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 consideredcomplete without some notice of the American scholar to whose wideerudition 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-widerenown as a work with which every one must claim some acquaintancebefore his education can be called really complete. Many readersof the present edition will probably recall coming in contact withthe work as children, and, it may be added, will no doubt discoverfrom a fresh perusal the source of numerous bits of knowledge thathave remained stored in their minds since those early years. Yetto the majority of this great circle of readers and students thename Bulfinch in itself has no significance. 

Thomas Bulfinch was a native of Boston, Mass. , where he was bornin 1796. His boyhood was spent in that city, and he prepared forcollege in the Boston schools. He finished his scholastic trainingat Harvard College, and after taking his degree was for a period ateacher in his home city. For a long time later in life he wasemployed as an accountant in the Boston Merchants' Bank. Hisleisure time he used for further pursuit of the classical studieswhich he had begun at Harvard, and his chief pleasure in life layin writing out the results of his reading, in simple, condensedform for young or busy readers. The plan he followed in this work, to give it the greatest possible usefulness, is set forth in theAuthor's Preface. 

"Age of Fable, " First Edition, 1855; "The Age of Chivalry, " 1858;"The Boy Inventor, " 1860; "Legends of Charlemagne, or Romance ofthe 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 ofCharlemagne" are included. Scrupulous care has been taken tofollow the original text of Bulfinch, but attention should becalled to some additional sections which have been inserted to addto the rounded completeness of the work, and which the publishersbelieve would meet with the sanction of the author himself, as inno way intruding upon his original plan but simply carrying it outin more complete detail. The section on Northern Mythology hasbeen enlarged by a retelling of the epic of the "Nibelungen Lied, "together with a summary of Wagner's version of the legend in hisseries of music-dramas. Under the head of "Hero Myths of theBritish Race" have been included outlines of the stories ofBeowulf, Cuchulain, Hereward the Wake, and Robin Hood. Of theverse extracts which occur throughout the text, thirty or morehave been added from literature which has appeared sinceBulfinch's time, extracts that he would have been likely to quotehad 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, withreferences to the pages where they occur, and a conciseexplanation or definition of each has been given. Thus what was amere list of names in the original has been enlarged into a smallclassical and mythological dictionary, which it is hoped willprove valuable for reference purposes not necessarily connectedwith "The Age of Fable. "

Acknowledgments are due the writings of Dr. Oliver Huckel forinformation on the point of Wagner's rendering of the Nibelungenlegend, and M. I. Ebbutt's authoritative volume on "Hero Myths andLegends of the British Race, " from which much of the informationconcerning the British heroes has been obtained

AUTHOR'S PREFACE

If no other knowledge deserves to be called useful but that whichhelps to enlarge our possessions or to raise our station insociety, then Mythology has no claim to the appellation. But ifthat which tends to make us happier and better can be calleduseful, then we claim that epithet for our subject. For Mythologyis the handmaid of literature; and literature is one of the bestallies of virtue and promoters of happiness. 

Without a knowledge of mythology much of the elegant literature ofour own language cannot be understood and appreciated. When Byroncalls Rome "the Niobe of nations, " or says of Venice, "She looks aSea-Cybele fresh from ocean, " he calls up to the mind of onefamiliar with our subject, illustrations more vivid and strikingthan the pencil could furnish, but which are lost to the readerignorant of mythology. Milton abounds in similar allusions. Theshort poem "Comus" contains more than thirty such, and the ode "Onthe Morning of the Nativity" half as many. Through "Paradise Lost"they are scattered profusely. This is one reason why we often hearpersons by no means illiterate say that they cannot enjoy Milton. But were these persons to add to their more solid acquirements theeasy learning of this little volume, much of the poetry of Miltonwhich has appeared to them "harsh and crabbed" would be found"musical as is Apollo's lute. " Our citations, taken from more thantwenty-five poets, from Spenser to Longfellow, will show howgeneral has been the practice of borrowing illustrations frommythology. 

The prose writers also avail themselves of the same source ofelegant and suggestive illustration. One can hardly take up anumber of the "Edinburgh" or "Quarterly Review" without meetingwith instances. In Macaulay's article on Milton there are twentysuch. 

But how is mythology to be taught to one who does not learn itthrough the medium of the languages of Greece and Rome? To devotestudy to a species of learning which relates wholly to falsemarvels and obsolete faiths is not to be expected of the generalreader in a practical age like this. The time even of the young isclaimed by so many sciences of facts and things that little can bespared for set treatises on a science of mere fancy. 

But may not the requisite knowledge of the subject be acquired byreading the ancient poets in translations? We reply, the field istoo extensive for a preparatory course; and these verytranslations require some previous knowledge of the subject tomake them intelligible. Let any one who doubts it read the firstpage of the "Aeneid, " and see what he can make of "the hatred ofJuno, " the "decree of the Parcae, " the "judgment of Paris, " andthe "honors of Ganymede, " without this knowledge. 

Shall we be told that answers to such queries may be found innotes, or by a reference to the Classical Dictionary? We reply, the interruption of one's reading by either process is so annoyingthat most readers prefer to let an allusion pass unapprehendedrather than submit to it. Moreover, such sources give us only thedry facts without any of the charm of the original narrative; andwhat is a poetical myth when stripped of its poetry? The story ofCeyx and Halcyone, which fills a chapter in our book, occupies buteight lines in the best (Smith's) Classical Dictionary; and so ofothers. 

Our work is an attempt to solve this problem, by telling thestories of mythology in such a manner as to make them a source ofamusement. We have endeavored to tell them correctly, according tothe ancient authorities, so that when the reader finds themreferred to he may not be at a loss to recognize the reference. Thus we hope to teach mythology not as a study, but as arelaxation 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 ofeducation. The index at the end will adapt it to the purposes ofreference, and make it a Classical Dictionary for the parlor. 

Most of the classical legends in "Stories of Gods and Heroes" arederived from Ovid and Virgil. They are not literally translated, for, in the author's opinion, poetry translated into literal proseis very unattractive reading. Neither are they in verse, as wellfor other reasons as from a conviction that to translatefaithfully under all the embarrassments of rhyme and measure isimpossible. The attempt has been made to tell the stories inprose, preserving so much of the poetry as resides in the thoughtsand is separable from the language itself, and omitting thoseamplifications which are not suited to the altered form. 

The Northern mythological stories are copied with some abridgmentfrom Mallet's "Northern Antiquities. " These chapters, with thoseon Oriental and Egyptian mythology, seemed necessary to completethe subject, though it is believed these topics have not usuallybeen presented in the same volume with the classical fables. 

The poetical citations so freely introduced are expected to answerseveral valuable purposes. They will tend to fix in memory theleading fact of each story, they will help to the attainment of acorrect pronunciation of the proper names, and they will enrichthe memory with many gems of poetry, some of them such as are mostfrequently quoted or alluded to in reading and conversation. 

Having chosen mythology as connected with literature for ourprovince, we have endeavored to omit nothing which the reader ofelegant literature is likely to find occasion for. Such storiesand parts of stories as are offensive to pure taste and goodmorals are not given. But such stories are not often referred to, and if they occasionally should be, the English reader need feelno mortification in confessing his ignorance of them. 

Our work is not for the learned, nor for the theologian, nor forthe philosopher, but for the reader of English literature, ofeither sex, who wishes to comprehend the allusions so frequentlymade by public speakers, lecturers, essayists, and poets, andthose which occur in polite conversation. 

In the "Stories of Gods and Heroes" the compiler has endeavored toimpart the pleasures of classical learning to the English reader, by presenting the stories of Pagan mythology in a form adapted tomodern taste. In "King Arthur and His Knights" and "TheMabinogeon" the attempt has been made to treat in the same way thestories of the second "age of fable, " the age which witnessed thedawn of the several states of Modern Europe. 

It is believed that this presentation of a literature which heldunrivalled sway over the imaginations of our ancestors, for manycenturies, will not be without benefit to the reader, in additionto the amusement it may afford. The tales, though not to betrusted for their facts, are worthy of all credit as pictures ofmanners; and it is beginning to be held that the manners and modesof thinking of an age are a more important part of its historythan the conflicts of its peoples, generally leading to no result. Besides this, the literature of romance is a treasure-house ofpoetical material, to which modern poets frequently resort. TheItalian poets, Dante and Ariosto, the English, Spenser, Scott, andTennyson, and our own Longfellow and Lowell, are examples of this. 

These legends are so connected with each other, so consistentlyadapted to a group of characters strongly individualized inArthur, Launcelot, and their compeers, and so lighted up by thefires of imagination and invention, that they seem as well adaptedto the poet's purpose as the legends of the Greek and Romanmythology. And if every well-educated young person is expected toknow the story of the Golden Fleece, why is the quest of theSangreal less worthy of his acquaintance? Or if an allusion to theshield of Achilles ought not to pass unapprehended, why should oneto 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 tendsto cherish in our minds the idea of the source from which wesprung. We are entitled to our full share in the glories andrecollections of the land of our forefathers, down to the time ofcolonization thence. The associations which spring from thissource must be fruitful of good influences; among which not theleast valuable is the increased enjoyment which such associationsafford to the American traveller when he visits England, and setshis foot upon any of her renowned localities. 

The legends of Charlemagne and his peers are necessary to completethe subject. 

In an age when intellectual darkness enveloped Western Europe, aconstellation of brilliant writers arose in Italy. Of these, Pulci(born in 1432), Boiardo (1434), and Ariosto (1474) took for theirsubjects the romantic fables which had for many ages beentransmitted in the lays of bards and the legends of monkishchroniclers. These fables they arranged in order, adorned with theembellishments of fancy, amplified from their own invention, andstamped with immortality. It may safely be asserted that as longas civilization shall endure these productions will retain theirplace 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 readersuch knowledge of the fables of classical and mediaeval literatureas is needed to render intelligible the allusions which occur inreading and conversation. The "Legends of Charlemagne" is intendedto carry out the same design. Like the earlier portions of thework, it aspires to a higher character than that of a piece ofmere amusement. It claims to be useful, in acquainting its readerswith the subjects of the productions of the great poets of Italy. Some knowledge of these is expected of every well-educated youngperson. 

In reading these romances, we cannot fail to observe how theprimitive inventions have been used, again and again, bysuccessive generations of fabulists. The Siren of Ulysses is theprototype of the Siren of Orlando, and the character of Circereappears in Alcina. The fountains of Love and Hatred may betraced to the story of Cupid and Psyche; and similar effectsproduced by a magic draught appear in the tale of Tristram andIsoude, and, substituting a flower for the draught, inShakspeare's "Midsummer Night's Dream. " There are many otherinstances of the same kind which the reader will recognize withoutour assistance. 

The sources whence we derive these stories are, first, the Italianpoets named above; next, the "Romans de Chevalerie" of the Comtede Tressan; lastly, certain German collections of popular tales. Some chapters have been borrowed from Leigh Hunt's Translationsfrom the Italian Poets. It seemed unnecessary to do over againwhat he had already done so well; yet, on the other hand, thosestories could not be omitted from the series without leaving itincomplete. 

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 TristramXVIII. Perceval XIX. The Sangreal, or Holy Graal XX. The Sangreal (Continued) XXI. The Sangreal (Continued) XXII. Sir Agrivain's TreasonXXIII. 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

BeowulfCuchulain, Champion of IrelandHereward the WakeRobin Hood

GLOSSARY

KING ARTHUR AND HIS KNIGHTS

CHAPTER I

INTRODUCTION

On the decline of the Roman power, about five centuries afterChrist, the countries of Northern Europe were left almostdestitute of a national government. Numerous chiefs, more or lesspowerful, held local sway, as far as each could enforce hisdominion, and occasionally those chiefs would unite for a commonobject; but, in ordinary times, they were much more likely to befound in hostility to one another. In such a state of things therights of the humbler classes of society were at the mercy ofevery assailant; and it is plain that, without some check upon thelawless power of the chiefs, society must have relapsed intobarbarism. Such checks were found, first, in the rivalry of thechiefs themselves, whose mutual jealousy made them restraints uponone another; secondly, in the influence of the Church, which, byevery motive, pure or selfish, was pledged to interpose for theprotection of the weak; and lastly, in the generosity and sense ofright which, however crushed under the weight of passion andselfishness, dwell naturally in the heart of man. From this lastsource sprang Chivalry, which framed an ideal of the heroiccharacter, combining invincible strength and valor, justice, modesty, loyalty to superiors, courtesy to equals, compassion toweakness, and devotedness to the Church; an ideal which, if nevermet with in real life, was acknowledged by all as the highestmodel for emulation. 

The word "Chivalry" is derived from the French "cheval, " a horse. The word "knight, " which originally meant boy or servant, wasparticularly applied to a young man after he was admitted to theprivilege of bearing arms. This privilege was conferred on youthsof family and fortune only, for the mass of the people were notfurnished with arms. The knight then was a mounted warrior, a manof rank, or in the service and maintenance of some man of rank, generally possessing some independent means of support, but oftenrelying mainly on the gratitude of those whom he served for thesupply of his wants, and often, no doubt, resorting to the meanswhich power confers on its possessor. 

In time of war the knight was, with his followers, in the camp ofhis sovereign, or commanding in the field, or holding some castlefor him. In time of peace he was often in attendance at hissovereign's court, gracing with his presence the banquets andtournaments with which princes cheered their leisure. Or he wastraversing the country in quest of adventure, professedly bent onredressing wrongs and enforcing rights, sometimes in fulfilment ofsome vow of religion or of love. These wandering knights werecalled knights-errant; they were welcome guests in the castles ofthe nobility, for their presence enlivened the dulness of thosesecluded abodes, and they were received with honor at the abbeys, which often owed the best part of their revenues to the patronageof the knights; but if no castle or abbey or hermitage were athand their hardy habits made it not intolerable to them to liedown, supperless, at the foot of some wayside cross, and pass thenight. 

It is evident that the justice administered by such aninstrumentality must have been of the rudest description. Theforce whose legitimate purpose was to redress wrongs might easilybe 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 surroundingcountry; that is, dungeons were full of oppressed knights andladies, waiting for some champion to appear to set them free, orto be ransomed with money; that hosts of idle retainers were everat hand to enforce their lord's behests, regardless of law andjustice; and that the rights of the unarmed multitude were of noaccount. This contrariety of fact and theory in regard to chivalrywill account for the opposite impressions which exist in men'sminds respecting it. While it has been the theme of the mostfervid eulogium on the one part, it has been as eagerly denouncedon the other. On a cool estimate, we cannot but see reason tocongratulate ourselves that it has given way in modern times tothe reign of law, and that the civil magistrate, if lesspicturesque, has taken the place of the mailed champion. 

THE TRAINING OF A KNIGHT

The preparatory education of candidates for knighthood was longand arduous. At seven years of age the noble children were usuallyremoved from their father's house to the court or castle of theirfuture patron, and placed under the care of a governor, who taughtthem the first articles of religion, and respect and reverence fortheir lords and superiors, and initiated them in the ceremonies ofa court. They were called pages, valets, or varlets, and theiroffice was to carve, to wait at table, and to perform other menialservices, which were not then considered humiliating. In theirleisure hours they learned to dance and play on the harp, wereinstructed in the mysteries of woods and rivers, that is, inhunting, falconry, and fishing, and in wrestling, tilting withspears, and performing other military exercises on horseback. Atfourteen the page became an esquire, and began a course of severerand more laborious exercises. To vault on a horse in heavy armor;to run, to scale walls, and spring over ditches, under the sameencumbrance; to wrestle, to wield the battle-axe for a length oftime, without raising the visor or taking breath; to perform withgrace all the evolutions of horsemanship, --were necessarypreliminaries to the reception of knighthood, which was usuallyconferred at twenty-one years of age, when the young man'seducation was supposed to be completed. In the meantime, theesquires were no less assiduously engaged in acquiring all thoserefinements of civility which formed what was in that age calledcourtesy. The same castle in which they received their educationwas usually thronged with young persons of the other sex, and thepage was encouraged, at a very early age, to select some lady ofthe court as the mistress of his heart, to whom he was taught torefer all his sentiments, words, and actions. The service of hismistress was the glory and occupation of a knight, and her smiles, bestowed at once by affection and gratitude, were held out as therecompense of his well-directed valor. Religion united itsinfluence with those of loyalty and love, and the order ofknighthood, endowed with all the sanctity and religious awe thatattended the priesthood, became an object of ambition to thegreatest sovereigns. 

The ceremonies of initiation were peculiarly solemn. Afterundergoing a severe fast, and spending whole nights in prayer, thecandidate confessed, and received the sacrament. He then clothedhimself in snow-white garments, and repaired to the church, or thehall, where the ceremony was to take place, bearing a knightlysword suspended from his neck, which the officiating priest tookand blessed, and then returned to him. The candidate then, withfolded arms, knelt before the presiding knight, who, after somequestions about his motives and purposes in requesting admission, administered to him the oaths, and granted his request. Some ofthe knights present, sometimes even ladies and damsels, handed tohim in succession the spurs, the coat of mail, the hauberk, thearmlet and gauntlet, and lastly he girded on the sword. He thenknelt again before the president, who, rising from his seat, gavehim the "accolade, " which consisted of three strokes, with theflat of a sword, on the shoulder or neck of the candidate, accompanied by the words: "In the name of God, of St. Michael, andSt. George, I make thee a knight; be valiant, courteous, andloyal!" Then he received his helmet, his shield, and spear; andthus 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 theysometimes voluntarily became the vassals of their more opulentneighbors, whose power was necessary for their protection. Theother two classes, which were much the most numerous, were eitherserfs or villains, both of which were slaves. 

The SERFS were in the lowest state of slavery. All the fruits oftheir labor belonged to the master whose land they tilled, and bywhom they were fed and clothed. 

The VILLIANS were less degraded. Their situation seems to haveresembled that of the Russian peasants at this day. Like theserfs, they were attached to the soil, and were transferred withit by purchase; but they paid only a fixed rent to the landlord, and had a right to dispose of any surplus that might arise fromtheir industry. 

The term "clerk" was of very extensive import. It comprehended, originally, such persons only as belonged to the clergy, orclerical order, among whom, however, might be found a multitude ofmarried persons, artisans or others. But in process of time a muchwider rule was established; every one that could read beingaccounted a clerk or clericus, and allowed the "benefit ofclergy, " that is, exemption from capital and some other forms ofpunishment, in case of crime. 

TOURNAMENTS

The splendid pageant of a tournament between knights, its gaudyaccessories and trappings, and its chivalrous regulations, originated in France. Tournaments were repeatedly condemned by theChurch, probably on account of the quarrels they led to, and theoften fatal results. The "joust, " or "just, " was different fromthe tournament. In these, knights fought with their lances, andtheir object was to unhorse their antagonists; while thetournaments were intended for a display of skill and address inevolutions, and with various weapons, and greater courtesy wasobserved in the regulations. By these it was forbidden to woundthe horse, or to use the point of the sword, or to strike a knightafter he had raised his vizor, or unlaced his helmet. The ladiesencouraged their knights in these exercises; they bestowed prizes, and the conqueror's feats were the theme of romance and song. Thestands overlooking the ground, of course, were varied in theshapes of towers, terraces, galleries, and pensile gardens, magnificently decorated with tapestry, pavilions, and banners. Every combatant proclaimed the name of the lady whose servantd'amour he was. He was wont to look up to the stand, andstrengthen his courage by the sight of the bright eyes that wereraining their influence on him from above. The knights alsocarried FAVORS, consisting of scarfs, veils, sleeves, bracelets, clasps, --in short, some piece of female habiliment, --attached totheir helmets, shields, or armor. If, during the combat, any ofthese appendages were dropped or lost the fair donor would attimes send her knight new ones, especially if pleased with hisexertions. 

MAIL ARMOR

Mail armor, of which the hauberk is a species, and which derivedits name from maille, a French word for MESH, was of two kinds, PLATE or SCALE mail, and CHAIN mail. It was originally used forthe protection of the body only, reaching no lower than the knees. It was shaped like a carter's frock, and bound round the waist bya girdle. Gloves and hose of mail were afterwards added, and ahood, which, when necessary, was drawn over the head, leaving theface alone uncovered. To protect the skin from the impression ofthe iron network of the chain mail, a quilted lining was employed, which, however, was insufficient, and the bath was used to effacethe marks of the armor. 

The hauberk was a complete covering of double chain mail. Somehauberks opened before, like a modern coat; others were closedlike a shirt. 

The chain mail of which they were composed was formed by a numberof iron links, each link having others inserted into it, the wholeexhibiting a kind of network, of which (in some instances atleast) the meshes were circular, with each link separatelyriveted. 

The hauberk was proof against the most violent blow of a sword;but the point of a lance might pass through the meshes, or drivethe iron into the flesh. To guard against this, a thick and well-stuffed doublet was worn underneath, under which was commonlyadded an iron breastplate. Hence the expression "to pierce bothplate and mail, " so common in the earlier poets. 

Mail armor continued in general use till about the year 1300, whenit was gradually supplanted by plate armor, or suits consisting ofpieces or plates of solid iron, adapted to the different parts ofthe body. 

Shields were generally made of wood, covered with leather, or somesimilar substance. To secure them, in some sort, from being cutthrough by the sword, they were surrounded with a hoop of metal. 

HELMETS

The helmet was composed of two parts: the HEADPIECE, which wasstrengthened 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, tobe raised or lowered at pleasure. Some helmets had a furtherimprovement called a BEVER, from the Italian bevere, to drink. TheVENTAYLE, or "air-passage, " is another name for this. 

To secure the helmet from the possibility of falling, or of beingstruck off, it was tied by several laces to the meshes of thehauberk; consequently, when a knight was overthrown it wasnecessary to undo these laces before he could be put to death;though this was sometimes effected by lifting up the skirt of thehauberk, and stabbing him in the belly. The instrument of deathwas a small dagger, worn on the right side. 

ROMANCES

In ages when there were no books, when noblemen and princesthemselves could not read, history or tradition was monopolized bythe story-tellers. They inherited, generation after generation, the wondrous tales of their predecessors, which they retailed tothe public with such additions of their own as their acquiredinformation supplied them with. Anachronisms became of course verycommon, and errors of geography, of locality, of manners, equallyso. Spurious genealogies were invented, in which Arthur and hisknights, and Charlemagne and his paladins, were made to derivetheir descent from Aeneas, Hector, or some other of the Trojanheroes. 

With regard to the derivation of the word "Romance, " we trace itto the fact that the dialects which were formed in Western Europe, from the admixture of Latin with the native languages, took thename of Langue Romaine. The French language was divided into twodialects. The river Loire was their common boundary. In theprovinces to the south of that river the affirmative, YES, wasexpressed by the word oc; in the north it was called oil (oui);and hence Dante has named the southern language langue d'oc, andthe northern langue d'oil. The latter, which was carried intoEngland by the Normans, and is the origin of the present French, may be called the French Romane; and the former the Provencal, orProvencial Romane, because it was spoken by the people of Provenceand Languedoc, southern provinces of France. 

These dialects were soon distinguished by very oppositecharacters. A soft and enervating climate, a spirit of commerceencouraged by an easy communication with other maritime nations, the influx of wealth, and a more settled government, may havetended to polish and soften the diction of the Provencials, whosepoets, under the name of Troubadours, were the masters of theItalians, and particularly of Petrarch. Their favorite pieces wereSirventes (satirical pieces), love-songs, and Tensons, which lastwere a sort of dialogue in verse between two poets, who questionedeach other on some refined points of loves' casuistry. It seemsthe Provencials were so completely absorbed in these delicatequestions as to neglect and despise the composition of fabuloushistories of adventure and knighthood, which they left in a greatmeasure to the poets of the northern part of the kingdom, calledTrouveurs. 

At a time when chivalry excited universal admiration, and when allthe efforts of that chivalry were directed against the enemies ofreligion, it was natural that literature should receive the sameimpulse, and that history and fable should be ransacked to furnishexamples of courage and piety that might excite increasedemulation. Arthur and Charlemagne were the two heroes selected forthis purpose. Arthur's pretensions were that he was a brave, though not always a successful warrior; he had withstood withgreat resolution the arms of the infidels, that is to say of theSaxons, and his memory was held in the highest estimation by hiscountrymen, the Britons, who carried with them into Wales, andinto the kindred country of Armorica, or Brittany, the memory ofhis exploits, which their national vanity insensibly exaggerated, till the little prince of the Silures (South Wales) was magnifiedinto the conqueror of England, of Gaul, and of the greater part ofEurope. His genealogy was gradually carried up to an imaginaryBrutus, and to the period of the Trojan war, and a sort ofchronicle 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 year1150. The Welsh critics consider the material of the work to havebeen an older history, written by St. Talian, Bishop of St. Asaph, in the seventh century. 

As to Charlemagne, though his real merits were sufficient tosecure his immortality, it was impossible that his HOLY WARSagainst the Saracens should not become a favorite topic forfiction. Accordingly, the fabulous history of these wars waswritten, probably towards the close of the eleventh century, by amonk, who, thinking it would add dignity to his work to embellishit with a contemporary name, boldly ascribed it to Turpin, who wasArchbishop of Rheims about the year 773. 

These fabulous chronicles were for a while imprisoned in languagesof local only or of professional access. Both Turpin and Geoffreymight indeed be read by ecclesiastics, the sole Latin scholars ofthose times, and Geoffrey's British original would contribute tothe gratification of Welshmen; but neither could becomeextensively popular till translated into some language of generaland familiar use. The Anglo-Saxon was at that time used only by aconquered and enslaved nation; the Spanish and Italian languageswere not yet formed; the Norman French alone was spoken andunderstood by the nobility in the greater part of Europe, andtherefore was a proper vehicle for the new mode of composition. 

That language was fashionable in England before the Conquest, andbecame, after that event, the only language used at the court ofLondon. As the various conquests of the Normans, and theenthusiastic valor of that extraordinary people, had familiarizedthe minds of men with the most marvellous events, their poetseagerly seized the fabulous legends of Arthur and Charlemagne, translated them into the language of the day, and soon produced avariety of imitations. The adventures attributed to thesemonarchs, and to their distinguished warriors, together with thoseof many other traditionary or imaginary heroes, composed bydegrees that formidable body of marvellous histories which, fromthe dialect in which the most ancient of them were written, werecalled "Romances. "

METRICAL ROMANCES

The earliest form in which romances appear is that of a rude kindof verse. In this form it is supposed they were sung or recited atthe feasts of princes and knights in their baronial halls. Thefollowing specimen of the language and style of Robert deBeauvais, 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 thenobility of England, in the ages immediately after the Normanconquest. The following is a specimen of the English that existedat 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 thePROSE romances began to appear. These works generally began withdisowning and discrediting the sources from which in reality theydrew their sole information. As every romance was supposed to be areal history, the compilers of those in prose would have forfeitedall credit if they had announced themselves as mere copyists ofthe minstrels. On the contrary, they usually state that, as thepopular poems upon the matter in question contain many "lesings, "they had been induced to translate the real and true history ofsuch or such a knight from the original Latin or Greek, or fromthe ancient British or Armorican authorities, which authoritiesexisted only in their own assertion. 

A specimen of the style of the prose romances may be found in thefollowing extract from one of the most celebrated and latest ofthem, the "Morte d'Arthur" of Sir Thomas Mallory, of the date of1485. From this work much of the contents of this volume has beendrawn, with as close an adherence to the original style as wasthought consistent with our plan of adapting our narrative to thetaste of modern readers. 

"It is notoyrly knowen thorugh the vnyuersal world that there beenix worthy and the best that ever were. That is to wete threpaynyms, three Jewes, and three crysten men. As for the paynyms, they were tofore the Incarnacyon of Cryst whiche were named, thefyrst Hector of Troye; the second Alysaunder the grete, and thethyrd Julyus Cezar, Emperour of Rome, of whome thystoryes ben welkno and had. And as for the thre Jewes whyche also were toforethyncarnacyon 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 JudasMachabeus; of these thre the byble reherceth al theyr noblehystoryes and actes. And sythe the sayd Incarnacyon haue ben thenoble crysten men stalled and admytted thorugh the vnyuersal worldto the nombre of the ix beste and worthy, of whome was fyrst thenoble Arthur, whose noble actes I purpose to wryte in this personbook here folowyng. The second was Charlemayn, or Charles thegrete, of whome thystorye is had in many places both in frenssheand 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 theauthor whom we chiefly follow in this chapter. 

According to the earliest accounts, Albion, a giant, and son ofNeptune, a contemporary of Hercules, ruled over the island, towhich he gave his name. Presuming to oppose the progress ofHercules 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 whomdescended the French, Roman, German, and British people. 

Rejecting these and other like stories, Milton gives more regardto the story of Brutus, the Trojan, which, he says, is supportedby "descents of ancestry long continued, laws and exploits notplainly seeming to be borrowed or devised, which on the commonbelief have wrought no small impression; defended by many, deniedutterly by few. " The principal authority is Geoffrey of Monmouth, whose history, written in the twelfth century, purports to be atranslation of a history of Britain brought over from the oppositeshore of France, which, under the name of Brittany, was chieflypeopled by natives of Britain who, from time to time, emigratedthither, driven from their own country by the inroads of the Pictsand Scots. According to this authority, Brutus was the son ofSilvius, and he of Ascanius, the son of Aeneas, whose flight fromTroy and settlement in Italy are narrated in "Stories of Gods andHeroes. "

Brutus, at the age of fifteen, attending his father to the chase, unfortunately killed him with an arrow. Banished therefor by hiskindred, he sought refuge in that part of Greece where Helenus, with a band of Trojan exiles, had become established. But Helenuswas now dead and the descendants of the Trojans were oppressed byPandrasus, the king of the country. Brutus, being kindly receivedamong them, so throve in virtue and in arms as to win the regardof all the eminent of the land above all others of his age. Inconsequence of this the Trojans not only began to hope, butsecretly to persuade him to lead them the way to liberty. Toencourage them, they had the promise of help from Assaracus, anoble Greek youth, whose mother was a Trojan. He had sufferedwrong at the hands of the king, and for that reason the morewillingly cast in his lost with the Trojan exiles. 

Choosing a fit opportunity, Brutus with his countrymen withdrew tothe woods and hills, as the safest place from which toexpostulate, and sent this message to Pandrasus: "That theTrojans, holding it unworthy of their ancestors to serve in aforeign land, had retreated to the woods, choosing rather a savagelife than a slavish one. If that displeased him, then, with hisleave, they would depart to some other country. " Pandrasus, notexpecting so bold a message from the sons of captives, went inpursuit of them, with such forces as he could gather, and met themon the banks of the Achelous, where Brutus got the advantage, andtook the king captive. The result was, that the terms demanded bythe Trojans were granted; the king gave his daughter Imogen inmarriage to Brutus, and furnished shipping, money, and fitprovision for them all to depart from the land. 

