with arms. The knight then was a mounted warrior, a man +of rank, or in the service and maintenance of some man of rank, +generally possessing some independent means of support, but often +relying mainly on the gratitude of those whom he served for the +supply of his wants, and often, no doubt, resorting to the means +which power confers on its possessor. + +In time of war the knight was, with his followers, in the camp of +his sovereign, or commanding in the field, or holding some castle +for him. In time of peace he was often in attendance at his +sovereign's court, gracing with his presence the banquets and +tournaments with which princes cheered their leisure. Or he was +traversing the country in quest of adventure, professedly bent on +redressing wrongs and enforcing rights, sometimes in fulfilment of +some vow of religion or of love. These wandering knights were +called knights-errant; they were welcome guests in the castles of +the nobility, for their presence enlivened the dulness of those +secluded abodes, and they were received with honor at the abbeys, +which often owed the best part of their revenues to the patronage +of the knights; but if no castle or abbey or hermitage were at +hand their hardy habits made it not intolerable to them to lie +down, supperless, at the foot of some wayside cross, and pass the +night. + +It is evident that the justice administered by such an +instrumentality must have been of the rudest description. The +force whose legitimate purpose was to redress wrongs might easily +be perverted to inflict them Accordingly, we find in the romances, +which, however fabulous in facts, are true as pictures of manners, +that a knightly castle was often a terror to the surrounding +country; that is, dungeons were full of oppressed knights and +ladies, waiting for some champion to appear to set them free, or +to be ransomed with money; that hosts of idle retainers were ever +at hand to enforce their lord's behests, regardless of law and +justice; and that the rights of the unarmed multitude were of no +account. This contrariety of fact and theory in regard to chivalry +will account for the opposite impressions which exist in men's +minds respecting it. While it has been the theme of the most +fervid eulogium on the one part, it has been as eagerly denounced +on the other. On a cool estimate, we cannot but see reason to +congratulate ourselves that it has given way in modern times to +the reign of law, and that the civil magistrate, if less +picturesque, has taken the place of the mailed champion. + +THE TRAINING OF A KNIGHT + +The preparatory education of candidates for knighthood was long +and arduous. At seven years of age the noble children were usually +removed from their father's house to the court or castle of their +future patron, and placed under the care of a governor, who taught +them the first articles of religion, and respect and reverence for +their lords and superiors, and initiated them in the ceremonies of +a court. They were called pages, valets, or varlets, and their +office was to carve, to wait at table, and to perform other menial +services, which were not then considered humiliating. In their +leisure hours they learned to dance and play on the harp, were +instructed in the mysteries of woods and rivers, that is, in +hunting, falconry, and fishing, and in wrestling, tilting with +spears, and performing other military exercises on horseback. At +fourteen the page became an esquire, and began a course of severer +and more laborious exercises. To vault on a horse in heavy armor; +to run, to scale walls, and spring over ditches, under the same +encumbrance; to wrestle, to wield the battle-axe for a length of +time, without raising the visor or taking breath; to perform with +grace all the evolutions of horsemanship,--were necessary +preliminaries to the reception of knighthood, which was usually +conferred at twenty-one years of age, when the young man's +education was supposed to be completed. In the meantime, the +esquires were no less assiduously engaged in acquiring all those +refinements of civility which formed what was in that age called +courtesy. The same castle in which they received their education +was usually thronged with young persons of the other sex, and the +page was encouraged, at a very early age, to select some lady of +the court as the mistress of his heart, to whom he was taught to +refer all his sentiments, words, and actions. The service of his +mistress was the glory and occupation of a knight, and her smiles, +bestowed at once by affection and gratitude, were held out as the +recompense of his well-directed valor. Religion united its +influence with those of loyalty and love, and the order of +knighthood, endowed with all the sanctity and religious awe that +attended the priesthood, became an object of ambition to the +greatest sovereigns. + +The ceremonies of initiation were peculiarly solemn. After +undergoing a severe fast, and spending whole nights in prayer, the +candidate confessed, and received the sacrament. He then clothed +himself in snow-white garments, and repaired to the church, or the +hall, where the ceremony was to take place, bearing a knightly +sword suspended from his neck, which the officiating priest took +and blessed, and then returned to him. The candidate then, with +folded arms, knelt before the presiding knight, who, after some +questions about his motives and purposes in requesting admission, +administered to him the oaths, and granted his request. Some of +the knights present, sometimes even ladies and damsels, handed to +him in succession the spurs, the coat of mail, the hauberk, the +armlet and gauntlet, and lastly he girded on the sword. He then +knelt again before the president, who, rising from his seat, gave +him the "accolade," which consisted of three strokes, with the +flat of a sword, on the shoulder or neck of the candidate, +accompanied by the words: "In the name of God, of St. Michael, and +St. George, I make thee a knight; be valiant, courteous, and +loyal!" Then he received his helmet, his shield, and spear; and +thus the investiture ended. + +FREEMEN, VILLAINS, SERFS, AND CLERKS + +The other classes of which society was composed were, first, +FREEMEN, owners of small portions of land independent, though they +sometimes voluntarily became the vassals of their more opulent +neighbors, whose power was necessary for their protection. The +other two classes, which were much the most numerous, were either +serfs or villains, both of which were slaves. + +The SERFS were in the lowest state of slavery. All the fruits of +their labor belonged to the master whose land they tilled, and by +whom they were fed and clothed. + +The VILLIANS were less degraded. Their situation seems to have +resembled that of the Russian peasants at this day. Like the +serfs, they were attached to the soil, and were transferred with +it by purchase; but they paid only a fixed rent to the landlord, +and had a right to dispose of any surplus that might arise from +their industry. + +The term "clerk" was of very extensive import. It comprehended, +originally, such persons only as belonged to the clergy, or +clerical order, among whom, however, might be found a multitude of +married persons, artisans or others. But in process of time a much +wider rule was established; every one that could read being +accounted a clerk or clericus, and allowed the "benefit of +clergy," that is, exemption from capital and some other forms of +punishment, in case of crime. + +TOURNAMENTS + +The splendid pageant of a tournament between knights, its gaudy +accessories and trappings, and its chivalrous regulations, +originated in France. Tournaments were repeatedly condemned by the +Church, probably on account of the quarrels they led to, and the +often fatal results. The "joust," or "just," was different from +the tournament. In these, knights fought with their lances, and +their object was to unhorse their antagonists; while the +tournaments were intended for a display of skill and address in +evolutions, and with various weapons, and greater courtesy was +observed in the regulations. By these it was forbidden to wound +the horse, or to use the point of the sword, or to strike a knight +after he had raised his vizor, or unlaced his helmet. The ladies +encouraged their knights in these exercises; they bestowed prizes, +and the conqueror's feats were the theme of romance and song. The +stands overlooking the ground, of course, were varied in the +shapes of towers, terraces, galleries, and pensile gardens, +magnificently decorated with tapestry, pavilions, and banners. +Every combatant proclaimed the name of the lady whose servant +d'amour he was. He was wont to look up to the stand, and +strengthen his courage by the sight of the bright eyes that were +raining their influence on him from above. The knights also +carried FAVORS, consisting of scarfs, veils, sleeves, bracelets, +clasps,--in short, some piece of female habiliment,--attached to +their helmets, shields, or armor. If, during the combat, any of +these appendages were dropped or lost the fair donor would at +times send her knight new ones, especially if pleased with his +exertions. + +MAIL ARMOR + +Mail armor, of which the hauberk is a species, and which derived +its name from maille, a French word for MESH, was of two kinds, +PLATE or SCALE mail, and CHAIN mail. It was originally used for +the protection of the body only, reaching no lower than the knees. +It was shaped like a carter's frock, and bound round the waist by +a girdle. Gloves and hose of mail were afterwards added, and a +hood, which, when necessary, was drawn over the head, leaving the +face alone uncovered. To protect the skin from the impression of +the iron network of the chain mail, a quilted lining was employed, +which, however, was insufficient, and the bath was used to efface +the marks of the armor. + +The hauberk was a complete covering of double chain mail. Some +hauberks opened before, like a modern coat; others were closed +like a shirt. + +The chain mail of which they were composed was formed by a number +of iron links, each link having others inserted into it, the whole +exhibiting a kind of network, of which (in some instances at +least) the meshes were circular, with each link separately +riveted. + +The hauberk was proof against the most violent blow of a sword; +but the point of a lance might pass through the meshes, or drive +the iron into the flesh. To guard against this, a thick and well- +stuffed doublet was worn underneath, under which was commonly +added an iron breastplate. Hence the expression "to pierce both +plate and mail," so common in the earlier poets. + +Mail armor continued in general use till about the year 1300, when +it was gradually supplanted by plate armor, or suits consisting of +pieces or plates of solid iron, adapted to the different parts of +the body. + +Shields were generally made of wood, covered with leather, or some +similar substance. To secure them, in some sort, from being cut +through by the sword, they were surrounded with a hoop of metal. + +HELMETS + +The helmet was composed of two parts: the HEADPIECE, which was +strengthened within by several circles of iron, and the VISOR, +which, as the name implies, was a sort of grating to see through, +so contrived as, by sliding in a groove, or turning on a pivot, to +be raised or lowered at pleasure. Some helmets had a further +improvement called a BEVER, from the Italian bevere, to drink. The +VENTAYLE, or "air-passage," is another name for this. + +To secure the helmet from the possibility of falling, or of being +struck off, it was tied by several laces to the meshes of the +hauberk; consequently, when a knight was overthrown it was +necessary to undo these laces before he could be put to death; +though this was sometimes effected by lifting up the skirt of the +hauberk, and stabbing him in the belly. The instrument of death +was a small dagger, worn on the right side. + +ROMANCES + +In ages when there were no books, when noblemen and princes +themselves could not read, history or tradition was monopolized by +the story-tellers. They inherited, generation after generation, +the wondrous tales of their predecessors, which they retailed to +the public with such additions of their own as their acquired +information supplied them with. Anachronisms became of course very +common, and errors of geography, of locality, of manners, equally +so. Spurious genealogies were invented, in which Arthur and his +knights, and Charlemagne and his paladins, were made to derive +their descent from Aeneas, Hector, or some other of the Trojan +heroes. + +With regard to the derivation of the word "Romance," we trace it +to the fact that the dialects which were formed in Western Europe, +from the admixture of Latin with the native languages, took the +name of Langue Romaine. The French language was divided into two +dialects. The river Loire was their common boundary. In the +provinces to the south of that river the affirmative, YES, was +expressed by the word oc; in the north it was called oil (oui); +and hence Dante has named the southern language langue d'oc, and +the northern langue d'oil. The latter, which was carried into +England by the Normans, and is the origin of the present French, +may be called the French Romane; and the former the Provencal, or +Provencial Romane, because it was spoken by the people of Provence +and Languedoc, southern provinces of France. + +These dialects were soon distinguished by very opposite +characters. A soft and enervating climate, a spirit of commerce +encouraged by an easy communication with other maritime nations, +the influx of wealth, and a more settled government, may have +tended to polish and soften the diction of the Provencials, whose +poets, under the name of Troubadours, were the masters of the +Italians, and particularly of Petrarch. Their favorite pieces were +Sirventes (satirical pieces), love-songs, and Tensons, which last +were a sort of dialogue in verse between two poets, who questioned +each other on some refined points of loves' casuistry. It seems +the Provencials were so completely absorbed in these delicate +questions as to neglect and despise the composition of fabulous +histories of adventure and knighthood, which they left in a great +measure to the poets of the northern part of the kingdom, called +Trouveurs. + +At a time when chivalry excited universal admiration, and when all +the efforts of that chivalry were directed against the enemies of +religion, it was natural that literature should receive the same +impulse, and that history and fable should be ransacked to furnish +examples of courage and piety that might excite increased +emulation. Arthur and Charlemagne were the two heroes selected for +this purpose. Arthur's pretensions were that he was a brave, +though not always a successful warrior; he had withstood with +great resolution the arms of the infidels, that is to say of the +Saxons, and his memory was held in the highest estimation by his +countrymen, the Britons, who carried with them into Wales, and +into the kindred country of Armorica, or Brittany, the memory of +his exploits, which their national vanity insensibly exaggerated, +till the little prince of the Silures (South Wales) was magnified +into the conqueror of England, of Gaul, and of the greater part of +Europe. His genealogy was gradually carried up to an imaginary +Brutus, and to the period of the Trojan war, and a sort of +chronicle was composed in the Welsh, or Armorican language, which, +under the pompous title of the "History of the Kings of Britain," +was translated into Latin by Geoffrey of Monmouth, about the year +1150. The Welsh critics consider the material of the work to have +been an older history, written by St. Talian, Bishop of St. Asaph, +in the seventh century. + +As to Charlemagne, though his real merits were sufficient to +secure his immortality, it was impossible that his HOLY WARS +against the Saracens should not become a favorite topic for +fiction. Accordingly, the fabulous history of these wars was +written, probably towards the close of the eleventh century, by a +monk, who, thinking it would add dignity to his work to embellish +it with a contemporary name, boldly ascribed it to Turpin, who was +Archbishop of Rheims about the year 773. + +These fabulous chronicles were for a while imprisoned in languages +of local only or of professional access. Both Turpin and Geoffrey +might indeed be read by ecclesiastics, the sole Latin scholars of +those times, and Geoffrey's British original would contribute to +the gratification of Welshmen; but neither could become +extensively popular till translated into some language of general +and familiar use. The Anglo-Saxon was at that time used only by a +conquered and enslaved nation; the Spanish and Italian languages +were not yet formed; the Norman French alone was spoken and +understood by the nobility in the greater part of Europe, and +therefore was a proper vehicle for the new mode of composition. + +That language was fashionable in England before the Conquest, and +became, after that event, the only language used at the court of +London. As the various conquests of the Normans, and the +enthusiastic valor of that extraordinary people, had familiarized +the minds of men with the most marvellous events, their poets +eagerly seized the fabulous legends of Arthur and Charlemagne, +translated them into the language of the day, and soon produced a +variety of imitations. The adventures attributed to these +monarchs, and to their distinguished warriors, together with those +of many other traditionary or imaginary heroes, composed by +degrees that formidable body of marvellous histories which, from +the dialect in which the most ancient of them were written, were +called "Romances." + +METRICAL ROMANCES + +The earliest form in which romances appear is that of a rude kind +of verse. In this form it is supposed they were sung or recited at +the feasts of princes and knights in their baronial halls. The +following specimen of the language and style of Robert de +Beauvais, who flourished in 1257, is from Sir Walter Scott's +"Introduction to the Romance of Sir Tristrem": + + "Ne voil pas emmi dire, + Ici diverse la matyere, + Entre ceus qui solent cunter, + E de le cunte Tristran parler." + + "I will not say too much about it, + So diverse is the matter, + Among those who are in the habit of telling + And relating the story of Tristran." + +This is a specimen of the language which was in use among the +nobility of England, in the ages immediately after the Norman +conquest. The following is a specimen of the English that existed +at the same time, among the common people. Robert de Brunne, +speaking of his Latin and French authorities, says: + + "Als thai haf wryten and sayd + Haf I alle in myn Inglis layd, + In symple speche as I couthe, + That is lightest in manne's mouthe. + Alle for the luf of symple men, + That strange Inglis cannot ken." + +The "strange Inglis" being the language of the previous specimen. + +It was not till toward the end of the thirteenth century that the +PROSE romances began to appear. These works generally began with +disowning and discrediting the sources from which in reality they +drew their sole information. As every romance was supposed to be a +real history, the compilers of those in prose would have forfeited +all credit if they had announced themselves as mere copyists of +the minstrels. On the contrary, they usually state that, as the +popular poems upon the matter in question contain many "lesings," +they had been induced to translate the real and true history of +such or such a knight from the original Latin or Greek, or from +the ancient British or Armorican authorities, which authorities +existed only in their own assertion. + +A specimen of the style of the prose romances may be found in the +following extract from one of the most celebrated and latest of +them, the "Morte d'Arthur" of Sir Thomas Mallory, of the date of +1485. From this work much of the contents of this volume has been +drawn, with as close an adherence to the original style as was +thought consistent with our plan of adapting our narrative to the +taste of modern readers. + +"It is notoyrly knowen thorugh the vnyuersal world that there been +ix worthy and the best that ever were. That is to wete thre +paynyms, three Jewes, and three crysten men. As for the paynyms, +they were tofore the Incarnacyon of Cryst whiche were named, the +fyrst Hector of Troye; the second Alysaunder the grete, and the +thyrd Julyus Cezar, Emperour of Rome, of whome thystoryes ben wel +kno and had. And as for the thre Jewes whyche also were tofore +thyncarnacyon of our Lord, of whome the fyrst was Duc Josue, +whyche brought the chyldren of Israhel into the londe of beheste; +the second Dauyd, kyng of Jherusalem, and the thyrd Judas +Machabeus; of these thre the byble reherceth al theyr noble +hystoryes and actes. And sythe the sayd Incarnacyon haue ben the +noble crysten men stalled and admytted thorugh the vnyuersal world +to the nombre of the ix beste and worthy, of whome was fyrst the +noble Arthur, whose noble actes I purpose to wryte in this person +book here folowyng. The second was Charlemayn, or Charles the +grete, of whome thystorye is had in many places both in frensshe +and englysshe, and the thyrd and last was Godefray of boloyn." + + + + + +CHAPTER II + +THE MYTHICAL HISTORY OF ENGLAND + + +The illustrious poet, Milton, in his "History of England," is the +author whom we chiefly follow in this chapter. + +According to the earliest accounts, Albion, a giant, and son of +Neptune, a contemporary of Hercules, ruled over the island, to +which he gave his name. Presuming to oppose the progress of +Hercules in his western march, he was slain by him. + +Another story is that Histion, the son of Japhet, the son of Noah, +had four sons, Francus, Romanus, Alemannus, and Britto, from whom +descended the French, Roman, German, and British people. + +Rejecting these and other like stories, Milton gives more regard +to the story of Brutus, the Trojan, which, he says, is supported +by "descents of ancestry long continued, laws and exploits not +plainly seeming to be borrowed or devised, which on the common +belief have wrought no small impression; defended by many, denied +utterly by few." The principal authority is Geoffrey of Monmouth, +whose history, written in the twelfth century, purports to be a +translation of a history of Britain brought over from the opposite +shore of France, which, under the name of Brittany, was chiefly +peopled by natives of Britain who, from time to time, emigrated +thither, driven from their own country by the inroads of the Picts +and Scots. According to this authority, Brutus was the son of +Silvius, and he of Ascanius, the son of Aeneas, whose flight from +Troy and settlement in Italy are narrated in "Stories of Gods and +Heroes." + +Brutus, at the age of fifteen, attending his father to the chase, +unfortunately killed him with an arrow. Banished therefor by his +kindred, he sought refuge in that part of Greece where Helenus, +with a band of Trojan exiles, had become established. But Helenus +was now dead and the descendants of the Trojans were oppressed by +Pandrasus, the king of the country. Brutus, being kindly received +among them, so throve in virtue and in arms as to win the regard +of all the eminent of the land above all others of his age. In +consequence of this the Trojans not only began to hope, but +secretly to persuade him to lead them the way to liberty. To +encourage them, they had the promise of help from Assaracus, a +noble Greek youth, whose mother was a Trojan. He had suffered +wrong at the hands of the king, and for that reason the more +willingly cast in his lost with the Trojan exiles. + +Choosing a fit opportunity, Brutus with his countrymen withdrew to +the woods and hills, as the safest place from which to +expostulate, and sent this message to Pandrasus: "That the +Trojans, holding it unworthy of their ancestors to serve in a +foreign land, had retreated to the woods, choosing rather a savage +life than a slavish one. If that displeased him, then, with his +leave, they would depart to some other country." Pandrasus, not +expecting so bold a message from the sons of captives, went in +pursuit of them, with such forces as he could gather, and met them +on the banks of the Achelous, where Brutus got the advantage, and +took the king captive. The result was, that the terms demanded by +the Trojans were granted; the king gave his daughter Imogen in +marriage to Brutus, and furnished shipping, money, and fit +provision for them all to depart from the land. + +The marriage being solemnized, and shipping from all parts got +together, the Trojans, in a fleet of no less than three hundred +and twenty sail, betook themselves to the sea. On the third day +they arrived at a certain island, which they found destitute of +inhabitants, though there were appearances of former habitation, +and among the ruins a temple of Diana. Brutus, here performing +sacrifice at the shrine of the goddess, invoked an oracle for his +guidance, in these lines: + + "Goddess of shades, and huntress, who at will + Walk'st on the rolling sphere, and through the deep; + On thy third realm, the earth, look now, and tell + What land, what seat of rest, thou bidd'st me seek; + What certain seat where I may worship thee + For aye, with temples vowed and virgin choirs." + +To whom, sleeping before the altar, Diana in a vision thus +answered: + + "Brutus! far to the west, in the ocean wide, + Beyond the realm of Gaul, a land there lies, + Seagirt it lies, where giants dwelt of old; + Now, void, it fits thy people: thither bend + Thy course; there shalt thou find a lasting seat; + There to thy sons another Troy shall rise, + And kings be born of thee, whose dreaded might + Shall awe the world, and conquer nations bold" + +Brutus, guided now, as he thought, by divine direction, sped his +course towards the west, and, arriving at a place on the Tyrrhene +sea, found there the descendants of certain Trojans who, with +Antenor, came into Italy, of whom Corineus was the chief. These +joined company, and the ships pursued their way till they arrived +at the mouth of the river Loire, in France, where the expedition +landed, with a view to a settlement, but were so rudely assaulted +by the inhabitants that they put to sea again, and arrived at a +part of the coast of Britain, now called Devonshire, where Brutus +felt convinced that he had found the promised end of his voyage, +landed his colony, and took possession. + +The island, not yet Britain, but Albion, was in a manner desert +and inhospitable, occupied only by a remnant of the giant race +whose excessive force and tyranny had destroyed the others. The +Trojans encountered these and extirpated them, Corineus, in +particular, signalizing himself by his exploits against them; from +whom Cornwall takes its name, for that region fell to his lot, and +there the hugest giants dwelt, lurking in rocks and caves, till +Corineus rid the land of them. + +Brutus built his capital city, and called it Trojanova (New Troy), +changed in time to Trinovantus, now London; + +[Footnote: + "For noble Britons sprong from Trojans bold, + And Troynovant was built of old Troy's ashes cold" SPENSER, + + Book III, Canto IX., 38.] + +and, having governed the isle twenty-four years, died, leaving +three sons, Locrine, Albanact and Camber. Locrine had the middle +part, Camber the west, called Cambria from him, and Albanact +Albania, now Scotland. Locrine was married to Guendolen, the +daughter of Corineus, but having seen a fair maid named Estrildis, +who had been brought captive from Germany, he became enamoured of +her, and had by her a daughter, whose name was Sabra. This matter +was kept secret while Corineus lived, but after his death Locrine +divorced Guendolen, and made Estrildis his queen. Guendolen, all +in rage, departed to Cornwall, where Madan, her son, lived, who +had been brought up by Corineus, his grandfather. Gathering an +army of her father's friends and subjects, she gave battle to her +husband's forces and Locrine was slain. Guendolen caused her +rival, Estrildis, with her daughter Sabra, to be thrown into the +river, from which cause the river thenceforth bore the maiden's +name, which by length of time is now changed into Sabrina or +Severn. Milton alludes to this in his address to the rivers,-- + + "Severn swift, guilty of maiden's death";-- + +and in his "Comus" tells the story with a slight variation, thus: + + "There is a gentle nymph not far from hence, + That with moist curb sways the smooth Severn stream; + Sabrina is her name, a virgin pure: + Whilom she was the daughter of Locrine, + That had the sceptre from his father, Brute, + She, guiltless damsel, flying the mad pursuit + Of her enraged step-dame, Guendolen, + Commended her fair innocence to the flood, + That stayed her night with his cross-flowing course + The water-nymphs that in the bottom played, + Held up their pearled wrists and took her in, + Bearing her straight to aged Nereus' hall, + Who, piteous of her woes, reared her lank head, + And gave her to his daughters to imbathe + In nectared lavers strewed with asphodel, + And through the porch and inlet of each sense + Dropped in ambrosial oils till she revived, + And underwent a quick, immortal change, + Made goddess of the river," etc. + +If our readers ask when all this took place, we must answer, in +the first place, that mythology is not careful of dates; and next, +that, as Brutus was the great-grandson of Aeneas, it must have +been not far from a century subsequent to the Trojan war, or about +eleven hundred years before the invasion of the island by Julius +Caesar. This long interval is filled with the names of princes +whose chief occupation was in warring with one another. Some few, +whose names remain connected with places, or embalmed in +literature, we will mention. + +BLADUD + +Bladud built the city of Bath, and dedicated the medicinal waters +to Minerva. He was a man of great invention, and practised the +arts of magic, till, having made him wings to fly, he fell down +upon the temple of Apollo, in Trinovant, and so died, after twenty +years' reign. + +LEIR + +Leir, who next reigned, built Leicester, and called it after his +name. He had no male issue, but only three daughters. When grown +old he determined to divide his kingdom among his daughters, and +bestow them in marriage. But first, to try which of them loved him +best, he determined to ask them solemnly in order, and judge of +the warmth of their affection by their answers. Goneril, the +eldest, knowing well her father's weakness, made answer that she +loved him "above her soul." "Since thou so honorest my declining +age," said the old man, "to thee and to thy husband I give the +third part of my realm." Such good success for a few words soon +uttered was ample instruction to Regan, the second daughter, what +to say. She therefore to the same question replied that "she loved +him more than all the world beside;" and so received an equal +reward with her sister. But Cordelia, the youngest, and hitherto +the best beloved, though having before her eyes the reward of a +little easy soothing, and the loss likely to attend plain- +dealing, yet was not moved from the solid purpose of a sincere and +virtuous answer, and replied: "Father, my love towards you is as +my duty bids. They who pretend beyond this flatter." When the old +man, sorry to hear this, and wishing her to recall these words, +persisted in asking, she still restrained her expressions so as to +say rather less than more than the truth. Then Leir, all in a +passion, burst forth: "Since thou hast not reverenced thy aged +father like thy sisters, think not to have any part in my kingdom +or what else I have;"--and without delay, giving in marriage his +other daughters, Goneril to the Duke of Albany, and Regan to the +Duke of Cornwall, he divides his kingdom between them, and goes to +reside with his eldest daughter, attended only by a hundred +knights. But in a short time his attendants, being complained of +as too numerous and disorderly, are reduced to thirty. Resenting +that affront, the old king betakes him to his second daughter; but +she, instead of soothing his wounded pride, takes part with her +sister, and refuses to admit a retinue of more than five. Then +back he returns to the other, who now will not receive him with +more than one attendant. Then the remembrance of Cordeilla comes +to his thoughts, and he takes his journey into France to seek her, +with little hope of kind consideration from one whom he had so +injured, but to pay her the last recompense he can render,-- +confession of his injustice. When Cordeilla is informed of his +approach, and of his sad condition, she pours forth true filial +tears. And, not willing that her own or others' eyes should see +him in that forlorn condition, she sends one of her trusted +servants to meet him, and convey him privately to some comfortable +abode, and to furnish him with such state as befitted his dignity. +After which Cordeilla, with the king her husband, went in state to +meet him, and, after an honorable reception, the king permitted +his wife, Cordeilla, to go with an army and set her father again +upon his throne. They prospered, subdued the wicked sisters and +their consorts, and Leir obtained the crown and held it three +years. Cordeilla succeeded him and reigned five years; but the +sons of her sisters, after that, rebelled against her, and she +lost both her crown and life. + +Shakspeare has chosen this story as the subject of his tragedy of +"King Lear," varying its details in some respects. The madness of +Leir, and the ill success of Cordeilla's attempt to reinstate her +father, are the principal variations, and those in the names will +also be noticed. Our narrative is drawn from Milton's "History;" +and thus the reader will perceive that the story of Leir has had +the distinguished honor of being told by the two acknowledged +chiefs of British literature. + +FERREX AND PORREX + +Ferrex and Porrex were brothers, who held the kingdom after Leir. +They quarrelled about the supremacy, and Porrex expelled his +brother, who, obtaining aid from Suard, king of the Franks, +returned and made war upon Porrex. Ferrex was slain in battle and +his forces dispersed. When their mother came to hear of her son's +death, who was her favorite, she fell into a great rage, and +conceived a mortal hatred against the survivor. She took, +therefore, her opportunity when he was asleep, fell upon him, and, +with the assistance of her women, tore him in pieces. This horrid +story would not be worth relating, were it not for the fact that +it has furnished the plot for the first tragedy which was written +in the English language. It was entitled "Gorboduc," but in the +second edition "Ferrex and Porrex," and was the production of +Thomas Sackville, afterwards Earl of Dorset, and Thomas Norton, a +barrister. Its date was 1561. + +DUNWALLO MOLMUTIUS + +This is the next name of note. Molmutius established the Molmutine +laws, which bestowed the privilege of sanctuary on temples, +cities, and the roads leading to them, and gave the same +protection to ploughs, extending a religious sanction to the +labors of the field. Shakspeare alludes to him in "Cymbeline," Act +III., Scene 1: + + "... Molmutius made our laws; + Who was the first of Britain which did put + His brows within a golden crown, and called + Himself a king." + +BRENNUS AND BELINUS, + +The sons of Molmutius, succeeded him. They quarrelled, and Brennus +was driven out of the island, and took refuge in Gaul, where he +met with such favor from the king of the Allobroges that he gave +him his daughter in marriage, and made him his partner on the +throne. Brennus is the name which the Roman historians give to the +famous leader of the Gauls who took Rome in the time of Camillus. +Geoffrey of Monmouth claims the glory of the conquest for the +British prince, after he had become king of the Allobroges. + +ELIDURE + +After Belinus and Brennus there reigned several kings of little +note, and then came Elidure. Arthgallo, his brother, being king, +gave great offence to his powerful nobles, who rose against him, +deposed him, and advanced Elidure to the throne. Arthgallo fled, +and endeavored to find assistance in the neighboring kingdoms to +reinstate him, but found none. Elidure reigned prosperously and +wisely. After five years' possession of the kingdom, one day, when +hunting, he met in the forest his brother, Arthgallo, who had been +deposed. After long wandering, unable longer to bear the poverty +to which he was reduced, he had returned to Britain, with only ten +followers, designing to repair to those who had formerly been his +friends. Elidure, at the sight of his brother in distress, +forgetting all animosities, ran to him, and embraced him. He took +Arthgallo home with him, and concealed him in the palace. After +this he feigned himself sick, and, calling his nobles about him, +induced them, partly by persuasion, partly by force, to consent to +his abdicating the kingdom, and reinstating his brother on the +throne. The agreement being ratified, Elidure took the crown from +his own head, and put it on his brother's head. Arthgallo after +this reigned ten years, well and wisely, exercising strict justice +towards all men. + +He died, and left the kingdom to his sons, who reigned with +various fortunes, but were not long-lived, and left no offspring, +so that Elidure was again advanced to the throne, and finished the +course of his life in just and virtuous actions, receiving the +name of THE PIOUS, from the love and admiration of his subjects. + +Wordsworth has taken the story of Artegal and Elidure for the +subject of a poem, which is No. 2 of "Poems founded on the +Affections." + +LUD + +After Elidure, the Chronicle names many kings, but none of special +note, till we come to Lud, who greatly enlarged Trinovant, his +capital, and surrounded it with a wall. He changed its name, +bestowing upon it his own, so that henceforth it was called Lud's +town, afterwards London. Lud was buried by the gate of the city +called after him Ludgate. He had two sons, but they were not old +enough at the time of their father's death to sustain the cares of +government, and therefore their uncle, Caswallaun, or +Cassibellaunus, succeeded to the kingdom. He was a brave and +magnificent prince, so that his fame reached to distant countries. + +CASSIBELLAUNUS + +About this time it happened (as is found in the Roman histories) +that Julius Caesar, having subdued Gaul, came to the shore +opposite Britain. And having resolved to add this island also to +his conquests, he prepared ships and transported his army across +the sea, to the mouth of the River Thames. Here he was met by +Cassibellaun with all his forces, and a battle ensued, in which +Nennius, the brother of Cassibellaun, engaged in single combat +with Csesar. After several furious blows given and received, the +sword of Caesar stuck so fast in the shield of Nennius that it +could not be pulled out, and the combatants being separated by the +intervention of the troops Nennius remained possessed of this +trophy. At last, after the greater part of the day was spent, the +Britons poured in so fast that Caesar was forced to retire to his +camp and fleet. And finding it useless to continue the war any +longer at that time, he returned to Gaul. + +Shakspeare alludes to Cassibellaunus, in "Cymbeline": + + "The famed Cassibelan, who was once at point + (O giglot fortune!) to master Caesar's sword, + Made Lud's town with rejoicing fires bright, + And Britons strut with courage." + +KYMBELINUS, OR CYMBELINE + +Caesar, on a second invasion of the island, was more fortunate, +and compelled the Britons to pay tribute. Cymbeline, the nephew of +the king, was delivered to the Romans as a hostage for the +faithful fulfilment of the treaty, and, being carried to Rome by +Caesar, he was there brought up in the Roman arts and +accomplishments. Being afterwards restored to his country, and +placed on the throne, he was attached to the Romans, and continued +through all his reign at peace with them. His sons, Guiderius and +Arviragus, who made their appearance in Shakspeare's play of +"Cymbeline," succeeded their father, and, refusing to pay tribute +to the Romans, brought on another invasion. Guiderius was slain, +but Arviragus afterward made terms with the Romans, and reigned +prosperously many years. + +ARMORICA + +The next event of note is the conquest and colonization of +Armorica, by Maximus, a Roman general, and Conan, lord of Miniadoc +or Denbigh-land, in Wales. The name of the country was changed to +Brittany, or Lesser Britain; and so completely was it possessed by +the British colonists, that the language became assimilated to +that spoken in Wales, and it is said that to this day the +peasantry of the two countries can understand each other when +speaking their native language. + +The Romans eventually succeeded in establishing themselves in the +island, and after the lapse of several generations they became +blended with the natives so that no distinction existed between +the two races. When at length the Roman armies were withdrawn from +Britain, their departure was a matter of regret to the +inhabitants, as it left them without protection against the +barbarous tribes, Scots, Picts, and Norwegians, who harassed the +country incessantly. This was the state of things when the era of +King Arthur began. + +The adventure of Albion, the giant, with Hercules is alluded to by +Spenser, "Faery Queene," Book IV., Canto xi: + + "For Albion the son of Neptune was; + Who for the proof of his great puissance, + Out of his Albion did on dry foot pass + Into old Gaul that now is cleped France, + To fight with Hercules, that did advance + To vanquish all the world with matchless might: + And there his mortal part by great mischance + Was slain." + + + + + +CHAPTER III + +MERLIN + + +Merlin was the son of no mortal father, but of an Incubus, one of +a class of beings not absolutely wicked, but far from good, who +inhabit the regions of the air. Merlin's mother was a virtuous +young woman, who, on the birth of her son, intrusted him to a +priest, who hurried him to the baptismal fount, and so saved him +from sharing the lot of his father, though he retained many marks +of his unearthly origin. + +At this time Vortigern reigned in Britain. He was a usurper, who +had caused the death of his sovereign, Moines, and driven the two +brothers of the late king, whose names were Uther and Pendragon, +into banishment. Vortigern, who lived in constant fear of the +return of the rightful heirs of the kingdom, began to erect a +strong tower for defence. The edifice, when brought by the workmen +to a certain height, three times fell to the ground, without any +apparent cause. The king consulted his astrologers on this +wonderful event, and learned from them that it would be necessary +to bathe the corner-stone of the foundation with the blood of a +child born without a mortal father. + +In search of such an infant, Vortigern sent his messengers all +over the kingdom, and they by accident discovered Merlin, whose +lineage seemed to point him out as the individual wanted. They +took him to the king; but Merlin, young as he was, explained to +the king the absurdity of attempting to rescue the fabric by such +means, for he told him the true cause of the instability of the +tower was its being placed over the den of two immense dragons, +whose combats shook the earth above them. The king ordered his +workmen to dig beneath the tower, and when they had done so they +discovered two enormous serpents, the one white as milk the other +red as fire. The multitude looked on with amazement, till the +serpents, slowly rising from their den, and expanding their +enormous folds, began the combat, when every one fled in terror, +except Merlin, who stood by clapping his hands and cheering on the +conflict. The red dragon was slain, and the white one, gliding +through a cleft in the rock, disappeared. + +These animals typified, as Merlin afterwards explained, the +invasion of Uther and Pendragon, the rightful princes, who soon +after landed with a great army. Vortigern was defeated, and +afterwards burned alive in the castle he had taken such pains to +construct. On the death of Vortigern, Pendragon ascended the +throne. Merlin became his chief adviser, and often assisted the +king by his magical arts. + + "Merlin, who knew the range of all their arts, + Had built the King his havens, ships and halls." + + --Vivian. + +Among other endowments, he had the power of transforming himself +into any shape he pleased. At one time he appeared as a dwarf, at +others as a damsel, a page, or even a greyhound or a stag. This +faculty he often employed for the service of the king, and +sometimes also for the diversion of the court and the sovereign. + +Merlin continued to be a favorite counsellor through the reigns of +Pendragon, Uther, and Arthur, and at last disappeared from view, +and was no more found among men, through the treachery of his +mistress, Viviane, the Fairy, which happened in this wise. + +Merlin, having become enamoured of the fair Viviane, the Lady of +the Lake, was weak enough to impart to her various important +secrets of his art, being impelled by fatal destiny, of which he +was at the same time fully aware. The lady, however, was not +content with his devotion, unbounded as it seems to have been, but +"cast about," the Romance tells us, how she might "detain him for +evermore," and one day addressed him in these terms: "Sir, I would +that we should make a fair place and a suitable, so contrived by +art and by cunning that it might never be undone, and that you and +I should be there in joy and solace." "My lady," said Merlin, "I +will do all this." "Sir," said she, "I would not have you do it, +but you shall teach me, and I will do it, and then it will be more +to my mind." "I grant you this," said Merlin. Then he began to +devise, and the damsel put it all in writing. And when he had +devised the whole, then had the damsel full great joy, and showed +him greater semblance of love than she had ever before made, and +they sojourned together a long while. At length it fell out that, +as they were going one day hand in hand through the forest of +Breceliande, they found a bush of white-thorn, which was laden +with flowers; and they seated themselves under the shade of this +white-thorn, upon the green grass, and Merlin laid his head upon +the damsel's lap, and fell asleep. Then the damsel rose, and made +a ring with her wimple round the bush, and round Merlin, and began +her enchantments, such as he himself had taught her; and nine +times she made the ring, and nine times she made the enchantment, +and then she went and sat down by him, and placed his head again +upon her lap. + + "And a sleep + Fell upon Merlin more like death, so deep + Her finger on her lips; then Vivian rose, + And from her brown-locked head the wimple throws, + And takes it in her hand and waves it over + The blossomed thorn tree and her sleeping lover. + Nine times she waved the fluttering wimple round, + And made a little plot of magic ground." + + --Matthew Arnold. + +And when he awoke, and looked round him, it seemed to him that he +was enclosed in the strongest tower in the world, and laid upon a +fair bed. Then said he to the dame: "My lady, you have deceived +me, unless you abide with me, for no one hath power to unmake this +tower but you alone." She then promised she would be often there, +and in this she held her covenant with him. And Merlin never went +out of that tower where his Mistress Viviane had enclosed him; but +she entered and went out again when she listed. + +After this event Merlin was never more known to hold converse with +any mortal but Viviane, except on one occasion. Arthur, having for +some time missed him from his court, sent several of his knights +in search of him, and, among the number, Sir Gawain, who met with +a very unpleasant adventure while engaged in this quest. Happening +to pass a damsel on his road, and neglecting to salute her, she +revenged herself for his incivility by transforming him into a +hideous dwarf. He was bewailing aloud his evil fortune as he went +through the forest of Breceliande, when suddenly he heard the +voice of one groaning on his right hand; and, looking that way, he +could see nothing save a kind of smoke, which seemed like air, and +through which he could not pass. Merlin then addressed him from +out the smoke, and told him by what misadventure he was imprisoned +there. "Ah, sir!" he added, "you will never see me more, and that +grieves me, but I cannot remedy it; I shall never more speak to +you, nor to any other person, save only my mistress. But do thou +hasten to King Arthur, and charge him from me to undertake, +without delay, the quest of the Sacred Graal. The knight is +already born, and has received knighthood at his hands, who is +destined to accomplish this quest." And after this he comforted +Gawain under his transformation, assuring him that he should +speedily be disenchanted; and he predicted to him that he should +find the king at Carduel, in Wales, on his return, and that all +the other knights who had been on like quest would arrive there +the same day as himself. And all this came to pass as Merlin had +said. + +Merlin is frequently introduced in the tales of chivalry, but it +is chiefly on great occasions, and at a period subsequent to his +death, or magical disappearance. In the romantic poems of Italy, +and in Spenser, Merlin is chiefly represented as a magical artist. +Spenser represents him as the artificer of the impenetrable shield +and other armor of Prince Arthur ("Faery Queene," Book I., Canto +vii.), and of a mirror, in which a damsel viewed her lover's +shade. The Fountain of Love, in the "Orlando Innamorata," is +described as his work; and in the poem of "Ariosto" we are told of +a hall adorned with prophetic paintings, which demons had executed +in a single night, under the direction of Merlin. + +The following legend is from Spenser's "Faery Queene," Book III., +Canto iii.: + +CAER-MERDIN, OR CAERMARTHEN (IN WALES), MERLIN'S TOWER, AND THE +IMPRISONED FIENDS. + + "Forthwith themselves disguising both, in straunge + And base attire, that none might them bewray, + To Maridunum, that is now by chaunge + Of name Caer-Merdin called, they took their way: + There the wise Merlin whylome wont (they say) + To make his wonne, low underneath the ground + In a deep delve, far from the view of day, + That of no living wight he mote be found, + Whenso he counselled with his sprights encompassed round. + + "And if thou ever happen that same way + To travel, go to see that dreadful place; + It is a hideous hollow cave (they say) + Under a rock that lies a little space + From the swift Barry, tombling down apace + Amongst the woody hills of Dynevor; + But dare not thou, I charge, in any case, + To enter into that same baleful bower, + For fear the cruel fiends should thee unwares devour. + + "But standing high aloft, low lay thine ear, + And there such ghastly noise of iron chains + And brazen cauldrons thou shalt rumbling hear, + Which thousand sprites with long enduring pains + Do toss, that it will stun thy feeble brains; + And oftentimes great groans, and grievous stounds, + When too huge toil and labor them constrains; + And oftentimes loud strokes and ringing sounds + From under that deep rock most horribly rebounds. + + "The cause some say is this. A little while + Before that Merlin died, he did intend + A brazen wall in compas to compile + About Caermerdin, and did it commend + Unto these sprites to bring to perfect end; + During which work the Lady of the Lake, + Whom long he loved, for him in haste did send; + Who, thereby forced his workmen to forsake, + Them bound till his return their labor not to slack. + + "In the mean time, through that false lady's train, + He was surprised, and buried under beare, + He ever to his work returned again; + Nathless those fiends may not their work forbear, + So greatly his commandement they fear; + But there do toil and travail day and night, + Until that brazen wall they up do rear. + For Merlin had in magic more insight + Than ever him before or after living wight." + +[Footnote: Buried under beare. Buried under something which +enclosed him like a coffin or bier.] + + + + + +CHAPTER IV + +ARTHUR + + +We shall begin our history of King Arthur by giving those +particulars of his life which appear to rest on historical +evidence; and then proceed to record those legends concerning him +which form the earliest portion of British literature. + +Arthur was a prince of the tribe of Britons called Silures, whose +country was South Wales, the son of Uther, named Pendragon, a +title given to an elective sovereign, paramount over the many +kings of Britain. He appears to have commenced his martial career +about the year 500, and was raised to the Pendragonship about ten +years later. He is said to have gained twelve victories over the +Saxons. The most important of them was that of Badon, by some +supposed to be Bath, by others Berkshire. This was the last of his +battles with the Saxons, and checked their progress so +effectually, that Arthur experienced no more annoyance from them, +and reigned in peace, until the revolt of his nephew Modred, +twenty years later, which led to the fatal battle of Camlan, in +Cornwall, in 542. Modred was slain, and Arthur, mortally wounded, +was conveyed by sea to Glastonbury, where he died, and was buried. +Tradition preserved the memory of the place of his interment +within the abbey, as we are told by Giraldus Cambrensis, who was +present when the grave was opened by command of Henry II. about +1150, and saw the bones and sword of the monarch, and a leaden +cross let into his tombstone, with the inscription in rude Roman +letters, "Here lies buried the famous King Arthur, in the island +Avalonia." This story has been elegantly versified by Warton. A +popular traditional belief was long entertained among the Britons, +that Arthur was not dead, but had been carried off to be healed of +his wounds in Fairy-land, and that he would reappear to avenge his +countrymen and reinstate them in the sovereignty of Britain. In +Warton's "Ode" a bard relates to King Henry the traditional story +of Arthur's death, and closes with these lines. + + "Yet in vain a paynim foe + Armed with fate the mighty blow: + For when he fell, the Elfin queen, + All in secret and unseen, + O'er the fainting hero threw + Her mantle of ambrosial blue, + And bade her spirits bear him far, + In Merlin's agate-axled car, + To her green isle's enamelled steep, + Far in the navel of the deep. + O'er his wounds she sprinkled dew + From flowers that in Arabia grew. + + There he reigns a mighty king, + Thence to Britain shall return, + If right prophetic rolls I learn, + Borne on victory's spreading plume, + His ancient sceptre to resume, + His knightly table to restore, + And brave the tournaments of yore." + +After this narration another bard came forward who recited a +different story: + + "When Arthur bowed his haughty crest, + No princess veiled in azure vest + Snatched him, by Merlin's powerful spell, + In groves of golden bliss to dwell; + But when he fell, with winged speed, + His champions, on a milk-white steed, + From the battle's hurricane, + Bore him to Joseph's towered fane, + In the fair vale of Avalon; + There, with chanted orison + And the long blaze of tapers clear, + The stoled fathers met the bier; + Through the dim aisles, in order dread + Of martial woe, the chief they led, + And deep entombed in holy ground, + Before the altar's solemn bound." + +[Footnote: Glastonbury Abbey, said to be founded by Joseph of +Arimathea, in a spot anciently called the island or valley of +Avalonia. + +Tennyson, in his "Palace of Art," alludes to the legend of +Arthur's rescue by the Faery queen, thus: + + "Or mythic Uther's deeply wounded son, + In some fair space of sloping greens, + Lay dozing in the vale of Avalon, + And watched by weeping queens."] + +It must not be concealed that the very existence of Arthur has +been denied by some. Milton says of him: "As to Arthur, more +renowned in songs and romances than in true stories, who he was, +and whether ever any such reigned in Britain, hath been doubted +heretofore, and may again, with good reason." Modern critics, +however, admit that there was a prince of this name, and find +proof of it in the frequent mention of him in the writings of the +Welsh bards. But the Arthur of romance, according to Mr. Owen, a +Welsh scholar and antiquarian, is a mythological person. "Arthur," +he says, "is the Great Bear, as the name literally implies +(Arctos, Arcturus), and perhaps this constellation, being so near +the pole, and visibly describing a circle in a small space, is the +origin of the famous Round Table." + +KING ARTHUR + +Constans, king of Britain, had three sons, Moines, Ambrosius, +otherwise called Uther, and Pendragon. Moines, soon after his +accession to the crown, was vanquished by the Saxons, in +consequence of the treachery of his seneschal, Vortigern, and +growing unpopular, through misfortune, he was killed by his +subjects, and the traitor Vortigern chosen in his place. + +Vortigern was soon after defeated in a great battle by Uther and +Pendragon, the surviving brothers of Moines, and Pendragon +ascended the throne. + +This prince had great confidence in the wisdom of Merlin, and made +him his chief adviser. About this time a dreadful war arose +between the Saxons and Britons. Merlin obliged the royal brothers +to swear fidelity to each other, but predicted that one of them +must fall in the first battle. The Saxons were routed, and +Pendragon, being slain, was succeeded by Uther, who now assumed in +addition to his own name the appellation of Pendragon. + +Merlin still continued a favorite counsellor. At the request of +Uther he transported by magic art enormous stones from Ireland, to +form the sepulchre of Pendragon. These stones constitute the +monument now called Stonehenge, on Salisbury plain. + +Merlin next proceeded to Carlisle to prepare the Round Table, at +which he seated an assemblage of the great nobles of the country. +The companions admitted to this high order were bound by oath to +assist each other at the hazard of their own lives, to attempt +singly the most perilous adventures, to lead, when necessary, a +life of monastic solitude, to fly to arms at the first summons, +and never to retire from battle till they had defeated the enemy, +unless night intervened and separated the combatants. + +Soon after this institution, the king invited all his barons to +the celebration of a great festival, which he proposed holding +annually at Carlisle. + +As the knights had obtained the sovereign's permission to bring +their ladies along with them, the beautiful Igerne accompanied her +husband, Gorlois, Duke of Tintadel, to one of these anniversaries. +The king became deeply enamoured of the duchess, and disclosed his +passion; but Igerne repelled his advances, and revealed his +solicitations to her husband. On hearing this, the duke instantly +removed from court with Igerne, and without taking leave of Uther. +The king complained to his council of this want of duty, and they +decided that the duke should be summoned to court, and, if +refractory, should be treated as a rebel. As he refused to obey +the citation, the king carried war into the estates of his vassal +and besieged him in the strong castle of Tintadel. Merlin +transformed the king into the likeness of Gorlois, and enabled him +to have many stolen interviews with Igerne. At length the duke was +killed in battle and the king espoused Igerne. + +From this union sprang Arthur, who succeeded his father, Uther, +upon the throne. + +ARTHUR CHOSEN KING + +Arthur, though only fifteen years old at his father's death, was +elected king, at a general meeting of the nobles. It was not done +without opposition, for there were many ambitious competitors. + + "For while he linger'd there + A doubt that ever smoulder'd in the hearts + Of those great Lords and Barons of his realm + Flash'd forth and into war: for most of these + Made head against him, crying, 'Who is he + That he should rule us? who hath proven him + King Uther's son? for lo! we look at him, + And find nor face nor bearing, limbs nor voice, + Are like to those of Uther whom we knew." + + --Coming of Arthur. + +But Bishop Brice, a person of great sanctity, on Christmas eve +addressed the assembly, and represented that it would well become +them, at that solemn season, to put up their prayers for some +token which should manifest the intentions of Providence +respecting their future sovereign. This was done, and with such +success, that the service was scarcely ended when a miraculous +stone was discovered before the church door, and in the stone was +firmly fixed a sword, with the following words engraven on its +hilt: + + "I am hight Escalibore, + Unto a king fair tresore." + +Bishop Brice, after exhorting the assembly to offer up their +thanksgiving for this signal miracle, proposed a law, that whoever +should be able to draw out the sword from the stone, should be +acknowledged as sovereign of the Britons; and his proposal was +decreed by general acclamation. The tributary kings of Uther, and +the most famous knights, successively put their strength to the +proof, but the miraculous sword resisted all their efforts. It +stood till Candlemas; it stood till Easter, and till Pentecost, +when the best knights in the kingdom usually assembled for the +annual tournament. Arthur, who was at that time serving in the +capacity of squire to his foster-brother, Sir Kay, attended his +master to the lists. Sir Kay fought with great valor and success, +but had the misfortune to break his sword, and sent Arthur to his +mother for a new one. Arthur hastened home, but did not find the +lady; but having observed near the church a sword, sticking in a +stone, he galloped to the place, drew out the sword with great +ease, and delivered it to his master. Sir Kay would willingly have +assumed to himself the distinction conferred by the possession of +the sword, but when, to confirm the doubters, the sword was +replaced in the stone he was utterly unable to withdraw it, and it +would yield a second time to no hand but Arthur's. Thus decisively +pointed out by Heaven as their king, Arthur was by general consent +proclaimed as such, and an early day appointed for his solemn +coronation. + +Immediately after his election to the crown, Arthur found himself +opposed by eleven kings and one duke, who with a vast army were +actually encamped in the forest of Rockingham. By Merlin's advice +Arthur sent an embassy to Brittany, to solicit the aid of King Ban +and King Bohort, two of the best knights in the world. They +accepted the call, and with a powerful army crossed the sea, +landing at Portsmouth, where they were received with great +rejoicing. The rebel kings were still superior in numbers; but +Merlin, by a powerful enchantment, caused all their tents to fall +down at once, and in the confusion Arthur with his allies fell +upon them and totally routed them. + +After defeating the rebels, Arthur took the field against the +Saxons. As they were too strong for him unaided, he sent an +embassy to Armorica, beseeching the assistance of Hoel, who soon +after brought over an army to his aid. The two kings joined their +forces, and sought the enemy, whom they met, and both sides +prepared for a decisive engagement. "Arthur himself," as Geoffrey +of Monmouth relates, "dressed in a breastplate worthy of so great +a king, places on his head a golden helmet engraved with the +semblance of a dragon. Over his shoulders he throws his shield +called Priwen, on which a picture of the Holy Virgin constantly +recalled her to his memory. Girt with Caliburn, a most excellent +sword, and fabricated in the isle of Avalon, he graces his right +hand with the lance named Ron. This was a long and broad spear, +well contrived for slaughter." After a severe conflict, Arthur, +calling on the name of the Virgin, rushes into the midst of his +enemies, and destroys multitudes of them with the formidable +Caliburn, and puts the rest to flight. Hoel, being detained by +sickness, took no part in this battle. + +This is called the victory of Mount Badon, and, however disguised +by fable, it is regarded by historians as a real event. + +The feats performed by Arthur at the battle of Badon Mount are +thus celebrated in Drayton's verse: + + "They sung how he himself at Badon bore, that day, + When at the glorious goal his British sceptre lay; + Two daies together how the battel stronglie stood; + Pendragon's worthie son, who waded there in blood, + Three hundred Saxons slew with his owne valiant hand." + + --Song IV. + +GUENEVER + +Merlin had planned for Arthur a marriage with the daughter of King +Laodegan of Carmalide. By his advice Arthur paid a visit to the +court of that sovereign, attended only by Merlin and by thirty- +nine knights whom the magician had selected for that service. On +their arrival they found Laodegan and his peers sitting in +council, endeavoring, but with small prospect of success, to +devise means of resisting the impending attack of Ryence, king of +Ireland, who, with fifteen tributary kings and an almost +innumerable army, had nearly surrounded the city. Merlin, who +acted as leader of the band of British knights, announced them as +strangers, who came to offer the king their services in his wars; +but under the express condition that they should be at liberty to +conceal their names and quality until they should think proper to +divulge them. These terms were thought very strange, but were +thankfully accepted, and the strangers, after taking the usual +oath to the king, retired to the lodging which Merlin had prepared +for them. + +A few days after this, the enemy, regardless of a truce into which +they had entered with King Laodegan, suddenly issued from their +camp and made an attempt to surprise the city. Cleodalis, the +king's general, assembled the royal forces with all possible +despatch. Arthur and his companions also flew to arms, and Merlin +appeared at their head, bearing a standard on which was emblazoned +a terrific dragon. Merlin advanced to the gate, and commanded the +porter to open it, which the porter refused to do, without the +king's order. Merlin thereupon took up the gate, with all its +appurtenances of locks, bars, bolts, etc., and directed his troops +to pass through, after which he replaced it in perfect order. He +then set spurs to his horse and dashed, at the head of his little +troop, into a body of two thousand pagans. The disparity of +numbers being so enormous, Merlin cast a spell upon the enemy, so +as to prevent their seeing the small number of their assailants; +notwithstanding which the British knights were hard pressed. But +the people of the city, who saw from the walls this unequal +contest, were ashamed of leaving the small body of strangers to +their fate, so they opened the gate and sallied forth. The numbers +were now more nearly equal, and Merlin revoked his spell, so that +the two armies encountered on fair terms. Where Arthur, Ban, +Bohort, and the rest fought the king's army had the advantage; but +in another part of the field the king himself was surrounded and +carried off by the enemy. The sad sight was seen by Guenever, the +fair daughter of the king, who stood on the city wall and looked +at the battle. She was in dreadful distress, tore her hair, and +swooned away. + +But Merlin, aware of what passed in every part of the field, +suddenly collected his knights, led them out of the battle, +intercepted the passage of the party who were carrying away the +king, charged them with irresistible impetuosity, cut in pieces or +dispersed the whole escort, and rescued the king. In the fight +Arthur encountered Caulang, a giant fifteen feet high, and the +fair Guenever, who had already began to feel a strong interest in +the handsome young stranger, trembled for the issue of the +contest. But Arthur, dealing a dreadful blow on the shoulder of +the monster, cut through his neck so that his head hung over on +one side, and in this condition his horse carried him about the +field, to the great horror and dismay of the Pagans. Guenever +could not refrain from expressing aloud her wish that the gentle +knight, who dealt with giants so dexterously, were destined to +become her husband, and the wish was echoed by her attendants. The +enemy soon turned their backs and fled with precipitation, closely +pursued by Laodegan and his allies. + +After the battle Arthur was disarmed and conducted to the bath by +the princess Guenever, while his friends were attended by the +other ladies of the court. After the bath the knights were +conducted to a magnificent entertainment, at which they were +diligently served by the same fair attendants. Laodegan, more and +more anxious to know the name and quality of his generous +deliverers, and occasionally forming a secret wish that the chief +of his guests might be captivated by the charms of his daughter, +appeared silent and pensive, and was scarcely roused from his +reverie by the banters of his courtiers. Arthur, having had an +opportunity of explaining to Guenever his great esteem for her +merit, was in the joy of his heart, and was still further +delighted by hearing from Merlin the late exploits of Gawain at +London, by means of which his immediate return to his dominions +was rendered unnecessary, and he was left at liberty to protract +his stay at the court of Laodegan. Every day contributed to +increase the admiration of the whole court for the gallant +strangers, and the passion of Guenever for their chief; and when +at last Merlin announced to the king that the object of the visit +of the party was to procure a bride for their leader, Laodegan at +once presented Guenever to Arthur, telling him that, whatever +might be his rank, his merit was sufficient to entitle him to the +possession of the heiress of Carmalide. + + "And could he find a woman in her womanhood + As great as he was in his manhood-- + The twain together might change the world." + + --Guinevere. + +Arthur accepted the lady with the utmost gratitude, and Merlin +then proceeded to satisfy the king of the rank of his son-in-law; +upon which Laodegan, with all his barons, hastened to do homage to +their lawful sovereign, the successor of Uther Pendragon. The fair +Guenever was then solemnly betrothed to Arthur, and a magnificent +festival was proclaimed, which lasted seven days. At the end of +that time, the enemy appearing again with renewed force, it became +necessary to resume military operations. [Footnote: Guenever, the +name of Arthur's queen, also written Genievre and Geneura, is +familiar to all who are conversant with chivalric lore. It is to +her adventures, and those of her true knight, Sir Launcelot, that +Dante alludes in the beautiful episode of Francesca di Rimini.] + +We must now relate what took place at and near London, while +Arthur was absent from his capital. At this very time a band of +young heroes were on their way to Arthur's court, for the purpose +of receiving knighthood from him. They were Gawain and his three +brothers, nephews of Arthur, sons of King Lot, and Galachin, +another nephew, son of King Nanters. King Lot had been one of the +rebel chiefs whom Arthur had defeated, but he now hoped by means +of the young men to be reconciled to his brother-in-law. He +equipped his sons and his nephew with the utmost magnificence, +giving them a splendid retinue of young men, sons of earls and +barons, all mounted on the best horses, with complete suits of +choice armor. They numbered in all seven hundred, but only nine +had yet received the order of knighthood; the rest were candidates +for that honor, and anxious to earn it by an early encounter with +the enemy. Gawain, the leader, was a knight of wonderful strength; +but what was most remarkable about him was that his strength was +greater at certain hours of the day than at others. From nine +o'clock till noon his strength was doubled, and so it was from +three to evensong; for the rest of the time it was less +remarkable, though at all times surpassing that of ordinary men. + +After a march of three days they arrived in the vicinity of +London, where they expected to find Arthur and his court, and very +unexpectedly fell in with a large convoy belonging to the enemy, +consisting of numerous carts and wagons, all loaded with +provisions, and escorted by three thousand men, who had been +collecting spoil from all the country round. A single charge from +Gawain's impetuous cavalry was sufficient to disperse the escort +and recover the convoy, which was instantly despatched to London. +But before long a body of seven thousand fresh soldiers advanced +to the attack of the five princes and their little army. Gawain, +singling out a chief named Choas, of gigantic size, began the +battle by splitting him from the crown of the head to the breast. +Galachin encountered King Sanagran, who was also very huge, and +cut off his head. Agrivain and Gahariet also performed prodigies +of valor. Thus they kept the great army of assailants at bay, +though hard pressed, till of a sudden they perceived a strong body +of the citizens advancing from London, where the convoy which had +been recovered by Gawain had arrived, and informed the mayor and +citizens of the danger of their deliverer. The arrival of the +Londoners soon decided the contest. The enemy fled in all +directions, and Gawain and his friends, escorted by the grateful +citizens, entered London, and were received with acclamations. + + + + + +CHAPTER V + +ARTHUR (Continued) + + +After the great victory of Mount Badon, by which the Saxons were +for the time effectually put down, Arthur turned his arms against +the Scots and Picts, whom he routed at Lake Lomond, and compelled +to sue for mercy. He then went to York to keep his Christmas, and +employed himself in restoring the Christian churches which the +Pagans had rifled and overthrown. The following summer he +conquered Ireland, and then made a voyage with his fleet to +Iceland, which he also subdued. The kings of Gothland and of the +Orkneys came voluntarily and made their submission, promising to +pay tribute. Then he returned to Britain, where, having +established the kingdom, he dwelt twelve years in peace. + +During this time he invited over to him all persons whatsoever +that were famous for valor in foreign nations, and augmented the +number of his domestics, and introduced such politeness into his +court as people of the remotest countries thought worthy of their +imitation. So that there was not a nobleman who thought himself of +any consideration unless his clothes and arms were made in the +same fashion as those of Arthur's knights. + +Finding himself so powerful at home, Arthur began to form designs +for extending his power abroad. So, having prepared his fleet, he +first attempted Norway, that he might procure the crown of it for +Lot, his sister's husband. Arthur landed in Norway, fought a great +battle with the king of that country, defeated him, and pursued +the victory till he had reduced the whole country under his +dominion, and established Lot upon the throne. Then Arthur made a +voyage to Gaul and laid siege to the city of Paris. Gaul was at +that time a Roman province, and governed by Flollo, the Tribune. +When the siege of Paris had continued a month, and the people +began to suffer from famine, Flollo challenged Arthur to single +combat, proposing to decide the conquest of the province in that +way. Arthur gladly accepted the challenge, and slew his adversary +in the contest, upon which the citizens surrendered the city to +him. After the victory Arthur divided his army into two parts, one +of which he committed to the conduct of Hoel, whom he ordered to +march into Aquitaine, while he with the other part should endeavor +to subdue the other provinces. At the end of nine years, in which +time all the parts of Gaul were entirely reduced, Arthur returned +to Paris, where he kept his court, and, calling an assembly of the +clergy and people, established peace and the just administration +of the laws in that kingdom. Then he bestowed Normandy upon +Bedver, his butler, and the province of Andegavia upon Kay, his +steward, [Footnote: This name, in the French romances, is spelled +Queux, which means head cook. This would seem to imply that it was +a title, and not a name; yet the personage who bore it is never +mentioned by any other. He is the chief, if not the only, comic +character among the heroes of Arthur's court. He is the Seneschal +or Steward, his duties also embracing those of chief of the cooks. +In the romances, his general character is a compound of valor and +buffoonery, always ready to fight, and generally getting the worst +of the battle. He is also sarcastic and abusive in his remarks, by +which he often gets into trouble. Yet Arthur seems to have an +attachment to him, and often takes his advice, which is generally +wrong.] and several other provinces upon his great men that +attended him. And, having settled the peace of the cities and +countries, he returned back in the beginning of spring to Britain. + +Upon the approach of the feast of Pentecost, Arthur, the better to +demonstrate his joy after such triumphant successes, and for the +more solemn observation of that festival, and reconciling the +minds of the princes that were now subject to him, resolved during +that season to hold a magnificent court, to place the crown upon +his head, and to invite all the kings and dukes under his +subjection to the solemnity. And he pitched upon Caerleon, the +City of Legions, as the proper place for his purpose. For, besides +its great wealth above the other cities, its situation upon the +river Usk, near the Severn sea, was most pleasant and fit for so +great a solemnity. For on one side it was washed by that noble +river, so that the kings and princes from the countries beyond the +seas might have the convenience of sailing up to it. On the other +side the beauty of the meadows and groves, and magnificence of the +royal palaces, with lofty gilded roofs that adorned it, made it +even rival the grandeur of Rome. It was also famous for two +churches, whereof one was adorned with a choir of virgins, who +devoted themselves wholly to the service of God, and the other +maintained a convent of priests. Besides, there was a college of +two hundred philosophers, who, being learned in astronomy and the +other arts, were diligent in observing the courses of the stars, +and gave Arthur true predictions of the events that would happen. +In this place, therefore, which afforded such delights, were +preparations made for the ensuing festival. + +[Footnote: Several cities are allotted to King Arthur by the +romance-writers. The principal are Caerleon, Camelot, and +Carlisle. + +Caerleon derives its name from its having been the station of one +of the legions, during the dominion of the Romans. It is called by +Latin writers Urbs Legionum, the City of Legions. The former word +being rendered into Welsh by Caer, meaning city, and the latter +contracted into lleon. The river Usk retains its name in modern +geography, and there is a town or city of Caerleon upon it, though +the city of Cardiff is thought to be the scene of Arthur's court. +Chester also bears in Welsh the name of Caerleon; for Chester, +derived from castra, Latin for camp, is the designation of +military headquarters. + +Camelot is thought to be Winchester. + +Shalott is Guilford. + +Hamo's Port is Southampton. + +Carlisle is the city still retaining that name, near the Scottish +border. But this name is also sometimes applied to other places, +which were, like itself, military stations.] + +Ambassadors were then sent into several kingdoms, to invite to +court the princes both of Gaul and of the adjacent islands. +Accordingly there came Augusel, king of Albania, now Scotland, +Cadwallo, king of Venedotia, now North Wales, Sater, king of +Demetia, now South Wales; also the archbishops of the metropolitan +sees, London and York, and Dubricius, bishop of Caerleon, the City +of Legions. This prelate, who was primate of Britain, was so +eminent for his piety that he could cure any sick person by his +prayers. There were also the counts of the principal cities, and +many other worthies of no less dignity. + +From the adjacent islands came Guillamurius, king of Ireland, +Gunfasius, king of the Orkneys, Malvasius, king of Iceland, Lot, +king of Norway, Bedver, the butler, Duke of Normandy, Kay, the +sewer, Duke of Andegavia; also the twelve peers of Gaul, and Hoel, +Duke of the Armorican Britons, with his nobility, who came with +such a train of mules, horses, and rich furniture as it is +difficult to describe. Besides these there remained no prince of +any consideration on this side of Spain who came not upon this +invitation. And no wonder, when Arthur's munificence, which was +celebrated over the whole world, made him beloved by all people. + +When all were assembled upon the day of the solemnity the +archbishops were conducted to the palace, in order to place the +crown upon the king's head. Then Dubricius, inasmuch as the court +was held in his diocese, made himself ready to celebrate the +office. As soon as the king was invested with his royal +habiliments he was conducted in great pomp to the metropolitan +church, having four kings, viz., of Albania, Cornwall, Demetia, +and Venedotia, bearing four golden swords before him. On another +part was the queen, dressed out in her richest ornaments, +conducted by the archbishops and bishops to the Church of Virgins; +the four queens, also, of the kings last mentioned, bearing before +her four white doves, according to ancient custom. When the whole +procession was ended so transporting was the harmony of the +musical instruments and voices, whereof there was a vast variety +in both churches, that the knights who attended were in doubt +which to prefer, and therefore crowded from the one to the other +by turns, and were far from being tired of the solemnity, though +the whole day had been spent in it. At last, when divine service +was over at both churches, the king and queen put off their +crowns, and, putting on their lighter ornaments, went to the +banquet. When they had all taken their seats according to +precedence, Kay, the sewer, in rich robes of ermine, with a +thousand young noblemen all in like manner clothed in rich attire, +served up the dishes. From another part Bedver, the butler, was +followed by the same number of attendants, who waited with all +kinds of cups and drinking-vessels. And there was food and drink +in abundance, and everything was of the best kind, and served in +the best manner. For at that time Britain had arrived at such a +pitch of grandeur that in riches, luxury, and politeness it far +surpassed all other kingdoms. + +As soon as the banquets were over they went into the fields +without the city to divert themselves with various sports, such as +shooting with bows and arrows, tossing the pike, casting of heavy +stones and rocks, playing at dice, and the like, and all these +inoffensively, and without quarrelling. In this manner were three +days spent, and after that they separated, and the kings and +noblemen departed to their several homes. + +After this Arthur reigned five years in peace. Then came +ambassadors from Lucius Tiberius, Procurator under Leo, Emperor of +Rome, demanding tribute. But Arthur refused to pay tribute, and +prepared for war. As soon as the necessary dispositions were made +he committed the government of his kingdom to his nephew Modred +and to Queen Guenever, and marched with his army to Hamo's Port, +where the wind stood fair for him. The army crossed over in +safety, and landed at the mouth of the river Barba. And there they +pitched their tents to wait the arrival of the kings of the +islands. + +As soon as all the forces were arrived Arthur marched forward to +Augustodunum, and encamped on the banks of the river Alba. Here +repeated battles were fought, in all which the Britons, under +their valiant leaders, Hoel, Duke of Armorica, and Gawain, nephew +to Arthur, had the advantage. At length Lucius Tiberius determined +to retreat, and wait for the Emperor Leo to join him with fresh +troops. But Arthur, anticipating this event, took possession of a +certain valley, and closed up the way of retreat to Lucius, +compelling him to fight a decisive battle, in which Arthur lost +some of the bravest of his knights and most faithful followers. +But on the other hand Lucius Tiberius was slain, and his army +totally defeated. The fugitives dispersed over the country, some +to the by-ways and woods, some to cities and towns, and all other +places where they could hope for safety. + +Arthur stayed in those parts till the next winter was over, and +employed his time in restoring order and settling the government. +He then returned into England, and celebrated his victories with +great splendor. + +Then the king stablished all his knights, and to them that were +not rich he gave lands, and charged them all never to do outrage +nor murder, and always to flee treason; also, by no means to be +cruel, but to give mercy unto him that asked mercy, upon pain of +forfeiture of their worship and lordship; and always to do ladies, +damosels, and gentlewomen service, upon pain of death. Also that +no man take battle in a wrongful quarrel, for no law, nor for any +world's goods. Unto this were all the knights sworn of the Table +Round, both old and young. And at every year were they sworn at +the high feast of Pentecost. + +KING ARTHUR SLAYS THE GIANT OF ST. MICHAEL'S MOUNT + +While the army was encamped in Brittany, awaiting the arrival of +the kings, there came a countryman to Arthur, and told him that a +giant, whose cave was on a neighboring mountain, called St. +Michael's Mount, had for a long time been accustomed to carry off +the children of the peasants to devour them. "And now he hath +taken the Duchess of Brittany, as she rode with her attendants, +and hath carried her away in spite of all they could do." "Now, +fellow," said King Arthur, "canst thou bring me there where this +giant haunteth?" "Yea, sure," said the good man; "lo, yonder where +thou seest two great fires, there shalt thou find him, and more +treasure than I suppose is in all France beside." Then the king +called to him Sir Bedver and Sir Kay, and commanded them to make +ready horse and harness for himself and them; for after evening he +would ride on pilgrimage to St. Michael's Mount. + +So they three departed, and rode forth till they came to the foot +of the mount. And there the king commanded them to tarry, for he +would himself go up into that mount. So he ascended the hill till +he came to a great fire, and there he found an aged woman sitting +by a new-made grave, making great sorrow. Then King Arthur saluted +her, and demanded of her wherefore she made such lamentation; to +whom she answered: "Sir knight, speak low, for yonder is a devil, +and if he hear thee speak, he will come and destroy thee. For ye +cannot make resistance to him, he is so fierce and so strong. He +hath murdered the Duchess, which here lieth, who was the fairest +of all the world, wife to Sir Hoel, Duke of Brittany." "Dame," +said the king, "I come from the noble conqueror, King Arthur, to +treat with that tyrant." "Fie on such treaties," said she; "he +setteth not by the king, nor by no man else." "Well," said Arthur, +"I will accomplish my message for all your fearful words." So he +went forth by the crest of the hill, and saw where the giant sat +at supper, gnawing on the limb of a man, and baking his broad +limbs at the fire, and three fair damsels lying bound, whose lot +it was to be devoured in their turn. When King Arthur beheld that, +he had great compassion on them, so that his heart bled for +sorrow. Then he hailed the giant, saying, "He that all the world +ruleth give thee short life and shameful death. Why hast thou +murdered this Duchess? Therefore come forth, for this day thou +shalt die by my hand." Then the giant started up, and took a great +club, and smote at the king, and smote off his coronal; and then +the king struck him in the belly with his sword, and made a +fearful wound. Then the giant threw away his club, and caught the +king in his arms, so that he crushed his ribs. Then the three +maidens kneeled down and prayed for help and comfort for Arthur. +And Arthur weltered and wrenched, so that he was one while under, +and another time above. And so weltering and wallowing they rolled +down the hill, and ever as they weltered Arthur smote him with his +dagger; and it fortuned they came to the place where the two +knights were. And when they saw the king fast in the giant's arms +they came and loosed him. Then the king commanded Sir Kay to smite +off the giant's head, and to set it on the truncheon of a spear, +and fix it on the barbican, that all the people might see and +behold it. This was done, and anon it was known through all the +country, wherefor the people came and thanked the king. And he +said, "Give your thanks to God; and take ye the giant's spoil and +divide it among you." And King Arthur caused a church to be +builded on that hill, in honor of St. Michael. + +KING ARTHUR GETS A SWORD FROM THE LADY OF THE LAKE + +One day King Arthur rode forth, and on a sudden he was ware of +three churls chasing Merlin, to have slain him. And the king rode +unto them and bade them, "Flee, churls!" Then were they afraid +when they saw a knight, and fled. "O Merlin," said Arthur, "here +hadst thou been slain, for all thy crafts, had I not been by." +"Nay," said Merlin, "not so, for I could save myself if I would; +but thou art more near thy death than I am." So, as they went thus +talking, King Arthur perceived where sat a knight on horseback, as +if to guard the pass. "Sir knight," said Arthur, "for what cause +abidest thou here?" Then the knight said, "There may no knight +ride this way unless he just with me, for such is the custom of +the pass." "I will amend that custom," said the king. Then they +ran together, and they met so hard that their spears were +shivered. Then they drew their swords and fought a strong battle, +with many great strokes. But at length the sword of the knight +smote King Arthur's sword in two pieces. Then said the knight unto +Arthur, "Thou art in my power, whether to save thee or slay thee, +and unless thou yield thee as overcome and recreant, thou shalt +die." "As for death," said King Arthur, "welcome be it when it +cometh; but to yield me unto thee as recreant, I will not." Then +he leapt upon the knight, and took him by the middle and threw him +down; but the knight was a passing strong man, and anon he brought +Arthur under him, and would have razed off his helm to slay him. +Then said Merlin, "Knight, hold thy hand, for this knight is a man +of more worship than thou art aware of." "Why, who is he?" said +the knight. "It is King Arthur." Then would he have slain him for +dread of his wrath, and lifted up his sword to slay him; and +therewith Merlin cast an enchantment on the knight, so that he +fell to the earth in a great sleep. Then Merlin took up King +Arthur, and set him on his horse. "Alas!" said Arthur, "what hast +thou done, Merlin? hast thou slain this good knight by thy +crafts?" "Care ye not," said Merlin; "he is wholer than ye be. He +is only asleep, and will wake in three hours." + +Then the king and he departed, and went till they came to a +hermit, that was a good man and a great leech. So the hermit +searched all his wounds, and applied good salves; and the king was +there three days, and then were his wounds well amended, that he +might ride and go. So they departed, and as they rode Arthur said, +"I have no sword." "No matter," said Merlin; "hereby is a sword +that shall be yours." So they rode till they came to a lake, which +was a fair water and broad. And in the midst of the lake Arthur +was aware of an arm clothed in white samite, [Footnote: Samite, a +sort of silk stuff.] that held a fair sword in the hand. "Lo!" +said Merlin, "yonder is that sword that I spake of. It belongeth +to the Lady of the Lake, and, if she will, thou mayest take it; +but if she will not, it will not be in thy power to take it." + +So Sir Arthur and Merlin alighted from their horses, and went into +a boat. And when they came to the sword that the hand held Sir +Arthur took it by the handle and took it to him, and the arm and +the hand went under the water. + +Then they returned unto the land and rode forth. And Sir Arthur +looked on the sword and liked it right well. + +So they rode unto Caerleon, whereof his knights were passing glad. +And when they heard of his adventures they marvelled that he would +jeopard his person so alone. But all men of worship said it was a +fine thing to be under such a chieftain as would put his person in +adventure as other poor knights did. + + + + + +CHAPTER VI + +SIR GAWAIN + + +Sir Gawain was nephew to King Arthur, by his sister Morgana, +married to Lot, king of Orkney, who was by Arthur made king of +Norway. Sir Gawain was one of the most famous knights of the Round +Table, and is characterized by the romancers as the SAGE and +COURTEOUS Gawain. To this Chaucer alludes in his "Squiere's Tale," +where the strange knight "salueth" all the court + + "With so high reverence and observance, + As well in speeche as in countenance, + That Gawain, with his olde curtesie, + Though he were come agen out of faerie, + Ne coude him not amenden with a word." + +Gawain's brothers were Agrivain, Gahariet, and Gareth. + +SIR GAWAIN'S MARRIAGE + +Once upon a time King Arthur held his court in merry Carlisle, +when a damsel came before him and craved a boon. It was for +vengeance upon a caitiff knight, who had made her lover captive +and despoiled her of her lands. King Arthur commanded to bring him +his sword, Excalibar, and to saddle his steed, and rode forth +without delay to right the lady's wrong. Ere long he reached the +castle of the grim baron, and challenged him to the conflict. But +the castle stood on magic ground, and the spell was such that no +knight could tread thereon but straight his courage fell and his +strength decayed. King Arthur felt the charm, and before a blow +was struck, his sturdy limbs lost their strength, and his head +grew faint. He was fain to yield himself prisoner to the churlish +knight, who refused to release him except upon condition that he +should return at the end of a year, and bring a true answer to the +question, "What thing is it which women most desire?" or in +default thereof surrender himself and his lands. King Arthur +accepted the terms, and gave his oath to return at the time +appointed. During the year the king rode east, and he rode west, +and inquired of all whom he met what thing it is which all women +most desire. Some told him riches; some, pomp and state; some, +mirth; some, flattery; and some, a gallant knight. But in the +diversity of answers he could find no sure dependence. The year +was well-nigh spent, when one day, as he rode thoughtfully through +a forest, he saw sitting beneath a tree a lady of such hideous +aspect that he turned away his eyes, and when she greeted him in +seemly sort, made no answer. "What wight art thou," the lady said, +"that will not speak to me? It may chance that I may resolve thy +doubts, though I be not fair of aspect." "If thou wilt do so," +said King Arthur, "choose what reward thou wilt, thou grim lady, +and it shall be given thee." "Swear me this upon thy faith," she +said, and Arthur swore it. Then the lady told him the secret, and +demanded her reward, which was that the king should find some fair +and courtly knight to be her husband. + +King Arthur hastened to the grim baron's castle and told him one +by one all the answers which he had received from his various +advisers, except the last, and not one was admitted as the true +one. "Now yield thee, Arthur," the giant said, "for thou hast not +paid thy ransom, and thou and thy lands are forfeited to me." Then +King Arthur said: + + "Yet hold thy hand, thou proud baron, + I pray thee hold thy hand, + And give me leave to speak once more, + In rescue of my land. + This morn as I came over a moor, + I saw a lady set, + Between an oak and a green holly, + All clad in red scarlett. + She says ALL WOMEN WOULD HAVE THEIR WILL, + This is their chief desire; + Now yield, as thou art a baron true, + That I have paid my hire." + +"It was my sister that told thee this," the churlish baron +exclaimed. "Vengeance light on her! I will some time or other do +her as ill a turn." + +King Arthur rode homeward, but not light of heart, for he +remembered the promise he was under to the loathly lady to--give +her one of his young and gallant knights for a husband. He told +his grief to Sir Gawain, his nephew, and he replied, "Be not sad, +my lord, for I will marry the loathly lady." King Arthur replied: + + "Now nay, now nay, good Sir Gawaine, + My sister's son ye be; + The loathly lady's all too grim, + And all too foule for thee." + +But Gawain persisted, and the king at last, with sorrow of heart, +consented that Gawain should be his ransom. So one day the king +and his knights rode to the forest, met the loathly lady, and +brought her to the court. Sir Gawain stood the scoffs and jeers of +his companions as he best might, and the marriage was solemnized, +but not with the usual festivities. Chaucer tells us: + + "... There was no joye ne feste at alle; + There n' as but hevinesse and mochel sorwe, + For prively he wed her on the morwe, + And all day after hid him as an owle, + So wo was him his wife loked so foule!" + +[Footnote: N'AS is NOT WAS, contracted; in modern phrase, THERE +WAS NOT. MOCHEL SORWE is much sorrow; MORWE is MORROW.] + +When night came, and they were alone together, Sir Gawain could +not conceal his aversion; and the lady asked him why he sighed so +heavily, and turned away his face. He candidly confessed it was on +account of three things, her age, her ugliness, and her low +degree. The lady, not at all offended, replied with excellent +arguments to all his objections. She showed him that with age is +discretion, with ugliness security from rivals, and that all true +gentility depends, not upon the accident of birth, but upon the +character of the individual. + +Sir Gawain made no reply; but, turning his eyes on his bride, what +was his amazement to perceive that she wore no longer the unseemly +aspect that had so distressed him. She then told him that the form +she had worn was not her true form, but a disguise imposed upon +her by a wicked enchanter, and that she was condemned to wear it +until two things should happen: one, that she should obtain some +young and gallant knight to be her husband. This having been done, +one-half of the charm was removed. She was now at liberty to wear +her true form for half the time, and she bade him choose whether +he would have her fair by day, and ugly by night, or the reverse. +Sir Gawain would fain have had her look her best by night, when he +alone would see her, and show her repulsive visage, if at all, to +others. But she reminded him how much more pleasant it would be to +her to wear her best looks in the throng of knights and ladies by +day. Sir Gawain yielded, and gave up his will to hers. This alone +was wanting to dissolve the charm. The lovely lady now with joy +assured him that she should change no more, but as she now was, so +would she remain by night as well as by day. + + "Sweet blushes stayned her rud-red cheek, + Her eyen were black as sloe, + The ripening cherrye swelled her lippe, + And all her neck was snow. + Sir Gawain kist that ladye faire + Lying upon the sheete, + And swore, as he was a true knight, + The spice was never so swete." + +The dissolution of the charm which had held the lady also released +her brother, the "grim baron," for he too had been implicated in +it. He ceased to be a churlish oppressor, and became a gallant and +generous knight as any at Arthur's court. + + + + + +CHAPTER VII + +CARADOC BRIEFBRAS; OR, CARADOC WITH THE SHRUNKEN ARM + + +Caradoc was the son of Ysenne, the beautiful niece of Arthur. He +was ignorant who his father was, till it was discovered in the +following manner: When the youth was of proper years to receive +the honors of knighthood, King Arthur held a grand court for the +purpose of knighting him. On this occasion a strange knight +presented himself, and challenged the knights of Arthur's court to +exchange blow for blow with him. His proposal was this--to lay his +neck on a block for any knight to strike, on condition that, if he +survived the blow, the knight should submit in turn to the same +experiment. Sir Kay, who was usually ready to accept all +challenges, pronounced this wholly unreasonable, and declared that +he would not accept it for all the wealth in the world. And when +the knight offered his sword, with which the operation was to be +performed, no person ventured to accept it, till Caradoc, growing +angry at the disgrace which was thus incurred by the Round Table, +threw aside his mantle and took it. "Do you do this as one of the +best knights?" said the stranger. "No," he replied, "but as one of +the most foolish." The stranger lays his head upon the block, +receives a blow which sends it rolling from his shoulders, walks +after it, picks it up, replaces it with great success, and says he +will return when the court shall be assembled next year, and claim +his turn. When the anniversary arrived, both parties were punctual +to their engagement. Great entreaties were used by the king and +queen, and the whole court, in behalf of Caradoc, but the stranger +was inflexible. The young knight laid his head upon the block, and +more than once desired him to make an end of the business, and not +keep him longer in so disagreeable a state of expectation. At last +the stranger strikes him gently with the side of the sword, bids +him rise, and reveals to him the fact that he is his father, the +enchanter Eliaures, and that he gladly owns him for a son, having +proved his courage and fidelity to his word. + +But the favor of enchanters is short-lived and uncertain. Eliaures +fell under the influence of a wicked woman, who, to satisfy her +pique against Caradoc, persuaded the enchanter to fasten on his +arm a serpent, which remained there sucking at his flesh and +blood, no human skill sufficing either to remove the reptile or +alleviate the torments which Caradoc endured. + +Caradoc was betrothed to Guimier, sister to his bosom friend, +Cador, and daughter to the king of Cornwall. As soon as they were +informed of his deplorable condition, they set out for Nantes, +where Caradoc's castle was, that Guimier might attend upon him. +When Caradoc heard of their coming, his first emotion was that of +joy and love. But soon he began to fear that the sight of his +emaciated form, and of his sufferings, would disgust Guimier; and +this apprehension became so strong, that he departed secretly from +Nantes, and hid himself in a hermitage. He was sought far and near +by the knights of Arthur's court, and Cador made a vow never to +desist from the quest till he should have found him. After long +wandering, Cador discovered his friend in the hermitage, reduced +almost to a skeleton, and apparently near his death. All other +means of relief having already been tried in vain, Cador at last +prevailed on the enchanter Eliaures to disclose the only method +which could avail for his rescue. A maiden must be found, his +equal in birth and beauty, and loving him better than herself, so +that she would expose herself to the same torment to deliver him. +Two vessels were then to be provided, the one filled with sour +wine, and the other with milk. Caradoc must enter the first, so +that the wine should reach his neck, and the maiden must get into +the other, and, exposing her bosom upon the edge of the vessel, +invite the serpent to forsake the withered flesh of his victim for +this fresh and inviting food. The vessels were to be placed three +feet apart, and as the serpent crossed from one to the other. a +knight was to cut him in two. If he failed in his blow, Caradoc +would indeed be delivered, but it would be only to see his fair +champion suffering the same cruel and hopeless torment. The sequel +may be easily foreseen. Guimier willingly exposed herself to the +perilous adventure, and Cador, with a lucky blow, killed the +serpent. The arm in which Caradoc had suffered so long recovered +its strength, but not its shape, in consequence of which he was +called Caradoc Briefbras, Caradoc of the Shrunken Arm. + +Caradoc and Guimier are the hero and heroine of the ballad Of the +"Boy and the Mantle," which follows: + + "THE BOY AND THE MANTLE + + "In Carlisle dwelt King Arthur, + A prince of passing might, + And there maintained his Table Round, + Beset with many a knight. + + "And there he kept his Christmas, + With mirth and princely cheer, + When lo! a strange and cunning boy + Before him did appear. + + "A kirtle and a mantle + This boy had him upon, + With brooches, rings, and ouches, + Full daintily bedone. + + "He had a sash of silk + About his middle meet; + And thus with seemly curtesie + He did King Arthur greet: + + "'God speed thee, brave King Arthur. + Thus feasting in thy bower, + And Guenever, thy goodly queen, + That fair and peerless flower. + + "'Ye gallant lords and lordlings, + I wish you all take heed, + Lest what ye deem a blooming rose + Should prove a cankered weed.' + + "Then straightway from his bosom + A little wand he drew; + And with it eke a mantle, + Of wondrous shape and hue. + + "'Now have thou here, King Arthur, + Have this here of me, + And give unto thy comely queen, + All shapen as you see. + + "'No wife it shall become, + That once hath been to blame.' + Then every knight in Arthur's court + Sly glanced at his dame. + + "And first came Lady Guenever, + The mantle she must try. + This dame she was new-fangled, [1] + And of a roving eye. + + "When she had taken the mantle, + And all with it was clad, + From top to toe it shivered down, + As though with shears beshred. + + "One while it was too long, + Another while too short, + And wrinkled on her shoulders, + In most unseemly sort. + + "Now green, now red it seemed, + Then all of sable hue; + 'Beshrew me,' quoth King Arthur, + 'I think thou be'st not true!' + + "Down she threw the mantle, + No longer would she stay; + But, storming like a fury, + To her chamber flung away. + + "She cursed the rascal weaver, + That had the mantle wrought; + And doubly cursed the froward imp + Who thither had it brought. + + I had rather live in deserts, + Beneath the greenwood tree, + Than here, base king, among thy grooms + The sport of them and thee.' + + "Sir Kay called forth his lady, + And bade her to come near: + 'Yet dame, if thou be guilty, + I pray thee now forbear.' + + "This lady, pertly giggling, + With forward step came on, + And boldly to the little boy + With fearless face is gone. + + "When she had taken the mantle, + With purpose for to wear, + It shrunk up to her shoulder, + And left her back all bare. + + "Then every merry knight, + That was in Arthur's court, + Gibed and laughed and flouted, + To see that pleasant sport. + + "Down she threw the mantle, + No longer bold or gay, + But, with a face all pale and wan + To her chamber slunk away. + + "Then forth came an old knight + A pattering o'er his creed, + And proffered to the little boy + Five nobles to his meed: + + "'And all the time of Christmas + Plum-porridge shall be thine, + If thou wilt let my lady fair + Within the mantle shine.' + + "A saint his lady seemed, + With step demure and slow, + And gravely to the mantle + With mincing face doth go. + + "When she the same had taken + That was so fine and thin, + It shrivelled all about her, + And showed her dainty skin. + + "Ah! little did her mincing, + Or his long prayers bestead; + She had no more hung on her + Than a tassel and a thread. + + "Down she threw the mantle, + With terror and dismay, + And with a face of scarlet + To her chamber hied away. + + "Sir Cradock called his lady, + And bade her to come near: + 'Come win this mantle, lady, + And do me credit here: + + "'Come win this mantle, lady, + For now it shall be thine, + If thou hast never done amiss, + Since first I made thee mine.' + + "The lady, gently blushing, + With modest grace came on; + And now to try the wondrous charm + Courageously is gone. + + "When she had ta'en the mantle, + And put it on her back, + About the hem it seemed + To wrinkle and to crack. + + "'Lie still,' she cried, 'O mantle! + And shame me not for naught; + I'll freely own whate'er amiss + Or blameful I have wrought. + + "'Once I kissed Sir Cradock + Beneath the greenwood tree; + Once I kissed Sir Cradock's mouth, + Before he married me.' + + "When she had thus her shriven, + And her worst fault had told, + The mantle soon became her, + Right comely as it should. + + "Most rich and fair of color, + Like gold it glittering shone, + And much the knights in Arthur's court + Admired her every one." + +[Footnote 1: New-fangled--fond of novelty.] + +The ballad goes on to tell of two more trials of a similar kind, +made by means of a boar's head and a drinking horn, in both of +which the result was equally favorable with the first to Sir +Cradock and his lady. It then concludes as follows: + + "Thus boar's head, horn, and mantle + Were this fair couple's meed; + And all such constant lovers, + God send them well to speed" + + --Percy's Reliques. + + + + + +CHAPTER VIII + +LAUNCELOT OF THE LAKE + + +King Ban, of Brittany, the faithful ally of Arthur was attacked by +his enemy Claudas, and after a long war saw himself reduced to the +possession of a single fortress, where he was besieged by his +enemy. In this extremity he determined to solicit the assistance +of Arthur, and escaped in a dark night, with his wife Helen and +his infant son Launcelot, leaving his castle in the hands of his +seneschal, who immediately surrendered the place to Claudas. The +flames of his burning citadel reached the eyes of the unfortunate +monarch during his flight and he expired with grief. The wretched +Helen, leaving her child on the brink of a lake, flew to receive +the last sighs of her husband, and on returning perceived the +little Launcelot in the arms of a nymph, who, on the approach of +the queen, threw herself into the lake with the child. This nymph +was Viviane, mistress of the enchanter Merlin, better known by the +name of the Lady of the Lake. Launcelot received his appellation +from having been educated at the court of this enchantress, whose +palace was situated in the midst, not of a real, but, like the +appearance which deceives the African traveller, of an imaginary +lake, whose deluding resemblance served as a barrier to her +residence. Here she dwelt not alone, but in the midst of a +numerous retinue, and a splendid court of knights and damsels. + +The queen, after her double loss, retired to a convent, where she +was joined by the widow of Bohort, for this good king had died of +grief on hearing of the death of his brother Ban. His two sons, +Lionel and Bohort, were rescued by a faithful knight, and arrived +in the shape of greyhounds at the palace of the lake, where, +having resumed their natural form, they were educated along with +their cousin Launcelot. + +The fairy, when her pupil had attained the age of eighteen, +conveyed him to the court of Arthur for the purpose of demanding +his admission to the honor of knighthood; and at the first +appearance of the youthful candidate the graces of his person, +which were not inferior to his courage and skill in arms, made an +instantaneous and indelible impression on the heart of Guenever, +while her charms inspired him with an equally ardent and constant +passion. The mutual attachment of these lovers exerted, from that +time forth, an influence over the whole history of Arthur. For the +sake of Guenever, Launcelot achieved the conquest of +Northumberland, defeated Gallehaut, King of the Marches, who +afterwards became his most faithful friend and ally, exposed +himself in numberless encounters, and brought hosts of prisoners +to the feet of his sovereign. + +SIR LAUNCELOT + +After King Arthur was come from Rome into England all the knights +of the Table Round resorted unto him and made him many justs and +tournaments. And in especial Sir Launcelot of the Lake in all +tournaments and justs and deeds of arms, both for life and death, +passed all other knights, and was never overcome, except it were +by treason or enchantment; and he increased marvellously in +worship, wherefore Queen Guenever had him in great favor, above +all other knights. And for certain he loved the queen again above +all other ladies; and for her he did many deeds of arms, and saved +her from peril, through his noble chivalry. Thus Sir Launcelot +rested him long with play and game, and then he thought to prove +himself in strange adventures; so he bade his nephew, Sir Lionel, +to make him ready,-- "for we two will seek adventures." So they +mounted on their horses, armed at all sights, and rode into a +forest, and so into a deep plain. And the weather was hot about +noon, and Sir Launcelot had great desire to sleep. Then Sir Lionel +espied a great apple-tree that stood by a hedge, and he said: +"Brother, yonder is a fair shadow--there may we rest us and our +horses." "It is well said," replied Sir Launcelot. So they there +alighted, and Sir Launcelot laid him down, and his helm under his +head, and soon was asleep passing fast. And Sir Lionel waked while +he slept. And presently there came three knights riding as fast as +ever they might ride, and there followed them but one knight. And +Sir Lionel thought he never saw so great a knight before. So +within a while this great knight overtook one of those knights, +and smote him so that he fell to the earth. Then he rode to the +second knight and smote him, and so he did to the third knight. +Then he alighted down and bound all the three knights fast with +their own bridles. When Sir Lionel saw him do thus, he thought to +assay him, and made him ready silently, not to awake Sir +Launcelot, and rode after the strong knight, and bade him turn. +And the other smote Sir Lionel so hard that horse and man fell to +the earth; and then he alighted down and bound Sir Lionel, and +threw him across his own horse; and so he served them all four, +and rode with them away to his own castle. And when he came there +he put them in a deep prison, in which were many more knights in +great distress. + +Now while Sir Launcelot lay under the apple-tree sleeping, there +came by him four queens of great estate. And that the heat should +not grieve them, there rode four knights about them, and bare a +cloth of green silk on four spears, betwixt them and the sun. And +the queens rode on four white mules. + +Thus as they rode they heard by them a great horse grimly neigh. +Then they were aware of a sleeping knight, that lay all armed +under an apple-tree; and as the queens looked on his face, they +knew it was Sir Launcelot. Then they began to strive for that +knight, and each one said she would have him for her love. "We +will not strive," said Morgane le Fay, that was King Arthur's +sister, "for I will put an enchantment upon him, that he shall not +wake for six hours, and we will take him away to my castle; and +then when he is surely within my hold, I will take the enchantment +from him, and then let him choose which of us he will have for his +love." So the enchantment was cast upon Sir Launcelot. And then +they laid him upon his shield, and bare him so on horseback +between two knights, and brought him unto the castle and laid him +in a chamber, and at night they sent him his supper. And on the +morning came early those four queens, richly dight, and bade him +good morning, and he them again. "Sir knight," they said, "thou +must understand thou art our prisoner; and we know thee well, that +thou art Sir Launcelot of the Lake, King Ban's son, and that thou +art the noblest knight living. And we know well that there can no +lady have thy love but one, and that is Queen Guenever; and now +thou shalt lose her for ever, and she thee; and therefore it +behooveth thee now to choose one of us. I am the Queen Morgane le +Fay, and here is the Queen of North Wales, and the Queen of +Eastland, and the Queen of the Isles. Now choose one of us which +thou wilt have, for if thou choose not, in this prison thou shalt +die." "This is a hard case," said Sir Launcelot, "that either I +must die, or else choose one of you; yet had I liever to die in +this prison with worship, than to have one of you for my paramour, +for ye be false enchantresses." "Well," said the queens, "is this +your answer, that ye will refuse us." "Yea, on my life it is," +said Sir Launcelot. Then they departed, making great sorrow. + +Then at noon came a damsel unto him with his dinner, and asked +him, "What cheer?" "Truly, fair damsel," said Sir Launcelot, +"never so ill." "Sir," said she, "if you will be ruled by me, I +will help you out of this distress. If ye will promise me to help +my father on Tuesday next, who hath made a tournament betwixt him +and the king of North Wales; for last Tuesday my father lost the +field." "Fair maiden," said Sir Launcelot, "tell me what is your +father's name, and then will I give you an answer." "Sir knight," +she said, "my father is King Bagdemagus." "I know him well," said +Sir Launcelot, "for a noble king and a good knight; and, by the +faith of my body, I will be ready to do your father and you +service at that day." + +So she departed, and came on the next morning early and found him +ready, and brought him out of twelve locks, and brought him to his +own horse, and lightly he saddled him, and so rode forth. + +And on the Tuesday next he came to a little wood where the +tournament should be. And there were scaffolds and holds, that +lords and ladies might look on, and give the prize. Then came into +the field the king of North Wales, with eightscore helms, and King +Badgemagus came with fourscore helms. And then they couched their +spears, and came together with a great dash, and there were +overthrown at the first encounter twelve of King Bagdemagus's +party and six of the king of North Wales's party, and King +Bagdemagus's party had the worse. + +With that came Sir Launcelot of the Lake, and thrust in with his +spear in the thickest of the press; and he smote down five knights +ere he held his hand; and he smote down the king of North Wales, +and he brake his thigh in that fall. And then the knights of the +king of North Wales would just no more; and so the gree was given +to King Bagdemagus. + +And Sir Launcelot rode forth with King Bagdemagus unto his castle; +and there he had passing good cheer, both with the king and with +his daughter. And on the morn he took his leave, and told the king +he would go and seek his brother, Sir Lionel, that went from him +when he slept. So he departed, and by adventure he came to the +same forest where he was taken sleeping. And in the highway he met +a damsel riding on a white palfrey, and they saluted each other. +"Fair damsel," said Sir Launcelot, "know ye in this country any +adventures?" "Sir knight," said the damsel, "here are adventures +near at hand, if thou durst pursue them." "Why should I not prove +adventures?" said Sir Launcelot, "since for that cause came I +hither." "Sir," said she, "hereby dwelleth a knight that will not +be overmatched for any man I know, except thou overmatch him. His +name is Sir Turquine, and, as I understand, he is a deadly enemy +of King Arthur, and he has in his prison good knights of Arthur's +court, threescore and more, that he hath won with his own hands." +"Damsel," said Launcelot, "I pray you bring me unto this knight." +So she told him, "Hereby, within this mile, is his castle, and by +it on the left hand is a ford for horses to drink of, and over +that ford there groweth a fair tree, and on that tree hang many +shields that good knights wielded aforetime, that are now +prisoners; and on the tree hangeth a basin of copper and latten, +and if thou strike upon that basin thou shalt hear tidings." And +Sir Launcelot departed, and rode as the damsel had shown him, and +shortly he came to the ford, and the tree where hung the shields +and the basin. And among the shields he saw Sir Lionel's and Sir +Hector's shields, besides many others of knights that he knew. + +Then Sir Launcelot struck on the basin with the butt of his spear; +and long he did so, but he saw no man. And at length he was ware +of a great knight that drove a horse before him, and across the +horse there lay an armed knight bounden. And as they came near, +Sir Launcelot thought he should know the captive knight. Then Sir +Launcelot saw that it was Sir Gaheris, Sir Gawain's brother, a +knight of the Table Round. "Now, fair knight," said Sir Launcelot, +"put that wounded knight off the horse, and let him rest awhile, +and let us two prove our strength. For, as it is told me, thou +hast done great despite and shame unto knights of the Round Table, +therefore now defend thee." "If thou be of the Table Round," said +Sir Turquine, "I defy thee and all thy fellowship." "That is +overmuch said," said Sir Launcelot. + +Then they put their spears in the rests, and came together with +their horses as fast as they might run. And each smote the other +in the middle of their shields, so that their horses fell under +them, and the knights were both staggered; and as soon as they +could clear their horses they drew out their swords and came +together eagerly, and each gave the other many strong strokes, for +neither shield nor harness might withstand their strokes. So +within a while both had grimly wounds, and bled grievously. Then +at the last they were breathless both, and stood leaning upon +their swords. "Now, fellow," said Sir Turquine, "thou art the +stoutest man that ever I met with, and best breathed; and so be it +thou be not the knight that I hate above all other knights, the +knight that slew my brother, Sir Carados, I will gladly accord +with thee; and for thy love I will deliver all the prisoners that +I have." + +"What knight is he that thou hatest so above others?" "Truly," +said Sir Turquine, "his name is Sir Launcelot of the Lake." "I am +Sir Launcelot of the Lake, King Ban's son of Benwick, and very +knight of the Table Round; and now I defy thee do thy best." "Ah!" +said Sir Turquine, "Launcelot, thou art to me the most welcome +that ever was knight; for we shall never part till the one of us +be dead." And then they hurtled together like two wild bulls, +rashing and lashing with their swords and shields, so that +sometimes they fell, as it were, headlong. Thus they fought two +hours and more, till the ground where they fought was all +bepurpled with blood. + +Then at the last Sir Turquine waxed sore faint, and gave somewhat +aback, and bare his shield full low for weariness. That spied Sir +Launcelot, and leapt then upon him fiercely as a lion, and took +him by the beaver of his helmet, and drew him down on his knees. +And he raised off his helm, and smote his neck in sunder. + +And Sir Gaheris, when he saw Sir Turquine slain, said, "Fair lord, +I pray you tell me your name, for this day I say ye are the best +knight in the world, for ye have slain this day in my sight the +mightiest man and the best knight except you that ever I saw." +"Sir, my name is Sir Launcelot du Lac, that ought to help you of +right for King Arthur's sake, and in especial for Sir Gawain's +sake, your own dear brother. Now I pray you, that ye go into +yonder castle, and set free all the prisoners ye find there, for I +am sure ye shall find there many knights of the Table Round, and +especially my brother Sir Lionel. I pray you greet them all from +me, and tell them I bid them take there such stuff as they find; +and tell my brother to go unto the court and abide me there, for +by the feast of Pentecost I think to be there; but at this time I +may not stop, for I have adventures on hand." So he departed, and +Sir Gaheris rode into the castle, and took the keys from the +porter, and hastily opened the prison door and let out all the +prisoners. There was Sir Kay, Sir Brandeles, and Sir Galynde, Sir +Bryan, and Sir Alyduke, Sir Hector de Marys, and Sir Lionel, and +many more. And when they saw Sir Gaheris they all thanked him, for +they thought, because he was wounded, that he had slain Sir +Turquine. "Not so," said Sir Gaheris; "it was Sir Launcelot that +slew him, right worshipfully; I saw it with mine eyes." + +Sir Launcelot rode till at nightfall he came to a fair castle, and +therein he found an old gentlewoman, who lodged him with good- +will, and there he had good cheer for him and his horse. And when +time was, his host brought him to a fair chamber over the gate to +his bed. Then Sir Launcelot unarmed him, and set his harness by +him, and went to bed, and anon he fell asleep. And soon after, +there came one on horseback and knocked at the gate in great +haste; and when Sir Launcelot heard this, he arose and looked out +of the window, and saw by the moonlight three knights riding after +that one man, and all three lashed on him with their swords, and +that one knight turned on them knightly again and defended +himself. "Truly," said Sir Launcelot, "yonder one knight will I +help, for it is shame to see three knights on one." Then he took +his harness and went out at the window by a sheet down to the four +knights; and he said aloud, "Turn you knights unto me, and leave +your fighting with that knight." Then the knights left Sir Kay, +for it was he they were upon, and turned unto Sir Launcelot, and +struck many great strokes at Sir Launcelot, and assailed him on +every side. Then Sir Kay addressed him to help Sir Launcelot, but +he said, "Nay, sir, I will none of your help; let me alone with +them." So Sir Kay suffered him to do his will, and stood one side. +And within six strokes Sir Launcelot had stricken them down. + +Then they all cried, "Sir knight, we yield us unto you." "As to +that," said Sir Launcelot, "I will not take your yielding unto me. +If so be ye will yield you unto Sir Kay the Seneschal, I will save +your lives, but else not." "Fair knight," then they said, "we will +do as thou commandest us." "Then shall ye," said Sir Launcelot, +"on Whitsunday next, go unto the court of King Arthur, and there +shall ye yield you unto Queen Guenever, and say that Sir Kay sent +you thither to be her prisoners." "Sir," they said, "it shall be +done, by the faith of our bodies;" and then they swore, every +knight upon his sword. And so Sir Launcelot suffered them to +depart. + +On the morn Sir Launcelot rose early and left Sir Kay sleeping; +and Sir Launcelot took Sir Kay's armor, and his shield, and armed +him, and went to the stable and took his horse, and so he +departed. Then soon after arose Sir Kay, and missed Sir Launcelot. +And then he espied that he had taken his armor and his horse. +"Now, by my faith, I know well," said Sir Kay, "that he will +grieve some of King Arthur's knights, for they will deem that it +is I, and will be bold to meet him. But by cause of his armor I am +sure I shall ride in peace." Then Sir Kay thanked his host and +departed. + +Sir Launcelot rode in a deep forest, and there he saw four +knights, under an oak, and they were of Arthur's court. There was +Sir Sagramour le Desirus, and Hector de Marys, and Sir Gawain, and +Sir Uwaine. As they spied Sir Launcelot they judged by his arms it +had been Sir Kay. "Now, by my faith," said Sir Sagramour, "I will +prove Sir Kay's might;" and got his spear in his hand, and came +towards Sir Launcelot. Therewith Sir Launcelot couched his spear +against him, and smote Sir Sagramour so sore that horse and man +fell both to the earth. Then said Sir Hector, "Now shall ye see +what I may do with him." But he fared worse than Sir Sagramour, +for Sir Launcelot's spear went through his shoulder and bare him +from his horse to the ground. "By my faith," said Sir Uwaine, +"yonder is a strong knight, and I fear he hath slain Sir Kay, and +taken his armor." And therewith Sir Uwaine took his spear in hand, +and rode toward Sir Launcelot; and Sir Launcelot met him on the +plain and gave him such a buffet that he was staggered, and wist +not where he was. "Now see I well," said Sir Gawain, "that I must +encounter with that knight." Then he adjusted his shield, and took +a good spear in his hand, and Sir Launcelot knew him well. Then +they let run their horses with all their mights, and each knight +smote the other in the middle of his shield. But Sir Gawain's +spear broke, and Sir Launcelot charged so sore upon him that his +horse fell over backward. Then Sir Launcelot passed by smiling +with himself, and he said, "Good luck be with him that made this +spear, for never came a better into my hand." Then the four +knights went each to the other and comforted one another. "What +say ye to this adventure," said Sir Gawain, "that one spear hath +felled us all four?" "I dare lay my head it is Sir Launcelot," +said Sir Hector; "I know it by his riding." + +And Sir Launcelot rode through many strange countries, till by +fortune he came to a fair castle; and as he passed beyond the +castle he thought he heard two bells ring. And then he perceived +how a falcon came flying over his head, toward a high elm; and she +had long lunys [Footnote: LUNYS, the string with which the falcon +is held.] about her feet, and she flew unto the elm to take her +perch, and the lunys got entangled in the bough; and when she +would have taken her flight, she hung by the legs fast, and Sir +Launcelot saw how she hung, and beheld the fair falcon entangled, +and he was sorry for her. Then came a lady out of the castle and +cried aloud, "O Launcelot, Launcelot, as thou art the flower of +all knights, help me to get my hawk; for if my hawk be lost, my +lord will slay me, he is so hasty." "What is your lord's name?" +said Sir Launcelot. "His name is Sir Phelot, a knight that +belongeth to the king of North Wales." "Well, fair lady, since ye +know my name, and require me of knighthood to help you, I will do +what I may to get your hawk; and yet in truth I am an ill climber, +and the tree is passing high, and few boughs to help me." And +therewith Sir Launcelot alighted and tied his horse to the tree, +and prayed the lady to unarm him. And when he was unarmed, he put +off his jerkin, and with might and force he clomb up to the +falcon, and tied the lunys to a rotten bough, and threw the hawk +down with it; and the lady got the hawk in her hand. Then suddenly +there came out of the castle her husband, all armed, and with his +naked sword in his hand, and said, "O Knight Launcelot, now have I +got thee as I would," and stood at the boll of the tree to slay +him. "Ah, lady!" said Sir Launcelot, "why have ye betrayed me?" +"She hath done," said Sir Phelot, "but as I commanded her; and +therefore there is none other way but thine hour is come, and thou +must die." "That were shame unto thee," said Sir Launcelot; "thou +an armed knight to slay a naked man by treason." "Thou gettest +none other grace," said Sir Phelot, "and therefore help thyself if +thou canst." "Alas!" said Sir Launcelot, "that ever a knight +should die weaponless!" And therewith he turned his eyes upward +and downward; and over his head he saw a big bough leafless, and +he brake it off from the trunk. And then he came lower, and +watched how his own horse stood; and suddenly he leapt on the +further side of his horse from the knight. Then Sir Phelot lashed +at him eagerly, meaning to have slain him. But Sir Launcelot put +away the stroke, with the big bough, and smote Sir Phelot +therewith on the side of the head, so that he fell down in a swoon +to the ground. Then Sir Launcelot took his sword out of his hand +and struck his head from the body. Then said the lady, "Alas! why +hast thou slain my husband?" "I am not the cause," said Sir +Launcelot, "for with falsehood ye would have slain me, and now it +is fallen on yourselves." Thereupon Sir Launcelot got all his +armor, and put it upon him hastily, for fear of more resort, for +the knight's castle was so nigh. And as soon as he might, he took +his horse and departed, and thanked God he had escaped that +adventure. + +And two days before the feast of Pentecost, Sir Launcelot came +home; and the king and all the court were passing glad of his +coming. And when Sir Gawain, Sir Uwaine, Sir Sagramour, and Sir +Hector de Marys saw Sir Launcelot in Sir Kay's armor then they +wist well it was he that smote them down, all with one spear. Then +there was laughing and merriment among them; and from time to time +came all the knights that Sir Turquine had prisoners, and they all +honored and worshipped Sir Launcelot. Then Sir Gaheris said, "I +saw all the battle from the beginning to the end," and he told +King Arthur all how it was. Then Sir Kay told the king how Sir +Launcelot had rescued him, and how he "made the knights yield to +me, and not to him." And there they were, all three, and confirmed +it all "And, by my faith," said Sir Kay, "because Sir Launcelot +took my harness and left me his, I rode in peace, and no man would +have to do with me." + +And so at that time Sir Launcelot had the greatest name of any +knight of the world, and most was he honored of high and low. + + + + + +CHAPTER IX + +THE ADVENTURE OF THE CART + + +It befell in the month of May, Queen Guenever called to her +knights of the Table Round, and gave them warning that early upon +the morrow she would ride a-maying into the woods and fields +beside Westminster; "and I warn you that there be none of you but +he be well horsed, and that ye all be clothed in green, either +silk or cloth; and I shall bring with me ten ladies, and every +knight shall have a lady behind him, and every knight shall have a +squire and two yeoman, and all well horsed." + + "For thus it chanced one morn when all the court, + Green-suited, but with plumes that mock'd the May, + Had been, their wont, a-maying" + + --Guinevere. + +So they made them ready; and these were the names of the knights: +Sir Kay the Seneschal, Sir Agrivaine, Sir Brandiles, Sir Sagramour +le Desirus, Sir Dodynas le Sauvage, Sir Ozanna, Sir Ladynas, Sir +Persant of Inde, Sir Ironside, and Sir Pelleas; and these ten +knights made them ready, in the freshest manner, to ride with the +queen. So upon the morn they took their horses with the queen, and +rode a-maying in woods and meadows, as it pleased them, in great +joy and delight. Now there was a knight named Maleagans, son to +King Brademagus, who loved Queen Guenever passing well, and so had +he done long and many years. Now this knight, Sir Maleagans, +learned the queen's purpose, and that she had no men of arms with +her but the ten noble knights all arrayed in green for maying; so +he prepared him twenty men of arms, and a hundred archers, to take +captive the queen and her knights. + + "In the merry month of May, + In a morn at break of day, + With a troop of damsels playing, + The Queen, forsooth, went forth a-maying." + + --Old Song. + +So when the queen had mayed, and all were bedecked with herbs, +mosses, and flowers in the best manner and freshest, right then +came out of a wood Sir Maleagans with eightscore men well +harnessed, and bade the queen and her knights yield them +prisoners. "Traitor knight," said Queen Guenever, "what wilt thou +do? Wilt thou shame thyself? Bethink thee how thou art a king's +son, and a knight of the Table Round, and how thou art about to +dishonor all knighthood and thyself?" "Be it as it may," said Sir +Maleagans, "know you well, madam, I have loved you many a year and +never till now could I get you to such advantage as I do now; and +therefore I will take you as I find you." Then the ten knights of +the Round Table drew their swords, and the other party run at them +with their spears, and the ten knights manfully abode them, and +smote away their spears. Then they lashed together with swords +till several were smitten to the earth. So when the queen saw her +knights thus dolefully oppressed, and needs must be slain at the +last, then for pity and sorrow she cried, "Sir Maleagans, slay not +my noble knights and I will go with you, upon this covenant, that +they be led with me wheresoever thou leadest me." "Madame," said +Maleagans, "for your sake they shall be led with you into my own +castle, if that ye will be ruled, and ride with me." Then Sir +Maleagans charged them all that none should depart from the queen, +for he dreaded lest Sir Launcelot should have knowledge of what +had been done. + +Then the queen privily called unto her a page of her chamber that +was swiftly horsed, to whom she said, "Go thou when thou seest thy +time, and bear this ring unto Sir Launcelot, and pray him as he +loveth me, that he will see me and rescue me. And spare not thy +horse," said the queen, "neither for water nor for land." So the +child espied his time, and lightly he took his horse with the +spurs and departed as fast as he might. And when Sir Maleagans saw +him so flee, he understood that it was by the queen's commandment +for to warn Sir Launcelot. Then they that were best horsed chased +him, and shot at him, but the child went from them all. Then Sir +Maleagans said to the queen, "Madam, ye are about to betray me, +but I shall arrange for Sir Launcelot that he shall not come +lightly at you." Then he rode with her and them all to his castle, +in all the haste that they might. And by the way Sir Maleagans +laid in ambush the best archers that he had to wait for Sir +Launcelot. And the child came to Westminster and found Sir +Launcelot and told his message and delivered him the queen's ring. +"Alas!" said Sir Launcelot, "now am I shamed for ever, unless I +may rescue that noble lady." Then eagerly he asked his armor and +put it on him, and mounted his horse and rode as fast as he might; +and men say he took the water at Westminster Bridge, and made his +horse swim over Thames unto Lambeth. Then within a while he came +to a wood where was a narrow way; and there the archers were laid +in ambush. And they shot at him and smote his horse so that he +fell. Then Sir Launcelot left his horse and went on foot, but +there lay so many ditches and hedges betwixt the archers and him +that he might not meddle with them. "Alas! for shame," said Sir +Launcelot, "that ever one knight should betray another! but it is +an old saw, a good man is never in danger, but when he is in +danger of a coward." Then Sir Launcelot went awhile and he was +exceedingly cumbered by his armor, his shield, and his spear, and +all that belonged to him. Then by chance there came by him a cart +that came thither to fetch wood. + +Now at this time carts were little used except for carrying offal +and for conveying criminals to execution. But Sir Launcelot took +no thought of anything but the necessity of haste for the purpose +of rescuing the queen; so he demanded of the carter that he should +take him in and convey him as speedily as possible for a liberal +reward. The carter consented, and Sir Launcelot placed himself in +the cart and only lamented that with much jolting he made but +little progress. Then it happened Sir Gawain passed by and seeing +an armed knight travelling in that unusual way he drew near to see +who it might be. Then Sir Launcelot told him how the queen had +been carried off, and how, in hastening to her rescue, his horse +had been disabled and he had been compelled to avail himself of +the cart rather than give up his enterprise. Then Sir Gawain said, +"Surely it is unworthy of a knight to travel in such sort;" but +Sir Launcelot heeded him not. + +At nightfall they arrived at a castle and the lady thereof came +out at the head of her damsels to welcome Sir Gawain. But to admit +his companion, whom she supposed to be a criminal, or at least a +prisoner, it pleased her not; however, to oblige Sir Gawain, she +consented. At supper Sir Launcelot came near being consigned to +the kitchen and was only admitted to the lady's table at the +earnest solicitation of Sir Gawain. Neither would the damsels +prepare a bed for him. He seized the first he found unoccupied and +was left undisturbed. + +Next morning he saw from the turrets of the castle a train +accompanying a lady, whom he imagined to be the queen. Sir Gawain +thought it might be so, and became equally eager to depart. The +lady of the castle supplied Sir Launcelot with a horse and they +traversed the plain at full speed. They learned from some +travellers whom they met, that there were two roads which led to +the castle of Sir Maleagans. Here therefore the friends separated. +Sir Launcelot found his way beset with obstacles, which he +encountered successfully, but not without much loss of time. As +evening approached he was met by a young and sportive damsel, who +gayly proposed to him a supper at her castle. The knight, who was +hungry and weary, accepted the offer, though with no very good +grace. He followed the lady to her castle and ate voraciously of +her supper, but was quite impenetrable to all her amorous +advances. Suddenly the scene changed and he was assailed by six +furious ruffians, whom he dealt with so vigorously that most of +them were speedily disabled, when again there was a change and he +found himself alone with his fair hostess, who informed him that +she was none other than his guardian fairy, who had but subjected +him to tests of his courage and fidelity. The next day the fairy +brought him on his road, and before parting gave him a ring, which +she told him would by its changes of color disclose to him all +enchantments, and enable him to subdue them. + +Sir Launcelot pursued his journey, without being much incommoded +except by the taunts of travellers, who all seemed to have +learned, by some means, his disgraceful drive in the cart. One, +more insolent than the rest, had the audacity to interrupt him +during dinner, and even to risk a battle in support of his +pleasantry. Launcelot, after an easy victory, only doomed him to +be carted in his turn. + +At night he was received at another castle, with great apparent +hospitality, but found himself in the morning in a dungeon, and +loaded with chains. Consulting his ring, and finding that this was +an enchantment, he burst his chains, seized his armor in spite of +the visionary monsters who attempted to defend it, broke open the +gates of the tower, and continued his journey. At length his +progress was checked by a wide and rapid torrent, which could only +be passed on a narrow bridge, on which a false step would prove +his destruction. Launcelot, leading his horse by the bridle, and +making him swim by his side, passed over the bridge, and was +attacked as soon as he reached the bank by a lion and a leopard, +both of which he slew, and then, exhausted and bleeding, seated +himself on the grass, and endeavored to bind up his wounds, when +he was accosted by Brademagus, the father of Maleagans, whose +castle was then in sight, and at no great distance. This king, no +less courteous than his son was haughty and insolent, after +complimenting Sir Launcelot on the valor and skill he had +displayed in the perils of the bridge and the wild beasts, offered +him his assistance, and informed him that the queen was safe in +his castle, but could only be rescued by encountering Maleagans. +Launcelot demanded the battle for the next day, and accordingly it +took place, at the foot of the tower, and under the eyes of the +fair captive. Launcelot was enfeebled by his wounds, and fought +not with his usual spirit, and the contest for a time was +doubtful; till Guenever exclaimed, "Ah, Launcelot! my knight, +truly have I been told that thou art no longer worthy of me!" +These words instantly revived the drooping knight; he resumed at +once his usual superiority, and soon laid at his feet his haughty +adversary. + +He was on the point of sacrificing him to his resentment, when +Guenever, moved by the entreaties of Brademagus, ordered him to +withhold the blow, and he obeyed. The castle and its prisoners +were now at his disposal. Launcelot hastened to the apartment of +the queen, threw himself at her feet, and was about to kiss her +hand, when she exclaimed, "Ah, Launcelot! why do I see thee again, +yet feel thee to be no longer worthy of me, after having been +disgracefully drawn about the country in a--" She had not time to +finish the phrase, for her lover suddenly started from her, and, +bitterly lamenting that he had incurred the displeasure of his +sovereign lady, rushed out of the castle, threw his sword and his +shield to the right and left, ran furiously into the woods, and +disappeared. + +It seems that the story of the abominable cart, which haunted +Launcelot at every step, had reached the ears of Sir Kay, who had +told it to the queen, as a proof that her knight must have been +dishonored. But Guenever had full leisure to repent the haste with +which she had given credit to the tale. Three days elapsed, during +which Launcelot wandered without knowing where he went, till at +last he began to reflect that his mistress had doubtless been +deceived by misrepresentation, and that it was his duty to set her +right. He therefore returned, compelled Maleagans to release his +prisoners, and, taking the road by which they expected the arrival +of Sir Gawain, had the satisfaction of meeting him the next day; +after which the whole company proceeded gayly towards Camelot. + + + + + +CHAPTER X + +THE LADY OF SHALOTT + + +King Arthur proclaimed a solemn tournament to be held at +Winchester. The king, not less impatient than his knights for this +festival, set off some days before to superintend the +preparations, leaving the queen with her court at Camelot. Sir +Launcelot, under pretence of indisposition, remained behind also. +His intention was to attend the tournament--in disguise; and +having communicated his project to Guenever, he mounted his horse, +set off without any attendant, and, counterfeiting the feebleness +of age, took the most unfrequented road to Winchester, and passed +unnoticed as an old knight who was going to be a spectator of the +sports. Even Arthur and Gawain, who happened to behold him from +the windows of a castle under which he passed, were the dupes of +his disguise. But an accident betrayed him. His horse happened to +stumble, and the hero, forgetting for a moment his assumed +character, recovered the animal with a strength and agility so +peculiar to himself, that they instantly recognized the inimitable +Launcelot. They suffered him, however, to proceed on his journey +without interruption, convinced that his extraordinary feats of +arms must discover him at the approaching festival. + +In the evening Launcelot was magnificently entertained as a +stranger knight at the neighboring castle of Shalott. The lord of +this castle had a daughter of exquisite beauty, and two sons +lately received into the order of knighthood, one of whom was at +that time ill in bed, and thereby prevented from attending the +tournament, for which both brothers had long made preparation. +Launcelot offered to attend the other, if he were permitted to +borrow the armor of the invalid, and the lord of Shalott, without +knowing the name of his guest, being satisfied from his appearance +that his son could not have a better assistant in arms, most +thankfully accepted the offer. In the meantime the young lady, who +had been much struck by the first appearance of the stranger +knight, continued to survey him with increased attention, and, +before the conclusion of supper, became so deeply enamoured of +him, that after frequent changes of color, and other symptoms +which Sir Launcelot could not possibly mistake, she was obliged to +retire to her chamber, and seek relief in tears. Sir Launcelot +hastened to convey to her, by means of her brother, the +information that his heart was already disposed of, but that it +would be his pride and pleasure to act as her knight at the +approaching tournament. The lady, obliged to be satisfied with +that courtesy, presented him her scarf to be worn at the +tournament. + +Launcelot set off in the morning with the young knight, who, on +their approaching Winchester, carried him to the castle of a lady, +sister to the lord of Shalott, by whom they were hospitably +entertained. The next day they put on their armor, which was +perfectly plain and without any device, as was usual to youths +during the first year of knighthood, their shields being only +painted red, as some color was necessary to enable them to be +recognized by their attendants. Launcelot wore on his crest the +scarf of the maid of Shalott, and, thus equipped, proceeded to the +tournament, where the knights were divided into two companies, the +one commanded by Sir Galehaut, the other by King Arthur. Having +surveyed the combat for a short time from without the lists, and +observed that Sir Galehaut's party began to give way, they joined +the press and attacked the royal knights, the young man choosing +such adversaries as were suited to his strength, while his +companion selected the principal champions of the Round Table, and +successively overthrew Gawain, Bohort, and Lionel. The +astonishment of the spectators was extreme, for it was thought +that no one but Launcelot could possess such invincible force; yet +the favor on his crest seemed to preclude the possibility of his +being thus disguised, for Launcelot had never been known to wear +the badge of any but his sovereign lady. At length Sir Hector, +Launcelot's brother, engaged him, and, after a dreadful combat, +wounded him dangerously in the head, but was himself completely +stunned by a blow on the helmet, and felled to the ground; after +which the conqueror rode off at full speed, attended by his +companion. + +They returned to the castle of Shalott, where Launcelot was +attended with the greatest care by the good earl, by his two sons, +and, above all, by his fair daughter, whose medical skill probably +much hastened the period of his recovery. His health was almost +completely restored, when Sir Hector, Sir Bohort, and Sir Lionel, +who, after the return of the court to Camelot, had undertaken the +quest of their relation, discovered him walking on the walls of +the castle. Their meeting was very joyful; they passed three days +in the castle amidst constant festivities, and bantered each other +on the events of the tournament. Launcelot, though he began by +vowing vengeance against the author of his wound, yet ended by +declaring that he felt rewarded for the pain by the pride he took +in witnessing his brother's extraordinary prowess. He then +dismissed them with a message to the queen, promising to follow +immediately, it being necessary that he should first take a formal +leave of his kind hosts, as well as of the fair maid of Shalott. + +The young lady, after vainly attempting to detain him by her tears +and solicitations, saw him depart without leaving her any ground +for hope. + +It was early summer when the tournament took place; but some +months had passed since Launcelot's departure, and winter was now +near at hand. The health and strength of the Lady of Shalott had +gradually sunk, and she felt that she could not live apart from +the object of her affections. She left the castle, and descending +to the river's brink placed herself in a boat, which she loosed +from its moorings, and suffered to bear her down the current +toward Camelot. + +One morning, as Arthur and Sir Lionel looked from the window of +the tower, the walls of which were washed by a river, they +descried a boat richly ornamented, and covered with an awning of +cloth of gold, which appeared to be floating down the stream +without any human guidance. It struck the shore while they watched +it, and they hastened down to examine it. Beneath the awning they +discovered the dead body of a beautiful woman, in whose features +Sir Lionel easily recognized the lovely maid of Shalott. Pursuing +their search, they discovered a purse richly embroidered with gold +and jewels, and within the purse a letter, which Arthur opened, +and found addressed to himself and all the knights of the Round +Table, stating that Launcelot of the Lake, the most accomplished +of knights and most beautiful of men, but at the same time the +most cruel and inflexible, had by his rigor produced the death of +the wretched maiden, whose love was no less invincible than his +cruelty. The king immediately gave orders for the interment of the +lady with all the honors suited to her rank, at the same time +explaining to the knights the history of her affection for +Launcelot, which moved the compassion and regret of all. + +Tennyson has chosen the story of the "Lady of Shalott" for the +subject of a poem. The catastrophe is told thus: + + "Under tower and balcony, + By garden-wall and gallery, + A gleaming shape she floated by, + A corse between the houses high, + Silent into Camelot. + Out upon the wharfs they came, + Knight and burgher, lord and dame, + And round the prow they read her name, + 'The Lady of Shalott' + + "Who is this? and what is here? + And in the lighted palace near + Died the sound of royal cheer; + And they crossed themselves for fear, + + All the knights at Camelot. + But Launcelot mused a little space; + He said, 'She has a lovely face; + God in his mercy lend her grace, + The Lady of Shalott.'" + + + + + +CHAPTER XI + +QUEEN GUENEVER'S PERIL + + +It happened at this time that Queen Guenever was thrown into great +peril of her life. A certain squire who was in her immediate +service, having some cause of animosity to Sir Gawain, determined +to destroy him by poison, at a public entertainment. For this +purpose he concealed the poison in an apple of fine appearance, +which he placed on the top of several others, and put the dish +before the queen, hoping that, as Sir Gawain was the knight of +greatest dignity, she would present the apple to him. But it +happened that a Scottish knight of high distinction, who arrived +on that day, was seated next to the queen, and to him as a +stranger she presented the apple, which he had no sooner eaten +than he was seized with dreadful pain, and fell senseless. The +whole court was, of course, thrown into confusion; the knights +rose from table, darting looks of indignation at the wretched +queen, whose tears and protestations were unable to remove their +suspicions. In spite of all that could be done the knight died, +and nothing remained but to order a magnificent funeral and +monument for him, which was done. + +Some time after Sir Mador, brother of the murdered knight, arrived +at Arthur's court in quest of him. While hunting in the forest he +by chance came to the spot where the monument was erected, read +the inscription, and returned to court determined on immediate and +signal vengeance. He rode into the hall, loudly accused the queen +of treason, and insisted on her being given up for punishment, +unless she should find by a certain day a knight hardy enough to +risk his life in support of her innocence. Arthur, powerful as he +was, did not dare to deny the appeal, but was compelled with a +heavy heart to accept it, and Mador sternly took his departure, +leaving the royal couple plunged in terror and anxiety. + +During all this time Launcelot was absent, and no one knew where +he was. He fled in anger from his fair mistress, upon being +reproached by her with his passion for the Lady of Shalott, which +she had hastily inferred from his wearing her scarf at the +tournament. He took up his abode with a hermit in the forest, and +resolved to think no more of the cruel beauty, whose conduct he +thought must flow from a wish to get rid of him. Yet calm +reflection had somewhat cooled his indignation, and he had begun +to wish, though hardly able to hope, for a reconciliation when the +news of Sir Mador's challenge fortunately reached his ears. The +intelligence revived his spirits, and he began to prepare with the +utmost cheerfulness for a contest which, if successful, would +insure him at once the affection of his mistress and the gratitude +of his sovereign. + +The sad fate of the Lady of Shalott had ere this completely +acquitted Launcelot in the queen's mind of all suspicion of his +fidelity, and she lamented most grievously her foolish quarrel +with him, which now, at her time of need, deprived her of her most +efficient champion. + +As the day appointed by Sir Mador was fast approaching, it became +necessary that she should procure a champion for her defence; and +she successively adjured Sir Hector, Sir Lionel, Sir Bohort, and +Sir Gawain to undertake the battle. She fell on her knees before +them, called heaven to witness her innocence of the crime alleged +against her, but was sternly answered by all that they could not +fight to maintain the innocence of one whose act, and the fatal +consequence of it, they had seen with their own eyes. She retired, +therefore, dejected and disconsolate; but the sight of the fatal +pile on which, if guilty, she was doomed to be burned, exciting +her to fresh effort, she again repaired to Sir Bohort, threw +herself at his feet, and piteously calling on him for mercy, fell +into a swoon. The brave knight was not proof against this. He +raised her up, and hastily promised that he would undertake her +cause, if no other or better champion should present himself. He +then summoned his friends, and told them his resolution; and as a +mortal combat with Sir Mador was a most fearful enterprise, they +agreed to accompany him in the morning to the hermitage in the +forest, where he proposed to receive absolution from the hermit, +and to make his peace with Heaven before he entered the lists. As +they approached the hermitage, they espied a knight riding in the +forest, whom they at once recognized as Sir Launcelot. Overjoyed +at the meeting, they quickly, in answer to his questions, +confirmed the news of the queen's imminent danger, and received +his instructions to return to court, to comfort her as well as +they could, but to say nothing of his intention of undertaking her +defence, which he meant to do in the character of an unknown +adventurer. + +On their return to the castle they found that mass was finished, +and had scarcely time to speak to the queen before they were +summoned into the hall to dinner. A general gloom was spread over +the countenances of all the guests. Arthur himself was unable to +conceal his dejection, and the wretched Guenever, motionless and +bathed in tears, sat in trembling expectation of Sir Mador's +appearance. Nor was it long ere he stalked into the hall, and with +a voice of thunder, rendered more impressive by the general +silence, demanded instant justice on the guilty party. Arthur +replied with dignity, that little of the day was yet spent, and +that perhaps a champion might yet be found capable of satisfying +his thirst for battle. Sir Bohort now rose from table, and shortly +returning in complete armor, resumed his place, after receiving +the embraces and thanks of the king, who now began to resume some +degree of confidence. Sir Mador, growing impatient, again repeated +his denunciations of vengeance, and insisted that the combat +should no longer be postponed. + +In the height of the debate there came riding into the hall a +knight mounted on a black steed, and clad in black armor, with his +visor down, and lance in hand. "Sir," said the king, "is it your +will to alight and partake of our cheer?" "Nay, sir," he replied; +"I come to save a lady's life. The queen hath ill bestowed her +favors, and honored many a knight, that in her hour of need she +should have none to take her part. Thou that darest accuse her of +treachery, stand forth, for to-day shalt thou need all thy might." + +Sir Mador, though surprised, was not appalled by the stern +challenge and formidable appearance of his antagonist, but +prepared for the encounter. At the first shock both were unhorsed. +They then drew their swords, and commenced a combat which lasted +from noon till evening, when Sir Mador, whose strength began to +fail, was felled to the ground by Launcelot, and compelled to sue +for mercy. The victor, whose arm was already raised to terminate +the life of his opponent, instantly dropped his sword, courteously +lifted up the fainting Sir Mador, frankly confessing that he had +never before encountered so formidable an enemy. The other, with +similar courtesy, solemnly renounced all further projects of +vengeance for his brother's death; and the two knights, now become +fast friends, embraced each other with the greatest cordiality. In +the meantime Arthur, having recognized Sir Launcelot, whose helmet +was now unlaced, rushed down into the lists, followed by all his +knights, to welcome and thank his deliverer. Guenever swooned with +joy, and the place of combat suddenly exhibited a scene of the +most tumultuous delight. + +The general satisfaction was still further increased by the +discovery of the real culprit. Having