The marriage being solemnized, and shipping from all parts gottogether, the Trojans, in a fleet of no less than three hundredand twenty sail, betook themselves to the sea. On the third daythey arrived at a certain island, which they found destitute ofinhabitants, though there were appearances of former habitation, and among the ruins a temple of Diana. Brutus, here performingsacrifice at the shrine of the goddess, invoked an oracle for hisguidance, 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 thusanswered:

 "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 hiscourse towards the west, and, arriving at a place on the Tyrrhenesea, found there the descendants of certain Trojans who, withAntenor, came into Italy, of whom Corineus was the chief. Thesejoined company, and the ships pursued their way till they arrivedat the mouth of the river Loire, in France, where the expeditionlanded, with a view to a settlement, but were so rudely assaultedby the inhabitants that they put to sea again, and arrived at apart of the coast of Britain, now called Devonshire, where Brutusfelt 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 desertand inhospitable, occupied only by a remnant of the giant racewhose excessive force and tyranny had destroyed the others. TheTrojans encountered these and extirpated them, Corineus, inparticular, signalizing himself by his exploits against them; fromwhom Cornwall takes its name, for that region fell to his lot, andthere the hugest giants dwelt, lurking in rocks and caves, tillCorineus 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, leavingthree sons, Locrine, Albanact and Camber. Locrine had the middlepart, Camber the west, called Cambria from him, and AlbanactAlbania, now Scotland. Locrine was married to Guendolen, thedaughter of Corineus, but having seen a fair maid named Estrildis, who had been brought captive from Germany, he became enamoured ofher, and had by her a daughter, whose name was Sabra. This matterwas kept secret while Corineus lived, but after his death Locrinedivorced Guendolen, and made Estrildis his queen. Guendolen, allin rage, departed to Cornwall, where Madan, her son, lived, whohad been brought up by Corineus, his grandfather. Gathering anarmy of her father's friends and subjects, she gave battle to herhusband's forces and Locrine was slain. Guendolen caused herrival, Estrildis, with her daughter Sabra, to be thrown into theriver, from which cause the river thenceforth bore the maiden'sname, which by length of time is now changed into Sabrina orSevern. 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, inthe first place, that mythology is not careful of dates; and next, that, as Brutus was the great-grandson of Aeneas, it must havebeen not far from a century subsequent to the Trojan war, or abouteleven hundred years before the invasion of the island by JuliusCaesar. This long interval is filled with the names of princeswhose chief occupation was in warring with one another. Some few, whose names remain connected with places, or embalmed inliterature, we will mention. 

BLADUD

Bladud built the city of Bath, and dedicated the medicinal watersto Minerva. He was a man of great invention, and practised thearts of magic, till, having made him wings to fly, he fell downupon the temple of Apollo, in Trinovant, and so died, after twentyyears' reign. 

LEIR

Leir, who next reigned, built Leicester, and called it after hisname. He had no male issue, but only three daughters. When grownold he determined to divide his kingdom among his daughters, andbestow them in marriage. But first, to try which of them loved himbest, he determined to ask them solemnly in order, and judge ofthe warmth of their affection by their answers. Goneril, theeldest, knowing well her father's weakness, made answer that sheloved him "above her soul. " "Since thou so honorest my decliningage, " said the old man, "to thee and to thy husband I give thethird part of my realm. " Such good success for a few words soonuttered was ample instruction to Regan, the second daughter, whatto say. She therefore to the same question replied that "she lovedhim more than all the world beside;" and so received an equalreward with her sister. But Cordelia, the youngest, and hithertothe best beloved, though having before her eyes the reward of alittle easy soothing, and the loss likely to attend plain-dealing, yet was not moved from the solid purpose of a sincere andvirtuous answer, and replied: "Father, my love towards you is asmy duty bids. They who pretend beyond this flatter. " When the oldman, sorry to hear this, and wishing her to recall these words, persisted in asking, she still restrained her expressions so as tosay rather less than more than the truth. Then Leir, all in apassion, burst forth: "Since thou hast not reverenced thy agedfather like thy sisters, think not to have any part in my kingdomor what else I have;"--and without delay, giving in marriage hisother daughters, Goneril to the Duke of Albany, and Regan to theDuke of Cornwall, he divides his kingdom between them, and goes toreside with his eldest daughter, attended only by a hundredknights. But in a short time his attendants, being complained ofas too numerous and disorderly, are reduced to thirty. Resentingthat affront, the old king betakes him to his second daughter; butshe, instead of soothing his wounded pride, takes part with hersister, and refuses to admit a retinue of more than five. Thenback he returns to the other, who now will not receive him withmore than one attendant. Then the remembrance of Cordeilla comesto his thoughts, and he takes his journey into France to seek her, with little hope of kind consideration from one whom he had soinjured, but to pay her the last recompense he can render, --confession of his injustice. When Cordeilla is informed of hisapproach, and of his sad condition, she pours forth true filialtears. And, not willing that her own or others' eyes should seehim in that forlorn condition, she sends one of her trustedservants to meet him, and convey him privately to some comfortableabode, and to furnish him with such state as befitted his dignity. After which Cordeilla, with the king her husband, went in state tomeet him, and, after an honorable reception, the king permittedhis wife, Cordeilla, to go with an army and set her father againupon his throne. They prospered, subdued the wicked sisters andtheir consorts, and Leir obtained the crown and held it threeyears. Cordeilla succeeded him and reigned five years; but thesons of her sisters, after that, rebelled against her, and shelost 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 ofLeir, and the ill success of Cordeilla's attempt to reinstate herfather, are the principal variations, and those in the names willalso be noticed. Our narrative is drawn from Milton's "History;"and thus the reader will perceive that the story of Leir has hadthe distinguished honor of being told by the two acknowledgedchiefs 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 hisbrother, who, obtaining aid from Suard, king of the Franks, returned and made war upon Porrex. Ferrex was slain in battle andhis forces dispersed. When their mother came to hear of her son'sdeath, who was her favorite, she fell into a great rage, andconceived 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 horridstory would not be worth relating, were it not for the fact thatit has furnished the plot for the first tragedy which was writtenin the English language. It was entitled "Gorboduc, " but in thesecond edition "Ferrex and Porrex, " and was the production ofThomas Sackville, afterwards Earl of Dorset, and Thomas Norton, abarrister. Its date was 1561. 

DUNWALLO MOLMUTIUS

This is the next name of note. Molmutius established the Molmutinelaws, which bestowed the privilege of sanctuary on temples, cities, and the roads leading to them, and gave the sameprotection to ploughs, extending a religious sanction to thelabors of the field. Shakspeare alludes to him in "Cymbeline, " ActIII. , 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 Brennuswas driven out of the island, and took refuge in Gaul, where hemet with such favor from the king of the Allobroges that he gavehim his daughter in marriage, and made him his partner on thethrone. Brennus is the name which the Roman historians give to thefamous leader of the Gauls who took Rome in the time of Camillus. Geoffrey of Monmouth claims the glory of the conquest for theBritish prince, after he had become king of the Allobroges. 

ELIDURE

After Belinus and Brennus there reigned several kings of littlenote, 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 toreinstate him, but found none. Elidure reigned prosperously andwisely. After five years' possession of the kingdom, one day, whenhunting, he met in the forest his brother, Arthgallo, who had beendeposed. After long wandering, unable longer to bear the povertyto which he was reduced, he had returned to Britain, with only tenfollowers, designing to repair to those who had formerly been hisfriends. Elidure, at the sight of his brother in distress, forgetting all animosities, ran to him, and embraced him. He tookArthgallo home with him, and concealed him in the palace. Afterthis he feigned himself sick, and, calling his nobles about him, induced them, partly by persuasion, partly by force, to consent tohis abdicating the kingdom, and reinstating his brother on thethrone. The agreement being ratified, Elidure took the crown fromhis own head, and put it on his brother's head. Arthgallo afterthis reigned ten years, well and wisely, exercisng strict justicetowards all men. 

He died, and left the kingdom to his sons, who reigned withvarious fortunes, but were not long-lived, and left no offspring, so that Elidure was again advanced to the throne, and finished thecourse of his life in just and virtuous actions, receiving thename of THE PIOUS, from the love and admiration of his subjects. 

Wordsworth has taken the story of Artegal and Elidure for thesubject of a poem, which is No. 2 of "Poems founded on theAffections. "

LUD

After Elidure, the Chronicle names many kings, but none of specialnote, till we come to Lud, who greatly enlarged Trinovant, hiscapital, and surrounded it with a wall. He changed its name, bestowing upon it his own, so that henceforth it was called Lud'stown, afterwards London. Lud was buried by the gate of the citycalled after him Ludgate. He had two sons, but they were not oldenough at the time of their father's death to sustain the cares ofgovernment, and therefore their uncle, Caswallaun, orCassibellaunus, succeeded to the kingdom. He was a brave andmagnificent 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 shoreopposite Britain. And having resolved to add this island also tohis conquests, he prepared ships and transported his army acrossthe sea, to the mouth of the River Thames. Here he was met byCassibellaun with all his forces, and a battle ensued, in whichNennius, the brother of Cassibellaun, engaged in single combatwith Csesar. After several furious blows given and received, thesword of Caesar stuck so fast in the shield of Nennius that itcould not be pulled out, and the combatants being separated by theintervention of the troops Nennius remained possessed of thistrophy. At last, after the greater part of the day was spent, theBritons poured in so fast that Caesar was forced to retire to hiscamp and fleet. And finding it useless to continue the war anylonger 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 ofthe king, was delivered to the Romans as a hostage for thefaithful fulfilment of the treaty, and, being carried to Rome byCaesar, he was there brought up in the Roman arts andaccomplishments. Being afterwards restored to his country, andplaced on the throne, he was attached to the Romans, and continuedthrough all his reign at peace with them. His sons, Guiderius andArviragus, who made their appearance in Shakspeare's play of"Cymbeline, " succeeded their father, and, refusing to pay tributeto the Romans, brought on another invasion. Guiderius was slain, but Arviragus afterward made terms with the Romans, and reignedprosperously many years. 

ARMORICA

The next event of note is the conquest and colonization ofArmorica, by Maximus, a Roman general, and Conan, lord of Miniadocor Denbigh-land, in Wales. The name of the country was changed toBrittany, or Lesser Britain; and so completely was it possessed bythe British colonists, that the language became assimilated tothat spoken in Wales, and it is said that to this day thepeasantry of the two countries can understand each other whenspeaking their native language. 

The Romans eventually succeeded in establishing themselves in theisland, and after the lapse of several generations they becameblended with the natives so that no distinction existed betweenthe two races. When at length the Roman armies were withdrawn fromBritain, their departure was a matter of regret to theinhabitants, as it left them without protection against thebarbarous tribes, Scots, Picts, and Norwegians, who harassed thecountry incessantly. This was the state of things when the era ofKing Arthur began. 

The adventure of Albion, the giant, with Hercules is alluded to bySpenser, "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 ofa class of beings not absolutely wicked, but far from good, whoinhabit the regions of the air. Merlin's mother was a virtuousyoung woman, who, on the birth of her son, intrusted him to apriest, who hurried him to the baptismal fount, and so saved himfrom sharing the lot of his father, though he retained many marksof his unearthly origin. 

At this time Vortigern reigned in Britain. He was a usurper, whohad caused the death of his sovereign, Moines, and driven the twobrothers of the late king, whose names were Uther and Pendragon, into banishment. Vortigern, who lived in constant fear of thereturn of the rightful heirs of the kingdom, began to erect astrong tower for defence. The edifice, when brought by the workmento a certain height, three times fell to the ground, without anyapparent cause. The king consulted his astrologers on thiswonderful event, and learned from them that it would be necessaryto bathe the corner-stone of the foundation with the blood of achild born without a mortal father. 

In search of such an infant, Vortigern sent his messengers allover the kingdom, and they by accident discovered Merlin, whoselineage seemed to point him out as the individual wanted. Theytook him to the king; but Merlin, young as he was, explained tothe king the absurdity of attempting to rescue the fabric by suchmeans, for he told him the true cause of the instability of thetower was its being placed over the den of two immense dragons, whose combats shook the earth above them. The king ordered hisworkmen to dig beneath the tower, and when they had done so theydiscovered two enormous serpents, the one white as milk the otherred as fire. The multitude looked on with amazement, till theserpents, slowly rising from their den, and expanding theirenormous folds, began the combat, when every one fled in terror, except Merlin, who stood by clapping his hands and cheering on theconflict. The red dragon was slain, and the white one, glidingthrough a cleft in the rock, disappeared. 

These animals typified, as Merlin afterwards explained, theinvasion of Uther and Pendragon, the rightful princes, who soonafter landed with a great army. Vortigern was defeated, andafterwards burned alive in the castle he had taken such pains toconstruct. On the death of Vortigern, Pendragon ascended thethrone. Merlin became his chief adviser, and often assisted theking 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 himselfinto any shape he pleased. At one time he appeared as a dwarf, atothers as a damsel, a page, or even a greyhound or a stag. Thisfaculty he often employed for the service of the king, andsometimes also for the diversion of the court and the sovereign. 

Merlin continued to be a favorite counsellor through the reigns ofPendragon, Uther, and Arthur, and at last disappeared from view, and was no more found among men, through the treachery of hismistress, Viviane, the Fairy, which happened in this wise. 

Merlin, having become enamoured of the fair Viviane, the Lady ofthe Lake, was weak enough to impart to her various importantsecrets of his art, being impelled by fatal destiny, of which hewas at the same time fully aware. The lady, however, was notcontent with his devotion, unbounded as it seems to have been, but"cast about, " the Romance tells us, how she might "detain him forevermore, " and one day addressed him in these terms: "Sir, I wouldthat we should make a fair place and a suitable, so contrived byart and by cunning that it might never be undone, and that you andI should be there in joy and solace. " "My lady, " said Merlin, "Iwill 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 moreto my mind. " "I grant you this, " said Merlin. Then he began todevise, and the damsel put it all in writing. And when he haddevised the whole, then had the damsel full great joy, and showedhim greater semblance of love than she had ever before made, andthey sojourned together a long while. At length it fell out that, as they were going one day hand in hand through the forest ofBreceliande, they found a bush of white-thorn, which was ladenwith flowers; and they seated themselves under the shade of thiswhite-thorn, upon the green grass, and Merlin laid his head uponthe damsel's lap, and fell asleep. Then the damsel rose, and madea ring with her wimple round the bush, and round Merlin, and beganher enchantments, such as he himself had taught her; and ninetimes she made the ring, and nine times she made the enchantment, and then she went and sat down by him, and placed his head againupon 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 hewas enclosed in the strongest tower in the world, and laid upon afair bed. Then said he to the dame: "My lady, you have deceivedme, unless you abide with me, for no one hath power to unmake thistower but you alone. " She then promised she would be often there, and in this she held her covenant with him. And Merlin never wentout of that tower where his Mistress Viviane had enclosed him; butshe entered and went out again when she listed. 

After this event Merlin was never more known to hold converse withany mortal but Viviane, except on one occasion. Arthur, having forsome time missed him from his court, sent several of his knightsin search of him, and, among the number, Sir Gawain, who met witha very unpleasant adventure while engaged in this quest. Happeningto pass a damsel on his road, and neglecting to salute her, sherevenged herself for his incivility by transforming him into ahideous dwarf. He was bewailing aloud his evil fortune as he wentthrough the forest of Breceliande, when suddenly he heard thevoice of one groaning on his right hand; and, looking that way, hecould see nothing save a kind of smoke, which seemed like air, andthrough which he could not pass. Merlin then addressed him fromout the smoke, and told him by what misadventure he was imprisonedthere. "Ah, sir!" he added, "you will never see me more, and thatgrieves me, but I cannot remedy it; I shall never more speak toyou, nor to any other person, save only my mistress. But do thouhasten to King Arthur, and charge him from me to undertake, without delay, the quest of the Sacred Graal. The knight isalready born, and has received knighthood at his hands, who isdestined to accomplish this quest. " And after this he comfortedGawain under his transformation, assuring him that he shouldspeedily be disenchanted; and he predicted to him that he shouldfind the king at Carduel, in Wales, on his return, and that allthe other knights who had been on like quest would arrive therethe same day as himself. And all this came to pass as Merlin hadsaid. 

Merlin is frequently introduced in the tales of chivalry, but itis chiefly on great occasions, and at a period subsequent to hisdeath, 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 shieldand other armor of Prince Arthur ("Faery Queene, " Book I. , Cantovii. ), and of a mirror, in which a damsel viewed her lover'sshade. The Fountain of Love, in the "Orlando Innamorata, " isdescribed as his work; and in the poem of "Ariosto" we are told ofa hall adorned with prophetic paintings, which demons had executedin 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 THEIMPRISONED 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 whichenclosed him like a coffin or bier. ]

CHAPTER IV

ARTHUR

We shall begin our history of King Arthur by giving thoseparticulars of his life which appear to rest on historicalevidence; and then proceed to record those legends concerning himwhich form the earliest portion of British literature. 

Arthur was a prince of the tribe of Britons called Silures, whosecountry was South Wales, the son of Uther, named Pendragon, atitle given to an elective sovereign, paramount over the manykings of Britain. He appears to have commenced his martial careerabout the year 500, and was raised to the Pendragonship about tenyears later. He is said to have gained twelve victories over theSaxons. The most important of them was that of Badon, by somesupposed to be Bath, by others Berkshire. This was the last of hisbattles with the Saxons, and checked their progress soeffectually, 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, inCornwall, 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 intermentwithin the abbey, as we are told by Giraldus Cambrensis, who waspresent when the grave was opened by command of Henry II. About1150, and saw the bones and sword of the monarch, and a leadencross let into his tombstone, with the inscription in rude Romanletters, "Here lies buried the famous King Arthur, in the islandAvalonia. " This story has been elegantly versified by Warton. Apopular traditional belief was long entertained among the Britons, that Arthur was not dead, but had been carried off to be healed ofhis wounds in Fairy-land, and that he would reappear to avenge hiscountrymen and reinstate them in the sovereignty of Britain. InWarton's "Ode" a bard relates to King Henry the traditional storyof 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 adifferent 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 ofArimathea, in a spot anciently called the island or valley ofAvalonia. 

Tennyson, in his "Palace of Art, " alludes to the legend ofArthur'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 hasbeen denied by some. Milton says of him: "As to Arthur, morerenowned in songs and romances than in true stories, who he was, and whether ever any such reigned in Britain, hath been doubtedheretofore, and may again, with good reason. " Modern critics, however, admit that there was a prince of this name, and findproof of it in the frequent mention of him in the writings of theWelsh bards. But the Arthur of romance, according to Mr. Owen, aWelsh 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 nearthe pole, and visibly describing a circle in a small space, is theorigin of the famous Round Table. "

KING ARTHUR

Constans, king of Britain, had three sons, Moines, Ambrosius, otherwise called Uther, and Pendragon. Moines, soon after hisaccession to the crown, was vanquished by the Saxons, inconsequence of the treachery of his seneschal, Vortigern, andgrowing unpopular, through misfortune, he was killed by hissubjects, and the traitor Vortigern chosen in his place. 

Vortigern was soon after defeated in a great battle by Uther andPendragon, the surviving brothers of Moines, and Pendragonascended the throne. 

This prince had great confidence in the wisdom of Merlin, and madehim his chief adviser. About this time a dreadful war arosebetween the Saxons and Britons. Merlin obliged the royal brothersto swear fidelity to each other, but predicted that one of themmust fall in the first battle. The Saxons were routed, andPendragon, being slain, was succeeded by Uther, who now assumed inaddition to his own name the appellation of Pendragon. 

Merlin still continued a favorite counsellor. At the request ofUther he transported by magic art enormous stones from Ireland, toform the sepulchre of Pendragon. These stones constitute themonument now called Stonehenge, on Salisbury plain. 

Merlin next proceeded to Carlisle to prepare the Round Table, atwhich he seated an assemblage of the great nobles of the country. The companions admitted to this high order were bound by oath toassist each other at the hazard of their own lives, to attemptsingly the most perilous adventures, to lead, when necessary, alife 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 tothe celebration of a great festival, which he proposed holdingannually at Carlisle. 

As the knights had obtained the sovereign's permission to bringtheir ladies along with them, the beautiful Igerne accompanied herhusband, Gorlois, Duke of Tintadel, to one of these anniversaries. The king became deeply enamoured of the duchess, and disclosed hispassion; but Igerne repelled his advances, and revealed hissolicitations to her husband. On hearing this, the duke instantlyremoved from court with Igerne, and without taking leave of Uther. The king complained to his council of this want of duty, and theydecided that the duke should be summoned to court, and, ifrefractory, should be treated as a rebel. As he refused to obeythe citation, the king carried war into the estates of his vassaland besieged him in the strong castle of Tintadel. Merlintransformed the king into the likeness of Gorlois, and enabled himto have many stolen interviews with Igerne. At length the duke waskilled 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, waselected king, at a general meeting of the nobles. It was not donewithout 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 eveaddressed the assembly, and represented that it would well becomethem, at that solemn season, to put up their prayers for sometoken which should manifest the intentions of Providencerespecting their future sovereign. This was done, and with suchsuccess, that the service was scarcely ended when a miraculousstone was discovered before the church door, and in the stone wasfirmly fixed a sword, with the following words engraven on itshilt:

 "I am hight Escalibore, Unto a king fair tresore. "

Bishop Brice, after exhorting the assembly to offer up theirthanksgiving for this signal miracle, proposed a law, that whoevershould be able to draw out the sword from the stone, should beacknowledged as sovereign of the Britons; and his proposal wasdecreed by general acclamation. The tributary kings of Uther, andthe most famous knights, successively put their strength to theproof, but the miraculous sword resisted all their efforts. Itstood till Candlemas; it stood till Easter, and till Pentecost, when the best knights in the kingdom usually assembled for theannual tournament. Arthur, who was at that time serving in thecapacity of squire to his foster-brother, Sir Kay, attended hismaster to the lists. Sir Kay fought with great valor and success, but had the misfortune to break his sword, and sent Arthur to hismother for a new one. Arthur hastened home, but did not find thelady; but having observed near the church a sword, sticking in astone, he galloped to the place, drew out the sword with greatease, and delivered it to his master. Sir Kay would willingly haveassumed to himself the distinction conferred by the possession ofthe sword, but when, to confirm the doubters, the sword wasreplaced in the stone he was utterly unable to withdraw it, and itwould yield a second time to no hand but Arthur's. Thus decisivelypointed out by Heaven as their king, Arthur was by general consentproclaimed as such, and an early day appointed for his solemncoronation. 

Immediately after his election to the crown, Arthur found himselfopposed by eleven kings and one duke, who with a vast army wereactually encamped in the forest of Rockingham. By Merlin's adviceArthur sent an embassy to Brittany, to solicit the aid of King Banand King Bohort, two of the best knights in the world. Theyaccepted the call, and with a powerful army crossed the sea, landing at Portsmouth, where they were received with greatrejoicing. The rebel kings were still superior in numbers; butMerlin, by a powerful enchantment, caused all their tents to falldown at once, and in the confusion Arthur with his allies fellupon them and totally routed them. 

After defeating the rebels, Arthur took the field against theSaxons. As they were too strong for him unaided, he sent anembassy to Armorica, beseeching the assistance of Hoel, who soonafter brought over an army to his aid. The two kings joined theirforces, and sought the enemy, whom they met, and both sidesprepared for a decisive engagement. "Arthur himself, " as Geoffreyof Monmouth relates, "dressed in a breastplate worthy of so greata king, places on his head a golden helmet engraved with thesemblance of a dragon. Over his shoulders he throws his shieldcalled Priwen, on which a picture of the Holy Virgin constantlyrecalled her to his memory. Girt with Caliburn, a most excellentsword, and fabricated in the isle of Avalon, he graces his righthand 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 hisenemies, and destroys multitudes of them with the formidableCaliburn, and puts the rest to flight. Hoel, being detained bysickness, took no part in this battle. 

This is called the victory of Mount Badon, and, however disguisedby fable, it is regarded by historians as a real event. 

The feats performed by Arthur at the battle of Badon Mount arethus 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 KingLaodegan of Carmalide. By his advice Arthur paid a visit to thecourt of that sovereign, attended only by Merlin and by thirty-nine knights whom the magician had selected for that service. Ontheir arrival they found Laodegan and his peers sitting incouncil, endeavoring, but with small prospect of success, todevise means of resisting the impending attack of Ryence, king ofIreland, who, with fifteen tributary kings and an almostinnumerable army, had nearly surrounded the city. Merlin, whoacted as leader of the band of British knights, announced them asstrangers, who came to offer the king their services in his wars;but under the express condition that they should be at liberty toconceal their names and quality until they should think proper todivulge them. These terms were thought very strange, but werethankfully accepted, and the strangers, after taking the usualoath to the king, retired to the lodging which Merlin had preparedfor them. 

A few days after this, the enemy, regardless of a truce into whichthey had entered with King Laodegan, suddenly issued from theircamp and made an attempt to surprise the city. Cleodalis, theking's general, assembled the royal forces with all possibledespatch. Arthur and his companions also flew to arms, and Merlinappeared at their head, bearing a standard on which was emblazoneda terrific dragon. Merlin advanced to the gate, and commanded theporter to open it, which the porter refused to do, without theking's order. Merlin thereupon took up the gate, with all itsappurtenances of locks, bars, bolts, etc. , and directed his troopsto pass through, after which he replaced it in perfect order. Hethen set spurs to his horse and dashed, at the head of his littletroop, into a body of two thousand pagans. The disparity ofnumbers being so enormous, Merlin cast a spell upon the enemy, soas to prevent their seeing the small number of their assailants;notwithstanding which the British knights were hard pressed. Butthe people of the city, who saw from the walls this unequalcontest, were ashamed of leaving the small body of strangers totheir fate, so they opened the gate and sallied forth. The numberswere now more nearly equal, and Merlin revoked his spell, so thatthe two armies encountered on fair terms. Where Arthur, Ban, Bohort, and the rest fought the king's army had the advantage; butin another part of the field the king himself was surrounded andcarried off by the enemy. The sad sight was seen by Guenever, thefair daughter of the king, who stood on the city wall and lookedat the battle. She was in dreadful distress, tore her hair, andswooned 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 theking, charged them with irresistible impetuosity, cut in pieces ordispersed the whole escort, and rescued the king. In the fightArthur encountered Caulang, a giant fifteen feet high, and thefair Guenever, who had already began to feel a strong interest inthe handsome young stranger, trembled for the issue of thecontest. But Arthur, dealing a dreadful blow on the shoulder ofthe monster, cut through his neck so that his head hung over onone side, and in this condition his horse carried him about thefield, to the great horror and dismay of the Pagans. Guenevercould not refrain from expressing aloud her wish that the gentleknight, who dealt with giants so dexterously, were destined tobecome her husband, and the wish was echoed by her attendants. Theenemy soon turned their backs and fled with precipitation, closelypursued by Laodegan and his allies. 

After the battle Arthur was disarmed and conducted to the bath bythe princess Guenever, while his friends were attended by theother ladies of the court. After the bath the knights wereconducted to a magnificent entertainment, at which they werediligently served by the same fair attendants. Laodegan, more andmore anxious to know the name and quality of his generousdeliverers, and occasionally forming a secret wish that the chiefof his guests might be captivated by the charms of his daughter, appeared silent and pensive, and was scarcely roused from hisreverie by the banters of his courtiers. Arthur, having had anopportunity of explaining to Guenever his great esteem for hermerit, was in the joy of his heart, and was still furtherdelighted by hearing from Merlin the late exploits of Gawain atLondon, by means of which his immediate return to his dominionswas rendered unnecessary, and he was left at liberty to protracthis stay at the court of Laodegan. Every day contributed toincrease the admiration of the whole court for the gallantstrangers, and the passion of Guenever for their chief; and whenat last Merlin announced to the king that the object of the visitof the party was to procure a bride for their leader, Laodegan atonce presented Guenever to Arthur, telling him that, whatevermight be his rank, his merit was sufficient to entitle him to thepossession 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 Merlinthen proceeded to satisfy the king of the rank of his son-in-law;upon which Laodegan, with all his barons, hastened to do homage totheir lawful sovereign, the successor of Uther Pendragon. The fairGuenever was then solemnly betrothed to Arthur, and a magnificentfestival was proclaimed, which lasted seven days. At the end ofthat time, the enemy appearing again with renewed force, it becamenecessary to resume military operations. [Footnote: Guenever, thename of Arthur's queen, also written Genievre and Geneura, isfamiliar to all who are conversant with chivalric lore. It is toher adventures, and those of her true knight, Sir Launcelot, thatDante alludes in the beautiful episode of Francesca di Rimini. ]

We must now relate what took place at and near London, whileArthur was absent from his capital. At this very time a band ofyoung heroes were on their way to Arthur's court, for the purposeof receiving knighthood from him. They were Gawain and his threebrothers, nephews of Arthur, sons of King Lot, and Galachin, another nephew, son of King Nanters. King Lot had been one of therebel chiefs whom Arthur had defeated, but he now hoped by meansof the young men to be reconciled to his brother-in-law. Heequipped his sons and his nephew with the utmost magnificence, giving them a splendid retinue of young men, sons of earls andbarons, all mounted on the best horses, with complete suits ofchoice armor. They numbered in all seven hundred, but only ninehad yet received the order of knighthood; the rest were candidatesfor that honor, and anxious to earn it by an early encounter withthe enemy. Gawain, the leader, was a knight of wonderful strength;but what was most remarkable about him was that his strength wasgreater at certain hours of the day than at others. From nineo'clock till noon his strength was doubled, and so it was fromthree to evensong; for the rest of the time it was lessremarkable, though at all times surpassing that of ordinary men. 

After a march of three days they arrived in the vicinity ofLondon, where they expected to find Arthur and his court, and veryunexpectedly fell in with a large convoy belonging to the enemy, consisting of numerous carts and wagons, all loaded withprovisions, and escorted by three thousand men, who had beencollecting spoil from all the country round. A single charge fromGawain's impetuous cavalry was sufficient to disperse the escortand recover the convoy, which was instantly despatched to London. But before long a body of seven thousand fresh soldiers advancedto the attack of the five princes and their little army. Gawain, singling out a chief named Choas, of gigantic size, began thebattle by splitting him from the crown of the head to the breast. Galachin encountered King Sanagran, who was also very huge, andcut off his head. Agrivain and Gahariet also performed prodigiesof valor. Thus they kept the great army of assailants at bay, though hard pressed, till of a sudden they perceived a strong bodyof the citizens advancing from London, where the convoy which hadbeen recovered by Gawain had arrived, and informed the mayor andcitizens of the danger of their deliverer. The arrival of theLondoners soon decided the contest. The enemy fled in alldirections, and Gawain and his friends, escorted by the gratefulcitizens, entered London, and were received with acclamations. 

CHAPTER V

ARTHUR (Continued)

After the great victory of Mount Badon, by which the Saxons werefor the time effectually put down, Arthur turned his arms againstthe Scots and Picts, whom he routed at Lake Lomond, and compelledto sue for mercy. He then went to York to keep his Christmas, andemployed himself in restoring the Christian churches which thePagans had rifled and overthrown. The following summer heconquered Ireland, and then made a voyage with his fleet toIceland, which he also subdued. The kings of Gothland and of theOrkneys came voluntarily and made their submission, promising topay tribute. Then he returned to Britain, where, havingestablished the kingdom, he dwelt twelve years in peace. 