accidentally incurred some +suspicion, he confessed his crime, and was publicly punished in +the presence of Sir Mador. + +The court now returned to the castle, which, with the title of "La +Joyeuse Garde" bestowed upon it in memory of the happy event, was +conferred on Sir Launcelot by Arthur, as a memorial of his +gratitude. + + + + + +CHAPTER XII + +TRISTRAM AND ISOUDE + + +Meliadus was king of Leonois, or Lionesse, a country famous in the +annals of romance, which adjoined the kingdom of Cornwall, but has +now disappeared from the map, having been, it is said, overwhelmed +by the ocean. Meliadus was married to Isabella, sister of Mark, +king of Cornwall. A fairy fell in love with him, and drew him away +by enchantment while he was engaged in hunting. His queen set out +in quest of him, but was taken ill on her journey, and died, +leaving an infant son, whom, from the melancholy circumstances of +his birth, she called Tristram. + +Gouvernail, the queen's squire, who had accompanied her, took +charge of the child, and restored him to his father, who had at +length burst the enchantments of the fairy, and returned home. + +Meliadus after seven years married again, and the new queen, being +jealous of the influence of Tristram with his father, laid plots +for his life, which were discovered by Gouvernail, who in +consequence fled with the boy to the court of the king of France, +where Tristram was kindly received, and grew up improving in every +gallant and knightly accomplishment, adding to his skill in arms +the arts of music and of chess. In particular, he devoted himself +to the chase and to all woodland sports, so that he became +distinguished above all other chevaliers of the court for his +knowledge of all that relates to hunting. No wonder that Belinda, +the king's daughter, fell in love with him; but as he did not +return her passion, she, in a sudden impulse of anger, excited her +father against him, and he was banished the kingdom. The princess +soon repented of her act, and in despair destroyed herself, having +first written a most tender letter to Tristram, sending him at the +same time a beautiful and sagacious dog, of which she was very +fond, desiring him to keep it as a memorial of her. Meliadus was +now dead, and as his queen, Tristram's stepmother, held the +throne, Gouvernail was afraid to carry his pupil to his native +country, and took him to Cornwall, to his uncle Mark, who gave him +a kind reception. + +King Mark resided at the castle of Tintadel, already mentioned in +the history of Uther and Igerne. In this court Tristram became +distinguished in all the exercises incumbent on a knight; nor was +it long before he had an opportunity of practically employing his +valor and skill. Moraunt, a celebrated champion, brother to the +queen of Ireland, arrived at the court, to demand tribute of King +Mark. The knights of Cornwall are in ill repute in romance for +their cowardice, and they exhibited it on this occasion. King Mark +could find no champion who dared to encounter the Irish knight, +till his nephew Tristram, who had not yet received the honors of +knighthood, craved to be admitted to the order, offering at the +same time to fight the battle of Cornwall against the Irish +champion. King Mark assented with reluctance; Tristram received +the accolade, which conferred knighthood upon him, and the place +and time were assigned for the encounter. + +Without attempting to give the details of this famous combat, the +first and one of the most glorious of Tristram's exploits, we +shall only say that the young knight, though severely wounded, +cleft the head of Moraunt, leaving a portion of his sword in the +wound. Moraunt, half dead with his wound and the disgrace of his +defeat, hastened to hide himself in his ship, sailed away with all +speed for Ireland, and died soon after arriving in his own +country. + +The kingdom of Cornwall was thus delivered from its tribute. +Tristram, weakened by loss of blood, fell senseless. His friends +flew to his assistance. They dressed his wounds, which in general +healed readily; but the lance of Moraunt was poisoned, and one +wound which it made yielded to no remedies, but grew worse day by +day. The surgeons could do no more. Tristram asked permission of +his uncle to depart, and seek for aid in the kingdom of Loegria +(England). With his consent he embarked, and after tossing for +many days on the sea, was driven by the winds to the coast of +Ireland. He landed, full of joy and gratitude that he had escaped +the peril of the sea; took his rote,[Footnote: A musical +instrument.] and began to play. It was a summer evening, and the +king of Ireland and his daughter, the beautiful Isoude, were at a +window which overlooked the sea. The strange harper was sent for, +and conveyed to the palace, where, finding that he was in Ireland, +whose champion he had lately slain, he concealed his name, and +called himself Tramtris. The queen undertook his cure, and by a +medicated bath gradually restored him to health. His skill in +music and in games occasioned his being frequently called to +court, and he became the instructor of the princess Isoude in +minstrelsy and poetry, who profited so well under his care, that +she soon had no equal in the kingdom, except her instructor. + +At this time a tournament was held, at which many knights of the +Round Table, and others, were present. On the first day a Saracen +prince, named Palamedes, obtained the advantage over all. They +brought him to the court, and gave him a feast, at which Tristram, +just recovering from his wound, was present. The fair Isoude +appeared on this occasion in all her charms. Palamedes could not +behold them without emotion, and made no effort to conceal his +love. Tristram perceived it, and the pain he felt from jealousy +taught him how dear the fair Isoude had already become to him. + +Next day the tournament was renewed. Tristram, still feeble from +his wound, rose during the night, took his arms, and concealed +them in a forest near the place of the contest, and, after it had +begun, mingled with the combatants. He overthrew all that +encountered him, in particular Palamedes, whom he brought to the +ground with a stroke of his lance, and then fought him hand to +hand, bearing off the prize of the tourney. But his exertions +caused his wound to reopen; he bled fast, and in this sad state, +yet in triumph, they bore him to the palace. The fair Isoude +devoted herself to his relief with an interest which grew more +vivid day by day; and her skilful care soon restored him to +health. + +It happened one day that a damsel of the court, entering the +closet where Tristram's arms were deposited, perceived that a part +of the sword had been broken off. It occurred to her that the +missing portion was like that which was left in the skull of +Moraunt, the Irish champion. She imparted her thought to the +queen, who compared the fragment taken from her brother's wound +with the sword of Tristram, and was satisfied that it was part of +the same, and that the weapon of Tristram was that which reft her +brother's life. She laid her griefs and resentment before the +king, who satisfied himself with his own eyes of the truth of her +suspicions. Tristram was cited before the whole court, and +reproached with having dared to present himself before them after +having slain their kinsman. He acknowledged that he had fought +with Moraunt to settle the claim for tribute, and said that it was +by force of winds and waves alone that he was thrown on their +coast. The queen demanded vengeance for the death of her brother; +the fair Isoude trembled and grew pale, but a murmur rose from all +the assembly that the life of one so handsome and so brave should +not be taken for such a cause, and generosity finally triumphed +over resentment in the mind of the king. Tristram was dismissed in +safety, but commanded to leave the kingdom without delay, and +never to return thither under pain of death Tristram went back, +with restored health, to Cornwall. + +King Mark made his nephew give him a minute recital of his +adventures. Tristram told him all minutely; but when he came to +speak of the fair Isoude he described her charms with a warmth and +energy such as none but a lover could display. King Mark was +fascinated with the description, and, choosing a favorable time, +demanded a boon[Footnote: "Good faith was the very corner-stone of +chivalry. Whenever a knight's word was pledged (it mattered not +how rashly) it was to be redeemed at any price. Hence the sacred +obligation of the boon granted by a knight to his suppliant. +Instances without number occur in romance, in which a knight, by +rashly granting an indefinite boon, was obliged to do or suffer +something extremely to his prejudice. But it is not in romance +alone that we find such singular instances of adherence to an +indefinite promise. The history of the times presents authentic +transactions equally embarrassing and absurd"--SCOTT, note to Sir +Tristram.] of his nephew, who readily granted it. The king made +him swear upon the holy reliques that he would fulfil his +commands. Then Mark directed him to go to Ireland, and obtain for +him the fair Isoude to be queen of Cornwall. + +Tristram believed it was certain death for him to return to +Ireland; and how could he act as ambassador for his uncle in such +a cause? Yet, bound by his oath, he hesitated not for an instant. +He only took the precaution to change his armor. He embarked for +Ireland; but a tempest drove him to the coast of England, near +Camelot, where King Arthur was holding his court, attended by the +knights of the Round Table, and many others, the most illustrious +in the world. + +Tristram kept himself unknown. He took part in many justs; he +fought many combats, in which he covered himself with glory. One +day he saw among those recently arrived the king of Ireland, +father of the fair Isoude. This prince, accused of treason against +his liege sovereign, Arthur, came to Camelot to free himself from +the charge. Blaanor, one of the most redoubtable warriors of the +Round Table, was his accuser, and Argius, the king, had neither +youthful vigor nor strength to encounter him. He must therefore +seek a champion to sustain his innocence. But the knights of the +Round Table were not at liberty to fight against one another, +unless in a quarrel of their own. Argius heard of the great renown +of the unknown knight; he also was witness of his exploits. He +sought him, and conjured him to adopt his defence, and on his oath +declared that he was innocent of the crime of which he was +accused. Tristram readily consented, and made himself known to the +king, who on his part promised to reward his exertions, if +successful, with whatever gift he might ask. + +Tristram fought with Blaanor, and overthrew him, and held his life +in his power. The fallen warrior called on him to use his right of +conquest, and strike the fatal blow. "God forbid," said Tristram, +"that I should take the life of so brave a knight!" He raised him +up and restored him to his friends. The judges of the field +decided that the king of Ireland was acquitted of the charge +against him, and they led Tristram in triumph to his tent. King +Argius, full of gratitude, conjured Tristram to accompany him to +his kingdom. They departed together, and arrived in Ireland; and +the queen, forgetting her resentment for her brother's death, +exhibited to the preserver of her husband's life nothing but +gratitude and good-will. + +How happy a moment for Isoude, who knew that her father had +promised his deliverer whatever boon he might ask! But the unhappy +Tristram gazed on her with despair, at the thought of the cruel +oath which bound him. His magnanimous soul subdued the force of +his love. He revealed the oath which he had taken, and with +trembling voice demanded the fair Isoude for his uncle. + +Argius consented, and soon all was prepared for the departure of +Isoude. Brengwain, her favorite maid of honor, was to accompany +her. On the day of departure the queen took aside this devoted +attendant, and told her that she had observed that her daughter +and Tristram were attached to one another, and that to avert the +bad effects of this inclination she had procured from a powerful +fairy a potent philter (love-draught), which she directed +Brengwain to administer to Isoude and to King Mark on the evening +of their marriage. + +Isoude and Tristram embarked together. A favorable wind filled the +sails, and promised them a fortunate voyage. The lovers gazed upon +one another, and could not repress their sighs. Love seemed to +light up all his fires on their lips, as in their hearts. The day +was warm; they suffered from thirst. Isoude first complained. +Tristram descried the bottle containing the love-draught, which +Brengwain had been so imprudent as to leave in sight. He took it, +gave some of it to the charming Isoude, and drank the remainder +himself. The dog Houdain licked the cup. The ship arrived in +Cornwall, and Isoude was married to King Mark, The old monarch was +delighted with his bride, and his gratitude to Tristram was +unbounded. He loaded him with honors, and made him chamberlain of +his palace, thus giving him access to the queen at all times. + +In the midst of the festivities of the court which followed the +royal marriage, an unknown minstrel one day presented himself, +bearing a harp of peculiar construction. He excited the curiosity +of King Mark by refusing to play upon it till he should grant him +a boon. The king having promised to grant his request, the +minstrel, who was none other than the Saracen knight, Sir +Palamedes, the lover of the fair Isoude, sung to the harp a lay, +in which he demanded Isoude as the promised gift. King Mark could +not by the laws of knighthood withhold the boon. The lady was +mounted on her horse, and led away by her triumphant lover. +Tristram, it is needless to say, was absent at the time, and did +not return until their departure. When he heard what had taken +place he seized his rote, and hastened to the shore, where Isoude +and her new master had already embarked. Tristram played upon his +rote, and the sound reached the ears of Isoude, who became so +deeply affected, that Sir Palamedes was induced to return with her +to land, that they might see the unknown musician. Tristram +watched his opportunity, seized the lady's horse by the bridle, +and plunged with her into the forest, tauntingly informing his +rival that "what he had got by the harp he had lost by the rote." +Palamedes pursued, and a combat was about to commence, the result +of which must have been fatal to one or other of these gallant +knights; but Isoude stepped between them, and, addressing +Palamedes, said, "You tell me that you love me; you will not then +deny me the request I am about to make?" "Lady," he replied, "I +will perform your bidding." "Leave, then," said she, "this +contest, and repair to King Arthur's court, and salute Queen +Guenever from me; tell her that there are in the world but two +ladies, herself and I, and two lovers, hers and mine; and come +thou not in future in any place where I am." Palamedes burst into +tears. "Ah, lady," said he, "I will obey you; but I beseech you +that you will not for ever steel your heart against me." +"Palamedes," she replied, "may I never taste of joy again if I +ever quit my first love." Palamedes then went his way. The lovers +remained a week in concealment, after which Tristram restored +Isoude to her husband, advising him in future to reward minstrels +in some other way. + +The king showed much gratitude to Tristram, but in the bottom of +his heart he cherished bitter jealousy of him. One day Tristram +and Isoude were alone together in her private chamber. A base and +cowardly knight of the court, named Andret, spied them through a +keyhole. They sat at a table of chess, but were not attending to +the game. Andret brought the king, having first raised his +suspicions, and placed him so as to watch their motions. The king +saw enough to confirm his suspicions, and he burst into the +apartment with his sword drawn, and had nearly slain Tristram +before he was put on his guard. But Tristram avoided the blow, +drew his sword, and drove before him the cowardly monarch, chasing +him through all the apartments of the palace, giving him frequent +blows with the flat of his sword, while he cried in vain to his +knights to save him. They were not inclined, or did not dare, to +interpose in his behalf. + +A proof of the great popularity of the tale of Sir Tristram is the +fact that the Italian poets, Boiardo and Ariosto, have founded +upon it the idea of the two enchanted fountains, which produced +the opposite effects of love and hatred. Boiardo thus describes +the fountain of hatred: + + "Fair was that fountain, sculptured all of gold, + With alabaster sculptured, rich and rare; + And in its basin clear thou might'st behold + The flowery marge reflected fresh and fair. + Sage Merlin framed the font,--so legends bear,-- + When on fair Isoude doated Tristram brave, + That the good errant knight, arriving there, + Might quaff oblivion in the enchanted wave, + And leave his luckless love, and 'scape his timeless grave. + + 'But ne'er the warrior's evil fate allowed + His steps that fountain's charmed verge to gain. + Though restless, roving on adventure proud, + He traversed oft the land and oft the main." + + + + + +CHAPTER XIII + +TRISTRAM AND ISOUDE (Continued) + + +After this affair Tristram was banished from the kingdom, and +Isoude shut up in a tower, which stood on the bank of a river. +Tristram could not resolve to depart without some further +communication with his beloved; so he concealed himself in the +forest, till at last he contrived to attract her attention, by +means of twigs which he curiously peeled, and sent down the stream +under her window. By this means many secret interviews were +obtained. Tristram dwelt in the forest, sustaining himself by +game, which the dog Houdain ran down for him; for this faithful +animal was unequalled in the chase, and knew so well his master's +wish for concealment, that, in the pursuit of his game, he never +barked. At length Tristram departed, but left Houdain with Isoude, +as a remembrancer of him. + +Sir Tristram wandered through various countries, achieving the +most perilous enterprises, and covering himself with glory, yet +unhappy at the separation from his beloved Isoude. At length King +Mark's territory was invaded by a neighboring chieftain, and he +was forced to summon his nephew to his aid. Tristram obeyed the +call, put himself at the head of his uncle's vassals, and drove +the enemy out of the country. Mark was full of gratitude, and +Tristram, restored to favor and to the society of his beloved +Isoude, seemed at the summit of happiness. But a sad reverse was +at hand. + +Tristram had brought with him a friend named Pheredin, son of the +king of Brittany. This young knight saw Queen Isoude, and could +not resist her charms. Knowing the love of his friend for the +queen, and that that love was returned, Pheredin concealed his +own, until his health failed, and he feared he was drawing near +his end. He then wrote to the beautiful queen that he was dying +for love of her. + +The gentle Isoude, in a moment of pity for the friend of Tristram, +returned him an answer so kind and compassionate that it restored +him to life. A few days afterwards Tristram found this letter. The +most terrible jealousy took possession of his soul; he would have +slain Pheredin, who with difficulty made his escape. Then Tristram +mounted his horse, and rode to the forest, where for ten days he +took no rest nor food. At length he was found by a damsel lying +almost dead by the brink of a fountain. She recognized him, and +tried in vain to rouse his attention. At last recollecting his +love for music she went and got her harp, and played thereon. +Tristram was roused from his reverie; tears flowed; he breathed +more freely; he took the harp from the maiden, and sung this lay, +with a voice broken with sobs: + + "Sweet I sang in former days, + Kind love perfected my lays: + Now my art alone displays + The woe that on my being preys. + + "Charming love, delicious power, + Worshipped from my earliest hour, + Thou who life on all dost shower, + Love! my life thou dost devour. + + "In death's hour I beg of thee, + Isoude, dearest enemy, + Thou who erst couldst kinder be, + When I'm gone, forget not me. + + "On my gravestone passers-by + Oft will read, as low I lie, + 'Never wight in love could vie + With Tristram, yet she let him die.'" + +Tristram, having finished his lay, wrote it off and gave it to the +damsel, conjuring her to present it to the queen. + +Meanwhile Queen Isoude was inconsolable at the absence of +Tristram. She discovered that it was caused by the fatal letter +which she had written to Pheredin. Innocent, but in despair at the +sad effects of her letter, she wrote another to Pheredin, charging +him never to see her again. The unhappy lover obeyed this cruel +decree. He plunged into the forest, and died of grief and love in +a hermit's cell. + +Isoude passed her days in lamenting the absence and unknown fate +of Tristram. One day her jealous husband, having entered her +chamber unperceived, overheard her singing the following lay: + + "My voice to piteous wail is bent, + My harp to notes of languishment; + Ah, love! delightsome days be meant + For happier wights, with hearts content. + + "Ah, Tristram' far away from me, + Art thou from restless anguish free? + Ah! couldst thou so one moment be, + From her who so much loveth thee?" + +The king hearing these words burst forth in a rage; but Isoude was +too wretched to fear his violence. "You have heard me," she said; +"I confess it all. I love Tristram, and always shall love him. +Without doubt he is dead, and died for me. I no longer wish to +live. The blow that shall finish my misery will be most welcome." + +The king was moved at the distress of the fair Isoude, and perhaps +the idea of Tristram's death tended to allay his wrath. He left +the queen in charge of her women, commanding them to take especial +care lest her despair should lead her to do harm to herself. + +Tristram meanwhile, distracted as he was, rendered a most +important service to the shepherds by slaying a gigantic robber +named Taullas, who was in the habit of plundering their flocks and +rifling their cottages. The shepherds, in their gratitude to +Tristram, bore him in triumph to King Mark to have him bestow on +him a suitable reward. No wonder Mark failed to recognize in the +half-clad, wild man, before him his nephew Tristram; but grateful +for the service the unknown had rendered he ordered him to be well +taken care of, and gave him in charge to the queen and her women. +Under such care Tristram rapidly recovered his serenity and his +health, so that the romancer tells us he became handsomer than +ever. King Mark's jealousy revived with Tristram's health and good +looks, and, in spite of his debt of gratitude so lately increased, +he again banished him from the court. + +Sir Tristram left Cornwall, and proceeded into the land of Loegria +(England) in quest of adventures. One day he entered a wide +forest. The sound of a little bell showed him that some inhabitant +was near. He followed the sound, and found a hermit, who informed +him that he was in the forest of Arnantes, belonging to the fairy +Viviane, the Lady of the Lake, who, smitten with love for King +Arthur, had found means to entice him to this forest, where by +enchantments she held him a prisoner, having deprived him of all +memory of who and what he was. The hermit informed him that all +the knights of the Round Table were out in search of the king, and +that he (Tristram) was now in the scene of the most grand and +important adventures. + +This was enough to animate Tristram in the search. He had not +wandered far before he encountered a knight of Arthur's court, who +proved to be Sir Kay the Seneschal, who demanded of him whence he +came. Tristram answering, "From Cornwall," Sir Kay did not let +slip the opportunity of a joke at the expense of the Cornish +knight. Tristram chose to leave him in his error, and even +confirmed him in it; for meeting some other knights Tristram +declined to just with them. They spent the night together at an +abbey, where Tristram submitted patiently to all their jokes. The +Seneschal gave the word to his companions that they should set out +early next day, and intercept the Cornish knight on his way, and +enjoy the amusement of seeing his fright when they should insist +on running a tilt with him. Tristram next morning found himself +alone; he put on his armor, and set out to continue his quest. He +soon saw before him the Seneschal and the three knights, who +barred the way, and insisted on a just. Tristram excused himself a +long time; at last he reluctantly took his stand. He encountered +them, one after the other, and overthrew them all four, man and +horse, and then rode off, bidding them not to forget their friend +the knight of Cornwall. + +Tristram had not ridden far when he met a damsel, who cried out, +"Ah, my lord! hasten forward, and prevent a horrid treason!" +Tristram flew to her assistance, and soon reached a spot where he +beheld a knight, whom three others had borne to the ground, and +were unlacing his helmet in order to cut off his head. + +Tristram flew to the rescue, and slew with one stroke of his lance +one of the assailants. The knight, recovering his feet, sacrificed +another to his vengeance, and the third made his escape. The +rescued knight then raised the visor of his helmet, and a long +white beard fell down upon his breast. The majesty and venerable +air of this knight made Tristram suspect that it was none other +than Arthur himself, and the prince confirmed his conjecture. +Tristram would have knelt before him, but Arthur received him in +his arms, and inquired his name and country; but Tristram declined +to disclose them, on the plea that he was now on a quest requiring +secrecy. At this moment the damsel who had brought Tristram to the +rescue darted forward, and, seizing the king's hand, drew from his +finger a ring, the gift of the fairy, and by that act dissolved +the enchantment. Arthur, having recovered his reason and his +memory, offered to Tristram to attach him to his court, and to +confer honors and dignities upon him; but Tristram declined all, +and only consented to accompany him till he should see him safe in +the hands of his knights. Soon after, Hector de Marys rode up, and +saluted the king, who on his part introduced him to Tristram as +one of the bravest of his knights. Tristram took leave of the king +and his faithful follower, and continued his quest. + +We cannot follow Tristram through all the adventures which filled +this epoch of his history. Suffice it to say, he fulfilled on all +occasions the duty of a true knight, rescuing the oppressed, +redressing wrongs, abolishing evil customs, and suppressing +injustice, thus by constant action endeavoring to lighten the +pains of absence from her he loved. In the meantime Isoude, +separated from her dear Tristram, passed her days in languor and +regret. At length she could no longer resist the desire to hear +some news of her lover. She wrote a letter, and sent it by one of +her damsels, niece of her faithful Brengwain. One day Tristram, +weary with his exertions, had dismounted and laid himself down by +the side of a fountain and fallen asleep. The damsel of Queen +Isoude arrived at the same fountain, and recognized Passebreul, +the horse of Tristram, and presently perceived his master asleep. +He was thin and pale, showing evident marks of the pain he +suffered in separation from his beloved. She awakened him, and +gave him the letter which she bore, and Tristram enjoyed the +pleasure, so sweet to a lover, of hearing from and talking about +the object of his affections. He prayed the damsel to postpone her +return till after the magnificent tournament which Arthur had +proclaimed should have taken place, and conducted her to the +castle of Persides, a brave and loyal knight, who received her +with great consideration. + +Tristram conducted the damsel of Queen Isoude to the tournament, +and had her placed in the balcony among the ladies of the queen. + + "He glanced and saw the stately galleries, + Dame, damsel, each through worship of their Queen + White-robed in honor of the stainless child, + And some with scatter'd jewels, like a bank + Of maiden snow mingled with sparks of fire. + He looked but once, and veiled his eyes again." + + --The Last Tournament. + +He then joined the tourney. Nothing could exceed his strength and +valor. Launcelot admired him, and by a secret presentiment +declined to dispute the honor of the day with a knight so gallant +and so skilful. Arthur descended from the balcony to greet the +conqueror; but the modest and devoted Tristram, content with +having borne off the prize in the sight of the messenger of +Isoude, made his escape with her, and disappeared. + +The next day the tourney recommenced. Tristram assumed different +armor, that he might not be known; but he was soon detected by the +terrible blows that he gave, Arthur and Guenever had no doubt that +it was the same knight who had borne off the prize of the day +before. Arthur's gallant spirit was roused. After Launcelot of the +Lake and Sir Gawain he was accounted the best knight of the Round +Table. He went privately and armed himself, and came into the +tourney in undistinguished armor. He ran a just with Tristram, +whom he shook in his seat; but Tristram, who did not know him, +threw him out of the saddle. Arthur recovered himself, and content +with having made proof of the stranger knight bade Launcelot +finish the adventure, and vindicate the honor of the Round Table. +Sir Launcelot, at the bidding of the monarch, assailed Tristram, +whose lance was already broken in former encounters. But the law +of this sort of combat was that the knight after having broken his +lance must fight with his sword, and must not refuse to meet with +his shield the lance of his antagonist. Tristram met Launcelot's +charge upon his shield, which that terrible lance could not fail +to pierce. It inflicted a wound upon Tristram's side, and, +breaking, left the iron in the wound. But Tristram also with his +sword smote so vigorously on Launcelot's casque that he cleft it, +and wounded his head. The wound was not deep, but the blood flowed +into his eyes, and blinded him for a moment, and Tristram, who +thought himself mortally wounded, retired from the field. +Launcelot declared to the king that he had never received such a +blow in his life before. + +Tristram hastened to Gouvernail, his squire, who drew forth the +iron, bound up the wound, and gave him immediate ease. Tristram +after the tournament kept retired in his tent, but Arthur, with +the consent of all the knights of the Round Table, decreed him the +honors of the second day. But it was no longer a secret that the +victor of the two days was the same individual, and Gouvernail, +being questioned, confirmed the suspicions of Launcelot and Arthur +that it was no other than Sir Tristram of Leonais, the nephew of +the king of Cornwall. + +King Arthur, who desired to reward his distinguished valor, and +knew that his Uncle Mark had ungratefully banished him, would have +eagerly availed himself of the opportunity to attach Tristram to +his court,--all the knights of the Round Table declaring with +acclamation that it would be impossible to find a more worthy +companion. But Tristram had already departed in search of +adventures, and the damsel of Queen Isoude returned to her +mistress. + + + + + +CHAPTER XIV + +SIR TRISTRAM'S BATTLE WITH SIR LAUNCELOT + + +Sir Tristram rode through a forest and saw ten men fighting, and +one man did battle against nine. So he rode to the knights and +cried to them, bidding them cease their battle, for they did +themselves great shame, so many knights to fight against one. Then +answered the master of the knights (his name was Sir Breuse sans +Pitie, who was at that time the most villanous knight living): +"Sir knight, what have ye to do to meddle with us? If ye be wise +depart on your way as you came, for this knight shall not escape +us." "That were pity," said Sir Tristram, "that so good a knight +should be slain so cowardly; therefore I warn you I will succor +him with all my puissance." + +Then Sir Tristram alighted off his horse, because they were on +foot, that they should not slay his horse. And he smote on the +right hand and on the left so vigorously that well-nigh at every +stroke he struck down a knight. At last they fled, with Breuse +sans Pitie, into the tower, and shut Sir Tristram without the +gate. Then Sir Tristram returned back to the rescued knight, and +found him sitting under a tree, sore wounded. "Fair knight," said +he, "how is it with you?" "Sir knight," said Sir Palamedes, for he +it was, "I thank you of your great goodness, for ye have rescued +me from death." "What is your name?" said Sir Tristram. He said, +"My name is Sir Palamedes." "Say ye so?" said Sir Tristram; "now +know that thou art the man in the world that I most hate; +therefore make thee ready, for I will do battle with thee." "What +is your name?" said Sir Palamedes. "My name is Sir Tristram, your +mortal enemy." "It may be so," said Sir Palamedes; "but you have +done overmuch for me this day, that I should fight with you. +Moreover, it will be no honor for you to have to do with me, for +you are fresh and I am wounded. Therefore, if you will needs have +to do with me, assign me a day, and I shall meet you without +fail." "You say well, "said Sir Tristram; "now I assign you to +meet me in the meadow by the river of Camelot, where Merlin set +the monument." So they were agreed. Then they departed and took +their ways diverse. Sir Tristram passed through a great forest +into a plain, till he came to a priory, and there he reposed him +with a good man six days. + +Then departed Sir Tristram, and rode straight into Camelot to the +monument of Merlin, and there he looked about him for Sir +Palamedes. And he perceived a seemly knight, who came riding +against him all in white, with a covered shield. When he came nigh +Sir Tristram said aloud, "Welcome, sir knight, and well and truly +have you kept your promise." Then they made ready their shields +and spears, and came together with all the might of their horses, +so fiercely, that both the horses and the knights fell to the +earth. And as soon as they might they quitted their horses, and +struck together with bright swords as men of might, and each +wounded the other wonderfully sore, so that the blood ran out upon +the grass. Thus they fought for the space of four hours and never +one would speak to the other one word. Then at last spake the +white knight, and said, "Sir, thou fightest wonderful well, as +ever I saw knight; therefore, if it please you, tell me your +name." "Why dost thou ask my name?" said Sir Tristram; "art thou +not Sir Palamedes?" "No, fair knight," said he, "I am Sir +Launcelot of the Lake." "Alas!" said Sir Tristram, "what have I +done? for you are the man of the world that I love best." "Fair +knight," said Sir Launcelot, "tell me your name." "Truly," said +he, "my name is Sir Tristram de Lionesse." "Alas! alas!" said Sir +Launcelot, "what adventure has befallen me!" And therewith Sir +Launcelot kneeled down and yielded him up his sword; and Sir +Tristram kneeled down and yielded him up his sword; and so either +gave other the degree. And then they both went to the stone, and +sat them down upon it and took off their helms and each kissed the +other a hundred times. And then anon they rode toward Camelot, and +on the way they met with Sir Gawain and Sir Gaheris, that had made +promise to Arthur never to come again to the court till they had +brought Sir Tristram with them. + +"Return again," said Sir Launcelot, "for your quest is done; for I +have met with Sir Tristram. Lo, here he is in his own person." +Then was Sir Gawain glad, and said to Sir Tristram, "Ye are +welcome." With this came King Arthur, and when he wist there was +Sir Tristram, he ran unto him, and took him by the hand, and said, +"Sir Tristram, ye are as welcome as any knight that ever came to +this court." Then Sir Tristram told the king how he came thither +for to have had to do with Sir Palamedes, and how he had rescued +him from Sir Breuse sans Pitie and the nine knights. Then King +Arthur took Sir Tristram by the hand, and went to the Table Round, +and Queen Guenever came, and many ladies with her, and all the +ladies said with one voice, "Welcome, Sir Tristram." "Welcome," +said the knights. "Welcome," said Arthur, "for one of the best of +knights, and the gentlest of the world, and the man of most +worship; for of all manner of hunting thou bearest the prize, and +of all measures of blowing thou art the beginning, and of all the +terms of hunting and hawking ye are the inventor, and of all +instruments of music ye are the best skilled; therefore, gentle +knight," said Arthur, "ye are welcome to this court." And then +King Arthur made Sir Tristram knight of the Table Round with great +nobley and feasting as can be thought. + +SIR TRISTRAM AS A SPORTSMAN + +Tristram is often alluded to by the Romancers as the great +authority and model in all matters relating to the chase. In the +"Faery Queene," Tristram, in answer to the inquiries of Sir +Calidore, informs him of his name and parentage, and concludes: + + "All which my days I have not lewdly spent, + Nor spilt the blossom of my tender years + In idlesse; but, as was convenient, + Have trained been with many noble feres + In gentle thewes, and such like seemly leers; + 'Mongst which my most delight hath always been + To hunt the salvage chace, amongst my peers, + Of all that rangeth in the forest green, + Of which none is to me unknown that yet was seen. + + "Ne is there hawk which mantleth on her perch, + Whether high towering or accosting low, + But I the measure of her flight do search, + And all her prey, and all her diet know. + Such be our joys, which in these forests grow." + +[Footnote: Feres, companions; thewes, labors; leers, learning.] + + + + + +CHAPTER XV + +THE ROUND TABLE + + +The famous enchanter, Merlin, had exerted all his skill in +fabricating the Round Table. Of the seats which surrounded it he +had constructed thirteen, in memory of the thirteen Apostles. +Twelve of these seats only could be occupied, and they only by +knights of the highest fame; the thirteenth represented the seat +of the traitor Judas. It remained always empty. It was called the +PERILOUS SEAT, ever since a rash and haughty Saracen knight had +dared to place himself in it, when the earth opened and swallowed +him up. + + "In our great hall there stood a vacant chair, + Fashion'd by Merlin ere he past away, + And carven with strange figures; and in and out + The figures, like a serpent, ran a scroll + Of letters in a tongue no man could read + And Merlin call'd it 'The Siege perilous,' + Perilous for good and ill; 'for there,' he said, + 'No man could sit but he should lose himself.'" + + --The Holy Grail. + +A magic power wrote upon each seat the name of the knight who was +entitled to sit in it. No one could succeed to a vacant seat +unless he surpassed in valor and glorious deeds the knight who had +occupied it before him; without this qualification he would be +violently repelled by a hidden force. Thus proof was made of all +those who presented themselves to replace any companions of the +order who had fallen. + +One of the principal seats, that of Moraunt of Ireland, had been +vacant ten years, and his name still remained over it ever since +the time when that distinguished champion fell beneath the sword +of Sir Tristram. Arthur now took Tristram by the hand and led him +to that seat. Immediately the most melodious sounds were heard, +and exquisite perfumes filled the place; the name of Moraunt +disappeared, and that of Tristram blazed forth in light. The rare +modesty of Tristram had now to be subjected to a severe task; for +the clerks charged with the duty of preserving the annals of the +Round Table attended, and he was required by the law of his order +to declare what feats of arms he had accomplished to entitle him +to take that seat. This ceremony being ended, Tristram received +the congratulations of all his companions. Sir Launcelot and +Guenever took the occasion to speak to him of the fair Isoude, and +to express their wish that some happy chance might bring her to +the kingdom of Loegria. + +While Tristram was thus honored and caressed at the court of King +Arthur, the most gloomy and malignant jealousy harassed the soul +of Mark. He could not look upon Isoude without remembering that +she loved Tristram, and the good fortune of his nephew goaded him +to thoughts of vengeance. He at last resolved to go disguised into +the kingdom of Loegria, attack Tristram by stealth, and put him to +death. He took with him two knights, brought up in his court, who +he thought were devoted to him; and, not willing to leave Isoude +behind, named two of her maidens to attend her, together with her +faithful Brengwain, and made them accompany him. + +Having arrived in the neighborhood of Camelot, Mark imparted his +plan to his two knights, but they rejected it with horror; nay, +more, they declared that they would no longer remain in his +service; and left him, giving him reason to suppose that they +should repair to the court to accuse him before Arthur. It was +necessary for Mark to meet and rebut their accusation; so, leaving +Isoude in an abbey, he pursued his way alone to Camelot. + +Mark had not ridden far when he encountered a party of knights of +Arthur's court, and would have avoided them, for he knew their +habit of challenging to a just every stranger knight whom they +met. But it was too late. They had seen his armor, and recognized +him as a Cornish knight, and at once resolved to have some sport +with him. It happened they had with them Daguenet, King Arthur's +fool, who, though deformed and weak of body, was not wanting in +courage. The knights as Mark approached laid their plan that +Daguenet should personate Sir Launcelot of the Lake, and challenge +the Cornish knight. They equipped him in armor belonging to one of +their number who was ill, and sent him forward to the cross-road +to defy the strange knight. Mark, who saw that his antagonist was +by no means formidable in appearance, was not disinclined to the +combat; but when the dwarf rode towards him, calling out that he +was Sir Launcelot of the Lake, his fears prevailed, he put spurs +to his horse, and rode away at full speed, pursued by the shouts +and laughter of the party. + +Meanwhile Isoude, remaining at the abbey with her faithful +Brengwain, found her only amusement in walking occasionally in a +forest adjoining the abbey. There, on the brink of a fountain +girdled with trees, she thought of her love, and sometimes joined +her voice and her harp in lays reviving the memory of its pains or +pleasures. One day the caitiff knight, Breuse the Pitiless, heard +her voice, concealed himself, and drew near. She sang: + + "Sweet silence, shadowy bower, and verdant lair, + Ye court my troubled spirit to repose, + Whilst I, such dear remembrance rises there, + Awaken every echo with my woes + + "Within these woods, by nature's hand arrayed, + A fountain springs, and feeds a thousand flowers; + Ah! how my groans do all its murmurs aid! + How my sad eyes do swell it with their showers! + + "What doth my knight the while? to him is given + A double meed; in love and arms' emprise, + Him the Round Table elevates to heaven! + Tristram! ah me! he hears not Isoude's cries." + +Breuse the Pitiless, who like most other caitiffs had felt the +weight of Tristram's arm, and hated him accordingly, at hearing +his name breathed forth by the beautiful songstress, impelled by a +double impulse, rushed forth from his concealment and laid hands +on his victim. Isoude fainted, and Brengwain filled the air with +her shrieks. Breuse carried Isoude to the place where he had left +his horse; but the animal had got away from his bridle, and was at +some distance. He was obliged to lay down his fair burden, and go +in pursuit of his horse. Just then a knight came up, drawn by the +cries of Brengwain, and demanded the cause of her distress. She +could not speak, but pointed to her mistress lying insensible on +the ground. + +Breuse had by this time returned, and the cries of Brengwain, +renewed at seeing him, sufficiently showed the stranger the cause +of the distress. Tristram spurred his horse towards Breuse, who, +not unprepared, ran to the encounter. Breuse was unhorsed, and lay +motionless, pretending to be dead; but when the stranger knight +left him to attend to the distressed damsels, he mounted his +horse, and made his escape. + +The knight now approached Isoude, gently raised her head, drew +aside the golden hair which covered her countenance, gazed thereon +for an instant, uttered a cry, and fell back insensible. Brengwain +came; her cares soon restored her mistress to life, and they then +turned their attention to the fallen warrior. They raised his +visor, and discovered the countenance of Sir Tristram. Isoude +threw herself on the body of her lover, and bedewed his face with +her tears. Their warmth revived the knight, and Tristram on +awaking found himself in the arms of his dear Isoude. + +It was the law of the Round Table that each knight after his +admission should pass the next ten days in quest of adventures, +during which time his companions might meet him in disguised armor +and try their strength with him. Tristram had now been out seven +days, and in that time had encountered many of the best knights of +the Round Table, and acquitted himself with honor. During the +remaining three days, Isoude remained at the abbey, under his +protection, and then set out with her maidens, escorted by Sir +Tristram, to rejoin King Mark at the court of Camelot. + +This happy journey was one of the brightest epochs in the lives of +Tristram and Isoude. He celebrated it by a lay upon the harp in a +peculiar measure, to which the French give the name of Triolet. + + "With fair Isoude, and with love, + Ah! how sweet the life I lead! + How blest for ever thus to rove, + With fair Isoude, and with love! + As she wills, I live and move, + And cloudless days to days succeed: + With fair Isoude, and with love, + Ah! how sweet the life I lead! + + "Journeying on from break of day, + Feel you not fatigued, my fair? + Yon green turf invites to play; + Journeying on from day to day, + Ah! let us to that shade away, + Were it but to slumber there! + Journeying on from break of day, + Feel you not fatigued, my fair?" + +They arrived at Camelot, where Sir Launcelot received them most +cordially. Isoude was introduced to King Arthur and Queen +Guenever, who welcomed her as a sister. As King Mark was held in +arrest under the accusation of the two Cornish knights, Queen +Isoude could not rejoin her husband, and Sir Launcelot placed his +castle of La Joyeuse Garde at the disposal of his friends, who +there took up their abode. + +King Mark, who found himself obliged to confess the truth of the +charge against him, or to clear himself by combat with his +accusers, preferred the former, and King Arthur, as his crime had +not been perpetrated, remitted the penalty, only enjoining upon +him, under pain of his signal displeasure, to lay aside all +thoughts of vengeance against his nephew. In the presence of the +king and his court all parties were formally reconciled; Mark and +his queen departed for their home, and Tristram remained at +Arthur's court. + + + + + +CHAPTER XVI + +SIR PALAMEDES + + +While Sir Tristram and the fair Isoude abode yet at La Joyeuse +Garde, Sir Tristram rode forth one day, without armor, having no +weapon but his spear and his sword. And as he rode he came to a +place where he saw two knights in battle, and one of them had +gotten the better and the other lay overthrown. The knight who had +the better was Sir Palamedes. When Sir Palamedes knew Sir +Tristram, he cried out, "Sir Tristram, now we be met, and ere we +depart we will redress our old wrongs." "As for that," said Sir +Tristram, "there never yet was Christian man that might make his +boast that I ever fled from him, and thou that art a Saracen shalt +never say that of me." And therewith Sir Tristram made his horse +to run, and with all his might came straight upon Sir Palamedes, +and broke his spear upon him. Then he drew his sword and struck at +Sir Palamedes six great strokes, upon his helm. Sir Palamedes saw +that Sir Tristram had not his armor on, and he marvelled at his +rashness and his great folly; and said to himself, "If I meet and +slay him, I am shamed wheresoever I go." Then Sir Tristram cried +out and said, "Thou coward knight, why wilt thou not do battle +with me? for have thou no doubt I shall endure all thy malice." +"Ah, Sir Tristram!" said Sir Palamedes, "thou knowest I may not +fight with thee for shame; for thou art here naked, and I am +armed; now I require that thou answer me a question that I shall +ask you." "Tell me what it is," said Sir Tristram. "I put the +case," said Palamedes, "that you were well armed, and I naked as +ye be; what would you do to me now, by your true knighthood?" +"Ah!" said Sir Tristram, "now I understand thee well, Sir +Palamedes; and, as God bless me, what I shall say shall not be +said for fear that I have of thee. But if it were so, thou +shouldest depart from me, for I would not have to do with thee." +"No more will I with thee," said Sir Palamedes, "and therefore +ride forth on thy way." "As for that, I may choose," said Sir +Tristram, "either to ride or to abide. But, Sir Palamedes, I +marvel at one thing,--that thou art so good a knight, yet that +thou wilt not be christened." "As for that," said Sir Palamedes, +"I may not yet be christened, for a vow which I made many years +ago; yet in my heart I believe in our Saviour and his mild mother, +Mary; but I have yet one battle to do, and when that is done I +will be christened, with a good will." "By my head," said Sir +Tristram, "as for that one battle, thou shalt seek it no longer; +for yonder is a knight, whom you have smitten down. Now help me to +be clothed in his armor, and I will soon fulfil thy vow." "As ye +will," said Sir Palamedes, "so shall it be." So they rode both +unto that knight that sat on a bank; and Sir Tristram saluted him, +and he full weary saluted him again. "Sir," said Sir Tristram, "I +pray you to lend me your whole armor; for I am unarmed, and I must +do battle with this knight." "Sir," said the hurt knight, "you +shall have it, with a right good will," Then Sir Tristram unarmed +Sir Galleron, for that was the name of the hurt knight, and he as +well as he could helped to arm Sir Tristram. Then Sir Tristram +mounted upon his own horse, and in his hand he took Sir Galleron's +spear. Thereupon Sir Palamedes was ready, and so they came hurling +together, and each smote the other in the midst of their shields. +Sir Palamedes' spear broke, and Sir Tristram smote down the horse. +Then Sir Palamedes leapt from his horse, and drew out his sword. +That saw Sir Tristram, and therewith he alighted and tied his +horse to a tree. Then they came together as two wild beasts, +lashing the one on the other, and so fought more than two hours; +and often Sir Tristram smote such strokes at Sir Palamedes that he +made him to kneel, and Sir Palamedes broke away Sir Tristram's +shield, and wounded him. Then Sir Tristram was wroth out of +measure, and he rushed to Sir Palamedes and wounded him passing +sore through the shoulder, and by fortune smote Sir Palamedes' +sword out of his hand And if Sir Palamedes had stooped for his +sword Sir Tristram had slain him. Then Sir Palamedes stood and +beheld his sword with a full sorrowful heart. "Now," said Sir +Tristram, "I have thee at a vantage, as thou hadst me to-day; but +it shall never be said, in court, or among good knights, that Sir +Tristram did slay any knight that was weaponless; therefore take +thou thy sword, and let us fight this battle to the end." Then +spoke Sir Palamedes to Sir Tristram: "I have no wish to fight this +battle any more. The offence that I have done unto you is not so +great but that, if it please you, we may be friends. All that I +have offended is for the love of the queen, La Belle Isoude, and I +dare maintain that she is peerless among ladies; and for that +offence ye have given me many grievous and sad strokes, and some I +have given you again. Wherefore I require you, my lord Sir +Tristram, forgive me all that I have offended you, and this day +have me unto the next church; and first I will be clean confessed, +and after that see you that I be truly baptized, and then we will +ride together unto the court of my lord, King Arthur, so that we +may be there at the feast of Pentecost." "Now take your horse," +said Sir Tristram, "and as you have said, so shall it be done." So +they took their horses, and Sir Galleron rode with them. When they +came to the church of Carlisle, the bishop commanded to fill a +great vessel with water; and when he had hallowed it, he then +confessed Sir Palamedes clean, and christened him, and Sir +Tristram and Sir Galleron were his godfathers. Then soon after +they departed, and rode towards Camelot, where the noble King +Arthur and Queen Guenever were keeping a court royal. And the king +and all the court were glad that Sir Palamedes was christened. +Then Sir Tristram returned again to La Joyeuse Garde, and Sir +Palamedes went his way. + +Not long after these events Sir Gawain returned from Brittany, and +related to King Arthur the adventure which befell him in the +forest of Breciliande, how Merlin had there spoken to him, and +enjoined him to charge the king to go without delay upon the quest +of the Holy Greal. While King Arthur deliberated Tristram +determined to enter upon the quest, and the more readily, as it +was well known to him that this holy adventure would, if achieved, +procure him the pardon of all his sins. He immediately departed +for the kingdom of Brittany, hoping there to obtain from Merlin +counsel as to the proper course to pursue to insure success. + + + + + +CHAPTER XVII + +SIR TRISTRAM + + +On arriving in Brittany Tristram found King Hoel engaged in a war +with a rebellious vassal, and hard pressed by his enemy. His best +knights had fallen in a late battle, and he knew not where to turn +for assistance. Tristram volunteered his aid. It was accepted; and +the army of Hoel, led by Tristram, and inspired by his example, +gained a complete victory. The king, penetrated by the most lively +sentiments of gratitude, and having informed himself of Tristram's +birth, offered him his daughter in marriage. The princess was +beautiful and accomplished, and bore the same name with the Queen +of Cornwall; but this one is designated by the Romancers as Isoude +of the White Hands, to distinguish her from Isoude the Fair. + +How can we describe the conflict that agitated the heart of +Tristram? He adored the first Isoude, but his love for her was +hopeless, and not unaccompanied by remorse. Moreover, the sacred +quest on which he had now entered demanded of him perfect purity +of life. It seemed as if a happy destiny had provided for him in +the charming princess Isoude of the White Hands the best security +for all his good resolutions. This last reflection determined him. +They were married, and passed some months in tranquil happiness at +the court of King Hoel. The pleasure which Tristram felt in his +wife's society increased day by day. An inward grace seemed to +stir within him from the moment when he took the oath to go on the +quest of the Holy Greal; it seemed even to triumph over the power +of the magic love-potion. + +The war, which had been quelled for a time, now burst out anew. +Tristram as usual was foremost in every danger. The enemy was +worsted in successive conflicts, and at last shut himself up in +his principal city. Tristram led on the attack of the city. As he +mounted a ladder to scale the walls he was struck on the head by a +fragment of rock, which the besieged threw down upon him. It bore +him to the ground, where he lay insensible. + +As soon as he recovered consciousness he demanded to be carried to +his wife. The princess, skilled in the art of surgery, would not +suffer any one but herself to touch her beloved husband. Her fair +hands bound up his wounds; Tristram kissed them with gratitude, +which began to grow into love. At first the devoted cares of +Isoude seemed to meet with great success; but after a while these +flattering appearances vanished, and, in spite of all her care, +the malady grew more serious day by day. + +In this perplexity, an old squire of Tristram's reminded his +master that the princess of Ireland, afterwards queen of Cornwall, +had once cured him under circumstances quite as discouraging. He +called Isoude of the White Hands to him, told her of his former +cure, added that he believed that the Queen Isoude could heal him, +and that he felt sure that she would come to his relief, if sent +for. + +Isoude of the White Hands consented that Gesnes, a trusty man and +skilful navigator, should be sent to Cornwall. Tristram called +him, and, giving him a ring, "Take this," he said, "to the Queen +of Cornwall. Tell her that Tristram, near to death, demands her +aid. If you succeed in bringing her with you, place white sails to +your vessel on your return, that we may know of your success when +the vessel first heaves in sight. But if Queen Isoude refuses, put +on black sails; they will be the presage of my impending death." + +Gesnes performed his mission successfully. King Mark happened to +be absent from his capital, and the queen readily consented to +return with the bark to Brittany. Gesnes clothed his vessel in the +whitest of sails, and sped his way back to Brittany. + +Meantime the wound of Tristram grew more desperate day by day. His +strength, quite prostrated, no longer permitted him to be carried +to the seaside daily, as had been his custom from the first moment +when it was possible for the bark to be on the way homeward. He +called a young damsel, and gave her in charge to keep watch in the +direction of Cornwall, and to come and tell him the color of the +sails of the first vessel she should see approaching. + +When Isoude of the White Hands consented that the queen of +Cornwall should be sent for, she had not known all the reasons +which she had for fearing the influence which renewed intercourse +with that princess might have on her own happiness. She had now +learned more, and felt the danger more keenly. She thought, if she +could only keep the knowledge of the queen's arrival from her +husband, she might employ in his service any resources which her +skill could supply, and still avert the dangers which she +apprehended. When the vessel was seen approaching, with its white +sails sparkling in the sun, the damsel, by command of her +mistress, carried word to Tristram that the sails were black. + +Tristram, penetrated with inexpressible grief, breathed a profound +sigh, turned away his face, and said, "Alas, my beloved! we shall +never see one another again!" Then he commended himself to God, +and breathed his last. + +The death of Tristram was the first intelligence which the queen +of Cornwall heard on landing. She was conducted almost senseless +into the chamber of Tristram, and expired holding him in her arms. + +Tristram, before his death, had requested that his body should be +sent to Cornwall, and that his sword, with a letter he had +written, should be delivered to King Mark. The remains of Tristram +and Isoude were embarked in a vessel, along with the sword, which +was presented to the king of Cornwall. He was melted with +tenderness when he saw the weapon which slew Moraunt of Ireland,-- +which had so often saved his life, and redeemed the honor of his +kingdom. In the letter Tristram begged pardon of his uncle, and +related the story of the amorous draught. + +Mark ordered the lovers to be buried in his own chapel. From the +tomb of Tristram there sprung a vine, which went along the walls, +and descended into the grave of the queen. It was cut down three +times, but each time sprung up again more vigorous than before, +and this wonderful plant has ever since shaded the tombs of +Tristram and Isoude. + +Spenser introduces Sir Tristram in his "Faery Queene." In Book +VI., Canto ii., Sir Calidore encounters in the forest a young +hunter, whom he thus describes: + + "Him steadfastly he marked, and saw to be + A goodly youth of amiable grace, + Yet but a slender slip, that scarce did see + Yet seventeen yeares; but tall and faire of face, + That sure he deemed him borne of noble race. + All in a woodman's jacket he was clad + Of Lincoln greene, belayed with silver lace; + And on his head an hood with aglets sprad, + And by his side his hunter's horne he hanging had. + +[Footnote: Aglets, points or tags] + + "Buskins he wore of costliest cordawayne, + Pinckt upon gold, and paled part per part, + As then the guize was for each gentle swayne. + In his right hand he held a trembling dart, + Whose fellow he before had sent apart; + And in his left he held a sharp bore-speare, + With which he wont to launch the salvage heart + Of many a lyon, and of many a beare, + That first unto his hand in chase did happen neare." + +[Footnote: PINCKT UPON GOLD, ETC., adorned with golden points, or +eyelets, and regularly intersected with stripes. PALED (in +heraldry), striped] + + + + + +CHAPTER XVIII + +PERCEVAL + + +The father and two elder brothers of Perceval had fallen in battle +or tournaments, and hence, as the last hope of his family, his +mother retired with him into a solitary region, where he was +brought up in total ignorance of arms and chivalry. He was allowed +no weapon but "a lyttel Scots spere," which was the only thing of +all "her lordes faire gere" that his mother carried to the wood +with her. In the use of this he became so skilful, that he could +kill with it not only the animals of the chase for the table, but +even birds on the wing. At length, however, Perceval was roused to +a desire of military renown by seeing in the forest five knights +who were in complete armor. He said to his mother, "Mother, what +are those yonder?" "They are angels, my son," said she. "By my +faith, I will go and become an angel with them." And Perceval went +to the road and met them. "Tell me, good lad," said one of them, +"sawest thou a knight pass this way either today or yesterday?" "I +know not," said he, "what a knight is." "Such an one as I am," +said the knight. "If thou wilt tell me what I ask thee, I will +tell thee what thou askest me." "Gladly will I do so," said Sir +Owain, for that was the knight's name. "What is this?" demanded +Perceval, touching the saddle. "It is a saddle," said Owain. Then +he asked about all the accoutrements which he saw upon the men and +the horses, and about the arms, and what they were for, and how +they were used. And Sir Owain showed him all those things fully. +And Perceval in return gave him such information as he had + +Then Perceval returned to his mother, and said to her, "Mother, +those were not angels, but honorable knights." Then his mother +swooned away. And Perceval went to the place where they kept the +horses that carried firewood and provisions for the castle, and he +took a bony, piebald horse, which seemed to him the strongest of +them. And he pressed a pack into the form of a saddle, and with +twisted twigs he imitated the trappings which he had seen upon the +horses. When he came again to his mother, the countess had +recovered from her swoon. "My son," said she, "desirest thou to +ride forth?" "Yes, with thy leave," said he. "Go forward, then," +she said, "to the court of Arthur, where there are the best and +the noblest and the most bountiful of men, and tell him thou art +Perceval, the son of Pelenore, and ask of him to bestow knighthood +on thee. And whenever thou seest a church, repeat there thy pater- +noster; and if thou see meat and drink, and hast need of them, +thou mayest take them. If thou hear an outcry of one in distress, +proceed toward it, especially if it be the cry of a woman, and +render her what service thou canst. If thou see a fair jewel, win +it, for thus shalt thou acquire fame; yet freely give it to +another, for thus thou shalt obtain praise. If thou see a fair +woman, pay court to her, for thus thou wilt obtain love." + +After this discourse Perceval mounted the horse and taking a +number of sharp-pointed sticks in his hand he rode forth. And he +rode far in the woody wilderness without food or drink. At last he +came to an opening in the wood where he saw a tent, and as he +thought it might be a church he said his pater-noster to it. And +he went towards it; and the door of the tent was open. And +Perceval dismounted and entered the tent. In the tent he found a +maiden sitting, with a golden frontlet on her forehead and a gold +ring on her hand. And Perceval said, "Maiden, I salute you, for my +mother told me whenever I met a lady I must respectfully salute +her." Perceiving in one corner of the tent some food, two flasks +full of wine, and some boar's flesh roasted, he said, "My mother +told me, whenever I saw meat and drink to take it." And he ate +greedily, for he was very hungry. The maiden said, "Sir, thou +hadst best go quickly from here, for fear that my friends should +come, and evil should befall you." But Perceval said, "My mother +told me wheresoever I saw a fair jewel to take it," and he took +the gold ring from her finger, and put it on his own; and he gave +the maiden his own ring in exchange for hers; then he mounted his +horse and rode away. + +Perceval journeyed on till he arrived at Arthur's court. And it so +happened that just at that time an uncourteous knight had offered +Queen Guenever a gross insult. For when her page was serving the +queen with a golden goblet, this knight struck the arm of the page +and dashed the wine in the queen's face and over her stomacher. +Then he said, "If any have boldness to avenge this insult to +Guenever, let him follow me to the meadow." So the knight took his +horse and rode to the meadow, carrying away the golden goblet. And +all the household hung down their heads and no one offered to +follow the knight to take vengeance upon him. For it seemed to +them that no one would have ventured on so daring an outrage +unless he possessed such powers, through magic or charms, that +none could be able to punish him. Just then, behold, Perceval +entered the hall upon the bony, piebald horse, with his uncouth +trappings. In the centre of the hall stood Kay the Seneschal. +"Tell me, tall man," said Perceval, "is that Arthur yonder?" "What +wouldst thou with Arthur?" asked Kay. "My mother told me to go to +Arthur and receive knighthood from him." "By my faith," said he, +"thou art all too meanly equipped with horse and with arms." Then +all the household began to jeer and laugh at him. But there was a +certain damsel who had been a whole year at Arthur's court, and +had never been known to smile. And the king's fool [Footnote: A +fool was a common appendage of the courts of those days when this +romance was written. A fool was the ornament held in next +estimation to a dwarf. He wore a white dress with a yellow bonnet, +and carried a bell or bawble in his hand. Though called a fool, +his words were often weighed and remembered as if there were a +sort of oracular meaning in them.] had said that this damsel would +not smile till she had seen him who would be the flower of +chivalry. Now this damsel came up to Perceval and told him, +smiling, that if he lived he would be one of the bravest and best +of knights. "Truly," said Kay, "thou art ill taught to remain a +year at Arthur's court, with choice of society, and smile on no +one, and now before the face of Arthur and all his knights to call +such a man as this the flower of knighthood;" and he gave her a +box on the ear, that she fell senseless to the ground. Then said +Kay to Perceval, "Go after the knight who went hence to the +meadow, overthrow him and recover the golden goblet, and possess +thyself of his horse and arms, and thou shalt have knighthood." "I +will do so, tall man," said Perceval. So he turned his horse's +head toward the meadow. And when he came there, the knight was +riding up and down, proud of his strength and valor and noble +mien. "Tell me," said the knight, "didst thou see any one coming +after me from the court?" "The tall man that was there," said +Perceval, "told me to come and overthrow thee, and to take from +thee the goblet and thy horse and armor for myself." "Silence!" +said the knight; "go back to the court, and tell Arthur either to +come himself, or to send some other to fight with me; and unless +he do so quickly, I will not wait for him." "By my faith," said +Perceval, "choose thou whether it shall be willingly or +unwillingly, for I will have the horse and the arms and the +goblet." Upon this the knight ran at him furiously, and struck him +a violent blow with the shaft of his spear, between the neck and +the shoulder. "Ha, ha, lad!" said Perceval, "my mother's servants +were not used to play with me in this wise; so thus will I play +with thee." And he threw at him one of his sharp-pointed sticks, +and it struck him in the eye, and came out at the back of his +head, so that he fell down lifeless. + +"Verily," said Sir Owain, the son of Urien, to Kay the Seneschal, +"thou wast ill-advised to send that madman after the knight, for +he must either be overthrown or flee, and either way it will be a +disgrace to Arthur and his warriors; therefore will I go to see +what has befallen him." So Sir Owain went to the meadow, and he +found Perceval trying in vain to get the dead knight's armor off, +in order to clothe himself with it. Sir Owain unfastened the +armor, and helped Perceval to put it on, and taught him how to put +his foot in the stirrup, and use the spur; for Perceval had never +used stirrup nor spur, but rode without saddle, and urged on his +horse with a stick. Then Owain would have had him return to the +court to receive the praise that was his due; but Perceval said, +"I will not come to the court till I have encountered the tall man +that is there, to revenge the injury he did to the maiden. But +take thou the goblet to Queen Guenever, and tell King Arthur that, +wherever I am, I will be his vassal, and will do him what profit +and service I can." And Sir Owain went back to the court, and +related all these things to Arthur and Guenever, and to all the +household. + +And Perceval rode forward. And he came to a lake on the side of +which was a fair castle, and on the border of the lake he saw a +hoary-headed man sitting upon a velvet cushion, and his attendants +were fishing in the lake. When the hoary-headed man beheld +Perceval approaching, he arose and went into the castle. Perceval +rode to the castle, and the door was open, and he entered the +hall. And the hoary-headed man received Perceval courteously, and +asked him to sit by him on the cushion. When it was time the +tables were set, and they went to meat. And when they had finished +their meat the hoary-headed man asked Perceval if he knew how to +fight with the sword "I know not," said Perceval, "but were I to +be taught, doubtless I should." And the hoary-headed man said to +him, "I am thy uncle, thy mother's brother; I am called King +Pecheur.