During this time he invited over to him all persons whatsoeverthat were famous for valor in foreign nations, and augmented thenumber of his domestics, and introduced such politeness into hiscourt as people of the remotest countries thought worthy of theirimitation. So that there was not a nobleman who thought himself ofany consideration unless his clothes and arms were made in thesame fashion as those of Arthur's knights. 

Finding himself so powerful at home, Arthur began to form designsfor extending his power abroad. So, having prepared his fleet, hefirst attempted Norway, that he might procure the crown of it forLot, his sister's husband. Arthur landed in Norway, fought a greatbattle with the king of that country, defeated him, and pursuedthe victory till he had reduced the whole country under hisdominion, and established Lot upon the throne. Then Arthur made avoyage to Gaul and laid siege to the city of Paris. Gaul was atthat time a Roman province, and governed by Flollo, the Tribune. When the siege of Paris had continued a month, and the peoplebegan to suffer from famine, Flollo challenged Arthur to singlecombat, proposing to decide the conquest of the province in thatway. Arthur gladly accepted the challenge, and slew his adversaryin the contest, upon which the citizens surrendered the city tohim. After the victory Arthur divided his army into two parts, oneof which he committed to the conduct of Hoel, whom he ordered tomarch into Aquitaine, while he with the other part should endeavorto subdue the other provinces. At the end of nine years, in whichtime all the parts of Gaul were entirely reduced, Arthur returnedto Paris, where he kept his court, and, calling an assembly of theclergy and people, established peace and the just administrationof the laws in that kingdom. Then he bestowed Normandy uponBedver, his butler, and the province of Andegavia upon Kay, hissteward, [Footnote: This name, in the French romances, is spelledQueux, which means head cook. This would seem to imply that it wasa title, and not a name; yet the personage who bore it is nevermentioned by any other. He is the chief, if not the only, comiccharacter among the heroes of Arthur's court. He is the Seneschalor Steward, his duties also embracing those of chief of the cooks. In the romances, his general character is a compound of valor andbuffoonery, always ready to fight, and generally getting the worstof the battle. He is also sarcastic and abusive in his remarks, bywhich he often gets into trouble. Yet Arthur seems to have anattachment to him, and often takes his advice, which is generallywrong. ] and several other provinces upon his great men thatattended him. And, having settled the peace of the cities andcountries, he returned back in the beginning of spring to Britain. 

Upon the approach of the feast of Pentecost, Arthur, the better todemonstrate his joy after such triumphant successes, and for themore solemn observation of that festival, and reconciling theminds of the princes that were now subject to him, resolved duringthat season to hold a magnificent court, to place the crown uponhis head, and to invite all the kings and dukes under hissubjection to the solemnity. And he pitched upon Caerleon, theCity of Legions, as the proper place for his purpose. For, besidesits great wealth above the other cities, its situation upon theriver Usk, near the Severn sea, was most pleasant and fit for sogreat a solemnity. For on one side it was washed by that nobleriver, so that the kings and princes from the countries beyond theseas might have the convenience of sailing up to it. On the otherside the beauty of the meadows and groves, and magnificence of theroyal palaces, with lofty gilded roofs that adorned it, made iteven rival the grandeur of Rome. It was also famous for twochurches, whereof one was adorned with a choir of virgins, whodevoted themselves wholly to the service of God, and the othermaintained a convent of priests. Besides, there was a college oftwo hundred philosophers, who, being learned in astronomy and theother 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, werepreparations made for the ensuing festival. 

[Footnote: Several cities are allotted to King Arthur by theromance-writers. The principal are Caerleon, Camelot, andCarlisle. 

Caerleon derives its name from its having been the station of oneof the legions, during the dominion of the Romans. It is called byLatin writers Urbs Legionum, the City of Legions. The former wordbeing rendered into Welsh by Caer, meaning city, and the lattercontracted into lleon. The river Usk retains its name in moderngeography, and there is a town or city of Caerleon upon it, thoughthe 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 ofmilitary 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 Scottishborder. 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 tocourt 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 ofDemetia, now South Wales; also the archbishops of the metropolitansees, London and York, and Dubricius, bishop of Caerleon, the Cityof Legions. This prelate, who was primate of Britain, was soeminent for his piety that he could cure any sick person by hisprayers. There were also the counts of the principal cities, andmany 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, thesewer, Duke of Andegavia; also the twelve peers of Gaul, and Hoel, Duke of the Armorican Britons, with his nobility, who came withsuch a train of mules, horses, and rich furniture as it isdifficult to describe. Besides these there remained no prince ofany consideration on this side of Spain who came not upon thisinvitation. And no wonder, when Arthur's munificence, which wascelebrated over the whole world, made him beloved by all people. 

When all were assembled upon the day of the solemnity thearchbishops were conducted to the palace, in order to place thecrown upon the king's head. Then Dubricius, inasmuch as the courtwas held in his diocese, made himself ready to celebrate theoffice. As soon as the king was invested with his royalhabiliments he was conducted in great pomp to the metropolitanchurch, having four kings, viz. , of Albania, Cornwall, Demetia, and Venedotia, bearing four golden swords before him. On anotherpart 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 beforeher four white doves, according to ancient custom. When the wholeprocession was ended so transporting was the harmony of themusical instruments and voices, whereof there was a vast varietyin both churches, that the knights who attended were in doubtwhich to prefer, and therefore crowded from the one to the otherby turns, and were far from being tired of the solemnity, thoughthe whole day had been spent in it. At last, when divine servicewas over at both churches, the king and queen put off theircrowns, and, putting on their lighter ornaments, went to thebanquet. When they had all taken their seats according toprecedence, Kay, the sewer, in rich robes of ermine, with athousand young noblemen all in like manner clothed in rich attire, served up the dishes. From another part Bedver, the butler, wasfollowed by the same number of attendants, who waited with allkinds of cups and drinking-vessels. And there was food and drinkin abundance, and everything was of the best kind, and served inthe best manner. For at that time Britain had arrived at such apitch of grandeur that in riches, luxury, and politeness it farsurpassed all other kingdoms. 

As soon as the banquets were over they went into the fieldswithout the city to divert themselves with various sports, such asshooting with bows and arrows, tossing the pike, casting of heavystones and rocks, playing at dice, and the like, and all theseinoffensively, and without quarrelling. In this manner were threedays spent, and after that they separated, and the kings andnoblemen departed to their several homes. 

After this Arthur reigned five years in peace. Then cameambassadors from Lucius Tiberius, Procurator under Leo, Emperor ofRome, demanding tribute. But Arthur refused to pay tribute, andprepared for war. As soon as the necessary dispositions were madehe committed the government of his kingdom to his nephew Modredand to Queen Guenever, and marched with his army to Hamo's Port, where the wind stood fair for him. The army crossed over insafety, and landed at the mouth of the river Barba. And there theypitched their tents to wait the arrival of the kings of theislands. 

As soon as all the forces were arrived Arthur marched forward toAugustodunum, and encamped on the banks of the river Alba. Hererepeated battles were fought, in all which the Britons, undertheir valiant leaders, Hoel, Duke of Armorica, and Gawain, nephewto Arthur, had the advantage. At length Lucius Tiberius determinedto retreat, and wait for the Emperor Leo to join him with freshtroops. But Arthur, anticipating this event, took possession of acertain valley, and closed up the way of retreat to Lucius, compelling him to fight a decisive battle, in which Arthur lostsome of the bravest of his knights and most faithful followers. But on the other hand Lucius Tiberius was slain, and his armytotally defeated. The fugitives dispersed over the country, someto the by-ways and woods, some to cities and towns, and all otherplaces where they could hope for safety. 

Arthur stayed in those parts till the next winter was over, andemployed his time in restoring order and settling the government. He then returned into England, and celebrated his victories withgreat splendor. 

Then the king stablished all his knights, and to them that werenot rich he gave lands, and charged them all never to do outragenor murder, and always to flee treason; also, by no means to becruel, but to give mercy unto him that asked mercy, upon pain offorfeiture of their worship and lordship; and always to do ladies, damosels, and gentlewomen service, upon pain of death. Also thatno man take battle in a wrongful quarrel, for no law, nor for anyworld's goods. Unto this were all the knights sworn of the TableRound, both old and young. And at every year were they sworn atthe high feast of Pentecost. 

KING ARTHUR SLAYS THE GIANT OF ST. MICHAEL'S MOUNT

While the army was encamped in Brittany, awaiting the arrival ofthe kings, there came a countryman to Arthur, and told him that agiant, whose cave was on a neighboring mountain, called St. Michael's Mount, had for a long time been accustomed to carry offthe children of the peasants to devour them. "And now he hathtaken 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 thisgiant haunteth?" "Yea, sure, " said the good man; "lo, yonder wherethou seest two great fires, there shalt thou find him, and moretreasure than I suppose is in all France beside. " Then the kingcalled to him Sir Bedver and Sir Kay, and commanded them to makeready horse and harness for himself and them; for after evening hewould ride on pilgrimage to St. Michael's Mount. 

So they three departed, and rode forth till they came to the footof the mount. And there the king commanded them to tarry, for hewould himself go up into that mount. So he ascended the hill tillhe came to a great fire, and there he found an aged woman sittingby a new-made grave, making great sorrow. Then King Arthur salutedher, and demanded of her wherefore she made such lamentation; towhom she answered: "Sir knight, speak low, for yonder is a devil, and if he hear thee speak, he will come and destroy thee. For yecannot make resistance to him, he is so fierce and so strong. Hehath murdered the Duchess, which here lieth, who was the fairestof all the world, wife to Sir Hoel, Duke of Brittany. " "Dame, "said the king, "I come from the noble conqueror, King Arthur, totreat with that tyrant. " "Fie on such treaties, " said she; "hesetteth not by the king, nor by no man else. " "Well, " said Arthur, "I will accomplish my message for all your fearful words. " So hewent forth by the crest of the hill, and saw where the giant satat supper, gnawing on the limb of a man, and baking his broadlimbs at the fire, and three fair damsels lying bound, whose lotit was to be devoured in their turn. When King Arthur beheld that, he had great compassion on them, so that his heart bled forsorrow. Then he hailed the giant, saying, "He that all the worldruleth give thee short life and shameful death. Why hast thoumurdered this Duchess? Therefore come forth, for this day thoushalt die by my hand. " Then the giant started up, and took a greatclub, and smote at the king, and smote off his coronal; and thenthe king struck him in the belly with his sword, and made afearful wound. Then the giant threw away his club, and caught theking in his arms, so that he crushed his ribs. Then the threemaidens 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 rolleddown the hill, and ever as they weltered Arthur smote him with hisdagger; and it fortuned they came to the place where the twoknights were. And when they saw the king fast in the giant's armsthey came and loosed him. Then the king commanded Sir Kay to smiteoff 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 andbehold it. This was done, and anon it was known through all thecountry, wherefor the people came and thanked the king. And hesaid, "Give your thanks to God; and take ye the giant's spoil anddivide it among you. " And King Arthur caused a church to bebuilded 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 ofthree churls chasing Merlin, to have slain him. And the king rodeunto them and bade them, "Flee, churls!" Then were they afraidwhen they saw a knight, and fled. "O Merlin, " said Arthur, "herehadst 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 thustalking, King Arthur perceived where sat a knight on horseback, asif to guard the pass. "Sir knight, " said Arthur, "for what causeabidest thou here?" Then the knight said, "There may no knightride this way unless he just with me, for such is the custom ofthe pass. " "I will amend that custom, " said the king. Then theyran together, and they met so hard that their spears wereshivered. Then they drew their swords and fought a strong battle, with many great strokes. But at length the sword of the knightsmote King Arthur's sword in two pieces. Then said the knight untoArthur, "Thou art in my power, whether to save thee or slay thee, and unless thou yield thee as overcome and recreant, thou shaltdie. " "As for death, " said King Arthur, "welcome be it when itcometh; but to yield me unto thee as recreant, I will not. " Thenhe leapt upon the knight, and took him by the middle and threw himdown; but the knight was a passing strong man, and anon he broughtArthur under him, and would have razed off his helm to slay him. Then said Merlin, "Knight, hold thy hand, for this knight is a manof more worship than thou art aware of. " "Why, who is he?" saidthe knight. "It is King Arthur. " Then would he have slain him fordread of his wrath, and lifted up his sword to slay him; andtherewith Merlin cast an enchantment on the knight, so that hefell to the earth in a great sleep. Then Merlin took up KingArthur, and set him on his horse. "Alas!" said Arthur, "what hastthou done, Merlin? hast thou slain this good knight by thycrafts?" "Care ye not, " said Merlin; "he is wholer than ye be. Heis only asleep, and will wake in three hours. "

Then the king and he departed, and went till they came to ahermit, that was a good man and a great leech. So the hermitsearched all his wounds, and applied good salves; and the king wasthere three days, and then were his wounds well amended, that hemight ride and go. So they departed, and as they rode Arthur said, "I have no sword. " "No matter, " said Merlin; "hereby is a swordthat shall be yours. " So they rode till they came to a lake, whichwas a fair water and broad. And in the midst of the lake Arthurwas aware of an arm clothed in white samite, [Footnote: Samite, asort of silk stuff. ] that held a fair sword in the hand. "Lo!"said Merlin, "yonder is that sword that I spake of. It belongethto 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 intoa boat. And when they came to the sword that the hand held SirArthur took it by the handle and took it to him, and the arm andthe hand went under the water. 

Then they returned unto the land and rode forth. And Sir Arthurlooked 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 wouldjeopard his person so alone. But all men of worship said it was afine thing to be under such a chieftain as would put his person inadventure 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 ofNorway. Sir Gawain was one of the most famous knights of the RoundTable, and is characterized by the romancers as the SAGE andCOURTEOUS 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 forvengeance upon a caitiff knight, who had made her lover captiveand despoiled her of her lands. King Arthur commanded to bring himhis sword, Excalibar, and to saddle his steed, and rode forthwithout delay to right the lady's wrong. Ere long he reached thecastle of the grim baron, and challenged him to the conflict. Butthe castle stood on magic ground, and the spell was such that noknight could tread thereon but straight his courage fell and hisstrength decayed. King Arthur felt the charm, and before a blowwas struck, his sturdy limbs lost their strength, and his headgrew faint. He was fain to yield himself prisoner to the churlishknight, who refused to release him except upon condition that heshould return at the end of a year, and bring a true answer to thequestion, "What thing is it which women most desire?" or indefault thereof surrender himself and his lands. King Arthuraccepted the terms, and gave his oath to return at the timeappointed. During the year the king rode east, and he rode west, and inquired of all whom he met what thing it is which all womenmost desire. Some told him riches; some, pomp and state; some, mirth; some, flattery; and some, a gallant knight. But in thediversity of answers he could find no sure dependence. The yearwas well-nigh spent, when one day, as he rode thoughtfully througha forest, he saw sitting beneath a tree a lady of such hideousaspect that he turned away his eyes, and when she greeted him inseemly sort, made no answer. "What wight art thou, " the lady said, "that will not speak to me? It may chance that I may resolve thydoubts, 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, " shesaid, and Arthur swore it. Then the lady told him the secret, anddemanded her reward, which was that the king should find some fairand courtly knight to be her husband. 

King Arthur hastened to the grim baron's castle and told him oneby one all the answers which he had received from his variousadvisers, except the last, and not one was admitted as the trueone. "Now yield thee, Arthur, " the giant said, "for thou hast notpaid thy ransom, and thou and thy lands are forfeited to me. " ThenKing 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 baronexclaimed. "Vengeance light on her! I will some time or other doher as ill a turn. "

King Arthur rode homeward, but not light of heart, for heremembered the promise he was under to the loathly lady to--giveher one of his young and gallant knights for a husband. He toldhis 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 kingand his knights rode to the forest, met the loathly lady, andbrought her to the court. Sir Gawain stood the scoffs and jeers ofhis 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, THEREWAS NOT. MOCHEL SORWE is much sorrow; MORWE is MORROW. ]

When night came, and they were alone together, Sir Gawain couldnot conceal his aversion; and the lady asked him why he sighed soheavily, and turned away his face. He candidly confessed it was onaccount of three things, her age, her ugliness, and her lowdegree. The lady, not at all offended, replied with excellentarguments to all his objections. She showed him that with age isdiscretion, with ugliness security from rivals, and that all truegentility depends, not upon the accident of birth, but upon thecharacter of the individual. 

Sir Gawain made no reply; but, turning his eyes on his bride, whatwas his amazement to perceive that she wore no longer the unseemlyaspect that had so distressed him. She then told him that the formshe had worn was not her true form, but a disguise imposed uponher by a wicked enchanter, and that she was condemned to wear ituntil two things should happen: one, that she should obtain someyoung and gallant knight to be her husband. This having been done, one-half of the charm was removed. She was now at liberty to wearher true form for half the time, and she bade him choose whetherhe 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 healone would see her, and show her repulsive visage, if at all, toothers. But she reminded him how much more pleasant it would be toher to wear her best looks in the throng of knights and ladies byday. Sir Gawain yielded, and gave up his will to hers. This alonewas wanting to dissolve the charm. The lovely lady now with joyassured him that she should change no more, but as she now was, sowould 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 releasedher brother, the "grim baron, " for he too had been implicated init. He ceased to be a churlish oppressor, and became a gallant andgenerous 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. Hewas ignorant who his father was, till it was discovered in thefollowing manner: When the youth was of proper years to receivethe honors of knighthood, King Arthur held a grand court for thepurpose of knighting him. On this occasion a strange knightpresented himself, and challenged the knights of Arthur's court toexchange blow for blow with him. His proposal was this--to lay hisneck on a block for any knight to strike, on condition that, if hesurvived the blow, the knight should submit in turn to the sameexperiment. Sir Kay, who was usually ready to accept allchallenges, pronounced this wholly unreasonable, and declared thathe would not accept it for all the wealth in the world. And whenthe knight offered his sword, with which the operation was to beperformed, no person ventured to accept it, till Caradoc, growingangry 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 thebest knights?" said the stranger. "No, " he replied, "but as one ofthe most foolish. " The stranger lays his head upon the block, receives a blow which sends it rolling from his shoulders, walksafter it, picks it up, replaces it with great success, and says hewill return when the court shall be assembled next year, and claimhis turn. When the anniversary arrived, both parties were punctualto their engagement. Great entreaties were used by the king andqueen, and the whole court, in behalf of Caradoc, but the strangerwas inflexible. The young knight laid his head upon the block, andmore than once desired him to make an end of the business, and notkeep him longer in so disagreeable a state of expectation. At lastthe stranger strikes him gently with the side of the sword, bidshim rise, and reveals to him the fact that he is his father, theenchanter Eliaures, and that he gladly owns him for a son, havingproved his courage and fidelity to his word. 

But the favor of enchanters is short-lived and uncertain. Eliauresfell under the influence of a wicked woman, who, to satisfy herpique against Caradoc, persuaded the enchanter to fasten on hisarm a serpent, which remained there sucking at his flesh andblood, no human skill sufficing either to remove the reptile oralleviate 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 wereinformed 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 ofjoy and love. But soon he began to fear that the sight of hisemaciated form, and of his sufferings, would disgust Guimier; andthis apprehension became so strong, that he departed secretly fromNantes, and hid himself in a hermitage. He was sought far and nearby the knights of Arthur's court, and Cador made a vow never todesist from the quest till he should have found him. After longwandering, Cador discovered his friend in the hermitage, reducedalmost to a skeleton, and apparently near his death. All othermeans of relief having already been tried in vain, Cador at lastprevailed on the enchanter Eliaures to disclose the only methodwhich could avail for his rescue. A maiden must be found, hisequal in birth and beauty, and loving him better than herself, sothat she would expose herself to the same torment to deliver him. Two vessels were then to be provided, the one filled with sourwine, and the other with milk. Caradoc must enter the first, sothat the wine should reach his neck, and the maiden must get intothe other, and, exposing her bosom upon the edge of the vessel, invite the serpent to forsake the withered flesh of his victim forthis fresh and inviting food. The vessels were to be placed threefeet apart, and as the serpent crossed from one to the other. Aknight was to cut him in two. If he failed in his blow, Caradocwould indeed be delivered, but it would be only to see his fairchampion suffering the same cruel and hopeless torment. The sequelmay be easily foreseen. Guimier willingly exposed herself to theperilous adventure, and Cador, with a lucky blow, killed theserpent. The arm in which Caradoc had suffered so long recoveredits strength, but not its shape, in consequence of which he wascalled 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 ofwhich the result was equally favorable with the first to SirCradock 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 byhis enemy Claudas, and after a long war saw himself reduced to thepossession of a single fortress, where he was besieged by hisenemy. In this extremity he determined to solicit the assistanceof Arthur, and escaped in a dark night, with his wife Helen andhis infant son Launcelot, leaving his castle in the hands of hisseneschal, who immediately surrendered the place to Claudas. Theflames of his burning citadel reached the eyes of the unfortunatemonarch during his flight and he expired with grief. The wretchedHelen, leaving her child on the brink of a lake, flew to receivethe last sighs of her husband, and on returning perceived thelittle Launcelot in the arms of a nymph, who, on the approach ofthe queen, threw herself into the lake with the child. This nymphwas Viviane, mistress of the enchanter Merlin, better known by thename of the Lady of the Lake. Launcelot received his appellationfrom having been educated at the court of this enchantress, whosepalace was situated in the midst, not of a real, but, like theappearance which deceives the African traveller, of an imaginarylake, whose deluding resemblance served as a barrier to herresidence. Here she dwelt not alone, but in the midst of anumerous retinue, and a splendid court of knights and damsels. 

The queen, after her double loss, retired to a convent, where shewas joined by the widow of Bohort, for this good king had died ofgrief on hearing of the death of his brother Ban. His two sons, Lionel and Bohort, were rescued by a faithful knight, and arrivedin the shape of greyhounds at the palace of the lake, where, having resumed their natural form, they were educated along withtheir cousin Launcelot. 

The fairy, when her pupil had attained the age of eighteen, conveyed him to the court of Arthur for the purpose of demandinghis admission to the honor of knighthood; and at the firstappearance of the youthful candidate the graces of his person, which were not inferior to his courage and skill in arms, made aninstantaneous and indelible impression on the heart of Guenever, while her charms inspired him with an equally ardent and constantpassion. The mutual attachment of these lovers exerted, from thattime forth, an influence over the whole history of Arthur. For thesake of Guenever, Launcelot achieved the conquest ofNorthumberland, defeated Gallehaut, King of the Marches, whoafterwards became his most faithful friend and ally, exposedhimself in numberless encounters, and brought hosts of prisonersto the feet of his sovereign. 

SIR LAUNCELOT

After King Arthur was come from Rome into England all the knightsof the Table Round resorted unto him and made him many justs andtournaments. And in especial Sir Launcelot of the Lake in alltournaments and justs and deeds of arms, both for life and death, passed all other knights, and was never overcome, except it wereby treason or enchantment; and he increased marvellously inworship, wherefore Queen Guenever had him in great favor, aboveall other knights. And for certain he loved the queen again aboveall other ladies; and for her he did many deeds of arms, and savedher from peril, through his noble chivalry. Thus Sir Launcelotrested him long with play and game, and then he thought to provehimself in strange adventures; so he bade his nephew, Sir Lionel, to make him ready, -- "for we two will seek adventures. " So theymounted on their horses, armed at all sights, and rode into aforest, and so into a deep plain. And the weather was hot aboutnoon, and Sir Launcelot had great desire to sleep. Then Sir Lionelespied a great apple-tree that stood by a hedge, and he said:"Brother, yonder is a fair shadow--there may we rest us and ourhorses. " "It is well said, " replied Sir Launcelot. So they therealighted, and Sir Launcelot laid him down, and his helm under hishead, and soon was asleep passing fast. And Sir Lionel waked whilehe slept. And presently there came three knights riding as fast asever they might ride, and there followed them but one knight. AndSir Lionel thought he never saw so great a knight before. Sowithin a while this great knight overtook one of those knights, and smote him so that he fell to the earth. Then he rode to thesecond knight and smote him, and so he did to the third knight. Then he alighted down and bound all the three knights fast withtheir own bridles. When Sir Lionel saw him do thus, he thought toassay him, and made him ready silently, not to awake SirLauncelot, and rode after the strong knight, and bade him turn. And the other smote Sir Lionel so hard that horse and man fell tothe earth; and then he alighted down and bound Sir Lionel, andthrew 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 therehe put them in a deep prison, in which were many more knights ingreat distress. 

Now while Sir Launcelot lay under the apple-tree sleeping, therecame by him four queens of great estate. And that the heat shouldnot grieve them, there rode four knights about them, and bare acloth of green silk on four spears, betwixt them and the sun. Andthe 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 armedunder an apple-tree; and as the queens looked on his face, theyknew it was Sir Launcelot. Then they began to strive for thatknight, and each one said she would have him for her love. "Wewill not strive, " said Morgane le Fay, that was King Arthur'ssister, "for I will put an enchantment upon him, that he shall notwake for six hours, and we will take him away to my castle; andthen when he is surely within my hold, I will take the enchantmentfrom him, and then let him choose which of us he will have for hislove. " So the enchantment was cast upon Sir Launcelot. And thenthey laid him upon his shield, and bare him so on horsebackbetween two knights, and brought him unto the castle and laid himin a chamber, and at night they sent him his supper. And on themorning came early those four queens, richly dight, and bade himgood morning, and he them again. "Sir knight, " they said, "thoumust understand thou art our prisoner; and we know thee well, thatthou art Sir Launcelot of the Lake, King Ban's son, and that thouart the noblest knight living. And we know well that there can nolady have thy love but one, and that is Queen Guenever; and nowthou shalt lose her for ever, and she thee; and therefore itbehooveth thee now to choose one of us. I am the Queen Morgane leFay, and here is the Queen of North Wales, and the Queen ofEastland, and the Queen of the Isles. Now choose one of us whichthou wilt have, for if thou choose not, in this prison thou shaltdie. " "This is a hard case, " said Sir Launcelot, "that either Imust die, or else choose one of you; yet had I liever to die inthis prison with worship, than to have one of you for my paramour, for ye be false enchantresses. " "Well, " said the queens, "is thisyour 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 askedhim, "What cheer?" "Truly, fair damsel, " said Sir Launcelot, "never so ill. " "Sir, " said she, "if you will be ruled by me, Iwill help you out of this distress. If ye will promise me to helpmy father on Tuesday next, who hath made a tournament betwixt himand the king of North Wales; for last Tuesday my father lost thefield. " "Fair maiden, " said Sir Launcelot, "tell me what is yourfather's name, and then will I give you an answer. " "Sir knight, "she said, "my father is King Bagdemagus. " "I know him well, " saidSir Launcelot, "for a noble king and a good knight; and, by thefaith of my body, I will be ready to do your father and youservice at that day. "

So she departed, and came on the next morning early and found himready, and brought him out of twelve locks, and brought him to hisown horse, and lightly he saddled him, and so rode forth. 

And on the Tuesday next he came to a little wood where thetournament should be. And there were scaffolds and holds, thatlords and ladies might look on, and give the prize. Then came intothe field the king of North Wales, with eightscore helms, and KingBadgemagus came with fourscore helms. And then they couched theirspears, and came together with a great dash, and there wereoverthrown at the first encounter twelve of King Bagdemagus'sparty and six of the king of North Wales's party, and KingBagdemagus's party had the worse. 

With that came Sir Launcelot of the Lake, and thrust in with hisspear in the thickest of the press; and he smote down five knightsere 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 theking of North Wales would just no more; and so the gree was givento 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 withhis daughter. And on the morn he took his leave, and told the kinghe would go and seek his brother, Sir Lionel, that went from himwhen he slept. So he departed, and by adventure he came to thesame forest where he was taken sleeping. And in the highway he meta damsel riding on a white palfrey, and they saluted each other. "Fair damsel, " said Sir Launcelot, "know ye in this country anyadventures?" "Sir knight, " said the damsel, "here are adventuresnear at hand, if thou durst pursue them. " "Why should I not proveadventures?" said Sir Launcelot, "since for that cause came Ihither. " "Sir, " said she, "hereby dwelleth a knight that will notbe overmatched for any man I know, except thou overmatch him. Hisname is Sir Turquine, and, as I understand, he is a deadly enemyof King Arthur, and he has in his prison good knights of Arthur'scourt, 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 byit on the left hand is a ford for horses to drink of, and overthat ford there groweth a fair tree, and on that tree hang manyshields that good knights wielded aforetime, that are nowprisoners; and on the tree hangeth a basin of copper and latten, and if thou strike upon that basin thou shalt hear tidings. " AndSir Launcelot departed, and rode as the damsel had shown him, andshortly he came to the ford, and the tree where hung the shieldsand the basin. And among the shields he saw Sir Lionel's and SirHector'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 wareof a great knight that drove a horse before him, and across thehorse there lay an armed knight bounden. And as they came near, Sir Launcelot thought he should know the captive knight. Then SirLauncelot saw that it was Sir Gaheris, Sir Gawain's brother, aknight 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, thouhast done great despite and shame unto knights of the Round Table, therefore now defend thee. " "If thou be of the Table Round, " saidSir Turquine, "I defy thee and all thy fellowship. " "That isovermuch said, " said Sir Launcelot. 

Then they put their spears in the rests, and came together withtheir horses as fast as they might run. And each smote the otherin the middle of their shields, so that their horses fell underthem, and the knights were both staggered; and as soon as theycould clear their horses they drew out their swords and cametogether eagerly, and each gave the other many strong strokes, forneither shield nor harness might withstand their strokes. Sowithin a while both had grimly wounds, and bled grievously. Thenat the last they were breathless both, and stood leaning upontheir swords. "Now, fellow, " said Sir Turquine, "thou art thestoutest man that ever I met with, and best breathed; and so be itthou be not the knight that I hate above all other knights, theknight that slew my brother, Sir Carados, I will gladly accordwith thee; and for thy love I will deliver all the prisoners thatI have. "

"What knight is he that thou hatest so above others?" "Truly, "said Sir Turquine, "his name is Sir Launcelot of the Lake. " "I amSir Launcelot of the Lake, King Ban's son of Benwick, and veryknight of the Table Round; and now I defy thee do thy best. " "Ah!"said Sir Turquine, "Launcelot, thou art to me the most welcomethat ever was knight; for we shall never part till the one of usbe dead. " And then they hurtled together like two wild bulls, rashing and lashing with their swords and shields, so thatsometimes they fell, as it were, headlong. Thus they fought twohours and more, till the ground where they fought was allbepurpled with blood. 

Then at the last Sir Turquine waxed sore faint, and gave somewhataback, and bare his shield full low for weariness. That spied SirLauncelot, and leapt then upon him fiercely as a lion, and tookhim 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 bestknight in the world, for ye have slain this day in my sight themightiest man and the best knight except you that ever I saw. ""Sir, my name is Sir Launcelot du Lac, that ought to help you ofright for King Arthur's sake, and in especial for Sir Gawain'ssake, your own dear brother. Now I pray you, that ye go intoyonder castle, and set free all the prisoners ye find there, for Iam sure ye shall find there many knights of the Table Round, andespecially my brother Sir Lionel. I pray you greet them all fromme, 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, forby the feast of Pentecost I think to be there; but at this time Imay not stop, for I have adventures on hand. " So he departed, andSir Gaheris rode into the castle, and took the keys from theporter, and hastily opened the prison door and let out all theprisoners. There was Sir Kay, Sir Brandeles, and Sir Galynde, SirBryan, and Sir Alyduke, Sir Hector de Marys, and Sir Lionel, andmany more. And when they saw Sir Gaheris they all thanked him, forthey thought, because he was wounded, that he had slain SirTurquine. "Not so, " said Sir Gaheris; "it was Sir Launcelot thatslew him, right worshipfully; I saw it with mine eyes. "

Sir Launcelot rode till at nightfall he came to a fair castle, andtherein he found an old gentlewoman, who lodged him with good-will, and there he had good cheer for him and his horse. And whentime was, his host brought him to a fair chamber over the gate tohis bed. Then Sir Launcelot unarmed him, and set his harness byhim, and went to bed, and anon he fell asleep. And soon after, there came one on horseback and knocked at the gate in greathaste; and when Sir Launcelot heard this, he arose and looked outof the window, and saw by the moonlight three knights riding afterthat one man, and all three lashed on him with their swords, andthat one knight turned on them knightly again and defendedhimself. "Truly, " said Sir Launcelot, "yonder one knight will Ihelp, for it is shame to see three knights on one. " Then he tookhis harness and went out at the window by a sheet down to the fourknights; and he said aloud, "Turn you knights unto me, and leaveyour fighting with that knight. " Then the knights left Sir Kay, for it was he they were upon, and turned unto Sir Launcelot, andstruck many great strokes at Sir Launcelot, and assailed him onevery side. Then Sir Kay addressed him to help Sir Launcelot, buthe said, "Nay, sir, I will none of your help; let me alone withthem. " 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 tothat, " 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 saveyour lives, but else not. " "Fair knight, " then they said, "we willdo as thou commandest us. " "Then shall ye, " said Sir Launcelot, "on Whitsunday next, go unto the court of King Arthur, and thereshall ye yield you unto Queen Guenever, and say that Sir Kay sentyou thither to be her prisoners. " "Sir, " they said, "it shall bedone, by the faith of our bodies;" and then they swore, everyknight upon his sword. And so Sir Launcelot suffered them todepart. 

On the morn Sir Launcelot rose early and left Sir Kay sleeping;and Sir Launcelot took Sir Kay's armor, and his shield, and armedhim, and went to the stable and took his horse, and so hedeparted. 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 willgrieve some of King Arthur's knights, for they will deem that itis I, and will be bold to meet him. But by cause of his armor I amsure I shall ride in peace. " Then Sir Kay thanked his host anddeparted. 

Sir Launcelot rode in a deep forest, and there he saw fourknights, under an oak, and they were of Arthur's court. There wasSir Sagramour le Desirus, and Hector de Marys, and Sir Gawain, andSir Uwaine. As they spied Sir Launcelot they judged by his arms ithad been Sir Kay. "Now, by my faith, " said Sir Sagramour, "I willprove Sir Kay's might;" and got his spear in his hand, and cametowards Sir Launcelot. Therewith Sir Launcelot couched his spearagainst him, and smote Sir Sagramour so sore that horse and manfell both to the earth. Then said Sir Hector, "Now shall ye seewhat I may do with him. " But he fared worse than Sir Sagramour, for Sir Launcelot's spear went through his shoulder and bare himfrom his horse to the ground. "By my faith, " said Sir Uwaine, "yonder is a strong knight, and I fear he hath slain Sir Kay, andtaken his armor. " And therewith Sir Uwaine took his spear in hand, and rode toward Sir Launcelot; and Sir Launcelot met him on theplain and gave him such a buffet that he was staggered, and wistnot where he was. "Now see I well, " said Sir Gawain, "that I mustencounter with that knight. " Then he adjusted his shield, and tooka good spear in his hand, and Sir Launcelot knew him well. Thenthey let run their horses with all their mights, and each knightsmote the other in the middle of his shield. But Sir Gawain'sspear broke, and Sir Launcelot charged so sore upon him that hishorse fell over backward. Then Sir Launcelot passed by smilingwith himself, and he said, "Good luck be with him that made thisspear, for never came a better into my hand. " Then the fourknights went each to the other and comforted one another. "Whatsay ye to this adventure, " said Sir Gawain, "that one spear hathfelled 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 byfortune he came to a fair castle; and as he passed beyond thecastle he thought he heard two bells ring. And then he perceivedhow a falcon came flying over his head, toward a high elm; and shehad long lunys [Footnote: LUNYS, the string with which the falconis held. ] about her feet, and she flew unto the elm to take herperch, and the lunys got entangled in the bough; and when shewould have taken her flight, she hung by the legs fast, and SirLauncelot saw how she hung, and beheld the fair falcon entangled, and he was sorry for her. Then came a lady out of the castle andcried aloud, "O Launcelot, Launcelot, as thou art the flower ofall knights, help me to get my hawk; for if my hawk be lost, mylord will slay me, he is so hasty. " "What is your lord's name?"said Sir Launcelot. "His name is Sir Phelot, a knight thatbelongeth to the king of North Wales. " "Well, fair lady, since yeknow my name, and require me of knighthood to help you, I will dowhat 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. " Andtherewith Sir Launcelot alighted and tied his horse to the tree, and prayed the lady to unarm him. And when he was unarmed, he putoff his jerkin, and with might and force he clomb up to thefalcon, and tied the lunys to a rotten bough, and threw the hawkdown with it; and the lady got the hawk in her hand. Then suddenlythere came out of the castle her husband, all armed, and with hisnaked sword in his hand, and said, "O Knight Launcelot, now have Igot thee as I would, " and stood at the boll of the tree to slayhim. "Ah, lady!" said Sir Launcelot, "why have ye betrayed me?""She hath done, " said Sir Phelot, "but as I commanded her; andtherefore there is none other way but thine hour is come, and thoumust die. " "That were shame unto thee, " said Sir Launcelot; "thouan armed knight to slay a naked man by treason. " "Thou gettestnone other grace, " said Sir Phelot, "and therefore help thyself ifthou canst. " "Alas!" said Sir Launcelot, "that ever a knightshould die weaponless!" And therewith he turned his eyes upwardand downward; and over his head he saw a big bough leafless, andhe brake it off from the trunk. And then he came lower, andwatched how his own horse stood; and suddenly he leapt on thefurther side of his horse from the knight. Then Sir Phelot lashedat him eagerly, meaning to have slain him. But Sir Launcelot putaway the stroke, with the big bough, and smote Sir Phelottherewith on the side of the head, so that he fell down in a swoonto the ground. Then Sir Launcelot took his sword out of his handand struck his head from the body. Then said the lady, "Alas! whyhast thou slain my husband?" "I am not the cause, " said SirLauncelot, "for with falsehood ye would have slain me, and now itis fallen on yourselves. " Thereupon Sir Launcelot got all hisarmor, and put it upon him hastily, for fear of more resort, forthe knight's castle was so nigh. And as soon as he might, he tookhis horse and departed, and thanked God he had escaped thatadventure. 

And two days before the feast of Pentecost, Sir Launcelot camehome; and the king and all the court were passing glad of hiscoming. And when Sir Gawain, Sir Uwaine, Sir Sagramour, and SirHector de Marys saw Sir Launcelot in Sir Kay's armor then theywist well it was he that smote them down, all with one spear. Thenthere was laughing and merriment among them; and from time to timecame all the knights that Sir Turquine had prisoners, and they allhonored and worshipped Sir Launcelot. Then Sir Gaheris said, "Isaw all the battle from the beginning to the end, " and he toldKing Arthur all how it was. Then Sir Kay told the king how SirLauncelot had rescued him, and how he "made the knights yield tome, and not to him. " And there they were, all three, and confirmedit all "And, by my faith, " said Sir Kay, "because Sir Launcelottook my harness and left me his, I rode in peace, and no man wouldhave to do with me. "

And so at that time Sir Launcelot had the greatest name of anyknight 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 herknights of the Table Round, and gave them warning that early uponthe morrow she would ride a-maying into the woods and fieldsbeside Westminster; "and I warn you that there be none of you buthe be well horsed, and that ye all be clothed in green, eithersilk or cloth; and I shall bring with me ten ladies, and everyknight shall have a lady behind him, and every knight shall have asquire 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 Sagramourle Desirus, Sir Dodynas le Sauvage, Sir Ozanna, Sir Ladynas, SirPersant of Inde, Sir Ironside, and Sir Pelleas; and these tenknights made them ready, in the freshest manner, to ride with thequeen. So upon the morn they took their horses with the queen, androde a-maying in woods and meadows, as it pleased them, in greatjoy and delight. Now there was a knight named Maleagans, son toKing Brademagus, who loved Queen Guenever passing well, and so hadhe done long and many years. Now this knight, Sir Maleagans, learned the queen's purpose, and that she had no men of arms withher but the ten noble knights all arrayed in green for maying; sohe prepared him twenty men of arms, and a hundred archers, to takecaptive 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 thencame out of a wood Sir Maleagans with eightscore men wellharnessed, and bade the queen and her knights yield themprisoners. "Traitor knight, " said Queen Guenever, "what wilt thoudo? Wilt thou shame thyself? Bethink thee how thou art a king'sson, and a knight of the Table Round, and how thou art about todishonor all knighthood and thyself?" "Be it as it may, " said SirMaleagans, "know you well, madam, I have loved you many a year andnever till now could I get you to such advantage as I do now; andtherefore I will take you as I find you. " Then the ten knights ofthe Round Table drew their swords, and the other party run at themwith their spears, and the ten knights manfully abode them, andsmote away their spears. Then they lashed together with swordstill several were smitten to the earth. So when the queen saw herknights thus dolefully oppressed, and needs must be slain at thelast, then for pity and sorrow she cried, "Sir Maleagans, slay notmy noble knights and I will go with you, upon this covenant, thatthey be led with me wheresoever thou leadest me. " "Madame, " saidMaleagans, "for your sake they shall be led with you into my owncastle, if that ye will be ruled, and ride with me. " Then SirMaleagans charged them all that none should depart from the queen, for he dreaded lest Sir Launcelot should have knowledge of whathad been done. 

Then the queen privily called unto her a page of her chamber thatwas swiftly horsed, to whom she said, "Go thou when thou seest thytime, and bear this ring unto Sir Launcelot, and pray him as heloveth me, that he will see me and rescue me. And spare not thyhorse, " said the queen, "neither for water nor for land. " So thechild espied his time, and lightly he took his horse with thespurs and departed as fast as he might. And when Sir Maleagans sawhim so flee, he understood that it was by the queen's commandmentfor to warn Sir Launcelot. Then they that were best horsed chasedhim, and shot at him, but the child went from them all. Then SirMaleagans said to the queen, "Madam, ye are about to betray me, but I shall arrange for Sir Launcelot that he shall not comelightly 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 Maleaganslaid in ambush the best archers that he had to wait for SirLauncelot. And the child came to Westminster and found SirLauncelot and told his message and delivered him the queen's ring. "Alas!" said Sir Launcelot, "now am I shamed for ever, unless Imay rescue that noble lady. " Then eagerly he asked his armor andput 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 hishorse swim over Thames unto Lambeth. Then within a while he cameto a wood where was a narrow way; and there the archers were laidin ambush. And they shot at him and smote his horse so that hefell. Then Sir Launcelot left his horse and went on foot, butthere lay so many ditches and hedges betwixt the archers and himthat he might not meddle with them. "Alas! for shame, " said SirLauncelot, "that ever one knight should betray another! but it isan old saw, a good man is never in danger, but when he is indanger of a coward. " Then Sir Launcelot went awhile and he wasexceedingly cumbered by his armor, his shield, and his spear, andall that belonged to him. Then by chance there came by him a cartthat came thither to fetch wood. 

Now at this time carts were little used except for carrying offaland for conveying criminals to execution. But Sir Launcelot tookno thought of anything but the necessity of haste for the purposeof rescuing the queen; so he demanded of the carter that he shouldtake him in and convey him as speedily as possible for a liberalreward. The carter consented, and Sir Launcelot placed himself inthe cart and only lamented that with much jolting he made butlittle progress. Then it happened Sir Gawain passed by and seeingan armed knight travelling in that unusual way he drew near to seewho it might be. Then Sir Launcelot told him how the queen hadbeen carried off, and how, in hastening to her rescue, his horsehad been disabled and he had been compelled to avail himself ofthe cart rather than give up his enterprise. Then Sir Gawain said, "Surely it is unworthy of a knight to travel in such sort;" butSir Launcelot heeded him not. 

At nightfall they arrived at a castle and the lady thereof cameout at the head of her damsels to welcome Sir Gawain. But to admithis companion, whom she supposed to be a criminal, or at least aprisoner, it pleased her not; however, to oblige Sir Gawain, sheconsented. At supper Sir Launcelot came near being consigned tothe kitchen and was only admitted to the lady's table at theearnest solicitation of Sir Gawain. Neither would the damselsprepare a bed for him. He seized the first he found unoccupied andwas left undisturbed. 

Next morning he saw from the turrets of the castle a trainaccompanying a lady, whom he imagined to be the queen. Sir Gawainthought it might be so, and became equally eager to depart. Thelady of the castle supplied Sir Launcelot with a horse and theytraversed the plain at full speed. They learned from sometravellers whom they met, that there were two roads which led tothe castle of Sir Maleagans. Here therefore the friends separated. Sir Launcelot found his way beset with obstacles, which heencountered successfully, but not without much loss of time. Asevening approached he was met by a young and sportive damsel, whogayly proposed to him a supper at her castle. The knight, who washungry and weary, accepted the offer, though with no very goodgrace. He followed the lady to her castle and ate voraciously ofher supper, but was quite impenetrable to all her amorousadvances. Suddenly the scene changed and he was assailed by sixfurious ruffians, whom he dealt with so vigorously that most ofthem were speedily disabled, when again there was a change and hefound himself alone with his fair hostess, who informed him thatshe was none other than his guardian fairy, who had but subjectedhim to tests of his courage and fidelity. The next day the fairybrought him on his road, and before parting gave him a ring, whichshe told him would by its changes of color disclose to him allenchantments, and enable him to subdue them. 

Sir Launcelot pursued his journey, without being much incommodedexcept by the taunts of travellers, who all seemed to havelearned, by some means, his disgraceful drive in the cart. One, more insolent than the rest, had the audacity to interrupt himduring dinner, and even to risk a battle in support of hispleasantry. Launcelot, after an easy victory, only doomed him tobe carted in his turn. 

At night he was received at another castle, with great apparenthospitality, but found himself in the morning in a dungeon, andloaded with chains. Consulting his ring, and finding that this wasan enchantment, he burst his chains, seized his armor in spite ofthe visionary monsters who attempted to defend it, broke open thegates of the tower, and continued his journey. At length hisprogress was checked by a wide and rapid torrent, which could onlybe passed on a narrow bridge, on which a false step would provehis destruction. Launcelot, leading his horse by the bridle, andmaking him swim by his side, passed over the bridge, and wasattacked as soon as he reached the bank by a lion and a leopard, both of which he slew, and then, exhausted and bleeding, seatedhimself on the grass, and endeavored to bind up his wounds, whenhe was accosted by Brademagus, the father of Maleagans, whosecastle was then in sight, and at no great distance. This king, noless courteous than his son was haughty and insolent, aftercomplimenting Sir Launcelot on the valor and skill he haddisplayed in the perils of the bridge and the wild beasts, offeredhim his assistance, and informed him that the queen was safe inhis castle, but could only be rescued by encountering Maleagans. Launcelot demanded the battle for the next day, and accordingly ittook place, at the foot of the tower, and under the eyes of thefair captive. Launcelot was enfeebled by his wounds, and foughtnot with his usual spirit, and the contest for a time wasdoubtful; 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 atonce his usual superiority, and soon laid at his feet his haughtyadversary. 

He was on the point of sacrificing him to his resentment, whenGuenever, moved by the entreaties of Brademagus, ordered him towithhold the blow, and he obeyed. The castle and its prisonerswere now at his disposal. Launcelot hastened to the apartment ofthe queen, threw himself at her feet, and was about to kiss herhand, when she exclaimed, "Ah, Launcelot! why do I see thee again, yet feel thee to be no longer worthy of me, after having beendisgracefully drawn about the country in a--" She had not time tofinish the phrase, for her lover suddenly started from her, and, bitterly lamenting that he had incurred the displeasure of hissovereign lady, rushed out of the castle, threw his sword and hisshield to the right and left, ran furiously into the woods, anddisappeared. 

It seems that the story of the abominable cart, which hauntedLauncelot at every step, had reached the ears of Sir Kay, who hadtold it to the queen, as a proof that her knight must have beendishonored. But Guenever had full leisure to repent the haste withwhich she had given credit to the tale. Three days elapsed, duringwhich Launcelot wandered without knowing where he went, till atlast he began to reflect that his mistress had doubtless beendeceived by misrepresentation, and that it was his duty to set herright. He therefore returned, compelled Maleagans to release hisprisoners, and, taking the road by which they expected the arrivalof 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 atWinchester. The king, not less impatient than his knights for thisfestival, set off some days before to superintend thepreparations, leaving the queen with her court at Camelot. SirLauncelot, under pretence of indisposition, remained behind also. His intention was to attend the tournament--in disguise; andhaving communicated his project to Guenever, he mounted his horse, set off without any attendant, and, counterfeiting the feeblenessof age, took the most unfrequented road to Winchester, and passedunnoticed as an old knight who was going to be a spectator of thesports. Even Arthur and Gawain, who happened to behold him fromthe windows of a castle under which he passed, were the dupes ofhis disguise. But an accident betrayed him. His horse happened tostumble, and the hero, forgetting for a moment his assumedcharacter, recovered the animal with a strength and agility sopeculiar to himself, that they instantly recognized the inimitableLauncelot. They suffered him, however, to proceed on his journeywithout interruption, convinced that his extraordinary feats ofarms must discover him at the approaching festival. 

In the evening Launcelot was magnificently entertained as astranger knight at the neighboring castle of Shalott. The lord ofthis castle had a daughter of exquisite beauty, and two sonslately received into the order of knighthood, one of whom was atthat time ill in bed, and thereby prevented from attending thetournament, for which both brothers had long made preparation. Launcelot offered to attend the other, if he were permitted toborrow the armor of the invalid, and the lord of Shalott, withoutknowing the name of his guest, being satisfied from his appearancethat his son could not have a better assistant in arms, mostthankfully accepted the offer. In the meantime the young lady, whohad been much struck by the first appearance of the strangerknight, continued to survey him with increased attention, and, before the conclusion of supper, became so deeply enamoured ofhim, that after frequent changes of color, and other symptomswhich Sir Launcelot could not possibly mistake, she was obliged toretire to her chamber, and seek relief in tears. Sir Launcelothastened to convey to her, by means of her brother, theinformation that his heart was already disposed of, but that itwould be his pride and pleasure to act as her knight at theapproaching tournament. The lady, obliged to be satisfied withthat courtesy, presented him her scarf to be worn at thetournament. 

Launcelot set off in the morning with the young knight, who, ontheir approaching Winchester, carried him to the castle of a lady, sister to the lord of Shalott, by whom they were hospitablyentertained. The next day they put on their armor, which wasperfectly plain and without any device, as was usual to youthsduring the first year of knighthood, their shields being onlypainted red, as some color was necessary to enable them to berecognized by their attendants. Launcelot wore on his crest thescarf of the maid of Shalott, and, thus equipped, proceeded to thetournament, where the knights were divided into two companies, theone commanded by Sir Galehaut, the other by King Arthur. Havingsurveyed the combat for a short time from without the lists, andobserved that Sir Galehaut's party began to give way, they joinedthe press and attacked the royal knights, the young man choosingsuch adversaries as were suited to his strength, while hiscompanion selected the principal champions of the Round Table, andsuccessively overthrew Gawain, Bohort, and Lionel. Theastonishment of the spectators was extreme, for it was thoughtthat no one but Launcelot could possess such invincible force; yetthe favor on his crest seemed to preclude the possibility of hisbeing thus disguised, for Launcelot had never been known to wearthe 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 completelystunned by a blow on the helmet, and felled to the ground; afterwhich the conqueror rode off at full speed, attended by hiscompanion. 

They returned to the castle of Shalott, where Launcelot wasattended with the greatest care by the good earl, by his two sons, and, above all, by his fair daughter, whose medical skill probablymuch hastened the period of his recovery. His health was almostcompletely restored, when Sir Hector, Sir Bohort, and Sir Lionel, who, after the return of the court to Camelot, had undertaken thequest of their relation, discovered him walking on the walls ofthe castle. Their meeting was very joyful; they passed three daysin the castle amidst constant festivities, and bantered each otheron the events of the tournament. Launcelot, though he began byvowing vengeance against the author of his wound, yet ended bydeclaring that he felt rewarded for the pain by the pride he tookin witnessing his brother's extraordinary prowess. He thendismissed them with a message to the queen, promising to followimmediately, it being necessary that he should first take a formalleave of his kind hosts, as well as of the fair maid of Shalott. 

The young lady, after vainly attempting to detain him by her tearsand solicitations, saw him depart without leaving her any groundfor hope. 

It was early summer when the tournament took place; but somemonths had passed since Launcelot's departure, and winter was nownear at hand. The health and strength of the Lady of Shalott hadgradually sunk, and she felt that she could not live apart fromthe object of her affections. She left the castle, and descendingto the river's brink placed herself in a boat, which she loosedfrom its moorings, and suffered to bear her down the currenttoward Camelot. 

One morning, as Arthur and Sir Lionel looked from the window ofthe tower, the walls of which were washed by a river, theydescried a boat richly ornamented, and covered with an awning ofcloth of gold, which appeared to be floating down the streamwithout any human guidance. It struck the shore while they watchedit, and they hastened down to examine it. Beneath the awning theydiscovered the dead body of a beautiful woman, in whose featuresSir Lionel easily recognized the lovely maid of Shalott. Pursuingtheir search, they discovered a purse richly embroidered with goldand jewels, and within the purse a letter, which Arthur opened, and found addressed to himself and all the knights of the RoundTable, stating that Launcelot of the Lake, the most accomplishedof knights and most beautiful of men, but at the same time themost cruel and inflexible, had by his rigor produced the death ofthe wretched maiden, whose love was no less invincible than hiscruelty. The king immediately gave orders for the interment of thelady with all the honors suited to her rank, at the same timeexplaining to the knights the history of her affection forLauncelot, which moved the compassion and regret of all. 

Tennyson has chosen the story of the "Lady of Shalott" for thesubject 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 greatperil of her life. A certain squire who was in her immediateservice, having some cause of animosity to Sir Gawain, determinedto destroy him by poison, at a public entertainment. For thispurpose he concealed the poison in an apple of fine appearance, which he placed on the top of several others, and put the dishbefore the queen, hoping that, as Sir Gawain was the knight ofgreatest dignity, she would present the apple to him. But ithappened that a Scottish knight of high distinction, who arrivedon that day, was seated next to the queen, and to him as astranger she presented the apple, which he had no sooner eatenthan he was seized with dreadful pain, and fell senseless. Thewhole court was, of course, thrown into confusion; the knightsrose from table, darting looks of indignation at the wretchedqueen, whose tears and protestations were unable to remove theirsuspicions. In spite of all that could be done the knight died, and nothing remained but to order a magnificent funeral andmonument for him, which was done. 

Some time after Sir Mador, brother of the murdered knight, arrivedat Arthur's court in quest of him. While hunting in the forest heby chance came to the spot where the monument was erected, readthe inscription, and returned to court determined on immediate andsignal vengeance. He rode into the hall, loudly accused the queenof treason, and insisted on her being given up for punishment, unless she should find by a certain day a knight hardy enough torisk his life in support of her innocence. Arthur, powerful as hewas, did not dare to deny the appeal, but was compelled with aheavy 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 wherehe was. He fled in anger from his fair mistress, upon beingreproached by her with his passion for the Lady of Shalott, whichshe had hastily inferred from his wearing her scarf at thetournament. He took up his abode with a hermit in the forest, andresolved to think no more of the cruel beauty, whose conduct hethought must flow from a wish to get rid of him. Yet calmreflection had somewhat cooled his indignation, and he had begunto wish, though hardly able to hope, for a reconciliation when thenews of Sir Mador's challenge fortunately reached his ears. Theintelligence revived his spirits, and he began to prepare with theutmost cheerfulness for a contest which, if successful, wouldinsure him at once the affection of his mistress and the gratitudeof his sovereign. 

The sad fate of the Lady of Shalott had ere this completelyacquitted Launcelot in the queen's mind of all suspicion of hisfidelity, and she lamented most grievously her foolish quarrelwith him, which now, at her time of need, deprived her of her mostefficient champion. 

As the day appointed by Sir Mador was fast approaching, it becamenecessary that she should procure a champion for her defence; andshe successively adjured Sir Hector, Sir Lionel, Sir Bohort, andSir Gawain to undertake the battle. She fell on her knees beforethem, called heaven to witness her innocence of the crime allegedagainst her, but was sternly answered by all that they could notfight to maintain the innocence of one whose act, and the fatalconsequence of it, they had seen with their own eyes. She retired, therefore, dejected and disconsolate; but the sight of the fatalpile on which, if guilty, she was doomed to be burned, excitingher to fresh effort, she again repaired to Sir Bohort, threwherself at his feet, and piteously calling on him for mercy, fellinto a swoon. The brave knight was not proof against this. Heraised her up, and hastily promised that he would undertake hercause, if no other or better champion should present himself. Hethen summoned his friends, and told them his resolution; and as amortal combat with Sir Mador was a most fearful enterprise, theyagreed to accompany him in the morning to the hermitage in theforest, where he proposed to receive absolution from the hermit, and to make his peace with Heaven before he entered the lists. Asthey approached the hermitage, they espied a knight riding in theforest, whom they at once recognized as Sir Launcelot. Overjoyedat the meeting, they quickly, in answer to his questions, confirmed the news of the queen's imminent danger, and receivedhis instructions to return to court, to comfort her as well asthey could, but to say nothing of his intention of undertaking herdefence, which he meant to do in tne character of an unknownadventurer. 

On their return to the castle they found that mass was finished, and had scarcely time to speak to the queen before they weresummoned into the hall to dinner. A general gloom was spread overthe countenances of all the guests. Arthur himself was unable toconceal his dejection, and the wretched Guenever, motionless andbathed in tears, sat in trembling expectation of Sir Mador'sappearance. Nor was it long ere he stalked into the hall, and witha voice of thunder, rendered more impressive by the generalsilence, demanded instant justice on the guilty party. Arthurreplied with dignity, that little of the day was yet spent, andthat perhaps a champion might yet be found capable of satisfyinghis thirst for battle. Sir Bohort now rose from table, and shortlyreturning in complete armor, resumed his place, after receivingthe embraces and thanks of the king, who now began to resume somedegree of confidence. Sir Mador, growing impatient, again repeatedhis denunciations of vengeance, and insisted that the combatshould no longer be postponed. 

In the height of the debate there came riding into the hall aknight mounted on a black steed, and clad in black armor, with hisvisor down, and lance in hand. "Sir, " said the king, "is it yourwill to alight and partake of our cheer?" "Nay, sir, " he replied;"I come to save a lady's life. The queen hath ill bestowed herfavors, and honored many a knight, that in her hour of need sheshould have none to take her part. Thou that darest accuse her oftreachery, stand forth, for to-day shalt thou need all thy might. "

Sir Mador, though surprised, was not appalled by the sternchallenge and formidable appearance of his antagonist, butprepared for the encounter. At the first shock both were unhorsed. They then drew their swords, and commenced a combat which lastedfrom noon till evening, when Sir Mador, whose strength began tofail, was felled to the ground by Launcelot, and compelled to suefor mercy. The victor, whose arm was already raised to terminatethe life of his opponent, instantly dropped his sword, courteouslylifted up the fainting Sir Mador, frankly confessing that he hadnever before encountered so formidable an enemy. The other, withsimilar courtesy, solemnly renounced all further projects ofvengeance for his brother's death; and the two knights, now becomefast friends, embraced each other with the greatest cordiality. Inthe meantime Arthur, having recognized Sir Launcelot, whose helmetwas now unlaced, rushed down into the lists, followed by all hisknights, to welcome and thank his deliverer. Guenever swooned withjoy, and the place of combat suddenly exhibited a scene of themost tumultuous delight. 

The general satisfaction was still further increased by thediscovery of the real culprit. Having accidentally incurred somesuspicion, he confessed his crime, and was publicly punished inthe presence of Sir Mador. 

The court now returned to the castle, which, with the title of "LaJoyeuse Garde" bestowed upon it in memory of the happy event, wasconferred on Sir Launcelot by Arthur, as a memorial of hisgratitude. 

CHAPTER XII

TRISTRAM AND ISOUDE

Meliadus was king of Leonois, or Lionesse, a country famous in theannals of romance, which adjoined the kingdom of Cornwall, but hasnow disappeared from the map, having been, it is said, overwhelmedby the ocean. Meliadus was married to Isabella, sister of Mark, king of Cornwall. A fairy fell in love with him, and drew him awayby enchantment while he was engaged in hunting. His queen set outin quest of him, but was taken ill on her journey, and died, leaving an infant son, whom, from the melancholy circumstances ofhis birth, she called Tristram. 

Gouvernail, the queen's squire, who had accompanied her, tookcharge of the child, and restored him to his father, who had atlength burst the enchantments of the fairy, and returned home. 

Meliadus after seven years married again, and the new queen, beingjealous of the influence of Tristram with his father, laid plotsfor his life, which were discovered by Gouvernail, who inconsequence fled with the boy to the court of the king of France, where Tristram was kindly received, and grew up improving in everygallant and knightly accomplishment, adding to his skill in armsthe arts of music and of chess. In particular, he devoted himselfto the chase and to all woodland sports, so that he becamedistinguished above all other chevaliers of the court for hisknowledge of all that relates to hunting. No wonder that Belinda, the king's daughter, fell in love with him; but as he did notreturn her passion, she, in a sudden impulse of anger, excited herfather against him, and he was banished the kingdom. The princesssoon repented of her act, and in despair destroyed herself, havingfirst written a most tender letter to Tristram, sending him at thesame time a beautiful and sagacious dog, of which she was veryfond, desiring him to keep it as a memorial of her. Meliadus wasnow dead, and as his queen, Tristram's stepmother, held thethrone, Gouvernail was afraid to carry his pupil to his nativecountry, and took him to Cornwall, to his uncle Mark, who gave hima kind reception. 

King Mark resided at the castle of Tintadel, already mentioned inthe history of Uther and Igerne. In this court Tristram becamedistinguished in all the exercises incumbent on a knight; nor wasit long before he had an opportunity of practically employing hisvalor and skill. Moraunt, a celebrated champion, brother to thequeen of Ireland, arrived at the court, to demand tribute of KingMark. The knights of Cornwall are in ill repute in romance fortheir cowardice, and they exhibited it on this occasion. King Markcould find no champion who dared to encounter the Irish knight, till his nephew Tristram, who had not yet received the honors ofknighthood, craved to be admitted to the order, offering at thesame time to fight the battle of Cornwall against the Irishchampion. King Mark assented with reluctance; Tristram receivedthe accolade, which conferred knighthood upon him, and the placeand time were assigned for the encounter. 