[Footnote: The word means both FISHER and SINNER.] Thou +shalt remain with me a space, in order to learn the manners and +customs of different countries, and courtesy and noble bearing. +And this do thou remember, if thou seest aught to cause thy +wonder, ask not the meaning of it; if no one has the courtesy to +inform thee, the reproach will not fall upon thee, but upon me +that am thy teacher." While Perceval and his uncle discoursed +together, Perceval beheld two youths enter the hall bearing a +golden cup and a spear of mighty size, with blood dropping from +its point to the ground. And when all the company saw this they +began to weep and lament. But for all that, the man did not break +off his discourse with Perceval. And as he did not tell him the +meaning of what he saw, he forebore to ask him concerning it. Now +the cup that Perceval saw was the Sangreal, and the spear the +sacred spear; and afterwards King Pecheur removed with those +sacred relics into a far country. + +One evening Perceval entered a valley, and came to a hermit's +cell; and the hermit welcomed him gladly, and there he spent the +night. And in the morning he arose, and when he went forth, +behold! a shower of snow had fallen in the night, and a hawk had +killed a wild-fowl in front of the cell. And the noise of the +horse had scared the hawk away, and a raven alighted on the bird. +And Perceval stood and compared the blackness of the raven and the +whiteness of the snow and the redness of the blood to the hair of +the lady that best he loved, which was blacker than jet, and to +her skin, which was whiter than the snow, and to the two red spots +upon her cheeks, which were redder than the blood upon the snow. + +Now Arthur and his household were in search of Perceval, and by +chance they came that way. "Know ye," said Arthur, "who is the +knight with the long spear that stands by the brook up yonder?" +"Lord," said one of them, "I will go and learn who he is." So the +youth came to the place where Perceval was, and asked him what he +did thus, and who he was. But Perceval was so intent upon his +thought that he gave him no answer. Then the youth thrust at +Perceval with his lance; and Perceval turned upon him, and struck +him to the ground. And when the youth returned to the king, and +told how rudely he had been treated, Sir Kay said, "I will go +myself." And when he greeted Perceval, and got no answer, he spoke +to him rudely and angrily. And Perceval thrust at him with his +lance, and cast him down so that he broke his arm and his +shoulder-blade. And while he lay thus stunned his horse returned +back at a wild and prancing pace. + +Then said Sir Gawain, surnamed the Golden-Tongued, because he was +the most courteous knight in Arthur's court: "It is not fitting +that any should disturb an honorable knight from his thought +unadvisedly; for either he is pondering some damage that he has +sustained, or he is thinking of the lady whom best he loves. If it +seem well to thee, lord, I will go and see if this knight has +changed from his thought, and if he has, I will ask him +courteously to come and visit thee." + +And Perceval was resting on the shaft of his spear, pondering the +same thought, and Sir Gawain came to him, and said: "If I thought +it would be as agreeable to thee as it would be to me, I would +converse with thee. I have also a message from Arthur unto thee, +to pray thee to come and visit him. And two men have been before +on this errand." "That is true," said Perceval; "and uncourteously +they came. They attacked me, and I was annoyed thereat" Then he +told him the thought that occupied his mind, and Gawain said, +"This was not an ungentle thought, and I should marvel if it were +pleasant for thee to be drawn from it." Then said Perceval, "Tell +me, is Sir Kay in Arthur's court?" "He is," said Gawain; "and +truly he is the knight who fought with thee last." "Verily," said +Perceval, "I am not sorry to have thus avenged the insult to the +smiling maiden. "Then Perceval told him his name, and said, "Who +art thou?" And he replied, "I am Gawain." "I am right glad to meet +thee," said Perceval, "for I have everywhere heard of thy prowess +and uprightness; and I solicit thy fellowship." "Thou shalt have +it, by my faith; and grant me thine," said he. "Gladly will I do +so," answered Perceval. + +So they went together to Arthur, and saluted him. + +"Behold, lord," said Gawain, "him whom thou hast sought so long." +"Welcome unto thee, chieftain," said Arthur. And hereupon there +came the queen and her handmaidens, and Perceval saluted them. And +they were rejoiced to see him, and bade him welcome. And Arthur +did him great honor and respect and they returned towards +Caerleon. + + + + + +CHAPTER XIX + +THE SANGREAL, OR HOLY GRAAL + + +The Sangreal was the cup from which our Saviour drank at his last +supper. He was supposed to have given it to Joseph of Arimathea, +who carried it to Europe, together with the spear with which the +soldier pierced the Saviour's side. From generation to generation, +one of the descendants of Joseph of Arimathea had been devoted to +the guardianship of these precious relics; but on the sole +condition of leading a life of purity in thought, word, and deed. +For a long time the Sangreal was visible to all pilgrims, and its +presence conferred blessings upon the land in which it was +preserved. But at length one of those holy men to whom its +guardianship had descended so far forgot the obligation of his +sacred office as to look with unhallowed eye upon a young female +pilgrim whose robe was accidentally loosened as she knelt before +him. The sacred lance instantly punished his frailty, +spontaneously falling upon him, and inflicting a deep wound. The +marvellous wound could by no means be healed, and the guardian of +the Sangreal was ever after called "Le Roi Pescheur,"--The Sinner +King. The Sangreal withdrew its visible presence from the crowds +who came to worship, and an iron age succeeded to the happiness +which its presence had diffused among the tribes of Britain. + + "But then the times + Grew to such evil that the Holy cup + Was caught away to heaven and disappear'd." + --The Holy Grail. + +We have told in the history of Merlin how that great prophet and +enchanter sent a message to King Arthur by Sir Gawain, directing +him to undertake the recovery of the Sangreal, informing him at +the same time that the knight who should accomplish that sacred +quest was already born, and of a suitable age to enter upon it. +Sir Gawain delivered his message, and the king was anxiously +revolving in his mind how best to achieve the enterprise, when, at +the vigil of Pentecost, all the fellowship of the Round Table +being met together at Camelot, as they sat at meat, suddenly there +was heard a clap of thunder, and then a bright light burst forth, +and every knight, as he looked on his fellow, saw him, in seeming, +fairer than ever before. All the hall was filled with sweet odors, +and every knight had such meat and drink as he best loved. Then +there entered into the hall the Holy Graal, covered with white +samite, so that none could see it, and it passed through the hall +suddenly, and disappeared. During this time no one spoke a word, +but when they had recovered breath to speak King Arthur said, +"Certainly we ought greatly to thank the Lord for what he hath +showed us this day." Then Sir Gawain rose up, and made a vow that +for twelve months and a day he would seek the Sangreal, and not +return till he had seen it, if so he might speed. When they of the +Round Table heard Sir Gawain say so, they arose, the most part of +them, and vowed the same. When King Arthur heard this, he was +greatly displeased, for he knew well that they might not gainsay +their vows. "Alas!" said he to Sir Gawain, "you have nigh slain me +with the vow and promise that ye have made, for ye have bereft me +of the fairest fellowship that ever were seen together in any +realm of the world; for when they shall depart hence, I am sure +that all shall never meet more in this world." + +SIR GALAHAD + +At that time there entered the hall a good old man, and with him +he brought a young knight, and these words he said: "Peace be with +you, fair lords." Then the old man said unto King Arthur, "Sir, I +bring you here a young knight that is of kings' lineage, and of +the kindred of Joseph of Arimathea, being the son of Dame Elaine, +the daughter of King Pelles, king of the foreign country." Now the +name of the young knight was Sir Galahad, and he was the son of +Sir Launcelot du Lac; but he had dwelt with his mother, at the +court of King Pelles, his grandfather, till now he was old enough +to bear arms, and his mother had sent him in the charge of a holy +hermit to King Arthur's court. Then Sir Launcelot beheld his son, +and had great joy of him. And Sir Bohort told his fellows, "Upon +my life, this young knight shall come to great worship." The noise +was great in all the court, so that it came to the queen. And she +said, "I would fain see him, for he must needs be a noble knight, +for so is his father." And the queen and her ladies all said that +he resembled much unto his father; and he was seemly and demure as +a dove, with all manner of good features, that in the whole world +men might not find his match. And King Arthur said, "God make him +a good man, for beauty faileth him not, as any that liveth." + +Then the hermit led the young knight to the Siege Perilous; and he +lifted up the cloth, and found there letters that said, "This is +the seat of Sir Galahad, the good knight;" and he made him sit in +that seat. And all the knights of the Round Table marvelled +greatly at Sir Galahad, seeing him sit securely in that seat, and +said, "This is he by whom the Sangreal shall be achieved, for +there never sat one before in that seat without being mischieved." + +On the next day the king said, "Now, at this quest of the Sangreal +shall all ye of the Round Table depart, and never shall I see you +again altogether; therefore I will that ye all repair to the +meadow of Camelot, for to just and tourney yet once more before ye +depart." But all the meaning of the king was to see Sir Galahad +proved. So then were they all assembled in the meadow. Then Sir +Galahad, by request of the king and queen, put on his harness and +his helm, but shield would he take none for any prayer of the +king. And the queen was in a tower, with all her ladies, to behold +that tournament. Then Sir Galahad rode into the midst of the +meadow; and there he began to break spears marvellously, so that +all men had wonder of him, for he surmounted all knights that +encountered with him, except two, Sir Launcelot and Sir Perceval. + + "So many knights, that all the people cried, + And almost burst the barriers in their heat, + Shouting 'Sir Galahad and Sir Perceval!'" + + --Sir Galahad + +Then the king, at the queen's request, made him to alight, and +presented him to the queen; and she said, "Never two men resembled +one another more than he and Sir Launcelot, and therefore it is no +marvel that he is like him in prowess." + +Then the king and the queen went to the minster, and the knights +followed them. And after the service was done they put on their +helms and departed, and there was great sorrow. They rode through +the streets of Camelot, and there was weeping of the rich and +poor; and the king turned away, and might not speak for weeping. +And so they departed, and every knight took the way that him best +liked. + +Sir Galahad rode forth without shield, and rode four days, and +found no adventure. And on the fourth day he came to a white +abbey; and there he was received with great reverence, and led to +a chamber. He met there two knights, King Bagdemagus and Sir +Uwaine, and they made of him great solace. "Sirs," said Sir +Galahad, "what adventure brought you hither?" "Sir," said they, +"it is told us that within this place is a shield, which no man +may bear unless he be worthy; and if one unworthy should attempt +to bear it, it shall surely do him a mischief." Then King +Bagdemagus said, "I fear not to bear it, and that shall ye see to- +morrow." + +So on the morrow they arose, and heard mass; then King Bagdemagus +asked where the adventurous shield was. Anon a monk led him behind +an altar, where the shield hung, as white as snow; but in the +midst there was a red cross. Then King Bagdemagus took the shield, +and bare it out of the minster; and he said to Sir Galahad, "If it +please you, abide here till ye know how I shall speed." + +Then King Bagdemagus and his squire rode forth: and when they had +ridden a mile or two, they saw a goodly knight come towards them, +in white armor, horse and all; and he came as fast as his horse +might run, with his spear in the rest; and King Bagdemagus +directed his spear against him, and broke it upon the white +knight, but the other struck him so hard that he broke the mails, +and thrust him through the right shoulder, for the shield covered +him not, and so he bare him from his horse. Then the white knight +turned his horse and rode away. + +Then the squire went to King Bagdemagus, and asked him whether he +were sore wounded or not. "I am sore wounded," said he, "and full +hardly shall I escape death." Then the squire set him on his +horse, and brought him to an abbey; and there he was taken down +softly, and unarmed, and laid in a bed, and his wound was looked +to, for he lay there long, and hardly escaped with his life. And +the squire brought the shield back to the abbey. + +The next day Sir Galahad took the shield, and within a while he +came to the hermitage, where he met the white knight, and each +saluted the other courteously. "Sir," said Sir Galahad, "can you +tell me the marvel of the shield?" "Sir," said the white knight, +"that shield belonged of old to the gentle knight, Joseph of +Arimathea; and when he came to die he said, 'Never shall man bear +this shield about his neck but he shall repent it, unto the time +that Sir Galahad the good knight bear it, the last of my lineage, +the which shall do many marvellous deeds.'" And then the white +knight vanished away. + +SIR GAWAIN + +After Sir Gawain departed, he rode many days, both toward and +forward, and at last he came to the abbey where Sir Galahad took +the white shield. And they told Sir Gawain of the marvellous +adventure that Sir Galahad had done. "Truly," said Sir Gawain, "I +am not happy that I took not the way that he went, for, if I may +meet with him, I will not part from him lightly, that I may +partake with him all the marvellous adventures which he shall +achieve." "Sir," said one of the monks, "he will not be of your +fellowship." "Why?" said Sir Gawain. "Sir," said he, "because ye +be sinful, and he is blissful." Then said the monk, "Sir Gawain, +thou must do penance for thy sins." "Sir, what penance shall I +do?" "Such as I will show," said the good man. "Nay," said Sir +Gawain, "I will do no penance, for we knights adventurous often +suffer great woe and pain." "Well," said the good man; and he held +his peace. And Sir Gawain departed. + +Now it happened, not long after this, that Sir Gawain and Sir +Hector rode together, and they came to a castle where was a great +tournament. And Sir Gawain and Sir Hector joined themselves to the +party that seemed the weaker, and they drove before them the other +party. Then suddenly came into the lists a knight, bearing a white +shield with a red cross, and by adventure he came by Sir Gawain, +and he smote him so hard that he clave his helm and wounded his +head, so that Sir Gawain fell to the earth. When Sir Hector saw +that, he knew that the knight with the white shield was Sir +Galahad, and he thought it no wisdom to abide him, and also for +natural love, that he was his uncle. Then Sir Galahad retired +privily, so that none knew where he had gone. And Sir Hector +raised up Sir Gawain, and said, "Sir, me seemeth your quest is +done." "It is done," said Sir Gawain; "I shall seek no further." +Then Gawain was borne into the castle, and unarmed, and laid in a +rich bed, and a leech found to search his wound. And Sir Gawain +and Sir Hector abode together, for Sir Hector would not away till +Sir Gawain were whole. + + + + + +CHAPTER XX + +THE SANGREAL (Continued) + +SIR LAUNCELOT + + +Sir Launcelot rode overthwart and endlong in a wide forest, and +held no path but as wild adventure lee him. + + "My golden spurs now bring to me, + And bring to me my richest mail, + For to-morrow I go over land and sea + In search of the Holy, Holy Grail + + Shall never a bed for me be spread, + Nor shall a pillow be under my head, + Till I begin my vow to keep. + Here on the rushes will I sleep, + And perchance there may come a vision true + Ere day create the world anew" + + --Lowell's Holy Grail. + +And at last he came to a stone cross. Then Sir Launcelot looked +round him, and saw an old chapel. So he tied his horse to a tree, +and put off his shield, and hung it upon a tree; and then he went +into the chapel, and looked through a place where the wall was +broken. And within he saw a fair altar, full richly arrayed with +cloth of silk; and there stood a fair candlestick, which bare six +great candles, and the candlestick was of silver. When Sir +Launcelot saw this sight, he had a great wish to enter the chapel, +but he could find no place where he might enter. Then was he +passing heavy and dismayed. And he returned and came again to his +horse, and took off his saddle and his bridle, and let him +pasture; and unlaced his helm, and ungirded his sword, and laid +him down to sleep upon his shield before the cross. + +And as he lay, half waking and half sleeping, he saw come by him +two palfreys, both fair and white, which bare a litter, on which +lay a sick knight. And when he was nigh the cross, he there abode +still. And Sir Launcelot heard him say, "O sweet Lord, when shall +this sorrow leave me, and when shall the holy vessel come by me +whereby I shall be healed?" And thus a great while complained the +knight, and Sir Launcelot heard it. Then Sir Launcelot saw the +candlestick, with the lighted tapers, come before the cross, but +he could see nobody that brought it. Also there came a salver of +silver and the holy vessel of the Sangreal; and therewithal the +sick knight sat him upright, and held up both his hands, and said, +"Fair, sweet Lord, which is here within the holy vessel, take heed +to me, that I may be whole of this great malady." And therewith, +upon his hands and upon his knees, he went so nigh that he touched +the holy vessel and kissed it. And anon he was whole. Then the +holy vessel went into the chapel again, with the candlestick and +the light, so that Sir Launcelot wist not what became of it. + +Then the sick knight rose up and kissed the cross; and anon his +squire brought him his arms and asked his lord how he did. "I +thank God right heartily," said he, "for, through the holy vessel, +I am healed. But I have great marvel of this sleeping knight, who +hath had neither grace nor power to awake during the time that the +holy vessel hath been here present." "I dare it right well say," +said the squire, "that this same knight is stained with some +manner of deadly sin, whereof he was never confessed." So they +departed. + +Then anon Sir Launcelot waked, and set himself upright, and +bethought him of what he had seen and whether it were dreams or +not. And he was passing heavy, and wist not what to do. And he +said: "My sin and my wretchedness hath brought me into great +dishonor. For when I sought worldly adventures and worldly +desires, I ever achieved them, and had the better in every place, +and never was I discomfited in any quarrel, were it right or +wrong. And now I take upon me the adventure of holy things, I see +and understand that mine old sin hindereth me, so that I had no +power to stir nor to speak when the holy blood appeared before +me." So thus he sorrowed till it was day, and heard the fowls of +the air sing. Then was he somewhat comforted. + +Then he departed from the cross into the forest. And there he +found a hermitage, and a hermit therein, who was going to mass. So +when mass was done Sir Launcelot called the hermit to him, and +prayed him for charity to hear his confession. "With a good will," +said the good man. And then he told that good man all his life, +and how he had loved a queen unmeasurably many years. "And all my +great deeds of arms that I have done I did the most part for the +queen's sake, and for her sake would I do battle, were it right or +wrong, and never did I battle all only for God's sake, but for to +win worship, and to cause me to be better beloved; and little or +naught I thanked God for it. I pray you counsel me." + +"I will counsel you," said the hermit, "if ye will insure me that +ye will never come in that queen's fellowship as much as ye may +forbear." And then Sir Launcelot promised the hermit, by his +faith, that he would no more come in her company. "Look that your +heart and your mouth accord," said the good man, "and I shall +insure you that ye shall have more worship than ever ye had." + +Then the good man enjoined Sir Launcelot such penance as he might +do, and he assailed Sir Launcelot and made him abide with him all +that day. And Sir Launcelot repented him greatly. + +SIR PERCEVAL + +Sir Perceval departed and rode till the hour of noon; and he met +in a valley about twenty men of arms. And when they saw Sir +Perceval, they asked him whence he was; and he answered: "Of the +court of King Arthur." Then they cried all at once, "Slay him." +But Sir Perceval smote the first to the earth, and his horse upon +him. Then seven of the knights smote upon his shield all at once, +and the remnant slew his horse, so that he fell to the earth. So +had they slain him or taken him, had not the good knight Sir +Galahad, with the red cross, come there by adventure. And when he +saw all the knights upon one, he cried out, "Save me that knight's +life." Then he rode toward the twenty men of arms as fast as his +horse might drive, with his spear in the rest, and smote the +foremost horse and man to the earth. And when his spear was +broken, he set his hand to his sword, and smote on the right hand +and on the left, that it was marvel to see; and at every stroke he +smote down one, or put him to rebuke, so that they would fight no +more, but fled to a thick forest, and Sir Galahad followed them. +And when Sir Perceval saw him chase them so, he made great sorrow +that his horse was slain. And he wist well it was Sir Galahad. +Then he cried aloud, "Ah, fair knight, abide, and suffer me to do +thanks unto thee; for right well have ye done for me." But Sir +Galahad rode so fast that at last he passed out of his sight. When +Sir Perceval saw that he would not turn, he said, "Now am I a very +wretch, and most unhappy above all other knights." So in his +sorrow he abode all that day till it was night; and then he was +faint, and laid him down and slept till midnight; and then he +awaked and saw before him a woman, who said unto him, "Sir +Perceval, what dost thou here?" He answered, "I do neither good, +nor great ill." "If thou wilt promise me," said she, "that thou +wilt fulfil my will when I summon thee, I will lend thee my own +horse, which shall bear thee whither thou wilt." Sir Perceval was +glad of her proffer, and insured her to fulfil all her desire. +"Then abide me here, and I will go fetch you a horse." And so she +soon came again, and brought a horse with her that was inky black. +When Perceval beheld that horse he marvelled, it was so great and +so well apparelled. And he leapt upon him and took no heed of +himself. And he thrust him with his spurs, and within an hour and +less he bare him four days' journey thence, until he came to a +rough water, which roared, and his horse would have borne him into +it. And when Sir Perceval came nigh the brim and saw the water so +boisterous he doubted to overpass it. And then he made the sign of +the cross on his forehead. When the fiend felt him so charged, he +shook off Sir Perceval, and went into the water crying and +roaring; and it seemed unto him that the water burned. Then Sir +Perceval perceived it was a fiend that would have brought him unto +his perdition. Then he commended himself unto God, and prayed our +Lord to keep him from all such temptations; and so he prayed all +that night till it was day. Then he saw that he was in a wild +place, that was closed with the sea nigh all about. And Sir +Perceval looked forth over the sea, and saw a ship come sailing +towards him; and it came and stood still under the rock. And when +Sir Perceval saw this, he hied him thither, and found the ship +covered with silk; and therein was a lady of great beauty, and +clothed so richly that none might be better. + +And when she saw Sir Perceval, she saluted him, and Sir Perceval +returned her salutation. Then he asked her of her country and her +lineage. And she said, "I am a gentlewoman that am disinherited, +and was once the richest woman of the world." "Damsel," said Sir +Perceval, "who hath disinherited you? for I have great pity of +you." "Sir," said she, "my enemy is a great and powerful lord, and +aforetime he made much of me, so that of his favor and of my +beauty I had a little pride more than I ought to have had. Also I +said a word that pleased him not. So he drove me from his company +and from mine heritage. Therefore I know no good knight nor good +man, but I get him on my side if I may. And for that I know that +thou art a good knight, I beseech thee to help me." + +Then Sir Perceval promised her all the help that he might, and she +thanked him. + +And at that time the weather was hot, and she called to her a +gentlewoman, and bade her bring forth a pavilion. And she did so, +and pitched it upon the gravel. "Sir," said she, "now may ye rest +you in this heat of the day." Then he thanked her, and she put off +his helm and his shield, and there he slept a great while. Then he +awoke, and asked her if she had any meat, and she said yea, and so +there was set upon the table all manner of meats that he could +think on. Also he drank there the strongest wine that ever he +drank, and therewith he was a little chafed more than he ought to +be. With that he beheld the lady, and he thought she was the +fairest creature that ever he saw. And then Sir Perceval proffered +her love, and prayed her that she would be his. Then she refused +him in a manner, for the cause he should be the more ardent on +her, and ever he ceased not to pray her of love. And when she saw +him well enchafed, then she said, "Sir Perceval, wit you well I +shall not give ye my love, unless you swear from henceforth you +will be my true servant, and do no thing but that I shall command +you. Will you insure me this, as ye be a true knight?" "Yea," said +he, "fair lady, by the faith of my body." And as he said this, by +adventure and grace, he saw his sword lie on the ground naked, in +whose pommel was a red cross, and the sign of the crucifix +thereon. Then he made the sign of the cross on his forehead, and +therewith the pavilion shrivelled up, and changed into a smoke and +a black cloud. And the damsel cried aloud, and hasted into the +ship, and so she went with the wind roaring and yelling that it +seemed all the water burned after her. Then Sir Perceval made +great sorrow, and called himself a wretch, saying, "How nigh was I +lost!" Then he took his arms, and departed thence. + + + + + +CHAPTER XXI + +THE SANGREAL (Continued) + +SIR BOHORT + + +When Sir Boliort departed from Camelot he met with a religious +man, riding upon an ass; and Sir Bohort saluted him. "What are +ye?" said the good man. "Sir," said Sir Bohort, "I am a knight +that fain would be counselled in the quest of the Sangreal." So +rode they both together till they came to a hermitage; and there +he prayed Sir Bohort to dwell that night with him. So he alighted, +and put away his armor, and prayed him that he might be confessed. +And they went both into the chapel, and there he was clean +confessed. And they ate bread and drank water together. "Now," +said the good man, "I pray thee that thou eat none other till thou +sit at the table where the Sangreal shall be." "Sir," said Sir +Bohort, "but how know ye that I shall sit there?" "Yea," said the +good man, "that I know well; but there shall be few of your +fellows with you." Then said Sir Bohort, "I agree me thereto" And +the good man when he had heard his confession found him in so pure +a life and so stable that he marvelled thereof. + +On the morrow, as soon as the day appeared, Sir Bohort departed +thence, and rode into a forest unto the hour of midday. And there +befell him a marvellous adventure. For he met, at the parting of +two ways, two knights that led Sir Lionel, his brother, all naked, +bound upon a strong hackney, and his hands bound before his +breast; and each of them held in his hand thorns wherewith they +went beating him, so that he was all bloody before and behind; but +he said never a word, but, as he was great of heart, he suffered +all that they did to him as though he had felt none anguish. Sir +Bohort prepared to rescue his brother. But he looked on the other +side of him, and saw a knight dragging along a fair gentlewoman, +who cried out, "Saint Mary! succor your maid!" And when she saw +Sir Bohort, she called to him, and said, "By the faith that ye owe +to knighthood, help me!" When Sir Bohort heard her say thus he had +such sorrow that he wist not what to do. "For if I let my brother +be he must be slain, and that would I not for all the earth; and +if I help not the maid I am shamed for ever." Then lift he up his +eyes and said, weeping, "Fair Lord, whose liegeman I am, keep Sir +Lionel, my brother, that none of these knights slay him, and for +pity of you, and our Lady's sake, I shall succor this maid." + +Then he cried out to the knight, "Sir knight, lay your hand off +that maid, or else ye be but dead." Then the knight set down the +maid, and took his shield, and drew out his sword. And Sir Bohort +smote him so hard that it went through his shield and habergeon, +on the left shoulder, and he fell down to the earth. Then came Sir +Bohort to the maid, "Ye be delivered of this knight this time." +"Now," said she, "I pray you lead me there where this knight took +me." "I shall gladly do it," said Sir Bohort. So he took the horse +of the wounded knight, and set the gentlewoman upon it, and +brought her there where she desired to be. And there he found +twelve knights seeking after her; and when she told them how Sir +Bohort had delivered her, they made great joy, and besought him to +come to her father, a great lord, and he should be right welcomed. +"Truly," said Sir Bohort, "that may not be; for I have a great +adventure to do." So he commended them to God and departed. + +Then Sir Bohort rode after Sir Lionel, his brother, by the trace +of their horses. Thus he rode seeking, a great while. Then he +overtook a man clothed in a religious clothing, who said, "Sir +Knight, what seek ye?" "Sir," said Sir Bohort, "I seek my brother, +that I saw within a little space beaten of two knights." "Ah, Sir +Bohort, trouble not thyself to seek for him, for truly he is +dead." Then he showed him a new-slain body, lying in a thick bush; +and it seemed him that it was the body of Sir Lionel. And then he +made such sorrow that he fell to the ground in a swoon, and lay +there long. And when he came to himself again, he said, "Fair +brother, since the fellowship of you and me is sundered, shall I +never have joy again; and now He that I have taken for my Master, +He be my help!" And when he had said thus he took up the body in +his arms, and put it upon the horse. And then he said to the man, +"Canst thou tell me the way to some chapel, where I may bury this +body?" "Come on," said the man, "here is one fast by." And so they +rode till they saw a fair tower, and beside it a chapel. Then they +alighted both, and put the body into a tomb of marble. + +Then Sir Bohort commended the good man unto God, and departed. And +he rode all that day, and harbored with an old lady. And on the +morrow he rode unto the castle in a valley, and there he met with +a yeoman. "Tell me," said Sir Bohort, "knowest thou of any +adventure?" "Sir," said he, "here shall be, under this castle, a +great and marvellous tournament." Then Sir Bohort thought to be +there, if he might meet with any of the fellowship that were in +quest of the Sangreal; so he turned to a hermitage that was on the +border of the forest. And when he was come hither, he found there +Sir Lionel his brother, who sat all armed at the entry of the +chapel door. And when Sir Bohort saw him, he had great joy, and he +alighted off his horse, and said. "Fair brother, when came ye +hither?" As soon as Sir Lionel saw him he said, "Ah, Sir Bohort, +make ye no false show, for, as for you, I might have been slain, +for ye left me in peril of death to go succor a gentlewoman; and +for that misdeed I now assure you but death, for ye have right +well deserved it." When Sir Bohort perceived his brother's wrath +he kneeled down to the earth and cried him mercy, holding up both +his hands, and prayed him to forgive him. "Nay," said Sir Lionel, +"thou shalt have but death for it, if I have the upper hand; +therefore leap upon thy horse and keep thyself, and if thou do not +I will run upon thee there as thou standest on foot, and so the +shame shall be mine, and the harm thine, but of that I reck not." +When Sir Bohort saw that he must fight with his brother or else +die, he wist not what to do. Then his heart counselled him not so +to do, inasmuch as Sir Lionel was his elder brother, wherefore he +ought to bear him reverence. Yet kneeled he down before Sir +Lionel's horse's feet, and said, "Fair brother, have mercy upon me +and slay me not." But Sir Lionel cared not, for the fiend had +brought him in such a will that he should slay him. When he saw +that Sir Bohort would not rise to give him battle, he rushed over +him, so that he smote him with his horse's feet to the earth, and +hurt him sore, that he swooned of distress. When Sir Lionel saw +this he alighted from his horse for to have smitten off his head; +and so he took him by the helm, and would have rent it from his +head. But it happened that Sir Colgrevance, a knight of the Round +Table, came at that time thither, as it was our Lord's will; and +then he beheld how Sir Lionel would have slain his brother, and he +knew Sir Bohort, whom he loved right well. + +Then leapt he down from his horse and took Sir Lionel by the +shoulders, and drew him strongly back from Sir Bohort, and said, +"Sir Lionel, will ye slay your brother?" "Why," said Sir Lionel, +"will ye stay me? If ye interfere in this I will slay you, and him +after." Then he ran upon Sir Bohort, and would have smitten him; +but Sir Colgrevance ran between them, and said, "If ye persist to +do so any more, we two shall meddle together." Then Sir Lionel +defied him, and gave him a great stroke through the helm. Then he +drew his sword, for he was a passing good knight, and defended +himself right manfully. So long endured the battle, that Sir +Bohort rose up all anguishly, and beheld Sir Colgrevance, the good +knight, fight with his brother for his quarrel. Then was he full +sorry and heavy, and thought that if Sir Colgrevance slew him that +was his brother he should never have joy, and if his brother slew +Sir Colgrevance the shame should ever be his. + +Then would he have risen for to have parted them, but he had not +so much strength to stand on his feet; so he staid so long that +Sir Colgrevance had the worse; for Sir Lionel was of great +chivalry and right hardy. Then cried Sir Colgrevance, "Ah, Sir +Bohort, why come ye not to bring me out of peril of death, wherein +I have put me to succor you?" With that, Sir Lionel smote off his +helm and bore him to the earth. And when he had slain Sir +Colgrevance he ran upon his brother as a fiendly man, and gave him +such a stroke that he made him stoop. And he that was full of +humility prayed him, "for God's sake leave this battle, for if it +befell, fair brother, that I slew you, or ye me, we should be dead +of that sin." "Pray ye not me for mercy," said Sir Lionel. Then +Sir Bohort, all weeping, drew his sword, and said, "Now God have +mercy upon me, though I defend my life against my brother." With +that Sir Bohort lifted up his sword, and would have smitten his +brother. Then he heard a voice that said, "Flee, Sir Bohort, and +touch him not." Right so alighted a cloud between them, in the +likeness of a fire and a marvellous flame, so that they both fell +to the earth, and lay there a great while in a swoon. And when +they came to themselves, Sir Bohort saw that his brother had no +harm; and he was right glad, for he dread sore that God had taken +vengeance upon him. Then Sir Lionel said to his brother, "Brother, +forgive me, for God's sake, all that I have trespassed against +you." And Sir Bohort answered, "God forgive it thee, and I do." + +With that Sir Bohort heard a voice say, "Sir Bohort, take thy way +anon, right to the sea, for Sir Perceval abideth thee there." So +Sir Bohort departed, and rode the nearest way to the sea. And at +last he came to an abbey that was nigh the sea. That night he +rested him there, and in his sleep there came a voice unto him and +bade him go to the sea-shore. He started up, and made a sign of +the cross on his forehead, and armed himself, and made ready his +horse and mounted him, and at a broken wall he rode out, and came +to the sea-shore. And there he found a ship, covered all with +white samite. And he entered into the ship; but it was anon so +dark that he might see no man, and he laid him down and slept till +it was day. Then he awaked, and saw in the middle of the ship a +knight all armed, save his helm. And then he knew it was Sir +Perceval de Galis, and each made of other right great joy. Then +said Sir Perceval, "We lack nothing now but the good knight Sir +Galahad." + +SIR LAUNCELOT (Resumed) + +It befell upon a night Sir Launcelot arrived before a castle, +which was rich and fair. And there was a postern that was opened +toward the sea, and was open without any keeping, save two lions +kept the entry; and the moon shined clear. Anon Sir Launcelot +heard a voice that said, "Launcelot, enter into the castle, where +thou shalt see a great part of thy desire." So he went unto the +gate, and saw the two lions; then he set hands to his sword, and +drew it. Then there came suddenly as it were a stroke upon the +arm, so sore that the sword fell out of his hand, and he heard a +voice that said, "O man of evil faith, wherefore believest thou +more in thy armor than in thy Maker?" Then said Sir Launcelot, +"Fair Lord, I thank thee of thy great mercy, that thou reprovest +me of my misdeed; now see I well that thou holdest me for thy +servant." Then he made a cross on his forehead, and came to the +lions; and they made semblance to do him harm, but he passed them +without hurt, and entered into the castle, and he found no gate +nor door but it was open. But at the last he found a chamber +whereof the door was shut; and he set his hand thereto, to have +opened it, but he might not. Then he listened, and heard a voice +which sung so sweetly that it seemed none earthly thing; and the +voice said, "Joy and honor be to the Father of heaven." Then Sir +Launcelot kneeled down before the chamber, for well he wist that +there was the Sangreal in that chamber. Then said he, "Fair, sweet +Lord, if ever I did anything that pleased thee, for thy pity show +me something of that which I seek." And with that he saw the +chamber door open, and there came out a great clearness, that the +house was as bright as though all the torches of the world had +been there. So he came to the chamber door, and would have +entered; and anon a voice said unto him, "Stay, Sir Launcelot, and +enter not." And he withdrew him back, and was right heavy in his +mind. Then looked he in the midst of the chamber, and saw a table +of silver, and the holy vessel, covered with red samite, and many +angels about it; whereof one held a candle of wax burning, and +another held a cross, and the ornaments of the altar. + + "O, yet methought I saw the Holy Grail, + All pall'd in crimson samite, and around + Great angels, awful shapes, and wings and eyes" + + --The Holy Grail. + +Then for very wonder and thankfulness Sir Launcelot forgot himself +and he stepped forward and entered the chamber. And suddenly a +breath that seemed intermixed with fire smote him so sore in the +visage that therewith he fell to the ground, and had no power to +rise. Then felt he many hands about him, which took him up and +bare him out of the chamber, without any amending of his swoon, +and left him there, seeming dead to all the people. So on the +morrow, when it was fair daylight, and they within were arisen, +they found Sir Launcelot lying before the chamber door. And they +looked upon him and felt his pulse, to know if there were any life +in him. And they found life in him, but he might neither stand nor +stir any member that he had. So they took him and bare him into a +chamber, and laid him upon a bed, far from all folk, and there he +lay many days. Then the one said he was alive, and the others said +nay. But said an old man, "He is as full of life as the mightiest +of you all, and therefore I counsel you that he be well kept till +God bring him back again." And after twenty-four days he opened +his eyes; and when he saw folk he made great sorrow, and said, +"Why have ye wakened me? for I was better at ease than I am now." +"What have ye seen?" said they about him. "I have seen," said he, +"great marvels that no tongue can tell, and more than any heart +can think." Then they said, "Sir, the quest of the Sangreal is +achieved right now in you, and never shall ye see more of it than +ye have seen." "I thank God," said Sir Launcelot, "of his great +mercy, for that I have seen, for it sufficeth me." Then he rose up +and clothed himself; and when he was so arrayed they marvelled +all, for they knew it was Sir Launcelot the good knight. And after +four days he took his leave of the lord of the castle, and of all +the fellowship that were there, and thanked them for their great +labor and care of him. Then he departed, and turned to Camelot, +where he found King Arthur and Queen Guenever; but many of the +knights of the Round Table were slain and destroyed, more than +half. Then all the court was passing glad of Sir Launcelot; and he +told the king all his adventures that had befallen him since he +departed. + +SIR GALAHAD + +Now, when Sir Galahad had rescued Perceval from the twenty +knights, he rode into a vast forest, wherein he abode many days. +Then he took his way to the sea, and it befell him that he was +benighted in a hermitage. And the good man was glad when he saw he +was a knight-errant. And when they were at rest, there came a +gentlewoman knocking at the door; and the good man came to the +door to wit what she would. Then she said, "I would speak with the +knight which is with you." Then Galahad went to her, and asked her +what she would. "Sir Galahad," said she, "I will that ye arm you, +and mount upon your horse, and follow me; for I will show you the +highest adventure that ever knight saw." Then Galahad armed +himself and commended himself to God, and bade the damsel go +before, and he would follow where she led. + +So she rode as fast as her palfrey might bear her, till she came +to the sea; and there they found the ship where Sir Bohort and Sir +Perceval were, who cried from the ship, "Sir Galahad, you are +welcome; we have waited you long." And when he heard them, he +asked the damsel who they were. "Sir," said she, "leave your horse +here, and I shall leave mine, and we will join ourselves to their +company." So they entered into the ship, and the two knights +received them both with great joy. For they knew the damsel, that +she was Sir Perceval's sister. Then the wind arose and drove them +through the sea all that day and the next, till the ship arrived +between two rocks, passing great and marvellous; but there they +might not land, for there was a whirlpool; but there was another +ship, and upon it they might go without danger. "Go we thither," +said the gentlewoman, "and there we shall see adventures, for such +is our Lord's will." Then Sir Galahad blessed him, and entered +therein, and then next the gentlewoman, and then Sir Bohort and +Sir Perceval. And when they came on board they found there the +table of silver, and the Sangreal, which was covered with red +samite. And they made great reverence thereto, and Sir Galahad +prayed a long time to our Lord, that at what time he should ask to +pass out of this world he should do so; and a voice said to him, +"Galahad, thou shalt have thy request; and when thou askest the +death of thy body, thou shalt have it, and then shalt thou find +the life of thy soul." + +And anon the wind drove them across the sea, till they came to the +city of Sarras. Then took they out of the ship the table of +silver, and Sir Perceval and Sir Bohort took it before, and Sir +Galahad came behind, and right so they went to the city. And at +the gate of the city they saw an old man, a cripple. + + "And Sir Launfal said, 'I behold in thee + An image of Him who died on the tree + Thou also hast had thy crown of thorns, + Thou also hast had the world's buffets and scorns; + And to thy life were not denied + The wounds in thy hands and feet and side + Mild Mary's son, acknowledge me; + Behold, through Him I give to thee!'" + + --Lowell's Holy Grail. + +Then Galahad called him, and bade him help to bear this heavy +thing. "Truly," said the old man, "it is ten years since I could +not go but with crutches." "Care thou not," said Sir Galahad, "but +arise up, and show thy good will." Then the old man rose up, and +assayed, and found himself as whole as ever he was; and he ran to +the table, and took one part with Sir Galahad. + +When they came to the city it chanced that the king was just dead, +and all the city was dismayed, and wist not who might be their +king. Right so, as they were in counsel, there came a voice among +them, and bade them choose the youngest knight of those three to +be their king. So they made Sir Galahad king, by all the assent of +the city. And when he was made king, he commanded to make a chest +of gold and of precious stones to hold the holy vessel. And every +day the three companions would come before it and make their +prayers. + +Now at the year's end, and the same day of the year that Sir +Galahad received the crown, he got up early, and, with his +fellows, came to where the holy vessel was; and they saw one +kneeling before it that had about him a great fellowship of +angels; and he called Sir Galahad, and said, "Come, thou servant +of the Lord, and thou shalt see what thou hast much desired to +see." And Sir Galahad's mortal flesh trembled right hard when he +began to behold the spiritual things. Then said the good man, "Now +wottest thou who I am?" "Nay," said Sir Galahad. "I am Joseph of +Arimathea, whom our Lord hath sent here to thee, to bear thee +fellowship." Then Sir Galahad held up his hands toward heaven, and +said, "Now, blessed Lord, would I not longer live, if it might +please thee." And when he had said these words, Sir Galahad went +to Sir Perceval and to Sir Bohort and kissed them, and commended +them to God. And then he kneeled down before the table, and made +his prayers, and suddenly his soul departed, and a great multitude +of angels bare his soul up to heaven, so as the two fellows could +well behold it. Also they saw come from heaven a hand, but they +saw not the body; and the hand came right to the vessel and bare +it up to heaven. Since then was there never one so hardy as to say +that he had seen the Sangreal on earth any more. + + + + + +CHAPTER XXII + +SIR AGRIVAIN'S TREASON + + +When Sir Perceval and Sir Bohort saw Sir Galahad dead they made as +much sorrow as ever did two men. And if they had not been good men +they might have fallen into despair. As soon as Sir Galahad was +buried Sir Perceval retired to a hermitage out of the city, and +took a religious clothing; and Sir Bohort was always with him, but +did not change his secular clothing, because he purposed to return +to the realm of Loegria. Thus a year and two months lived Sir +Perceval in the hermitage a full holy life, and then passed out of +this world, and Sir Bohort buried him by his sister and Sir +Galahad. Then Sir Bohort armed himself and departed from Sarras, +and entered into a ship, and sailed to the kingdom of Loegria, and +in due time arrived safe at Camelot, where the king was. Then was +there great joy made of him in the whole court, for they feared he +had been dead. Then the king made great clerks to come before him, +that they should chronicle of the high adventures of the good +knights. And Sir Bohort told him of the adventures that had +befallen him, and his two fellows, Sir Perceval and Sir Galahad. +And Sir Launcelot told the adventures of the Sangreal that he had +seen. All this was made in great books, and put up in the church +at Salisbury. + +So King Arthur and Queen Guenever made great joy of the remnant +that were come home, and chiefly of Sir Launcelot and Sir Bohort. +Then Sir Launcelot began to resort unto Queen Guenever again, and +forgot the promise that he made in the quest: so that many in the +court spoke of it, and in especial Sir Agrivain, Sir Gawain's +brother, for he was ever open-mouthed. So it happened Sir Gawain +and all his brothers were in King Arthur's chamber, and then Sir +Agrivain said thus openly, "I marvel that we all are not ashamed +to see and to know so noble a knight as King Arthur so to be +shamed by the conduct of Sir Launcelot and the queen. "Then spoke +Sir Gawain, and said, "Brother, Sir Agrivain, I pray you and +charge you move not such matters any more before me, for be ye +assured I will not be of your counsel." "Neither will we," said +Sir Gaheris and Sir Gareth. "Then will I," said Sir Modred. "I +doubt you not," said Sir Gawain, "for to all mischief ever were ye +prone; yet I would that ye left all this, for I know what will +come of it." + + "Modred's narrow foxy face, + Heart-hiding smile, and gray persistent eye: + Henceforward, too, the Powers that tend the soul + To help it from the death that cannot die, + And save it even in extremes, began + To vex and plague." + + --Guinevere. + +"Fall of it what fall may," said Sir Agrivain, "I will disclose it +to the king." With that came to them King Arthur. "Now, brothers, +hold your peace," said Sir Gawain. "We will not," said Sir +Agrivain. Then said Sir Gawain, "I will not hear your tales nor be +of your counsel." "No more will I," said Sir Gareth and Sir +Gaheris, and therewith they departed, making great sorrow. + +Then Sir Agrivain told the king all that was said in the court of +the conduct of Sir Launcelot and the queen, and it grieved the +king very much. But he would not believe it to be true without +proof. So Sir Agrivain laid a plot to entrap Sir Launcelot and the +queen, intending to take them together unawares. Sir Agrivain and +Sir Modred led a party for this purpose, but Sir Launcelot escaped +from them, having slain Sir Agrivain and wounded Sir Modred. Then +Sir Launcelot hastened to his friends, and told them what had +happened, and withdrew with them to the forest; but he left spies +to bring him tidings of whatever might be done. + +So Sir Launcelot escaped, but the queen remained in the king's +power, and Arthur could no longer doubt of her guilt. And the law +was such in those days that they who committed such crimes, of +what estate or condition soever they were, must be burned to +death, and so it was ordained for Queen Guenever. Then said King +Arthur to Sir Gawain, "I pray you make you ready, in your best +armor, with your brethren, Sir Gaheris and Sir Gareth, to bring my +queen to the fire, there to receive her death." "Nay, my most +noble lord," said Sir Gawain, "that will I never do; for know thou +well, my heart will never serve me to see her die, and it shall +never be said that I was of your counsel in her death." Then the +king commanded Sir Gaheris and Sir Gareth to be there, and they +said, "We will be there, as ye command us, sire, but in peaceable +wise, and bear no armor upon us." + +So the queen was led forth, and her ghostly father was brought to +her to shrive her, and there was weeping and wailing of many lords +and ladies. And one went and told Sir Launcelot that the queen was +led forth to her death. Then Sir Launcelot and the knights that +were with him fell upon the troop that guarded the queen, and +dispersed them, and slew all who withstood them. And in the +confusion Sir Gareth and Sir Gaheris were slain, for they were +unarmed and defenceless. And Sir Launcelot carried away the queen +to his castle of La Joyeuse Garde. + +Then there came one to Sir Gawain and told him how that Sir +Launcelot had slain the knights and carried away the queen. "O +Lord, defend my brethren!" said Sir Gawain. "Truly," said the man, +"Sir Gareth and Sir Gaheris are slain." "Alas!" said Sir Gawain, +"now is my joy gone." And then he fell down and swooned, and long +he lay there as he had been dead. + +When he arose out of his swoon Sir Gawain ran to the king, crying, +"O King Arthur, mine uncle, my brothers are slain." Then the king +wept and he both. "My king, my lord, and mine uncle," said Sir +Gawain, "bear witness now that I make you a promise that I shall +hold by my knighthood, and from this day I will never fail Sir +Launcelot until the one of us have slain the other. I will seek +Sir Launcelot throughout seven kings' realms, but I shall slay him +or he shall slay me." "Ye shall not need to seek him," said the +king, "for as I hear, Sir Launcelot will abide me and you in the +Joyeuse Garde; and much people draweth unto him, as I hear say." +"That may I believe," said Sir Gawain; "but, my lord, summon your +friends, and I will summon mine." "It shall be done," said the +king. So then the king sent letters and writs throughout all +England, both in the length and breadth, to summon all his +knights. And unto Arthur drew many knights, dukes, and earls, so +that he had a great host. Thereof heard Sir Launcelot, and +collected all whom he could; and many good knights held with him, +both for his sake and for the queen's sake. But King Arthur's host +was too great for Sir Launcelot to abide him in the field; and he +was full loath to do battle against the king. So Sir Launcelot +drew him to his strong castle, with all manner of provisions. Then +came King Arthur with Sir Gawain, and laid siege all about La +Joyeuse Garde, both the town and the castle; but in no wise would +Sir Launcelot ride out of his castle, neither suffer any of his +knights to issue out, until many weeks were past. + +Then it befell upon a day in harvest-time, Sir Launcelot looked +over the wall, and spoke aloud to King Arthur and Sir Gawain, "My +lords both, all is in vain that ye do at this siege, for here ye +shall win no worship, but only dishonor; for if I list to come +out, and my good knights, I shall soon make an end of this war." +"Come forth," said Arthur, "if thou darest, and I promise thee I +shall meet thee in the midst of the field." "God forbid me," said +Sir Launcelot, "that I should encounter with the most noble king +that made me knight." "Fie upon thy fair language," said the king, +"for know thou well I am thy mortal foe, and ever will be to my +dying day." And Sir Gawain said, "What cause hadst thou to slay my +brother, Sir Gaheris, who bore no arms against thee, and Sir +Gareth, whom thou madest knight, and who loved thee more than all +my kin? Therefore know thou well I shall make war to thee all the +while that I may live." + +When Sir Bohort, and Sir Hector de Marys, and Sir Lionel heard +this outcry, they called to them Sir Palamedes, and Sir Saffire +his brother, and Sir Lawayn, with many more, and all went to Sir +Launcelot. And they said, "My lord, Sir Launcelot, we pray you, if +you will have our service keep us no longer within these walls, +for know well all your fair speech and forbearance will not avail +you." "Alas!" said Sir Launcelot, "to ride forth and to do battle +I am full loath." Then he spake again unto the king and Sir +Gawain, and willed them to keep out of the battle; but they +despised his words. So then Sir Launcelot's fellowship came out of +the castle in full good array. And always Sir Launcelot charged +all his knights, in any wise, to save King Arthur and Sir Gawain. + +Then came forth Sir Gawain from the king's host and offered +combat, and Sir Lionel encountered with him, and there Sir Gawain +smote Sir Lionel through the body, that he fell to the earth as if +dead. Then there began a great conflict, and much people were +slain; but ever Sir Launcelot did what he might to save the people +on King Arthur's party, and ever King Arthur followed Sir +Launcelot to slay him; but Sir Launcelot suffered him, and would +not strike again. Then Sir Bohort encountered with King Arthur, +and smote him down; and he alighted and drew his sword, and said +to Sir Launcelot, "Shall I make an end of this war?" for he meant +to have slain King Arthur. "Not so," said Sir Launcelot, "touch +him no more, for I will never see that most noble king that made +me knight either slain or shamed;" and therewith Sir Launcelot +alighted off his horse, and took up the king, and horsed him +again, and said thus: "My lord Arthur, for God's love, cease this +strife." And King Arthur looked upon Sir Launcelot, and the tears +burst from his eyes, thinking on the great courtesy that was in +Sir Launcelot more than in any other man; and therewith the king +rode his way. Then anon both parties withdrew to repose them, and +buried the dead. + +But the war continued, and it was noised abroad through all +Christendom, and at last it was told afore the pope; and he, +considering the great goodness of King Arthur, and of Sir +Launcelot, called unto him a noble clerk, which was the Bishop of +Rochester, who was then in his dominions, and sent him to King +Arthur, charging him that he take his queen, dame Guenever, unto +him again, and make peace with Sir Launcelot. + +So, by means of this bishop, peace was made for the space of one +year; and King Arthur received back the queen, and Sir Launcelot +departed from the kingdom with all his knights, and went to his +own country. So they shipped at Cardiff, and sailed unto Benwick, +which some men call Bayonne. And all the people of those lands +came to Sir Launcelot, and received him home right joyfully. And +Sir Launcelot stablished and garnished all his towns and castles, +and he greatly advanced all his noble knights, Sir Lionel and Sir +Bohort, and Sir Hector de Marys, Sir Blamor, Sir Lawayne, and many +others, and made them lords of lands and castles; till he left +himself no more than any one of them. + + "Then Arthur made vast banquets, and strange knights + From the four winds came in: and each one sat, + Tho' served with choice from air, land, stream and sea, + Oft in mid-banquet measuring with his eyes + His neighbor's make and might." + + --Pelleas and Ettarre. + +But when the year was passed, King Arthur and Sir Gawain came with +a great host, and landed upon Sir Launcelot's lands, and burned +and wasted all that they might overrun. Then spake Sir Bohort and +said, "My lord, Sir Launcelot, give us leave to meet them in the +field, and we shall make them rue the time that ever they came to +this country." Then said Sir Launcelot, "I am full loath to ride +out with my knights for shedding of Christian blood; so we will +yet a while keep our walls, and I will send a messenger unto my +lord Arthur, to propose a treaty; for better is peace than always +war." So Sir Launcelot sent forth a damsel, and a dwarf with her, +requiring King Arthur to leave his warring upon his lands; and so +she started on a palfrey, and the dwarf ran by her side. And when +she came to the pavilion of King Arthur, she alighted, and there +met her a gentle knight, Sir Lucan, the butler, and said, "Fair +damsel, come ye from Sir Launcelot du Lac?" "Yea, sir," she said, +"I come hither to speak with the king." "Alas!" said Sir Lucan, +"my lord Arthur would be reconciled to Sir Launcelot, but Sir +Gawain will not suffer him." And with this Sir Lucan led the +damsel to the king, where he sat with Sir Gawain, to hear what she +would say. So when she had told her tale, the tears ran out of the +king's eyes; and all the lords were forward to advise the king to +be accorded with Sir Launcelot, save only Sir Gawain; and he said, +"My lord, mine uncle, what will ye do? Will you now turn back, now +you are so far advanced upon your journey? If ye do all the world +will speak shame of you." "Nay," said King Arthur, "I will do as +ye advise me; but do thou give the damsel her answer, for I may +not speak to her for pity." + +Then said Sir Gawain, "Damsel, say ye to Sir Launcelot, that it is +waste labor to sue to mine uncle for peace, and say that I, Sir +Gawain, send him word that I promise him, by the faith I owe unto +God and to knighthood, I shall never leave him till he have slain +me or I him." So the damsel returned; and when Sir Launcelot had +heard this answer the tears ran down his cheeks. + +Then it befell on a day Sir Gawain came before the gates, armed at +all points, and cried with a loud voice, "Where art thou now, thou +false traitor, Sir Launcelot? Why hidest thou thyself within holes +and walls like a coward? Look out now, thou traitor knight, and I +will avenge upon thy body the death of my three brethren." All +this language heard Sir Launcelot, and the knights which were +about him; and they said to him, "Sir Launcelot, now must ye +defend you like a knight, or else be shamed for ever, for you have +slept overlong and suffered overmuch." Then Sir Launcelot spake on +high unto King Arthur, and said, "My lord Arthur, now I have +forborne long, and suffered you and Sir Gawain to do what ye +would, and now must I needs defend myself, inasmuch as Sir Gawain +hath appealed me of treason." Then Sir Launcelot armed him and +mounted upon his horse, and the noble knights came out of the +city, and the host without stood all apart; and so the covenant +was made that no man should come near the two knights, nor deal +with them, till one were dead or yielded. + +Then Sir Launcelot and Sir Gawain departed a great way asunder, +and then they came together with all their horses' might, and each +smote the other in the middle of their shields, but neither of +them was unhorsed, but their horses fell to the earth. And then +they leapt from their horses, and drew their swords, and gave many +sad strokes, so that the blood burst out in many places. Now Sir +Gawain had this gift from a holy man, that every day in the year, +from morning to noon, his strength was increased threefold, and +then it fell again to its natural measure. Sir Launcelot was aware +of this, and therefore, during the three hours that Sir Gawain's +strength was at the height, Sir Launcelot covered himself with his +shield, and kept his might in reserve. And during that time Sir +Gawain gave him many sad brunts, that all the knights that looked +on marvelled how Sir Launcelot might endure them. Then, when it +was past noon, Sir Gawain had only his own might; and when Sir +Launcelot felt him so brought down he stretched himself up, and +doubled his strokes, and gave Sir Gawain such a buffet that he +fell down on his side; and Sir Launcelot drew back and would +strike no more. "Why withdrawest thou, false traitor?" then said +Sir Gawain; "now turn again and slay me, for if thou leave me thus +when I am whole again, I shall do battle with thee again." "I +shall endure you, sir, by God's grace," said Sir Launcelot, "but +know thou well Sir Gawain, I will never smite a felled knight." +And so Sir Launcelot went into the city, and Sir Gawain was borne +into King Arthur's pavilion, and his wounds were looked to. + +Thus the siege endured, and Sir Gawain lay helpless near a month; +and when he was near recovered came tidings unto King Arthur that +made him return with all his host to England. + + + + + +CHAPTER XXIII + +MORTE D'ARTHUR + + +Sir Modred was left ruler of all England, and he caused letters to +be written, as if from beyond sea, that King Arthur was slain in +battle. So he called a Parliament, and made himself be crowned +king; and he took the queen Guenever, and said plainly that he +would wed her, but she escaped from him and took refuge in the +Tower of London. And Sir Modred went and laid siege about the +Tower of London, and made great assaults thereat, but all might +not avail him. Then came word to Sir Modred that King Arthur had +raised the siege of Sir Launcelot, and was coming home. Then Sir +Modred summoned all the barony of the land; and much people drew +unto Sir Modred, and said they would abide with him for better and +for worse; and he drew a great host to Dover, for there he heard +say that King Arthur would arrive. + + "I hear the steps of Modred in the west, + And with him many of thy people, and knights + Once thine, whom thou hast loved, but grosser grown + Than heathen, spitting at their vows and thee" + + --The Passing of Arthur. + +And as Sir Modred was at Dover with his host, came King Arthur, +with a great number of ships and galleys, and there was Sir Modred +awaiting upon the landing. Then was there launching of great boats +and small, full of noble men of arms, and there was much slaughter +of gentle knights on both parts. But King Arthur was so +courageous, there might no manner of knights prevent him to land, +and his knights fiercely followed him; and so they landed, and put +Sir Modred aback so that he fled, and all his people. And when the +battle was done, King Arthur commanded to bury his people that +were dead. And then was noble Sir Gawain found, in a great boat, +lying more than half dead. And King Arthur went to him, and made +sorrow out of measure. "Mine uncle," said Sir Gawain, "know thou +well my death-day is come, and all is through mine own hastiness +and wilfulness, for I am smitten upon the old wound which Sir +Launcelot gave me, of which I feel I must die. And had Sir +Launcelot been with you as of old, this war had never begun, and +of all this I am the cause." Then Sir Gawain prayed the king to +send for Sir Launcelot, and to cherish him above all other +knights. And so at the hour of noon Sir Gawain yielded up his +spirit, and then the king bade inter him in a chapel within Dover +Castle; and there all men may see the skull of him, and the same +wound is seen that Sir Launcelot gave him in battle. + +Then was it told the king that Sir Modred had pitched his camp +upon Barrendown; and the king rode thither, and there was a great +battle betwixt them, and King Arthur's party stood best, and Sir +Modred and his party fled unto Canterbury. + +And there was a day assigned betwixt King Arthur and Sir Modred +that they should meet upon a down beside Salisbury, and not far +from the sea-side, to do battle yet again. And at night, as the +king slept, he dreamed a wonderful dream. It seemed him verily +that there came Sir Gawain unto him, with a number of fair ladies +with him. And when King Arthur saw him, he said, "Welcome, my +sister's son; I weened thou hadst been dead; and now I see thee +alive great is my joy. But, O fair nephew, what be these ladies +that hither be come with you?" "Sir," said Sir Gawain, "all these +be ladies for whom I have fought when I was a living man; and +because I did battle for them in righteous quarrel they have given +me grace to bring me hither unto you to warn you of your death, if +ye fight to-morrow with Sir Modred. Therefore take ye treaty, and +proffer you largely for a month's delay; for within a month shall +come Sir Launcelot and all his noble knights, and rescue you +worshipfully, and slay Sir Modred and all that hold with him." And +then Sir Gawain and all the ladies vanished. And anon the king +called to fetch his noble lords and wise bishops unto him. And +when they were come, the king told them his vision, and what Sir +Gawain had told him. Then the king sent Sir Lucan, the butler, and +Sir Bedivere, with two bishops, and charged them in any wise to +take a treaty for a month and a day with Sir Modred. So they +departed, and came to Sir Modred; and so, at the last, Sir Modred +was agreed to have Cornwall and Kent during Arthur's life, and all +England after his death. + + "Sir Modred; he the nearest to the king, + His nephew, ever like a subtle beast + Lay couchant with his eyes upon the throne, + Ready to spring, waiting a chance." + + --Guinevere + +Then was it agreed that King Arthur and Sir Modred should meet +betwixt both their hosts, and each of them should bring fourteen +persons, and then and there they should sign the treaty. And when +King Arthur and his knights were prepared to go forth, he warned +all his host, "If so be ye see any sword drawn, look ye come on +fiercely, and slay whomsoever withstandeth, for I in no wise trust +that traitor, Sir Modred." In like wise Sir Modred warned his +host. So they met, and were agreed and accorded thoroughly. And +wine was brought, and they drank. Right then came an adder out of +a little heath-bush, and stung a knight on the foot. And when the +knight felt him sting, he looked down and saw the adder, and then +he drew his sword to slay the adder, and thought of no other harm. +And when the host on both sides saw that sword drawn, they blew +trumpets and horns, and shouted greatly. And King Arthur took his +horse, and rode to his party, saying, "Alas, this unhappy day!" +And Sir Modred did in like wise. And never was there a more +doleful battle in Christian land. And ever King Arthur rode +throughout the battle, and did full nobly, as a worthy king +should, and Sir Modred that day did his devoir, and put himself in +great peril. And thus they fought all the long day, till the most +of all the noble knights lay dead upon the ground. Then the king +looked about him, and saw of all his host were left alive but two +knights, Sir Lucan, the butler, and Sir Bedivere, his brother, and +they were full sore wounded. Then King Arthur saw where Sir Modred +leaned upon his sword among a great heap of dead men. "Now give me +my spear," said Arthur unto Sir Lucan; "for yonder I espy the +traitor that hast wrought all this woe." "Sir, let him be," said +Sir Lucan; "for if ye pass this unhappy day, ye shall be right +well revenged upon him. Remember what the sprite of Sir Gawain +told you, and leave off now, for ye have won the field; and if ye +leave off now this evil day of destiny is past." "Betide me life, +betide me death," said King Arthur, "he shall not now escape my +hands." Then the king took his spear in both hands, and ran toward +Sir Modred, crying, "Traitor, now is thy death-day come." And +there King Arthur smote Sir Modred under the shield, with a thrust +of his spear through the body. And when Sir Modred felt that he +had his death-wound, with the might that he had he smote King +Arthur, with his sword holden in both his hands, on the side of +the head, that the sword pierced the helmet and the brain-pan; and +then Sir Modred fell stark dead upon the earth. And the noble +Arthur fell in a swoon to the earth. And Sir Lucan, the butler, +and Sir Bedivere raised him up, and gently led him betwixt them +both to a little chapel not far from the sea-side. And when the +king was there he thought him well eased. Then heard they people +cry in the field. And Sir Lucan went to see what that cry +betokened; and he saw by the moonlight that pillers and robbers +were come to rob the dead. And he returned, and said to the king, +"By my rede, it is best that we bring you to some town." "I would +it were so," said the king. And when the king tried to go he +fainted. Then Sir Lucan took up the king on the one part, and Sir +Bedivere on the other part; and in the lifting, Sir Lucan fell in +a swoon to the earth, for he was grievously wounded. And then the +noble knight's heart burst. And when the king awoke he beheld Sir +Lucan how he lay foaming at the mouth, and speechless. "Alas!" +said the king, "this is to me a full heavy sight, to see this +noble duke so die for my sake; for he would have holpen me that +had more need of help than I, and he would not complain, his heart +was so set to help me." Then Sir Bedivere wept for his brother. +"Leave this mourning and weeping," said the king, "for wilt thou +well, if I might live myself, the death of Sir Lucan would grieve +me evermore; but my time hieth fast. Therefore," said Arthur unto +Sir Bedivere, "take thou Excalibar, my good sword, and go with it +to yonder water-side; and when thou comest there I charge thee +throw my sword in that water, and come again and tell me what thou +there seest." "My lord," said Sir Bedivere, "your commandment +shall be done." So Sir Bedivere departed, and by the way he beheld +that noble sword, that the pommel and the haft were all of +precious stones; and then he said to himself, "If I throw this +rich sword into the water no good shall come thereof, but only +harm and loss." And then Sir Bedivere hid Excalibar under a tree. +And so, as soon as he might, he came again to the king. "What +sawest thou there?" said the king. "Sir," he said, "I saw +nothing." "Alas! thou hast deceived me," said the king. "Go thou +lightly again, and as thou love me, spare not to throw it in." +Then Sir Bedivere went again, and took the sword in his hand to +throw it; but again it beseemed him but sin and shame to throw +away that noble sword, and he hid it away again, and returned, and +told the king he had done his commandment. "What sawest thou +there?" said the king. "Sir," he said, "I saw nothing but waters +deep and waves wan." "Ah, traitor untrue!" said King Arthur, "now +hast thou betrayed me twice. And yet thou art named a noble +knight, and hast been lief and dear to me. But now go again, and +do as I bid thee, for thy long tarrying putteth me in jeopardy of +my life." Then Sir Bedivere went to the sword, and lightly took it +up, and went to the water-side, and he bound the girdle about the +hilt, and then he threw the sword as far into the water as he +might. And there came an arm and a hand out of the water, and met +it, and caught it, and shook it thrice and brandished it, and then +vanished away the hand with the sword in the water. + +Then Sir Bedivere came again to the king, and told him what he +saw. "Help me hence," said the king, "for I fear I have tarried +too long." Then Sir Bedivere took the king on his back, and so +went with him to that water-side; and when they came there, even +fast by the bank there rode a little barge with many fair ladies +in it, and among them was a queen; and all had black hoods, and +they wept and shrieked when they saw King Arthur. + +"Now put me in the barge," said the king. And there received him +three queens with great mourning, and in one of their laps King +Arthur laid his head. And the queen said, "Ah, dear brother, why +have ye tarried so long? Alas! this wound on your head hath caught +over-much cold." And then they rowed from the land, and Sir +Bedivere beheld them go from him. Then he cried: "Ah, my lord +Arthur, will ye leave me here alone among mine enemies?" "Comfort +thyself," said the king, "for in me is no further help; for I will +to the Isle of Avalon, to heal me of my grievous wound." And as +soon as Sir Bedivere had lost sight of the barge, he wept and +wailed; then he took the forest, and went all that night, and in +the morning he was ware of a chapel and a hermitage. + +Then went Sir Bedivere thither; and when he came into the chapel, +he saw where lay an hermit on the ground, near a tomb that was +newly graven. "Sir," said Sir Bedivere, "what man is there buried +that ye pray so near unto?" "Fair son," said the hermit, "I know +not verily. But this night there came a number of ladies, and +brought hither one dead, and prayed me to bury him." "Alas!" said +Sir Bedivere, "that was my lord, King Arthur." Then Sir Bedivere +swooned; and when he awoke he prayed the hermit he might abide +with him, to live with fasting and prayers. "Ye are welcome," said +the hermit. So there bode Sir Bedivere with the hermit; and he put +on poor clothes, and served the hermit full lowly in fasting and +in prayers. + +Thus of Arthur I find never more written in books that be +authorized, nor more of the very certainty of his death; but thus +was he led away in a ship, wherein were three queens; the one was +King Arthur's sister, Queen Morgane le Fay; the other was Viviane, +the Lady of the Lake; and the third was the queen of North Galis. +And this tale Sir Bedivere, knight of the Table Round, made to be +written. + +Yet some men say that King Arthur is not dead, but hid away into +another place, and men say that he shall come again and reign over +England. But many say that there is written on his tomb this +verse: + + "Hie facet Arthurus, Rex quondam, Rexque futurus." + Here Arthur lies, King once and King to be. + +And when Queen Guenever understood that King Arthur was slain, and +all the noble knights with him, she stole away, and five ladies +with her; and so she went to Almesbury, and made herself a nun, +and ware white clothes and black, and took great penance as ever +did sinful lady, and lived in fasting, prayers, and alms-deeds. +And there she was abbess and ruler of the nuns. + + "And when she came to Almesbury she spake + There to the nuns, and said, 'Mine enemies + Pursue me, but, O peaceful Sisterhood, + Receive, and yield me sanctuary, nor ask + Her name to whom ye yield it, till her time + To tell you;' and her beauty, grace and power + Wrought as a charm upon them, and they spared + To ask it." + + --Guinevere. + +Now turn we from her, and speak of Sir Launcelot of the Lake. + +When Sir Launcelot heard in his country that Sir Modred was +crowned king of England, and made war against his own uncle, King +Arthur, then was Sir Launcelot wroth out of measure, and said to +his kinsmen: "Alas, that double traitor, Sir Modred! now it +repenteth me that ever he escaped out of my hands." Then Sir +Launcelot and his fellows made ready in all haste, with ships and +galleys, to pass into England; and so he passed over till he came +to Dover, and there he landed with a great army. Then Sir +Launcelot was told that King Arthur was slain. "Alas!" said Sir +Launcelot, "this is the heaviest tidings that ever came to me." +Then he called the kings, dukes, barons, and knights, and said +thus: "My fair lords, I thank you all for coming into this country +with me, but we came too late, and that shall repent me while I +live. But since it is so," said Sir Launcelot, "I will myself ride +and seek my lady, Queen Guenever, for I have heard say she hath +fled into the west; therefore ye shall abide me here fifteen days, +and if I come not within that time, then take your ships and your +host, and depart into your country." + +So Sir Launcelot departed and rode westerly, and there he sought +many days; and at last he came to a nunnery, and was seen of Queen +Guenever as he walked in the cloister; and when she saw him she +swooned away. And when she might speak she bade him to be called +to her. And when Sir Launcelot was brought to her she said: "Sir +Launcelot, I require thee and beseech thee, for all the love that +ever was betwixt us, that thou never see me more, but return to +thy kingdom and take thee a wife, and live with her with joy and +bliss; and pray for me to my Lord, that I may get my soul's +health." "Nay, madam," said Sir Launcelot, "wit you well that I +shall never do; but the same destiny that ye have taken you to +will I take me unto, for to please and serve God." And so they +parted, with tears and much lamentation; and the ladies bare the +queen to her chamber, and Sir Launcelot took his horse and rode +away, weeping. + +And at last Sir Launcelot was ware of a hermitage and a chapel, +and then he heard a little bell ring to mass; and thither he rode +and alighted, and tied his horse to the gate, and heard mass. And +he that sang the mass was the hermit with whom Sir Bedivere had +taken up his abode; and Sir Bedivere knew Sir Launcelot, and they +spake together after mass. But when Sir Bedivere had told his +tale, Sir Launcelot's heart almost burst for sorrow. Then he +kneeled down, and prayed the hermit to shrive him, and besought +that he might be his brother. Then the hermit said, "I will +gladly;" and then he put a habit upon Sir Launcelot, and there he +served God day and night, with prayers and fastings. + +And the great host abode at Dover till the end of the fifteen days +set by Sir Launcelot, and then Sir Bohort made them to go home +again to their own country; and Sir Bohort, Sir Hector de Marys, +Sir Blamor, and many others, took on them to ride through all +England to seek Sir Launcelot. So Sir Bohort by fortune rode until +he came to the same chapel where Sir Launcelot was; and when he +saw Sir Launcelot in that manner of clothing he, prayed the hermit +that he might be in that same. And so there was an habit put upon +him, and there he lived in prayers and fasting. And within half a +year came others of the knights, their fellows, and took such a +habit as Sir Launcelot and Sir Bohort had. Thus they endured in +great penance six years. + +And upon a night there came a vision to Sir Launcelot, and charged +him to haste toward Almesbury, and "by the time thou come there, +thou shalt find Queen Guenever dead." Then Sir Launcelot rose up +early and told the hermit thereof. Then said the hermit, "It were +well that ye disobey not this vision." And Sir Launcelot took his +seven companions with him, and on foot they went from Glastonbury +to Almesbury, which is more than thirty miles. And when they were +come to Almesbury, they found that Queen Guenever died but half an +hour before. Then Sir Launcelot saw her visage, but he wept not +greatly, but sighed. And so he did all the observance of the +service himself, both the "dirige" at night, and at morn he sang +mass. And there was prepared an horse-bier, and Sir Launcelot and +his fellows followed the bier on foot from Almesbury until they +came to Glastonbury; and she was wrapped in cered clothes, and +laid in a coffin of marble. And when she was put in the earth Sir +Launcelot swooned, and lay long as one dead. + +And Sir Launcelot never after ate but little meat, nor drank; but +continually mourned. And within six weeks Sir Launcelot fell sick; +and he sent for the hermit and all his true fellows, and said, +"Sir hermit, I pray you give me all my rights that a Christian man +ought to have." "It shall not need," said the hermit and all his +fellows; "it is but heaviness of your blood, and to-morrow morn +you shall be well" "My fair lords," said Sir Launcelot, "my +careful body will into the earth; I have warning more than now I +will say; therefore give me my rights." So when he was houseled +and aneled, and had all that a Christian man ought to have, he +prayed the hermit that his fellows might bear his body to Joyous +Garde. (Some men say it was Alnwick, and some say it was +Bamborough.) "It repenteth me sore," said Sir Launcelot, "but I +made a vow aforetime that in Joyous Garde I would be buried." Then +there was weeping and wringing of hands among his fellows. And +that night Sir Launcelot died; and when Sir Bohort and his fellows +came to his bedside the next morning they found him stark dead; +and he lay as if he had smiled, and the sweetest savor all about +him that ever they knew. + +And they put Sir Launcelot into the same horse-bier that Queen +Guenever was laid in, and the hermit and they altogether went with +the body till they came to Joyous Garde. And there they laid his +corpse in the body of the quire, and sang and read many psalms and +prayers over him. And ever his visage was laid open and naked, +that all folks might behold him. And right thus, as they were at +their service, there came Sir Hector de Maris, that had seven +years sought Sir Launcelot, his brother, through all England, +Scotland and Wales. And when Sir Hector heard such sounds in the +chapel of Joyous Garde he alighted and came into the quire. And +all they knew Sir Hector. Then went Sir Bohort, and told him how +there lay Sir Launcelot, his brother, dead. Then Sir Hector threw +his shield, his sword, and helm from him. And when he beheld Sir +Launcelot's visage it were hard for any tongue to tell the doleful +complaints he made for his brother. "Ah, Sir Launcelot!" he said, +"there thou liest. And now I dare to say thou wert never matched +of none earthly knight's hand. And thou wert the courteousest +knight that ever bare shield; and thou wert the truest friend to +thy lover that ever bestrode horse; and thou wert the truest +lover, of a sinful man, that ever loved woman; and thou wert the +kindest man that ever struck with sword. And thou wert the +goodliest person that ever came among press of knights. And thou +wert the meekest man, and the gentlest, that ever ate in hall +among ladies. And thou wert the sternest knight to thy mortal foe +that ever put spear in the rest." Then there was weeping and dolor +out of measure. Thus they kept Sir Launcelot's corpse fifteen +days, and then they buried it with great devotion. + +Then they went back with the hermit to his hermitage. And Sir +Bedivere was there ever still hermit to his life's end. And Sir +Bohort, Sir Hector, Sir Blamor, and Sir Bleoberis went into the +Holy Land. And these four knights did many battles upon the +miscreants, the Turks; and there they died upon a Good Friday, as +it pleased God. + +Thus endeth this noble and joyous book, entitled "La Morte +d'Arthur;" notwithstanding it treateth of the birth, life, and +acts of the said King Arthur, and of his noble Knights of the +Round Table, their marvellous enquests and adventures, the +achieving of the Sangreal, and, in the end, le Morte d'Arthur, +with the dolorous death and departing out of this world of them +all. Which book was reduced into English by Sir Thomas Mallory, +Knight, and divided into twenty-one books, chaptered and imprinted +and finished in the Abbey Westmestre, the last day of July, the +year of our Lord MCCCCLXXXV. + +Caxton me fieri fecit. + + + + + +THE MABINOGEON + + + + + +INTRODUCTORY NOTE + + +It has been well known to the literati and antiquarians of Europe +that there exist in the great public libraries voluminous +manuscripts of romances and tales once popular, but which on the +invention of printing had already become antiquated, and fallen +into neglect. They were therefore never printed, and seldom +perused even by the learned, until about half a century ago, when +attention was again directed to them, and they were found very +curious monuments of ancient manners, habits, and modes of +thinking. Several have since been edited, some by individuals, as +Sir Walter Scott and the poet Southey, others by antiquarian +societies. The class of readers which could be counted on for such +publications was so small that no inducement of profit could be +found to tempt editors and publishers to give them to the world. +It was therefore only a few, and those the most accessible, which +were put in print. There was a class of manuscripts of this kind +which were known, or rather suspected, to be both curious and +valuable, but which it seemed almost hopeless to expect ever to +see in fair printed English. These were the Welsh popular tales +called Mabinogeon, a plural word, the singular being Mabinogi, a +tale. Manuscripts of these were contained in the Bodleian Library +at Oxford and elsewhere, but the difficulty was to find +translators and editors. The Welsh is a spoken language among the +peasantry of Wales, but is entirely neglected by the learned, +unless they are natives of the principality. Of the few Welsh +scholars none were found who took sufficient interest in this +branch of learning to give these productions to the English +public. Southey and Scott, and others, who like them, loved the +old romantic legends of their country, often urged upon the Welsh +literati the duty of reproducing the Mabinogeon. Southey, in the +preface of his edition of "Moted'Arthur," says: "The specimens +which I have seen are exceedingly curious; nor is there a greater +desideratum in British literature than an edition of these tales, +with a literal version, and such comments as Mr. Davies of all men +is best qualified to give. Certain it is that many of the round +table fictions originated in Wales, or in Bretagne, and probably +might still be traced there." + +Again, in a letter to Sir Charles W. W. Wynn, dated 1819, he says: + +"I begin almost to despair of ever seeing more of the Mabinogeon; +and yet if some competent Welshman could be found to edit it +carefully, with as literal a version as possible, I am sure it +might be made worth his while by a subscription, printing a small +edition at a high price, perhaps two hundred at five guineas. I +myself would gladly subscribe at that price per volume for such an +edition of the whole of your genuine remains in prose and verse. +Till some such collection is made, the 'gentlemen of Wales' ought +to be prohibited from wearing a leek; ay, and interdicted from +toasted cheese also. Your bards would have met with better usage +if they had been Scotchmen." + +Sharon Turner and Sir Walter Scott also expressed a similar wish +for the publication of the Welsh manuscripts. The former took part +in an attempt to effect it, through the instrumentality of a Mr. +Owen, a Welshman, but, we judge, by what Southey says