Without attempting to give the details of this famous combat, thefirst and one of the most glorious of Tristram's exploits, weshall only say that the young knight, though severely wounded, cleft the head of Moraunt, leaving a portion of his sword in thewound. Moraunt, half dead with his wound and the disgrace of hisdefeat, hastened to hide himself in his ship, sailed away with allspeed for Ireland, and died soon after arriving in his owncountry. 

The kingdom of Cornwall was thus delivered from its tribute. Tristram, weakened by loss of blood, fell senseless. His friendsflew to his assistance. They dressed his wounds, which in generalhealed readily; but the lance of Moraunt was poisoned, and onewound which it made yielded to no remedies, but grew worse day byday. The surgeons could do no more. Tristram asked permission ofhis uncle to depart, and seek for aid in the kingdom of Loegria(England). With his consent he embarked, and after tossing formany days on the sea, was driven by the winds to the coast ofIreland. He landed, full of joy and gratitude that he had escapedthe peril of the sea; took his rote, [Footnote: A musicalinstrument. ] and began to play. It was a summer evening, and theking of Ireland and his daughter, the beautiful Isoude, were at awindow 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, andcalled himself Tramtris. The queen undertook his cure, and by amedicated bath gradually restored him to health. His skill inmusic and in games occasioned his being frequently called tocourt, and he became the instructor of the princess Isoude inminstrelsy and poetry, who profited so well under his care, thatshe soon had no equal in the kingdom, except her instructor. 

At this time a tournament was held, at which many knights of theRound Table, and others, were present. On the first day a Saracenprince, named Palamedes, obtained the advantage over all. Theybrought him to the court, and gave him a feast, at which Tristram, just recovering from his wound, was present. The fair Isoudeappeared on this occasion in all her charms. Palamedes could notbehold them without emotion, and made no effort to conceal hislove. Tristram perceived it, and the pain he felt from jealousytaught him how dear the fair Isoude had already become to him. 

Next day the tournament was renewed. Tristram, still feeble fromhis wound, rose during the night, took his arms, and concealedthem in a forest near the place of the contest, and, after it hadbegun, mingled with the combatants. He overthrew all thatencountered him, in particular Palamedes, whom he brought to theground with a stroke of his lance, and then fought him hand tohand, bearing off the prize of the tourney. But his exertionscaused his wound to reopen; he bled fast, and in this sad state, yet in triumph, they bore him to the palace. The fair Isoudedevoted herself to his relief with an interest which grew morevivid day by day; and her skilful care soon restored him tohealth. 

It happened one day that a damsel of the court, entering thecloset where Tristram's arms were deposited, perceived that a partof the sword had been broken off. It occurred to her that themissing portion was like that which was left in the skull ofMoraunt, the Irish champion. She imparted her thought to thequeen, who compared the fragment taken from her brother's woundwith the sword of Tristram, and was satisfied that it was part ofthe same, and that the weapon of Tristram was that which reft herbrother's life. She laid her griefs and resentment before theking, who satisfied himself with his own eyes of the truth of hersuspicions. Tristram was cited before the whole court, andreproached with having dared to present himself before them afterhaving slain their kinsman. He acknowledged that he had foughtwith Moraunt to settle the claim for tribute, and said that it wasby force of winds and waves alone that he was thrown on theircoast. The queen demanded vengeance for the death of her brother;the fair Isoude trembled and grew pale, but a murmur rose from allthe assembly that the life of one so handsome and so brave shouldnot be taken for such a cause, and generosity finally triumphedover resentment in the mind of the king. Tristram was dismissed insafety, but commanded to leave the kingdom without delay, andnever 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 hisadventures. Tristram told him all minutely; but when he came tospeak of the fair Isoude he described her charms with a warmth andenergy such as none but a lover could display. King Mark wasfascinated with the description, and, choosing a favorable time, demanded a boon[Footnote: "Good faith was the very corner-stone ofchivalry. Whenever a knight's word was pledged (it mattered nothow rashly) it was to be redeemed at any price. Hence the sacredobligation of the boon granted by a knight to his suppliant. Instances without number occur in romance, in which a knight, byrashly granting an indefinite boon, was obliged to do or suffersomething extremely to his prejudice. But it is not in romancealone that we find such singular instances of adherence to anindefinite promise. The history of the times presents authentictransactions equally embarrassing and absurd"--SCOTT, note to SirTristram. ] of his nephew, who readily granted it. The king madehim swear upon the holy reliques that he would fulfil hiscommands. Then Mark directed him to go to Ireland, and obtain forhim the fair Isoude to be queen of Cornwall. 

Tristram believed it was certain death for him to return toIreland; and how could he act as ambassador for his uncle in sucha cause? Yet, bound by his oath, he hesitated not for an instant. He only took the precaution to change his armor. He embarked forIreland; but a tempest drove him to the coast of England, nearCamelot, where King Arthur was holding his court, attended by theknights of the Round Table, and many others, the most illustriousin the world. 

Tristram kept himself unknown. He took part in many justs; hefought many combats, in which he covered himself with glory. Oneday he saw among those recently arrived the king of Ireland, father of the fair Isoude. This prince, accused of treason againsthis liege sovereign, Arthur, came to Camelot to free himself fromthe charge. Blaanor, one of the most redoubtable warriors of theRound Table, was his accuser, and Argius, the king, had neitheryouthful vigor nor strength to encounter him. He must thereforeseek a champion to sustain his innocence. But the knights of theRound Table were not at liberty to fight against one another, unless in a quarrel of their own. Argius heard of the great renownof the unknown knight; he also was witness of his exploits. Hesought him, and conjured him to adopt his defence, and on his oathdeclared that he was innocent of the crime of which he wasaccused. Tristram readily consented, and made himself known to theking, who on his part promised to reward his exertions, ifsuccessful, with whatever gift he might ask. 

Tristram fought with Blaanor, and overthrew him, and held his lifein his power. The fallen warrior called on him to use his right ofconquest, and strike the fatal blow. "God forbid, " said Tristram, "that I should take the life of so brave a knight!" He raised himup and restored him to his friends. The judges of the fielddecided that the king of Ireland was acquitted of the chargeagainst him, and they led Tristram in triumph to his tent. KingArgius, full of gratitude, conjured Tristram to accompany him tohis kingdom. They departed together, and arrived in Ireland; andthe queen, forgetting her resentment for her brother's death, exhibited to the preserver of her husband's life nothing butgratitude and good-will. 

How happy a moment for Isoude, who knew that her father hadpromised his deliverer whatever boon he might ask! But the unhappyTristram gazed on her with despair, at the thought of the crueloath which bound him. His magnanimous soul subdued the force ofhis love. He revealed the oath which he had taken, and withtrembling voice demanded the fair Isoude for his uncle. 

Argius consented, and soon all was prepared for the departure ofIsoude. Brengwain, her favorite maid of honor, was to accompanyher. On the day of departure the queen took aside this devotedattendant, and told her that she had observed that her daughterand Tristram were attached to one another, and that to avert thebad effects of this inclination she had procured from a powerfulfairy a potent philter (love-draught), which she directedBrengwain to administer to Isoude and to King Mark on the eveningof their marriage. 

Isoude and Tristram embarked together. A favorable wind filled thesails, and promised them a fortunate voyage. The lovers gazed uponone another, and could not repress their sighs. Love seemed tolight up all his fires on their lips, as in their hearts. The daywas warm; they suffered from thirst. Isoude first complained. Tristram descried the bottle containing the love-draught, whichBrengwain had been so imprudent as to leave in sight. He took it, gave some of it to the charming Isoude, and drank the remainderhimself. The dog Houdain licked the cup. The ship arrived inCornwall, and Isoude was married to King Mark, The old monarch wasdelighted with his bride, and his gratitude to Tristram wasunbounded. He loaded him with honors, and made him chamberlain ofhis palace, thus giving him access to the queen at all times. 

In the midst of the festivities of the court which followed theroyal marriage, an unknown minstrel one day presented himself, bearing a harp of peculiar construction. He excited the curiosityof King Mark by refusing to play upon it till he should grant hima boon. The king having promised to grant his request, theminstrel, who was none other than the Saracen knight, SirPalamedes, the lover of the fair Isoude, sung to the harp a lay, in which he demanded Isoude as the promised gift. King Mark couldnot by the laws of knighthood withhold the boon. The lady wasmounted on her horse, and led away by her triumphant lover. Tristram, it is needless to say, was absent at the time, and didnot return until their departure. When he heard what had takenplace he seized his rote, and hastened to the shore, where Isoudeand her new master had already embarked. Tristram played upon hisrote, and the sound reached the ears of Isoude, who became sodeeply affected, that Sir Palamedes was induced to return with herto land, that they might see the unknown musician. Tristramwatched his opportunity, seized the lady's horse by the bridle, and plunged with her into the forest, tauntingly informing hisrival that "what he had got by the harp he had lost by the rote. "Palamedes pursued, and a combat was about to commence, the resultof which must have been fatal to one or other of these gallantknights; but Isoude stepped between them, and, addressingPalamedes, said, "You tell me that you love me; you will not thendeny me the request I am about to make?" "Lady, " he replied, "Iwill perform your bidding. " "Leave, then, " said she, "thiscontest, and repair to King Arthur's court, and salute QueenGuenever from me; tell her that there are in the world but twoladies, herself and I, and two lovers, hers and mine; and comethou not in future in any place where I am. " Palamedes burst intotears. "Ah, lady, " said he, "I will obey you; but I beseech youthat you will not for ever steel your heart against me. ""Palamedes, " she replied, "may I never taste of joy again if Iever quit my first love. " Palamedes then went his way. The loversremained a week in concealment, after which Tristram restoredIsoude to her husband, advising him in future to reward minstrelsin some other way. 

The king showed much gratitude to Tristram, but in the bottom ofhis heart he cherished bitter jealousy of him. One day Tristramand Isoude were alone together in her private chamber. A base andcowardly knight of the court, named Andret, spied them through akeyhole. They sat at a table of chess, but were not attending tothe game. Andret brought the king, having first raised hissuspicions, and placed him so as to watch their motions. The kingsaw enough to confirm his suspicions, and he burst into theapartment with his sword drawn, and had nearly slain Tristrambefore he was put on his guard. But Tristram avoided the blow, drew his sword, and drove before him the cowardly monarch, chasinghim through all the apartments of the palace, giving him frequentblows with the flat of his sword, while he cried in vain to hisknights to save him. They were not inclined, or did not dare, tointerpose in his behalf. 

A proof of the great popularity of the tale of Sir Tristram is thefact that the Italian poets, Boiardo and Ariosto, have foundedupon it the idea of the two enchanted fountains, which producedthe opposite effects of love and hatred. Boiardo thus describesthe 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, andIsoude shut up in a tower, which stood on the bank of a river. Tristram could not resolve to depart without some furthercommunication with his beloved; so he concealed himself in theforest, till at last he contrived to attract her attention, bymeans of twigs which he curiously peeled, and sent down the streamunder her window. By this means many secret interviews wereobtained. Tristram dwelt in the forest, sustaining himself bygame, which the dog Houdain ran down for him; for this faithfulanimal was unequalled in the chase, and knew so well his master'swish for concealment, that, in the pursuit of his game, he neverbarked. At length Tristram departed, but left Houdain with Isoude, as a remembrancer of him. 

Sir Tristram wandered through various countries, achieving themost perilous enterprises, and covering himself with glory, yetunhappy at the separation from his beloved Isoude. At length KingMark's territory was invaded by a neighboring chieftain, and hewas forced to summon his nephew to his aid. Tristram obeyed thecall, put himself at the head of his uncle's vassals, and drovethe enemy out of the country. Mark was full of gratitude, andTristram, restored to favor and to the society of his belovedIsoude, seemed at the summit of happiness. But a sad reverse wasat hand. 

Tristram had brought with him a friend named Pheredin, son of theking of Brittany. This young knight saw Queen Isoude, and couldnot resist her charms. Knowing the love of his friend for thequeen, and that that love was returned, Pheredin concealed hisown, until his health failed, and he feared he was drawing nearhis end. He then wrote to the beautiful queen that he was dyingfor 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 restoredhim to life. A few days afterwards Tristram found this letter. Themost terrible jealousy took possession of his soul; he would haveslain Pheredin, who with difficulty made his escape. Then Tristrammounted his horse, and rode to the forest, where for ten days hetook no rest nor food. At length he was found by a damsel lyingalmost dead by the brink of a fountain. She recognized him, andtried in vain to rouse his attention. At last recollecting hislove for music she went and got her harp, and played thereon. Tristram was roused from his reverie; tears flowed; he breathedmore 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 thedamsel, conjuring her to present it to the queen. 

Meanwhile Queen Isoude was inconsolable at the absence ofTristram. She discovered that it was caused by the fatal letterwhich she had written to Pheredin. Innocent, but in despair at thesad effects of her letter, she wrote another to Pheredin, charginghim never to see her again. The unhappy lover obeyed this crueldecree. He plunged into the forest, and died of grief and love ina hermit's cell. 

Isoude passed her days in lamenting the absence and unknown fateof Tristram. One day her jealous husband, having entered herchamber 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 wastoo 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 tolive. The blow that shall finish my misery will be most welcome. "

The king was moved at the distress of the fair Isoude, and perhapsthe idea of Tristram's death tended to allay his wrath. He leftthe queen in charge of her women, commanding them to take especialcare lest her despair should lead her to do harm to herself. 

Tristram meanwhile, distracted as he was, rendered a mostimportant service to the shepherds by slaying a gigantic robbernamed Taullas, who was in the habit of plundering their flocks andrifling their cottages. The shepherds, in their gratitude toTristram, bore him in triumph to King Mark to have him bestow onhim a suitable reward. No wonder Mark failed to recognize in thehalf-clad, wild man, before him his nephew Tristram; but gratefulfor the service the unknown had rendered he ordered him to be welltaken care of, and gave him in charge to the queen and her women. Under such care Tristram rapidly recovered his serenity and hishealth, so that the romancer tells us he became handsomer thanever. King Mark's jealousy revived with Tristram's health and goodlooks, 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 wideforest. The sound of a little bell showed him that some inhabitantwas near. He followed the sound, and found a hermit, who informedhim that he was in the forest of Arnantes, belonging to the fairyViviane, the Lady of the Lake, who, smitten with love for KingArthur, had found means to entice him to this forest, where byenchantments she held him a prisoner, having deprived him of allmemory of who and what he was. The hermit informed him that allthe knights of the Round Table were out in search of the king, andthat he (Tristram) was now in the scene of the most grand andimportant adventures. 

This was enough to animate Tristram in the search. He had notwandered far before he encountered a knight of Arthur's court, whoproved to be Sir Kay the Seneschal, who demanded of him whence hecame. Tristram answering, "From Cornwall, " Sir Kay did not letslip the opportunity of a joke at the expense of the Cornishknight. Tristram chose to leave him in his error, and evenconfirmed him in it; for meeting some other knights Tristramdeclined to just with them. They spent the night together at anabbey, where Tristram submitted patiently to all their jokes. TheSeneschal gave the word to his companions that they should set outearly next day, and intercept the Cornish knight on his way, andenjoy the amusement of seeing his fright when they should insiston running a tilt with him. Tristram next morning found himselfalone; he put on his armor, and set out to continue his quest. Hesoon saw before him the Seneschal and the three knights, whobarred the way, and insisted on a just. Tristram excused himself along time; at last he reluctantly took his stand. He encounteredthem, one after the other, and overthrew them all four, man andhorse, and then rode off, bidding them not to forget their friendthe 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 hebeheld a knight, whom three others had borne to the ground, andwere unlacing his helmet in order to cut off his head. 

Tristram flew to the rescue, and slew with one stroke of his lanceone of the assailants. The knight, recovering his feet, sacrificedanother to his vengeance, and the third made his escape. Therescued knight then raised the visor of his helmet, and a longwhite beard fell down upon his breast. The majesty and venerableair of this knight made Tristram suspect that it was none otherthan Arthur himself, and the prince confirmed his conjecture. Tristram would have knelt before him, but Arthur received him inhis arms, and inquired his name and country; but Tristram declinedto disclose them, on the plea that he was now on a quest requiringsecrecy. At this moment the damsel who had brought Tristram to therescue darted forward, and, seizing the king's hand, drew from hisfinger a ring, the gift of the fairy, and by that act dissolvedthe enchantment. Arthur, having recovered his reason and hismemory, offered to Tristram to attach him to his court, and toconfer honors and dignities upon him; but Tristram declined all, and only consented to accompany him till he should see him safe inthe hands of his knights. Soon after, Hector de Marys rode up, andsaluted the king, who on his part introduced him to Tristram asone of the bravest of his knights. Tristram took leave of the kingand his faithful follower, and continued his quest. 

We cannot follow Tristram through all the adventures which filledthis epoch of his history. Suffice it to say, he fulfilled on alloccasions the duty of a true knight, rescuing the oppressed, redressing wrongs, abolishing evil customs, and suppressinginjustice, thus by constant action endeavoring to lighten thepains of absence from her he loved. In the meantime Isoude, separated from her dear Tristram, passed her days in languor andregret. At length she could no longer resist the desire to hearsome news of her lover. She wrote a letter, and sent it by one ofher damsels, niece of her faithful Brengwain. One day Tristram, weary with his exertions, had dismounted and laid himself down bythe side of a fountain and fallen asleep. The damsel of QueenIsoude 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 hesuffered in separation from his beloved. She awakened him, andgave him the letter which she bore, and Tristram enjoyed thepleasure, so sweet to a lover, of hearing from and talking aboutthe object of his affections. He prayed the damsel to postpone herreturn till after the magnificent tournament which Arthur hadproclaimed should have taken place, and conducted her to thecastle of Persides, a brave and loyal knight, who received herwith 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 andvalor. Launcelot admired him, and by a secret presentimentdeclined to dispute the honor of the day with a knight so gallantand so skilful. Arthur descended from the balcony to greet theconqueror; but the modest and devoted Tristram, content withhaving borne off the prize in the sight of the messenger ofIsoude, made his escape with her, and disappeared. 

The next day the tourney recommenced. Tristram assumed differentarmor, that he might not be known; but he was soon detected by theterrible blows that he gave, Arthur and Guenever had no doubt thatit was the same knight who had borne off the prize of the daybefore. Arthur's gallant spirit was roused. After Launcelot of theLake and Sir Gawain he was accounted the best knight of the RoundTable. He went privately and armed himself, and came into thetourney 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 contentwith having made proof of the stranger knight bade Launcelotfinish 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 lawof this sort of combat was that the knight after having broken hislance must fight with his sword, and must not refuse to meet withhis shield the lance of his antagonist. Tristram met Launcelot'scharge upon his shield, which that terrible lance could not failto pierce. It inflicted a wound upon Tristram's side, and, breaking, left the iron in the wound. But Tristram also with hissword smote so vigorously on Launcelot's casque that he cleft it, and wounded his head. The wound was not deep, but the blood flowedinto his eyes, and blinded him for a moment, and Tristram, whothought himself mortally wounded, retired from the field. Launcelot declared to the king that he had never received such ablow in his life before. 

Tristram hastened to Gouvernail, his squire, who drew forth theiron, bound up the wound, and gave him immediate ease. Tristramafter the tournament kept retired in his tent, but Arthur, withthe consent of all the knights of the Round Table, decreed him thehonors of the second day. But it was no longer a secret that thevictor of the two days was the same individual, and Gouvernail, being questioned, confirmed the suspicions of Launcelot and Arthurthat it was no other than Sir Tristram of Leonais, the nephew ofthe king of Cornwall. 

King Arthur, who desired to reward his distinguished valor, andknew that his Uncle Mark had ungratefully banished him, would haveeagerly availed himself of the opportunity to attach Tristram tohis court, --all the knights of the Round Table declaring withacclamation that it would be impossible to find a more worthycompanion. But Tristram had already departed in search ofadventures, and the damsel of Queen Isoude returned to hermistress. 

CHAPTER XIV

SIR TRISTRAM'S BATTLE WITH SIR LAUNCELOT

Sir Tristram rode through a forest and saw ten men fighting, andone man did battle against nine. So he rode to the knights andcried to them, bidding them cease their battle, for they didthemselves great shame, so many knights to fight against one. Thenanswered the master of the knights (his name was Sir Breuse sansPitie, who was at that time the most villanous knight living):"Sir knight, what have ye to do to meddle with us? If ye be wisedepart on your way as you came, for this knight shall not escapeus. " "That were pity, " said Sir Tristram, "that so good a knightshould be slain so cowardly; therefore I warn you I will succorhim with all my puissance. "

Then Sir Tristram alighted off his horse, because they were onfoot, that they should not slay his horse. And he smote on theright hand and on the left so vigorously that well-nigh at everystroke he struck down a knight. At last they fled, with Breusesans Pitie, into the tower, and shut Sir Tristram without thegate. Then Sir Tristram returned back to the rescued knight, andfound him sitting under a tree, sore wounded. "Fair knight, " saidhe, "how is it with you?" "Sir knight, " said Sir Palamedes, for heit was, "I thank you of your great goodness, for ye have rescuedme from death. " "What is your name?" said Sir Tristram. He said, "My name is Sir Palamedes. " "Say ye so?" said Sir Tristram; "nowknow that thou art the man in the world that I most hate;therefore make thee ready, for I will do battle with thee. " "Whatis your name?" said Sir Palamedes. "My name is Sir Tristram, yourmortal enemy. " "It may be so, " said Sir Palamedes; "but you havedone 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, foryou are fresh and I am wounded. Therefore, if you will needs haveto do with me, assign me a day, and I shall meet you withoutfail. " "You say well, "said Sir Tristram; "now I assign you tomeet me in the meadow by the river of Camelot, where Merlin setthe monument. " So they were agreed. Then they departed and tooktheir ways diverse. Sir Tristram passed through a great forestinto a plain, till he came to a priory, and there he reposed himwith a good man six days. 

Then departed Sir Tristram, and rode straight into Camelot to themonument of Merlin, and there he looked about him for SirPalamedes. And he perceived a seemly knight, who came ridingagainst him all in white, with a covered shield. When he came nighSir Tristram said aloud, "Welcome, sir knight, and well and trulyhave you kept your promise. " Then they made ready their shieldsand spears, and came together with all the might of their horses, so fiercely, that both the horses and the knights fell to theearth. And as soon as they might they quitted their horses, andstruck together with bright swords as men of might, and eachwounded the other wonderfully sore, so that the blood ran out uponthe grass. Thus they fought for the space of four hours and neverone would speak to the other one word. Then at last spake thewhite knight, and said, "Sir, thou fightest wonderful well, asever I saw knight; therefore, if it please you, tell me yourname. " "Why dost thou ask my name?" said Sir Tristram; "art thounot Sir Palamedes?" "No, fair knight, " said he, "I am SirLauncelot of the Lake. " "Alas!" said Sir Tristram, "what have Idone? for you are the man of the world that I love best. " "Fairknight, " said Sir Launcelot, "tell me your name. " "Truly, " saidhe, "my name is Sir Tristram de Lionesse. " "Alas! alas!" said SirLauncelot, "what adventure has befallen me!" And therewith SirLauncelot kneeled down and yielded him up his sword; and SirTristram kneeled down and yielded him up his sword; and so eithergave other the degree. And then they both went to the stone, andsat them down upon it and took off their helms and each kissed theother a hundred times. And then anon they rode toward Camelot, andon the way they met with Sir Gawain and Sir Gaheris, that had madepromise to Arthur never to come again to the court till they hadbrought Sir Tristram with them. 

"Return again, " said Sir Launcelot, "for your quest is done; for Ihave met with Sir Tristram. Lo, here he is in his own person. "Then was Sir Gawain glad, and said to Sir Tristram, "Ye arewelcome. " With this came King Arthur, and when he wist there wasSir 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 tothis court. " Then Sir Tristram told the king how he came thitherfor to have had to do with Sir Palamedes, and how he had rescuedhim from Sir Breuse sans Pitie and the nine knights. Then KingArthur took Sir Tristram by the hand, and went to the Table Round, and Queen Guenever came, and many ladies with her, and all theladies said with one voice, "Welcome, Sir Tristram. " "Welcome, "said the knights. "Welcome, " said Arthur, "for one of the best ofknights, and the gentlest of the world, and the man of mostworship; for of all manner of hunting thou bearest the prize, andof all measures of blowing thou art the beginning, and of all theterms of hunting and hawking ye are the inventor, and of allinstruments of music ye are the best skilled; therefore, gentleknight, " said Arthur, "ye are welcome to this court. " And thenKing Arthur made Sir Tristram knight of the Table Round with greatnobley and feasting as can be thought. 

SIR TRISTRAM AS A SPORTSMAN

Tristram is often alluded to by the Romancers as the greatauthority and model in all matters relating to the chase. In the"Faery Queene, " Tristram, in answer to the inquiries of SirCalidore, 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 infabricating the Round Table. Of the seats which surrounded it hehad constructed thirteen, in memory of the thirteen Apostles. Twelve of these seats only could be occupied, and they only byknights of the highest fame; the thirteenth represented the seatof the traitor Judas. It remained always empty. It was called thePERILOUS SEAT, ever since a rash and haughty Saracen knight haddared to place himself in it, when the earth opened and swallowedhim 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 wasentitled to sit in it. No one could succeed to a vacant seatunless he surpassed in valor and glorious deeds the knight who hadoccupied it before him; without this qualification he would beviolently repelled by a hidden force. Thus proof was made of allthose who presented themselves to replace any companions of theorder who had fallen. 

One of the principal seats, that of Moraunt of Ireland, had beenvacant ten years, and his name still remained over it ever sincethe time when that distinguished champion fell beneath the swordof Sir Tristram. Arthur now took Tristram by the hand and led himto that seat. Immediately the most melodious sounds were heard, and exquisite perfumes filled the place; the name of Morauntdisappeared, and that of Tristram blazed forth in light. The raremodesty of Tristram had now to be subjected to a severe task; forthe clerks charged with the duty of preserving the annals of theRound Table attended, and he was required by the law of his orderto declare what feats of arms he had accomplished to entitle himto take that seat. This ceremony being ended, Tristram receivedthe congratulations of all his companions. Sir Launcelot andGuenever took the occasion to speak to him of the fair Isoude, andto express their wish that some happy chance might bring her tothe kingdom of Loegria. 

While Tristram was thus honored and caressed at the court of KingArthur, the most gloomy and malignant jealousy harassed the soulof Mark. He could not look upon Isoude without remembering thatshe loved Tristram, and the good fortune of his nephew goaded himto thoughts of vengeance. He at last resolved to go disguised intothe kingdom of Loegria, attack Tristram by stealth, and put him todeath. He took with him two knights, brought up in his court, whohe thought were devoted to him; and, not willing to leave Isoudebehind, named two of her maidens to attend her, together with herfaithful Brengwain, and made them accompany him. 

Having arrived in the neighborhood of Camelot, Mark imparted hisplan to his two knights, but they rejected it with horror; nay, more, they declared that they would no longer remain in hisservice; and left him, giving him reason to suppose that theyshould repair to the court to accuse him before Arthur. It wasnecessary for Mark to meet and rebut their accusation; so, leavingIsoude in an abbey, he pursued his way alone to Camelot. 

Mark had not ridden far when he encountered a party of knights ofArthur's court, and would have avoided them, for he knew theirhabit of challenging to a just every stranger knight whom theymet. But it was too late. They had seen his armor, and recognizedhim as a Cornish knight, and at once resolved to have some sportwith him. It happened they had with them Daguenet, King Arthur'sfool, who, though deformed and weak of body, was not wanting incourage. The knights as Mark approached laid their plan thatDaguenet should personate Sir Launcelot of the Lake, and challengethe Cornish knight. They equipped him in armor belonging to one oftheir number who was ill, and sent him forward to the cross-roadto defy the strange knight. Mark, who saw that his antagonist wasby no means formidable in appearance, was not disinclined to thecombat; but when the dwarf rode towards him, calling out that hewas Sir Launcelot of the Lake, his fears prevailed, he put spursto his horse, and rode away at full speed, pursued by the shoutsand laughter of the party. 

Meanwhile Isoude, remaining at the abbey with her faithfulBrengwain, found her only amusement in walking occasionally in aforest adjoining the abbey. There, on the brink of a fountaingirdled with trees, she thought of her love, and sometimes joinedher voice and her harp in lays reviving the memory of its pains orpleasures. One day the caitiff knight, Breuse the Pitiless, heardher 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 theweight of Tristram's arm, and hated him accordingly, at hearinghis name breathed forth by the beautiful songstress, impelled by adouble impulse, rushed forth from his concealment and laid handson his victim. Isoude fainted, and Brengwain filled the air withher shrieks. Breuse carried Isoude to the place where he had lefthis horse; but the animal had got away from his bridle, and was atsome distance. He was obliged to lay down his fair burden, and goin pursuit of his horse. Just then a knight came up, drawn by thecries of Brengwain, and demanded the cause of her distress. Shecould not speak, but pointed to her mistress lying insensible onthe ground. 

Breuse had by this time returned, and the cries of Brengwain, renewed at seeing him, sufficiently showed the stranger the causeof the distress. Tristram spurred his horse towards Breuse, who, not unprepared, ran to the encounter. Breuse was unhorsed, and laymotionless, pretending to be dead; but when the stranger knightleft him to attend to the distressed damsels, he mounted hishorse, and made his escape. 

The knight now approached Isoude, gently raised her head, drewaside the golden hair which covered her countenance, gazed thereonfor an instant, uttered a cry, and fell back insensible. Brengwaincame; her cares soon restored her mistress to life, and they thenturned their attention to the fallen warrior. They raised hisvisor, and discovered the countenance of Sir Tristram. Isoudethrew herself on the body of her lover, and bedewed his face withher tears. Their warmth revived the knight, and Tristram onawaking found himself in the arms of his dear Isoude. 

It was the law of the Round Table that each knight after hisadmission should pass the next ten days in quest of adventures, during which time his companions might meet him in disguised armorand try their strength with him. Tristram had now been out sevendays, and in that time had encountered many of the best knights ofthe Round Table, and acquitted himself with honor. During theremaining three days, Isoude remained at the abbey, under hisprotection, and then set out with her maidens, escorted by SirTristram, to rejoin King Mark at the court of Camelot. 

This happy journey was one of the brightest epochs in the lives ofTristram and Isoude. He celebrated it by a lay upon the harp in apeculiar 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 mostcordially. Isoude was introduced to King Arthur and QueenGuenever, who welcomed her as a sister. As King Mark was held inarrest under the accusation of the two Cornish knights, QueenIsoude could not rejoin her husband, and Sir Launcelot placed hiscastle of La Joyeuse Garde at the disposal of his friends, whothere took up their abode. 

King Mark, who found himself obliged to confess the truth of thecharge against him, or to clear himself by combat with hisaccusers, preferred the former, and King Arthur, as his crime hadnot been perpetrated, remitted the penalty, only enjoining uponhim, under pain of his signal displeasure, to lay aside allthoughts of vengeance against his nephew. In the presence of theking and his court all parties were formally reconciled; Mark andhis queen departed for their home, and Tristram remained atArthur's court. 