of him, +imperfectly acquainted with English. Southey's language is +"William Owen lent me three parts of the Mabinogeon, delightfully +translated into so Welsh an idiom and syntax that such a +translation is as instructive as an original." In another letter +he adds, "Let Sharon make his language grammatical, but not alter +their idiom in the slightest point." + +It is probable Mr. Owen did not proceed far in an undertaking +which, so executed, could expect but little popular patronage. It +was not till an individual should appear possessed of the +requisite knowledge of the two languages, of enthusiasm sufficient +for the task, and of pecuniary resources sufficient to be +independent of the booksellers and of the reading public, that +such a work could be confidently expected. Such an individual has, +since Southey's day and Scott's, appeared in the person of Lady +Charlotte Guest, an English lady united to a gentleman of property +in Wales, who, having acquired the language of the principality, +and become enthusiastically fond of its literary treasures, has +given them to the English reader, in a dress which the printer's +and the engraver's arts have done their best to adorn. In four +royal octavo volumes containing the Welsh originals, the +translation, and ample illustrations from French, German, and +other contemporary and affiliated literature, the Mabinogeon is +spread before us. To the antiquarian and the student of language +and ethnology an invaluable treasure, it yet can hardly in such a +form win its way to popular acquaintance. We claim no other merit +than that of bringing it to the knowledge of our readers, of +abridging its details, of selecting its most attractive portions, +and of faithfully preserving throughout the style in which Lady +Guest has clothed her legends. For this service we hope that our +readers will confess we have laid them under no light obligation. + + + + + +CHAPTER I + +THE BRITONS + + +The earliest inhabitants of Britain are supposed to have been a +branch of that great family known in history by the designation of +Celts. Cambria, which is a frequent name for Wales, is thought to +be derived from Cymri, the name which the Welsh traditions apply +to an immigrant people who entered the island from the adjacent +continent. This name is thought to be identical with those of +Cimmerians and Cimbri, under which the Greek and Roman historians +describe a barbarous people, who spread themselves from the north +of the Euxine over the whole of Northwestern Europe. + +The origin of the names Wales and Welsh has been much canvassed. +Some writers make them a derivation from Gael or Gaul, which names +are said to signify "woodlanders;" others observe that Walsh, in +the northern languages, signifies a stranger, and that the +aboriginal Britons were so called by those who at a later era +invaded the island and possessed the greater part of it, the +Saxons and Angles. + +The Romans held Britain from the invasion of Julius Caesar till +their voluntary withdrawal from the island, A.D. 420,--that is, +about five hundred years. In that time there must have been a wide +diffusion of their arts and institutions among the natives. The +remains of roads, cities, and fortifications show that they did +much to develop and improve the country, while those of their +villas and castles prove that many of the settlers possessed +wealth and taste for the ornamental arts. Yet the Roman sway was +sustained chiefly by force, and never extended over the entire +island. The northern portion, now Scotland, remained independent, +and the western portion, constituting Wales and Cornwall, was only +nominally subjected. + +Neither did the later invading hordes succeed in subduing the +remoter sections of the island. For ages after the arrival of the +Saxons under Hengist and Horsa, A.D. 449, the whole western coast +of Britain was possessed by the aboriginal inhabitants, engaged in +constant warfare with the invaders. + +It has, therefore, been a favorite boast of the people of Wales +and Cornwall that the original British stock flourishes in its +unmixed purity only among them. We see this notion flashing out in +poetry occasionally, as when Gray, in "The Bard," prophetically +describing Queen Elizabeth, who was of the Tudor, a Welsh race, +says: + + "Her eye proclaims her of the Briton line;" + +and, contrasting the princes of the Tudor with those of the Norman +race, he exclaims: + + "All hail, ye genuine kings, Britannia's issue, hail!" + +THE WELSH LANGUAGE AND LITERATURE + +The Welsh language is one of the oldest in Europe. It possesses +poems the origin of which is referred with probability to the +sixth century. The language of some of these is so antiquated that +the best scholars differ about the interpretation of many +passages; but, generally speaking, the body of poetry which the +Welsh possess, from the year 1000 downwards, is intelligible to +those who are acquainted with the modern language. + +Till within the last half-century these compositions remained +buried in the libraries of colleges or of individuals, and so +difficult of access that no successful attempt was made to give +them to the world. This reproach was removed after ineffectual +appeals to the patriotism of the gentry of Wales, by Owen Jones, a +furrier of London, who at his own expense collected and published +the chief productions of Welsh literature, under the title of the +Myvyrian Archaeology of Wales. In this task he was assisted by Dr. +Owen and other Welsh scholars. + +After the cessation of Jones' exertions the old apathy returned, +and continued till within a few years. Dr. Owen exerted himself to +obtain support for the publication of the Mabinogeon or Prose +Tales of the Welsh, but died without accomplishing his purpose, +which has since been carried into execution by Lady Charlotte +Guest. The legends which fill the remainder of this volume are +taken from this work, of which we have already spoken more fully +in the introductory chapter to the First Part. + +THE WELSH BARDS + +The authors to whom the oldest Welsh poems are attributed are +Aneurin, who is supposed to have lived A.D. 500 to 550, and +Taliesin, Llywarch Hen (Llywarch the Aged), and Myrddin or Merlin, +who were a few years later. The authenticity of the poems which +bear their names has been assailed, and it is still an open +question how many and which of them are authentic, though it is +hardly to be doubted that some are so. The poem of Aneurin +entitled the "Gododin" bears very strong marks of authenticity. +Aneurin was one of the Northern Britons of Strath-Clyde, who have +left to that part of the district they inhabited the name of +Cumberland, or Land of the Cymri. In this poem he laments the +defeat of his countrymen by the Saxons at the battle of Cattraeth, +in consequence of having partaken too freely of the mead before +joining in combat. The bard himself and two of his fellow-warriors +were all who escaped from the field. A portion of this poem has +been translated by Gray, of which the following is an extract: + + "To Cattraeth's vale, in glittering row, + Twice two hundred warriors go; + Every warrior's manly neck + Chains of regal honor deck, + Wreathed in many a golden link; + From the golden cup they drink + Nectar that the bees produce, + Or the grape's exalted juice. + Flushed with mirth and hope they burn, + But none to Cattraeth's vale return, + Save Aeron brave, and Conan strong, + Bursting through the bloody throng, + And I, the meanest of them all, + That live to weep, and sing their fall." + +The works of Taliesin are of much more questionable authenticity. +There is a story of the adventures of Taliesin so strongly marked +with mythical traits as to cast suspicion on the writings +attributed to him. This story will be found in the subsequent +pages. + +THE TRIADS + +The Triads are a peculiar species of poetical composition, of +which the Welsh bards have left numerous examples. They are +enumerations of a triad of persons, or events, or observations, +strung together in one short sentence. This form of composition, +originally invented, in all likelihood, to assist the memory, has +been raised by the Welsh to a degree of elegance of which it +hardly at first sight appears susceptible. The Triads are of all +ages, some of them probably as old as anything in the language. +Short as they are individually, the collection in the Myvyrian +Archaeology occupies more than one hundred and seventy pages of +double columns. We will give some specimens, beginning with +personal triads, and giving the first place to one of King +Arthur's own composition: + + "I have three heroes in battle: + Mael the tall, and Llyr, with his army, + And Caradoc, the pillar of Wales." + +"The three principal bards of the island of Britain:-- + Merlin Ambrose + Merlin the son of Mprfyn, called also Merlin the Wild, + And Taliesin, the chief of the bards." + +"The three golden-tongued knights of the court of Arthur:-- + Gawain, son of Gwyar, + Drydvas, son of Tryphin, + And Ehwlod, son of Madag, ap Uther." + +"The three honorable feasts of the island of Britain:-- +The feast of Caswallaun, after repelling Julius Caesar from this + isle; +The feast of Aurelius Ambrosius, after he had conquered the + Saxons; +And the feast of King Arthur, at Carleon upon Usk." + + "Guenever, the daughter of Laodegan the giant, + Bad when little, worse when great." + +Next follow some moral triads: + + "Hast thou heard what Dremhidydd sung, + An ancient watchman on the castle walls? + A refusal is better than a promise unperformed." + + "Hast thou heard what Llenleawg sung, + The noble chief wearing the golden torques? + The grave is better than a life of want." + + "Hast thou heard what Garselit sung, + The Irishman whom it is safe to follow? + Sin is bad, if long pursued." + + "Hast thou heard what Avaon sung, + The son of Taliesin, of the recording verse? + The cheek will not conceal the anguish of the heart." + + "Didst thou hear what Llywarch sung, + The intrepid and brave old man? + Greet kindly, though there be no acquaintance." + + + + + +CHAPTER II + +THE LADY OF THE FOUNTAIN + +KYNON'S ADVENTURE + + +King Arthur was at Caerleon upon Usk; and one day he sat in his +chamber, and with him were Owain, the son of Urien, and Kynon, the +son of Clydno, and Kay, the son of Kyner, and Guenever and her +handmaidens at needlework by the window. In the centre of the +chamher King Arthur sat, upon a seat of green rushes, [Footnote: +The use of green rushes in apartments was by no means peculiar to +the court of Carleon upon Usk. Our ancestors had a great +predilection for them, and they seem to have constituted an +essential article, not only of comfort, but of luxury. The custom +of strewing the floor with rushes is well known to have existed in +England during the Middle Ages, and also in France.] over which +was spread a covering of flame-covered satin, and a cushion of red +satin was under his elbow. + +Then Arthur spoke. "If I thought you would not disparage me," said +he, "I would sleep while I wait for my repast; and you can +entertain one another with relating tales, and can obtain a flagon +of mead and some meat from Kay." And the king went to sleep. And +Kynon the son of Clydno asked Kay for that which Arthur had +promised them. "I too will have the good tale which he promised +me," said Kay. "Nay," answered Kynon; "fairer will it be for thee +to fulfil Arthur's behest in the first place, and then we will +tell thee the best tale that we know." So Kay went to the kitchen +and to the mead-cellar, and returned, bearing a flagon of mead, +and a golden goblet, and a handful of skewers, upon which were +broiled collops of meat. Then they ate the collops, and began to +drink the mead. "Now," said Kay, "it is time for you to give me my +story." "Kynon," said Owain, "do thou pay to Kay the tale that is +his due." "I will do so," answered Kynon. + +"I was the only son of my mother and father, and I was exceedingly +aspiring, and my daring was very great. I thought there was no +enterprise in the world too mighty for me: and after I had +achieved all the adventures that were in my own country, I +equipped myself, and set forth to journey through deserts and +distant regions. And at length it chanced that I came to the +fairest valley in the world, wherein were trees all of equal +growth; and a river ran through the valley, and a path was by the +side of the river. And I followed the path until midday, and +continued my journey along the remainder of the valley until the +evening; and at the extremity of the plain I came to a large and +lustrous castle, at the foot of which was a torrent. And I +approached the castle, and there I beheld two youths with yellow +curling hair, each with a frontlet of gold upon his head, and clad +in a garment of yellow satin; and they had gold clasps upon their +insteps. In the hand of each of them was an ivory bow, strung with +the sinews of the stag, and their arrows and their shafts were of +the bone of the whale, and were winged with peacock's feathers. +The shafts also had golden heads. And they had daggers with blades +of gold, and with hilts of the bone of the whale. And they were +shooting at a mark. + +"And a little away from them I saw a man in the prime of life, +with his beard newly shorn, clad in a robe and mantle of yellow +satin, and round the top of his mantle was a band of gold lace. On +his feet were shoes of variegated leather, [Footnote: Cordwal is +the word in the original, and from the manner in which it is used +it is evidently intended for the French Cordouan or Cordovan +leather, which derived its name from Cordova, where it was +manufactured. From this comes also our English word cordwainer.] +fastened by two bosses of gold. When I saw him I went towards him +and saluted him; and such was his courtesy, that he no sooner +received my greeting than he returned it. And he went with me +towards the castle. Now there were no dwellers in the castle, +except those who were in one hall. And there I saw four and twenty +damsels, embroidering satin at a window. And this I tell thee, +Kay, that the least fair of them was fairer than the fairest maid +thou didst ever behold in the island of Britain; and the least +lovely of them was more lovely than Guenever, the wife of Arthur, +when she appeared loveliest, at the feast of Easter. They rose up +at my coming, and six of them took my horse, and divested me of my +armor, and six others took my arms and washed them in a vessel +till they were perfectly bright. And the third six spread cloths +upon the tables and prepared meat. And the fourth six took off my +soiled garments and placed others upon me, namely, an under vest +and a doublet of fine linen, and a robe and a surcoat, and a +mantle of yellow satin, with a broad gold band upon the mantle. +And they placed cushions both beneath and around me, with +coverings of red linen, and I sat down. Now the six maidens who +had taken my horse unharnessed him as well as if they had been the +best squires in the island of Britain. + +"Then behold they brought bowls of silver, wherein was water to +wash and towels of linen, some green and some white; and I washed. +And in a little while the man sat down at the table. And I sat +next to him, and below me sat all the maidens, except those who +waited on us. And the table was of silver, and the cloths upon the +table were of linen. And no vessel was served upon the table that +was not either of gold or of silver or of buffalo horn. And our +meat was brought to us. And verily, Kay, I saw there every sort of +meat, and every sort of liquor that I ever saw elsewhere; but the +meat and the liquor were better served there than I ever saw them +in any other place. + +"Until the repast was half over, neither the man nor any one of +the damsels spoke a single word to me; but when the man perceived +that it would be more agreeable for me to converse than to eat any +more, he began to inquire of me who I was. Then I told the man who +I was and what was the cause of my journey, and said that I was +seeking whether any one was superior to me, or whether I could +gain mastery over all. The man looked upon me, and he smiled and +said, 'If I did not fear to do thee a mischief, I would show thee +that which thou seekest.' Then I desired him to speak freely. And +he said: 'Sleep here to-night, and in the morning arise early, and +take the road upwards through the valley, until thou readiest the +wood. A little way within the wood thou wilt come to a large +sheltered glade, with a mound in the centre. And thou wilt see a +black man of great stature on the top of the mound. He has but one +foot, and one eye in the middle of his forehead. He is the wood- +ward of that wood. And thou wilt see a thousand wild animals +grazing around him. Inquire of him the way out of the glade, and +he will reply to thee briefly, and will point out the road by +which thou shalt find that which thou art in quest of.' + +"And long seemed that night to me. And the next morning I arose +and equipped myself, and mounted my horse, and proceeded straight +through the valley to the wood, and at length I arrived at the +glade. And the black man was there, sitting upon the top of the +mound; and I was three times more astonished at the number of wild +animals that I beheld than the man had said I should be. Then I +inquired of him the way and he asked me roughly whither I would +go. And when I had told him who I was and what I sought, 'Take,' +said he, 'that path that leads toward the head of the glade, and +there thou wilt find an open space like to a large valley, and in +the midst of it a tall tree. Under this tree is a fountain, and by +the side of the fountain a marble slab, and on the marble slab a +silver bowl, attached by a chain of silver, that it may not be +carried away. Take, the bowl and throw a bowlful of water on the +slab. And if thou dost not find trouble in that adventure, thou +needest not seek it during the rest of thy life.' + +"So I journeyed on until I reached the summit of the steep. And +there I found everything as the black man had described it to me. +And I went up to the tree, and beneath it I saw the fountain, and +by its side the marble slab, and the silver bowl fastened by the +chain. Then I took the bowl, and cast a bowlful of water upon the +slab, and immediately I heard a mighty peal of thunder, so that +heaven and earth seemed to tremble with its fury. And after the +thunder came a, shower; and of a truth I tell thee, Kay, that it +was such a shower as neither man nor beast could endure and live. +I turned my horse's flank toward the shower, and placed the beak +of my shield over his head and neck, while I held the upper part +of it over my own neck. And thus I withstood the shower. And +presently the sky became clear, and with that, behold, the birds +lighted upon the tree, and sang. And truly, Kay, I never heard any +melody equal to that, either before or since. And when I was most +charmed with listening to the birds, lo! a chiding voice was heard +of one approaching me and saying: 'O knight, what has brought thee +hither? What evil have I done to thee that thou shouldst act +towards me and my possessions as thou hast this day? Dost thou not +know that the shower to-day has left in my dominions neither man +nor beast alive that was exposed to it?' And thereupon, behold, a +knight on a black horse appeared, clothed in jet-black velvet, and +with a tabard of black linen about him. And we charged each other, +and, as the onset was furious, it was not long before I was +overthrown. Then the knight passed the shaft of his lance through +the bridle-rein of my horse, and rode off with the two horses, +leaving me where I was. And he did not even bestow so much notice +upon me as to imprison me, nor did he despoil me of my arms. So I +returned along the road by which I had come. And when I reached +the glade where the black man was, I confess to thee, Kay, it is a +marvel that I did not melt down into a liquid pool, through the +shame that I felt at the black man's derision. And that night I +came to the same castle where I had spent the night preceding. And +I was more agreeably entertained that night than I had been the +night before. And I conversed freely with the inmates of the +castle; and none of them alluded to my expedition to the fountain, +neither did I mention it to any. And I remained there that night. +When I arose on the morrow I found ready saddled a dark bay +palfrey, with nostrils as red as scarlet. And after putting on my +armor, and leaving there my blessing, I returned to my own court. +And that horse I still possess, and he is in the stable yonder. +And I declare that I would not part with him for the best palfrey +in the island of Britain. + +"Now, of a truth, Kay, no man ever before confessed to an +adventure so much to his own discredit; and verily it seems +strange to me that neither before nor since have I heard of any +person who knew of this adventure, and that the subject of it +should exist within King Arthur's dominions without any other +person lighting upon it." + + + + + +CHAPTER III + +THE LADY OF THE FOUNTAIN (Continued) + +OWAIN'S ADVENTURE + + +[Footnote: Amongst all the characters of early British history +none is the more interesting, or occupies more conspicuous place, +than the hero of this tale. Urien, his father, was prince of +Rheged, a district comprising the present Cumberland and part of +the adjacent country. His valor, and the consideration in which he +was held, are a frequent theme of Bardic song, and form the +subject of several very spirited odes by Taliesin. Among the +Triads there is one relating to him; it is thus translated: + +"Three Knights of Battle were in court of Arthur Cadwr, the Earl +of Cornwall, Launcelot du Lac, and Owain, the son of Urien. And +this was their characteristic--that they would not retreat from +battle, neither for spear, nor for arrow, nor for sword. And +Arthur never had shame in battle the day he saw their faces there. +And they were called the Knights of Battle."] + +"Now," quoth Owain, "would it not be well to go and endeavor to +discover that place?" + +"By the hand of my friend," said Kay, "often dost thou utter that +with thy tongue which thou wouldest not make good with thy deeds." + +"In very truth," said Guenever, "it were better thou wert hanged, +Kay, than to use such uncourteous speech towards a man like +Owain." + +"By the hand of my friend, good lady," said Kay, "thy praise of +Owain is not greater than mine." + +With that Arthur awoke, and asked if he had not been sleeping a +little. + +"Yes, lord," answered Owain, "thou hast slept awhile." + +"Is it time for us to go to meat?" + +"It is, lord," said Owain. + +Then the horn for washing was sounded, and the king and all his +household sat down to eat. And when the meal was ended Owain +withdrew to his lodging, and made ready his horse and his arms. + +On the morrow with the dawn of day he put on his armor, and +mounted his charger, and travelled through distant lands, and over +desert mountains. And at length he arrived at the valley which +Kynon had described to him, and he was certain that it was the +same that he sought. And journeying along the valley, by the side +of the river, he followed its course till he came to the plain, +and within sight of the castle. When he approached the castle he +saw the youths shooting with their bows, in the place where Kynon +had seen them, and the yellow man, to whom the castle belonged, +standing hard by. And no sooner had Owain saluted the yellow man, +than he was saluted by him in return. + +And he went forward towards the castle, and there he saw the +chamber; and when he had entered the chamber, he beheld the +maidens working at satin embroidery, in chains of gold. And their +beauty and their comeliness seemed to Owain far greater than Kynon +had represented to him. And they arose to wait upon Owain, as they +had done to Kynon. And the meal which they set before him gave +even more satisfaction to Owain than it had done to Kynon. + +About the middle of the repast the yellow man asked Owain the +object of his journey. And Owain made it known to him, and said, +"I am in quest of the knight who guards the fountain." Upon this +the yellow man smiled, and said that he was as loth to point out +that adventure to him as he had been to Kynon. However, he +described the whole to Owain, and they retired to rest. + +The next morning Owain found his horse made ready for him by the +damsels, and he set forward and came to the glade where the black +man was. And the stature of the black man seemed more wonderful to +Owain than it had done to Kynon; and Owain asked of him his road, +and he showed it to him. And Owain followed the road till he came +to the green tree; and he beheld the fountain, and the slab beside +the fountain, with the bowl upon it. And Owain took the bowl and +threw a bowlful of water upon the slab. And, lo! the thunder was +heard, and after the thunder came the shower, more violent than +Kynon had described, and after the shower the sky became bright. +And immediately the birds came and settled upon the tree and sang. +And when their song was most pleasing to Owain he beheld a knight +coming towards him through the valley; and he prepared to receive +him, and encountered him violently. Having broken both their +lances, they drew their swords and fought blade to blade. Then +Owain struck the knight a blow through his helmet, head-piece, and +visor, and through the skin, and the flesh, and the bone, until it +wounded the very brain. Then the black knight felt that he had +received a mortal wound, upon which he turned his horse's head and +fled. And Owain pursued him and followed close upon him, although +he was not near enough to strike him with his sword. Then Owain +descried a vast and resplendent castle; and they came to the +castle gate. And the black knight was allowed to enter, and the +portcullis was let fall upon Owain; and it struck his horse behind +the saddle, and cut him in two, and carried away the rowels of the +spurs that were upon Owains' heels. And the portcullis descended +to the floor. And the rowels of the spurs and part of the horse +were without, and Owain with the other part of the horse remained +between the two gates, and the inner gate was closed, so that +Owain could not go thence; and Owain was in a perplexing +situation. And while he was in this state, he could see through an +aperture in the gate a street facing him, with a row of houses on +each side. And he beheld a maiden, with yellow, curling hair, and +a frontlet of gold upon her head; and she was clad in a dress of +yellow satin, and on her feet were shoes of variegated leather. +And she approached the gate, and desired that it should be opened. +"Heaven knows, lady," said Owain, "it is no more possible for me +to open to thee from hence, than it is for thee to set me free." +And he told her his name, and who he was. "Truly," said the +damsel, "it is very sad that thou canst not be released; and every +woman ought to succor thee, for I know there is no one more +faithful in the service of ladies than thou. Therefore," quoth +she, "whatever is in my power to do for thy release, I will do it. +Take this ring and put it on thy finger, with the stone inside thy +hand, and close thy hand upon the stone. And as long as thou +concealest it, it will conceal thee. When they come forth to fetch +thee, they will be much grieved that they cannot find thee. And I +will await thee on the horseblock yonder, and thou wilt be able to +see me, though I cannot see thee. Therefore come and place thy +hand upon my shoulder, that I may know that thou art near me. And +by the way that I go hence do thou accompany me." + +Then the maiden went away from Owain, and he did all that she had +told him. And the people of the castle came to seek Owain to put +him to death; and when they found nothing but the half of his +horse, they were sorely grieved. + +And Owain vanished from among them, and went to the maiden, and +placed his hand upon her shoulder; whereupon she set off, and +Owain followed her, until they came to the door of a large and +beautiful chamber, and the maiden opened it, and they went in. And +Owain looked around the chamber, and behold there was not a single +nail in it that was not painted with gorgeous colors, and there +was not a single panel that had not sundry images in gold +portrayed upon it. + +The maiden kindled a fire, and took water in a silver bowl, and +gave Owain water to wash. Then she placed before him a silver +table, inlaid with gold; upon which was a cloth of yellow linen, +and she brought him food. And, of a truth, Owain never saw any +kind of meat that was not there in abundance, but it was better +cooked there than he had ever found it in any other place. And +there was not one vessel from which he was served that was not of +gold or of silver. And Owain eat and drank until late in the +afternoon, when lo! they heard a mighty clamor in the castle, and +Owain asked the maiden what it was. "They are administering +extreme unction," said she, "to the nobleman who owns the castle." +And she prepared a couch for Owain which was meet for Arthur +himself, and Owain went to sleep. + +And a little after daybreak he heard an exceeding loud clamor and +wailing, and he asked the maiden what was the cause of it. "They +are bearing to the church the body of the nobleman who owned the +castle." + +And Owain rose up, and clothed himself, and opened a window of the +chamber, and looked towards the castle; and he could see neither +the bounds nor the extent of the hosts that filled the streets. +And they were fully armed; and a vast number of women were with +them, both on horseback and on foot, and all the ecclesiastics in +the city singing. In the midst of the throng he beheld the bier, +over which was a veil of white linen; and wax tapers were burning +beside and around it; and none that supported the bier was lower +in rank than a powerful baron. + +Never did Owain see an assemblage so gorgeous with silk [Footnote: +Before the sixth century all the silk used by Europeans had been +brought to them by the Seres, the ancestors of the present +Boukharians, whence it derived its Latin name of Serica. In 551 +the silkworm was brought by two monks to Constantinople, but the +manufacture of silk was confined to the Greek empire till the year +1130, when Roger, king of Sicily, returning from a crusade, +collected some manufacturers from Athens and Corinth, and +established them at Palermo, whence the trade was gradually +disseminated over Italy. The varieties of silk stuffs known at +this time were velvet, satin (which was called samite), and +taffety (called cendal or sendall), all of which were occasionally +stitched with gold and silver.] and satin. And, following the +train, he beheld a lady with yellow hair falling over her +shoulders, and stained with blood; and about her a dress of yellow +satin, which was torn. Upon her feet were shoes of variegated +leather. And it was a marvel that the ends of her fingers were not +bruised from the violence with which she smote her hands together. +Truly she would have been the fairest lady Owain ever saw, had she +been in her usual guise. And her cry was louder than the shout of +the men or the clamor of the trumpets. No sooner had he beheld the +lady than he became inflamed with her love, so that it took entire +possession of him. + +Then he inquired of the maiden who the lady was. "Heaven knows," +replied the maiden, "she is the fairest and the most chaste, and +the most liberal, and the most noble of women. She is my mistress, +and she is called the Countess of the Fountain, the wife of him +whom thou didst slay yesterday." "Verily," said Owain, "she is the +woman that I love best." "Verily," said the maiden, "she shall +also love thee, not a little." + +Then the maiden prepared a repast for Owain, and truly he thought +he had never before so good a meal, nor was he ever so well +served. Then she left him, and went towards the castle. When she +came there, she found nothing but mourning and sorrow; and the +Countess in her chamber could not bear the sight of any one +through grief. Luned, for that was the name of the maiden, saluted +her, but the Countess answered her not. And the maiden bent down +towards her, and said, "What aileth thee, that thou answereth no +one to-day?" "Luned," said the Countess, "what change hath +befallen thee, that thou hast not come to visit me in my grief. It +was wrong in thee, and I so sorely afflicted." "Truly," said +Luned, "I thought thy good sense was greater than I find it to be. +Is it well for thee to mourn after that good man, or for anything +else that thou canst not have?" "I declare to Heaven," said the +Countess, "that in the whole world there is not a man equal to +him." "Not so," said Luned, "for an ugly man would be as good as +or better than he." "I declare to Heaven," said the Countess, +"that were it not repugnant to me to put to death one whom I have +brought up, I would have thee executed for making such a +comparison to me. As it is, I will banish thee." "I am glad," said +Luned, "that thou hast no other cause to do so than that I would +have been of service to thee, where thou didst not know what was +to thine advantage. Henceforth, evil betide whichever of us shall +make the first advance towards reconciliation to the other, +whether I should seek an invitation from thee, or thou of thine +own accord should send to invite." + +With that Luned went forth; and the Countess arose and followed +her to the door of the chamber, and began coughing loudly. And +when Luned looked back, the Countess beckoned to her, and she +returned to the Countess. "In truth," said the Countess, "evil is +thy disposition; but if thou knowest what is to my advantage, +declare it to me." "I will do so," said she. + +"Thou knowest that, except by warfare and arms, it is impossible +for thee to preserve thy possessions; delay not, therefore, to +seek some one who can defend them." "And how can I do that?" said +the Countess. "I will tell thee," said Luned; "unless thou canst +defend the fountain, thou canst not maintain thy dominions; and no +one can defend the fountain except it be a knight of Arthur's +household. I will go to Arthur's court, and ill betide me if I +return not thence with a warrior who can guard the fountain as +well as, or even better than, he who defended it formerly." "That +will be hard to perform," said the Countess. "Go, however, and +make proof of that which thou hast promised," + +Luned set out under the pretence of going to Arthur's court; but +she went back to the mansion where she had left Owain, and she +tarried there as long as it might have taken her to travel to the +court of King Arthur and back. And at the end of that time she +apparelled herself, and went to visit the Countess. And the +Countess was much rejoiced when she saw her, and inquired what +news she brought from the court. "I bring thee the best of news," +said Luned, "for I have compassed the object of my mission. When +wilt thou that I should present to thee the chieftain who has come +with me hither?" "Bring him here to visit me to-morrow," said the +Countess, "and I will cause the town to be assembled by that +time." + +And Luned returned home. And the next day at noon, Owain arrayed +himself in a coat and a surcoat, and a mantle of yellow satin, +upon which was a broad band of gold lace; and on his feet were +high shoes of variegated leather, which were fastened by golden +clasps, in the form of lions. And they proceeded to the chamber of +the Countess. + +Right glad was the Countess of their coming. And she gazed +steadfastly upon Owain, and said, "Luned, this knight has not the +look of a traveller." "What harm is there in that, lady?" said +Luned. "I am certain," said the Countess, "that no other man than +this chased the soul from the body of my lord." "So much the +better for thee, lady," said Luned, "for had he not been stronger +than thy lord, he could not have deprived him of life. There is no +remedy for that which is past, be it as it may." "Go back to thine +abode," said the Countess, "and I will take counsel." + +The next day the Countess caused all her subjects to assemble, and +showed them that her earldom was left defenceless, and that it +could not be protected but with horse and arms, and military +skill. "Therefore," said she, "this is what I offer for your +choice: either let one of you take me, or give your consent for me +to take a husband from elsewhere, to defend my dominions." + +So they came to the determination that it was better that she +should have permission to marry some one from elsewhere; and +thereupon she sent for the bishops and archbishops, to celebrate +her nuptials with Owain. And the men of the earldom did Owain +homage. + +And Owain defended the fountain with lance and sword. And this is +the manner in which he defended it. Whensoever a knight came +there, he overthrew him, and sold him for his full worth. And what +he thus gained he divided among his barons and his knights, and no +man in the whole world could be more beloved than he was by his +subjects. And it was thus for the space of three years. + +[Footnote: There exists an ancient poem, printed among those of +Taliesin, called the "Elegy of Owain ap Urien," and containing +several very beautiful and spirited passages It commences + + "The soul of Owain ap Urien, + May its Lord consider its exigencies' + Reged's chief the green turf covers." + +In the course of this Elegy the bard, alluding to the incessant +warfare with which this chieftain harassed his Saxon foes, +exclaims, + +"Could England sleep with the light upon her eyes'"] + + + + + +CHAPTER IV + +THE LADY OF THE FOUNTAIN (Continued) + +GAWAIN'S ADVENTURE + + +It befell that, as Gawain went forth one day with King Arthur, he +perceived him to be very sad and sorrowful. And Gawain was much +grieved to see Arthur in his state, and he questioned him, saying, +"O my lord, what has befallen thee?" "In sooth, Gawain," said +Arthur, "I am grieved concerning Owain, whom I have lost these +three years; and I shall certainly die if the fourth year pass +without my seeing him. Now I am sure that it is through the tale +which Kynon, the son of Clydno, related, that I have lost Owain." +"There is no need for thee," said Gawain, "to summon to arms thy +whole dominions on this account, for thou thyself, and the men of +thy household, will be able to avenge Owain if he be slain or to +set him free if he be in prison; and, if alive, to bring him back +with thee." And it was settled according to what Gawain had said. + +Then Arthur and the men of his household prepared to go and seek +Owain. And Kynon, the son of Clydno, acted as their guide. And +Arthur came to the castle where Kynon had been before. And when he +came there, the youths were shooting in the same place, and the +yellow man was standing hard by. When the yellow man saw Arthur, +he greeted him, and invited him to the castle. And Arthur accepted +his invitation, and they entered the castle together. And great as +was the number of his retinue, their presence was scarcely +observed in the castle, so vast was its extent. And the maidens +rose up to wait on them. And the service of the maidens appeared +to them all to excel any attendance they had ever met with; and +even the pages, who had charge of the horses, were no worse served +that night than Arthur himself would have been in his own palace. + +The next morning Arthur set out thence, with Kynon for his guide, +and came to the place where the black man was. And the stature of +the black man was more surprising to Arthur than it had been +represented to him. And they came to the top of the wooded steep, +and traversed the valley, till they reached the green tree, where +they saw the fountain and the bowl and the slab. And upon that Kay +came to Arthur, and spoke to him. "My lord," said he, "I know the +meaning of all this, and my request is that thou wilt permit me to +throw the water on the slab, and to receive the first adventure +that may befall." And Arthur gave him leave. + +Then Kay threw a bowlful of water upon the slab, and immediately +there came the thunder, and after the thunder the shower. And such +a thunder-storm they had never known before. After the shower had +ceased, the sky became clear, and on looking at the tree, they +beheld it completely leafless. Then the birds descended upon the +tree. And the song of the birds was far sweeter than any strain +they had ever heard before. Then they beheld a knight, on a coal- +black horse, clothed in black satin, coming rapidly towards them. +And Kay met him and encountered him, and it was not long before +Kay was overthrown. And the knight withdrew. And Arthur and his +host encamped for the night. + +And when they arose in the morning, they perceived the signal of +combat upon the lance of the knight. Then, one by one, all the +household of Arthur went forth to combat the knight, until there +was not one that was not overthrown by him, except Arthur and +Gawain. And Arthur armed himself to encounter the knight. "O my +lord," said Gawain, "permit me to fight with him first." And +Arthur permitted him. And he went forth to meet the knight, having +over himself and his horse a satin robe of honor, which had been +sent him by the daughter of the Earl of Rhangyr, and in this dress +he was not known by any of the host. And they charged each other, +and fought all that day until the evening. And neither of them was +able to unhorse the other. And so it was the next day; they broke +their lances in the shock, but neither of them could obtain the +mastery. + +And the third day they fought with exceeding strong lances. And +they were incensed with rage, and fought furiously, even until +noon. And they gave each other such a shock that the girths of +their horses were broken, so that they fell over their horses' +cruppers to the ground. And they rose up speedily and drew their +swords, and resumed the combat. And all they that witnessed their +encounter felt assured that they had never before seen two men so +valiant or so powerful. And had it been midnight, it would have +been light, from the fire that flashed from their weapons. And the +knight gave Gawain a blow that turned his helmet from off his +face, so that the knight saw that it was Gawain. Then Owain said, +"My lord Gawain, I did not know thee for my cousin, owing to the +robe of honor that enveloped thee; take my sword and my arms." +Said Gawain, "Thou, Owain, art the victor; take thou my sword." +And with that Arthur saw that they were conversing, and advanced +toward them. "My lord Arthur," said Gawain, "here is Owain who has +vanquished me, and will not take my arms." "My lord," said Owain, +"it is he that has vanquished me, and he will not take my sword." +"Give me your swords," said Arthur, "and then neither of you has +vanquished the other." Then Owain put his arms around Arthur's +neck, and they embraced. And all the host hurried forward to see +Owain, and to embrace him. And there was nigh being a loss of +life, so great was the press. + +And they retired that night, and the next day Arthur prepared to +depart. "My lord," said Owain, "this is not well of thee. For I +have been absent from thee these three years, and during all that +time, up to this very day, I have been preparing a banquet for +thee, knowing that thou wouldst come to seek me. Tarry with me, +therefore, until thou and thy attendants have recovered the +fatigues of the journey, and have been anointed." + +And they all proceeded to the castle of the Countess of the +Fountain, and the banquet which had been three years preparing was +consumed in three months. Never had they a more delicious or +agreeable banquet. And Arthur prepared to depart. Then he sent an +embassy to the Countess to beseech her to permit Owain to go with +him, for the space of three months, that he might show him to the +nobles and the fair dames of the island of Britain. And the +Countess gave her consent, although it was very painful to her. So +Owain came with Arthur to the island of Britain. And when he was +once more amongst his kindred and friends, he remained three +years, instead of three months, with them. + +THE ADVENTURE OF THE LION + +And as Owain one day sat at meat, in the city of Caerleon upon +Usk, behold a damsel entered the hall, upon a bay horse, with a +curling mane, and covered with foam; and the bridle, and as much +as was seen of the saddle, were of gold. And the damsel was +arrayed in a dress of yellow satin. And she came up to Owain, and +took the ring from off his hand. "Thus," said she, "shall be +treated the deceiver, the traitor, the faithless, the disgraced, +and the beardless." And she turned her horse's head and departed. + +[Footnote: The custom of riding into a hall while the lord and his +guests sat at meat might be illustrated by numerous passages of +ancient romance and history. But a quotation from Chaucer's +beautiful and half-told tale of "Cambuscan" is sufficient: + + "And so befell that after the thridde cours, + While that this king sat thus in his nobley, + Herking his minstralles thir thinges play, + Beforne him at his bord deliciously, + In at the halle door all sodenly + Ther came a knight upon a stede of bras, + And in his hond a brod mirrour of glas; + Upon his thombe he had of gold a ring, + And by his side a naked sword hanging; + And up he rideth to the highe bord. + In all the halle ne was ther spoke a word, + For meryaille of this knight; him to behold + Full besily they waiten, young and old."] + +Then his adventure came to Owain's remembrance, and he was +sorrowful. And having finished eating, he went to his own abode, +and made preparations that night. And the next day he arose, but +did not go to the court, nor did he return to the Countess of the +Fountain, but wandered to the distant parts of the earth and to +uncultivated mountains. And he remained there until all his +apparel was worn out, and his body was wasted away, and his hair +was grown long. And he went about with the wild beasts, and fed +with them, until they became familiar with him. But at length he +became so weak that he could no longer bear them company. Then he +descended from the mountains to the valley, and came to a park, +that was the fairest in the world, and belonged to a charitable +lady. + +One day the lady and her attendants went forth to walk by a lake +that was in the middle of the park. And they saw the form of a +man, lying as if dead. And they were terrified. Nevertheless they +went near him, and touched him, and they saw that there was life +in him. And the lady returned to the castle, and took a flask full +of precious ointment and gave it to one of her maidens. "Go with +this," said she, "and take with thee yonder horse, and clothing, +and place them near the man we saw just now; and anoint him with +this balsam near his heart; and if there is life in him, he will +revive, through the efficiency of this balsam. Then watch what he +will do." + +And the maiden departed from her, and went and poured of the +balsam upon Owain, and left the horse and the garments hard by, +and went a little way off and hid herself to watch him. In a short +time, she saw him begin to move; and he rose up, and looked at his +person, and became ashamed of the unseemliness of his appearance. +Then he perceived the horse and the garments that were near him. +And he clothed himself, and with difficulty mounted the horse. +Then the damsel discovered herself to him, and saluted him. And he +and the maiden proceeded to the castle, and the maiden conducted +him to a pleasant chamber, and kindled a fire, and left him. + +And he stayed at the castle three months, till he was restored to +his former guise, and became even more comely than he had ever +been before. And Owain rendered signal service to the lady, in a +controversy with a powerful neighbor, so that he made ample +requital to her for her hospitality; and he took his departure. + +And as he journeyed he heard a loud yelling in a wood. And it was +repeated a second and a third time. And Owain went towards the +spot, and beheld a huge craggy mound, in the middle of the wood, +on the side of which was a gray rock. And there was a cleft in the +rock, and a serpent was within the cleft. And near the rock stood +a black lion, and every time the lion sought to go thence the +serpent darted towards him to attack him. And Owain unsheathed his +sword, and drew near to the rock; and as the serpent sprung out he +struck him with his sword and cut him in two. And he dried his +sword, and went on his way as before. But behold the lion followed +him, and played about him, as though it had been a greyhound that +he had reared. + +They proceeded thus throughout the day, until the evening. And +when it was time for Owain to take his rest he dismounted, and +turned his horse loose in a flat and wooded meadow. And he struck +fire, and when the fire was kindled, the lion brought him fuel +enough to last for three nights. And the lion disappeared. And +presently the lion returned, bearing a fine large roebuck. And he +threw it down before Owain, who went towards the fire with it. + +And Owain took the roebuck, and skinned it, and placed collops of +its flesh upon skewers round the fire. The rest of the buck he +gave to the lion to devour. While he was so employed, he heard a +deep groan near him, and a second, and a third. And the place +whence the groans proceeded was a cave in the rock; and Owain went +near, and called out to know who it was that groaned so piteously. +And a voice answered, "I am Luned, the hand-maiden of the Countess +of the Fountain." "And what dost thou here?" said he. "I am +imprisoned," said she, "on account of the knight who came from +Arthur's court, and married the Countess. And he staid a short +time with her, but he afterwards departed for the court of Arthur, +and has not returned since. And two of the Countess's pages +traduced him, and called him a deceiver. And because I said I +would vouch for it he would come before long and maintain his +cause against both of them, they imprisoned me in this cave, and +said that I should be put to death, unless he came to deliver me, +by a certain day; and that is no further off than to-morrow, and I +have no one to send to seek him for me. His name is Owain, the son +of Urien." "And art thou certain that if that knight knew all +this, he would come to thy rescue?" "I am most certain of it," +said she. + +When the collops were cooked, Owain divided them into two parts, +between himself and the maiden, and then Owain laid himself down +to sleep; and never did sentinel keep stricter watch over his lord +than the lion that night over Owain. + +And the next day there came the two pages with a great troop of +attendants to take Luned from her cell, and put her to death. And +Owain asked them what charge they had against her. And they told +him of the compact that was between them; as the maiden had done +the night before. "And," said they, "Owain has failed her, +therefore we are taking her to be burnt." "Truly," said Owain, "he +is a good knight; and if he knew that the maiden was in such +peril, I marvel that he came not to her rescue. But if you will +accept me in his stead, I will do battle with you." "We will," +said the youth. + +And they attacked Owain, and he was hard beset by them. And with +that, the lion came to Owain's assistance, and they two got the +better of the young men And they said to him, "Chieftain, it was +not agreed that we should fight save with thyself alone, and it is +harder for us to contend with yonder animal than with thee." And +Owain put the lion in the place where Luned had been imprisoned, +and blocked up the door with stones. And he went to fight with the +young men as before. But Owain had not his usual strength, and the +two youths pressed hard upon him. And the lion roared incessantly +at seeing Owain in trouble. And he brust through the wall, until +he found a way out, and rushed upon the young men and instantly +slew them. So Luned was saved from being burned. + +Then Owain returned with Luned to the castle of the Lady of the +Fountain. And when he went thence, he took the Countess with him +to Arthur's court, and she was his wife as long as she lived. + + + + + +CHAPTER V + +GERAINT, THE SON OF ERBIN + + +Arthur was accustomed to hold his court at Caerleon upon Usk. And +there he held it seven Easters and five Christmases. And once upon +a time he held his court there at Whitsuntide. For Caerleon was +the place most easy of access in his dominions, both by sea and by +land. And there were assembled nine crowned kings, who were his +tributaries, and likewise earls and barons. For they were his +invited guests at all the high festivals, unless they were +prevented by any great hinderatice. And when he was at Caerleon +holding his court, thirteen churches were set apart for mass. And +thus they were appointed: one church for Arthur and his kings, and +his guests; and the second for Guenever and her ladies; and the +third for the steward of the household and the suitors; and the +fourth for the Franks and the other officers; and the other nine +churches were for the nine masters of the household, and chiefly +for Gawain, for he, from the eminence of his warlike fame, and +from the nobleness of his birth, was the most exalted of the nine. +And there was no other arrangement respecting the churches than +that which we have here mentioned. + +And on Whit-Tuesday, as the king sat at the banquet, lo, there +entered a tall, fair-headed youth, clad in a coat and surcoat of +satin, and a golden-hilted sword about his neck, and low shoes of +leather upon his feet. And he came and stood before Arthur. "Hail +to thee, lord," said he. "Heaven prosper thee," he answered, "and +be thou welcome. Dost thou bring any new tidings?" "I do, lord," +he said. "I am one of thy foresters, lord, in the forest of Dean, +and my name is Madoc, son of Turgadarn. In the forest I saw a +stag, the like of which beheld I never yet." "What is there about +him," asked Arthur, "that thou never yet didst see his like?" "He +is of pure white, lord, and he does not herd with any other +animal, through stateliness and pride, so royal is his bearing. +And I come to seek thy counsel, lord, and to know thy will +concerning him." "It seems best to me," said Arthur, "to go and +hunt him to-morrow at break of day, and to cause general notice +thereof to be given to-night, in all quarters of the court." + + "For Arthur on the Whitsuntide before + Held court at old Caerleon upon Usk. + There on a day, he sitting high in hall, + Before him came a forester of Dean, + Wet from the woods, with notice of a hart + + Taller than all his fellows, milky-white, + First seen that day: these things he told the king. + Then the good king gave order to let blow + His horns for hunting on the morrow morn." + + --Enid. + +And Arryfuerys was Arthur's chief huntsman, and Arelivri his chief +page. And all received notice; and thus it was arranged. + +Then Guenever said to Arthur, "Wilt thou permit me, lord, to go +to-morrow to see and hear the hunt of the stag of which the young +man spoke?" "I will gladly," said Arthur. And Gawain said to +Arthur, "Lord, if it seem well to thee, permit that into whose +hunt soever the stag shall come, that one, be he a knight or one +on foot, may cut off his head, and give it to whom he pleases, +whether to his own lady-love, or to the lady of his friend." "I +grant it gladly," said Arthur, "and let the steward of the +household be chastised, if all things are not ready to-morrow for +the chase." + +And they passed the night with songs, and diversions, and +discourse, and ample entertainment. And when it was time for them +all to go to sleep, they went. And when the next day came, they +arose. And Arthur called the attendants who guarded his couch. And +there were four pages whose names were Cadyrnerth, the son of +Gandwy, and Ambreu, the son of Bedwor and Amhar, the son of Arthur +and Goreu, the son of Custennin. And these men came to Arthur and +saluted him, and arrayed him in his garments. And Arthur wondered +that Guenever did not awake, and the attendants wished to awaken +her. "Disturb her not," said Arthur, "for she had rather sleep +than go to see the hunting." + +Then Arthur went forth, and he heard two horns sounding, one from +near the lodging of the chief huntsman, and the other from near +that of the chief page. And the whole assembly of the multitudes +came to Arthur, and they took the road to the forest. + +And after Arthur had gone forth from the palace, Guenever awoke, +and called to her maidens, and apparalled herself. "Maidens," said +she, "I had leave last night to go and see the hunt. Go one of you +to the stable, and order hither a horse such as a woman may ride." +And one of them went, and she found but two horses in the stable; +and Guenever and one of her maidens mounted them, and went through +the Usk, and followed the track of the men and the horses. And as +they rode thus, they heard a loud and rushing sound; and they +looked behind them, and beheld a knight upon a hunter foal of +mighty size. And the rider was a fairhaired youth, bare-legged, +and of princely mien; and a golden-hilted sword was at his side, +and a robe and a surcoat of satin were upon him, and two low shoes +of leather upon his feet; and around him was a scarf of blue +purple, at each corner of which was a golden apple. + + "For Prince Geraint, + Late also, wearing neither hunting-dress + Nor weapon, save a golden-hilted brand, + Came quickly flashing through the shallow ford." + --Enid. + +And his horse stepped stately, and swift, and proud; and he +overtook Guenever, and saluted her. "Heaven prosper thee, +Geraint," said she; "and why didst thou not go with thy lord to +hunt?" "Because I knew not when he went," said he. "I marvel too," +said she, "how he could go, unknown to me. But thou, O young man, +art the most agreeable companion I could have in the whole +kingdom; and it may be I shall be more amused with the hunting +than they; for we shall hear the horns when they sound and we +shall hear the dogs when they are let loose and begin to cry." + +So they went to the edge of the forest, and there they stood. +"From this place," said she, "we shall hear when the dogs are let +loose." And thereupon they heard a loud noise; and they looked +towards the spot whence it came, and they beheld a dwarf riding +upon a horse, stately and foaming and prancing and strong and +spirited. And in the hand of the dwarf was a whip. And near the +dwarf they saw a lady upon a beautiful white horse, of steady and +stately pace; and she was clothed in a garment of gold brocade. +And near her was a knight upon a war-horse of large size, with +heavy and bright armor both upon himself and upon his horse. And +truly they never before saw a knight, or a horse, or armor, of +such remarkable size. + +"Geraint," said Guenever, "knowest thou the name of that tall +knight yonder?" "I know him not," said he, "and the strange armor +that he wears prevents my either seeing his face or his features." +"Go, maiden," said Guenever, "and ask the dwarf who that knight +is." Then the maiden went up to the dwarf; and she inquired of the +dwarf who the knight was. "I will not tell thee," he answered. +"Since thou art so churlish," said she, "I will ask him, himself." +"Thou shalt not ask him, by my faith," said he. "Wherefore not?" +said she. "Because thou art not of honor sufficient to befit thee +to speak to my lord." Then the maiden turned her horse's head +towards the knight, upon which the dwarf struck her with the whip +that was in his hand across the face and the eyes, so that the +blood flowed forth. And the maiden returned to Guenever, +complaining of the hurt she had received. "Very rudely has the +dwarf treated thee," said Geraint, and he put his hand upon the +hilt of his sword. But he took counsel with himself, and +considered that it would be no vengeance for him to slay the +dwarf, and to be attacked unarmed by the armed knight; so he +refrained. + +"Lady," said he, "I will follow him, with thy permission, and at +last he will come to some inhabited place, where I may have arms, +either as a loan or for a pledge, so that I may encounter the +knight." "Go," said she, "and do not attack him until thou hast +good arms; and I shall be very anxious concerning thee, until I +hear tidings of thee." "If I am alive," said he, "thou shalt hear +tidings of me by to-morrow afternoon;" and with that he departed. + +And the road they took was below the palace of Caerleon, and +across the ford of the Usk; and they went along a fair and even +and lofty ridge of ground, until they came to a town, and at the +extremity of the town they saw a fortress and a castle. And as the +knight passed through the town all the people arose and saluted +him, and bade him welcome. And when Geraint came into the town, he +looked at every house to see if he knew any of those whom he saw. +But he knew none, and none knew him, to do him the kindness to let +him have arms, either as a loan or for a pledge. And every house +he saw was full of men, and arms, and horses. And they were +polishing shields, and burnishing swords, and washing armor, and +shoeing horses. And the knight and the lady and the dwarf rode up +to the castle, that was in the town, and every one was glad in the +castle. And from the battlements and the gates they risked their +necks, through their eagerness to greet them, and to show their +joy. + +Geraint stood there to see whether the knight would remain in the +castle; and when he was certain that he would do so, he looked +around him. And at a little distance from the town he saw an old +palace in ruins, wherein was a hall that was falling to decay. + + "And high above a piece of turret-stair, + Worn by the feet that now were silent, wound + Bare to the sun" + + --Enid. + +And as he knew not any one in the town, he went towards the old +palace. And when he came near to the palace, he saw a hoary-headed +man, standing by it, in tattered garments. And Geraint gazed +steadfastly upon him. Then the hoary-headed man said to him, +"Young man, wherefore art thou thoughtful?" "I am thoughtful," +said he, "because I know not where to pass the night." "Wilt thou +come forward this way, chieftain," said he, "and thou shalt have +of the best that can be procured for thee." So Geraint went +forward. And the hoary-headed man led the way into the hall. And +in the hall he dismounted, and he left there his horse. Then he +went on to the upper chamber with the hoary-headed man. And in the +chamber he beheld an old woman, sitting on a cushion, with old, +worn-out garments upon her; yet it seemed to him that she must +have been comely when in the bloom of youth. And beside her was a +maiden, upon whom were a vest and a veil that were old and +beginning to be worn out. And truly he never saw a maiden more +full of comeliness and grace and beauty than she. And the hoary- +headed man said to the maiden, "There is no attendant for the +horse of this youth but thyself." "I will render the best service +I am able," said she, "both to him and to his horse." And the +maiden disarrayed the youth, and then she furnished his horse with +straw and corn; and then she returned to the chamber. And the +hoary-headed man said to the maiden, "Go to the town and bring +hither the best that thou canst find, both of food and of liquor." +"I will gladly, lord," said she. And to the town went the maiden. +And they conversed together while the maiden was at the town. And, +behold, the maiden came back, and a youth with her, bearing on his +back a costrel full of good purchased mead, and a quarter of a +young bullock. And in the hands of the maiden was a quantity of +white bread, and she had some manchet bread in her veil, and she +came into the chamber. "I would not obtain better than this," said +she, "nor with better should I have been trusted." "It is good +enough," said Geraint. And they caused the meat to be boiled; and +when their food was ready, they sat down. And it was in this wise. +Geraint sat between the hoary-headed man and his wife, and the +maiden served them. And they ate and drank. + +And when they had finished eating, Geraint talked with the hoary- +headed man, and he asked him in the first place to whom belonged +the palace that he was in. "Truly," said he, "it was I that built +it, and to me also belonged the city and the castle which thou +sawest." "Alas!" said Geraint, "how is it that thou hast lost them +now?" "I lost a great earldom as well as these," said he, "and +this is how I lost them. I had a nephew, the son of my brother, +and I took care of his possessions; but he was impatient to enter +upon them, so he made war upon me, and wrested from me not only +his own, but also my estates, except this castle." "Good sir," +said Geraint, "wilt thou tell me wherefore came the knight and the +lady and the dwarf just now into the town, and what is the +preparation which I saw, and the putting of arms in order?" "I +will do so," said he. "The preparations are for the game that is +to be held to-morrow by the young earl, which will be on this +wise. In the midst of a meadow which is here, two forks will be +set up, and upon the two forks a silver rod, and upon the silver +rod a sparrow-hawk, and for the sparrow-hawk there will be a +tournament. And to the tournament will go all the array thou didst +see in the city, of men and of horses and of arms. And with each +man will go the lady he loves best; and no man can joust for the +sparrow-hawk, except the lady he loves best be with him. And the +knight that thou sawest has gained the sparrow-hawk these two +years; and if he gains it the third year, he will be called the +Knight of the Sparrow-hawk from that time forth." "Sir," said +Geraint, "what is thy counsel to me concerning this knight, on +account of the insult which the maiden of Guenever received from +the dwarf?" And Geraint told the hoary-headed man what the insult +was that the maiden had received. "It is not easy to counsel thee, +inasmuch as thou hast neither dame nor maiden belonging to thee, +for whom thou canst joust. Yet I have arms here, which thou +couldst have, and there is my horse also, if he seem to thee +better than thine own." "Ah, sir," said he, "Heaven reward thee! +But my own horse to which I am accustomed, together with thine +arms, will suffice me. And if, when the appointed time shall come +to-morrow thou wilt permit me, sir, to challenge for yonder maiden +that is thy daughter, I will engage, if I escape from the +tournament, to love the maiden as long as I live." "Gladly will I +permit thee," said the hoary-headed man; "and since thou dost thus +resolve, it is necessary that thy horse and arms should be ready +to-morrow at break of day. For then the Knight of the Sparrow-hawk +will make proclamation, and ask the lady he loves best to take the +sparrow-hawk; and if any deny it to her, by force will he defend +her claim. And therefore," said the hoary-headed man, "it is +needful for thee to be there at daybreak, and we three will be +with thee." And thus was it settled. + +And at night they went to sleep. And before the dawn they arose +and arrayed themselves; and by the time that it was day, they were +all four in the meadow. And there was the Knight of the Sparrow- +hawk making the proclamation, and asking his lady-love to take the +sparrow-hawk. "Take it not," said Geraint, "for here is a maiden +who is fairer, and more noble, and more comely, and who has a +better claim to it than thou." Then said the knight, "If thou +maintainest the sparrow-hawk to be due to her, come forward and do +battle with me." And Geraint went forward to the top of the +meadow, having upon himself and upon his horse armor which was +heavy and rusty, and of uncouth shape. Then they encountered each +other, and they broke a set of lances; and they broke a second +set, and a third. And when the earl and his company saw the Knight +of the Sparrow-hawk gaining the mastery, there was shouting and +joy and mirth amongst them; and the hoary-headed man and his wife +and his daughter were sorrowful. And the hoary-headed man served +Geraint with lances as often as he broke them, and the dwarf +served the Knight of the Sparrow-hawk. Then the hoary-headed man +said to Geraint, "O chieftain, since no other will hold with thee, +behold, here is the lance which was in my hand on the day when I +received the honor of knighthood, and from that time to this I +never broke it, and it has an excellent point." Then Geraint took +the lance, thanking the hoary-headed man. And thereupon the dwarf +also brought a lance to his lord. "Behold, here is a lance for +thee, not less good than his," said the dwarf. "And bethink thee +that no knight ever withstood thee so long as this one has done." +"I declare to Heaven," said Geraint, "that unless death takes me +quickly hence, he shall fare never the better for thy service." +And Geraint pricked his horse towards him from afar, and, warning +him, he rushed upon him, and gave him a blow so severe, and +furious, and fierce, upon the face of his shield, that he cleft it +in two, and broke his armor, and burst his girths, so that both he +and his saddle were borne to the ground over the horse's crupper. +And Geraint dismounted quickly. And he was wroth, and he drew his +sword, and rushed fiercely upon him. Then the knight also arose, +and drew his sword against Geraint. And they fought on foot with +their swords until their arms struck sparks of fire like stars +from one another; and thus they continued fighting until the blood +and sweat obscured the light from their eyes. At length Geraint +called to him all his strength, and struck the knight upon the +crown of his head, so that he broke all his head-armor, and cut +through all the flesh and the skin, even to the skull, until he +wounded the bone. + +Then the knight fell upon his knees, and cast his sword from his +hand, and besought mercy from Geraint. "Of a truth," said he, "I +relinquish my overdaring and my pride, and crave thy mercy; and +unless I have time to commit myself to Heaven for my sins, and to +talk with a priest, thy mercy will avail me little." "I will grant +thee grace upon this condition," said Geraint, "that thou go to +Guenever, the wife of Arthur, to do her satisfaction for the +insult which her maiden received from thy dwarf. Dismount not from +the time thou goest hence until thou comest into the presence of +Guenever, to make her what atonement shall be adjudged at the +court of Arthur." "This will I do gladly; and who art thou?" "I am +Geraint, the son of Erbin; and declare thou also who thou art." "I +am Edeym, the son of Nudd." Then he threw himself upon his horse, +and went forward to Arthur's court; and the lady he loved best +went before him, and the dwarf, with much lamentation. + +Then came the young earl and his hosts to Geraint, and saluted +him, and bade him to his castle. "I may not go," said Geraint; +"but where I was last night, there will I be to-night also." +"Since thou wilt none of my inviting, thou shalt have abundance of +all that I can command for thee; and I will order ointment for +thee, to recover thee from thy fatigues, and from the weariness +that is upon thee." "Heaven reward thee," said Geraint, "and I +will go to my lodging." And thus went Geraint and Earl Ynywl, and +his wife and his daughter. And when they reached the old mansion, +the household servants and attendants of the young earl had +arrived, and had arranged all the apartments, dressing them with +straw and with fire; and in a short time the ointment was ready, +and Geraint came there, and they washed his head. Then came the +young earl, with forty honorable knights from among his +attendants, and those who were bidden to the tournament. And +Geraint came from the anointing. And the earl asked him to go to +the hall to eat. "Where is the Earl Ynywl," said Geraint, "and his +wife and his daughter?" "They are in the chamber yonder," said the +earl's chamberlain, "arraying themselves in garments which the +earl has caused to be brought for them." "Let not the damsel array +herself," said he, "except in her vest and her veil, until she +come to the court of Arthur, to be clad by Guenever in such +garments as she may choose." So the maiden did not array herself. + +Then they all entered the hall, and they washed, and sat down to +meat. And thus were they seated. On one side of Geraint sat the +young earl, and Earl Ynywl beyond him, and on the other side of +Geraint was the maiden and her mother. And after these all sat +according to their precedence in honor. And they ate. And they +were served abundantly, and they received a profusion of divers +kinds of gifts. Then they conversed together. And the young earl +invited Geraint to visit him next day. "I will not, by Heaven," +said Geraint. "To the court of Arthur will I go with this maiden +to-morrow. And it is enough for me, as long as Earl Ynywl is in +poverty and trouble; and I go chiefly to seek to add to his +maintenance." "Ah, chieftain," said the young earl, "it is not by +my fault that Earl Ynywl is without his possessions." "By my +faith," said Geraint, "he shall not remain without them, unless +death quickly takes me hence." "O chieftain," said he, "with +regard to the disagreement between me and Ynywl, I will gladly +abide by thy counsel, and agree to what thou mayest judge right +between us." "I but ask thee," said Geraint, "to restore to him +what is his, and what he should have received from the time he +lost his possessions even until this day." "That will I do, +gladly, for thee," answered he. "Then," said Geraint, "whosoever +is here who owes homage to Ynywl, let him come forward, and +perform it on the spot." And all the men did so; and by that +treaty they abided. And his castle and his town, and all his +possessions, were restored to Ynywl. And he received back all that +he had lost, even to the smallest jewel. + +Then spoke Earl Ynywl to Geraint. "Chieftain," said he, "behold +the maiden for whom thou didst challenge at the tournament; I +bestow her upon thee." "She shall go with me," said Geraint, "to +the court of Arthur, and Arthur and Guenever, they shall dispose +of her as they will." And the next day they proceeded to Arthur's +court. So far concerning Geraint. + + + + + +CHAPTER VI + +GERAINT, THE SON OF ERBIN (Continued) + + +Now this is how Arthur hunted the stag. The men and the dogs were +divided into hunting-parties, and the dogs were let loose upon the +stag. And the last dog that was let loose was the favorite dog of +Arthur; Cavall was his name. And he left all the other dogs behind +him and turned the stag. And at the second turn the stag came +toward the hunting-party of Arthur. And Arthur set upon him; and +before he could be slain by any other, Arthur cut off his head. +Then they sounded the death-horn for slaying and they all gathered +round. + +They came Kadyriath to Arthur and spoke to him. "Lord," said he, +"behold, yonder is Guenever, and none with her save only one +maiden." "Command Gildas, the son of Caw, and all the scholars of +the court," said Arthur, "to attend Guenever to the palace." And +they did so. + +Then they all set forth, holding converse together concerning the +head of the stag, to whom it should be given. One wished that it +should be given to the lady best beloved by him, and another to +the lady whom he loved best. And so they came to the palace. And +when Arthur and Guenever heard them disputing about the head of +the stag, Guenever said to Arthur: "My lord, this is my counsel +concerning the stag's head; let it not be given away until +Geraint, the son of Erbin, shall return from the errand he is +upon." And Guenever told Arthur what that errand was. "Right +gladly shall it be so," said Arthur. And Guenever caused a watch +to be set upon the ramparts for Geraint's coming. And after midday +they beheld an unshapely little man upon a horse, and after him a +dame or a damsel, also on horseback, and after her a knight of +large stature, bowed down, and hanging his head low and +sorrowfully, and clad in broken and worthless armor. + +And before they came near to the gate one of the watch went to +Guenever, and told her what kind of people they saw, and what +aspect they bore. "I know not who they are," said he, "But I +know," said Guenever; "this is the knight whom Geraint pursued, +and methinks that he comes not here by his own free will. But +Geraint has overtaken him, and avenged the insult to the maiden to +the uttermost." And thereupon, behold, a porter came to the spot +where Guenever was. "Lady," said he, "at the gate there is a +knight, and I saw never a man of so pitiful an aspect to look upon +as he. Miserable and broken is the armor that he wears, and the +hue of blood is more conspicuous upon it than its own color." +"Knowest thou his name?" said she. "I do," said he; "he tells me +that he is Edeyrn, the son of Nudd." Then she replied, "I know him +not." + +So Guenever went to the gate to meet him and he entered. And +Guenever was sorry when she saw the condition he was in, even +though he was accompanied by the churlish dwarf. Then Edeyrn +saluted Guenever. "Heaven protect thee," said she. "Lady," said +he, "Geraint, the son of Erbin, thy best and most valiant servant, +greets thee." "Did he meet with thee?" she asked. "Yes," said he, +"and it was not to my advantage; and that was not his fault, but +mine, lady. And Geraint greets thee well; and in greeting thee he +compelled me to come hither to do thy pleasure for the insult +which thy maiden received from the dwarf." "Now where did he +overtake thee?" "At the place where we were jousting and +contending for the sparrow-hawk, in the town which is now called +Cardiff. And it was for the avouchment of the love of the maiden, +the daughter of Earl Ynywl, that Geraint jousted at the +tournament. And thereupon we encountered each other, and he left +me, lady, as thou seest." "Sir," said she, "when thinkest thou +that Geraint will be here?" "To-morrow, lady, I think he will be +here with the maiden." + +Then Arthur came to them. And he saluted Arthur, and Arthur gazed +a long time upon him and was amazed to see him thus. And thinking +that he knew him, he inquired of him, "Art thou Edeyrn, the son of +Nudd?" "I am, lord," said he, "and I have met with much trouble +and received wounds unsupportable." Then he told Arthur all his +adventure. "Well," said Arthur, "from what I hear it behooves +Guenever to be merciful towards thee." "The mercy which thou +desirest, lord," said she. "will I grant to him, since it is as +insulting to thee that an insult should be offered to me as to +thyself." "Thus will it be best to do," said Arthur; "let this man +have medical care until it be known whether he may live. And if he +live, he shall do such satisfaction as shall be judged best by the +men of the court. And if he die, too much will be the death of +such a youth as Edeyrn for an insult to a maiden." "This pleases +me," said Guenever. And Arthur caused Morgan Tud to be called to +him. He was the chief physician. "Take with thee Edeyrn, the son +of Nudd, and cause a chamber to be prepared for him, and let him +have the aid of medicine as thou wouldst do unto myself, if I were +wounded, and let none into his chamber to molest him, but thyself +and thy disciples, to administer to him remedies." "I will do so, +gladly, lord," said Morgan Tud. Then said the steward of the +household, "Whither is it right, lord, to order the maiden?" "To +Guenever and her handmaidens," said he. And the steward of the +household so ordered her. + + "And rising up, he rode to Arthur's court, + And there the queen forgave him easily. + And being young, he changed himself, and grew + To hate the sin that seem'd so like his own + Of Modred, Arthur's nephew, and fell at last + In the great battle fighting for the king." + + --Enid. + +The next day came Geraint towards the court; and there was a watch +set on the ramparts by Guenever, lest he should arrive unawares. +And one of the watch came to Guenever. "Lady," said he, "methinks +that I see Geraint, and a maiden with him. He is on horseback, but +he has his walking gear upon him, and the maiden appears to be in +white, seeming to be clad in a garment of linen." "Assemble all +the women," said Guenever, "and come to meet Geraint, to welcome +him, and wish him joy." And Guenever went to meet Geraint and the +maiden. And when Geraint came to the place where Guenever was, he +saluted her. "Heaven prosper