CHAPTER XVI

SIR PALAMEDES

While Sir Tristram and the fair Isoude abode yet at La JoyeuseGarde, Sir Tristram rode forth one day, without armor, having noweapon but his spear and his sword. And as he rode he came to aplace where he saw two knights in battle, and one of them hadgotten the better and the other lay overthrown. The knight who hadthe better was Sir Palamedes. When Sir Palamedes knew SirTristram, he cried out, "Sir Tristram, now we be met, and ere wedepart we will redress our old wrongs. " "As for that, " said SirTristram, "there never yet was Christian man that might make hisboast that I ever fled from him, and thou that art a Saracen shaltnever say that of me. " And therewith Sir Tristram made his horseto run, and with all his might came straight upon Sir Palamedes, and broke his spear upon him. Then he drew his sword and struck atSir Palamedes six great strokes, upon his helm. Sir Palamedes sawthat Sir Tristram had not his armor on, and he marvelled at hisrashness and his great folly; and said to himself, "If I meet andslay him, I am shamed wheresoever I go. " Then Sir Tristram criedout and said, "Thou coward knight, why wilt thou not do battlewith me? for have thou no doubt I shall endure all thy malice. ""Ah, Sir Tristram!" said Sir Palamedes, "thou knowest I may notfight with thee for shame; for thou art here naked, and I amarmed; now I require that thou answer me a question that I shallask you. " "Tell me what it is, " said Sir Tristram. "I put thecase, " said Palamedes, "that you were well armed, and I naked asye be; what would you do to me now, by your true knighthood?""Ah!" said Sir Tristram, "now I understand thee well, SirPalamedes; and, as God bless me, what I shall say shall not besaid for fear that I have of thee. But if it were so, thoushouldest depart from me, for I would not have to do with thee. ""No more will I with thee, " said Sir Palamedes, "and thereforeride forth on thy way. " "As for that, I may choose, " said SirTristram, "either to ride or to abide. But, Sir Palamedes, Imarvel at one thing, --that thou art so good a knight, yet thatthou wilt not be christened. " "As for that, " said Sir Palamedes, "I may not yet be christened, for a vow which I made many yearsago; 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 Iwill be christened, with a good will. " "By my head, " said SirTristram, "as for that one battle, thou shalt seek it no longer;for yonder is a knight, whom you have smitten down. Now help me tobe clothed in his armor, and I will soon fulfil thy vow. " "As yewill, " said Sir Palamedes, "so shall it be. " So they rode bothunto that knight that sat on a bank; and Sir Tristram saluted him, and he full weary saluted him again. "Sir, " said Sir Tristram, "Ipray you to lend me your whole armor; for I am unarmed, and I mustdo battle with this knight. " "Sir, " said the hurt knight, "youshall have it, with a right good will, " Then Sir Tristram unarmedSir Galleron, for that was the name of the hurt knight, and he aswell as he could helped to arm Sir Tristram. Then Sir Tristrammounted upon his own horse, and in his hand he took Sir Galleron'sspear. Thereupon Sir Palamedes was ready, and so they came hurlingtogether, 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 hishorse 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 hemade him to kneel, and Sir Palamedes broke away Sir Tristram'sshield, and wounded him. Then Sir Tristram was wroth out ofmeasure, and he rushed to Sir Palamedes and wounded him passingsore through the shoulder, and by fortune smote Sir Palamedes'sword out of his hand And if Sir Palamedes had stooped for hissword Sir Tristram had slain him. Then Sir Palamedes stood andbeheld his sword with a full sorrowful heart. "Now, " said SirTristram, "I have thee at a vantage, as thou hadst me to-day; butit shall never be said, in court, or among good knights, that SirTristram did slay any knight that was weaponless; therefore takethou thy sword, and let us fight this battle to the end. " Thenspoke Sir Palamedes to Sir Tristram: "I have no wish to fight thisbattle any more. The offence that I have done unto you is not sogreat but that, if it please you, we may be friends. All that Ihave offended is for the love of the queen, La Belle Isoude, and Idare maintain that she is peerless among ladies; and for thatoffence ye have given me many grievous and sad strokes, and some Ihave given you again. Wherefore I require you, my lord SirTristram, forgive me all that I have offended you, and this dayhave 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 willride together unto the court of my lord, King Arthur, so that wemay be there at the feast of Pentecost. " "Now take your horse, "said Sir Tristram, "and as you have said, so shall it be done. " Sothey took their horses, and Sir Galleron rode with them. When theycame to the church of Carlisle, the bishop commanded to fill agreat vessel with water; and when he had hallowed it, he thenconfessed Sir Palamedes clean, and christened him, and SirTristram and Sir Galleron were his godfathers. Then soon afterthey departed, and rode towards Camelot, where the noble KingArthur and Queen Guenever were keeping a court royal. And the kingand all the court were glad that Sir Palamedes was christened. Then Sir Tristram returned again to La Joyeuse Garde, and SirPalamedes went his way. 

Not long after these events Sir Gawain returned from Brittany, andrelated to King Arthur the adventure which befell him in theforest of Breciliande, how Merlin had there spoken to him, andenjoined him to charge the king to go without delay upon the questof the Holy Greal. While King Arthur deliberated Tristramdetermined to enter upon the quest, and the more readily, as itwas well known to him that this holy adventure would, if achieved, procure him the pardon of all his sins. He immediately departedfor the kingdom of Brittany, hoping there to obtain from Merlincounsel 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 warwith a rebellious vassal, and hard pressed by his enemy. His bestknights had fallen in a late battle, and he knew not where to turnfor assistance. Tristram volunteered his aid. It was accepted; andthe army of Hoel, led by Tristram, and inspired by his example, gained a complete victory. The king, penetrated by the most livelysentiments of gratitude, and having informed himself of Tristram'sbirth, offered him his daughter in marriage. The princess wasbeautiful and accomplished, and bore the same name with the Queenof Cornwall; but this one is designated by the Romancers as Isoudeof the White Hands, to distinguish her from Isoude the Fair. 

How can we describe the conflict that agitated the heart ofTristram? He adored the first Isoude, but his love for her washopeless, and not unaccompanied by remorse. Moreover, the sacredquest on which he had now entered demanded of him perfect purityof life. It seemed as if a happy destiny had provided for him inthe charming princess Isoude of the White Hands the best securityfor all his good resolutions. This last reflection determined him. They were married, and passed some months in tranquil happiness atthe court of King Hoel. The pleasure which Tristram felt in hiswife's society increased day by day. An inward grace seemed tostir within him from the moment when he took the oath to go on thequest of the Holy Greal; it seemed even to triumph over the powerof 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 wasworsted in successive conflicts, and at last shut himself up inhis principal city. Tristram led on the attack of the city. As hemounted a ladder to scale the walls he was struck on the head by afragment of rock, which the besieged threw down upon him. It borehim to the ground, where he lay insensible. 

As soon as he recovered consciousness he demanded to be carried tohis wife. The princess, skilled in the art of surgery, would notsuffer any one but herself to touch her beloved husband. Her fairhands bound up his wounds; Tristram kissed them with gratitude, which began to grow into love. At first the devoted cares ofIsoude seemed to meet with great success; but after a while theseflattering 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 hismaster that the princess of Ireland, afterwards queen of Cornwall, had once cured him under circumstances quite as discouraging. Hecalled Isoude of the White Hands to him, told her of his formercure, added that he believed that the Queen Isoude could heal him, and that he felt sure that she would come to his relief, if sentfor. 

Isoude of the White Hands consented that Gesnes, a trusty man andskilful navigator, should be sent to Cornwall. Tristram calledhim, and, giving him a ring, "Take this, " he said, "to the Queenof Cornwall. Tell her that Tristram, near to death, demands heraid. If you succeed in bringing her with you, place white sails toyour vessel on your return, that we may know of your success whenthe vessel first heaves in sight. But if Queen Isoude refuses, puton black sails; they will be the presage of my impending death. "

Gesnes performed his mission successfully. King Mark happened tobe absent from his capital, and the queen readily consented toreturn with the bark to Brittany. Gesnes clothed his vessel in thewhitest of sails, and sped his way back to Brittany. 

Meantime the wound of Tristram grew more desperate day by day. Hisstrength, quite prostrated, no longer permitted him to be carriedto the seaside daily, as had been his custom from the first momentwhen it was possible for the bark to be on the way homeward. Hecalled a young damsel, and gave her in charge to keep watch in thedirection of Cornwall, and to come and tell him the color of thesails of the first vessel she should see approaching. 

When Isoude of the White Hands consented that the queen ofCornwall should be sent for, she had not known all the reasonswhich she had for fearing the influence which renewed intercoursewith that princess might have on her own happiness. She had nowlearned more, and felt the danger more keenly. She thought, if shecould only keep the knowledge of the queen's arrival from herhusband, she might employ in his service any resources which herskill could supply, and still avert the dangers which sheapprehended. When the vessel was seen approaching, with its whitesails sparkling in the sun, the damsel, by command of hermistress, carried word to Tristram that the sails were black. 

Tristram, penetrated with inexpressible grief, breathed a profoundsigh, turned away his face, and said, "Alas, my beloved! we shallnever see one another again!" Then he commended himself to God, and breathed his last. 

The death of Tristram was the first intelligence which the queenof Cornwall heard on landing. She was conducted almost senselessinto the chamber of Tristram, and expired holding him in her arms. 

Tristram, before his death, had requested that his body should besent to Cornwall, and that his sword, with a letter he hadwritten, should be delivered to King Mark. The remains of Tristramand Isoude were embarked in a vessel, along with the sword, whichwas presented to the king of Cornwall. He was melted withtenderness when he saw the weapon which slew Moraunt of Ireland, --which had so often saved his life, and redeemed the honor of hiskingdom. In the letter Tristram begged pardon of his uncle, andrelated the story of the amorous draught. 

Mark ordered the lovers to be buried in his own chapel. From thetomb of Tristram there sprung a vine, which went along the walls, and descended into the grave of the queen. It was cut down threetimes, but each time sprung up again more vigorous than before, and this wonderful plant has ever since shaded the tombs ofTristram and Isoude. 

Spenser introduces Sir Tristram in his "Faery Queene. " In BookVI. , Canto ii. , Sir Calidore encounters in the forest a younghunter, 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, oreyelets, and regularly intersected with stripes. PALED (inheraldry), striped]

CHAPTER XVIII

PERCEVAL

The father and two elder brothers of Perceval had fallen in battleor tournaments, and hence, as the last hope of his family, hismother retired with him into a solitary region, where he wasbrought up in total ignorance of arms and chivalry. He was allowedno weapon but "a lyttel Scots spere, " which was the only thing ofall "her lordes faire gere" that his mother carried to the woodwith her. In the use of this he became so skilful, that he couldkill with it not only the animals of the chase for the table, buteven birds on the wing. At length, however, Perceval was roused toa desire of military renown by seeing in the forest five knightswho were in complete armor. He said to his mother, "Mother, whatare those yonder?" "They are angels, my son, " said she. "By myfaith, I will go and become an angel with them. " And Perceval wentto the road and met them. "Tell me, good lad, " said one of them, "sawest thou a knight pass this way either today or yesterday?" "Iknow 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 willtell thee what thou askest me. " "Gladly will I do so, " said SirOwain, for that was the knight's name. "What is this?" demandedPerceval, touching the saddle. "It is a saddle, " said Owain. Thenhe asked about all the accoutrements which he saw upon the men andthe horses, and about the arms, and what they were for, and howthey 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 motherswooned away. And Perceval went to the place where they kept thehorses that carried firewood and provisions for the castle, and hetook a bony, piebald horse, which seemed to him the strongest ofthem. And he pressed a pack into the form of a saddle, and withtwisted twigs he imitated the trappings which he had seen upon thehorses. When he came again to his mother, the countess hadrecovered from her swoon. "My son, " said she, "desirest thou toride forth?" "Yes, with thy leave, " said he. "Go forward, then, "she said, "to the court of Arthur, where there are the best andthe noblest and the most bountiful of men, and tell him thou artPerceval, the son of Pelenore, and ask of him to bestow knighthoodon 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, andrender her what service thou canst. If thou see a fair jewel, winit, for thus shalt thou acquire fame; yet freely give it toanother, for thus thou shalt obtain praise. If thou see a fairwoman, pay court to her, for thus thou wilt obtain love. "

After this discourse Perceval mounted the horse and taking anumber of sharp-pointed sticks in his hand he rode forth. And herode far in the woody wilderness without food or drink. At last hecame to an opening in the wood where he saw a tent, and as hethought it might be a church he said his pater-noster to it. Andhe went towards it; and the door of the tent was open. AndPerceval dismounted and entered the tent. In the tent he found amaiden sitting, with a golden frontlet on her forehead and a goldring on her hand. And Perceval said, "Maiden, I salute you, for mymother told me whenever I met a lady I must respectfully saluteher. " Perceiving in one corner of the tent some food, two flasksfull of wine, and some boar's flesh roasted, he said, "My mothertold me, whenever I saw meat and drink to take it. " And he ategreedily, for he was very hungry. The maiden said, "Sir, thouhadst best go quickly from here, for fear that my friends shouldcome, and evil should befall you. " But Perceval said, "My mothertold me wheresoever I saw a fair jewel to take it, " and he tookthe gold ring from her finger, and put it on his own; and he gavethe maiden his own ring in exchange for hers; then he mounted hishorse and rode away. 

Perceval journeyed on till he arrived at Arthur's court. And it sohappened that just at that time an uncourteous knight had offeredQueen Guenever a gross insult. For when her page was serving thequeen with a golden goblet, this knight struck the arm of the pageand dashed the wine in the queen's face and over her stomacher. Then he said, "If any have boldness to avenge this insult toGuenever, let him follow me to the meadow. " So the knight took hishorse and rode to the meadow, carrying away the golden goblet. Andall the household hung down their heads and no one offered tofollow the knight to take vengeance upon him. For it seemed tothem that no one would have ventured on so daring an outrageunless he possessed such powers, through magic or charms, thatnone could be able to punish him. Just then, behold, Percevalentered the hall upon the bony, piebald horse, with his uncouthtrappings. In the centre of the hall stood Kay the Seneschal. "Tell me, tall man, " said Perceval, "is that Arthur yonder?" "Whatwouldst thou with Arthur?" asked Kay. "My mother told me to go toArthur and receive knighthood from him. " "By my faith, " said he, "thou art all too meanly equipped with horse and with arms. " Thenall the household began to jeer and laugh at him. But there was acertain damsel who had been a whole year at Arthur's court, andhad never been known to smile. And the king's fool [Footnote: Afool was a common appendage of the courts of those days when thisromance was written. A fool was the ornament held in nextestimation 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 asort of oracular meaning in them. ] had said that this damsel wouldnot smile till she had seen him who would be the flower ofchivalry. Now this damsel came up to Perceval and told him, smiling, that if he lived he would be one of the bravest and bestof knights. "Truly, " said Kay, "thou art ill taught to remain ayear at Arthur's court, with choice of society, and smile on noone, and now before the face of Arthur and all his knights to callsuch a man as this the flower of knighthood;" and he gave her abox on the ear, that she fell senseless to the ground. Then saidKay to Perceval, "Go after the knight who went hence to themeadow, overthrow him and recover the golden goblet, and possessthyself of his horse and arms, and thou shalt have knighthood. " "Iwill do so, tall man, " said Perceval. So he turned his horse'shead toward the meadow. And when he came there, the knight wasriding up and down, proud of his strength and valor and noblemien. "Tell me, " said the knight, "didst thou see any one comingafter me from the court?" "The tall man that was there, " saidPerceval, "told me to come and overthrow thee, and to take fromthee the goblet and thy horse and armor for myself. " "Silence!"said the knight; "go back to the court, and tell Arthur either tocome himself, or to send some other to fight with me; and unlesshe do so quickly, I will not wait for him. " "By my faith, " saidPerceval, "choose thou whether it shall be willingly orunwillingly, for I will have the horse and the arms and thegoblet. " Upon this the knight ran at him furiously, and struck hima violent blow with the shaft of his spear, between the neck andthe shoulder. "Ha, ha, lad!" said Perceval, "my mother's servantswere not used to play with me in this wise; so thus will I playwith 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 hishead, 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, forhe must either be overthrown or flee, and either way it will be adisgrace to Arthur and his warriors; therefore will I go to seewhat has befallen him. " So Sir Owain went to the meadow, and hefound Perceval trying in vain to get the dead knight's armor off, in order to clothe himself with it. Sir Owain unfastened thearmor, and helped Perceval to put it on, and taught him how to puthis foot in the stirrup, and use the spur; for Perceval had neverused stirrup nor spur, but rode without saddle, and urged on hishorse with a stick. Then Owain would have had him return to thecourt to receive the praise that was his due; but Perceval said, "I will not come to the court till I have encountered the tall manthat is there, to revenge the injury he did to the maiden. Buttake thou the goblet to Queen Guenever, and tell King Arthur that, wherever I am, I will be his vassal, and will do him what profitand service I can. " And Sir Owain went back to the court, andrelated all these things to Arthur and Guenever, and to all thehousehold. 

And Perceval rode forward. And he came to a lake on the side ofwhich was a fair castle, and on the border of the lake he saw ahoary-headed man sitting upon a velvet cushion, and his attendantswere fishing in the lake. When the hoary-headed man beheldPerceval approaching, he arose and went into the castle. Percevalrode to the castle, and the door was open, and he entered thehall. And the hoary-headed man received Perceval courteously, andasked him to sit by him on the cushion. When it was time thetables were set, and they went to meat. And when they had finishedtheir meat the hoary-headed man asked Perceval if he knew how tofight with the sword "I know not, " said Perceval, "but were I tobe taught, doubtless I should. " And the hoary-headed man said tohim, "I am thy uncle, thy mother's brother; I am called KingPecheur. [Footnote: The word means both FISHER and SINNER. ] Thoushalt remain with me a space, in order to learn the manners andcustoms of different countries, and courtesy and noble bearing. And this do thou remember, if thou seest aught to cause thywonder, ask not the meaning of it; if no one has the courtesy toinform thee, the reproach will not fall upon thee, but upon methat am thy teacher. " While Perceval and his uncle discoursedtogether, Perceval beheld two youths enter the hall bearing agolden cup and a spear of mighty size, with blood dropping fromits point to the ground. And when all the company saw this theybegan to weep and lament. But for all that, the man did not breakoff his discourse with Perceval. And as he did not tell him themeaning of what he saw, he forebore to ask him concerning it. Nowthe cup that Perceval saw was the Sangreal, and the spear thesacred spear; and afterwards King Pecheur removed with thosesacred relics into a far country. 

One evening Perceval entered a valley, and came to a hermit'scell; and the hermit welcomed him gladly, and there he spent thenight. And in the morning he arose, and when he went forth, behold! a shower of snow had fallen in the night, and a hawk hadkilled a wild-fowl in front of the cell. And the noise of thehorse had scared the hawk away, and a raven alighted on the bird. And Perceval stood and compared the blackness of the raven and thewhiteness of the snow and the redness of the blood to the hair ofthe lady that best he loved, which was blacker than jet, and toher skin, which was whiter than the snow, and to the two red spotsupon her cheeks, which were redder than the blood upon the snow. 

Now Arthur and his household were in search of Perceval, and bychance they came that way. "Know ye, " said Arthur, "who is theknight 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 theyouth came to the place where Perceval was, and asked him what hedid thus, and who he was. But Perceval was so intent upon histhought that he gave him no answer. Then the youth thrust atPerceval with his lance; and Perceval turned upon him, and struckhim to the ground. And when the youth returned to the king, andtold how rudely he had been treated, Sir Kay said, "I will gomyself. " And when he greeted Perceval, and got no answer, he spoketo him rudely and angrily. And Perceval thrust at him with hislance, and cast him down so that he broke his arm and hisshoulder-blade. And while he lay thus stunned his horse returnedback at a wild and prancing pace. 

Then said Sir Gawain, surnamed the Golden-Tongued, because he wasthe most courteous knight in Arthur's court: "It is not fittingthat any should disturb an honorable knight from his thoughtunadvisedly; for either he is pondering some damage that he hassustained, or he is thinking of the lady whom best he loves. If itseem well to thee, lord, I will go and see if this knight haschanged from his thought, and if he has, I will ask himcourteously to come and visit thee. "

And Perceval was resting on the shaft of his spear, pondering thesame thought, and Sir Gawain came to him, and said: "If I thoughtit would be as agreeable to thee as it would be to me, I wouldconverse with thee. I have also a message from Arthur unto thee, to pray thee to come and visit him. And two men have been beforeon this errand. " "That is true, " said Perceval; "and uncourteouslythey came. They attacked me, and I was annoyed thereat" Then hetold him the thought that occupied his mind, and Gawain said, "This was not an ungentle thought, and I should marvel if it werepleasant for thee to be drawn from it. " Then said Perceval, "Tellme, is Sir Kay in Arthur's court?" "He is, " said Gawain; "andtruly he is the knight who fought with thee last. " "Verily, " saidPerceval, "I am not sorry to have thus avenged the insult to thesmiling maiden. "Then Perceval told him his name, and said, "Whoart thou?" And he replied, "I am Gawain. " "I am right glad to meetthee, " said Perceval, "for I have everywhere heard of thy prowessand uprightness; and I solicit thy fellowship. " "Thou shalt haveit, by my faith; and grant me thine, " said he. "Gladly will I doso, " 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 therecame the queen and her handmaidens, and Perceval saluted them. Andthey were rejoiced to see him, and bade him welcome. And Arthurdid him great honor and respect and they returned towardsCaerleon. 

CHAPTER XIX

THE SANGREAL, OR HOLY GRAAL

The Sangreal was the cup from which our Saviour drank at his lastsupper. He was supposed to have given it to Joseph of Arimathea, who carried it to Europe, together with the spear with which thesoldier pierced the Saviour's side. From generation to generation, one of the descendants of Joseph of Arimathea had been devoted tothe guardianship of these precious relics; but on the solecondition of leading a life of purity in thought, word, and deed. For a long time the Sangreal was visible to all pilgrims, and itspresence conferred blessings upon the land in which it waspreserved. But at length one of those holy men to whom itsguardianship had descended so far forgot the obligation of hissacred office as to look with unhallowed eye upon a young femalepilgrim whose robe was accidentally loosened as she knelt beforehim. The sacred lance instantly punished his frailty, spontaneously falling upon him, and inflicting a deep wound. Themarvellous wound could by no means be healed, and the guardian ofthe Sangreal was ever after called "Le Roi Pescheur, "--The SinnerKing. The Sangreal withdrew its visible presence from the crowdswho came to worship, and an iron age succeeded to the happinesswhich 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 andenchanter sent a message to King Arthur by Sir Gawain, directinghim to undertake the recovery of the Sangreal, informing him atthe same time that the knight who should accomplish that sacredquest was already born, and of a suitable age to enter upon it. Sir Gawain delivered his message, and the king was anxiouslyrevolving in his mind how best to achieve the enterprise, when, atthe vigil of Pentecost, all the fellowship of the Round Tablebeing met together at Camelot, as they sat at meat, suddenly therewas 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. Thenthere entered into the hall the Holy Graal, covered with whitesamite, so that none could see it, and it passed through the hallsuddenly, 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 hathshowed us this day. " Then Sir Gawain rose up, and made a vow thatfor twelve months and a day he would seek the Sangreal, and notreturn till he had seen it, if so he might speed. When they of theRound Table heard Sir Gawain say so, they arose, the most part ofthem, and vowed the same. When King Arthur heard this, he wasgreatly displeased, for he knew well that they might not gainsaytheir vows. "Alas!" said he to Sir Gawain, "you have nigh slain mewith the vow and promise that ye have made, for ye have bereft meof the fairest fellowship that ever were seen together in anyrealm of the world; for when they shall depart hence, I am surethat all shall never meet more in this world. "

SIR GALAHAD

At that time there entered the hall a good old man, and with himhe brought a young knight, and these words he said: "Peace be withyou, fair lords. " Then the old man said unto King Arthur, "Sir, Ibring you here a young knight that is of kings' lineage, and ofthe kindred of Joseph of Arimathea, being the son of Dame Elaine, the daughter of King Pelles, king of the foreign country. " Now thename of the young knight was Sir Galahad, and he was the son ofSir Launcelot du Lac; but he had dwelt with his mother, at thecourt of King Pelles, his grandfather, till now he was old enoughto bear arms, and his mother had sent him in the charge of a holyhermit to King Arthur's court. Then Sir Launcelot beheld his son, and had great joy of him. And Sir Bohort told his fellows, "Uponmy life, this young knight shall come to great worship. " The noisewas great in all the court, so that it came to the queen. And shesaid, "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 thathe resembled much unto his father; and he was seemly and demure asa dove, with all manner of good features, that in the whole worldmen might not find his match. And King Arthur said, "God make hima good man, for beauty faileth him not, as any that liveth. "

Then the hermit led the young knight to the Siege Perilous; and helifted up the cloth, and found there letters that said, "This isthe seat of Sir Galahad, the good knight;" and he made him sit inthat seat. And all the knights of the Round Table marvelledgreatly at Sir Galahad, seeing him sit securely in that seat, andsaid, "This is he by whom the Sangreal shall be achieved, forthere never sat one before in that seat without being mischieved. "

On the next day the king said, "Now, at this quest of the Sangrealshall all ye of the Round Table depart, and never shall I see youagain altogether; therefore I will that ye all repair to themeadow of Camelot, for to just and tourney yet once more before yedepart. " But all the meaning of the king was to see Sir Galahadproved. So then were they all assembled in the meadow. Then SirGalahad, by request of the king and queen, put on his harness andhis helm, but shield would he take none for any prayer of theking. And the queen was in a tower, with all her ladies, to beholdthat tournament. Then Sir Galahad rode into the midst of themeadow; and there he began to break spears marvellously, so thatall men had wonder of him, for he surmounted all knights thatencountered 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, andpresented him to the queen; and she said, "Never two men resembledone another more than he and Sir Launcelot, and therefore it is nomarvel that he is like him in prowess. "

Then the king and the queen went to the minster, and the knightsfollowed them. And after the service was done they put on theirhelms and departed, and there was great sorrow. They rode throughthe streets of Camelot, and there was weeping of the rich andpoor; and the king turned away, and might not speak for weeping. And so they departed, and every knight took the way that him bestliked. 

Sir Galahad rode forth without shield, and rode four days, andfound no adventure. And on the fourth day he came to a whiteabbey; and there he was received with great reverence, and led toa chamber. He met there two knights, King Bagdemagus and SirUwaine, and they made of him great solace. "Sirs, " said SirGalahad, "what adventure brought you hither?" "Sir, " said they, "it is told us that within this place is a shield, which no manmay bear unless he be worthy; and if one unworthy should attemptto bear it, it shall surely do him a mischief. " Then KingBagdemagus 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 Bagdemagusasked where the adventurous shield was. Anon a monk led him behindan altar, where the shield hung, as white as snow; but in themidst 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 itplease you, abide here till ye know how I shall speed. "

Then King Bagdemagus and his squire rode forth: and when they hadridden 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 horsemight run, with his spear in the rest; and King Bagdemagusdirected his spear against him, and broke it upon the whiteknight, but the other struck him so hard that he broke the mails, and thrust him through the right shoulder, for the shield coveredhim not, and so he bare him from his horse. Then the white knightturned his horse and rode away. 

Then the squire went to King Bagdemagus, and asked him whether hewere sore wounded or not. "I am sore wounded, " said he, "and fullhardly shall I escape death. " Then the squire set him on hishorse, and brought him to an abbey; and there he was taken downsoftly, and unarmed, and laid in a bed, and his wound was lookedto, for he lay there long, and hardly escaped with his life. Andthe squire brought the shield back to the abbey. 

The next day Sir Galahad took the shield, and within a while hecame to the hermitage, where he met the white knight, and eachsaluted the other courteously. "Sir, " said Sir Galahad, "can youtell me the marvel of the shield?" "Sir, " said the white knight, "that shield belonged of old to the gentle knight, Joseph ofArimathea; and when he came to die he said, 'Never shall man bearthis shield about his neck but he shall repent it, unto the timethat Sir Galahad the good knight bear it, the last of my lineage, the which shall do many marvellous deeds. '" And then the whiteknight vanished away. 

SIR GAWAIN

After Sir Gawain departed, he rode many days, both toward andforward, and at last he came to the abbey where Sir Galahad tookthe white shield. And they told Sir Gawain of the marvellousadventure that Sir Galahad had done. "Truly, " said Sir Gawain, "Iam not happy that I took not the way that he went, for, if I maymeet with him, I will not part from him lightly, that I maypartake with him all the marvellous adventures which he shallachieve. " "Sir, " said one of the monks, "he will not be of yourfellowship. " "Why?" said Sir Gawain. "Sir, " said he, "because yebe sinful, and he is blissful. " Then said the monk, "Sir Gawain, thou must do penance for thy sins. " "Sir, what penance shall Ido?" "Such as I will show, " said the good man. "Nay, " said SirGawain, "I will do no penance, for we knights adventurous oftensuffer great woe and pain. " "Well, " said the good man; and he heldhis peace. And Sir Gawain departed. 

Now it happened, not long after this, that Sir Gawain and SirHector rode together, and they came to a castle where was a greattournament. And Sir Gawain and Sir Hector joined themselves to theparty that seemed the weaker, and they drove before them the otherparty. Then suddenly came into the lists a knight, bearing a whiteshield 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 hishead, so that Sir Gawain fell to the earth. When Sir Hector sawthat, he knew that the knight with the white shield was SirGalahad, and he thought it no wisdom to abide him, and also fornatural love, that he was his uncle. Then Sir Galahad retiredprivily, so that none knew where he had gone. And Sir Hectorraised up Sir Gawain, and said, "Sir, me seemeth your quest isdone. " "It is done, " said Sir Gawain; "I shall seek no further. "Then Gawain was borne into the castle, and unarmed, and laid in arich bed, and a leech found to search his wound. And Sir Gawainand Sir Hector abode together, for Sir Hector would not away tillSir Gawain were whole. 

CHAPTER XX

THE SANGREAL (Continued)

SIR LAUNCELOT

Sir Launcelot rode overthwart and endlong in a wide forest, andheld 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 lookedround 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 wentinto the chapel, and looked through a place where the wall wasbroken. And within he saw a fair altar, full richly arrayed withcloth of silk; and there stood a fair candlestick, which bare sixgreat candles, and the candlestick was of silver. When SirLauncelot saw this sight, he had a great wish to enter the chapel, but he could find no place where he might enter. Then was hepassing heavy and dismayed. And he returned and came again to hishorse, and took off his saddle and his bridle, and let himpasture; and unlaced his helm, and ungirded his sword, and laidhim down to sleep upon his shield before the cross. 