thee," said she, "and welcome to +thee." "Lady," said he, "I earnestly desired to obtain thee +satisfaction, according to thy will; and, behold, here is the +maiden through whom thou hadst thy revenge." "Verily," said +Guenever, "the welcome of Heaven be unto her; and it is fitting +that we should receive her joyfully." Then they went in and +dismounted. And Geraint came to where Arthur was, and saluted him. +"Heaven protect thee," said Arthur, "and the welcome of Heaven be +unto thee. And inasmuch as thou hast vanquished Edeyrn, the son of +Nudd, thou hast had a prosperous career." "Not upon me be the +blame," said Geraint; "it was through the arrogance of Edeyrn, the +son of Nudd, himself, that we were not friends." "Now," said +Arthur, "where is the maiden for whom I heard thou didst give +challenge?" "She is gone with Guenever to her chamber." Then went +Arthur to see the maiden. And Arthur, and all his companions, and +his whole court, were glad concerning the maiden. And certain were +they all, that, had her array been suitable to her beauty, they +had never seen a maid fairer than she. And Arthur gave away the +maiden to Geraint. And the usual bond made between two persons was +made between Geraint and the maiden, and the choicest of all +Guenever's apparel was given to the maiden; and thus arrayed, she +appeared comely and graceful to all who beheld her. And that day +and the night were spent in abundance of minstrelsy, and ample +gifts of liquor, and a multiude of games. And when it was time for +them to go to sleep they went. And in the chamber where the couch +of Arthur and Guenever was, the couch of Geraint and Enid was +prepared. And from that time she became his wife. And the next day +Arthur satisfied all the claimants upon Geraint with bountiful +gifts. And the maiden took up her abode in the palace, and she had +many companions, both men and women, and there was no maiden more +esteemed than she in the island of Britain. + +Then spake Guenever. "Rightly did I judge," said she, "concerning +the head of the stag, that it should not be given to any until +Geraint's return; and behold, here is a fit occasion for bestowing +it. Let it be given to Enid, the daughter of Ynywl, the most +illustrious maiden. And I do not believe that any will begrudge it +her, for between her and every one here there exists nothing but +love and friendship." Much applauded was this by them all, and by +Arthur also. And the head of the stag was given to Enid. And +thereupon her fame increased, and her friends became more in +number than before. And Geraint from that time forth loved the +hunt, and the tournament, and hard encounters; and he came +victorious from them all. And a year, and a second, and a third, +he proceeded thus, until his fame had flown over the face of the +kingdom. + +And, once upon a time, Arthur was holding his court at Caerleon +upon Usk; and behold, there came to him ambassadors, wise and +prudent, full of knowledge and eloquent of speech, and they +saluted Arthur. "Heaven prosper you!" said Arthur; "and whence do +you come?" "We come, lord," said they, "from Cornwall; and we are +ambassadors from Erbin, the son of Custennin, thy uncle, and our +mission is unto thee. And he greets thee well, as an uncle should +greet his nephew, and as a vassal should greet his lord. And he +represents unto thee that he waxes heavy and feeble, and is +advancing in years. And the neighboring chiefs, knowing this, grow +insolent towards him, and covet his land and possessions. And he +earnestly beseeches thee, lord, to permit Geraint, his son, to +return to him, to protect his possessions, and to become +acquainted with his boundaries. And unto him he represents that it +were better for him to spend the flower of his youth and the prime +of his age in preserving his own boundaries, than in tournaments +which are productive of no profit, although he obtains glory in +them." + +"Well," said Arthur, "go and divest yourselves of your +accoutrements, and take food, and refresh yourselves after your +fatigues; and before you go from hence you shall have an answer." +And they went to eat. And Arthur considered that it would go hard +with him to let Geraint depart from him, and from his court; +neither did he think it fair that his cousin should be restrained +from going to protect his dominions and his boundaries, seeing +that his father was unable to do so. No less was the grief and +regret of Guenever, and all her women, and all her damsels, +through fear that the maiden would leave them. And that day and +that night were spent in abundance of feasting. And Arthur told +Geraint the cause of the mission, and of the coming of the +ambassadors to him out of Cornwall. "Truly," said Geraint, "be it +to my advantage or disadvantage, lord, I will do according to thy +will concerning this embassy." "Behold," said Arthur, "though it +grieves me to part with thee, it is my counsel that thou go to +dwell in thine own dominions, and to defend thy boundaries, and +take with thee to accompany thee as many as thou wilt of those +thou lovest best among my faithful ones, and among thy friends, +and among thy companions in arms." "Heaven reward thee! and this +will I do," said Geraint. "What discourse," said Guenever, "do I +hear between you? Is it of those who are to conduct Geraint to his +country?" "It is," said Arthur. "Then is it needful for me to +consider," said she, "concerning companions and a provision for +the lady that is with me." "Thou wilt do well," said Arthur. + +And that night they went to sleep. And the next day the +ambassadors were permitted to depart, and they were told that +Geraint should follow them. And on the third day Geraint set +forth, and many went with him--Gawain, the son of Gwyar, and +Riogoned, the son of the king of Ireland, and Ondyaw, the son of +the Duke of Burgundy, Gwilim, the son of the ruler of the Franks, +Howel, the son of the Earl of Brittany, Perceval, the son of +Evrawk, Gwyr, a judge in the court of Arthur, Bedwyr, the son of +Bedrawd, Kai, the son of Kyner, Odyar, the Frank, and Ederyn, the +son of Nudd. Said Geraint, "I think I shall have enough of +knighthood with me." And they set forth. And never was there seen +a fairer host journeying towards the Severn. And on the other side +of the Severn were the nobles of Erbin, the son of Custennin, and +his foster-father at their head, to welcome Geraint with gladness; +and many of the women of the court, with his mother, came to +receive Enid, the daughter of Ynywl, his wife. And there was great +rejoicing and gladness throughout the whole court, and through all +the country, concerning Geraint, because of the greatness of their +love to him, and of the greatness of the fame which he had gained +since he went from amongst them, and because he was come to take +possession of his dominions, and to preserve his boundaries. And +they came to the court. And in the court they had ample +entertainment, and a multitude of gifts, and abundance of liquor, +and a sufficiency of service, and a variety of games. And to do +honor to Geraint, all the chief men of the country were invited +that night to visit him. And they passed that day and that night +in the utmost enjoyment. And at dawn next day Erbin arose and +summoned to him Geraint, and the noble persons who had borne him +company. And he said to Geraint: "I am a feeble and an aged man, +and whilst I was able to maintain the dominion for thee and for +myself, I did so. But thou art young, and in the flower of thy +vigor and of thy youth. Henceforth do thou preserve thy +possessions." "Truly," said Geraint, "with my consent thou shalt +not give the power over thy dominions at this time into my hands, +and thou shalt not take me from Arthur's court." "Into thy hands +will I give them," said Erbin, "and this day also shalt thou +receive the homage of thy subjects." + +Then said Gawain, "It were better for thee to satisfy those who +have boons to ask, to-day, and to-morrow thou canst receive the +homage of thy dominions." So all that had boons to ask were +summoned into one place. And Kadyriath came to them to know what +were their requests. And every one asked that which he desired. +And the followers of Arthur began to make gifts, and immediately +the men of Cornwall came, and gave also. And they were not long in +giving, so eager was every one to bestow gifts, and of those who +came to ask gifts, none departed unsatisfied. And that day and +that night were spent in the utmost enjoyment. + +And the next day at dawn, Erbin desired Geraint to send messengers +to the men to ask them whether it was displeasing to them that he +should come to receive their homage, and whether they had anything +to object to him. Then Geraint sent ambassadors to the men of +Cornwall to ask them this. And they all said that it would be the +fulness of joy and honor to them for Geraint to come and receive +their homage. So he received the homage of such as were there. And +the day after the followers of Arthur intended to go away. "It is +too soon for you to go away yet," said he; "stay with me until I +have finished receiving the homage of my chief men, who have +agreed to come to me." And they remained with him until he had +done so. Then they set forth towards the court of Arthur. And +Geraint went to bear them company, and Enid also, as far as +Diganwy; there they parted. And Ondyaw, the son of the Duke of +Burgundy, said to Geraint, "Go, now, and visit the uttermost parts +of thy dominions, and see well to the boundaries of thy +territories; and if thou hast any trouble respecting them, send +unto thy companions." "Heaven reward thee!" said Geraint; "and +this will I do." And Geraint journeyed to the uttermost parts of +his dominions. And experienced guides, and the chief men of his +country, went with him. And the furthermost point that they showed +him he kept possession of. + + + + + +CHAPTER VII + +GERAINT, THE SON OF ERBIN (Continued) + + +Geraint, as he had been used to do when he was at Arthur's court, +frequented tournaments. And he became acquainted with valiant and +mighty men, until he had gained as much fame there as he had +formerly done elsewhere. And he enriched his court, and his +companions, and his nobles, with the best horses and the best +arms, and with the best and most valuable jewels, and he ceased +not until his fame had flown over the face of the whole kingdom. + + "Before Geraint, the scourge of the enemy, + I saw steeds white with foam, + And after the shout of battle a fearful torrent." + + --Hen. + +When he knew that it was thus, he began to love ease and pleasure, +for there was no one who was worth his opposing. And he loved his +wife, and liked to continue in the palace with minstrelsy and +diversions. So he began to shut himself up in the chamber of his +wife, and he took no delight in anything besides, insomuch that he +gave up the friendship of his nobles, together with his hunting +and his amusements, and lost the hearts of all the host in his +court. And there was murmuring and scoffing concerning him among +the inhabitants of the palace, on account of his relinquishing so +completely their companionship for the love of his wife. + + "They + Began to scoff and jeer and babble of him + As of a prince whose manhood was all gone, + And molten down in mere uxoriousness." + +These tidings came to Erbin. And when Erbin had heard these +things, he spoke unto Enid, and inquired of her whether it was she +that had caused Geraint to act thus, and to forsake his people and +his hosts. "Not I, by my confession unto Heaven," said she; "there +is nothing more hateful unto me than this." And she knew not what +she should do, for, although it was hard for her to own this to +Geraint, yet was it not more easy for her to listen to what she +heard, without warning Geraint concerning it. And she was very +sorrowful. + +One morning in the summer-time they were upon their couch, and +Geraint lay upon the edge of it. And Enid was without sleep in the +apartment, which had windows of glass; [Footnote: The terms of +admiration in which the older writers invariably speak of GLASS +WINDOWS would be sufficient proof, if other evidence were wanting, +how rare an article of luxury they were in the houses of our +ancestors. They were first introduced in ecclesiastical +architecture, to which they were for a long time confined. Glass +is said not to have been employed in domestic architecture before +the fourteenth century.] and the sun shone upon the couch. And the +clothes had slipped from off his arms and his breast, and he was +asleep. Then she gazed upon the marvellous beauty of his +appearance, and she said, "Alas! and am I the cause that these +arms and this breast have lost their glory, and the warlike fame +which they once so richly enjoyed!" As she said this the tears +dropped from her eyes, and they fell upon his breast. And the +tears she shed and the words she had spoken, awoke him. And +another thing contributed to awaken him, and that was the idea +that it was not in thinking of him that she spoke thus, but that +it was because she loved some other man more than him, and that +she wished for other society. Thereupon Geraint was troubled in +his mind, and he called his squire; and when he came to him, "Go +quickly," said he, "and prepare my horse and my arms, and make +them ready. And do thou rise," said he to Enid, "and apparel +thyself; and cause thy horse to be accoutred, and clothe thee in +the worst riding-dress that thou hast in thy possession. And evil +betide me," said he, "if thou returnest here until thou knowest +whether I have lost my strength so completely as thou didst say. +And if it be so, it will then be easy for thee to seek the society +thou didst wish for of him of whom thou wast thinking." So she +arose, and clothed herself in her meanest garments. "I know +nothing, lord," said she, "of thy meaning." "Neither wilt thou +know at this time," said he. + +Then Geraint went to see Erbin. "Sir," said he, "I am going upon a +quest, and I am not certain when I may come back. Take heed, +therefore, unto thy possessions until my return." "I will do so," +said he; "but it is strange to me that thou shouldst go so +suddenly. And who will proceed with thee, since thou art not +strong enough to traverse the land of Loegyr alone?" "But one +person only will go with me." "Heaven counsel thee, my son," said +Erbin, "and may many attach themselves to thee in Loegyr." Then +went Geraint to the place where his horse was, and it was equipped +with foreign armor, heavy and shining. And he desired Enid to +mount her horse, and to ride forward, and to keep a long way +before him. "And whatever thou mayst see, and whatever thou mayst +hear concerning me," said he, "do thou not turn back. And unless I +speak unto thee, say not thou one word, either." So they set +forward. And he did not choose the pleasantest and most frequented +road, but that which was the wildest and most beset by thieves and +robbers and venomous animals. + +And they came to a high road, which they followed till they saw a +vast forest; and they saw four armed horsemen come forth from the +forest. When the armed men saw them, they said one to another. +"Here is a good occasion for us to capture two horses and armor, +and a lady likewise; for this we shall have no difficulty in doing +against yonder single knight who hangs his head so pensively and +heavily." Enid heard this discourse, and she knew not what she +should do through fear of Geraint, who had told her to be silent. +"The vengeance of Heaven be upon me," said she, "if I would not +rather receive my death from his hand than from the hand of any +other; and though he should slay me, yet will I speak to him, lest +I should have the misery to witness his death." So she waited for +Geraint until he came near to her. "Lord," said she, "didst thou +hear the words of those men concerning thee?" Then he lifted up +his eyes, and looked at her angrily. "Thou hadst only," said he, +"to hold thy peace as I bade thee. I wish but for silence, and not +for warning. And though thou shouldst desire to see my defeat and +my death by the hands of those men, yet do I feel no dread." Then +the foremost of them couched his lance, and rushed upon Geraint. +And he received him, and that not feebly. But he let the thrust go +by him, while he struck the horseman upon the centre of his +shield, in such a manner that his shield was split, and his armor +broken, so that a cubit's length of the shaft of Geraint's lance +passed through his body, and sent him to the earth, the length of +the lance over his horse's crupper. Then the second horseman +attacked him furiously, being wroth at the death of his companion. +But with one thrust Geraint overthrew him also, and killed him as +he had done the other. Then the third set upon him, and he killed +him in like manner. And thus also he slew the fourth. Sad and +sorrowful was the maiden as she saw all this. Geraint dismounted +his horse, and took the arms of the men he had slain, and placed +them upon their saddles, and tied together the reins of their +horses; and he mounted his horse again. "Behold what thou must +do," said he; "take the four horses and drive them before thee, +and proceed forward as I bade thee just now. And say not one word +unto me, unless I speak first unto thee. And I declare unto +Heaven," said he, "if thou doest not thus, it will be to thy +cost." "I will do as far as I can, lord," said she, "according to +thy desire." + +So the maiden went forward, keeping in advance of Geraint, as he +had desired her; and it grieved him as much as his wrath would +permit, to see a maiden so illustrious as she having so much +trouble with the care of the horses. Then they reached a wood, and +it was both deep and vast, and in the wood night overtook them. +"Ah, maiden," said he, "it is vain to attempt proceeding forward." +"Well, lord," said she, "whatever thou wishest, we will do." "It +will be best for us," he answered, "to rest and wait for the day, +in order to pursue our journey." "That we will, gladly," said she. +And they did so. Having dismounted himself, he took her down from +her horse. "I cannot by any means refrain from sleep, through +weariness," said he; "do thou therefore watch the horses, and +sleep not." "I will, lord," said she. Then he went to sleep in his +armor, and thus passed the night, which was not long at that +season. And when she saw the dawn of day appear, she looked around +her to see if he were waking, and thereupon he woke. Then he +arose, and said unto her, "Take the horses and ride on, and keep +straight on as thou didst yesterday." And they left the wood, and +they came to an open country, with meadows on one hand, and mowers +mowing the meadows. And there was a river before them, and the +horses bent down and drank of the water. And they went up out of +the river by a lofty steep; and there they met a slender stripling +with a satchel about his neck, and they saw that there was +something in the satchel, but they knew not what it was. And he +had a small blue pitcher in his hand, and a bowl on the mouth of +the pitcher. And the youth saluted Geraint. "Heaven prosper thee!" +said Geraint; "and whence dost thou come?" "I come," said he, +"from the city that lies before thee. My lord," he added, "will it +be displeasing to thee if I ask whence thou comest also?" "By no +means; through yonder wood did I come." "Thou camest not through +the wood to-day." "No," he replied, "we were in the wood last +night." "I warrant," said the youth, "that thy condition there +last night was not the most pleasant, and that thou hadst neither +meat nor drink." "No, by my faith," said he. "Wilt thou follow my +counsel," said the youth, "and take thy meal from me?" "What sort +of meal?" he inquired. "The breakfast which is sent for yonder +mowers, nothing less than bread and meat and wine, and if thou +wilt, sir, they shall have none of it." "I will," said he, "and +Heaven reward thee for it." + +So Geraint alighted, and the youth took the maiden from off her +horse. Then they washed, and took their repast. And the youth cut +the bread in slices, and gave them drink, and served them withal. +And when they had finished, the youth arose and said to Geraint, +"My lord, with thy permission, I will now go and fetch some food +for the mowers." "Go first to the town," said Geraint, "and take a +lodging for me in the best place that thou knowest, and the most +commodious one for the horses; and take thou whichever horse and +arms thou choosest, in payment for thy service and thy gift." +"Heaven reward thee, lord!" said the youth; "and this would be +ample to repay services much greater than those I have rendered +unto thee." And to the town went the youth, and he took the best +and the most pleasant lodgings that he knew; and after that he +went to the palace, having the horse and armor with him, and +proceeded to the place where the earl was, and told him all his +adventure. "I go now, lord," said he, "to meet the knight, and to +conduct him to his lodging." "Go, gladly," said the earl; "and +right joyfully shall he be received here, if he so come." And the +youth went to meet Geraint, and told him that he would be received +gladly by the earl in his own palace; but he would go only to his +lodgings. And he had a goodly chamber, in which was plenty of +straw and drapery, and a spacious and commodious place he had for +the horses; and the youth prepared for them plenty of provender. +After they had disarrayed themselves, Geraint spoke thus to Enid: +"Go," said he, "to the other side of the chamber, and come not to +this side of the house; and thou mayst call to thee the woman of +the house, if thou wilt." "I will do, lord," said she, "as thou +sayest." Thereupon the man of the house came to Geraint and +welcomed him. And after they had eaten and drank, Geraint went to +sleep, and so did Enid also. + +In the evening, behold, the earl came to visit Geraint, and his +twelve honorable knights with him. And Geraint rose up and +welcomed him. Then they all sat down according to their precedence +in honor. And the earl conversed with Geraint, and inquired of him +the object of his journey. "I have none," he replied, "but to seek +adventures and to follow mine own inclination." Then the earl cast +his eye upon Enid, and he looked at her steadfastly. And he +thought he had never seen a maiden fairer or more comely than she. +And he set all his thoughts and his affections upon her. Then he +asked of Geraint, "Have I thy permission to go and converse with +yonder maiden, for I see that she is apart from thee?" "Thou hast +it gladly," said he. So the earl went to the place where the +maiden was, and spake with her. "Ah! maiden," said he, "it cannot +be pleasant to thee to journey with yonder man." "It is not +unpleasant to me," said she. "Thou hast neither youths nor maidens +to serve thee," said he. "Truly," she replied, "it is more +pleasant for me to follow yonder man, than to be served by youths +and maidens." "I will give thee good counsel," said he: "all my +earldom will I place in thy possession, if thou wilt dwell with +me." + + "Enid, the pilot star of my lone life, + Enid, my early and my only love." + + --Enid. + +"That will I not, by Heaven," she said; "yonder man was the first +to whom my faith was ever pledged; and shall I prove inconstant to +him?" "Thou art in the wrong," said the earl; "if I slay the man +yonder, I can keep thee with me as long as I choose; and when thou +no longer pleasest me, I can turn thee away. But if thou goest +with me by thy own good-will, I protest that our union shall +continue as long as I remain alive." Then she pondered those words +of his, and she considered that it was advisable to encourage him +in his request. "Behold then, chieftain, this is most expedient +for thee to do to save me from all reproach; come here to-morrow +and take me away as though I knew nothing thereof." "I will do +so," said he. So he arose and took his leave, and went forth with +his attendants. And she told not then to Geraint any of the +conversation which she had had with the earl, lest it should rouse +his anger, and cause him uneasiness and care. + +And at the usual hour they went to sleep. And at the beginning of +the night Enid slept a little; and at midnight she arose, and +placed all Geraint's armor together so that it might be ready to +put on. And although fearful of her errand, she came to the side +of Geraint's bed; and she spoke to him softly and gently, saying, +"My lord, arise, and clothe thyself, for these were the words of +the earl to me and his intention concerning me." So she told +Geraint all that had passed. And although he was wroth with her, +he took warning, and clothed himself. And she lighted a candle, +that he might have light to do so. "Leave there the candle," said +he, "and desire the man of the house to come here." Then she went, +and the man of the house came to him. "Dost thou know how much I +owe thee?" asked Geraint. "I think thou owest but little." "Take +the three horses and the three suits of armor." "Heaven reward +thee, lord," said he, "but I spent not the value of one suit of +armor upon thee." "For that reason," said he, "thou wilt be the +richer. And now, wilt thou come to guide me out of the town?" "I +will gladly," said he; "and in which direction dost thou intend to +go?" "I wish to leave the town by a different way from that by +which I entered it." So the man of the lodgings accompanied him as +far as he desired. Then he bade the maiden to go on before him, +and she did so, and went straight forward, and his host returned +home. + +And Geraint and the maiden went forward along the high-road. And +as they journeyed thus, they heard an exceeding loud wailing near +to them. "Stay thou here," said he, "and I will go and see what is +the cause of this wailing." "I will," said she. Then he went +forward into an open glade that was near the road. And in the +glade he saw two horses, one having a man's saddle, and the other +a woman's saddle upon it. And behold there was a knight lying dead +in his armor, and a young damsel in a riding-dress standing over +him lamenting. "Ah, lady," said Geraint, "what hath befallen +thee?" "Behold," she answered, "I journeyed here with my beloved +husband, when lo! three giants came upon us, and without any cause +in the world, they slew him." "Which way went they hence?" said +Geraint. "Yonder by the high-road," she replied. So he returned to +Enid. "Go," said he, "to the lady that is below yonder, and await +me there till I come." She was sad when he ordered her to do thus, +but nevertheless she went to the damsel, whom it was ruth to hear, +and she felt certain that Geraint would never return. + +Meanwhile Geraint followed the giants, and overtook them. And each +of them was greater in stature than three other men, and a huge +club was on the shoulder of each. Then he rushed upon one of them, +and thrust his lance through his body. And having drawn it forth +again, he pierced another of them through likewise. But the third +turned upon him and struck him with his club so that he split his +shield and crushed his shoulder. But Geraint drew his sword and +gave the giant a blow on the crown of his head, so severe, and +fierce, and violent, that his head and his neck were split down to +his shoulders, and he fell dead. So Geraint left him thus and +returned to Enid. And when he reached the place where she was he +fell down lifeless from his horse. Piercing and loud and thrilling +was the cry that Enid uttered. And she came and stood over him +where he had fallen. And at the sound of her cries came the Earl +of Limours, and they who journeyed with him, whom her lamentations +brought out of their road. And the earl said to Enid, "Alas, lady, +what hath befallen thee?" "Ah, good sir," said she, "the only man +I have loved, or ever shall love, is slain." Then he said to the +other, "And what is the cause of thy grief?" "They have slain my +beloved husband also," said she. "And who was it that slew them?" +"Some giants," she answered, "slew my best-beloved, and the other +knight went in pursuit of them, and came back in the state thou +seest." The earl caused the knight that was dead to be buried, but +he thought that there still remained some life in Geraint; and to +see if he yet would live, he had him carried with him in the +hollow of his shield, and upon a bier. And the two damsels went to +the court; and when they arrived there, Geraint was placed upon a +little couch in front of the table that was in the hall. Then they +all took off their traveling-gear, and the earl besought Enid to +do the same, and to clothe herself in other garments. "I will not, +by Heaven," said she. "Ah, lady," said he, "be not so sorrowful +for this matter." "It were hard to persuade me to be otherwise," +said she. "I will act towards thee in such wise that thou needest +not be sorrowful, whether yonder knight live or die. Behold, a +good earldom, together with myself, will I bestow upon thee; be +therefore happy and joyful." "I declare to Heaven," said she, +"that henceforth I shall never be joyful while I live." "Come," +said he, "and eat." "No, by Heaven, I will not." "But, by Heaven, +thou shalt," said he. So he took her with him to the table against +her will, and many times desired her to eat. "I call Heaven to +witness," said she, "that I will not until the man that is upon +yonder bier shall eat likewise." "Thou canst not fulfil that," +said the earl, "yonder man is dead already." "I will prove that I +can," said she. Then he offered her a goblet of liquor. "Drink +this goblet," he said, "and it will cause thee to change thy +mind." "Evil betide me," she answered, "if I drink aught until he +drink also." "Truly," said the earl, "it is of no more avail for +me to be gentle with thee than ungentle." And he gave her a box in +the ear. Thereupon she raised a loud and piercing shriek, and her +lamentations were much greater than they had been before; for she +considered in her mind, that, had Geraint been alive, he durst not +have struck her thus. But, behold, at the sound of her cry, +Geraint revived from his swoon, and he sat upon the bier; and +finding his sword in the hollow of his shield, he rushed to the +place where the earl was, and struck him a fiercely-wounding, +severely-venomous, and sternly-smiting blow upon the crown of his +head, so that he clove him in twain, until his sword was staid by +the table. Then all left the board and fled away. And this was not +so much through fear of the living, as through the dread they felt +at seeing the dead man rise up to slay them. And Geraint looked +upon Enid, and he was grieved for two causes; one was to see that +Enid had lost her color and her wonted aspect; and the other, to +know that she was in the right. "Lady," said he, "knowest thou +where our horses are?" "I know, lord, where thy horse is," she +replied, "but I know not where is the other. Thy horse is in the +house yonder." So he went to the house, and brought forth his +horse, and mounted him, and took up Enid, and placed her upon the +horse with him. And he rode forward. And their road lay between +two hedges; and the night was gaining on the day. And lo! they saw +behind them the shafts of spears betwixt them and the sky, and +they heard the tramping of horses, and the noise of a host +approaching. "I hear something following us," said he, "and I will +put thee on the other side of the hedge." And thus he did. And +thereupon, behold a knight pricked towards him, and couched his +lance. When Enid saw this, she cried out, saying, "O chieftain, +whoever thou art, what renown wilt thou gain by slaying a dead +man?" "O Heaven!" said he, "is it Geraint?" "Yes, in truth," said +she; "and who art thou?" "I am Gwiffert Petit," said he, "thy +husband's ally, coming to thy assistance, for I heard that thou +wast in trouble. Come with me to the court of a son-in-law of my +sister, which is near here, and thou shalt have the best medical +assistance in the kingdom." "I will do so gladly," said Geraint. +And Enid was placed upon the horse of one of Gwiffert's squires, +and they went forward to the baron's palace. And they were +received there with gladness, and they met with hospitality and +attention. The next morning they went to seek physicians; and it +was not long before they came, and they attended Geraint until he +was perfectly well. And while Geraint was under medical care +Gwiffert caused his armor to be repaired, until it was as good as +it had ever been. And they remained there a month and a fortnight. +Then they separated, and Geraint went towards his own dominions, +and thenceforth he reigned prosperously, and his warlike fame and +splendor lasted with renown and honor, both to him and to Enid, +from that time forward. + +[Footnote: Throughout the broad and varied region of romance it +would be difficult to find a character of greater simplicity and +truth than that of Enid, the daughter of Earl Ynywl. Conspicuous +for her beauty and noble bearing, we are at a loss whether more to +admire the patience with which she bore all the hardships she was +destined to undergo or the constancy and affection which finally +achieved the truimph she so richly deserved. + +The character of Enid is admirably sustained through the whole +tale; and as it is more natural, because less overstrained, so +perhaps it is even more touching than that of Griselda, over +which, however, Chaucer has thrown a charm that leads us to forget +the improbability of her story.] + + + + + +CHAPTER VIII + +PWYLL, PRINCE OF DYVED + + +Once upon a time Pwyll was at Narberth, his chief palace, where a +feast had been prepared for him, and with him was a great host of +men. And after the first meal Pwyll arose to walk; and he went to +the top of a mound that was above the palace, and was called +Gorsedd Arberth. "Lord," said one of the court, "it is peculiar to +the mound that whosoever sits upon it cannot go thence without +either receiving wounds or blows, or else seeing a wonder." "I +fear not to receive wounds or blows," said Pwyll; "but as to the +wonder, gladly would I see it. I will therefore go and sit upon +the mound." + +And upon the mound he sat. And while he sat there, they saw a +lady, on a pure white horse of large size, with a garment of +shining gold around her, coming along the highway that led from +the mound. "My men," said Pwyll, "is there any among you who knows +yonder lady?" "There is not, lord," said they. "Go one of you and +meet her, that we may know who she is." And one of them arose, and +as he came upon the road to meet her, she passed by; and he +followed as fast as he could, being on foot, and the greater was +his speed, the further was she from him. And when he saw that it +profited him nothing to follow her, he returned to Pwyll, and said +unto him, "Lord, it is idle for any one in the world to follow her +on foot." "Verily," said Pwyll, "go unto the palace, and take the +fleetest horse that thou seest, and go after her." + +And he took a horse and went forward. And he came to an open, +level plain, and put spurs to his horse; and the more he urged his +horse, the further was she from him. And he returned to the place +where Pwyll was, and said, "Lord, it will avail nothing for any +one to follow yonder lady. I know of no horse in these realms +swifter than this, and it availed me not to pursue her." "Of a +truth," said Pwyll, "there must be some illusion here; let us go +towards the palace." So to the palace they went, and spent the +day. + +And the next day they amused themselves until it was time to go to +meat. And when meat was ended, Pwyll said, "Where are the hosts +that went yesterday to the top of the mound?" "Behold, lord, we +are here," said they. "Let us go," said he, "to the mound, and sit +there. And do thou," said he to the page who tended his horse, +"saddle my horse well, and hasten with him to the road, and bring +also my spurs with thee." And the youth did thus. And they went +and sat upon the mound; and ere they had been there but a short +time, they beheld the lady coming by the same road, and in the +same manner, and at the same pace. "Young man," said Pwyll, "I see +the lady coming; give me my horse." And before he had mounted his +horse she passed him. And he turned after her and followed her. +And he let his horse go bounding playfully, and thought that he +should soon come up with her. But he came no nearer to her than at +first. Then he urged his horse to his utmost speed, yet he found +that it availed not. Then said Pwyll, "O maiden, for the sake of +him whom thou best lovest, stay for me." "I will stay gladly," +said she; "and it were better for thy horse hadst thou asked it +long since." So the maiden stopped; and she threw back that part +of her head-dress which covered her face. Then he thought that the +beauty of all the maidens and all the ladies that he had ever seen +was as nothing compared to her beauty. "Lady," he said, "wilt thou +tell me aught concerning thy purpose?" "I will tell thee," said +she; "my chief quest was to see thee." "Truly," said Pwyll, "this +is to me the most pleasing quest on which thou couldst have come; +and wilt thou tell me who thou art?" "I will tell thee, lord," +said she. "I am Rhiannon, the daughter of Heveydd, and they sought +to give me a husband against my will. But no husband would I have, +and that because of my love for thee; neither will I yet have one, +unless thou reject me; and hither have I come to hear thy answer." +"By Heaven," said Pwyll, "behold this is my answer. If I might +choose among all the ladies and damsels in the world, thee would I +choose." "Verily," said she, "if thou art thus minded, make a +pledge to meet me ere I am given to another." "The sooner I may do +so, the more pleasing will it be to me," said Pwyll; "and +wheresoever thou wilt, there will I meet with thee." "I will that +thou meet me this day twelvemonth at the palace of Heveydd." +"Gladly," said he, "will I keep this tryst." So they parted, and +he went back to his hosts, and to them of his household. And +whatsoever questions they asked him respecting the damsel, he +always turned the discourse upon other matters. + +And when a year from that time was gone, he caused a hundred +knights to equip themselves, and to go with him to the palace of +Heveydd. And he came to the palace, and there was great joy +concerning him, with much concourse of people, and great +rejoicing, and vast preparations for his coming. And the whole +court was placed under his orders. + +And the hall was garnished, and they went to meat, and thus did +they sit: Heveydd was on one side of Pwyll, and Rhiannon on the +other; and all the rest according to their rank. And they ate and +feasted, and talked one with another. And at the beginning of the +carousal after the meat, there entered a tall, auburn-haired +youth, of royal bearing, clothed in a garment of satin. And when +he came into the hall, he saluted Pwyll and his companions. "The +greeting of Heaven be unto thee," said Pwyll; "come thou and sit +down." "Nay," said he, "a suitor am I, and I will do my errand." +"Do so willingly," said Pwyll. "Lord," said he, "my errand is unto +thee, and it is to crave a boon of thee that I come." "What boon +soever thou mayest ask of me, so far as I am able, thou shalt +have." "Ah!" said Rhiannon, "wherefore didst thou give that +answer?" "Has he not given it before the presence of these +nobles?" asked the youth. "My soul," said Pwyll, "what is the boon +thou askest?" "The lady whom best I love is to be thy bride this +night; I come to ask her of thee, with the feast and the banquet +that are in this place." And Pwyll was silent, because of the +promise which he had given. "Be silent as long as thou wilt," said +Rhiannon, "never did man make worse use of his wits than thou hast +done." "Lady," said he, "I knew not who he was." "Behold, this is +the man to whom they would have given me against my will," said +she; "and he is Gawl, the son of Clud, a man of great power and +wealth, and because of the word thou hast spoken, bestow me upon +him, lest shame befall thee." "Lady," said he, "I understand not +thy answer; never can I do as thou sayest." "Bestow me upon him," +said she, "and I will cause that I shall never be his." "By what +means will that be?" asked Pwyll. Then she told him the thought +that was in her mind. And they talked long together. Then Gawl +said, "Lord, it is meet that I have an answer to my request." "As +much of that thou hast asked as it is in my power to give, thou +shalt have," replied Pwyll. "My soul," said Rhiannon unto Gawl, +"as for the feast and the banquet that are here, I have bestowed +them upon the men of Dyved, and the household and the warriors +that are with us. These can I not suffer to be given to any. In a +year from to-night, a banquet shall be prepared for thee in this +palace, that I may become thy bride." + +So Gawl went forth to his possessions, and Pwyll went also back to +Dyved. And they both spent that year until it was the time for the +feast at the palace of Heveydd. Then Gawl, the son of Clud, set +out to the feast that was prepared for him; and he came to the +palace, and was received there with rejoicing. Pwyll, also, the +chief of Dyved, came to the orchard with a hundred knights, as +Rhiannon had commanded him. And Pwyll was clad in coarse and +ragged garments, and wore large, clumsy old shoes upon his feet. +And when he knew that the carousal after the meat had begun, he +went toward the hall; and when he came into the hall he saluted +Gawl, the son of Clud, and his company, both men and women. +"Heaven prosper thee," said Gawl, "and friendly greeting be unto +thee!" "Lord," said he, "may Heaven reward thee! I have an errand +unto thee." "Welcome be thine errand, and if thou ask of me that +which is right, thou shalt have it gladly." "It is fitting," +answered he; "I crave but from want, and the boon I ask is to have +this small bag that thou seest filled with meat." "A request +within reason is this," said he, "and gladly shalt thou have it. +Bring him food." A great number of attendants arose and began to +fill the bag; but for all they put into it, it was no fuller than +at first. "My soul," said Gawl, "will thy bag ever be full?" "It +will not, I declare to Heaven," said he, "for all that may be put +into it, unless one possessed of lands, and domains, and treasure, +shall arise and tread down with both his feet the food that is +within the bag, and shall say, 'Enough has been put therein.'" +Then said Rhiannon unto Gawl, the son of Clud, "Rise up quickly." +"I will willingly arise," said he. So he rose up, and put his two +feet into the bag. And Pwyll turned up the sides of the bag, so +that Gawl was over his head in it. And he shut it up quickly, and +slipped a knot upon the thongs, and blew his horn. And thereupon, +behold, his knights came down upon the palace. And they seized all +the host that had come with Gawl, and cast them into his own +prison. And Pwyll threw off his rags, and his old shoes, and his +tattered array. And as they came in, every one of Pwyll's knights +struck a blow upon the bag, and asked, "What is here?" "A badger," +said they. And in this manner they played, each of them striking +the bag, either with his foot or with a staff. And thus played +they with the bag. And then was the game of Badger in the Bag +first played. + +"Lord," said the man in the bag, "if thou wouldst but hear me, I +merit not to be slain in a bag." Said Heveydd, "Lord, he speaks +truth; it were fitting that thou listen to him, for he deserves +not this." "Verily," said Pwyll, "I will do thy counsel concerning +him." "Behold, this is my counsel then," said Rhiannon. "Thou art +now in a position in which it behooves thee to satisfy suitors and +minstrels. Let him give unto them in thy stead, and take a pledge +from him that he will never seek to revenge that which has been +done to him. And this will be punishment enough." "I will do this +gladly," said the man in the bag. "And gladly will I accept it," +said Pwyll, "since it is the counsel of Heveydd and Rhiannon. Seek +thyself sureties." "We will be for him," said Heveydd, "until his +men be free to answer for him." And upon this he was let out of +the bag, and his liegemen were liberated. "Verily, lord," said +Gawl, "I am greatly hurt, and I have many bruises. With thy leave, +I will go forth. I will leave nobles in my stead to answer for me +in all that thou shalt require." "Willingly," said Pwyll, "mayest +thou do this." So Gawl went to his own possessions. + +And the hall was set in order for Pwyll and the men of his host, +and for them also of the palace, and they went to the tables and +sat down. And as they had sat that time twelvemonth, so sat they +that night. And they ate and feasted, and spent the night in mirth +and tranquility. And the time came that they should sleep, and +Pwyll and Rhiannon went to their chamber. + +And next morning at break of day, "My lord," said Rhiannon, "arise +and begin to give thy gifts unto the minstrels. Refuse no one to- +day that may claim thy bounty." "Thus shall it be gladly," said +Pwyll, "both to-day and every day while the feast shall last." So +Pwyll arose, and he caused silence to be proclaimed, and desired +all the suitors and minstrels to show and to point out what gifts +they desired. And this being done, the feast went on, and he +denied no one while it lasted. And when the feast was ended, Pwyll +said unto Heveydd, "My lord, with thy permission, I will set out +for Dyved to-morrow." "Certainly," said Heveydd; "may Heaven +prosper thee! Fix also a time when Rhiannon shall follow thee." +"By Heaven," said Pwyll, "we will go hence together." "Willest +thou this, lord?" said Heveydd. "Yes, lord," answered Pwyll. + +And the next, day they set forward towards Dyved, and journeyed to +the palace of Narberth, where a feast was made ready for them. And +there came to them great numbers of the chief men and the most +noble ladies of the land, and of these there were none to whom +Rhiannon did not give some rich gift, either a bracelet, or a +ring, or a precious stone. And they ruled the land prosperously +that year and the next. + + + + + +CHAPTER IX + +BRANWEN, THE DAUGHTER OF LLYR + + +Bendigeid Vran, the son of Llyr, was the crowned king of this +island, and he was exalted from the crown of London. And one +afternoon he was at Harlech, in Ardudwy, at his court; and he sat +upon the rock of Harlech, looking over the sea. And with him were +his brother, Manawyddan, the son of Llyr, and his brothers by the +mother's side, Nissyen and Evnissyen, and many nobles likewise, as +was fitting to see around a king. His two brothers by the mother's +side were the sons of Euroswydd, and one of these youths was a +good youth, and of gentle nature, and would make peace between his +kindred, and cause his family to be friends when their wrath was +at the highest, and this one was Nissyen; but the other would +cause strife between his two brothers when they were most at +peace. And as they sat thus they beheld thirteen ships coming from +the south of Ireland, and making towards them; and they came with +a swift motion, the wind being behind them; and they neared them +rapidly. "I see ships afar," said the king, "coming swiftly +towards the land. Command the men of the court that they equip +themselves, and go and learn their intent." So the men equipped +themselves, and went down towards them. And when they saw the +ships near, certain were they that they had never seen ships +better furnished. Beautiful flags of satin were upon them. And, +behold, one of the ships outstripped the others, and they saw a +shield lifted up above the side of the ship, and the point of the +shield was upwards, in token of peace. And the men drew near, that +they might hold converse. Then they put out boats, and came toward +the land. And they saluted the king. Now the king could hear them +from the place where he was upon the rock above their heads. +"Heaven prosper you." said he, "and be ye welcome! To whom do +these ships belong, and who is the chief amongst you?" "Lord," +said they, "Matholch, king of Ireland, is here, and these ships +belong to him." "Wherefore comes he?" asked the king, "and will he +come to the land?" "He is a suitor unto thee, lord," said they, +"and he will not land unless he have his boon." "And what may that +be?" inquired the king. "He desires to ally himself, lord, with +thee," said they, "and he comes to ask Branwen, the daughter of +Llyr, that, if it seem well to thee, the Island of the Mighty +[Footnote: The Island of the Mighty is one of the many names +bestowed upon Britain by the Welsh.] may be leagued with Ireland, +and both become more powerful." "Verily," said he, "let him come +to land, and we will take counsel thereupon." And this answer was +brought to Matholch. "I will go willingly," said he. So he landed, +and they received him joyfully; and great was the throng in the +palace that night, between his hosts and those of the court; and +next day they took counsel, and they resolved to bestow Branwen +upon Matholch. Now she was one of the three chief ladies of this +island, and she was the fairest damsel in the world. + +And they fixed upon Aberfraw as the place where she should become +his bride. And they went thence, and towards Aberfraw the hosts +proceeded, Matholch and his host in their ships, Bendigeid Vran +and his host by land, until they came to Aberfraw. And at Aberfraw +they began the feast, and sat down. And thus sat they: the king of +the Island of the Mighty and Manawyddan, the son of Llyr, on one +side, and Matholch on the other side, and Branwen, the daughter of +Llyr, beside him. And they were not within a house, but under +tents. No house could ever contain Bendigeid Vran. And they began +the banquet, and caroused and discoursed. And when it was more +pleasing to them to sleep than to carouse, they went to rest, and +Branwen became Matholch's bride. + +And next day they arose, and all they of the court, and the +officers began to equip, and to range the horses and the +attendants, and they ranged them in order as far as the sea. + +And, behold, one day Evnissyen, the quarrelsome man, of whom it is +spoken above, came by chance into the place where the horses of +Matholch were, and asked whose horses they might be. "They are the +horses of Matholch, king of Ireland, who is married to Branwen, +thy sister; his horses are they." "And is it thus they have done +with a maiden such as she, and moreover my sister, bestowing her +without my consent? They could have offered no greater insult to +me than this," said he. And thereupon he rushed under the horses, +and cut off their lips at the teeth, and their ears close to their +heads, and their tails close to their backs; and he disfigured the +horses, and rendered them useless. + +And they came with these tidings unto Matholch, saying that the +horses were disfigured and injured, so that not one of them could +ever be of any use again. "Verily, lord," said one, "it was an +insult unto thee, and as such was it meant." "Of a truth, it is a +marvel to me that, if they desire to insult me, they should have +given me a maiden of such high rank, and so much beloved of her +kindred, as they have done." "Lord," said another, "thou seest +that thus it is, and there is nothing for thee to do but to go to +thy ships." And thereupon towards his ships he set out. + +And tidings came to Bendigeid Vran that Matholch was quitting the +court without asking leave, and messengers were sent to inquire of +him wherefore he did so. And the messengers that went were Iddic, +the son of Anarawd, and Heveyd Hir. And these overtook him, and +asked of him what he designed to do, and wherefore he went forth. +"Of a truth," said he, "if I had known, I had not come hither. I +have been altogether insulted; no one had ever worse treatment +than I have had here." "Truly, lord, it was not the will of any +that are of the court," said they, "nor of any that are of the +council, that thou shouldst have received this insult; and as thou +hast been insulted, the dishonor is greater unto Bendigeid Vran +than unto thee." "Verily," said he, "I think so. Nevertheless, he +cannot recall the insult." These men returned with that answer to +the place where Bendigeid Vran was, and they told him what reply +Matholch had given them. "Truly," said he, "there are no means by +which we may prevent his going away at enmity with us that we will +not take." "Well, lord," said they, "send after him another +embassy." "I will do so," said he. "Arise, Manawyddan, son of +Llyr, and Heveyd Hir, and go after him, and tell him that he shall +have a sound horse for every one that has been injured. And beside +that, as an atonement for the insult, he shall have a staff of +silver as large and as tall as himself, and a plate of gold of the +breadth of his face. And show unto him who it was that did this, +and that it was done against my will; but that he who did it is my +brother, and therefore it would be hard for me to put him to +death. And let him come and meet me," said he, "and we will make +peace in any way he may desire." + +The embassy went after Matholch, and told him all these sayings in +a friendly manner; and he listened thereunto. "Men," said he, "I +will take counsel." So to the council he went. And in the council +they considered that, if they should refuse this, they were likely +to have more shame rather than to obtain so great an atonement. +They resolved, therefore, to accept it, and they returned to the +court in peace. + +Then the pavilions and the tents were set in order, after the +fashion of a hall; and they went to meat, and as they had sat at +the beginning of the feast so sat they there. And Matholch and +Bendigeid Vran began to discourse; and, behold, it seemed to +Bendigeid Vran, while they talked, that Matholch was not so +cheerful as he had been before. And he thought that the chieftain +might be sad because of the smallness of the atonement which he +had for the wrong that had been done him. "O man," said Bendigeid +Vran, "thou dost not discourse to-night so cheerfully as thou wast +wont. And if it be because of the smallness of the atonement, thou +shalt add thereunto whatsoever thou mayest choose, and to-morrow I +will pay thee for the horses." "Lord," said he, "Heaven reward +thee!" "And I will enhance the atonement," said Bendigeid Vran, +"for I will give unto thee a caldron, the property of which is, +that if one of thy men be slain to-day, and be cast therein, to- +morrow he will be as well as ever he was at the best, except that +he will not regain his speech." And thereupon he gave him great +thanks, and very joyful was he for that cause. + +That night they continued to discourse as much as they would, and +had minstrelsy and carousing; and when it was more pleasant to +them to sleep than to sit longer, they went to rest. And thus was +the banquet carried on with joyousness; and when it was finished, +Matholch journeyed towards Ireland, and Branwen with him; and they +went from Aber Menei with thirteen ships, and came to Ireland. And +in Ireland was there great joy because of their coming. And not +one great man nor noble lady visited Branwen unto whom she gave +not either a clasp or a ring, or a royal jewel to keep, such as it +was honorable to be seen departing with. And in these things she +spent that year in much renown, and she passed her time +pleasantly, enjoying honor and friendship. And in due time a son +was born unto her, and the name that they gave him was Gwern, the +son of Matholch, and they put the boy out to be nursed in a place +where were the best men of Ireland. + +And, behold, in the second year a tumult arose in Ireland, on +account of the insult which Matholch had received in Wales, and +the payment made him for his horses. And his foster-brothers, and +such as were nearest to him, blamed him openly for that matter. +And he might have no peace by reason of the tumult, until they +should revenge upon him this disgrace. And the vengeance which +they took was to drive away Branwen from the same chamber with +him, and to make her cook for the court; and they caused the +butcher, after he had cut up the meat, to come to her and give her +every day a blow on the ear; and such they made her punishment. + +"Verily, lord," said his men to Matholch, "forbid now the ships +and the ferry-boats, and the coracles, that they go not into +Wales, and such as come over from Wales hither, imprison them, +that they go not back for this thing to be known there." And he +did so; and it was thus for no less than three years. + +And Branwen reared a starling in the cover of the kneading-trough, +and she taught it to speak, and she taught the bird what manner of +man her brother was. And she wrote a letter of her woes, and the +despite with which she was treated, and she bound the letter to +the root of the bird's wing, and sent it toward Wales. And the +bird came to that island; and one day it found Bendigeid Vran at +Caer Seiont in Arvon, conferring there, and it alighted upon his +shoulder, and ruffled its feathers, so that the letter was seen, +and they knew that the bird had been reared in a domestic manner. + +Then Bendigeid Vran took the letter and looked upon it. And when +he had read the letter, he grieved exceedingly at the tidings of +Branwen's woes. And immediately he began sending messengers to +summon the island together. And he caused seven-score and four of +his chief men to come unto him, and he complained to them of the +grief that his sister endured. So they took counsel. And in the +counsel they resolved to go to Ireland, and to leave seven men as +princes at home, and Caradoc, [Footnote: Caractacus.] the son of +Bran, as the chief of them. + +Bendigeid Vran, with the host of which we spoke, sailed towards +Ireland; and it was not far across the sea, and he came to shoal +water. Now the swine-herds of Matholch were upon the sea-shore, +and they came to Matholch. "Lord," said they, "greeting be unto +thee." "Heaven protect you!" said he; "have you any news?" "Lord," +said they, "we have marvellous news. A wood have we seen upon the +sea, in a place where we never yet saw a single tree." "This is +indeed a marvel," said he; "saw you aught else?" "We saw, lord," +said they, "a vast mountain beside the wood, which moved, and +there was a lofty ridge on the top of the mountain, and a lake on +each side of the ridge. And the wood and the mountain, and all +these things, moved." "Verily," said he, "there is none who can +know aught concerning this unless it be Branwen." + +Messengers then went unto Branwen. "Lady," said they, "what +thinkest thou that this is?" "The men of the Island of the Mighty, +who have come hither on hearing of my ill-treatment and of my +woes." "What is the forest that is seen upon the sea?" asked they. +"The yards and the masts of ships," she answered. "Alas!" said +they; "what is the mountain that is seen by the side of the +ships?" "Bendigeid Vran, my brother," she replied, "coming to +shoal water, and he is wading to the land." "What is the lofty +ridge, with the lake on each side thereof?" "On looking towards +this island he is wroth, and his two eyes on each side of his nose +are the two lakes on each side of the ridge." + +The warriors and chief men of Ireland were brought together in +haste, and they took counsel. "Lord," said the neighbors unto +Matholch, "there is no other counsel than this alone. Thou shalt +give the kingdom to Gwern, the son of Branwen his sister, as a +compensation for the wrong and despite that have been done unto +Branwen. And he will make peace with thee." And in the council it +was resolved that this message should be sent to Bendigeid Vran, +lest the country should be destroyed. And this peace was made. And +Matholch caused a great house to be built for Bendigeid Vran, and +his host. Thereupon came the hosts into the house. The men of the +island of Ireland entered the house on the one side, and the men +of the Island of the Mighty on the other. And as soon as they had +sat down, there was concord between them; and the sovereignty was +conferred upon the boy. When the peace was concluded, Bendigeid +Vran called the boy unto him, and from Bendigeid Vran the boy went +unto Manawyddan; and he was beloved by all that beheld him. And +from Manawyddan the boy was called by Nissyen, the son of +Euroswydd, and the boy went unto him lovingly. "Wherefore," said +Evnissyen, "comes not my nephew, the son of my sister, unto me? +Though he were not king of Ireland, yet willingly would I fondle +the boy." "Cheerfully let him go to thee," said Bendigeid Vran; +and the boy went unto him cheerfully. "By my confession to +Heaven," said Evnissyen in his heart, "unthought of is the +slaughter that I will this instant commit." + +Then he arose and took up the boy, and before any one in the house +could seize hold of him he thrust the boy headlong into the +blazing fire. And when Branwen saw her son burning in the fire, +she strove to leap into the fire also, from the place where she +sat between her two brothers. But Bendigeid Vran grasped her with +one hand, and his shield with the other. Then they all hurried +about the house, and never was there made so great a tumult by any +host in one house as was made by them, as each man armed himself. +And while they all sought their arms Bendigeid Vran supported +Branwen between his shield and his shoulder. And they fought. + +Then the Irish kindled a fire under the caldron of renovation, and +they cast the dead bodies into the caldron until it was full; and +the next day they came forth fighting men, as good as before, +except that they were not able to speak. Then when Evnissyen saw +the dead bodies of the men of the Island of the Mighty nowhere +resuscitated, he said in his heart, "Alas! woe is me, that I +should have been the cause of bringing the men of the Island of +the Mighty into so great a strait. Evil betide me if I find not a +deliverance therefrom." And he cast himself among the dead bodies +of the Irish; and two unshod Irishmen came to him, and, taking him +to be one of the Irish, flung him into the caldron. And he +stretched himself out in the caldron, so that he rent the caldron +into four pieces, and burst his own heart also. + +In consequence of this, the men of the Island of the Mighty +obtained such success as they had; but they were not victorious, +for only seven men of them all escaped, and Bendigeid Vran himself +was wounded in the foot with a poisoned dart. Now the men that +escaped were Pryderi, Manawyddan, Taliesin, and four others. + +And Bendigeid Vran commanded them that they should cut off his +head. "And take you my head," said he, "and bear it even unto the +White Mount in London, and bury it there with the face towards +France. And so long as it lies there, no enemy shall ever land on +the island." So they cut off his head, and these seven went +forward therewith. And Branwen was the eighth with them. And they +came to land on Aber Alaw, and they sat down to rest. And Branwen +looked towards Ireland, and towards the Island of the Mighty, to +see if she could descry them. "Alas!" said she, "woe is me that I +was ever born; two islands have been destroyed because of me." +Then she uttered a groan, and there broke her heart. And they made +her a four-sided grave, and buried her upon the banks of the Alaw. + +Then the seven men journeyed forward, bearing the head with them; +and as they went, behold there met them a multitude of men and +women. "Have you any tidings?" said Manawyddan. "We have none," +said they, "save that Caswallawn, [Footnote: Cassivellaunus.] the +son of Beli, has conquered the Island of the Mighty, and is +crowned king in London." "What has become," said they, "of +Caradoc, the son of Bran, and the seven men who were left with him +in this island?" "Caswallawn came upon them, and slew six of the +men, and Caradoc's heart broke for grief thereof." And the seven +men journeyed on towards London, and they buried the head in the +White Mount, as Bendigeid Vran had directed them. [Footnote: There +is a Triad upon the story of the head buried under the White Tower +of London, as a charm against invasion. Arthur, it seems, proudly +disinterred the head, preferring to hold the island by his own +strength alone.] + + + + + +CHAPTER X + +MANAWYDDAN + + +Pwyll and Rhiannon had a son, whom they named Pryderi. And when he +was grown up, Pwyll, his father, died. And Pryderi married Kicva, +the daughter of Gwynn Gloy. + +Now Manawyddan returned from the war in Ireland, and he found that +his cousin had seized all his possessions, and much grief and +heaviness came upon him. "Alas! woe is me!" he exclaimed; "there +is none save myself without a home and a resting-place." "Lord," +said Pryderi, "be not so sorrowful. Thy cousin is king of the +Island of the Mighty, and though he has done thee wrong, thou hast +never been a claimant of land or possessions." "Yea," answered he, +"but although this man is my cousin, it grieveth me to see any one +in the place of my brother, Bendigeid Vran; neither can I be happy +in the same dwelling with him." "Wilt thou follow the counsel of +another?" said Pryderi. "I stand in need of counsel," he answered, +"and what may that counsel be?" "Seven cantrevs belong unto me," +said Pryderi, "wherein Rhiannon, my mother, dwells. I will bestow +her upon thee, and the seven cantrevs with her; and though thou +hadst no possessions but those cantrevs only, thou couldst not +have any fairer than they. Do thou and Rhiannon enjoy them, and if +thou desire any possessions thou wilt not despise these." "I do +not, chieftain," said he. "Heaven reward thee for the friendship! +I will go with thee to seek Rhiannon, and to look at thy +possessions." "Thou wilt do well," he answered; "and I believe +that thou didst never hear a lady discourse better than she, and +when she was in her prime, none was ever fairer. Even now her +aspect is not uncomely." + +They set forth, and, however long the journey, they came at last +to Dyved; and a feast was prepared for them by Rhiannon and Kicva. +Then began Manawyddan and Rhiannon to sit and to talk together; +and his mind and his thoughts became warmed towards her, and he +thought in his heart he had never beheld any lady more fulfilled +of grace and beauty than she. "Pryderi," said he, "I will that it +be as thou didst say." "What saying was that?" asked Rhiannon. +"Lady," said Pryderi, "I did offer thee as a wife to Manawyddan, +the son of Llyr." "By that will I gladly abide," said Rhiannon. +"Right glad am I also," said Manawyddan, "may Heaven reward him +who hath shown unto me friendship so perfect as this!" + +And before the feast was over she became his bride. Said Pryderi, +"Tarry ye here the rest of the feast, and I will go into England +to tender my homage unto Caswallawn, the son of Beli." "Lord," +said Rhiannon, "Caswallawn is in Kent; thou mayest therefore tarry +at the feast, and wait until he shall be nearer." "We will wait," +he answered. So they finished the feast. And they began to make +the circuit of Dyved, and to hunt, and to take their pleasure. And +as they went through the country, they had never seen lands more +pleasant to live in, nor better hunting grounds, nor greater +plenty of honey and fish. And such was the friendship between +these four, that they would not be parted from each other by night +nor by day. + +And in the midst of all this he went to Caswallawn at Oxford, and +tendered his homage; and honorable was his reception there, and +highly was he praised for offering his homage. + +And after his return Pryderi and Manawyddan feasted and took their +ease and pleasure. And they began a feast at Narberth, for it was +the chief palace. And when they had ended the first meal, while +those who served them ate, they arose and went forth, and +proceeded to the Gorsedd, that is, the Mount of Narberth, and +their retinue with them. And as they sat thus, behold a peal of +thunder, and with the violence of the thunder-storm, lo! there +came a fall of mist, so thick that not one of them could see the +other. And after the mist it became light all around. And when +they looked towards the place where they were wont to see the +cattle and herds and dwellings, they saw nothing now, neither +house, nor beast, nor smoke, nor fire, nor man, nor dwelling, but +the buildings of the court empty, and desert, and uninhabited, +without either man or beast within them. And truly all their +companions were lost to them, without their knowing aught of what +had befallen them, save those four only. + +"In the name of Heaven," said Manawyddan, "where are they of the +court, and all my host beside? Let us go and see." + +So they came to the castle, and saw no man, and into the hall, and +to the sleeping-place, and there was none; and in the mead-cellar +and in the kitchen there was naught but desolation. Then they +began to go through the land, and all the possessions that they +had; and they visited the houses and dwellings, and found nothing +but wild beasts. And when they had consumed their feast and all +their provisions, they fed upon the prey they killed in hunting, +and the honey of the wild swans. + +And one morning Pryderi and Manawyddan rose up to hunt, and they +ranged their dogs and went forth. And some of the dogs ran before +them, and came to a bush which was near at hand; but as soon as +they were come to the bush, they hastily drew back, and returned +to the men, their hair bristling up greatly. "Let us go near to +the bush," said Pryderi, "and see what is in it." And as they came +near, behold, a wild boar of a pure white color rose up from the +bush. Then the dogs, being set on by the men, rushed towards him; +but he left the bush, and fell back a little way from the men, and +made a stand against the dogs, without retreating from them, until +the men had come near. And when the men came up, he fell back a +second time, and betook him to flight. Then they pursued the boar +until they beheld a vast and lofty castle, all newly built, in a +place where they had never before seen either stone or building. +And the boar ran swiftly into the castle, and the dogs after him. +Now when the boar and the dogs had gone into the castle, the men +began to wonder at finding a castle in a place where they had +never before seen any building whatsoever. And from the top of the +Gorsedd they looked and listened for the dogs. But so long as they +were there, they heard not one of the dogs, nor aught concerning +them. + +"Lord," said Pryderi, "I will go into the castle to get tidings of +the dogs." "Truly," he replied, "thou wouldst be unwise to go into +this castle, which thou hast never seen till now. If thou wouldst +follow my counsel, thou wouldst not enter therein. Whosoever has +cast a spell over this land, has caused this castle to be here." +"Of a truth," answered Pryderi, "I cannot thus give up my dogs." +And for all the counsel that Manawyddan gave him, yet to the +castle he went. + +When he came within the castle, neither man nor beast, nor boar, +nor dogs, nor house, nor dwelling, saw he within it. But in the +centre of the castle-floor he beheld a fountain with marble-work +around it, and on the margin of the fountain a golden bowl upon a +marble slab, and chains hanging from the air, to which he saw no +end. + +And he was greatly pleased with the beauty of the gold, and with +the rich workmanship of the bowl; and he went up to the bowl, and +laid hold of it. And when he had taken hold of its his hands stuck +to the bowl, and his feet to the slab on which the bowl was +placed; and all his joyousness forsook him, so that he could not +utter a word. And thus he stood. + +And Manawyddan waited for him till near the close of the day. And +late in the evening, being certain that he should have no tidings +of Pryderi or the dogs, he went back to the palace. And as he +entered, Rhiannon looked at him. "Where," said she, "are thy +companion and thy dogs?" "Behold," he answered, "the adventure +that has befallen me." And he related it all unto her. "An evil +companion hast thou been," said Rhiannon, "and a good companion +hast thou lost." And with that word she went out, and proceeded +towards the castle, according to the direction which he gave her. +The gate of the castle she found open. She was nothing daunted, +and she went in. And as she went in, she perceived Pryderi laying +hold of the bowl, and she went towards him. "O my lord," said she, +"what dost thou here?" And she took hold of the bowl with him; and +as she did so, her hands also became fast to the bowl, and her +feet to the slab, and she was not able to utter a word. And with +that, as it became night, lo! there came thunder upon them, and a +fall of mist; and thereupon the castle vanished, and they with it. + +When Kicva, the daughter of Gwynn Gloy, saw that there was no one +in the palace but herself and Manawyddan, she sorrowed so that she +cared not whether she lived or died. And Manawyddan saw this. +"Thou art in the wrong," said he, "if through fear of me thou +grievest thus. I call Heaven to witness that thou hast never seen +friendship more pure than that which I will bear thee as long as +Heaven will that thou shouldst be thus. I declare to thee, that, +were I in the dawn of youth, I would keep my faith unto Pryderi, +and unto thee also will I keep it. Be there no fear upon thee, +therefore." "Heaven reward thee!" she said; "and that is what I +deemed of thee." And the damsel thereupon took courage, and was +glad. + +"Truly, lady," said Manawyddan, "it is not fitting for us to stay +here; we have lost our dogs, and cannot get food. Let us go into +England; it is easiest for us to find support there." "Gladly, +lord," said she, "we will do so." And they set forth together to +England. + +"Lord," said she, "what craft wilt thou follow? Take up one that +is seemly." "None other will I take," answered he, "but that of +making shoes." "Lord," said she, "such a craft becomes not a man +so nobly born as thou." "By that however will I abide," said he. +"I know nothing thereof," said Kicva. "But I know," answered +Manawyddan, "and I will teach thee to stitch. We will not attempt +to dress the leather, but we will buy it ready dressed, and will +make the shoes from it." + +So they went into England, and went as far as Hereford; and they +betook themselves to making shoes. And he began by buying the best +cordwain that could be had in the town, and none other would buy. +And he associated himself with the best goldsmith in the town, and +caused him to make clasps for the shoes, and to gild the clasps; +and he marked how it was done until he learned the method. And +therefore is he called one of the three makers of gold shoes. And +when they could be had from him, not a shoe nor hose was bought of +any of the cordwainers in the town. But when the cordwainers +perceived that their gains were failing (for as Manawyddan shaped +the work, so Kicva stitched it), they came together and took +counsel, and agreed that they would slay them. And he had warning +thereof, and it was told him how the cordwainers had agreed +together to slay him. + +"Lord," said Kicva, "wherefore should this be borne from these +boors?" "Nay," said he, "we will go back unto Dyved." So towards +Dyved they set forth. + +Now Manawyddan, when he set out to return to Dyved, took with him +a burden of wheat. And he proceeded towards Narberth, and there he +dwelt. And never was he better pleased than when he saw Narberth +again, and the lands where he had been wont to hunt with Pryderi +and with Rhiannon. And he accustomed himself to fish, and to hunt +the deer in their covert. And then he began to prepare some +ground, and he sowed a croft, and a second, and a third. And no +wheat in the world ever sprung up better. And the three crofts +prospered with perfect growth, and no man ever saw fairer wheat +than it. + +And thus passed the seasons of the year until the harvest came. +And he went to look at one of his crofts, and, behold, it was +ripe. "I will reap this to-morrow," said he. And that night he +went back to Narberth, and on the morrow, in the gray dawn, he +went to reap the croft; and when he came there, he found nothing +but the bare straw. Every one of the ears of the wheat was cut off +from the stalk, and all the ears carried entirely away, and +nothing but the straw left. And at this he marvelled greatly. + +Then he went to look at another croft, and, behold, that also was +ripe. "Verily," said he, "this will I reap to-morrow." And on the +morrow he came with the intent to reap it; and when he came there, +he found nothing but the bare straw. "O gracious Heaven!" he +exclaimed. "I know that whosoever has begun my ruin is completing +it, and has also destroyed the country with me." + +Then he went to look at the third croft; and when he came there, +finer wheat had there never been seen, and this also was ripe. +"Evil betide me," said he, "if I watch not here to-night. Whoever +carried off the other corn will come in like manner to take this, +and I will know who it is." And he told Kicva all that had +befallen. "Verily," said she, "what thinkest thou to do?" "I will +watch the croft to-night," said he. And he went to watch the +croft. + +And at midnight he heard something stirring among the wheat; and +he looked, and behold, the mightiest host of mice in the world, +which could neither be numbered nor measured. And he knew not what +it was until the mice had made their way into the croft, and each +of them, climbing up the straw, and bending it down with its +weight, had cut off one of the ears of wheat, and had carried it +away, leaving there the stalk; and he saw not a single straw there +that had not a mouse to it. And they all took their way, carrying +the ears with them. + +In wrath and anger did he rush upon the mice; but he could no more +come up with them than if they had been gnats or birds of the air, +except one only, which, though it was but sluggish, went so fast +that a man on foot could scarce overtake it. And after this one he +went, and he caught it, and put it in his glove, and tied up the +opening of the glove with a string, and kept it with him, and +returned to the palace. Then he came to the hall where Kicva was, +and he lighted a fire, and hung the glove by the string upon a +peg. "What hast thou there, lord?" said Kicva. "A thief," said he, +"that I found robbing me." "What kind of a thief may it be, lord, +that thou couldst put into thy glove?" said she. Then he told her +how the mice came to the last of the fields in his sight. "And one +of them was less nimble than the rest, and is now in my glove; to- +morrow I will hang it." "My lord," said she, "this is marvellous; +but yet it would be unseemly for a man of dignity like thee to be +hanging such a reptile as this." "Woe betide me," said he, "if I +would not hang them all, could I catch them, and such as I have I +will hang." "Verily, lord," said she, "there is no reason that I +should succor this reptile, except to prevent discredit unto thee. +Do therefore, lord, as thou wilt." + +Then he went to the Mound of Narberth, taking the mouse with him. +And he set up two forks on the highest part of the mound. And +while he was doing this, behold, he saw a scholar coming towards +him, in old and poor and tattered garments. And it was now seven +years since he had seen in that place either man or beast, except +those four persons who had remained together until two of them +were lost. + +"My lord," said the scholar, "good-day to thee." "Heaven prosper +thee, and my greeting be unto thee! And whence dost thou come, +scholar?" asked he. "I come, lord, from singing in England; and +wherefore dost thou inquire?" "Because for the last seven years," +answered he, "I have seen no man here save four secluded persons, +and thyself this moment." "Truly, lord," said he, "I go through +this land unto mine own. And what work art thou upon, lord?" "I am +hanging a thief that I caught robbing me," said he. "What manner +of thief is that?" asked the scholar. "I see a creature in thy +hand like unto a mouse, and ill does it become a man of rank equal +to thine to touch a reptile such as this. Let it go forth free." +"I will not let it go free, by Heaven," said he; "I caught it +robbing me, and the doom of a thief will I inflict upon it, and I +will hang it." "Lord," said he, "rather than see a man of rank +equal to thine at such a work as this, I would give thee a pound, +which I have received as alms, to let the reptile go forth free." +"I will not let it go free," said he, "neither will I sell it." +"As thou wilt, lord," he answered; "I