And as he lay, half waking and half sleeping, he saw come by himtwo palfreys, both fair and white, which bare a litter, on whichlay a sick knight. And when he was nigh the cross, he there abodestill. And Sir Launcelot heard him say, "O sweet Lord, when shallthis sorrow leave me, and when shall the holy vessel come by mewhereby I shall be healed?" And thus a great while complained theknight, and Sir Launcelot heard it. Then Sir Launcelot saw thecandlestick, with the lighted tapers, come before the cross, buthe could see nobody that brought it. Also there came a salver ofsilver and the holy vessel of the Sangreal; and therewithal thesick knight sat him upright, and held up both his hands, and said, "Fair, sweet Lord, which is here within the holy vessel, take heedto 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 touchedthe holy vessel and kissed it. And anon he was whole. Then theholy vessel went into the chapel again, with the candlestick andthe light, so that Sir Launcelot wist not what became of it. 

Then the sick knight rose up and kissed the cross; and anon hissquire brought him his arms and asked his lord how he did. "Ithank God right heartily, " said he, "for, through the holy vessel, I am healed. But I have great marvel of this sleeping knight, whohath had neither grace nor power to awake during the time that theholy vessel hath been here present. " "I dare it right well say, "said the squire, "that this same knight is stained with somemanner of deadly sin, whereof he was never confessed. " So theydeparted. 

Then anon Sir Launcelot waked, and set himself upright, andbethought him of what he had seen and whether it were dreams ornot. And he was passing heavy, and wist not what to do. And hesaid: "My sin and my wretchedness hath brought me into greatdishonor. For when I sought worldly adventures and worldlydesires, I ever achieved them, and had the better in every place, and never was I discomfited in any quarrel, were it right orwrong. And now I take upon me the adventure of holy things, I seeand understand that mine old sin hindereth me, so that I had nopower to stir nor to speak when the holy blood appeared beforeme. " So thus he sorrowed till it was day, and heard the fowls ofthe air sing. Then was he somewhat comforted. 

Then he departed from the cross into the forest. And there hefound a hermitage, and a hermit therein, who was going to mass. Sowhen mass was done Sir Launcelot called the hermit to him, andprayed 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 mygreat deeds of arms that I have done I did the most part for thequeen's sake, and for her sake would I do battle, were it right orwrong, and never did I battle all only for God's sake, but for towin worship, and to cause me to be better beloved; and little ornaught I thanked God for it. I pray you counsel me. "

"I will counsel you, " said the hermit, "if ye will insure me thatye will never come in that queen's fellowship as much as ye mayforbear. " And then Sir Launcelot promised the hermit, by hisfaith, that he would no more come in her company. "Look that yourheart and your mouth accord, " said the good man, "and I shallinsure you that ye shall have more worship than ever ye had. "

Then the good man enjoined Sir Launcelot such penance as he mightdo, and he assailed Sir Launcelot and made him abide with him allthat day. And Sir Launcelot repented him greatly. 

SIR PERCEVAL

Sir Perceval departed and rode till the hour of noon; and he metin a valley about twenty men of arms. And when they saw SirPerceval, they asked him whence he was; and he answered: "Of thecourt of King Arthur. " Then they cried all at once, "Slay him. "But Sir Perceval smote the first to the earth, and his horse uponhim. 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. Sohad they slain him or taken him, had not the good knight SirGalahad, with the red cross, come there by adventure. And when hesaw all the knights upon one, he cried out, "Save me that knight'slife. " Then he rode toward the twenty men of arms as fast as hishorse might drive, with his spear in the rest, and smote theforemost horse and man to the earth. And when his spear wasbroken, he set his hand to his sword, and smote on the right handand on the left, that it was marvel to see; and at every stroke hesmote down one, or put him to rebuke, so that they would fight nomore, but fled to a thick forest, and Sir Galahad followed them. And when Sir Perceval saw him chase them so, he made great sorrowthat his horse was slain. And he wist well it was Sir Galahad. Then he cried aloud, "Ah, fair knight, abide, and suffer me to dothanks unto thee; for right well have ye done for me. " But SirGalahad rode so fast that at last he passed out of his sight. WhenSir Perceval saw that he would not turn, he said, "Now am I a verywretch, and most unhappy above all other knights. " So in hissorrow he abode all that day till it was night; and then he wasfaint, and laid him down and slept till midnight; and then heawaked and saw before him a woman, who said unto him, "SirPerceval, what dost thou here?" He answered, "I do neither good, nor great ill. " "If thou wilt promise me, " said she, "that thouwilt fulfil my will when I summon thee, I will lend thee my ownhorse, which shall bear thee whither thou wilt. " Sir Perceval wasglad 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 shesoon came again, and brought a horse with her that was inky black. When Perceval beheld that horse he marvelled, it was so great andso well apparelled. And he leapt upon him and took no heed ofhimself. And he thrust him with his spurs, and within an hour andless he bare him four days' journey thence, until he came to arough water, which roared, and his horse would have borne him intoit. And when Sir Perceval came nigh the brim and saw the water soboisterous he doubted to overpass it. And then he made the sign ofthe cross on his forehead. When the fiend felt him so charged, heshook off Sir Perceval, and went into the water crying androaring; and it seemed unto him that the water burned. Then SirPerceval perceived it was a fiend that would have brought him untohis perdition. Then he commended himself unto God, and prayed ourLord to keep him from all such temptations; and so he prayed allthat night till it was day. Then he saw that he was in a wildplace, that was closed with the sea nigh all about. And SirPerceval looked forth over the sea, and saw a ship come sailingtowards him; and it came and stood still under the rock. And whenSir Perceval saw this, he hied him thither, and found the shipcovered with silk; and therein was a lady of great beauty, andclothed so richly that none might be better. 

And when she saw Sir Perceval, she saluted him, and Sir Percevalreturned her salutation. Then he asked her of her country and herlineage. And she said, "I am a gentlewoman that am disinherited, and was once the richest woman of the world. " "Damsel, " said SirPerceval, "who hath disinherited you? for I have great pity ofyou. " "Sir, " said she, "my enemy is a great and powerful lord, andaforetime he made much of me, so that of his favor and of mybeauty I had a little pride more than I ought to have had. Also Isaid a word that pleased him not. So he drove me from his companyand from mine heritage. Therefore I know no good knight nor goodman, but I get him on my side if I may. And for that I know thatthou art a good knight, I beseech thee to help me. "

Then Sir Perceval promised her all the help that he might, and shethanked him. 

And at that time the weather was hot, and she called to her agentlewoman, and bade her bring forth a pavilion. And she did so, and pitched it upon the gravel. "Sir, " said she, "now may ye restyou in this heat of the day. " Then he thanked her, and she put offhis helm and his shield, and there he slept a great while. Then heawoke, and asked her if she had any meat, and she said yea, and sothere was set upon the table all manner of meats that he couldthink on. Also he drank there the strongest wine that ever hedrank, and therewith he was a little chafed more than he ought tobe. With that he beheld the lady, and he thought she was thefairest creature that ever he saw. And then Sir Perceval profferedher love, and prayed her that she would be his. Then she refusedhim in a manner, for the cause he should be the more ardent onher, and ever he ceased not to pray her of love. And when she sawhim well enchafed, then she said, "Sir Perceval, wit you well Ishall not give ye my love, unless you swear from henceforth youwill be my true servant, and do no thing but that I shall commandyou. Will you insure me this, as ye be a true knight?" "Yea, " saidhe, "fair lady, by the faith of my body. " And as he said this, byadventure and grace, he saw his sword lie on the ground naked, inwhose pommel was a red cross, and the sign of the crucifixthereon. Then he made the sign of the cross on his forehead, andtherewith the pavilion shrivelled up, and changed into a smoke anda black cloud. And the damsel cried aloud, and hasted into theship, and so she went with the wind roaring and yelling that itseemed all the water burned after her. Then Sir Perceval madegreat sorrow, and called himself a wretch, saying, "How nigh was Ilost!" 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 religiousman, riding upon an ass; and Sir Bohort saluted him. "What areye?" said the good man. "Sir, " said Sir Bohort, "I am a knightthat fain would be counselled in the quest of the Sangreal. " Sorode they both together till they came to a hermitage; and therehe 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 cleanconfessed. And they ate bread and drank water together. "Now, "said the good man, "I pray thee that thou eat none other till thousit at the table where the Sangreal shall be. " "Sir, " said SirBohort, "but how know ye that I shall sit there?" "Yea, " said thegood man, "that I know well; but there shall be few of yourfellows with you. " Then said Sir Bohort, "I agree me thereto" Andthe good man when he had heard his confession found him in so purea life and so stable that he marvelled thereof. 

On the morrow, as soon as the day appeared, Sir Bohort departedthence, and rode into a forest unto the hour of midday. And therebefell him a marvellous adventure. For he met, at the parting oftwo ways, two knights that led Sir Lionel, his brother, all naked, bound upon a strong hackney, and his hands bound before hisbreast; and each of them held in his hand thorns wherewith theywent beating him, so that he was all bloody before and behind; buthe said never a word, but, as he was great of heart, he sufferedall that they did to him as though he had felt none anguish. SirBohort prepared to rescue his brother. But he looked on the otherside of him, and saw a knight dragging along a fair gentlewoman, who cried out, "Saint Mary! succor your maid!" And when she sawSir Bohort, she called to him, and said, "By the faith that ye oweto knighthood, help me!" When Sir Bohort heard her say thus he hadsuch sorrow that he wist not what to do. "For if I let my brotherbe he must be slain, and that would I not for all the earth; andif I help not the maid I am shamed for ever. " Then lift he up hiseyes and said, weeping, "Fair Lord, whose liegeman I am, keep SirLionel, my brother, that none of these knights slay him, and forpity of you, and our Lady's sake, I shall succor this maid. "

Then he cried out to the knight, "Sir knight, lay your hand offthat maid, or else ye be but dead. " Then the knight set down themaid, and took his shield, and drew out his sword. And Sir Bohortsmote him so hard that it went through his shield and habergeon, on the left shoulder, and he fell down to the earth. Then came SirBohort to the maid, "Ye be delivered of this knight this time. ""Now, " said she, "I pray you lead me there where this knight tookme. " "I shall gladly do it, " said Sir Bohort. So he took the horseof the wounded knight, and set the gentlewoman upon it, andbrought her there where she desired to be. And there he foundtwelve knights seeking after her; and when she told them how SirBohort had delivered her, they made great joy, and besought him tocome to her father, a great lord, and he should be right welcomed. "Truly, " said Sir Bohort, "that may not be; for I have a greatadventure to do. " So he commended them to God and departed. 

Then Sir Bohort rode after Sir Lionel, his brother, by the traceof their horses. Thus he rode seeking, a great while. Then heovertook a man clothed in a religious clothing, who said, "SirKnight, what seek ye?" "Sir, " said Sir Bohort, "I seek my brother, that I saw within a little space beaten of two knights. " "Ah, SirBohort, tiouble not thyself to seek for him, for truly he isdead. " 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 hemade such sorrow that he fell to the ground in a swoon, and laythere long. And when he came to himself again, he said, "Fairbrother, since the fellowship of you and me is sundered, shall Inever 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 inhis 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 thisbody?" "Come on, " said the man, "here is one fast by. " And so theyrode till they saw a fair tower, and beside it a chapel. Then theyalighted both, and put the body into a tomb of marble. 

Then Sir Bohort commended the good man unto God, and departed. Andhe rode all that day, and harbored with an old lady. And on themorrow he rode unto the castle in a valley, and there he met witha yeoman. "Tell me, " said Sir Bohort, "knowest thou of anyadventure?" "Sir, " said he, "here shall be, under this castle, agreat and marvellous tournament. " Then Sir Bohort thought to bethere, if he might meet with any of the fellowship that were inquest of the Sangreal; so he turned to a hermitage that was on theborder of the forest. And when he was come hither, he found thereSir Lionel his brother, who sat all armed at the entry of thechapel door. And when Sir Bohort saw him, he had great joy, and healighted off his horse, and said. "Fair brother, when came yehither?" 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; andfor that misdeed I now assure you but death, for ye have rightwell deserved it. " When Sir Bohort perceived his brother's wrathhe kneeled down to the earth and cried him mercy, holding up bothhis 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 notI will run upon thee there as thou standest on foot, and so theshame 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 elsedie, he wist not what to do. Then his heart counselled him not soto do, inasmuch as Sir Lionel was his elder brother, wherefore heought to bear him reverence. Yet kneeled he down before SirLionel's horse's feet, and said, "Fair brother, have mercy upon meand slay me not. " But Sir Lionel cared not, for the fiend hadbrought him in such a will that he should slay him. When he sawthat Sir Bohort would not rise to give him battle, he rushed overhim, so that he smote him with his horse's feet to the earth, andhurt him sore, that he swooned of distress. When Sir Lionel sawthis 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 hishead. But it happened that Sir Colgrevance, a knight of the RoundTable, came at that time thither, as it was our Lord's will; andthen he beheld how Sir Lionel would have slain his brother, and heknew Sir Bohort, whom he loved right well. 

Then leapt he down from his horse and took Sir Lionel by theshoulders, 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 himafter. " Then he ran upon Sir Bohort, and would have smitten him;but Sir Colgrevance ran between them, and said, "If ye persist todo so any more, we two shall meddle together. " Then Sir Lioneldefied him, and gave him a great stroke through the helm. Then hedrew his sword, for he was a passing good knight, and defendedhimself right manfully. So long endured the battle, that SirBohort rose up all anguishly, and beheld Sir Colgrevance, the goodknight, fight with his brother for his quarrel. Then was he fullsorry and heavy, and thought that if Sir Colgrevance slew him thatwas his brother he should never have joy, and if his brother slewSir Colgrevance the shame should ever be his. 

Then would he have risen for to have parted them, but he had notso much strength to stand on his feet; so he staid so long thatSir Colgrevance had the worse; for Sir Lionel was of greatchivalry and right hardy. Then cried Sir Colgrevance, "Ah, SirBohort, why come ye not to bring me out of peril of death, whereinI have put me to succor you?" With that, Sir Lionel smote off hishelm and bore him to the earth. And when he had slain SirColgrevance he ran upon his brother as a fiendly man, and gave himsuch a stroke that he made him stoop. And he that was full ofhumility prayed him, "for God's sake leave this battle, for if itbefell, fair brother, that I slew you, or ye me, we should be deadof that sin. " "Pray ye not me for mercy, " said Sir Lionel. ThenSir Bohort, all weeping, drew his sword, and said, "Now God havemercy upon me, though I defend my life against my brother. " Withthat Sir Bohort lifted up his sword, and would have smitten hisbrother. Then he heard a voice that said, "Flee, Sir Bohort, andtouch him not. " Right so alighted a cloud between them, in thelikeness of a fire and a marvellous flame, so that they both fellto the earth, and lay there a great while in a swoon. And whenthey came to themselves, Sir Bohort saw that his brother had noharm; and he was right glad, for he dread sore that God had takenvengeance upon him. Then Sir Lionel said to his brother, "Brother, forgive me, for God's sake, all that I have trespassed againstyou. " And Sir Bohort answered, "God forgive it thee, and I do. "

With that Sir Bohort heard a voice say, "Sir Bohort, take thy wayanon, right to the sea, for Sir Perceval abideth thee there. " SoSir Bohort departed, and rode the nearest way to the sea. And atlast he came to an abbey that was nigh the sea. That night herested him there, and in his sleep there came a voice unto him andbade him go to the sea-shore. He started up, and made a sign ofthe cross on his forehead, and armed himself, and made ready hishorse and mounted him, and at a broken wall he rode out, and cameto the sea-shore. And there he found a ship, covered all withwhite samite. And he entered into the ship; but it was anon sodark that he might see no man, and he laid him down and slept tillit was day. Then he awaked, and saw in the middle of the ship aknight all armed, save his helm. And then he knew it was SirPerceval de Galis, and each made of other right great joy. Thensaid Sir Perceval, "We lack nothing now but the good knight SirGalahad. "

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 openedtoward the sea, and was open without any keeping, save two lionskept the entry; and the moon shined clear. Anon Sir Launcelotheard a voice that said, "Launcelot, enter into the castle, wherethou shalt see a great part of thy desire. " So he went unto thegate, and saw the two lions; then he set hands to his sword, anddrew it. Then there came suddenly as it were a stroke upon thearm, so sore that the sword fell out of his hand, and he heard avoice that said, "O man of evil faith, wherefore believest thoumore in thy armor than in thy Maker?" Then said Sir Launcelot, "Fair Lord, I thank thee of thy great mercy, that thou reprovestme of my misdeed; now see I well that thou holdest me for thyservant. " Then he made a cross on his forehead, and came to thelions; and they made semblance to do him harm, but he passed themwithout hurt, and entered into the castle, and he found no gatenor door but it was open. But at the last he found a chamberwhereof the door was shut; and he set his hand thereto, to haveopened it, but he might not. Then he listened, and heard a voicewhich sung so sweetly that it seemed none earthly thing; and thevoice said, "Joy and honor be to the Father of heaven. " Then SirLauncelot kneeled down before the chamber, for well he wist thatthere was the Sangreal in that chamber. Then said he, "Fair, sweetLord, if ever I did anything that pleased thee, for thy pity showme something of that which I seek. " And with that he saw thechamber door open, and there came out a great clearness, that thehouse was as bright as though all the torches of the world hadbeen there. So he came to the chamber door, and would haveentered; and anon a voice said unto him, "Stay, Sir Launcelot, andenter not. " And he withdrew him back, and was right heavy in hismind. Then looked he in the midst of the chamber, and saw a tableof silver, and the holy vessel, covered with red samite, and manyangels about it; whereof one held a candle of wax burning, andanother 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 himselfand he stepped forward and entered the chamber. And suddenly abreath that seemed intermixed with fire smote him so sore in thevisage that therewith he fell to the ground, and had no power torise. Then felt he many hands about him, which took him up andbare him out of the chamber, without any amending of his swoon, and left him there, seeming dead to all the people. So on themorrow, when it was fair daylight, and they within were arisen, they found Sir Launcelot lying before the chamber door. And theylooked upon him and felt his pulse, to know if there were any lifein him. And they found life in him, but he might neither stand norstir any member that he had. So they took him and bare him into achamber, and laid him upon a bed, far from all folk, and there helay many days. Then the one said he was alive, and the others saidnay. But said an old man, "He is as full of life as the mightiestof you all, and therefore I counsel you that he be well kept tillGod bring him back again. " And after twenty-four days he openedhis 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 heartcan think. " Then they said, "Sir, the quest of the Sangreal isachieved right now in you, and never shall ye see more of it thanye have seen. " "I thank God, " said Sir Launcelot, "of his greatmercy, for that I have seen, for it sufficeth me. " Then he rose upand clothed himself; and when he was so arrayed they marvelledall, for they knew it was Sir Launcelot the good knight. And afterfour days he took his leave of the lord of the castle, and of allthe fellowship that were there, and thanked them for their greatlabor and care of him. Then he departed, and turned to Camelot, where he found King Arthur and Queen Guenever; but many of theknights of the Round Table were slain and destroyed, more thanhalf. Then all the court was passing glad of Sir Launcelot; and hetold the king all his adventures that had befallen him since hedeparted. 

SIR GALAHAD

Now, when Sir Galahad had rescued Perceval from the twentyknights, 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 wasbenighted in a hermitage. And the good man was glad when he saw hewas a knight-errant. And when they were at rest, there came agentlewoman knocking at the door; and the good man came to thedoor to wit what she would. Then she said, "I would speak with theknight which is with you. " Then Galahad went to her, and asked herwhat 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 thehighest adventure that ever knight saw. " Then Galahad armedhimself and commended himself to God, and bade the damsel gobefore, and he would follow where she led. 

So she rode as fast as her palfrey might bear her, till she cameto the sea; and there they found the ship where Sir Bohort and SirPerceval were, who cried from the ship, "Sir Galahad, you arewelcome; we have waited you long. " And when he heard them, heasked the damsel who they were. "Sir, " said she, "leave your horsehere, and I shall leave mine, and we will join ourselves to theircompany. " So they entered into the ship, and the two knightsreceived them both with great joy. For they knew the damsel, thatshe was Sir Perceval's sister. Then the wind arose and drove themthrough the sea all that day and the next, till the ship arrivedbetween two rocks, passing great and marvellous; but there theymight not land, for there was a whirlpool; but there was anothership, and upon it they might go without danger. "Go we thither, "said the gentlewoman, "and there we shall see adventures, for suchis our Lord's will. " Then Sir Galahad blessed him, and enteredtherein, and then next the gentlewoman, and then Sir Bohort andSir Perceval. And when they came on board they found there thetable of silver, and the Sangreal, which was covered with redsamite. And they made great reverence thereto, and Sir Galahadprayed a long time to our Lord, that at what time he should ask topass out of this world he should do so; and a voice said to him, "Galahad, thou shalt have thy request; and when thou askest thedeath of thy body, thou shalt have it, and then shalt thou findthe life of thy soul. "

And anon the wind drove them across the sea, till they came to thecity of Sarras. Then took they out of the ship the table ofsilver, and Sir Perceval and Sir Bohort took it before, and SirGalahad came behind, and right so they went to the city. And atthe 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 heavything. "Truly, " said the old man, "it is ten years since I couldnot go but with crutches. " "Care thou not, " said Sir Galahad, "butarise up, and show thy good will. " Then the old man rose up, andassayed, and found himself as whole as ever he was; and he ran tothe 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 theirking. Right so, as they were in counsel, there came a voice amongthem, and bade them choose the youngest knight of those three tobe their king. So they made Sir Galahad king, by all the assent ofthe city. And when he was made king, he commanded to make a chestof gold and of precious stones to hold the holy vessel. And everyday the three companions would come before it and make theirprayers. 

Now at the year's end, and the same day of the year that SirGalahad received the crown, he got up early, and, with hisfellows, came to where the holy vessel was; and they saw onekneeling before it that had about him a great fellowship ofangels; and he called Sir Galahad, and said, "Come, thou servantof the Lord, and thou shalt see what thou hast much desired tosee. " And Sir Galahad's mortal flesh trembled right hard when hebegan to behold the spiritual things. Then said the good man, "Nowwottest thou who I am?" "Nay, " said Sir Galahad. "I am Joseph ofArimathea, whom our Lord hath sent here to thee, to bear theefellowship. " Then Sir Galahad held up his hands toward heaven, andsaid, "Now, blessed Lord, would I not longer live, if it mightplease thee. " And when he had said these words, Sir Galahad wentto Sir Perceval and to Sir Bohort and kissed them, and commendedthem to God. And then he kneeled down before the table, and madehis prayers, and suddenly his soul departed, and a great multitudeof angels bare his soul up to heaven, so as the two fellows couldwell behold it. Also they saw come from heaven a hand, but theysaw not the body; and the hand came right to the vessel and bareit up to heaven. Since then was there never one so hardy as to saythat 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 asmuch sorrow as ever did two men. And if they had not been good menthey might have fallen into despair. As soon as Sir Galahad wasburied Sir Perceval retired to a hermitage out of the city, andtook a religious clothing; and Sir Bohort was always with him, butdid not change his secular clothing, because he purposed to returnto the realm of Loegria. Thus a year and two months lived SirPerceval in the hermitage a full holy life, and then passed out ofthis world, and Sir Bohort buried him by his sister and SirGalahad. Then Sir Bohort armed himself and departed from Sarras, and entered into a ship, and sailed to the kingdom of Loegria, andin due time arrived safe at Camelot, where the king was. Then wasthere great joy made of him in the whole court, for they feared hehad been dead. Then the king made great clerks to come before him, that they should chronicle of the high adventures of the goodknights. And Sir Bohort told him of the adventures that hadbefallen him, and his two fellows, Sir Perceval and Sir Galahad. And Sir Launcelot told the adventures of the Sangreal that he hadseen. All this was made in great books, and put up in the churchat Salisbury. 

So King Arthur and Queen Guenever made great joy of the remnantthat were come home, and chiefly of Sir Launcelot and Sir Bohort. Then Sir Launcelot began to resort unto Queen Guenever again, andforgot the promise that he made in the quest: so that many in thecourt spoke of it, and in especial Sir Agrivain, Sir Gawain'sbrother, for he was ever open-mouthed. So it happened Sir Gawainand all his brothers were in King Arthur's chamber, and then SirAgrivain said thus openly, "I marvel that we all are not ashamedto see and to know so noble a knight as King Arthur so to beshamed by the conduct of Sir Launcelot and the queen. "Then spokeSir Gawain, and said, "Brother, Sir Agrivain, I pray you andcharge you move not such matters any more before me, for be yeassured I will not be of your counsel. " "Neither will we, " saidSir Gaheris and Sir Gareth. "Then will I, " said Sir Modred. "Idoubt you not, " said Sir Gawain, "for to all mischief ever were yeprone; yet I would that ye left all this, for I know what willcome 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 itto the king. " With that came to them King Arthur. "Now, brothers, hold your peace, " said Sir Gawain. "We will not, " said SirAgrivain. Then said Sir Gawain, "I will not hear your tales nor beof your counsel. " "No more will I, " said Sir Gareth and SirGaheris, and therewith they departed, making great sorrow. 

Then Sir Agrivain told the king all that was said in the court ofthe conduct of Sir Launcelot and the queen, and it grieved theking very much. But he would not believe it to be true withoutproof. So Sir Agrivain laid a plot to entrap Sir Launcelot and thequeen, intending to take them together unawares. Sir Agrivain andSir Modred led a party for this purpose, but Sir Launcelot escapedfrom them, having slain Sir Agrivain and wounded Sir Modred. ThenSir Launcelot hastened to his friends, and told them what hadhappened, and withdrew with them to the forest; but he left spiesto bring him tidings of whatever might be done. 

So Sir Launcelot escaped, but the queen remained in the king'spower, and Arthur could no longer doubt of her guilt. And the lawwas such in those days that they who committed such crimes, ofwhat estate or condition soever they were, must be burned todeath, and so it was ordained for Queen Guenever. Then said KingArthur to Sir Gawain, "I pray you make you ready, in your bestarmor, with your brethren, Sir Gaheris and Sir Gareth, to bring myqueen to the fire, there to receive her death. " "Nay, my mostnoble lord, " said Sir Gawain, "that will I never do; for know thouwell, my heart will never serve me to see her die, and it shallnever be said that I was of your counsel in her death. " Then theking commanded Sir Gaheris and Sir Gareth to be there, and theysaid, "We will be there, as ye command us, sire, but in peaceablewise, and bear no armor upon us. "

So the queen was led forth, and her ghostly father was brought toher to shrive her, and there was weeping and wailing of many lordsand ladies. And one went and told Sir Launcelot that the queen wasled forth to her death. Then Sir Launcelot and the knights thatwere with him fell upon the troop that guarded the queen, anddispersed them, and slew all who withstood them. And in theconfusion Sir Gareth and Sir Gaheris were slain, for they wereunarmed and defenceless. And Sir Launcelot carried away the queento his castle of La Joyeuse Garde. 

Then there came one to Sir Gawain and told him how that SirLauncelot had slain the knights and carried away the queen. "OLord, 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 longhe 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 kingwept and he both. "My king, my lord, and mine uncle, " said SirGawain, "bear witness now that I make you a promise that I shallhold by my knighthood, and from this day I will never fail SirLauncelot until the one of us have slain the other. I will seekSir Launcelot throughout seven kings' realms, but I shall slay himor he shall slay me. " "Ye shall not need to seek him, " said theking, "for as I hear, Sir Launcelot will abide me and you in theJoyeuse Garde; and much people draweth unto him, as I hear say. ""That may I believe, " said Sir Gawain; "but, my lord, summon yourfriends, and I will summon mine. " "It shall be done, " said theking. So then the king sent letters and writs throughout allEngland, both in the length and breadth, to summon all hisknights. And unto Arthur drew many knights, dukes, and earls, sothat he had a great host. Thereof heard Sir Launcelot, andcollected 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 hostwas too great for Sir Launcelot to abide him in the field; and hewas full loath to do battle against the king. So Sir Launcelotdrew him to his strong castle, with all manner of provisions. Thencame King Arthur with Sir Gawain, and laid siege all about LaJoyeuse Garde, both the town and the castle; but in no wise wouldSir Launcelot ride out of his castle, neither suffer any of hisknights to issue out, until many weeks were past. 

Then it befell upon a day in harvest-time, Sir Launcelot lookedover the wall, and spoke aloud to King Arthur and Sir Gawain, "Mylords both, all is in vain that ye do at this siege, for here yeshall win no worship, but only dishonor; for if I list to comeout, and my good knights, I shall soon make an end of this war. ""Come forth, " said Arthur, "if thou darest, and I promise thee Ishall meet thee in the midst of the field. " "God forbid me, " saidSir Launcelot, "that I should encounter with the most noble kingthat 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 mydying day. " And Sir Gawain said, "What cause hadst thou to slay mybrother, Sir Gaheris, who bore no arms against thee, and SirGareth, whom thou madest knight, and who loved thee more than allmy kin? Therefore know thou well I shall make war to thee all thewhile that I may live. "

When Sir Bohort, and Sir Hector de Marys, and Sir Lionel heardthis outcry, they called to them Sir Palamedes, and Sir Saffirehis brother, and Sir Lawayn, with many more, and all went to SirLauncelot. And they said, "My lord, Sir Launcelot, we pray you, ifyou will have our service keep us no longer within these walls, for know well all your fair speech and forbearance will not availyou. " "Alas!" said Sir Launcelot, "to ride forth and to do battleI am full loath. " Then he spake again unto the king and SirGawain, and willed them to keep out of the battle; but theydespised his words. So then Sir Launcelot's fellowship came out ofthe castle in full good array. And always Sir Launcelot chargedall his knights, in any wise, to save King Arthur and Sir Gawain. 

Then came forth Sir Gawain from the king's host and offeredcombat, and Sir Lionel encountered with him, and there Sir Gawainsmote Sir Lionel through the body, that he fell to the earth as ifdead. Then there began a great conflict, and much people wereslain; but ever Sir Launcelot did what he might to save the peopleon King Arthur's party, and ever King Arthur followed SirLauncelot to slay him; but Sir Launcelot suffered him, and wouldnot strike again. Then Sir Bohort encountered with King Arthur, and smote him down; and he alighted and drew his sword, and saidto Sir Launcelot, "Shall I make an end of this war?" for he meantto have slain King Arthur. "Not so, " said Sir Launcelot, "touchhim no more, for I will never see that most noble king that mademe knight either slain or shamed;" and therewith Sir Launcelotalighted off his horse, and took up the king, and horsed himagain, and said thus: "My lord Arthur, for God's love, cease thisstrife. " And King Arthur looked upon Sir Launcelot, and the tearsburst from his eyes, thinking on the great courtesy that was inSir Launcelot more than in any other man; and therewith the kingrode his way. Then anon both parties withdrew to repose them, andburied the dead. 

But the war continued, and it was noised abroad through allChristendom, and at last it was told afore the pope; and he, considering the great goodness of King Arthur, and of SirLauncelot, called unto him a noble clerk, which was the Bishop ofRochester, who was then in his dominions, and sent him to KingArthur, charging him that he take his queen, dame Guenever, untohim again, and make peace with Sir Launcelot. 