care naught." And the +scholar went his way. + +And as he was placing the cross-beam upon the two forks, behold, a +priest came towards him, upon a horse covered with trappings. +"Good day to thee, lord," said he. "Heaven prosper thee!" said +Manawyddan; "thy blessing." "The blessing of Heaven be upon thee! +And what, lord, art thou doing?" "I am hanging a thief that I +caught robbing me," said he. "What manner of thief, lord?" asked +he. "A creature," he answered, "in form of a mouse. It has been +robbing me, and I am inflicting upon it the doom of a thief." +"Lord," said he, "rather than see thee touch this reptile, I would +purchase its freedom." "By my confession to Heaven, neither will I +sell it nor set it free." "It is true, lord, that it is worth +nothing to buy; but rather than see thee defile thyself by +touching such a reptile as this, I will give thee three pounds to +let it go." "I will not, by Heaven," said he, "take any price for +it. As it ought, so shall it be hanged." And the priest went his +way. + +Then he noosed the string around the mouse's neck, and as he was +about to draw it up, behold, he saw a bishop's retinue, with his +sumpter-horses and his attendants. And the bishop himself came +towards him. And he stayed his work. "Lord Bishop," said he, "thy +blessing." "Heaven's blessing be unto thee!" said he. "What work +art thou upon?" "Hanging a thief that I caught robbing me," said +he. "Is not that a mouse that I see in thy hand?" "Yes," answered +he, "and she has robbed me." "Ay," said he, "since I have come at +the doom of this reptile I will ransom it of thee. I will give +thee seven pounds for it, and that rather than see a man of rank +equal to thine destroying so vile a reptile as this. Let it loose, +and thou shalt have the money." "I declare to Heaven that I will +not let it loose." "If thou wilt not loose it for this, I will +give thee four and twenty pounds of ready money to set it free." +"I will not set it free, by Heaven, for as much again," said he. +"If thou wilt not set it free for this, I will give thee all the +horses that thou seest in this plain, and the seven loads of +baggage, and the seven horses that they are upon." "By Heaven, I +will not," he replied. "Since for this thou wilt not set it free, +do so at what price soever thou wilt." "I will that Rhiannon and +Pryderi be free," said he. "That thou shalt have," he answered. +"Not yet will I loose the mouse, by Heaven." "What then wouldst +thou?" "That the charm and the illusion be removed from the seven +cantrevs of Dyved." "This shalt thou have also; set therefore the +mouse free." "I will not set it free, by Heaven," said he, "till I +know who the mouse may be." "She is my wife." "Wherefore came she +to me?" "To despoil thee," he answered. "I am Lloyd, the son of +Kilwed, and I cast the charm over the seven cantrevs of Dyved. And +it was to avenge Gawl, the son of Clud, from the friendship I had +towards him, that I cast the charm. And upon Pryderi did I avenge +Gawl, the son of Clud, for the game of Badger in the Bag, that +Pwyll, the son of Auwyn, played upon him. And when it was known +that thou wast come to dwell in the land, my household came and +besought me to transform them into mice, that they might destroy +thy corn. And they went the first and the second night, and +destroyed thy two crops. And the third night came unto me my wife +and the ladies of the court, and besought me to transform them. +And I transformed them. Now she is not in her usual health. And +had she been in her usual health, thou wouldst not have been able +to overtake her; but since this has taken place, and she has been +caught, I will restore to thee Pryderi and Rhiannon, and I will +take the charm and illusion from off Dyved. Set her therefore +free." "I will not set her free yet." "What wilt thou more?" he +asked. "I will that there be no more charm upon the seven cantrevs +of Dyved, and that none shall be put upon it henceforth; moreover, +that vengeance be never taken for this, either upon Pryderi or +Rhiannon, or upon me." "All this shalt thou have. And truly thou +hast done wisely in asking this. Upon thy head would have lit all +this trouble." "Yea," said he, "for fear thereof was it that I +required this." "Set now my wife at liberty." "I will not," said +he, "until I see Pryderi and Rhiannon with me free." "Behold, here +they come," he answered. + +And thereupon behold Pryderi and Rhiannon. And he rose up to meet +them, and greeted them, and sat down beside them. "Ah, chieftain, +set now my wife at liberty," said the bishop. "Hast thou not +received all thou didst ask?" "I will release her, gladly," said +he. And thereupon he set her free. + +Then he struck her with a magic wand, and she was changed back +into a young woman, the fairest ever seen. "Look round upon thy +land," said he, "and thou wilt see it all tilled and peopled as it +was in its best estate." And he rose up and looked forth. And when +he looked he saw all the lands tilled, and full of herds and +dwellings. + +And thus ends this portion of the Mabinogi. + +The following allusions to the preceding story are found in a +letter of the poet Southey to John Rickman, Esq., dated June 6th, +1802: + +"You will read the Mabinogeon, concerning which I ought to have +talked to you. In the last, that most odd and Arabian-like story +of the mouse, mention is made of a begging scholar, that helps to +the date; but where did the Cymri get the imagination that could +produce such a tale? That enchantment of the basin hanging by the +chain from heaven is in the wildest spirit of the Arabian Nights. +I am perfectly astonished that such fictions should exist in +Welsh. They throw no light on the origin of romance, everything +being utterly dissimilar to what we mean by that term, but they do +open a new world of fiction; and if the date of their language be +fixed about the twelfth or thirteenth century, I cannot but think +the mythological substance is of far earlier date; very probably +brought from the East by some of the first settlers or +conquerors." + + + + + +CHAPTER XI + +KILWICH AND OLWEN + + +Kilydd, a son of Prince Kelyddon, desired a wife as a helpmate, +and the wife that he chose was Goleudid, the daughter of Prince +Anlawd. And after their union the people put up prayers that they +might have an heir. And they had a son through the prayers of the +people; and called his name Kilwich. + +After this the boy's mother, Goleudid, the daughter of Prince +Anlawd, fell sick. Then she called her husband to her, and said to +him, "Of this sickness I shall die, and thou wilt take another +wife. Now wives are the gift of the Lord, but it would be wrong +for thee to harm thy son. Therefore I charge thee that thou take +not a wife until thou see a briar with two blossoms upon my +grave." And this he promised her. Then she besought him to dress +her grave every year, that no weeds might grow thereon. So the +queen died. Now the king sent an attendant every morning to see if +anything were growing upon the grave. And at the end of the +seventh year they neglected that which they had promised to the +queen. + +One day the king went to hunt; and he rode to the place of burial, +to see the grave, and to know if it were time that he should take +a wife: and the King saw the briar. And when he saw it, the king +took counsel where he should find a wife. Said one of his +counsellors, "I know a wife that will suit thee well; and she is +the wife of King Doged." And they resolved to go to seek her; and +they slew the king, and brought away his wife. And they conquered +the kings' lands. And he married the widow of King Doged, the +sister of Yspadaden Penkawr. + +And one day his stepmother said to Kilwich, "It were well for thee +to have a wife." "I am not yet of an age to wed," answered the +youth. Then said she unto him, "I declare to thee that it is thy +destiny not to be suited with a wife until thou obtain Olwen, the +daughter of Yspadaden Penkawr." And the youth blushed, and the +love of the maiden diffused itself through all his frame, although +he had never seen her. And his father inquired of him, "What has +come over thee, my son, and what aileth thee?" "My stepmother has +declared to me that I shall never have a wife until I obtain +Olwen, the daughter of Yspadaden Penkawr." "That will be easy for +thee," answered his father. "Arthur is thy cousin. Go, therefore, +unto Arthur, to cut thy hair, and ask this of him as a boon." + +And the youth pricked forth upon a steed with head dappled gray, +four winters old, firm of limb, with shell-formed hoofs, having a +bridle of linked gold on his head, and upon him a saddle of costly +gold. And in the youth's hand were two spears of silver, sharp, +well-tempered, headed with steel, three ells in length, of an +edge to wound the wind, and cause blood to flow, and swifter than +the fall of the dew-drop from the blade of reed-grass, when the +dew of June is at the heaviest. A gold-hilted sword was upon his +thigh, the blade of which was gilded, bearing a cross of inlaid +gold of the hue of the lightning of heaven. His war-horn was of +ivory. Before him were two brindled, white-breasted greyhounds, +having strong collars of rubies about their necks, reaching from +the shoulder to the ear. And the one that was upon the left side +bounded across to the right side, and the one on the right to the +left, and, like two sea-swallows, sported around him. And his +courser cast up four sods, with his four hoofs, like four swallows +in the air, about his head, now above, now below. About him was a +four-cornered cloth of purple, and an apple of gold was at each +corner, and every one of the apples was of the value of an hundred +kine. And there was precious gold of the value of three hundred +kine upon his shoes, and upon his stirrups, from his knee to the +tip of his toe. And the blade of grass bent not beneath him, so +light was his courser's tread, as he journeyed toward the gate of +Arthur's palace. + +Spoke the youth: "Is there a porter?" "There is; and if thou +holdest not thy peace, small will be thy welcome. I am Arthur's +porter every first day of January." "Open the portal." "I will not +open it." "Wherefore not?" "The knife is in the meat, and the +drink is in the horn, and there is revelry in Arthur's hall; and +none may enter therein but the son of a king of a privileged +country, or a craftsman bringing his craft. But there will be +refreshment for thy dogs and for thy horse; and for thee there +will be collops cooked and peppered, and luscious wine, and +mirthful songs; and food for fifty men shall be brought unto thee +in the guest-chamber, where the stranger and the sons of other +countries eat, who come not into the precincts of the palace of +Arthur. Thou wilt fare no worse there than thou wouldst with +Arthur in the court. A lady shall smooth thy couch, and shall lull +thee with songs; and early to-morrow morning, when the gate is +open for the multitude that came hither to-day, for thee shall it +be opened first, and thou mayest sit in the place that thou shalt +choose in Arthur's hall, from the upper end to the lower." Said +the youth: "That will I not do. If thou openest the gate, it is +well. If thou dost not open it, I will bring disgrace upon thy +lord, and evil report upon thee. And I will set up three shouts at +this very gate, than which none were ever heard more deadly." +"What clamor soever thou mayest make," said Glewlwyd, the porter, +"against the laws of Arthur's palace, shalt thou not enter +therein, until I first go and speak with Arthur." + +Then Glewlwyd went into the hall. And Arthur said to him, "Hast +thou news from the gate?" "Half of my life is passed," said +Glewlwyd, "and half of thine. I was heretofore in Kaer Se and +Asse, in Sach and Salach, in Lotor and Fotor, and I have been in +India the Great and India the Lesser, and I have also been in +Europe and Africa, and in the islands of Corsica, and I was +present when thou didst conquer Greece in the East. Nine supreme +sovereigns, handsome men, saw we there, but never did I behold a +man of equal dignity with him who is now at the door of the +portal." Then said Arthur: "If walking thou didst enter here, +return thou running. It is unbecoming to keep such a man as thou +sayest he is in the wind and the rain." Said Kay: "By the hand of +my friend, if thou wouldst follow my counsel, thou wouldst not +break through the laws of the court because of him." "Not so, +blessed Kay," said Arthur; "it is an honor to us to be resorted +to, and the greater our courtesy, the greater will be our renown +and our fame and our glory." + +And Glewlwyd came to the gate, and opened the gate before Kilwich: +and although all dismounted upon the horse-block at the gate, yet +did he not dismount, but he rode in upon his charger. Then said +he, "Greeting be unto thee, sovereign ruler of this island, and be +this greeting no less unto the lowest than unto the highest, and +be it equally unto thy guests, and thy warriors, and thy +chieftains; let all partake of it as completely as thyself. And +complete be thy favor, and thy fame, and thy glory, throughout all +this island." "Greeting unto thee also," said Arthur; "sit thou +between two of my warriors, and thou shalt have minstrels before +thee, and thou shalt enjoy the privileges of a king born to a +throne, as long as thou remainest here. And when I disperse my +presents to the visitors and strangers in this court, they shall +be in thy hand at my commencing." Said the youth, "I came not here +to consume meat and drink; but if I obtain the boon that I seek, I +will requite it thee, and extol thee; but if I have it not, I will +bear forth thy dispraise to the four quarters of the world, as far +as thy renown has extended." Then said Arthur, "Since thou wilt +not remain here, chieftain, thou shalt receive the boon, +whatsoever thy tongue may name, as far as the wind dries, and the +rain moistens, and the sun revolves, and the sea encircles, and +the earth extends; save only my ship Prydwen, and my mantle, and +Caliburn, my sword, and Rhongomyant, my lance, and Guenever, my +wife. By the truth of Heaven, thou shalt have it cheerfuly, name +what thou wilt." "I would that thou bless my hair," said he. "That +shall be granted thee." + +And Arthur took a golden comb, and scissors whereof the loops were +of silver, and he combed his hair. And Arthur inquired of him who +he was; "for my heart warms unto thee, and I know that thou art +come of my blood. Tell me, therefore, who thou art." "I will tell +thee," said the youth. "I am Kilwich, the son of Kilydd, the son +of Prince Kelyddon, by Goleudyd, my mother, the daughter of Prince +Anlawd." "That is true," said Arthur; "thou art my cousin. +Whatsoever boon thou mayest ask, thou shalt receive, be it what it +may that thy tongue shall name." "Pledge the truth of Heaven and +the faith of thy kingdom thereof." "I pledge it thee gladly." "I +crave of thee, then, that thou obtain for me Olwen, the daughter +of Yspadaden Penkawr, to wife; and this boon I likewise seek at +the hands of thy warriors. I seek it from Kay and from Bedwyr; and +from Gwynn, the son of Nudd, and Gadwy, the son of Geraint, and +Prince Flewddur Flam and Iona, king of France, and Sel, the son of +Selgi, and Taliesin, the chief of the bards, and Geraint, the son +of Erbin, Garanwyn, the son of Kay, and Amren, the son of Bedwyr, +Ol, the son of Olwyd, Bedwin, the bishop, Guenever, the chief +lady, and Guenhywach, her sister, Morved, the daughter of Urien, +and Gwenlian Deg, the majestic maiden, Creiddylad, [Footnote: +Creiddylad is no other than Shakspeare's Cordelia, whose father, +King Lear, is by the Welsh authorities called indiscriminately +Llyr or Lludd. All the old chronicles give the story of her +devotion to her aged parent, but none of them seem to have been +aware that she is destined to remain with him till the day of +doom, whilst Gwyn ap Nudd, the king of the fairies, and Gwythyr op +Greidiol, fight for her every first of May, and whichever of them +may be fortunate enough to be the conqueror at that time will +obtain her as a bride.] the daughter of Lludd, the constant +maiden, and Ewaedah, the daughter of Kynvelyn, [Footnote: The +Welsh have a fable on the subject of the half man, taken to be +illustrative of the force of habit. In this allegory Arthur is +supposed to be met by a sprite, who appears at first in a small +and indistinct form, but who, on approaching nearer, increases in +size, and, assuming the semblance of half a man, endeavors to +provoke the king to wrestle. Despising his weakness, and +considering that he should gain no credit by the encounter, Arthur +refuses to do so, and delays the contest until at length the half +man (Habit) becomes so strong that it requires his utmost efforts +to overcome him.] the half-man." All these did Kilwich, the son of +Kilydd, adjure to obtain his boon. + +Then said Arthur, "O chieftain, I have never heard of the maiden +of whom thou speakest, nor of her kindred, but I will gladly send +messengers in search of her. Give me time to seek her." And the +youth said, "I will willingly grant from this night to that at the +end of the year to do so." Then Arthur sent messengers to every +land within his dominions to seek for the maiden, and at the end +of the year Arthur's messengers returned without having gained any +knowledge or intelligence concerning Olwen, more than on the first +day. Then said Kilwich, "Every one has received his boon, and I +yet lack mine. I will depart, and bear away thy honor with me." +Then said Kay, "Rash chieftain! dost thou reproach Arthur? Go with +us, and we will not part until thou dost either confess that the +maiden exists not in the world, or until we obtain her." Thereupon +Kay rose up. And Arthur called Bedwyr, who never shrank from any +enterprise upon which Kay was bound. None were equal to him in +swiftness throughout this island except Arthur alone; and although +he was one handed; three warriors could not shed blood faster than +he on the field of battle. + +And Arthur called to Kyndelig, the guide, "Go thou upon this +expedition with the chieftain." For as good a guide was he in a +land which he had never seen as he was in his own. + +He called Gurhyr Gwalstat, because he knew all tongues. + +He called Gawain, the son of Gwyar, because he never returned home +without achieving the adventure of which he went in quest. + +And Arthur called Meneu, the son of Teirgwed, in order that, if +they went into a savage country, he might cast a charm and an +illusion over them, so that none might see them, whilst they could +see every one. + +They journeyed until they came to a vast open plain, wherein they +saw a great castle, which was the fairest of the castles of the +world. And when they came before the castle, they beheld a vast +flock of sheep. And upon the top of a mound there was a herdsman +keeping the sheep. And a rug made of skins was upon him, and by +his side was a shaggy mastiff, larger than a steed nine winters +old. + +Then said Kay, "Gurhyr Gwalstat, go thou and salute yonder man." +"Kay," said he, "I engaged not to go further than thou thyself." +"Let us go then together." answered Kay. Said Meneu, "Fear not to +go thither, for I will cast a spell upon the dog, so that he shall +injure no one." And they went up to the mound whereon the herdsman +was, and they said to him, "How dost thou fare, herdsman?" "Not +less fair be it to you than to me." "Whose are the sheep that thou +dost keep, and to whom does yonder castle belong?" "Stupid are ye, +truly! not to know that this is the castle of Yspadaden Penkawr. +And ye also, who are ye?" "We are an embassy from Arthur, come to +seek Olwen, the daughter of Yspadaden Penkawr." "O men! the mercy +of Heaven be upon you; do not that for all the world. None who +ever came hither on this quest has returned alive." And the +herdsman rose up. And as he rose Kilwich gave unto him a ring of +gold. And he went home and gave the ring to his spouse to keep. +And she took the ring when it was given her, and she said, "Whence +came this ring, for thou art not wont to have good fortune." "O +wife, him to whom this ring belonged thou shalt see here this +evening." "And who is he?" asked the woman. "Kilwich, the son of +Kilydd, by Goleudid, the daughter of Prince Anlawd, who is come to +seek Olwen as his wife." And when she heard that, she had joy that +her nephew, the son of her sister, was coming to her, and sorrow, +because she had never known any one depart alive who had come on +that quest. + +And the men went forward to the gate of the herdsman's dwelling. +And when she heard their footsteps approaching, she ran out with +joy to meet them. And Kay snatched a billet out of the pile. And +when she met them, she sought to throw her arms about their necks. +And Kay placed the log between her two hands, and she squeezed it +so that it became a twisted coil. "O woman," said Kay, "if thou +hadst squeezed me thus, none could ever again have set their +affections on me. Evil love were this." They entered into the +house and were served; and soon after, they all went forth to +amuse themselves. Then the woman opened a stone chest that was +before the chimney-corner, and out of it arose a youth with +yellow, curling hair. Said Gurhyr, "It is a pity to hide this +youth. I know that it is not his own crime that is thus visited +upon him." "This is but a remnant," said the woman. "Three and +twenty of my sons has Yspadaden Penkawr slain, and I have no more +hope of this one than of the others." Then said Kay, "Let him come +and be a companion with me, and he shall not be slain unless I +also am slain with him." And they ate. And the woman asked them, +"Upon what errand come you here?" "We come to seek Olwen for this +youth." Then said the woman, "In the name of Heaven, since no one +from the castle hath yet seen you, return again whence you came." +"Heaven is our witness, that we will not return until we have seen +the maiden. Does she ever come hither, so that she may be seen?" +"She comes here every Saturday to wash her head, and in the vessel +where she washes she leaves all her rings, and she never either +comes herself or sends any messengers to fetch them." "Will she +come here if she is sent to?" "Heaven knows that I will not +destroy my soul, nor will I betray those that trust me; unless you +will pledge me your faith that you will not harm her, I will not +send to her." "We pledge it," said they. So a message was sent, +and she came. + +The maiden was clothed in a robe of flame-colored silk, and about +her neck was a collar of ruddy gold, on which were precious +emeralds and rubies. More yellow was her head than the flower of +the broom, [Footnote: The romancers dwell with great complacency +on the fair hair and delicate complexion of their heroines. This +taste continued for a long time, and to render the hair light was +an object of education. Even when wigs came into fashion they were +all flaxen. Such was the color of the hair of the Gauls and of +their German conquerors. It required some centuries to reconcile +their eyes to the swarthy beauties of their Spanish and Italian +neighbors.] and her skin was whiter than the foam of the wave, and +fairer were her hands and her fingers than the blossoms of the +wood-anemone amidst the spray of the meadow fountain. The eye of +the trained hawk was not brighter than hers. Her bosom was more +snowy than the breast of the white swan, her cheek was redder than +the reddest roses. Whoso beheld her was filled with her love. Four +white trefoils sprung up wherever she trod. And therefore was she +called Olwen. + +She entered the house and sat beside Kilwich upon the foremost +bench; and as soon as he saw her, he knew her. And Kilwich said +unto her, "Ah! maiden, thou art she whom I have loved; come away +with me, lest they speak evil of thee and of me. Many a day have I +loved thee." "I cannot do this, for I have pledged my faith to my +father not to go without his counsel, for his life will last only +until the time of my espousals. Whatever is to be, must be. But I +will give thee advice, if thou wilt take it. Go, ask me of my +father, and that which he shall require of thee, grant it, and +thou wilt obtain me; but if thou deny him anything, thou wilt not +obtain me, and it will be well for thee if thou escape with thy +life." "I promise all this, if occasion offer," said he. + +She returned to her chamber, and they all rose up, and followed +her to the castle. And they slew the nine porters, that were at +the nine gates, in silence. And they slew the nine watch-dogs +without one of them barking. And they went forward to the hall. + +"The greeting of Heaven and of man be unto thee, Yspadaden +Penkawr," said they. "And you, wherefore come you?" "We come to +ask thy daughter Olwen for Kilwich, the son of Kilydd, the son of +Prince Kelyddon." "Where are my pages and my servants? Raise up +the forks beneath my two eyebrows, which have fallen over my eyes, +that I may see the fashion of my son-in-law." And they did so. +"Come hither to-morrow, and you shall have an answer." + +They rose to go forth, and Yspadaden Penkawr seized one of the +three poisoned darts that lay beside him, and threw it after them. +And Bedwyr caught it, and flung it, and pierced Yspadaden Penkawr +grievously with it through the knee. Then he said, "A cursed +ungentle son-in-law, truly! I shall ever walk the worse for his +rudeness, and shall ever be without a cure. This poisoned iron +pains me like the bite of a gad-fly. Cursed be the smith who +forged it, and the anvil on which it was wrought! So sharp is it!" + +That night also they took up their abode in the house of the +herdsman. The next day, with the dawn, they arrayed themselves and +proceeded to the castle, and entered the hall; and they said, +"Yspadaden Penkawr, give us thy daughter in consideration of her +dower and her maiden fee, which we will pay to thee, and to her +two kinswomen likewise." Then he said, "Her four great- +grandmothers and her four great-grandsires are yet alive; it is +needful that I take counsel of them." "Be it so," they answered, +"we will go to meat." As they rose up he took the second dart that +was beside him, and cast it after them. And Meneu, the son of +Gawedd, caught it, and flung it back at him, and wounded him in +the centre of the breast. "A cursed ungentle son-in-law, truly!" +said he; "the hard iron pains me like the bite of a horse-leech. +Cursed be the hearth whereon it was heated, and the smith who +formed it! So sharp is it! Henceforth, whenever I go up hill, I +shall have a scant in my breath, and a pain in my chest, and I +shall often loathe my food." And they went to meat. + +And the third day they returned to the palace. And Yspadaden +Penkawr said to them, "Shoot not at me again unless you desire +death. Where are my attendants? Lift up the forks of my eyebrows, +which have fallen over my eyeballs, that I may see the fashion of +my son-in-law." Then they arose, and, as they did so, Yspadaden +Penkawr took the third poisoned dart and cast it at them. And +Kilwich caught it, and threw it vigorously, and wounded him +through the eyeball. "A cursed ungentle son-in-law, truly! As long +as I remain alive, my eyesight will be the worse. Whenever I go +against the wind, my eyes will water; and peradventure my head +will burn, and I shall have a giddiness every new moon. Like the +bite of a mad dog is the stroke of this poisoned iron. Cursed be +the fire in which it was forged!" And they went to meat. + +And the next day they came again to the palace, and they said, +"Shoot not at us any more, unless thou desirest such hurt and harm +and torture as thou now hast, and even more." Said Kilwich, "Give +me thy daughter; and if thou wilt not give her, thou shalt receive +thy death because of her." "Where is he that seeks my daughter? +Come hither where I may see thee." And they placed him a chair +face to face with him. + +Said Yspadaden Penkawr, "Is it thou that seekest my daughter?" + +"It is I," answered Kilwich. + +"I must have thy pledge that thou wilt not do toward me otherwise +than is just; and when I have gotten that which I shall name, my +daughter thou shalt have." + +"I promise thee that willingly," said Kilwich; "name what thou +wilt." + +"I will do so," said he. "Seest thou yonder red tilled ground?" + +"I see it." + +"When first I met the mother of this maiden, nine bushels of flax +were sown therein, and none has yet sprung up, white nor black. I +require to have the flax to sow in the new land yonder, that when +it grows up it may make a white wimple for my daughter's head on +the day of thy wedding." + +"It will be easy for me to compass this, although thou mayest +think it will not be easy." + +"Though thou get this, there is yet that which thou wilt not get-- +the harp of Teirtu, to play to us that night. When a man desires +that it should play, it does so of itself; and when he desires +that it should cease, it ceases. And this he will not give of his +own free will, and thou wilt not be able to compel him." + +"It will be easy for me to compass this, although thou mayest +think it will not be easy." + +"Though thou get this, there is yet that which thou wilt not get. +I require thee to get me for my huntsman Mabon, the son of Modron. +He was taken from his mother when three nights old, and it is not +known where he now is, nor whether he is living or dead." + +"It will be easy for me to compass this, although thou mayest +think it will not be easy." + +"Though thou get this, there is yet that which thou wilt not get-- +the two cubs of the wolf Gast Rhymhi; no leash in the world will +hold them, but a leash made from the beard of Dillus Varwawc, the +robber. And the leash will be of no avail unless it be plucked +from his beard while he is alive. While he lives he will not +suffer this to be done to him, and the leash will be of no use +should he be dead, because it will be brittle." + +"It will be easy for me to compass this, although thou mayest +think it will not be easy." + +"Though thou get this, there is yet that which thou wilt not get-- +the sword of Gwernach the Giant; of his own free will he will not +give it, and thou wilt never be able to compel him." + +"It will be easy for me to compass this, although thou mayest +think it will not be easy." + +"Though thou get this, there is yet that which thou wilt not get. +Difficulties shalt thou meet with, and nights without sleep, in +seeking this, and if thou obtain it not, neither shalt thou obtain +my daughter." + +"Horses shall I have, and chivalry; and my lord and kinsman, +Arthur, will obtain for me all these things. And I shall gain thy +daughter, and thou shalt lose thy life." + +"Go forward. And thou shalt not be chargeable for food or raiment +for my daughter while thou art seeking these things; and when thou +hast compassed all these marvels, thou shalt have my daughter for +thy wife." + + + + + +CHAPTER XII + +KILWICH AND OLWEN (Continued) + + +All that day they journeyed until the evening, and then they +beheld a vast castle, which was the largest in the world. And lo! +a black man, larger than three of the men of this world, came out +from the castle. And they spoke unto him, and said, "O man, whose +castle is that?" "Stupid are ye, truly, O men! There is no one in +the world that does not know that this is the castle of Gwernach +the Giant." "What treatment is there for guests and strangers that +alight in that castle?" "O chieftain, Heaven protect thee! No +guests ever returned thence alive, and no one may enter therein +unless he brings with him his craft." + +Then they proceeded towards the gate. Said Gurhyr Gwalstat, "Is +there a porter?" "There is; wherefore dost thou call?" "Open the +gate." "I will not open it." "Wherefore wilt thou not?" "The knife +is in the meat, and the drink is in the horn, and there is revelry +in the hall of Gwernach the Giant; and except for a craftsman who +brings his craft, the gate will not be opened to-night." "Verily, +porter," then said Kay, "my craft bring I with me." "What is thy +craft?" "The best burnisher of swords am I in the world." "I will +go and tell this unto Gwernach the Giant, and I will bring thee an +answer." + +So the porter went in, and Gwernach said to him, "Hast thou news +from the gate?" "I have. There is a party at the door of the gate +who desire to come in." "Didst thou inquire of them if they +possessed any art?" "I did inquire," said he, "and one told me +that he was well skilled in the burnishing of swords." "We have +need of him then. For some time have I sought for some one to +polish my sword, and could find no one. Let this man enter, since +he brings with him his craft." + +The porter thereupon returned and opened the gate. And Kay went in +by himself, and he saluted Gwernach the Giant. And a chair was +placed for him opposite to Gwernach. And Gwernach said to him, "O +man, is it true that is reported of thee, that thou knowest how to +burnish swords?" "I know full well how to do so," answered Kay. +Then was the sword of Gwernach brought to him. And Kay took a blue +whetstone from under his arm, and asked whether he would have it +burnished white or blue. "Do with it as it seems good to thee, or +as thou wouldst if it were thine own." Then Kay polished one half +of the blade, and put it in his hand. "Will this please thee?" +asked he. "I would rather than all that is in my dominions that +the whole of it were like this. It is a marvel to me that such a +man as thou should be without a companion." "O noble sir, I have a +companion, albeit he is not skilled in this art." "Who may he be?" +"Let the porter go forth, and I will tell him whereby he may know +him. The head of his lance will leave its shaft, and draw blood +from the wind, and will descend upon its shaft again." Then the +gate was opened, and Bedwyr entered. And Kay said, "Bedwyr is very +skilful, though he knows not this art." + +And there was much discourse among those who were without, because +that Kay and Bedwyr had gone in. And a young man who was with +them, the only son of the herdsman, got in also; and he contrived +to admit all the rest, but they kept themselves concealed. + +The sword was now polished, and Kay gave it unto the hand of +Gwernach the Giant, to see if he were pleased with his work. And +the giant said, "The work is good; I am content therewith." Said +Kay, "It is thy scabbard that hath rusted thy sword; give it to +me, that I may take out the wooden sides of it, and put in new +ones." And he took the scabbard from him, and the sword in the +other hand. And he came and stood over against the giant, as if he +would have put the sword into the scabbard; and with it he struck +at the head of the giant, and cut off his head at one blow. Then +they despoiled the castle, and took from it what goods and jewels +they would. And they returned to Arthur's court, bearing with them +the sword of Gwernach the Giant. + +And when they told Arthur how they had sped, Arthur said, "It is a +good beginning." Then they took counsel, and said, "Which of these +marvels will it be best for us to seek next?" "It will be best," +said one, "to seek Mabon, the son of Modron; and he will not be +found unless we first find Eidoel, the son of Aer, his kinsman." +Then Arthur rose up, and the warriors of the island of Britain +with him, to seek for Eidoel; and they proceeded until they came +to the castle of Glivi, where Eidoel was imprisoned. Glivi stood +on the summit of his castle, and he said, "Arthur, what requirest +thou of me, since nothing remains to me in this fortress, and I +have neither joy nor pleasure in it, neither wheat nor oats? Seek +not, therefore, to do me harm." Said Arthur, "Not to injure thee +came I hither, but to seek for the prisoner that is with thee." "I +will give thee my prisoner, though I had not thought to give him +up to any one, and therewith shalt thou have my support and my +aid." + +His followers said unto Arthur, "Lord, go thou home, thou canst +not proceed with thy host in quest of such small adventures as +these." Then said Arthur, "It were well for thee, Gurhyr Gwalstat, +to go upon this quest, for thou knowest all languages, and art +familiar with those of the birds and the beasts. Thou, Eidoel, +oughtest likewise to go with thy men in search of thy cousin. And +as for you, Kay and Bedwyr, I have hope of whatever adventure ye +are in quest of, that ye will achieve it. Achieve ye this +adventure for me." + +They went forward until they came to the Ousel of Cilgwri. And +Gurhyr adjured her, saying, "Tell me if thou knowest aught of +Mabon, the son of Modron, who was taken when three nights old from +between his mother and the wall?" And the Ousel answered, "When I +first came here, there was a smith's anvil in this place, and I +was then a young bird; and from that time no work has been done +upon it, save the pecking of my beak every evening; and now there +is not so much as the size of a nut remaining thereof; yet during +all that time I have never heard of the man for whom you inquire. +Nevertheless, I will do that which it is fitting that I should for +an embassy from Arthur. There is a race of animals who were formed +before me, and I will be your guide to them." + +So they proceeded to the place where was the Stag of Redynvre. +"Stag of Redynvre, behold, we are come to thee, an embassy from +Arthur, for we have not heard of any animal older than thou. Say, +knowest thou aught of Mabon, the son of Modron, who was taken from +his mother when three nights old?" The Stag said, "When first I +came hither there was a plain all around me, without any trees +save one oak sapling, which grew up to be an oak with an hundred +branches; and that oak has since perished, so that now nothing +remains of it but the withered stump; and from that day to this I +have been here, yet have I never heard of the man for whom you +inquire. Nevertheless, being an embassy from Arthur, I will be +your guide to the place where there is an animal which was formed +before I was, and the oldest animal in the world, and the one that +has travelled most, the Eagle of Gwern Abwy." + +Gurhyr said, "Eagle of Gwern Abwy, we have come to thee, an +embassy from Arthur, to ask thee if thou knowest aught of Mabon, +the son of Modron, who was taken from his mother when he was three +nights old?" The Eagle said, "I have been here for a great space +of time, and when I first came hither, there was a rock here from +the top of which I pecked at the stars every evening; and it has +crumbled away, and now it is not so much as a span high. All that +time I have been here, and I have never heard of the man for whom +you inquire, except once when I went in search of food as far as +Llyn Llyw. And when I came there, I struck my talons into a +salmon, thinking he would serve me as food for a long time. But he +drew me into the water, and I was scarcely able to escape from +him. After that I made peace with him. And I drew fifty fish- +spears out of his back, and relieved him. Unless he know something +of him whom you seek, I cannot tell who may. However, I will guide +you to the place where he is." + +So they went thither; and the Eagle said, "Salmon of Llyn Llyw, I +have come to thee with an embassy from Arthur, to ask thee if thou +knowest aught of Mabon, the son of Modron, who was taken away at +three nights old from his mother." "As much as I know I will tell +thee. With every tide I go along the river upward, until I come +near to the walls of Gloucester, and there have I found such wrong +as I never found elsewhere; and to the end that ye may give +credence thereto, let one of you go thither upon each of my two +shoulders." So Kay and Gurhyr Gwalstat went upon the two shoulders +of the Salmon, and they proceeded until they came unto the wall of +the prison; and they heard a great wailing and lamenting from the +dungeon. Said Gurhyr, "Who is it that laments in this house of +stone?" "Alas! it is Mabon, the son of Modron, who is here +imprisoned; and no imprisonment was ever so grievous as mine." +"Hast thou hope of being released for gold or for silver, or for +any gifts of wealth, or through battle and fighting?" "By fighting +will what ever I may gain be obtained." + +Then they went thence, and returned to Arthur, and they told him +where Mabon, the son of Modron, was imprisoned. And Arthur +summoned the warriors of the island, and they journeyed as far as +Gloucester, to the place where Mabon was in prison. Kay and Bedwyr +went upon the shoulders of the fish, whilst the warriors of Arthur +attacked the castle. And Kay broke through the wall into the +dungeon, and brought away the prisoner upon his back, whilst the +fight was going on between the warriors. And Arthur returned home, +and Mabon with him at liberty. + +On a certain day as Gurhyr Gwalstat was walking over a mountain, +he heard a wailing and a grievous cry. And when he heard it, he +sprang forward and went towards it. And when he came there, he saw +a fire burning among the turf, and an ant-hill nearly surrounded +with the fire. And he drew his sword, and smote off the ant-hill +close to the earth, so that it escaped being burned in the fire. +And the ants said to him, "Receive from us the blessing of Heaven, +and that which no man can give, we give thee." Then they fetched +the nine bushels of flax-seed which Yspadaden Penkawr had required +of Kilwich, and they brought the full measure, without lacking +any, except one flax-seed, and that the lame pismire brought in +before night. + +Then said Arthur, "Which of the marvels will it be best for us to +seek next?" "It will be best to seek for the two cubs of the wolf +Gast Rhymhi." + +"Is it known," said Arthur, "where she is?" "She is in Aber +Cleddyf," said one. Then Arthur went to the house of Tringad, in +Aber Cleddyf, and he inquired of him whether he had heard of her +there. "She has often slain my herds, and she is there below in a +cave in Aber Cleddyf." + +Ther Arthur went in his ship Prydwen by sea, and the others went +by land to hunt her. And they surrounded her and her two cubs, and +took them and carried them away. + +As Kay and Bedwyr sat on a beacon-cairn on the summit of +Plinlimmon, in the highest wind that ever was, they looked around +them and saw a great smoke, afar off. Then said Kay, "By the hand +of my friend, yonder is the fire of a robber." Then they hastened +towards the smoke, and they came so near to it that they could see +Dillus Varwawc scorching a wild boar. "Behold, yonder is the +greatest robber that ever fled from Arthur," said Bedwyr to Kay. +"Dost thou know him?" "I do know him," answered Kay; "he is Dillus +Varwarc, and no leash in the world will be able to hold the cubs +of Gast Rhymi, save a leash made from the beard of him thou seest +yonder. And even that will be useless unless his beard be plucked +out alive, with wooden tweezers; for if dead it will be brittle." +"What thinkest thou that we should do concerning this?" said +Bedwyr. "Let us suffer him." said Kay, "to eat as much as he will +of the meat, and after that he will fall asleep." And during that +time they employed themselves in making the wooden tweezers. And +when Kay knew certainly that he was asleep, he made a pit under +his feet, and he struck him a violent blow, and squeezed him into +the pit. And there they twitched out his beard completely with the +wooden tweezers, and after that they slew him altogether. And from +thence they went, and took the leash made of Dillus Varwawc's +beard, and they gave it into Arthur's hand. + +Thus they got all the marvels that Yspadaden Penkawr had required +of Kilwich; and they set forward, and took the marvels to his +court. And Kilwich said to Yspadaden Penkawr, "Is thy daughter +mine now?" "She is thine," said he, "but therefore needest thou +not thank me, but Arthur, who hath accomplished this for thee." +Then Goreu, the son of Custennin, the herdsman, whose brothers +Yspadaden Penkawr had slain, seized him by the hair of his head, +and dragged him after him to the keep, and cut off his head, and +placed it on a stake on the citadel. Then they took possession of +his castle, and of his treasures. And that night Olwen became +Kilwich's bride, and she continued to be his wife as long as she +lived. + + + + + +CHAPTER XIII + +TALIESIN + + +Gwyddno Garanhir was sovereign of Gwaelod, a territory bordering +on the sea. And he possessed a weir upon the strand between Dyvi +and Aberystwyth, near to his own castle, and the value of an +hundred pounds was taken in that weir every May eve. And Gwyddno +had an only son named Elphin, the most hapless of youths, and the +most needy. And it grieved his father sore, for he thought that he +was born in an evil hour. By the advice of his council, his father +had granted him the drawing of the weir that year, to see if good +luck would ever befall him, and to give him something wherewith to +begin the world. And this was on the twenty-ninth of April. + +The next day, when Elphin went to look, there was nothing in the +weir but a leathern bag upon a pole of the weir. Then said the +weir-ward unto Elphin, "All thy ill-luck aforetime was nothing to +this; and now thou hast destroyed the virtues of the weir, which +always yielded the value of an hundred pounds every May eve; and +to-night there is nothing but this leathern skin within it." "How +now," said Elphin, "there may be therein the value of a hundred +pounds." Well! they took up the leathern bag, and he who opened it +saw the forehead of an infant, the fairest that ever was seen; and +he said, "Behold a radiant brow?" (In the Welsh language, +taliesin.) "Taliesin be he called," said Elphin. And he lifted the +bag in his arms, and, lamenting his bad luck, placed the boy +sorrowfully behind him. And he made his horse amble gently, that +before had been trotting, and he carried him as softly as if he +had been sitting in the easiest chair in the world. And presently +the boy made a Consolation, and praise to Elphin; and the +Consolation was as you may here see: + + "Fair Elphin, cease to lament! + Never in Gwyddno's weir + Was there such good luck as this night. + Being sad will not avail; + Better to trust in God than to forbode ill; + Weak and small as I am, + On the foaming beach of the ocean, + In the day of trouble I shall be + Of more service to thee than three hundred salmon." + +This was the first poem that Taliesin ever sung, being to console +Elphin in his grief for that the produce of the weir was lost, and +what was worse, that all the world would consider that it was +through his fault and ill-luck. Then Elphin asked him what he +was, whether man or spirit. And he sung thus: + + "I have been formed a comely person; + Although I am but little, I am highly gifted; + Into a dark leathern bag I was thrown, + And on a boundless sea I was sent adrift. + From seas and from mountains + God brings wealth to the fortunate man." + +Then came Elphin to the house of Gwyddno, his father, and Taliesin +with him. Gwyddno asked him if he had had a good haul at the weir, +and he told him that he had got that which was better than fish. +"What was that?" said Gwyddno. "A bard," said Elphin. Then said +Gwyddno, "Alas! what will he profit thee?" And Taliesin himself +replied and said, "He will profit him more than the weir ever +profited thee." Asked Gwyddno, "Art thou able to speak, and thou +so little?" And Taliesin answered him, "I am better able to speak +than thou to question me." "Let me hear what thou canst say," +quoth Gwyddno. Then Taliesin sang: + + "Three times have I been born, I know by meditation; + All the sciences of the world are collected in my breast, + For I know what has been, and what hereafter will occur." + +Elphin gave his haul to his wife, and she nursed him tenderly and +lovingly. Thenceforward Elphin increased in riches more and more, +day after day, and in love and favor with the king; and there +abode Taliesin until he was thirteen years old, when Elphin, son +of Gwyddno, went by a Christmas invitation to his uncle, Maelgan +Gwynedd, who held open court at Christmas-tide in the castle of +Dyganwy, for all the number of his lords of both degrees, both +spiritual and temporal, with a vast and thronged host of knights +and squires. And one arose and said, "Is there in the whole world +a king so great as Maelgan, or one on whom Heaven has bestowed so +many gifts as upon him;--form, and beauty, and meekness, and +strength, besides all the powers of the soul?" And together with +these they said that Heaven had given one gift that exceeded all +the others, which was the beauty, and grace, and wisdom, and +modesty of his queen, whose virtues surpassed those of all the +ladies and noble maidens throughout the whole kingdom. And with +this they put questions one to another, Who had braver men? Who +had fairer or swifter horses or greyhounds? Who had more skilful +or wiser bards than Maelgan? + +When they had all made an end of their praising the king and his +gifts, it befell that Elphin spoke on this wise. "Of a truth, none +but a king may vie with a king; but were he not a king, I would +say that my wife was as virtuous as any lady in the kingdom, and +also that I have a bard who is more skilful than all the king's +bards." In a short space some of his fellows told the king all the +boastings of Elphin; and the king ordered him to be thrown into a +strong prison, until he might show the truth as to the virtues of +his wife, and the wisdom of his bard. + +Now when Elphin had been put in a tower of the castle, with a +thick chain about his feet (it is said that it was a silver chain, +because he was of royal blood), the king, as the story relates, +sent his son Rhun to inquire into the demeanor of Elphin's wife. +Now Rhun was the most graceless man in the world, and there was +neither wife nor maiden with whom he held converse but was evil +spoken of. While Rhun went in haste towards Elphin's dwelling, +being fully minded to bring disgrace upon his wife, Taliesin told +his mistress how that the king had placed his master in durance in +prison, and how that Rhun was coming in haste to strive to bring +disgrace upon her. Wherefore he caused his mistress to array one +of the maids of her kitchen in her apparel; which the noble lady +gladly did, and she loaded her hands with the best rings that she +and her husband possessed. + +In this guise Taliesin caused his mistress to put the maiden to +sit at the board in her room at supper; and he made her to seem as +her mistress, and the mistress to seem as the maid. And when they +were in due time seated at their supper, in the manner that has +been said, Rhun suddenly arrived at Elphin's dwelling, and was +received with joy, for the servants knew him; and they brought him +to the room of their mistress, in the semblance of whom the maid +rose up from supper and welcomed him gladly. And afterwards she +sat down to supper again, and Rhun with her. Then Rhun began +jesting with the maid, who still kept the semblance of her +mistress. And verily this story shows that the maiden became so +intoxicated that she fell asleep; and the story relates that it +was a powder that Rhun put into the drink, that made her sleep so +soundly that she never felt it when he cut off from her hand her +little finger, whereon was the signet ring of Elphin, which he had +sent to his wife as a token a short time before. And Rhun returned +to the king with the finger and the ring as a proof, to show that +he had cut it off from her hand without her awaking from her sleep +of intemperance. + +The king rejoiced greatly at these tidings, and he sent for his +councillors, to whom he told the whole story from the beginning. +And he caused Elphin to be brought out of prison, and he chided +him because of his boast. And he spake on this wise: "Elphin, be +it known to thee beyond a doubt, that it is but folly for a man to +trust in the virtues of his wife further than he can see her; and +that thou mayest be certain of thy wife's vileness, behold her +finger, with thy signet ring upon it, which was cut from her hand +last night, while she slept the sleep of intoxication." Then thus +spake Elphin: "With thy leave, mighty king, I cannot deny my ring, +for it is known of many; but verily I assert that the finger +around which it is was never attached to the hand of my wife; for +in truth and certainty there are three notable things pertaining +to it, none of which ever belonged to any of my wife's fingers. +The first of the three is, that it is certainly known to me that +this ring would never remain upon her thumb, whereas you can +plainly see that it is hard to draw it over the joint of the +little finger of the hand whence this was cut. The second thing +is, that my wife has never let pass one Saturday since I have +known her, without paring her nails before going to bed, and you +can see fully that the nail of this little finger has not been +pared for a month. The third is, truly, that the hand whence this +finger came was kneading rye dough within three days before the +finger was cut therefrom, and I can assure your highness that my +wife has never kneaded rye dough since my wife she has been." + +The king was mightily wroth with Elphin for so stoutly +withstanding him, respecting the goodness of his wife; wherefore +he ordered him to his prison a second time, saying that he should +not be loosed thence until he had proved the truth of his boast, +as well concerning the wisdom of his bard as the virtues of his +wife. + +In the meantime his wife and Taliesin remained joyful at Elphin's +dwelling. And Taliesin showed his mistress how that Elphin was in +prison because of them; but he bade her be glad, for that he would +go to Maelgan's court to free his master. So he took leave of his +mistress, and came to the court of Maelgan, who was going to sit +in his hall, and dine in his royal state, as it was the custom in +those days for kings and princes to do at every chief feast. As +soon as Taliesin entered the hall he placed himself in a quiet +corner, near the place where the bards and the minstrels were wont +to come, in doing their service and duty to the king, as is the +custom at the high festivals, when the bounty is proclaimed. So, +when the bards and the heralds came to cry largess, and to +proclaim the power of the king, and his strength, at the moment +when they passed by the corner wherein he was crouching, Taliesin +pouted out his lips after them, and played "Blerwm, blerwm!" with +his finger upon his lips. Neither took they much notice of him as +they went by but proceeded forward till they came before the king, +unto whom they made their obeisance with their bodies, as they +were wont, without speaking a single word, but pouting out their +lips, and making mouths at the king, playing, "Blerwm, blerwm!" +upon their lips with their fingers, as they had seen the boy do. +This sight caused the king to wonder, and to deem within himself +that they were drunk with many liquors. Wherefore he commanded one +of his lords, who served at the board, to go to them and desire +them to collect their wits, and to consider where they stood, and +what it was fitting for them to do. And this lord did so gladly. +But they ceased not from their folly any more than before. +Whereupon he sent to them a second time, and a third, desiring +them to go forth from the hall. At the last the king ordered one +of his squires to give a blow to the chief of them, named Heinin +Vardd; and the squire took a broom and struck him on the head, so +that he fell back in his seat. Then he arose, and went on his +knees, and besought leave of the king's grace to show that this +their fault was not through want of knowledge, neither through +drunkenness, but by the influence of some spirit that was in the +hall. And he spoke on this wise: "O honorable king, be it known to +your grace that not from the strength of drink, or of too much +liquor, are we dumb, but through the influence of a spirit that +sits in the corner yonder, in the form of a child." Forthwith the +king commanded the squire to fetch him; and he went to the nook +where Taliesin sat, and brought him before the king, who asked him +what he was, and whence he came. And he answered the king in +verse: + + "Primary chief bard am I to Elphin, + And my native country is the region of the summer stars; + I have been in Asia with Noah in the ark, + I have seen the destruction of Sodom and Gomorrah, + I was in India when Rome was built, + I have now come here to the remnant of Troia." + +When the king and his nobles had heard the song, they wondered +much, for they had never heard the like from a boy so young as he. +And when the king knew that he was the bard of Elphin he bade +Heinin, his first and wisest bard, to answer Taliesin, and to +strive with him. But when he came he could do no other than play +"Blerwm!" on his lips; and when he sent for the others of the four +and twenty bards, they all did likewise, and could do no other. +And Maelgan asked the boy Taliesin what was his errand, and he +answered him in song: + + "Elphin, the son of Gwyddno, + Is in the land of Artro, + Secured by thirteen locks, + For praising his instructor. + Therefore I, Taliesin, + Chief of the bards of the west, + Will loosen Elphin + Out of a golden fetter." + +Then he sang to them a riddle: + + "Discover thou what is + The strong creature from before the flood, + Without flesh, without bone, + Without vein, without blood, + Without head, without feet; + It will neither be older nor younger + Than at the beginning. + Behold how the sea whitens + When first it comes, + When it comes from the south, + When it strikes on coasts + It is in the field, it is in the wood, + But the eye cannot perceive it. + One Being has prepared it, + By a tremendous blast, + To wreak vengeance + On Maelgan Gwynedd." + +While he was thus singing his verse, there arose a mighty storm of +wind, so that the king and all his nobles thought that the castle +would fall upon their heads. And the king caused them to fetch +Elphin in haste from his dungeon, and placed him before Taliesin. +And it is said that immediately he sung a verse, so that the +chains opened from about his feet. + +After that Taliesin brought Elphin's wife before them, and showed +that she had not one finger wanting. And in this manner did he set +his master free from prison, and protect the innocence of his +mistress, and silence the bards so that not one of them dared to +say a word. Right glad was Elphin, right glad was Taliesin. + + + + + +HERO MYTHS OF THE BRITISH RACE + + + + + +BEOWULF + + +Notable among the names of heroes of the British race is that of +Beowulf, which appeals to all English-speaking people in a very +special way, since he is the one hero in whose story we may see +the ideals of our English forefathers before they left their +Continental home to cross to the islands of Britain. + +Although this hero had distinguished himself by numerous feats of +strength during his boyhood and early youth, it was as the +deliverer of Hrothgar, king of Denmark, from the monster Grendel +that he first gained wide renown. Grendel was half monster and +half man, and had his abode in the fen-fastnesses in the vicinity +of Hrothgar's residence. Night after night he would steal into the +king's great palace called Heorot and slay sometimes as many as +thirty at one time of the knights sleeping there. + +Beowulf put himself at the head of a selected band of warriors, +went against the monster, and after a terrible fight slew it. The +following night Grendel's mother, a fiend scarcely less terrible +than her son, carried off one of Hrothgar's boldest thanes. Once +more Beowulf went to the help of the Danish king, followed the +she-monster to her lair at the bottom of a muddy lake in the midst +of the swamp, and with his good sword Hrunting and his own +muscular arms broke the sea-woman's neck. + +Upon his return to his own country of the Geats, loaded with +honors bestowed upon him by Hrothgar, Beowulf served the king of +Geatland as the latter's most trusted counsellor and champion. +When, after many years, the king fell before an enemy, the Geats +unanimously chose Beowulf for their new king. His fame as a +warrior kept his country free from invasion, and his wisdom as a +statesman increased its prosperity and happiness. + +In the fiftieth year of Beowulf's reign, however, a great terror +fell upon the land in the way of a monstrous fire-dragon, which +flew forth by night from its den in the rocks, lighting up the +blackness with its blazing breath, and burning houses and +homesteads, men and cattle, with the flames from its mouth. When +the news came to Beowulf that his people were suffering and dying, +and that no warrior dared to risk his life in an effort to deliver +the country from this deadly devastation, the aged king took up +his shield and sword and went forth to his last fight. At the +entrance of the dragon's cave Beowulf raised his voice and shouted +a furious defiance to the awesome guardian of the den. Roaring +hideously and napping his glowing wings together, the dragon +rushed forth and half flew, half sprang, on Beowulf. Then began a +fearful combat, which ended in Beowulf's piercing the dragon's +scaly armor and inflicting a mortal wound, but alas! in himself +being given a gash in the neck by his opponent's poisoned fangs +which resulted in his death. As he lay stretched on the ground, +his head supported by Wiglaf, an honored warrior who had helped in +the fight with the dragon, Beowulf roused himself to say, as he +grasped Wiglaf's hand: + + "Thou must now look to the needs of the nation; + Here dwell I no longer, for Destiny calleth me! + Bid thou my warriors after my funeral pyre + Build me a burial-cairn high on the sea-cliff's head; + So that the seafarers Beowulf's Barrow + Henceforth shall name it, they who drive far and wide + Over the mighty flood their foamy keels. + Thou art the last of all the kindred of Wagmund! + Wyrd has swept all my kin, all the brave chiefs away! + Now must I follow them!" + +These last words spoken, the king of the Geats, brave to seek +danger and brave to look on death and Fate undaunted, fell back +dead. According to his last desires, his followers gathered wood +and piled it on the cliff-head. Upon this funeral pyre was laid +Beowulf's body and consumed to ashes. Then, upon the same cliff of +Hronesness, was erected a huge burial cairn, wide-spread and +lofty, to be known thereafter as Beowulf's Barrow. + + + + + +CUCHULAIN, CHAMPION OF IRELAND + + +Among all the early literatures of Europe, there are two which, at +exactly opposite corners of the continent, display most strikingly +similar characteristics. These are the Greek and the Irish, and +the legend of the Irish champion Cuchulain, which well illustrates +the similarity of the literatures, bears so close a resemblance to +the story of Achilles as to win for this hero the title of "the +Irish Achilles." Certainly in reckless courage, power of inspiring +dread, sense of personal merit, and frankness of speech the Irish +hero is fully equal to the mighty Greek. + +Cuchulain was the nephew of King Conor of Ulster, son of his +sister Dechtire, and it is said that his father was no mortal man, +but the great god Lugh of the Long Hand. Cuchulain was brought up +by King Conor himself, and even while he was still a boy his fame +spread all over Ireland. His warlike deeds were those of a proved +warrior, not of a child of nursery age; and by the time Cuchulain +was seventeen he was without peer among the champions of Ulster. + +Upon Cuchulain's marriage to Emer, daughter of Forgall the Wily, a +Druid of great power, the couple took up their residence at +Armagh, the capital of Ulster, under the protection of King Conor. +Here there was one chief, Bricriu of the Bitter Tongue, who, like +Thersites among the Grecian leaders, delighted in making mischief. +Soon he had on foot plans for stirring up strife among the heroes +of Ulster, leaders among whom were the mighty Laegaire, Conall +Cearnach, cousin of Cuchulain, and Cuchulain himself. Inviting the +members of King Conor's court to dinner, Bricriu arranged that a +contest should arise over who should have the "champion's +portion," and so successful was he that, to avoid a bloody fight, +the three heroes mentioned decided to submit their claims to the +championship of Ireland to King Ailill of Connaught. + +Ailill put the heroes to an unexpected test. Their dinner was +served them in a separate room, into which three magic beasts, in +the shape of monstrous cats, were sent by the king. When they saw +them Laegire and Conall rose from their meal, climbed among the +rafters, and stayed there all night. Cuchulain waited until one +cat attacked him, and then, drawing his sword, struck the monster. +It showed no further sign of fight, and at daybreak the magic +beasts disappeared. + +As Laegire and Conall claimed that this test was an unfair one, +Ailill sent the three rivals to Curoi of Kerry, a just and wise +man, who set out to discover by wizardry and enchantments the best +among the heroes. In turn they stood watch outside Curoi's castle, +where Laegire and Conall were overcome by a huge giant, who hurled +spears of mighty oak trees, and ended by throwing them over the +wall into the courtyard. Cuchulain alone withstood the giant, +whereupon he was attacked by other magic foes. Among these was a +dragon, which flew on horrible wings from a neighboring lake, and +seemed ready to devour everything in its way. Cuchulain sprang up, +giving his wonderful hero-leap, thrust his arm into the dragon's +mouth and down its throat, and tore out its heart. After the +monster fell dead, he cut off its scaly head. + +As even yet Cuchulain's opponents would not admit his +championship, they were all three directed to return to Armagh, to +await Curoi's judgment. Here it happened that all the Ulster +heroes were in the great hall one night, except Cuchulain and his +cousin Conall. As they sat in order of rank, a terrible stranger, +gigantic in stature, hideous of aspect, with ravening yellow eyes, +entered. In his hand he bore an enormous axe, with keen and +shining edge. Upon King Conor's inquiring his business there, the +stranger replied: + +"Behold my axe! The man who will grasp it to-day may cut my head +off with it, provided that I may, in like manner, cut off his head +to-morrow. If you have no champion who dare face me, I will say +that Ulster has lost her courage and is dishonored." + +At once Laegire accepted the challenge. The giant laid his head on +a block, and at a blow the hero severed it from the body. +Thereupon the giant arose, took the head and the axe, and thus, +headless, strode from the hall. But the following night, when he +returned, sound as ever, to claim the fulfilment of Laegire's +promise, the latter's heart failed him and he did not come +forward. The stranger then jeered at the men of Ulster because +their great champion durst not keep his agreement, nor face the +blow he should receive in return for the one he gave. + +The men of Ulster were utterly ashamed, but Conall Cearnach, who +was present that night, made a new agreement with the stranger. He +gave a blow which beheaded the giant, but again, when the latter +returned whole and sound on the following evening, the champion +was not to be found. + +Now it was the turn of Cuchulain, who, as the others had done, cut +off the giant's head at one stroke. The next day the members of +Conor's court watched Cuchulain to see what he would do. They +would not have been surprised if he had failed like the others, +who now were present. The champion, however, showed no signs of +failing or retreat. He sat sorrowfully in his place, and with a +sigh said to King Conor as they waited: "Do not leave this place +till all is over. Death is coming to me very surely, but I must +fulfil my agreement, for I would rather die than break my word." + +Towards the close of day the stranger strode into the hall +exultant. + +"Where is Cuchulain?" he cried. + +"Here I am," was the reply. + +"Ah, poor boy! your speech is sad to-night, and the fear of death +lies heavy on you; but at least you have redeemed your word and +have not failed me." + +The youth rose from his seat and went towards him, as he stood +with the great axe ready, and knelt to receive the blow. + +The hero of Ulster laid his head on the block; but the giant was +not satisfied. "Stretch out your neck better," said he. + +"You are playing with me, to torment me," said Cuchulain. "Slay me +now speedily, for I did not keep you waiting last night." + +However, he stretched out his neck as ordered, and the stranger +raised his axe till it crashed upwards through the rafters of the +hall, like the crash of trees falling in a storm. When the axe +came down with a terrific sound all men looked fearfully at +Cuchulain. The descending axe had not even touched him; it had +come down with the blunt side on the ground, and the youth knelt +there unharmed. Smiling at him, and leaning on his axe, stood no +terrible and hideous stranger, but Curoi of Kerry, come to give +his decision at last. + +"Rise up, Cuchulain," said Curoi. "There is none among all the +heroes of Ulster to equal you in courage and loyalty and truth. +The Championship of the Heroes of Ireland is yours from this day +forth, and the Champion's Portion at all feasts; and to your wife +I adjudge the first place among all the women of Ulster. Woe to +him who dares to dispute this decision!" Thereupon Curoi vanished, +and the warriors gathered around Cuchulain, and all with one voice +acclaimed him the Champion of the Heroes of all Ireland--a title +which has clung to him until this day. + +This is one of many stories told of the Irish champion, whose +deeds of bravery would fill many pages. Cuchulain finally came to +his end on the field of battle, after a fight in which he +displayed all his usual gallantry but in which unfair means were +used to overcome him. + +For Wales and for England during centuries Arthur has been the +representative "very gentle perfect knight." In a similar way, in +England's sister isle, Cuchulain stands ever for the highest +ideals of the Irish Gaels. + + + + + +HEREWARD THE WAKE + + +In Hereward the Wake (or "Watchful") is found one of those heroes +whose date can be ascertained with a fair amount of exactness and +yet in whose story occur mythological elements which seem to +belong to all ages. The folklore of primitive races is a great +storehouse whence a people can choose tales and heroic deeds to +glorify its own national hero, careless that the same tales and +deeds have done duty for other peoples and other heroes. Hence it +happens that Hereward the Saxon, a patriot hero as real and actual +as Nelson or George Washington, whose deeds were recorded in prose +and verse within forty years of his death, was even then +surrounded by a cloud of romance and mystery, which hid in +vagueness his family, his marriage, and even his death. + +Briefly it may be stated that Hereward was a native of +Lincolnshire, and was in his prime about 1070. In that year he +joined a party of Danes who appeared in England, attacked +Peterborough and sacked the abbey there, and afterward took refuge +in the Isle of Ely. Here he was besieged by William the Conqueror, +and was finally forced to yield to the Norman. He thus came to +stand for the defeated Saxon race, and his name has been passed +down as that of the darling hero of the Saxons. For his splendid +defence of Ely they forgave his final surrender to Duke William; +they attributed to him all the virtues supposed to be inherent in +the free-born, and all the glorious valor on which the English +prided themselves; and, lastly, they surrounded his death with a +halo of desperate fighting, and made his last conflict as +wonderful as that of Roland at Roncesvalles. If Roland is the +ideal of Norman feudal chivalry, Hereward is equally the ideal of +Anglo-Saxon sturdy manliness and knighthood. + +An account of one of Hereward's adventures as a youth will serve +as illustration of the stories told of his prowess. On an enforced +visit to Cornwall, he found that King Alef, a petty British chief, +had betrothed his fair daughter to a terrible Pictish giant, +breaking off, in order to do it, her troth-plight with Prince +Sigtryg of Waterford, son of a Danish king in Ireland. Hereward, +ever chivalrous, picked a quarrel with the giant and killed him in +fair fight, whereupon the king threw him into prison. In the +following night, however, the released princess arranged that the +gallant Saxon should be freed and sent hot-foot for her lover, +Prince Sigtryg. After many adventures Hereward reached the prince, +who hastened to return to Cornwall with the young hero. But to the +grief of both, they learned upon their arrival that the princess +had just been betrothed to a wild Cornish hero, Haco, and the +wedding feast was to be held that very day. Sigtryg at once sent a +troop of forty Danes to King Alef demanding the fulfilment of the +troth-plight between himself and his daughter, and threatening +vengeance if it were broken. To this threat the king returned no +answer, and no Dane came back to tell of their reception. + +Sigtryg would have waited till morning, trusting in the honor of +the king, but Hereward disguised himself as a minstrel and +obtained admission to the bridal feast, where he soon won applause +by his beautiful singing. The bridegroom, Haco, in a rapture +offered him any boon he liked to ask, but he demanded only a cup +of wine from the hands of the bride. When she brought it to him he +flung into the empty cup the betrothal ring, the token she had +sent to Sigtryg, and said: "I thank thee, lady, and would reward +thee for thy gentleness to a wandering minstrel; I give back the +cup, richer than before by the kind thoughts of which it bears the +token." The princess looked at him, gazed into the goblet, and saw +her ring; then, looking again, she recognized her deliverer and +knew that rescue was at hand. + +While men feasted Hereward listened and talked, and found out that +the forty Danes were prisoners, to be released on the morrow when +Haco was sure of his bride, but released useless and miserable, +since they would be turned adrift blinded. Haco was taking his +lovely bride back to his own land, and Hereward saw that any +rescue, to be successful, must be attempted on the march. + +Returning to Sigtryg, the young Saxon told all that he had +learned, and the Danes planned an ambush in the ravine where Haco +had decided to blind and set free his captives. The whole was +carried out exactly as Hereward arranged it. The Cornishmen, with +the Danish captives, passed first without attack; next came Haco, +riding grim and ferocious beside his silent bride, he exulting in +his success, she looking eagerly for any signs of rescue. As they +passed Hereward sprang from his shelter, crying, "Upon them, +Danes, and set your brethren free!" and himself struck down Haco +and smote off his head. There was a short struggle, but soon the +rescued Danes were able to aid their deliverers, and the Cornish +guards were all slain; the men of King Alef, never very zealous +for the cause of Haco, fled, and the Danes were left masters of +the field. + +Sigtryg had in the meantime seen to the safety of the princess, +and now, placing her between himself and Hereward, he escorted her +to the ship, which soon brought them to Waterford and a happy +bridal. The Prince and Princess of Waterford always recognized in +Hereward their deliverer and best friend, and in their gratitude +wished him to dwell with them always; but the hero's roving and +daring temper forbade his settling down, but rather urged him on +to deeds of arms in other lands, where he quickly won a renown +second to none. + + + + + +ROBIN HOOD + + +Among the earliest heirlooms of the Anglo-Saxon tongue are the +songs and legends of Robin Hood and his merry outlaws, which have +charmed readers young and old for more than six hundred years. +These entertaining stories date back to the time when Chaucer +wrote his "Canterbury Tales," when the minstrel and scribe stood +in the place of the more prim and precise modern printed book. + +The question of whether or not Robin Hood was a real person has +been asked for many years, just as a similar question has been +asked about William Tell and others whom everyone would much +rather accept on faith. It cannot be answered by a brief "yes" or +"no," even though learned men have pored over ancient records and +have written books on the subject. According to the general belief +Robin was an outlaw in the reign of Richard I, when in the depths +of Sherwood Forest he entertained one hundred tall men, all good +archers, with the spoil he took; but "he suffered no woman to be +oppressed or otherwise molested; poore men's goods he spared, +abundantlie relieving them with that which by theft he got from +abbeys and houses of rich carles." Consequently Robin was an +immense favorite with the common people. + +This popularity extended from the leader to all the members of his +hardy band. "God save Robin Hood and all his good yeomanry" is the +ending of many old ballads. The clever archer who could outshoot +his fellows, the brave yeoman inured to blows, and the man who +could be true to his friends through thick and thin were favorites +for all time; and they have been idealized in the persons of Robin +Hood and his merry outlaws. + +One of the best-known stories of this picturesque figure of early +English times is that given by Sir Walter Scott in "Ivanhoe," +concerning the archery contest during the rule or misrule of +Prince John, in the absence of Richard from the kingdom. Robin +Hood, under the assumed name of Locksley, boldly presents himself +at a royal tournament at Ashby, as competitor for the prize in +shooting with the long-bow. From the eight or ten archers who +enter the contest, the number finally narrows down to two,-- +Hubert, a forester in the service of one of the king's nobles, and +Locksley or Robin Hood. Hubert takes the first shot in the final +trial of skill, and lands his arrow within the inner ring of the +target, but not exactly in the centre. + +"'You have not allowed for the wind, Hubert,' said Locksley, 'or +that had been a better shot.' + +"So saying, and without showing the least anxiety to pause upon +his aim, Locksley stepped to the appointed station, and shot his +arrow as carelessly in appearance as if he had not even looked at +the mark. He was speaking almost at the instant that the shaft +left the bow-string, yet it alighted in the target two inches +nearer to the white spot which marked the centre than that of +Hubert. + +"'By the light of Heaven!' said Prince John to Hubert, 'an thou +suffer that runagate knave to overcome thee, thou art worthy of +the gallows!' + +"Hubert had but one set speech for all occasions. 'An your +highness were to hang me,' he said, 'a man can but do his best. +Nevertheless, my grandsire drew a good bow--' + +"'The foul fiend on thy grandsire and all his generation!' +interrupted John; 'shoot, knave, and shoot thy best, or it shall +be worse for thee!' + +"Thus exhorted, Hubert resumed his place, and not neglecting the +caution which he had received from his adversary, he made the +necessary allowance for a very light air of wind, which had just +risen, and shot so successfully that his arrow alighted in the +very centre of the target. + +"'A Hubert! a Hubert!' shouted the populace, more interested in a +known person than in a stranger. 'In the clout!--in the clout!--a +Hubert forever!' + +"'Thou canst not mend that shot, Locksley,' said the Prince, with +an insulting smile. + +"'I will notch his shaft for him, however,' replied Locksley. + +"And letting fly his arrow with a little more precaution than +before, it lighted right upon that of his competitor, which it +split to shivers. The people who stood around were so astonished +at his wonderful dexterity, that they could not even give vent to +their surprise in their usual clamor. 'This must be the devil, and +no man of flesh and blood,' whispered the yeomen to each other; +'such archery was never seen since a bow was first bent in +Britain.' + +"'And now,' said Locksley, 'I will crave your Grace's permission +to plant such a mark as is used in the North Country; and welcome +every brave yeoman who shall try a shot at it to win a smile from +the bonny lass he loves best.'" + +Locksley thereupon sets up a willow wand, six feet long and as +thick as a man's thumb. Hubert is forced to decline the honor of +taking part in such a trial of archery skill, but his rival easily +splits the wand at a distance of three hundred feet and carries +off the prize. + +"Even Prince John, in admiration of Locksley's skill, lost for an +instant his dislike to his person. 'These twenty nobles,' he said, +'which, with the bugle, thou hast fairly won, are thine own; we +will make them fifty, if thou wilt take livery and service with us +as a yeoman of our bodyguard, and be near to our person. For never +did so strong a hand bend a bow, or so true an eye direct a +shaft.'" [Footnote: Ivanhoe, Vol. 1, chap. XIII.] + +Locksley, however, declares that it is impossible for him to enter +the Prince's service, generously shares his prize with the worthy +Hubert, and retires once more to his beloved haunts among the +lights and shadows of the good greenwood. + + + + + +GLOSSARY + + +Abdalrahman, founder of the independent Ommiad (Saracenic) power +in Spain, conquered at Tours by Charles Martel + +Aberfraw, scene of nuptials of Branwen and Matholch + +Absyrtus, younger brother of Medea + +Abydos, a town on the Hellespont, nearly opposite to Sestos + +Abyla, Mount, or Columna, a mountain in Morocco, near Ceuta, now +called Jebel Musa or Ape's Hill, forming the Northwestern +extremity of the African coast opposite Gibraltar (See Pillars of +Hercules) + +Acestes, son of a Trojan woman who was sent by her father to +Sicily, that she might not be devoured by the monsters which +infested the territory of Troy + +Acetes, Bacchanal captured by Pentheus + +Achates, faithful friend and companion of Aeneas + +Achelous, river-god of the largest river in Greece--his Horn of +Plenty + +Achilles, the hero of the Iliad, son of Peleus and of the Nereid +Thetis, slain by Paris + +Acis, youth loved by Galatea and slain by Polyphemus + +Acontius, a beautiful youth, who fell in love with Cydippe, the +daughter of a noble Athenian. + +Acrisius, son of Abas, king of Argos, grandson of Lynceus, the +great-grandson of Danaus. + +Actaeon, a celebrated huntsman, son of Aristaeus and Autonoe, who, +having seen Diana bathing, was changed by her to a stag and killed +by his own dogs. + +Admeta, daughter of Eurystheus, covets Hippolyta's girdle. + +Admetus, king of Thessaly, saved from death by Alcestis + +Adonis, a youth beloved by Aphrodite (Venus), and Proserpine; +killed by a boar. + +Adrastus, a king of Argos. + +Aeacus, son of Zeus (Jupiter) and Aegina, renowned in all Greece +for his justice and piety. + +Aeaea, Circe's island, visited by Ulysses. + +Aeetes, or Aeeta, son of Helios (the Sun) and Perseis, and father +of Medea and Absyrtus. + +Aegeus, king of Athens. + +Aegina, a rocky island in the middle of the Saronic gulf. + +Aegis, shield or breastplate of Jupiter and Minerva. + +Aegisthus, murderer of Agamemnon, slain by Orestes. + +Aeneas, Trojan hero, son of Anchises and Aphrodite (Venus), and +born on Mount Ida, reputed first settler of Rome, + +Aeneid, poem by Virgil, relating the wanderings of Aeneas from +Troy to Italy, + +Ae'olus, son of Hellen and the nymph Orseis, represented in Homer +as the happy ruler of the Aeolian Islands, to whom Zeus had given +dominion over the winds, + +Aesculapius, god of the medical art, + +Aeson, father of Jason, made young again by Medea, + +Aethiopians, inhabitants of the country south of Egypt, + +Aethra, mother of Theseus by Aegeus, + +Aetna, volcano in Sicily, + +Agamedes, brother of Trophonius, distinguished as an architect, + +Agamemnon, son of Plisthenis and grandson of Atreus, king of +Mycenae, although the chief commander of the Greeks, is not the +hero of the Iliad, and in chivalrous spirit altogether inferior to +Achilles, + +Agave, daughter of Cadmus, wife of Echion, and mother of Pentheus, + +Agenor, father of Europa, Cadmus, Cilix, and Phoenix, + +Aglaia, one of the Graces, + +Agni, Hindu god of fire, + +Agramant, a king in Africa, + +Agrican, fabled king of Tartary, pursuing Angelica, finally killed +by Orlando, + +Agrivain, one of Arthur's knights, + +Ahriman, the Evil Spirit in the dual system of Zoroaster, See +Ormuzd + +Ajax, son of Telamon, king of Salamis, and grandson of Aeacus, +represented in the Iliad as second only to Achilles in bravery, + +Alba, the river where King Arthur fought the Romans, + +Alba Longa, city in Italy founded by son of Aeneas, + +Alberich, dwarf guardian of Rhine gold treasure of the Nibelungs + +Albracca, siege of, + +Alcestis, wife of Admetus, offered hersell as sacrifice to spare +her husband, but rescued by Hercules, + +Alcides (Hercules), + +Alcina, enchantress, + +Alcinous, Phaeacian king, + +Alcippe, daughter of Mars, carried off by Halirrhothrus, + +Alcmena, wife of Jupiter, and mother of Hercules, + +Alcuin, English prelate and scholar, + +Aldrovandus, dwarf guardian of treasure, + +Alecto, one of the Furies, + +Alexander the Great, king of Macedonia, conqueror of Greece, +Egypt, Persia, Babylonia, and India, + +Alfadur, a name for Odin, + +Alfheim, abode of the elves of light, + +Alice, mother of Huon and Girard, sons of Duke Sevinus, + +Alphenor, son of Niobe, + +Alpheus, river god pursuing Arethusa, who escaped by being changed +to a fountain, + +Althaea, mother of Meleager, whom she slew because he had in a +quarrel killed her brothers, thus disgracing "the house of +Thestius," her father, + +Amalthea, nurse of the infant Jupiter in Crete, + +Amata, wife of Latinus, driven mad by Alecto, + +Amaury of Hauteville, false hearted Knight of Charlemagne, + +Amazons, mythical race of warlike women, + +Ambrosia, celestial food used by the gods, + +Ammon, Egyptian god of life identified by Romans with phases of +Jupiter, the father of gods, + +Amphiaraus, a great prophet and hero at Argos, + +Amphion, a musician, son of Jupiter and Antiope (See Dirce), + +Amphitrite, wife of Neptune, + +Amphyrsos, a small river in Thessaly, + +Ampyx, assailant of Perseus, turned to stone by seeing Gorgon's +head, + +Amrita, nectar giving immortality, + +Amun, See Ammon + +Amymone, one of the fifty daughters of Danaus, and mother by +Poseidon (Neptune) of Nauplius, the father of Palamedes, + +Anaxarete, a maiden of Cyprus, who treated her lover Iphis with +such haughtiness that he hanged himself at her door, + +Anbessa, Saracenic governor of Spain (725 AD), + +Anceus, one of the Argonauts, + +Anchises, beloved by Aphrodite (Venus), by whom he became the +father of Aeneas, + +Andraemon, husband of Dryope, saw her changed into a tree, + +Andret, a cowardly knight, spy upon Tristram, + +Andromache, wife of Hector + +Andromeda, daughter of King Cephas, delivered from monster by +Perseus + +Aneurin, Welsh bard + +Angelica, Princess of Cathay + +Anemone, short lived wind flower, created by Venus from the blood +of the slain Adonis + +Angerbode, giant prophetess, mother of Fenris, Hela and the +Midgard Serpent + +Anglesey, a Northern British island, refuge of Druids fleeing from +Romans + +Antaeus, giant wrestler of Libya, killed by Hercules, who, finding +him stronger when thrown to the earth, lifted him into the air and +strangled him + +Antea, wife of jealous Proetus + +Antenor, descendants of, in Italy + +Anteros, deity avenging unrequited love, brother of Eros (Cupid) + +Anthor, a Greek + +Antigone, daughter of Aedipus, Greek ideal of filial and sisterly +fidelity + +Antilochus, son of Nestor + +Antiope, Amazonian queen. See Dirce + +Anubis, Egyptian god, conductor of the dead to judgment + +Apennines + +Aphrodite See Venus, Dione, etc. + +Apis, Egyptian bull god of Memphis + +Apollo, god of music and song + +Apollo Belvedere, famous antique statue in Vatican at Rome + +Apples of the Hesperides, wedding gifts to Juno, guarded by +daughters of Atlas and Hesperis, stolen by Atlas for Hercules, + +Aquilo, or Boreas, the North Wind, + +Aquitaine, ancient province of Southwestern France, + +Arachne, a maiden skilled in weaving, changed to a spider by +Minerva for daring to compete with her, + +Arcadia, a country in the middle of Peloponnesus, surrounded on +all sides by mountains, + +Arcady, star of, the Pole star, + +Arcas, son of Jupiter and Callisto, + +Archer, constellation of the, + +Areopagus, court of the, at Athens, + +Ares, called Mars by the Romans, the Greek god of war, and one of +the great Olympian gods, + +Arethusa, nymph of Diana, changed to a fountain, + +Argius king of Ireland, father of Isoude the Fair, + +Argo, builder of the vessel of Jason for the Argonautic +expedition, + +Argolis, city of the Nemean games, + +Argonauts, Jason's crew seeking the Golden Fleece, + +Argos, a kingdom in Greece, + +Argus, of the hundred eyes, guardian of Io, + +Ariadne, daughter of King Minos, who helped Theseus slay the +Minotaur, + +Arimanes SEE Ahriman. + +Arimaspians, one-eyed people of Syria, + +Arion, famous musician, whom sailors cast into the sea to rob him, +but whose lyric song charmed the dolphins, one of which bore him +safely to land, + +Aristaeus, the bee keeper, in love with Eurydice, + +Armorica, another name for Britain, + +Arridano, a magical ruffian, slain by Orlando, + +Artemis SEE Diana + +Arthgallo, brother of Elidure, British king, + +Arthur, king in Britain about the 6th century, + +Aruns, an Etruscan who killed Camilla, + +Asgard, home of the Northern gods, + +Ashtaroth, a cruel spirit, called by enchantment to bring Rinaldo +to death, + +Aske, the first man, made from an ash tree, + +Astolpho of England, one of Charlemagne's knights, + +Astraea, goddess of justice, daughter of Astraeus and Eos, + +Astyages, an assailant of Perseus, + +Astyanax, son of Hector of Troy, established kingdom of Messina in +Italy, + +Asuias, opponents of the Braminical gods, + +Atalanta, beautiful daughter of King of Icaria, loved and won in a +foot race by Hippomenes, + +Ate, the goddess of infatuation, mischief and guilt, + +Athamas, son of Aeolus and Enarete, and king of Orchomenus, in +Boeotia, SEE Ino + +Athene, tutelary goddess of Athens, the same as Minerva, + +Athens, the capital of Attica, about four miles from the sea, +between the small rivers Cephissus and Ilissus, + +Athor, Egyptian deity, progenitor of Isis and Osiris, + +Athos, the mountainous peninsula, also called Acte, which projects +from Chalcidice in Macedonia, + +Atlantes, foster father of Rogero, a powerful magician, + +Atlantis, according to an ancient tradition, a great island west +of the Pillars of Hercules, in the ocean, opposite Mount Atlas, + +Atlas, a Titan, who bore the heavens on his shoulders, as +punishment for opposing the gods, one of the sons of Iapetus, + +Atlas, Mount, general name for range in northern Africa, + +Atropos, one of the Fates + +Attica, a state in ancient Greece, + +Audhumbla, the cow from which the giant Ymir was nursed. Her milk +was frost melted into raindrops, + +Augean stables, cleansed by Hercules, + +Augeas, king of Elis, + +Augustan age, reign of Roman Emperor Augustus Caesar, famed for +many great authors, + +Augustus, the first imperial Caesar, who ruled the Roman Empire 31 +BC--14 AD, + +Aulis, port in Boeotia, meeting place of Greek expedition against +Troy, + +Aurora, identical with Eos, goddess of the dawn, + +Aurora Borealis, splendid nocturnal luminosity in northern sky, +called Northern Lights, probably electrical, + +Autumn, attendant of Phoebus, the Sun, + +Avalon, land of the Blessed, an earthly paradise in the Western +Seas, burial place of King Arthur, + +Avatar, name for any of the earthly incarnations of Vishnu, the +Preserver (Hindu god), + +Aventine, Mount, one of the Seven Hills of Rome, + +Avernus, a miasmatic lake close to the promontory between Cumae +and Puteoli, filling the crater of an extinct volcano, by the +ancients thought to be the entrance to the infernal regions, + +Avicenna, celebrated Arabian physician and philosopher, + +Aya, mother of Rinaldo, + +Aymon, Duke, father of Rinaldo and Bradamante, + +B + +Baal, king of Tyre, + +Babylonian River, dried up when Phaeton drove the sun chariot, + +Bacchanali a, a feast to Bacchus that was permitted to occur but +once in three years, attended by most shameless orgies, + +Bacchanals, devotees and festal dancers of Bacchus, + +Bacchus (Dionysus), god of wine and revelry, + +Badon, battle of, Arthur's final victory over the Saxons, + +Bagdemagus, King, a knight of Arthur's time, + +Baldur, son of Odin, and representing in Norse mythology the sun +god, + +Balisardo, Orlando's sword, + +Ban, King of Brittany, ally of Arthur, father of Launcelot, + +Bards, minstrels of Welsh Druids, + +Basilisk SEE Cockatrice + +Baucis, wife of Philemon, visited by Jupiter and Mercury, + +Bayard, wild horse subdued by Rinaldo, + +Beal, Druids' god of life, + +Bedivere, Arthur's knight, + +Bedver, King Arthur's butler, made governor of Normandy, + +Bedwyr, knightly comrade of Geraint, + +Belisarda, Rogero's sword, + +Bellerophon, demigod, conqueror of the Chimaera, + +Bellona, the Roman goddess of war, represented as the sister or +wife of Mars, + +Beltane, Druidical fire festival, + +Belus, son of Poseidon (Neptune) and Libya or Eurynome, twin +brother of Agenor, + +Bendigeid Vran, King of Britain, + +Beowulf, hero and king of the Swedish Geats, + +Beroe, nurse of Semele, + +Bertha, mother of Orlando, + +Bifrost, rainbow bridge between the earth and Asgard + +Bladud, inventor, builder of the city of Bath, + +Blamor, a knight of Arthur, + +Bleoberis, a knight of Arthur, + +Boeotia, state in ancient Greece, capital city Thebes, + +Bohort, King, a knight of Arthur, + +Bona Dea, a Roman divinity of fertility, + +Bootes, also called Areas, son of Jupiter and Calisto, changed to +constellation of Ursa Major, + +Boreas, North wind, son of Aeolus and Aurora, + +Bosporus (Bosphorus), the Cow-ford, named for Io, when as a heifer +she crossed that strait, + +Bradamante, sister to Rinaldo, a female warrior, + +Brademagus, King, father of Sir Maleagans, + +Bragi, Norse god of poetry, + +Brahma, the Creator, chief god of Hindu religion, + +Branwen, daughter of Llyr, King of Britain, wife of Mathclch, + +Breciliande, forest of, where Vivian enticed Merlin, + +Brengwain, maid of Isoude the Fair + +Brennus, son of Molmutius, went to Gaul, became King of the +Allobroges, + +Breuse, the Pitiless, a caitiff knight, + +Briareus, hundred armed giant, + +Brice, Bishop, sustainer of Arthur when elected king, + +Brigliadoro, Orlando's horse, + +Briseis, captive maid belonging to Achilles, + +Britto, reputed ancestor of British people, + +Bruhier, Sultan of Arabia, + +Brunello, dwarf, thief, and king + +Brunhild, leader of the Valkyrie, + +Brutus, great grandson of Aeneas, and founder of city of New Troy +(London), SEE Pandrasus + +Bryan, Sir, a knight of Arthur, + +Buddha, called The Enlightened, reformer of Brahmanism, deified +teacher of self abnegation, virtue, reincarnation, Karma +(inevitable sequence of every act), and Nirvana (beatific +absorption into the Divine), lived about + +Byblos, in Egypt, + +Byrsa, original site of Carthage, + +C + +Cacus, gigantic son of Vulcan, slain by Hercules, whose captured +cattle he stole, + +Cadmus, son of Agenor, king of Phoenicia, and of Telephassa, and +brother of Europa, who, seeking his sister, carried off by +Jupiter, had strange adventures--sowing in the ground teeth of a +dragon he had killed, which sprang up armed men who slew each +other, all but five, who helped Cadmus to found the city of +Thebes, + +Caduceus, Mercury's staff, + +Cadwallo, King of Venedotia (North Wales), + +Caerleon, traditional seat of Arthur's court, + +Caesar, Julius, Roman lawyer, general, statesman and author, +conquered and consolidated Roman territory, making possible the +Empire, + +Caicus, a Greek river, + +Cairns, Druidical store piles, + +Calais, French town facing England, + +Calchas, wisest soothsayer among the Greeks at Troy, + +Caliburn, a sword of Arthur, + +Calliope, one of the nine Muses + +Callisto, an Arcadian nymph, mother of Arcas (SEE Bootes), changed +by Jupiter to constellation Ursa Minor, + +Calpe, a mountain in the south of Spain, on the strait between the +Atlantic and Mediterranean, now Rock of Gibraltar, + +Calydon, home of Meleager, + +Calypso, queen of Island of Ogyia, where Ulysses was wrecked and +held seven years, + +Camber, son of Brutus, governor of West Albion (Wales), + +Camelot, legendary place in England where Arthur's court and +palace were located, + +Camenae, prophetic nymphs, belonging to the religion of ancient +Italy, + +Camilla, Volscian maiden, huntress and Amazonian warrior, favorite +of Diana, + +Camlan, battle of, where Arthur was mortally wounded, + +Canterbury, English city, + +Capaneus, husband of Evadne, slain by Jupiter for disobedience, + +Capet, Hugh, King of France (987-996 AD), + +Caradoc Briefbras, Sir, great nephew of King Arthur, + +Carahue, King of Mauretania, + +Carthage, African city, home of Dido + +Cassandra, daughter of Priam and Hecuba, and twin sister of +Helenus, a prophetess, who foretold the coming of the Greeks but +was not believed, + +Cassibellaunus, British chieftain, fought but not conquered by +Caesar, + +Cassiopeia, mother of Andromeda, + +Castalia, fountain of Parnassus, giving inspiration to Oracular +priestess named Pythia, + +Castalian Cave, oracle of Apollo, + +Castes (India), + +Castor and Pollux--the Dioscuri, sons of Jupiter and Leda,-- +Castor a horseman, Pollux a boxer (SEE Gemini), + +Caucasus, Mount + +Cavall, Arthur's favorite dog, + +Cayster, ancient river, + +Cebriones, Hector's charioteer, + +Cecrops, first king of Athens, + +Celestials, gods of classic mythology, + +Celeus, shepherd who sheltered Ceres, seeking Proserpine, and +whose infant son Triptolemus was in gratitude made great by Ceres, + +Cellini, Benvenuto, famous Italian sculptor and artificer in +metals, + +Celtic nations, ancient Gauls and Britons, modern Bretons, Welsh, +Irish and Gaelic Scotch, + +Centaurs, originally an ancient race, inhabiting Mount Pelion in +Thessaly, in later accounts represented as half horses and half +men, and said to have been the offspring of Ixion and a cloud, + +Cephalus, husband of beautiful but jealous Procris, + +Cephe us, King of Ethiopians, father of Andromeda, + +Cephisus, a Grecian stream, + +Cerberus, three-headed dog that guarded the entrance to Hades, +called a son of Typhaon and Echidna + +CERES (See Demeter) + +CESTUS, the girdle of Venus + +CEYX, King of Thessaly (See Halcyone) + +CHAOS, original Confusion, personified by Greeks as most ancient +of the gods + +CHARLEMAGNE, king of the Franks and emperor of the Romans + +CHARLES MARTEL', king of the Franks, grandfather of Charlemagne, +called Martel (the Hammer) from his defeat of the Saracens at +Tours + +CHARLOT, son of Charlemagne + +CHARON, son of Erebos, conveyed in his boat the shades of the dead +across the rivers of the lower world + +CHARYB'DIS, whirlpool near the coast of Sicily, See Scylla + +CHIMAERA, a fire breathing monster, the fore part of whose body +was that of a lion, the hind part that of a dragon, and the middle +that of a goat, slain by Bellerophon + +CHINA, Lamas (priests) of + +CHOS, island in the Grecian archipelago + +CHIRON, wisest of all the Centaurs, son of Cronos (Saturn) and +Philyra, lived on Mount Pelion, instructor of Grecian heroes + +CHRYSEIS, Trojan maid, taken by Agamemnon + +CHRYSES, priest of Apollo, father of Chryseis + +CICONIANS, inhabitants of Ismarus, visited by Ulysses + +CIMBRI, an ancient people of Central Europe + +Cimmeria, a land of darkness + +Cimon, Athenian general + +Circe, sorceress, sister of Aeetes + +Cithaeron, Mount, scene of Bacchic worship + +Clarimunda, wife of Huon + +Clio, one of the Muses + +Cloridan, a Moor + +Clotho, one of the Fates + +Clymene, an ocean nymph + +Clytemnestra, wife of Agamemnon, killed by Orestes + +Clytie, a water nymph, in love with Apollo + +Cnidos, ancient city of Asia Minor, seat of worship of Aphrodite +(Venus) + +Cockatrice (or Basilisk), called King of Serpents, supposed to +kill with its look + +Cocytus, a river of Hades + +Colchis, a kingdom east of the Black Sea + +Colophon, one of the seven cities claiming the birth of Homer + +Columba, St, an Irish Christian missionary to Druidical parts of +Scotland + +Conan, Welsh king + +Constantine, Greek emperor + +Cordeilla, daughter of the mythical King Leir + +Corineus, a Trojan warrior in Albion + +Cornwall, southwest part of Britain + +Cortana, Ogier's sword + +Corybantes, priests of Cybele, or Rhea, in Phrygia, who +celebrated her worship with dances, to the sound of the drum and +the cymbal, 143 + +Crab, constellation + +Cranes and their enemies, the Pygmies, of Ibycus + +Creon, king of Thebes + +Crete, one of the largest islands of the Mediterranean Sea, lying +south of the Cyclades + +Creusa, daughter of Priam, wife of Aeneas + +Crocale, a nymph of Diana + +Cromlech, Druidical altar + +Cronos, See Saturn + +Crotona, city of Italy + +Cuchulain, Irish hero, called the "Hound of Ireland," + +Culdees', followers of St. Columba, Cumaean Sibyl, seeress +of Cumae, consulted by Aeneas, sold Sibylline books to Tarquin + +Cupid, child of Venus and god of love + +Curoi of Kerry, wise man + +Cyane, river, opposed Pluto's passage to Hades + +Cybele (Rhea) + +Cyclopes, creatures with circular eyes, of whom Homer speaks as a +gigantic and lawless race of shepherds in Sicily, who devoured +human beings, they helped Vulcan to forge the thunderbolts of Zeus +under Aetna + +Cymbeline, king of ancient Britain + +Cynosure (Dog's tail), the Pole star, at tail of Constellation +Ursa Minor + +Cynthian mountain top, birthplace of Artemis (Diana) and Apollo + +Cyprus, island off the coast of Syria, sacred to Aphrodite + +Cyrene, a nymph, mother of Aristaeus + +Daedalus, architect of the Cretan Labyrinth, inventor of sails + +Daguenet, King Arthur's fool + +Dalai Lama, chief pontiff of Thibet + +Danae, mother of Perseus by Jupiter + +Danaides, the fifty daughters of Danaus, king of Argos, who were +betrothed to the fifty sons of Aegyptus, but were commanded by +their father to slay each her own husband on the marriage night + +Danaus (See Danaides) + +Daphne, maiden loved by Apollo, and changed into a laurel tree + +Dardanelles, ancient Hellespont + +Dardanus, progenitor of the Trojan kings + +Dardinel, prince of Zumara + +Dawn, See Aurora + +Day, an attendant on Phoebus, the Sun + +Day star (Hesperus) + +Death, See Hela + +Deiphobus, son of Priam and Hecuba, the bravest brother of Paris + +Dejanira, wife of Hercules + +Delos, floating island, birthplace of Apollo and Diana + +Delphi, shrine of Apollo, famed for its oracles + +Demeter, Greek goddess of marriage and human fertility, identified +by Romans with Ceres + +Demeha, South Wales + +Demodocus, bard of Alomous, king of the Phaeaeians + +Deucalion, king of Thessaly, who with his wife Pyrrha were the +only pair surviving a deluge sent by Zeus + +Dia, island of + +Diana (Artemis), goddess of the moon and of the chase, daughter of +Jupiter and Latona + +Diana of the Hind, antique sculpture in the Louvre, Paris + +Diana, temple of + +Dictys, a sailor + +Didier, king of the Lombards + +Dido, queen of Tyre and Carthage, entertained the shipwrecked +Aeneas + +Diomede, Greek hero during Trojan War + +Dione, female Titan, mother of Zeus, of Aphrodite (Venus) + +Dionysus See Bacchus + +Dioscuri, the Twins (See Castor and Pollux) + +Dirce, wife of Lycus, king of Thebes, who ordered Amphion and +Zethus to tie Antiope to a wild bull, but they, learning Antiope +to be their mother, so treated Dirce herself + +Dis See Pluto + +Discord, apple of, See Eris. + +Discordia, See Eris. + +Dodona, site of an oracle of Zeus (Jupiter) + +Dorceus, a dog of Diana + +Doris, wife of Nereus + +Dragon's teeth sown by Cadmus + +Druids, ancient Celtic priests + +Dryades (or Dryads), See Wood nymphs + +Dryope, changed to a lotus plant, for plucking a lotus--enchanted +form of the nymph Lotis + +Dubricius, bishop of Caerleon, + +Dudon, a knight, comrade of Astolpho, + +Dunwallo Molmu'tius, British king and lawgiver + +Durindana, sword of Orlando or Rinaldo + +Dwarfs in Wagner's Nibelungen Ring + +E + +Earth (Gaea); goddess of the + +Ebudians, the + +Echo, nymph of Diana, shunned by Narcissus, faded to nothing but a +voice + +Ecklenlied, the + +Eddas, Norse mythological records, + +Ederyn, son of Nudd + +Egena, nymph of the Fountain + +Eisteddfod, session of Welsh bards and minstrels + +Electra, the lost one of the Pleiades, also, sister of Orestes + +Eleusian Mysteries, instituted by Ceres, and calculated to awaken +feelings of piety and a cheerful hope of better life in the future + +Eleusis, Grecian city + +Elgin Marbles, Greek sculptures from the Parthenon of Athens, now +in British Museum, London, placed there by Lord Elgin + +Eliaures, enchanter + +Elidure, a king of Britain + +Elis, ancient Greek city + +Elli, old age; the one successful wrestler against Thor + +Elphin, son of Gwyddiro + +Elves, spiritual beings, of many powers and dispositions--some +evil, some good + +Elvidnir, the ball of Hela + +Elysian Fields, the land of the blest + +Elysian Plain, whither the favored of the gods were taken without +death + +Elysium, a happy land, where there is neither snow, nor cold, nor +ram. Hither favored heroes, like Menelaus, pass without dying, and +live happy under the rule of Rhadamanthus. In the Latin poets +Elysium is part of the lower world, and the residence of the +shades of the blessed + +Embla, the first woman + +Enseladus, giant defeated by Jupiter + +Endymion, a beautiful youth beloved by Diana + +Enid, wife of Geraint + +Enna, vale of home of Proserpine + +Enoch, the patriarch + +Epidaurus, a town in Argolis, on the Saronic gulf, chief seat of +the worship of Aeculapius, whose temple was situated near the town + +Epimetheus, son of Iapetus, husband of Pandora, with his brother +Prometheus took part in creation of man + +Epirus, country to the west of Thessaly, lying along the Adriatic +Sea + +Epopeus, a sailor + +Erato, one of the Muses + +Erbin of Cornwall, father of Geraint + +Erebus, son of Chaos, region of darkness, entrance to Hades + +Eridanus, river + +Erinys, one of the Furies + +Eriphyle, sister of Polynices, bribed to decide on war, in which +her husband was slain + +Eris (Discordia), goddess of discord. At the wedding of Peleus and +Thetis, Eris being uninvited threw into the gathering an apple +"For the Fairest," which was claimed by Hera (Juno), Aphrodite +(Venus) and Athena (Minerva) Paris, being called upon for +judgment, awarded it to Aphrodite + +Erisichthon, an unbeliever, punished by famine + +Eros See Cupid + +Erytheia, island + +Eryx, a mount, haunt of Venus + +Esepus, river in Paphlagonia + +Estrildis, wife of Locrine, supplanting divorced Guendolen + +Eteocles, son of Oeipus and Jocasta + +Etruscans, ancient people of Italy, + +Etzel, king of the Huns + +Euboic Sea, where Hercules threw Lichas, who brought him the +poisoned shirt of Nessus + +Eude, king of Aquitaine, ally of Charles Martel + +Eumaeus, swineherd of Aeeas + +Eumenides, also called Erinnyes, and by the Romans Furiae or +Diraae, the Avenging Deities, See Furies + +Euphorbus, a Trojan, killed by Menelaus + +Euphros'yne, one of the Graces + +Europa, daughter of the Phoenician king Agenor, by Zeus the mother +of Minos, Rhadamanthus, and Sarpedon + +Eurus, the East wind + +Euyalus, a gallant Trojan soldier, who with Nisus entered the +Grecian camp, both being slain, + +Eurydice, wife of Orpheus, who, fleeing from an admirer, was +killed by a snake and borne to Tartarus, where Orpheus sought her +and was permitted to bring her to earth if he would not look back +at her following him, but he did, and she returned to the Shades, + +Eurylochus, a companion of Ulysses, + +Eurynome, female Titan, wife of Ophlon + +Eurystheus, taskmaster of Hercules, + +Eurytion, a Centaur (See Hippodamia), + +Euterpe, Muse who presided over music, + +Evadne, wife of Capaneus, who flung herself upon his funeral pile +and perished with him + +Evander, Arcadian chief, befriending Aeneas in Italy, + +Evnissyen, quarrelsome brother of Branwen, + +Excalibar, sword of King Arthur, + +F + +Fafner, a giant turned dragon, treasure stealer, by the Solar +Theory simply the Darkness who steals the day, + +Falerina, an enchantress, + +Fasolt, a giant, brother of Fafner, and killed by him, + +"Fasti," Ovid's, a mythological poetic calendar, + +FATA MORGANA, a mirage + +FATES, the three, described as daughters of Night--to indicate the +darkness and obscurity of human destiny--or of Zeus and Themis, +that is, "daughters of the just heavens" they were Clo'tho, who +spun the thread of life, Lach'esis, who held the thread and fixed +its length and At'ropos, who cut it off + +FAUNS, cheerful sylvan deities, represented in human form, with +small horns, pointed ears, and sometimes goat's tail + +FAUNUS, son of Picus, grandson of Saturnus, and father of Latinus, +worshipped as the protecting deity of agriculture and of +shepherds, and also as a giver of oracles + +FAVONIUS, the West wind + +FEAR + +FENRIS, a wolf, the son of Loki the Evil Principle of Scandinavia, +supposed to have personated the element of fire, destructive +except when chained + +FENSALIR, Freya's palace, called the Hall of the Sea, where were +brought together lovers, husbands, and wives who had been +separated by death + +FERRAGUS, a giant, opponent of Orlando + +FERRAU, one of Charlemagne's knights + +FERREX. brother of Porrex, the two sons of Leir + +FIRE WORSHIPPERS, of ancient Persia, See Parsees FLOLLO, Roman +tribune in Gaul + +FLORA, Roman goddess of flowers and spring + +FLORDELIS, fair maiden beloved by Florismart + +FLORISMART, Sir, a brave knight, + +FLOSSHILDA, one of the Rhine daughters + +FORTUNATE FIELDS + +FORTUNATE ISLANDS (See Elysian Plain) + +FORUM, market place and open square for public meetings in Rome, +surrounded by court houses, palaces, temples, etc + +FRANCUS, son of Histion, grandson of Japhet, great grandson of +Noah, legendary ancestor of the Franks, or French + +FREKI, one of Odin's two wolves + +FREY, or Freyr, god of the sun + +FREYA, Norse goddess of music, spring, and flowers + +FRICKA, goddess of marriage + +FRIGGA, goddess who presided over smiling nature, sending +sunshine, rain, and harvest + +FROH, one of the Norse gods + +FRONTI'NO, Rogero's horse + +FURIES (Erinnyes), the three retributive spirits who punished +crime, represented as snaky haired old woman, named Alecto, +Megaeira, and Tisiphone + +FUSBERTA, Rinaldo's sword + +G + +GAEA, or Ge, called Tellus by the Romans, the personification of +the earth, described as the first being that sprang fiom Chaos, +and gave birth to Uranus (Heaven) and Pontus (Sea) + +GAHARIET, knight of Arthur's court + +GAHERIS, knight + +GALAFRON, King of Cathay, father of Angelica + +GALAHAD, Sir, the pure knight of Arthur's Round Table, who safely +took the Siege Perilous (which See) + +GALATEA, a Nereid or sea nymph + +GALATEA, statue carved and beloved by Pygmalion + +GALEN, Greek physician and philosophical writer + +GALLEHANT, King of the Marches + +GAMES, national athletic contests in Greece--Olympian, at Olympia, +Pythian, near Delphi, seat of Apollo's oracle, Isthmian, on the +Corinthian Isthmus, Nemean, at Nemea in Argolis + +GAN, treacherous Duke of Maganza + +GANELON of Mayence, one of Charlemagne's knights + +GANGES, river in India + +GANO, a peer of Charlemagne + +GANYMEDE, the most beautiful of all mortals, carried off to +Olympus that he might fill the cup of Zeus and live among the +immortal gods + +GARETH, Arthur's knight + +GAUDISSO, Sultan + +GAUL, ancient France + +GAUTAMA, Prince, the Buddha + +GAWAIN, Arthur's knight + +GAWL, son of Clud, suitor for Rhiannon + +GEMINI (See Castor), constellation created by Jupiter from the +twin brothers after death, 158 + +GENGHIS Khan, Tartar conqueror + +GENIUS, in Roman belief, the protective Spirit of each individual +man, See Juno + +GEOFFREY OF MON'MOUTH, translator into Latin of the Welsh History +of the Kings of Britain (1150) + +GERAINT, a knight of King Arthur + +GERDA, wife of Frey + +GERI, one of Odin's two wolves + +GERYON, a three bodied monster + +GESNES, navigator sent for Isoude the Fair + +GIALLAR HORN, the trumpet that Heimdal will blow at the judgment +day + +GIANTS, beings of monstrous size and of fearful countenances, +represented as in constant opposition to the gods, in Wagner's +Nibelungen Ring + +GIBICHUNG RACE, ancestors of Alberich + +GIBRALTAR, great rock and town at southwest corner of Spain (See +Pillars of Hercules) + +GILDAS, a scholar of Arthur's court + +GIRARD, son of Duke Sevinus + +GLASTONBURY, where Arthur died + +GLAUCUS, a fisherman, loving Scylla + +GLEIPNIR, magical chain on the wolf Fenris + +GLEWLWYD, Arthur's porter + +GOLDEN FLEECE, of ram used for escape of children of Athamas, +named Helle and Phryxus (which See), after sacrifice of ram to +Jupiter, fleece was guarded by sleepless dragon and gained by +Jason and Argonauts (which See, also Helle) + +GONERIL, daughter of Leir + +GORDIAN KNOT, tying up in temple the wagon of Gordius, he who +could untie it being destined to be lord of Asia, it was cut by +Alexander the Great, 48 + +Gordius, a countryman who, arriving in Phrygia in a wagon, was +made king by the people, thus interpreting an oracle, 48 + +Gorgons, three monstrous females, with huge teeth, brazen claws +and snakes for hair, sight of whom turned beholders to stone, +Medusa, the most famous, slain by Perseus + +Gorlois, Duke of Tintadel + +Gouvernail, squire of Isabella, queen of Lionesse, protector of +her son Tristram while young, and his squire in knighthood + +Graal, the Holy, cup from which the Saviour drank at Last Supper, +taken by Joseph of Arimathea to Europe, and lost, its recovery +becoming a sacred quest for Arthur's knights + +Graces, three goddesses who enhanced the enjoyments of life by +refinement and gentleness; they were Aglaia (brilliance), +Euphrosyne (joy), and Thalia (bloom) + +Gradas'so, king of Sericane + +Graeae, three gray haired female watchers for the Gorgons, with +one movable eye and one tooth between the three + +Grand Lama, Buddhist pontiff in Thibet + +Grendel, monster slain by Beowulf + +Gryphon (griffin), a fabulous animal, with the body of a lion and +the head and wings of an eagle, dwelling in the Rhipaean +mountains, between the Hyperboreans and the one eyed Arimaspians, +and guarding the gold of the North, + +Guebers, Persian fire worshippers, + +Guendolen, wife of Locrine, + +Guenevere, wife of King Arthur, beloved by Launcelot, + +Guerin, lord of Vienne, father of Oliver, + +Guiderius, son of Cymbeline, + +Guillamurius, king in Ireland, + +Guimier, betrothed of Caradoc, + +Gullinbursti, the boar drawing Frey's car, + +Gulltopp, Heimdell's horse, + +Gunfasius, King of the Orkneys, + +Ganther, Burgundian king, brother of Kriemhild, + +Gutrune, half sister to Hagen, + +Gwern son of Matholch and Branwen, + +Gwernach the Giant, + +Gwiffert Petit, ally of Geraint, + +Gwyddno, Garanhir, King of Gwaelod, + +Gwyr, judge in the court of Arthur, + +Gyoll, river, + +H + +Hades, originally the god of the nether world--the name later +used to designate the gloomy subterranean land of the dead, + +Haemon, son of Creon of Thebes, and lover of Antigone, + +Haemonian city, + +Haemus, Mount, northern boundary of Thrace, + +Hagan, a principal character in the Nibelungen Lied, slayer of +Siegfried, + +HALCYONE, daughter of Aeneas, and the beloved wife of Ceyx, who, +when he was drowned, flew to his floating body, and the pitying +gods changed them both to birds (kingfishers), who nest at sea +during a certain calm week in winter ("halcyon weather") + +HAMADRYADS, tree-nymphs or wood-nymphs, See Nymphs + +HARMONIA, daughter of Mars and Venus, wife of Cadmus + +HAROUN AL RASCHID, Caliph of Arabia, contemporary of Charlemagne + +HARPIES, monsters, with head and bust of woman, but wings, legs +and tail of birds, seizing souls of the wicked, or punishing +evildoers by greedily snatching or defiling their food + +HARPOCRATES, Egyptian god, Horus + +HEBE, daughter of Juno, cupbearer to the gods + +HEBRUS, ancient name of river Maritzka + +HECATE, a mighty and formidable divinity, supposed to send at +night all kinds of demons and terrible phantoms from the lower +world + +HECTOR, son of Priam and champion of Troy + +HECTOR, one of Arthur's knights + +HECTOR DE MARYS', a knight + +HECUBA, wife of Priam, king of Troy, to whom she bore Hector, +Paris, and many other children + +HEGIRA, flight of Mahomet from Mecca to Medina (622 AD), era from +which Mahometans reckon time, as we do from the birth of Christ + +HEIDRUN, she goat, furnishing mead for slain heroes in Valhalla + +HEIMDALL, watchman of the gods + +HEL, the lower world of Scandinavia, to which were consigned those +who had not died in battle + +HELA (Death), the daughter of Loki and the mistress of the +Scandinavian Hel + +HELEN, daughter of Jupiter and Leda, wife of Menelaus, carried +off by Paris and cause of the Trojan War + +HELENUS, son of Priam and Hecuba, celebrated for his prophetic +powers + +HELIADES, sisters of Phaeton + +HELICON, Mount, in Greece, residence of Apollo and the Muses, +with fountains of poetic inspiration, Aganippe and Hippocrene + +HELIOOPOLIS, city of the Sun, in Egypt + +HELLAS, Gieece + +HELLE, daughter of Thessalian King Athamas, who, escaping from +cruel father with her brother Phryxus, on ram with golden fleece, +fell into the sea strait since named for her (See Golden Fleece) + +HELLESPONt, narrow strait between Europe and Asia Minor, named for +Helle + +HENGIST, Saxon invader of Britain, 449 AD + +HEPHAESTOS, See VULCAN + +HERA, called Juno by the Romans, a daughter of Cronos (Saturn) +and Rhea, and sister and wife of Jupiter, See JUNO + +HERCULES, athletic hero, son of Jupiter and Alcmena, achieved +twelve vast labors and many famous deeds + +HEREWARD THE WAKE, hero of the Saxons + +HERMES (Mercury), messenger of the gods, deity of commerce, +science, eloquence, trickery, theft, and skill generally + +HERMIONE, daughter of Menelaus and Helen + +HERMOD, the nimble, son of Odin + +HERO, a priestess of Venus, beloved of Leander + +HERODOTUS, Greek historian + +HESIOD, Greek poet + +HESPERIA, ancient name for Italy + +HESPERIDES (See Apples of the Hesperides) + +HESPERUS, the evening star (also called Day Star) + +HESTIA, cilled Vesta by the Romans, the goddess of the hearth + +HILDEBRAND, German magician and champion + +HINDU TRIAD, Brahma, Vishnu, and Siva + +HIPPOCRENE (See Helicon) + +HIPPODAMIA, wife of Pirithous, at whose wedding the Centaurs +offered violence to the bride, causing a great battle + +HIPPOGRIFF, winged horse, with eagle's head and claws + +HIPPOLYTA, Queen of the Amazons + +Hippolytus, son of Thesus + +HIPPOMENES, who won Atalanta in foot race, beguiling her with +golden apples thrown for her to + +HISTION, son of Japhet + +HODUR, blind man, who, fooled by + +Loki, threw a mistletoe twig at Baldur, killing him + +HOEL, king of Brittany + +HOMER, the blind poet of Greece, about 850 B C + +HOPE (See PANDORA) + +HORAE See HOURS + +HORSA, with Hengist, invader of Britain + +HORUS, Egyptian god of the sun + +HOUDAIN, Tristram's dog + +HRINGHAM, Baldur's ship + +HROTHGAR, king of Denmark + +HUGI, who beat Thialfi in foot races + +HUGIN, one of Odin's two ravens + +HUNDING, husband of Sieglinda + +HUON, son of Duke Sevinus + +HYACINTHUS, a youth beloved by Apollo, and accidentally killed by +him, changed in death to the flower, hyacinth + +HYADES, Nysaean nymphs, nurses of infant Bacchus, rewarded by +being placed as cluster of stars in the heavens + +HYALE, a nymph of Diana + +HYDRA, nine headed monster slain by Hercules + +HYGEIA, goddess of health, daughter of Aesculapius + +HYLAS, a youth detained by nymphs of spring where he sought water + +HYMEN, the god of marriage, imagined as a handsome youth and +invoked in bridal songs + +HYMETTUS, mountain in Attica, near Athens, celebrated for its +marble and its honey + +HYPERBOREANS, people of the far North + +HYPERION, a Titan, son of Uranus and Ge, and father of Helios, +Selene, and Eos, cattle of, + +Hyrcania, Prince of, betrothed to Clarimunda + +Hyrieus, king in Greece, + +I + +Iapetus, a Titan, son of Uranus and Ge, and father of Atlas, +Prometheus, Epimetheus, and Menoetius, + +Iasius, father of Atalanta + +Ibycus, a poet, story of, and the cranes + +Icaria, island of the Aegean Sea, one of the Sporades + +Icarius, Spartan prince, father of Penelope + +Icarus, son of Daedalus, he flew too near the sun with artificial +wings, and, the wax melting, he fell into the sea + +Icelos, attendant of Morpheus + +Icolumkill SEE Iona + +Ida, Mount, a Trojan hill + +Idaeus, a Trojan herald + +Idas, son of Aphareus and Arene, and brother of Lynceus Idu'na, +wife of Bragi + +Igerne, wife of Gorlois, and mother, by Uther, of Arthur + +Iliad, epic poem of the Trojan War, by Homer + +Ilioheus, a son of Niobe + +Ilium SEE Troy + +Illyria, Adriatic countries north of Greece + +Imogen, daughter of Pandrasus, wife of Trojan Brutus + +Inachus, son of Oceanus and Tethys, and father of Phoroneus and +Io, also first king of Argos, and said to have given his name to +the river Inachus + +INCUBUS, an evil spirit, supposed to lie upon persons in their +sleep + +INDRA, Hindu god of heaven, thunder, lightning, storm and rain + +INO, wife of Athamas, fleeing from whom with infant son she sprang +into the sea and was changed to Leucothea + +IO, changed to a heifer by Jupiter + +IOBATES, King of Lycia + +IOLAUS, servant of Hercules + +IOLE, sister of Dryope + +IONA, or Icolmkill, a small northern island near Scotland, where +St Columba founded a missionary monastery (563 AD) + +IONIA, coast of Asia Minor + +IPHIGENIA, daughter of Agamemnon, offered as a sacrifice but +carried away by Diana + +IPHIS, died for love of Anaxarete, 78 + +IPHITAS, friend of Hercules, killed by him + +IRIS, goddess of the rainbow, messenger of Juno and Zeus + +IRONSIDE, Arthur's knight + +ISABELLA, daughter of king of Galicia + +ISIS, wife of Osiris, described as the giver of death + +ISLES OF THE BLESSED + +ISMARUS, first stop of Ulysses, returning from Trojan War +ISME'NOS, a son of Niobe, slain by Apollo + +ISOLIER, friend of Rinaldo + +ISOUDE THE FAIR, beloved of Tristram + +ISOUDE OF THE WHITE HANDS, married to Tristram + +ISTHMIAN GAMES, See GAMES + +ITHACA, home of Ulysses and Penelope + +IULUS, son of Aeneas + +IVO, Saracen king, befriending Rinaldo + +IXION, once a sovereign of Thessaly, sentenced in Tartarus to be +lashed with serpents to a wheel which a strong wind drove +continually around + +J + +JANICULUM, Roman fortress on the Janiculus, a hill on the other +side of the Tiber + +JANUS, a deity from the earliest times held in high estimation by +the Romans, temple of + +JAPHET (Iapetus) + +JASON, leader of the Argonauts, seeking the Golden Fleece + +JOSEPH OF ARIMATHEA, who bore the Holy Graal to Europe + +JOTUNHEIM, home of the giants in Northern mythology + +JOVE (Zeus), chief god of Roman and Grecian mythology, See JUPITER + +JOYOUS GARDE, residence of Sir Launcelot of the Lake + +JUGGERNAUT, Hindu deity + +JUNO, the particular guardian spirit of each woman (See Genius) + +JUNO, wife of Jupiter, queen of the gods + +JUPITER, JOVIS PATER, FATHER JOVE, JUPITER and JOVE used +interchangeably, at Dodona, statue of the Olympian + +JUPITER AMMON (See Ammon) + +JUPITER CAPITOLINUS, temple of, preserving the Sibylline books + +JUSTICE, See THEMIS + +K + +KADYRIATH, advises King Arthur + +KAI, son of Kyner + +KALKI, tenth avatar of Vishnu + +KAY, Arthur's steward and a knight + +KEDALION, guide of Orion + +KERMAN, desert of + +KICVA, daughter of Gwynn Gloy + +KILWICH, son of Kilydd + +KILYDD, son of Prince Kelyddon, of Wales + +KNEPH, spirit or breath + +KNIGHTS, training and life of + +KRIEMHILD, wife of Siegfried + +KRISHNA, eighth avatar of Vishnu, Hindu deity of fertility in +nature and mankind + +KYNER, father of Kav + +KYNON, son of Clydno + +L + +LABYRINTH, the enclosed maze of passageways where roamed the +Minotaur of Crete, killed by Theseus with aid of Ariadne + +LACHESIS, one of the Fates (which See) + +LADY OF THE FOUNTAIN, tale told by Kynon + +LAERTES, father of Ulysses + +LAESTRYGONIANS, savages attacking Ulysses + +LAIUS, King of Thebes + +LAMA, holy man of Thibet + +LAMPETIA, daughter of Hyperion LAOC'OON, a priest of Neptune, in +Troy, who warned the Trojans against the Wooden Horse (which See), +but when two serpents came out of the sea and strangled him and +his two sons, the people listened to the Greek spy Sinon, and +brought the fatal Horse into the town + +LAODAMIA, daughter of Acastus and wife of Protesilaus + +LAODEGAN, King of Carmalide, helped by Arthur and Merlin + +LAOMEDON, King of Troy + +LAPITHAE, Thessalonians, whose king had invited the Centaurs to +his daughter's wedding but who attacked them for offering violence +to the bride + +LARES, household deities + +LARKSPUR, flower from the blood of Ajax + +LATINUS, ruler of Latium, where Aeneas landed in Italy + +LATMOS, Mount, where Diana fell in love with Endymion + +LATONA, mother of Apollo + +LAUNCELOT, the most famous knight of the Round Table + +LAUSUS, son of Mezentius, killed by Aeneas + +LAVINIA, daughter of Latinus and wife of Aeneas + +LAVINIUM, Italian city named for Lavinia + +LAW, See THEMIS + +LEANDER, a youth of Abydos, who, swimming the Hellespont to see +Hero, his love, was drowned + +LEBADEA, site of the oracle of Trophomus + +LEBYNTHOS, Aegean island + +LEDA, Queen of Sparta, wooed by Jupiter in the form of a swan + +LEIR, mythical King of Britain, original of Shakespeare's Lear + +LELAPS, dog of Cephalus + +LEMNOS, large island in the Aegean Sea, sacred to Vulcan + +LEMURES, the spectres or spirits of the dead + +LEO, Roman emperor, Greek prince + +LETHE, river of Hades, drinking whose water caused forgetfulness + +LEUCADIA, a promontory, whence Sappho, disappointed in love, was +said to have thrown herself into the sea + +LEUCOTHEA, a sea goddess, invoked by sailors for protection (See +Ino) + +LEWIS, son of Charlemagne + +LIBER, ancient god of fruitfulness + +LIBETHRA, burial place of Orpheus + +LIBYA, Greek name for continent of Africa in general + +LIBYAN DESERT, in Africa + +LIBYAN OASIS + +LICHAS, who brought the shirt of Nessus to Hercules + +LIMOURS, Earl of + +LINUS, musical instructor of Hercules + +LIONEL, knight of the Round Table + +LLYR, King of Britain + +LOCRINE, son of Brutus in Albion, king of Central England + +LOEGRIA, kingdom of (England) + +LOGESTILLA, a wise lady, who entertained Rogero and his friends + +LOGI, who vanquished Loki in an eating contest + +LOKI, the Satan of Norse mythology, son of the giant Farbanti + +LOT, King, a rebel chief, subdued by King Arthur, then a loyal +knight + +LOTIS, a nymph, changed to a lotus-plant and in that form plucked +by Dryope + +LOTUS EATERS, soothed to indolence, companions of Ulysses landing +among them lost all memory of home and had to be dragged away +before they would continue their voyage + +LOVE (Eros) issued from egg of Night, and with arrows and torch +produced life and joy + +LUCAN, one of Arthur's knights + +Lucius Tiberius, Roman procurator in Britain demanding tribute +from Arthur + +LUD, British king, whose capital was called Lud's Town (London) + +LUDGATE, city gate where Lud was buried, 387 + +LUNED, maiden who guided Owain to the Lady of the Fountain + +LYCAHAS, a turbulent sailor + +LYCAON, son of Priam + +LYCIA, a district in Southern Asia Minor + +LYCOMODES, king of the Dolopians, who treacherously slew Theseus + +LYCUS, usurping King of Thebes + +LYNCEUS, one of the sons of Aegyptus + +M + +MABINOGEON, plural of Mabinogi, fairy tales and romances of the +Welsh + +MABON, son of Modron + +MACHAON, son of Aesculapius + +MADAN, son of Guendolen + +MADOC, a forester of King Arthur + +MADOR, Scottish knight + +MAELGAN, king who imprisoned Elphin + +MAEONIA, ancient Lydia + +MAGI, Persian priests + +MAHADEVA, same as Siva + +MAHOMET, great prophet of Arabia, born in Mecca, 571 AD, +proclaimed worship of God instead of idols, spread his religion +through disciples and then by force till it prevailed, with +Arabian dominion, over vast regions in Asia, Africa, and Spain in +Europe + +MAIA, daughter of Atlas and Pleione, eldest and most beautiful of +the Pleiades + +MALAGIGI the Enchanter, one of Charlemagne's knights + +MALEAGANS, false knight + +MALVASIUS, King of Iceland + +MAMBRINO, with invisible helmet + +MANAWYD DAN, brother of King Vran, of London + +MANDRICARDO, son of Agrican + +MANTUA, in Italy, birthplace of Virgil + +MANU, ancestor of mankind + +MARATHON, where Theseus and Pirithous met + +MARK, King of Cornwall, husband of Isoude the Fair + +MARO See VIRGIL + +MARPHISA, sister of Rogero + +MARSILIUS, Spanish king, treacherous foe of Charlemagne + +MARSYAS, inventor of the flute, who challenged Apollo to musical +competition, and, defeated, was flayed alive + +MATSYA, the Fish, first avatar of Vishnu + +MEANDER, Grecian river + +MEDE, A, princess and sorceress who aided Jason + +MEDORO, a young Moor, who wins Angelica + +MEDUSA, one of the Gorgons + +MEGAERA, one of the Furies + +MELAMPUS, a Spartan dog, the first mortal endowed with prophetic +powers + +MELANTHUS, steersman for Bacchus + +MELEAGER, one of the Argonauts (See Althaea) + +MELIADUS, King of Lionesse, near Cornwall + +MELICERTES, infant son of Ino. changed to Palaemon (See Ino, +Leucothea, and Palasmon) + +MELISSA, priestess at Merlin's tomb + +MELISSEUS, a Cretan king + +MELPOMENE, one of the Muses + +MEMNON, the beautiful son of Tithonus and Eos (Aurora), and king +of the Ethiopians, slain in Trojan War + +MEMPHIS, Egyptian city + +MENELAUS, son of King of Sparta, husband of Helen + +MENOECEUS, son of Creon, voluntary victim in war to gain success +for his father + +MENTOR, son of Alcimus and a faithful friend of Ulysses + +MERCURY (See HERMES) + +MERLIN, enchanter + +MEROPE, daughter of King of Chios, beloved by Orion + +MESMERISM, likened to curative oracle of Aesculapius at Epidaurus + +METABUS, father of Camilla + +METAMORPHOSES, Ovid's poetical legends of mythical +transformations, a large source of our knowledge of classic +mythology + +METANIRA, a mother, kind to Ceres seeking Proserpine + +METEMPSYCHOSIS, transmigration of souls--rebirth of dying men +and women in forms of animals or human beings + +METIS, Prudence, a spouse of Jupiter + +MEZENTIUS, a brave but cruel soldier, opposing Aeneas in Italy + +MIDAS + +MIDGARD, the middle world of the Norsemen + +MIDGARD SERPENT, a sea monster, child of Loki + +MILKY WAY, starred path across the sky, believed to be road to +palace of the gods + +MILO, a great athlete + +MLON, father of Orlando + +MILTON, John, great English poet, whose History of England is here +largely used + +MIME, one of the chief dwarfs of ancient German mythology + +MINERVA (Athene), daughter of Jupiter, patroness of health, +learning, and wisdom + +MINOS, King of Crete + +MINO TAUR, monster killed by Theseus + +MISTLETOE, fatal to Baldur + +MNEMOSYNE, one of the Muses + +MODESTY, statue to + +MODRED, nephew of King Arthur + +MOLY, plant, powerful against sorcery + +MOMUS, a deity whose delight was to jeer bitterly at gods and men + +MONAD, the "unit" of Pythagoras + +MONSTERS, unnatural beings, evilly disposed to men + +MONTALBAN, Rinaldo's castle + +MONTH, the, attendant upon the Sun + +MOON, goddess of, see DIANA + +MORAUNT, knight, an Irish champion + +MORGANA, enchantress, the Lady of the Lake in "Orlando Furioso," +same as Morgane Le Fay in tales of Arthur + +MORGANE LE FAY, Queen of Norway, King Arthur's sister, an +enchantress + +MORGAN TUD, Arthur's chief physician + +MORPHEUS, son of Sleep and god of dreams + +MORTE D'ARTHUr, romance, by Sir Thomas Mallory + +MULCIBER, Latin name of Vulcan + +MULL, Island of + +MUNIN, one of Odin's two ravens + +MUSAEUS, sacred poet, son of Orpheus + +MUSES, The, nine goddesses presiding over poetry, etc--Calliope, +epic poetry, Clio, history, Erato, love poetry, Euterpe, lyric +poetry; Melpomene, tragedy, Polyhymnia, oratory and sacred song +Terpsichore, choral song and dance, Thalia, comedy and idyls, +Urania, astronomy + +MUSPELHEIM, the fire world of the Norsemen + +MYCENAS, ancient Grecian city, of which Agamemnon was king + +MYRDDIN (Merlin) + +MYRMIDONS, bold soldiers of Achilles + +MYSIA, Greek district on northwest coast of Asia Minor + +MYTHOLOGY, origin of, collected myths, describing gods of early +peoples + +N + +NAIADS, water nymphs + +NAMO, Duke of Bavaria, one of Charlemagne's knights + +NANNA, wife of Baldur + +NANTERS, British king + +NANTES, site of Caradoc's castle + +NAPE, a dog of Diana + +NARCISSUS, who died of unsatisfied love for his own image in the +water + +NAUSICAA, daughter of King Alcinous, who befriended Ulysses + +NAUSITHOUS, king of Phaeacians + +NAXOS, Island of + +NEGUS, King of Abyssinia + +NEMEA, forest devastated by a lion killed by Hercules + +NEMEAN GAMES, held in honor of Jupiter and Hercules + +NEMEAN LION, killed by Hercules + +NEMESIS, goddess of vengeance + +NENNIUS, British combatant of Caesar + +NEOPTOLEMUS, son of Achilles + +NEPENTHE, ancient drug to cause forgetfulness of pain or distress + +NEPHELE, mother of Phryxus and Helle + +NEPHTHYS, Egyptian goddess + +NEPTUNE, identical with Poseidon, god of the sea + +NEREIDS, sea nymphs, daughters of Nereus and Doris + +NEREUS, a sea god + +NESSUS, a centaur killed by Hercules, whose jealous wife sent him +a robe or shirt steeped in the blood of Nessus, which poisoned him + +NESTOR, king of Pylos, renowned for his wisdom, justice, and +knowledge of war + +NIBELUNGEN HOARD, treasure seized by Siegfried from the +Nibelungs, buried in the Rhine by Hagan after killing Siegfried, +and lost when Hagan was killed by Kriemhild, theme of Wagner's +four music dramas, "The Ring of the Nibelungen," + +NIBELUNGEN LIED, German epic, giving the same nature myth as the +Norse Volsunga Saga, concerning the Hoard + +NIBELUNGEN RING, Wagner's music dramas + +NIBELUNGS, the, a race of Northern dwarfs + +NIDHOGGE, a serpent in the lower world that lives on the dead + +NIFFLEHEIM, mist world of the Norsemen, the Hades of absent +spirits + +NILE, Egyptian river + +NIOBE, daughter of Tantalus, proud Queen of Thebes, whose seven +sons and seven daughters were killed by Apollo and Diana, at which +Amphion, her husband, killed himself, and Niobe wept until she was +turned to stone + +NISUS, King of Megara + +NOAH, as legendary ancestor of French, Roman, German, and British +peoples + +NOMAN, name assumed by Ulysses + +NORNS, the three Scandinavian Fates, Urdur (the past), Verdandi +(the present), and Skuld (the future) + +NOTHUNG, magic sword + +NOTUS, southwest wind + +NOX, daughter of Chaos and sister of Erebus, personification of +night + +Numa, second king of Rome + +NYMPHS, beautiful maidens, lesser divinities of nature Dryads and +Hamadryads, tree nymphs, Naiads, spring, brook, and river nymphs, +Nereids, sea nymphs Oreads, mountain nymphs or hill nymphs + +O + +OCEANUS, a Titan, ruling watery elements + +OCYROE, a prophetess, daughter of Chiron + +ODERIC + +ODIN, chief of the Norse gods + +ODYAR, famous Biscayan hero + +ODYSSEUS See ULYSSES + +ODYSSEY, Homer's poem, relating the wanderings of Odysseus +(Ulysses) on returning from Trojan War + +OEDIPUS, Theban hero, who guessed the riddle of the Sphinx (which +See), becoming King of Thebes + +OENEUS, King of Calydon + +OENONE, nymph, married by Paris in his youth, and abandoned for +Helen + +OENOPION, King of Chios + +OETA, Mount, scene of Hercules' death + +OGIER, the Dane, one of the paladins of Charlemagne + +OLIVER, companion of Orlando + +OLWEN, wife of Kilwich + +OLYMPIA, a small plain in Elis, where the Olympic games were +celebrated + +OLYMPIADS, periods between Olympic games (four years) + +OLYMPIAN GAMES, See GAMES + +OLYMPUS, dwelling place of the dynasty of gods of which Zeus was +the head + +OMPHALE, queen of Lydia, daughter of Iardanus and wife of Tmolus + +OPHION, king of the Titans, who ruled Olympus till dethroned by +the gods Saturn and Rhea + +OPS See RHEA + +ORACLES, answers from the gods to questions from seekers for +knowledge or advice for the future, usually in equivocal form, so +as to fit any event, also places where such answers were given +forth usually by a priest or priestess + +ORC, a sea monster, foiled by Rogero when about to devour Angelica + +OREADS, nymphs of mountains and hills + +ORESTES, son of Agamemnon and Clytemnestra, because of his crime +in killing his mother, he was pursued by the Furies until purified +by Minerva + +ORION, youthful giant, loved by Diana, Constellation + +ORITHYIA, a nymph, seized by Boreas + +ORLANDO, a famous knight and nephew of Charlemagne + +ORMUZD (Greek, Oromasdes), son of Supreme Being, source of good +as his brother Ahriman (Arimanes) was of evil, in Persian or +Zoroastrian religion + +ORPHEUS, musician, son of Apollo and Calliope, See EURYDICE + +OSIRIS, the most beneficent of the Egyptian gods + +OSSA, mountain of Thessaly + +OSSIAN, Celtic poet of the second or third century + +OVID, Latin poet (See Metamorphoses) + +OWAIN, knight at King Arthur's court + +OZANNA, a knight of Arthur + +P + +PACTOLUS, river whose sands were changed to gold by Midas + +PAEON, a name for both Apollo and Aesculapius, gods of medicine, + +PAGANS, heathen + +PALADINS or peers, knights errant + +PALAEMON, son of Athamas and Ino + +PALAMEDES, messenger sent to call Ulysses to the Trojan War + +PALAMEDES, Saracen prince at Arthur's court + +PALATINE, one of Rome's Seven Hills + +PALES, goddess presiding over cattle and pastures + +PALINURUS, faithful steersman of Aeeas + +PALLADIUM, properly any image of Pallas Athene, but specially +applied to an image at Troy, which was stolen by Ulysses and +Diomedes + +PALLAS, son of Evander + +PALLAS A THE'NE (Minerva) + +PAMPHA GUS, a dog of Diana + +PAN, god of nature and the universe + +PANATHENAEA, festival in honor of Pallas Athene (Minerva) + +PANDEAN PIPES, musical instrument of reeds, made by Pan in +memory of Syrinx + +PANDORA (all gifted), first woman, dowered with gifts by every +god, yet entrusted with a box she was cautioned not to open, but, +curious, she opened it, and out flew all the ills of humanity, +leaving behind only Hope, which remained + +PANDRASUS, a king in Greece, who persecuted Trojan exiles under +Brutus, great grandson of Aeneas, until they fought, captured him, +and, with his daughter Imogen as Brutus' wife, emigrated to Albion +(later called Britain) + +PANOPE, plain of + +PANTHUS, alleged earlier incarnation of Pythagoras + +PAPHLAGNIA, ancient country in Asia Minor, south of Black Sea + +PAPHOS, daughter of Pygmalion and Galatea (both of which, See) + +PARCAE See FATES + +PARIAHS, lowest caste of Hindus + +PARIS, son of Priam and Hecuba, who eloped with Helen (which. +See) + +PARNASSIAN LAUREl, wreath from Parnassus, crown awarded to +successful poets + +PARNASSUS, mountain near Delphi, sacred to Apollo and the Muses + +PARSEES, Persian fire worshippers (Zoroastrians), of whom there +are still thousands in Persia and India + +PARTHENON, the temple of Athene Parthenos ("the Virgin") on the +Acropolis of Athens + +PASSEBREUL, Tristram's horse + +PATROCLUS, friend of Achilles, killed by Hector + +PECHEUR, King, uncle of Perceval + +PEERS, the + +PEG A SUS, winged horse, born from the sea foam and the blood of +Medusa + +PELEUS, king of the Myrmidons, father of Achilles by Thetis + +PELIAS, usurping uncle of Jason + +PELION, mountain + +PELLEAS, knight of Arthur + +PENATES, protective household deities of the Romans + +PENDRAGON, King of Britain, elder brother of Uther Pendragon, +who succeeded him + +PENELOPE, wife of Ulysses, who, waiting twenty years for his +return from the Trojan War, put off the suitors for her hand by +promising to choose one when her weaving was done, but unravelled +at night what she had woven by day + +PENEUS, river god, river + +PENTHESILEA, queen of Amazons + +PENTHEUS, king of Thebes, having resisted the introduction of +the worship of Bacchus into his kingdom, was driven mad by the god + +PENUS, Roman house pantry, giving name to the Penates + +PEPIN, father of Charlemagne + +PEPLUS, sacred robe of Minerva + +PERCEVAL, a great knight of Arthur + +PERDIX, inventor of saw and compasses + +PERIANDER, King of Corinuh, friend of Arion + +PERIPHETES, son of Vulcan, killed by Theseus + +PERSEPHONE, goddess of vegetation, 8 See Pioserpine + +PERSEUS, son of Jupiter and Danae, slayer of the Gorgon Medusa, +deliverer of Andromeda from a sea monster, 116 122, 124, 202 + +PHAEACIANS, people who entertained Ulysses + +PHAEDRA, faithless and cruel wife of Theseus + +PHAETHUSA, sister of Phaeton, 244 + +PHAETON, son of Phoebus, who dared attempt to drive his father's +sun chariot + +PHANTASOS, a son of Somnus, bringing strange images to sleeping +men + +PHAON, beloved by Sappho + +PHELOT, knight of Wales + +PHEREDIN, friend of Tristram, unhappy lover of Isoude + +PHIDIAS, famous Greek sculptor + +PHILEMON, husband of Baucis + +PHILOCTETES, warrior who lighted the fatal pyre of Hercules + +PHILOE, burial place of Osiris + +PHINEUS, betrothed to Andromeda + +PHLEGETHON, fiery river of Hades + +PHOCIS + +PHOEBE, one of the sisters of Phaeton + +PHOEBUS (Apollo), god of music, prophecy, and archery, the sun +god + +PHOENIX, a messenger to Achilles, also, a miraculous bird dying +in fire by its own act and springing up alive from its own ashes + +PHORBAS, a companion of Aeneas, whose form was assumed by Neptune +in luring Palinuras the helmsman from his roost + +PHRYXUS, brother of Helle + +PINABEL, knight + +PILLARS OF HERCULES, two mountains--Calpe, now the Rock of +Gibraltar, southwest corner of Spain in Europe, and Abyla, facing +it in Africa across the strait + +PINDAR, famous Greek poet + +PINDUS, Grecian mountain + +PIRENE, celebrated fountain at Corinth + +PIRITHOUS, king of the Lapithae in Thessaly, and friend of +Theseus, husband of Hippodamia + +PLEASURE, daughter of Cupid and Psyche + +PLEIADES, seven of Diana's nymphs, changed into stars, one being +lost + +PLENTY, the Horn of + +PLEXIPPUS, brother of Althea + +PLINY, Roman naturalist + +PLUTO, the same as Hades, Dis, etc. god of the Infernal Regions + +PLUTUS, god of wealth + +PO, Italian river + +POLE STAR + +POLITES, youngest son of Priam of Troy + +POLLUX, Castor and (Dioscuri, the Twins) (See Castor) + +POLYDECTES, king of Seriphus + +POLYDORE, slain kinsman of Aeneas, whose blood nourished a bush +that bled when broken + +POLYHYMNIA, Muse of oratory and sacred song + +POLYIDUS, soothsayer + +POLYNICES, King of Thebes + +POLYPHEMUS, giant son of Neptune + +POLYXENA, daughter of King Priam of Troy + +POMONA, goddess of fruit trees (See VERTUMNUS) + +PORREX and FER'REX, sons of Leir, King of Britain + +PORTUNUS, Roman name for Palaemon + +POSEIDON (Neptune), ruler of the ocean + +PRECIPICE, threshold of Helas hall + +PRESTER JOHN, a rumored priest or presbyter, a Christian pontiff +in Upper Asia, believed in but never found + +PRIAM, king of Troy + +PRIWEN, Arthur's shield + +PROCRIS, beloved but jealous wife of Cephalus + +PROCRUSTES, who seized travellers and bound them on his iron bed, +stretching the short ones and cutting short the tall, thus also +himself served by Theseus + +PROETUS, jealous of Bellerophon + +PROMETHEUS, creator of man, who stole fire from heaven for man's +use + +PROSERPINE, the same as Persephone, goddess of all growing +things, daughter of Ceres, carried off by Pluto + +PROTESILAUS, slain by Hector the Trojan, allowed by the gods to +return for three hours' talk with his widow Laodomia + +PROTEUS, the old man of the sea + +PRUDENCE (Metis), spouse of Jupiter + +PRYDERI, son of Pwyll + +PSYCHE, a beautiful maiden, personification of the human soul, +sought by Cupid (Love), to whom she responded, lost him by +curiosity to see him (as he came to her only by night), but +finally through his prayers was made immortal and restored to him, +a symbol of immortality + +PURANAS, Hindu Scriptures + +PWYLL, Prince of Dyved + +PYGMALION, sculptor in love with a statue he had made, brought to +life by Venus, brother of Queen Dido + +PYGMIES, nation of dwarfs, at war with the Cranes + +PYLADES, son of Straphius, friend of Orestes + +PYRAMUS, who loved Thisbe, next door neighbor, and, their parents +opposing, they talked through cracks in the house wall, agreeing +to meet in the near by woods, where Pyramus, finding a bloody veil +and thinking Thisbe slain, killed himself, and she, seeing his +body, killed herself (Burlesqued in Shakespeare's "Midsummer +Night's Dream") + +PYRRHA, wife of Deucalion + +PYRRHUS (Neoptolemus), son of Achilles + +PYTHAGORAS, Greek philosopher (540 BC), who thought numbers to be +the essence and principle of all things, and taught transmigration +of souls of the dead into new life as human or animal beings + +PYTHIA, priestess of Apollo at Delphi + +PYTHIAN GAMES + +PYTHIAN ORACLE + +PYTHON, serpent springing from Deluge slum, destroyed by Apollo + +Q + +QUIRINUS (from quiris, a lance or spear), a war god, said to be +Romulus, founder of Rome + +R + +RABICAN, noted horse + +RAGNAROK, the twilight (or ending) of the gods + +RAJPUTS, minor Hindu caste + +REGAN, daughter of Leir + +REGILLUS, lake in Latium, noted for battle fought near by +between the Romans and the Latins + +REGGIO, family from which Rogero sprang + +REMUS, brother of Romulus, founder of Rome + +RHADAMANTHUS, son of Jupiter and Europa after his death one of +the judges in the lower world + +RHAPSODIST, professional reciter of poems among the Greeks + +RHEA, female Titan, wife of Saturn (Cronos), mother of the chief +gods, worshipped in Greece and Rome + +RHINE, river + +RHINE MAIDENS, OR DAUGHTERS, three water nymphs, Flosshilda, +Woglinda, and Wellgunda, set to guard the Nibelungen Hoard, buried +in the Rhine + +RHODES, one of the seven cities claiming to be Homer's birthplace + +RHODOPE, mountain in Thrace + +RHONGOMYANT, Arthur's lance + +RHOECUS, a youth, beloved by a Dryad, but who brushed away a bee +sent by her to call him to her, and she punished him with +blindness + +RHIANNON, wife of Pwyll + +RINALDO, one of the bravest knights of Charlemagne + +RIVER OCEAN, flowing around the earth + +ROBERT DE BEAUVAIS', Norman poet (1257) + +ROBIN HOOD, famous outlaw in English legend, about time of Richard +Coeur de Lion + +ROCKINGHAM, forest of + +RODOMONT, king of Algiers + +ROGERO, noted Saracen knight + +ROLAND (Orlando), See Orlando + +ROMANCES + +ROMANUS, legendary great grandson of Noah + +ROME + +ROMULUS, founder of Rome + +RON, Arthur's lance + +RONCES VALLES', battle of + +ROUND TABLE King Arthur's instituted by Merlin the Sage for +Pendragon, Arthur's father, as a knightly order, continued and +made famous by Arthur and his knights + +RUNIC CHARACTERS, or runes, alphabetic signs used by early +Teutonic peoples, written or graved on metal or stone + +RUTULIANS, an ancient people in Italy, subdued at an early period +by the Romans + +RYENCE, king in Ireland + +S + +SABRA, maiden for whom Severn River was named, daughter of Locrine +and Estrildis thrown into river Severn by Locrine's wife, +transformed to a river nymph, poetically named Sabrina + +SACRIPANT, king of Circassia + +SAFFIRE, Sir, knight of Arthur + +SAGAS, Norse tales of heroism, composed by the Skalds + +SAGRAMOUR, knight of Arthur + +St. MICHAEL'S MOUNT, precipitous pointed rock hill on the coast of +Brittany, opposite Cornwall + +SAKYASINHA, the Lion, epithet applied to Buddha + +SALAMANDER, a lizard like animal, fabled to be able to live in +fire + +SALAMIS, Grecian city + +SALMONEUS, son of Aeolus and Enarete and brother of Sisyphus + +SALOMON, king of Brittany, at Charlemagne's court + +SAMHIN, or "fire of peace," a Druidical festival + +SAMIAN SAGE (Pythagoras) + +SAMOS, island in the Aegean Sea + +SAMOTHRACIAN GODS, a group of agricultural divinities, worshipped +in Samothrace + +SAMSON, Hebrew hero, thought by some to be original of Hercules + +SAN GREAL (See Graal, the Holy) + +SAPPHO, Greek poetess, who leaped into the sea from promontory of +Leucadia in disappointed love for Phaon + +SARACENS, followers of Mahomet + +SARPEDON, son of Jupiter and Europa, killed by Patroclus + +SATURN (Cronos) + +SATURNALIA, a annual festival held by Romans in honor of Saturn + +SATURNIA, an ancient name of Italy + +SATYRS, male divinities of the forest, half man, half goat + +SCALIGER, famous German scholar of 16th century + +SCANDINAVIA, mythology of, giving account of Northern gods, +heroes, etc + +SCHERIA, mythical island, abode of the Phaeacians + +SCHRIMNIR, the boar, cooked nightly for the heroes of Valhalla +becoming whole every morning + +SCIO, one of the island cities claiming to be Homer's birthplace + +SCOPAS, King of Thessaly + +SCORPION, constellation + +SCYLLA, sea nymph beloved by Glaucus, but changed by jealous Circe +to a monster and finally to a dangerous rock on the Sicilian +coast, facing the whirlpool Charybdis, many mariners being wrecked +between the two, also, daughter of King Nisus of Megara, who loved +Minos, besieging her father's city, but he disliked her disloyalty +and drowned her, also, a fair virgin of Sicily, friend of sea +nymph Galatea + +SCYROS, where Theseus was slain + +SCYTHIA, country lying north of Euxine Sea + +SEMELE, daughter of Cadmus and, by Jupiter, mother of Bacchus + +SEMIRAMIS, with Ninus the mythical founder of the Assyrian empire +of Nineveh + +SENAPUS, King of Abyssinia, who entertained Astolpho + +SERAPIS, or Hermes, Egyptian divinity of Tartarus and of +medicine + +SERFS, slaves of the land + +SERIPHUS, island in the Aegean Sea, one of the Cyclades + +SERPENT (Northern constellation) + +SESTOS, dwelling of Hero (which See also Leander) + +"SEVEN AGAINST THEBES," famous Greek expedition + +SEVERN RIVER, in England + +SEVINUS, Duke of Guienne + +SHALOTT, THE LADY OF + +SHATRIYA, Hindu warrior caste + +SHERASMIN, French chevalier + +SIBYL, prophetess of Cumae + +SICHAEUS, husband of Dido + +SEIGE PERILOUS, the chair of purity at Arthur's Round Table, fatal +to any but him who was destined to achieve the quest of the +Sangreal (See Galahad) + +SIEGFRIED, young King of the Netherlands, husband of Kriemhild, +she boasted to Brunhild that Siegfried had aided Gunther to beat +her in athletic contests, thus winning her as wife, and Brunhild, +in anger, employed Hagan to murder Siegfried. As hero of Wagner's +"Valkyrie," he wins the Nibelungen treasure ring, loves and +deserts Brunhild, and is slain by Hagan + +SIEGLINDA, wife of Hunding, mother of Siegfried by Siegmund + +SIEGMUND, father of Siegfried + +SIGTRYG, Prince, betrothed of King Alef's daughter, aided by +Hereward + +SIGUNA, wife of Loki + +SILENUS, a Satyr, school master of Bacchus + +SILURES (South Wales) + +SILVIA, daughter of Latin shepherd + +SILVIUS, grandson of Aeneas, accidentally killed in the chase by +his son Brutus + +SIMONIDES, an early poet of Greece + +SINON, a Greek spy, who persuaded the Trojans to take the Wooden +Horse into their city + +SIRENS, sea nymphs, whose singing charmed mariners to leap into +the sea, passing their island, Ulysses stopped the ears of his +sailors with wax, and had himself bound to the mast so that he +could hear but not yield to their music + +SIRIUS, the dog of Orion, changed to the Dog star + +SISYPHUS, condemned in Tartarus to perpetually roll up hill a big +rock which, when the top was reached, rolled down again + +SIVA, the Destroyer, third person of the Hindu triad of gods + +SKALDS, Norse bards and poets + +SKIDBLADNIR, Freyr's ship + +SKIRNIR, Frey's messenger, who won the god's magic sword by +getting him Gerda for his wife + +SKRYMIR, a giant, Utgard Loki in disguise, who fooled Thor in +athletic feats + +SKULD, the Norn of the Future + +SLEEP, twin brother of Death + +SLEIPNIR, Odin's horse + +SOBRINO, councillor to Agramant + +SOMNUS, child of Nox, twin brother of Mors, god of sleep + +SOPHOCLES, Greek tragic dramatist + +SOUTH WIND See Notus + +SPAR'TA, capital of Lacedaemon + +SPHINX, a monster, waylaying the road to Thebes and propounding +riddles to all passers, on pain of death, for wrong guessing, who +killed herself in rage when Aedipus guessed aright + +SPRING + +STONEHENGE, circle of huge upright stones, fabled to be sepulchre +of Pendragon + +STROPHIUS, father of Pylades + +STYGIAN REALM, Hades + +STYGIAN SLEEP, escaped from the beauty box sent from Hades to +Venus by hand of Psyche, who curiously opened the box and was +plunged into unconsciousness + +STYX, river, bordering Hades, to be crossed by all the dead + +SUDRAS, Hindu laboring caste + +SURTUR, leader of giants against the gods in the day of their +destruction (Norse mythology) + +SURYA, Hindu god of the sun, corresponding to the Greek Helios + +SUTRI, Orlando's birthplace + +SVADILFARI, giant's horse + +SWAN, LEDA AND + +SYBARIS, Greek city in Southern Italy, famed for luxury + +SYLVANUS, Latin divinity identified with Pan + +SYMPLEGADES, floating rocks passed by the Argonauts + +SYRINX, nymph, pursued by Pan, but escaping by being changed to a +bunch of reeds (See Pandean pipes) + +T + +TACITUS, Roman historian + +TAENARUS, Greek entrance to lower regions + +TAGUS, river in Spain and Portugal + +TALIESIN, Welsh bard + +TANAIS, ancient name of river Don + +TANTALUS, wicked king, punished in Hades by standing in water +that retired when he would drink, under fruit trees that withdrew +when he would eat + +TARCHON, Etruscan chief + +TARENTUM, Italian city + +TARPEIAN ROCK, in Rome, from which condemned criminals were +hurled + +TARQUINS, a ruling family in early Roman legend + +TAURIS, Grecian city, site of temple of Diana (See Iphigenia) + +TAURUS, a mountain + +TARTARUS, place of confinement of Titans, etc, originally a black +abyss below Hades later, represented as place where the wicked +were punished, and sometimes the name used as synonymous with +Hades + +TEIRTU, the harp of + +TELAMON, Greek hero and adventurer, father of Ajax + +TELEMACHUS, son of Ulysses and Penelope + +TELLUS, another name for Rhea + +TENEDOS, an island in Aegean Sea + +TERMINUS, Roman divinity presiding over boundaries and frontiers + +TERPSICHORE, Muse of dancing + +TERRA, goddess of the earth + +TETHYS, goddess of the sea + +TEUCER, ancient king of the Trojans + +THALIA, one of the three Graces + +THAMYRIS, Thracian bard, who challenged the Muses to competition +in singing, and, defeated, was blinded + +THAUKT, Loki disguised as a hag + +THEBES, city founded by Cadmus and capital of Boeotia + +THEMIS, female Titan, law counsellor of Jove + +THEODORA, sister of Prince Leo + +THERON, one of Diana's dogs + +THERSITES, a brawler, killed by Achilles + +THESCELUS, foe of Perseus, turned to stone by sight of Gorgon's +head + +THESEUM, Athenian temple in honor of Theseus + +THESEUS, son of Aegeus and Aethra, King of Athens, a great hero of +many adventures + +THESSALY + +THESTIUS, father of Althea + +THETIS, mother of Achilles + +THIALFI, Thor's servant + +THIS'BE, Babylonian maiden beloved by Pyramus + +THOR, the thunderer, of Norse mythology, most popular of the gods + +THRACE + +THRINA'KIA, island pasturing Hyperion's cattle, where Ulysses +landed, but, his men killing some cattle for food, their ship was +wrecked by lightning + +THRYM, giant, who buried Thor's hammer + +THUCYDIDES, Greek historian + +TIBER, river flowing through Rome + +TIBER, FATHER, god of the river + +TIGRIS, river + +TINTADEL, castle of, residence of King Mark of Cornwall + +TIRESIAS, a Greek soothsayer + +TISIPHONE, one of the Furies + +TITANS, the sons and daughters of Uranus (Heaven) and Gaea +(Earth), enemies of the gods and overcome by them + +TITHONUS, Trojan prince + +TITYUS, giant in Tartarus + +TMOLUS, a mountain god + +TORTOISE, second avatar of Vishnu + +TOURS, battle of (See Abdalrahman and Charles Martel) + +TOXEUS, brother of Melauger's mother, who snatched from Atalanta +her hunting trophy, and was slain by Melauger, who had awarded it +to her + +TRIAD, the Hindu + +TRIADS, Welsh poems + +TRIMURTI, Hindu Triad + +TRIPTOL'EMUS, son of Celeus , and who, made great by +Ceres, founded her worship in Eleusis + +TRISTRAM, one of Arthur's knights, husband of Isoude of the White +Hands, lover of Isoude the Fair, + +TRITON, a demi god of the sea, son of Poseidon (Neptune) and +Amphitrite + +TROEZEN, Greek city of Argolis + +TROJAN WAR + +TROJANOVA, New Troy, City founded in Britain (See Brutus, and +Lud) + +TROPHONIUS, oracle of, in Boeotia + +TROUBADOURS, poets and minstrels of Provence, in Southern France + +TROUVERS', poets and minstrels of Northern France + +TROY, city in Asia Minor, ruled by King Priam, whose son, Paris, +stole away Helen, wife of Menelaus the Greek, resulting in the +Trojan War and the destruction of Troy + +TROY, fall of + +TURNUS, chief of the Rutulianes in Italy, unsuccessful rival of +Aeneas for Lavinia + +TURPIN, Archbishop of Rheims + +TURQUINE, Sir, a great knight, foe of Arthur, slain by Sir +Launcelot + +TYPHON, one of the giants who attacked the gods, were defeated, +and imprisoned under Mt. Aetna + +TYR, Norse god of battles + +TYRE, Phoenician city governed by Dido + +TYRIANS + +TYRRHEUS, herdsman of King Turnus in Italy, the slaying of whose +daughter's stag aroused war upon Aeneas and his companions + +U + +UBERTO, son of Galafron + +ULYSSES (Greek, Odysseus), hero of the Odyssey + +UNICORN, fabled animal with a single horn + +URANIA, one of the Muses, a daughter of Zeus by Mnemosyne + +URDUR, one of the Norns or Fates of Scandinavia, representing the +Past + +USK, British river + +UTGARD, abode of the giant Utgard Loki + +UTGARD LO'KI, King of the Giants (See Skrymir) + +UTHER (Uther Pendragon), king of Britain and father of Arthur, + +UWAINE, knight of Arthur's court + +V + +VAISSYAS, Hindu caste of agriculturists and traders + +VALHALLA, hall of Odin, heavenly residence of slain heroes + +VALKYRIE, armed and mounted warlike virgins, daughters of the gods +(Norse), Odin's messengers, who select slain heroes for Valhalla +and serve them at their feasts + +VE, brother of Odin + +VEDAS, Hindu sacred Scriptures + +VENEDOTIA, ancient name for North Wales + +VENUS (Aphrodite), goddess of beauty + +VENUS DE MEDICI, famous antique statue in Uffizi Gallery, +Florence, Italy + +VERDANDI, the Present, one of the Norns + +VERTUMNUS, god of the changing seasons, whose varied appearances +won the love of Pomona + +VESTA, daughter of Cronos and Rhea, goddess of the homefire, or +hearth + +VESTALS, virgin priestesses in temple of Vesta + +VESUVIUS, Mount, volcano near Naples + +VILLAINS, peasants in the feudal scheme + +VIGRID, final battle-field, with destruction of the gods ind +their enemies, the sun, the earth, and time itself + +VILI, brother of Odin and Ve + +VIRGIL, celebrated Latin poet (See Aeneid) + +VIRGO, constellation of the Virgin, representing Astraea, goddess +of innocence and purity + +VISHNU, the Preserver, second of the three chief Hindu gods + +VIVIANE, lady of magical powers, who allured the sage Merlin and +imprisoned him in an enchanted wood + +VOLSCENS, Rutulian troop leader who killed Nisus and Euryalus + +VOLSUNG, A SAGA, an Icelandic poem, giving about the same legends +as the Nibelungen Lied + +VORTIGERN, usurping King of Britain, defeated by Pendragon 390, +397 + +VULCAN (Greek, Haephestus), god of fire and metal working, with +forges under Aetna, husband of Venus + +VYA'SA, Hindu sage + +W + +WAIN, the, constellation + +WELLGUNDA, one of the Rhine-daughters + +WELSH LANGUAGE + +WESTERN OCEAN + +WINDS, THE + +WINTER + +WODEN, chief god in the Norse mythology, Anglo Saxon for Odin + +WOGLINDA, one of the Rhine-daughters + +WOMAN, creation of + +WOODEN HORSE, the, filled with armed men, but left outside of Troy +as a pretended offering to Minerva when the Greeks feigned to sail +away, accepted by the Trojans (See Sinon, and Laocoon), brought +into the city, and at night emptied of the hidden Greek soldiers, +who destroyed the town + +WOOD NYMPHS + +WOTAN, Old High German form of Odin + +X + +XANTHUS, river of Asia Minor + +Y + +YAMA, Hindu god of the Infernal Regions + +YEAR, THE + +YGDRASIL, great ash-tree, supposed by Norse mythology to support +the universe + +YMIR, giant, slain by Odin + +YNYWL, Earl, host of Geraint, father of Enid + +YORK, Britain + +YSERONE, niece of Arthur, mother of Caradoc + +YSPA DA DEN PEN'KAWR, father of Olwen + +Z + +ZENDAVESTA, Persian sacred Scriptures + +ZEPHYRUS, god of the South wind, + +ZERBINO, a knight, son of the king of Scotland + +ZETES, winged warrior, companion of Theseus + +ZETHUS, son of Jupiter and Antiope, brother of Amphion. See Dirce + +ZEUS, See JUPITER + +ZOROASTER, founder of the Persian religion, which was dominant in +Western Asia from about 550 BC to about 650 AD, and is still held +by many thousands in Persia and in India + + + + +*** END OF THE PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK, THE AGE OF CHIVALRY *** + +This file should be named 4926.txt or 4926.zip + +Project Gutenberg eBooks are often created from several printed +editions, all of which are confirmed as Public Domain in the US +unless a copyright notice is included. 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