So, by means of this bishop, peace was made for the space of oneyear; and King Arthur received back the queen, and Sir Launcelotdeparted from the kingdom with all his knights, and went to hisown country. So they shipped at Cardiff, and sailed unto Benwick, which some men call Bayonne. And all the people of those landscame to Sir Launcelot, and received him home right joyfully. AndSir Launcelot stablished and garnished all his towns and castles, and he greatly advanced all his noble knights, Sir Lionel and SirBohort, and Sir Hector de Marys, Sir Blamor, Sir Lawayne, and manyothers, and made them lords of lands and castles; till he lefthimself 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 witha great host, and landed upon Sir Launcelot's lands, and burnedand wasted all that they might overrun. Then spake Sir Bohort andsaid, "My lord, Sir Launcelot, give us leave to meet them in thefield, and we shall make them rue the time that ever they came tothis country. " Then said Sir Launcelot, "I am full loath to rideout with my knights for shedding of Christian blood; so we willyet a while keep our walls, and I will send a messenger unto mylord Arthur, to propose a treaty; for better is peace than alwayswar. " So Sir Launcelot sent forth a damsel, and a dwarf with her, requiring King Arthur to leave his warring upon his lands; and soshe started on a palfrey, and the dwarf ran by her side. And whenshe came to the pavilion of King Arthur, she alighted, and theremet her a gentle knight, Sir Lucan, the butler, and said, "Fairdamsel, 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 SirGawain will not suffer him. " And with this Sir Lucan led thedamsel to the king, where he sat with Sir Gawain, to hear what shewould say. So when she had told her tale, the tears ran out of theking's eyes; and all the lords were forward to advise the king tobe accorded with Sir Launcelot, save only Sir Gawain; and he said, "My lord, mine uncle, what will ye do? Will you now turn back, nowyou are so far advanced upon your journey? If ye do all the worldwill speak shame of you. " "Nay, " said King Arthur, "I will do asye advise me; but do thou give the damsel her answer, for I maynot speak to her for pity. "

Then said Sir Gawain, "Damsel, say ye to Sir Launcelot, that it iswaste labor to sue to mine uncle for peace, and say that I, SirGawain, send him word that I promise him, by the faith I owe untoGod and to knighthood, I shall never leave him till he have slainme or I him. " So the damsel returned; and when Sir Launcelot hadheard this answer the tears ran down his cheeks. 

Then it befell on a day Sir Gawain came before the gates, armed atall points, and cried with a loud voice, "Where art thou now, thoufalse traitor, Sir Launcelot? Why hidest thou thyself within holesand walls like a coward? Look out now, thou traitor knight, and Iwill avenge upon thy body the death of my three brethren. " Allthis language heard Sir Launcelot, and the knights which wereabout him; and they said to him, "Sir Launcelot, now must yedefend you like a knight, or else be shamed for ever, for you haveslept overlong and suffered overmuch. " Then Sir Launcelot spake onhigh unto King Arthur, and said, "My lord Arthur, now I haveforborne long, and suffered you and Sir Gawain to do what yewould, and now must I needs defend myself, inasmuch as Sir Gawainhath appealed me of treason. " Then Sir Launcelot armed him andmounted upon his horse, and the noble knights came out of thecity, and the host without stood all apart; and so the covenantwas made that no man should come near the two knights, nor dealwith 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 eachsmote the other in the middle of their shields, but neither ofthem was unhorsed, but their horses fell to the earth. And thenthey leapt from their horses, and drew their swords, and gave manysad strokes, so that the blood burst out in many places. Now SirGawain had this gift from a holy man, that every day in the year, from morning to noon, his strength was increased threefold, andthen it fell again to its natural measure. Sir Launcelot was awareof this, and therefore, during the three hours that Sir Gawain'sstrength was at the height, Sir Launcelot covered himself with hisshield, and kept his might in reserve. And during that time SirGawain gave him many sad brunts, that all the knights that lookedon marvelled how Sir Launcelot might endure them. Then, when itwas past noon, Sir Gawain had only his own might; and when SirLauncelot felt him so brought down he stretched himself up, anddoubled his strokes, and gave Sir Gawain such a buffet that hefell down on his side; and Sir Launcelot drew back and wouldstrike no more. "Why withdrawest thou, false traitor?" then saidSir Gawain; "now turn again and slay me, for if thou leave me thuswhen I am whole again, I shall do battle with thee again. " "Ishall endure you, sir, by God's grace, " said Sir Launcelot, "butknow thou well Sir Gawain, I will never smite a felled knight. "And so Sir Launcelot went into the city, and Sir Gawain was borneinto 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 thatmade 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 tobe written, as if from beyond sea, that King Arthur was slain inbattle. So he called a Parliament, and made himself be crownedking; and he took the queen Guenever, and said plainly that hewould wed her, but she escaped from him and took refuge in theTower of London. And Sir Modred went and laid siege about theTower of London, and made great assaults thereat, but all mightnot avail him. Then came word to Sir Modred that King Arthur hadraised the siege of Sir Launcelot, and was coming home. Then SirModred summoned all the barony of the land; and much people drewunto Sir Modred, and said they would abide with him for better andfor worse; and he drew a great host to Dover, for there he heardsay 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 Modredawaiting upon the landing. Then was there launching of great boatsand small, full of noble men of arms, and there was much slaughterof gentle knights on both parts. But King Arthur was socourageous, there might no manner of knights prevent him to land, and his knights fiercely followed him; and so they landed, and putSir Modred aback so that he fled, and all his people. And when thebattle was done, King Arthur commanded to bury his people thatwere dead. And then was noble Sir Gawain found, in a great boat, lying more than half dead. And King Arthur went to him, and madesorrow out of measure. "Mine uncle, " said Sir Gawain, "know thouwell my death-day is come, and all is through mine own hastinessand wilfulness, for I am smitten upon the old wound which SirLauncelot gave me, of which I feel I must die. And had SirLauncelot been with you as of old, this war had never begun, andof all this I am the cause. " Then Sir Gawain prayed the king tosend for Sir Launcelot, and to cherish him above all otherknights. And so at the hour of noon Sir Gawain yielded up hisspirit, and then the king bade inter him in a chapel within DoverCastle; and there all men may see the skull of him, and the samewound is seen that Sir Launcelot gave him in battle. 

Then was it told the king that Sir Modred had pitched his campupon Barrendown; and the king rode thither, and there was a greatbattle betwixt them, and King Arthur's party stood best, and SirModred and his party fled unto Canterbury. 

And there was a day assigned betwixt King Arthur and Sir Modredthat they should meet upon a down beside Salisbury, and not farfrom the sea-side, to do battle yet again. And at night, as theking slept, he dreamed a wonderful dream. It seemed him verilythat there came Sir Gawain unto him, with a number of fair ladieswith him. And when King Arthur saw him, he said, "Welcome, mysister's son; I weened thou hadst been dead; and now I see theealive great is my joy. But, O fair nephew, what be these ladiesthat hither be come with you?" "Sir, " said Sir Gawain, "all thesebe ladies for whom I have fought when I was a living man; andbecause I did battle for them in righteous quarrel they have givenme grace to bring me hither unto you to warn you of your death, ifye fight to-morrow with Sir Modred. Therefore take ye treaty, andproffer you largely for a month's delay; for within a month shallcome Sir Launcelot and all his noble knights, and rescue youworshipfully, and slay Sir Modred and all that hold with him. " Andthen Sir Gawain and all the ladies vanished. And anon the kingcalled to fetch his noble lords and wise bishops unto him. Andwhen they were come, the king told them his vision, and what SirGawain had told him. Then the king sent Sir Lucan, the butler, andSir Bedivere, with two bishops, and charged them in any wise totake a treaty for a month and a day with Sir Modred. So theydeparted, and came to Sir Modred; and so, at the last, Sir Modredwas agreed to have Cornwall and Kent during Arthur's life, and allEngland 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 meetbetwixt both their hosts, and each of them should bring fourteenpersons, and then and there they should sign the treaty. And whenKing Arthur and his knights were prepared to go forth, he warnedall his host, "If so be ye see any sword drawn, look ye come onfiercely, and slay whomsoever withstandeth, for I in no wise trustthat traitor, Sir Modred. " In like wise Sir Modred warned hishost. So they met, and were agreed and accorded thoroughly. Andwine was brought, and they drank. Right then came an adder out ofa little heath-bush, and stung a knight on the foot. And when theknight felt him sting, he looked down and saw the adder, and thenhe 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 blewtrumpets and horns, and shouted greatly. And King Arthur took hishorse, and rode to his party, saying, "Alas, this unhappy day!"And Sir Modred did in like wise. And never was there a moredoleful battle in Christian land. And ever King Arthur rodethroughout the battle, and did full nobly, as a worthy kingshould, and Sir Modred that day did his devoir, and put himself ingreat peril. And thus they fought all the long day, till the mostof all the noble knights lay dead upon the ground. Then the kinglooked about him, and saw of all his host were left alive but twoknights, Sir Lucan, the butler, and Sir Bedivere, his brother, andthey were full sore wounded. Then King Arthur saw where Sir Modredleaned upon his sword among a great heap of dead men. "Now give memy spear, " said Arthur unto Sir Lucan; "for yonder I espy thetraitor that hast wrought all this woe. " "Sir, let him be, " saidSir Lucan; "for if ye pass this unhappy day, ye shall be rightwell revenged upon him. Remember what the sprite of Sir Gawaintold you, and leave off now, for ye have won the field; and if yeleave off now this evil day of destiny is past. " "Betide me life, betide me death, " said King Arthur, "he shall not now escape myhands. " Then the king took his spear in both hands, and ran towardSir Modred, crying, "Traitor, now is thy death-day come. " Andthere King Arthur smote Sir Modred under the shield, with a thrustof his spear through the body. And when Sir Modred felt that hehad his death-wound, with the might that he had he smote KingArthur, with his sword holden in both his hands, on the side ofthe head, that the sword pierced the helmet and the brain-pan; andthen Sir Modred fell stark dead upon the earth. And the nobleArthur fell in a swoon to the earth. And Sir Lucan, the butler, and Sir Bedivere raised him up, and gently led him betwixt themboth to a little chapel not far from the sea-side. And when theking was there he thought him well eased. Then heard they peoplecry in the field. And Sir Lucan went to see what that crybetokened; and he saw by the moonlight that pillers and robberswere 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 wouldit were so, " said the king. And when the king tried to go hefainted. Then Sir Lucan took up the king on the one part, and SirBedivere on the other part; and in the lifting, Sir Lucan fell ina swoon to the earth, for he was grievously wounded. And then thenoble knight's heart burst. And when the king awoke he beheld SirLucan how he lay foaming at the mouth, and speechless. "Alas!"said the king, "this is to me a full heavy sight, to see thisnoble duke so die for my sake; for he would have holpen me thathad more need of help than I, and he would not complain, his heartwas so set to help me. " Then Sir Bedivere wept for his brother. "Leave this mourning and weeping, " said the king, "for wilt thouwell, if I might live myself, the death of Sir Lucan would grieveme evermore; but my time hieth fast. Therefore, " said Arthur untoSir Bedivere, "take thou Excalibar, my good sword, and go with itto yonder water-side; and when thou comest there I charge theethrow my sword in that water, and come again and tell me what thouthere seest. " "My lord, " said Sir Bedivere, "your commandmentshall be done. " So Sir Bedivere departed, and by the way he beheldthat noble sword, that the pommel and the haft were all ofprecious stones; and then he said to himself, "If I throw thisrich sword into the water no good shall come thereof, but onlyharm and loss. " And then Sir Bedivere hid Excalibar under a tree. And so, as soon as he might, he came again to the king. "Whatsawest thou there?" said the king. "Sir, " he said, "I sawnothing. " "Alas! thou hast deceived me, " said the king. "Go thoulightly again, and as thou love me, spare not to throw it in. "Then Sir Bedivere went again, and took the sword in his hand tothrow it; but again it beseemed him but sin and shame to throwaway that noble sword, and he hid it away again, and returned, andtold the king he had done his commandment. "What sawest thouthere?" said the king. "Sir, " he said, "I saw nothing but watersdeep and waves wan. " "Ah, traitor untrue!" said King Arthur, "nowhast thou betrayed me twice. And yet thou art named a nobleknight, and hast been lief and dear to me. But now go again, anddo as I bid thee, for thy long tarrying putteth me in jeopardy ofmy life. " Then Sir Bedivere went to the sword, and lightly took itup, and went to the water-side, and he bound the girdle about thehilt, and then he threw the sword as far into the water as hemight. And there came an arm and a hand out of the water, and metit, and caught it, and shook it thrice and brandished it, and thenvanished away the hand with the sword in the water. 

Then Sir Bedivere came again to the king, and told him what hesaw. "Help me hence, " said the king, "for I fear I have tarriedtoo long. " Then Sir Bedivere took the king on his back, and sowent with him to that water-side; and when they came there, evenfast by the bank there rode a little barge with many fair ladiesin it, and among them was a queen; and all had black hoods, andthey wept and shrieked when they saw King Arthur. 

"Now put me in the barge, " said the king. And there received himthree queens with great mourning, and in one of their laps KingArthur laid his head. And the queen said, "Ah, dear brother, whyhave ye tarried so long? Alas! this wound on your head hath caughtover-much cold. " And then they rowed from the land, and SirBedivere beheld them go from him. Then he cried: "Ah, my lordArthur, will ye leave me here alone among mine enemies?" "Comfortthyself, " said the king, "for in me is no further help; for I willto the Isle of Avalon, to heal me of my grievous wound. " And assoon as Sir Bedivere had lost sight of the barge, he wept andwailed; then he took the forest, and went all that night, and inthe 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 wasnewly graven. "Sir, " said Sir Bedivere, "what man is there buriedthat ye pray so near unto?" "Fair son, " said the hermit, "I knownot verily. But this night there came a number of ladies, andbrought hither one dead, and prayed me to bury him. " "Alas!" saidSir Bedivere, "that was my lord, King Arthur. " Then Sir Bedivereswooned; and when he awoke he prayed the hermit he might abidewith him, to live with fasting and prayers. "Ye are welcome, " saidthe hermit. So there bode Sir Bedivere with the hermit; and he puton poor clothes, and served the hermit full lowly in fasting andin prayers. 

Thus of Arthur I find never more written in books that beauthorized, nor more of the very certainty of his death; but thuswas he led away in a ship, wherein were three queens; the one wasKing 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 bewritten. 

Yet some men say that King Arthur is not dead, but hid away intoanother place, and men say that he shall come again and reign overEngland. But many say that there is written on his tomb thisverse:

 "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, andall the noble knights with him, she stole away, and five ladieswith her; and so she went to Almesbury, and made herself a nun, and ware white clothes and black, and took great penance as everdid 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 wascrowned king of England, and made war against his own uncle, KingArthur, then was Sir Launcelot wroth out of measure, and said tohis kinsmen: "Alas, that double traitor, Sir Modred! now itrepenteth me that ever he escaped out of my hands. " Then SirLauncelot and his fellows made ready in all haste, with ships andgalleys, to pass into England; and so he passed over till he cameto Dover, and there he landed with a great army. Then SirLauncelot was told that King Arthur was slain. "Alas!" said SirLauncelot, "this is the heaviest tidings that ever came to me. "Then he called the kings, dukes, barons, and knights, and saidthus: "My fair lords, I thank you all for coming into this countrywith me, but we came too late, and that shall repent me while Ilive. But since it is so, " said Sir Launcelot, "I will myself rideand seek my lady, Queen Guenever, for I have heard say she hathfled into the west; therefore ye shall abide me here fifteen days, and if I come not within that time, then take your ships and yourhost, and depart into your country. "

So Sir Launcelot departed and rode westerly, and there he soughtmany days; and at last he came to a nunnery, and was seen of QueenGuenever as he walked in the cloister; and when she saw him sheswooned away. And when she might speak she bade him to be calledto her. And when Sir Launcelot was brought to her she said: "SirLauncelot, I require thee and beseech thee, for all the love thatever was betwixt us, that thou never see me more, but return tothy kingdom and take thee a wife, and live with her with joy andbliss; and pray for me to my Lord, that I may get my soul'shealth. " "Nay, madam, " said Sir Launcelot, "wit you well that Ishall never do; but the same destiny that ye have taken you towill I take me unto, for to please and serve God. " And so theyparted, with tears and much lamentation; and the ladies bare thequeen to her chamber, and Sir Launcelot took his horse and rodeaway, 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 rodeand alighted, and tied his horse to the gate, and heard mass. Andhe that sang the mass was the hermit with whom Sir Bedivere hadtaken up his abode; and Sir Bedivere knew Sir Launcelot, and theyspake together after mass. But when Sir Bedivere had told histale, Sir Launcelot's heart almost burst for sorrow. Then hekneeled down, and prayed the hermit to shrive him, and besoughtthat he might be his brother. Then the hermit said, "I willgladly;" and then he put a habit upon Sir Launcelot, and there heserved God day and night, with prayers and fastings. 

And the great host abode at Dover till the end of the fifteen daysset by Sir Launcelot, and then Sir Bohort made them to go homeagain to their own country; and Sir Bohort, Sir Hector de Marys, Sir Blamor, and many others, took on them to ride through allEngland to seek Sir Launcelot. So Sir Bohort by fortune rode untilhe came to the same chapel where Sir Launcelot was; and when hesaw Sir Launcelot in that manner of clothing he, prayed the hermitthat he might be in that same. And so there was an habit put uponhim, and there he lived in prayers and fasting. And within half ayear came others of the knights, their fellows, and took such ahabit as Sir Launcelot and Sir Bohort had. Thus they endured ingreat penance six years. 

And upon a night there came a vision to Sir Launcelot, and chargedhim to haste toward Almesbury, and "by the time thou come there, thou shalt find Queen Guenever dead. " Then Sir Launcelot rose upearly and told the hermit thereof. Then said the hermit, "It werewell that ye disobey not this vision. " And Sir Launcelot took hisseven companions with him, and on foot they went from Glastonburyto Almesbury, which is more than thirty miles. And when they werecome to Almesbury, they found that Queen Guenever died but half anhour before. Then Sir Launcelot saw her visage, but he wept notgreatly, but sighed. And so he did all the observance of theservice himself, both the "dirige" at night, and at morn he sangmass. And there was prepared an horse-bier, and Sir Launcelot andhis fellows followed the bier on foot from Almesbury until theycame to Glastonbury; and she was wrapped in cered clothes, andlaid in a coffin of marble. And when she was put in the earth SirLauncelot swooned, and lay long as one dead. 

And Sir Launcelot never after ate but little meat, nor drank; butcontinually 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 manought to have. " "It shall not need, " said the hermit and all hisfellows; "it is but heaviness of your blood, and to-morrow mornyou shall be well" "My fair lords, " said Sir Launcelot, "mycareful body will into the earth; I have warning more than now Iwill say; therefore give me my rights. " So when he was houseledand aneled, and had all that a Christian man ought to have, heprayed the hermit that his fellows might bear his body to JoyousGarde. (Some men say it was Alnwick, and some say it wasBamborough. ) "It repenteth me sore, " said Sir Launcelot, "but Imade a vow aforetime that in Joyous Garde I would be buried. " Thenthere was weeping and wringing of hands among his fellows. Andthat night Sir Launcelot died; and when Sir Bohort and his fellowscame to his bedside the next morning they found him stark dead;and he lay as if he had smiled, and the sweetest savor all abouthim that ever they knew. 

And they put Sir Launcelot into the same horse-bier that QueenGuenever was laid in, and the hermit and they altogether went withthe body till they came to Joyous Garde. And there they laid hiscorpse in the body of the quire, and sang and read many psalms andprayers over him. And ever his visage was laid open and naked, that all folks might behold him. And right thus, as they were attheir service, there came Sir Hector de Maris, that had sevenyears sought Sir Launcelot, his brother, through all England, Scotland and Wales. And when Sir Hector heard such sounds in thechapel of Joyous Garde he alighted and came into the quire. Andall they knew Sir Hector. Then went Sir Bohort, and told him howthere lay Sir Launcelot, his brother, dead. Then Sir Hector threwhis shield, his sword, and helm from him. And when he beheld SirLauncelot's visage it were hard for any tongue to tell the dolefulcomplaints he made for his brother. "Ah, Sir Launcelot!" he said, "there thou liest. And now I dare to say thou wert never matchedof none earthly knight's hand. And thou wert the courteousestknight that ever bare shield; and thou wert the truest friend tothy lover that ever bestrode horse; and thou wert the truestlover, of a sinful man, that ever loved woman; and thou wert thekindest man that ever struck with sword. And thou wert thegoodliest person that ever came among press of knights. And thouwert the meekest man, and the gentlest, that ever ate in hallamong ladies. And thou wert the sternest knight to thy mortal foethat ever put spear in the rest. " Then there was weeping and dolorout of measure. Thus they kept Sir Launcelot's corpse fifteendays, and then they buried it with great devotion. 

Then they went back with the hermit to his hermitage. And SirBedivere was there ever still hermit to his life's end. And SirBohort, Sir Hector, Sir Blamor, and Sir Bleoberis went into theHoly Land. And these four knights did many battles upon themiscreants, the Turks; and there they died upon a Good Friday, asit pleased God. 

Thus endeth this noble and joyous book, entitled "La Morted'Arthur;" notwithstanding it treateth of the birth, life, andacts of the said King Arthur, and of his noble Knights of theRound Table, their marvellous enquests and adventures, theachieving of the Sangreal, and, in the end, le Morte d'Arthur, with the dolorous death and departing out of this world of themall. Which book was reduced into English by Sir Thomas Mallory, Knight, and divided into twenty-one books, chaptered and imprintedand finished in the Abbey Westmestre, the last day of July, theyear of our Lord MCCCCLXXXV. 

Caxton me fieri fecit. 

THE MABINOGEON

INTRODUCTORY NOTE

It has been well known to the literati and antiquarians of Europethat there exist in the great public libraries voluminousmanuscripts of romances and tales once popular, but which on theinvention of printing had already become antiquated, and falleninto neglect. They were therefore never printed, and seldomperused even by the learned, until about half a century ago, whenattention was again directed to them, and they were found verycurious monuments of ancient manners, habits, and modes ofthinking. Several have since been edited, some by individuals, asSir Walter Scott and the poet Southey, others by antiquariansocieties. The class of readers which could be counted on for suchpublications was so small that no inducement of profit could befound to tempt editors and publishers to give them to the world. It was therefore only a few, and those the most accessible, whichwere put in print. There was a class of manuscripts of this kindwhich were known, or rather suspected, to be both curious andvaluable, but which it seemed almost hopeless to expect ever tosee in fair printed English. These were the Welsh popular talescalled Mabinogeon, a plural word, the singular being Mabinogi, atale. Manuscripts of these were contained in the Bodleian Libraryat Oxford and elsewhere, but the difficulty was to findtranslators and editors. The Welsh is a spoken language among thepeasantry of Wales, but is entirely neglected by the learned, unless they are natives of the principality. Of the few Welshscholars none were found who took sufficient interest in thisbranch of learning to give these productions to the Englishpublic. Southey and Scott, and others, who like them, loved theold romantic legends of their country, often urged upon the Welshliterati the duty of reproducing the Mabinogeon. Southey, in thepreface of his edition of "Moted'Arthur, " says: "The specimenswhich I have seen are exceedingly curious; nor is there a greaterdesideratum in British literature than an edition of these tales, with a literal version, and such comments as Mr. Davies of all menis best qualified to give. Certain it is that many of the roundtable fictions originated in Wales, or in Bretagne, and probablymight 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 itcarefully, with as literal a version as possible, I am sure itmight be made worth his while by a subscription, printing a smalledition at a high price, perhaps two hundred at five guineas. Imyself would gladly subscribe at that price per volume for such anedition of the whole of your genuine remains in prose and verse. Till some such collection is made, the 'gentlemen of Wales' oughtto be prohibited from wearing a leek; ay, and interdicted fromtoasted cheese also. Your bards would have met with better usageif they had been Scotchmen. "

Sharon Turner and Sir Walter Scott also expressed a similar wishfor the publication of the Welsh manuscripts. The former took partin 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, delightfullytranslated into so Welsh an idiom and syntax that such atranslation is as instructive as an original. " In another letterhe adds, "Let Sharon make his language grammatical, but not altertheir idiom in the slightest point. "

It is probable Mr. Owen did not proceed far in an undertakingwhich, so executed, could expect but little popular patronage. Itwas not till an individual should appear possessed of therequisite knowledge of the two languages, of enthusiasm sufficientfor the task, and of pecuniary resources sufficient to beindependent of the booksellers and of the reading public, thatsuch a work could be confidently expected. Such an individual has, since Southey's day and Scott's, appeared in the person of LadyCharlotte Guest, an English lady united to a gentleman of propertyin Wales, who, having acquired the language of the principality, and become enthusiastically fond of its literary treasures, hasgiven them to the English reader, in a dress which the printer'sand the engraver's arts have done their best to adorn. In fourroyal octavo volumes containing the Welsh originals, thetranslation, and ample illustrations from French, German, andother contemporary and affiliated literature, the Mabinogeon isspread before us. To the antiquarian and the student of languageand ethnology an invaluable treasure, it yet can hardly in such aform win its way to popular acquaintance. We claim no other meritthan that of bringing it to the knowledge of our readers, ofabridging its details, of selecting its most attractive portions, and of faithfully preserving throughout the style in which LadyGuest has clothed her legends. For this service we hope that ourreaders will confess we have laid them under no light obligation. 

CHAPTER I

THE BRITONS

The earliest inhabitants of Britain are supposed to have been abranch of that great family known in history by the designation ofCelts. Cambria, which is a frequent name for Wales, is thought tobe derived from Cymri, the name which the Welsh traditions applyto an immigrant people who entered the island from the adjacentcontinent. This name is thought to be identical with those ofCimmerians and Cimbri, under which the Greek and Roman historiansdescribe a barbarous people, who spread themselves from the northof 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 namesare said to signify "woodlanders;" others observe that Walsh, inthe northern languages, signifies a stranger, and that theaboriginal Britons were so called by those who at a later erainvaded the island and possessed the greater part of it, theSaxons and Angles. 

The Romans held Britain from the invasion of Julius Caesar tilltheir voluntary withdrawal from the island, A. D. 420, --that is, about five hundred years. In that time there must have been a widediffusion of their arts and institutions among the natives. Theremains of roads, cities, and fortifications show that they didmuch to develop and improve the country, while those of theirvillas and castles prove that many of the settlers possessedwealth and taste for the ornamental arts. Yet the Roman sway wassustained chiefly by force, and never extended over the entireisland. The northern portion, now Scotland, remained independent, and the western portion, constituting Wales and Cornwall, was onlynominally subjected. 

Neither did the later invading hordes succeed in subduing theremoter sections of the island. For ages after the arrival of theSaxons under Hengist and Horsa, A. D. 449, the whole western coastof Britain was possessed by the aboriginal inhabitants, engaged inconstant warfare with the invaders. 

It has, therefore, been a favorite boast of the people of Walesand Cornwall that the original British stock flourishes in itsunmixed purity only among them. We see this notion flashing out inpoetry occasionally, as when Gray, in "The Bard, " propheticallydescribing 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 Normanrace, 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 possessespoems the origin of which is referred with probability to thesixth century. The language of some of these is so antiquated thatthe best scholars differ about the interpretation of manypassages; but, generally speaking, the body of poetry which theWelsh possess, from the year 1000 downwards, is intelligible tothose who are acquainted with the modern language. 

Till within the last half-century these compositions remainedburied in the libraries of colleges or of individuals, and sodifficult of access that no successful attempt was made to givethem to the world. This reproach was removed after ineffectualappeals to the patriotism of the gentry of Wales, by Owen Jones, afurrier of London, who at his own expense collected and publishedthe chief productions of Welsh literature, under the title of theMyvyrian 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 toobtain support for the publication of the Mabinogeon or ProseTales of the Welsh, but died without accomplishing his purpose, which has since been carried into execution by Lady CharlotteGuest. The legends which fill the remainder of this volume aretaken from this work, of which we have already spoken more fullyin the introductory chapter to the First Part. 

THE WELSH BARDS

The authors to whom the oldest Welsh poems are attributed areAneurin, who is supposed to have lived A. D. 500 to 550, andTaliesin, Llywarch Hen (Llywarch the Aged), and Myrddin or Merlin, who were a few years later. The authenticity of the poems whichbear their names has been assailed, and it is still an openquestion how many and which of them are authentic, though it ishardly to be doubted that some are so. The poem of Aneurinentitled the "Gododin" bears very strong marks of authenticity. Aneurin was one of the Northern Britons of Strath-Clyde, who haveleft to that part of the district they inhabited the name ofCumberland, or Land of the Cymri. In this poem he laments thedefeat of his countrymen by the Saxons at the battle of Cattraeth, in consequence of having partaken too freely of the mead beforejoining in combat. The bard himself and two of his fellow-warriorswere all who escaped from the field. A portion of this poem hasbeen 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 markedwith mythical traits as to cast suspicion on the writingsattributed to him. This story will be found in the subsequentpages. 

THE TRIADS

The Triads are a peculiar species of poetical composition, ofwhich the Welsh bards have left numerous examples. They areenumerations 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, hasbeen raised by the Welsh to a degree of elegance of which ithardly at first sight appears susceptible. The Triads are of allages, some of them probably as old as anything in the language. Short as they are individually, the collection in the MyvyrianArchaeology occupies more than one hundred and seventy pages ofdouble columns. We will give some specimens, beginning withpersonal triads, and giving the first place to one of KingArthur'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 hischamber, and with him were Owain, the son of Urien, and Kynon, theson of Clydno, and Kay, the son of Kyner, and Guenever and herhandmaidens at needlework by the window. In the centre of thechamher King Arthur sat, upon a seat of green rushes, [Footnote:The use of green rushes in apartments was by no means peculiar tothe court of Carleon upon Usk. Our ancestors had a greatpredilection for them, and they seem to have constituted anessential article, not only of comfort, but of luxury. The customof strewing the floor with rushes is well known to have existed inEngland during the Middle Ages, and also in France. ] over whichwas spread a covering of flame-covered satin, and a cushion of redsatin was under his elbow. 

Then Arthur spoke. "If I thought you would not disparage me, " saidhe, "I would sleep while I wait for my repast; and you canentertain one another with relating tales, and can obtain a flagonof mead and some meat from Kay. " And the king went to sleep. AndKynon the son of Clydno asked Kay for that which Arthur hadpromised them. "I too will have the good tale which he promisedme, " said Kay. "Nay, " answered Kynon; "fairer will it be for theeto fulfil Arthur's behest in the first place, and then we willtell thee the best tale that we know. " So Kay went to the kitchenand to the mead-cellar, and returned, bearing a flagon of mead, and a golden goblet, and a handful of skewers, upon which werebroiled collops of meat. Then they ate the collops, and began todrink the mead. "Now, " said Kay, "it is time for you to give me mystory. " "Kynon, " said Owain, "do thou pay to Kay the tale that ishis due. " "I will do so, " answered Kynon. 

"I was the only son of my mother and father, and I was exceedinglyaspiring, and my daring was very great. I thought there was noenterprise in the world too mighty for me: and after I hadachieved all the adventures that were in my own country, Iequipped myself, and set forth to journey through deserts anddistant regions. And at length it chanced that I came to thefairest valley in the world, wherein were trees all of equalgrowth; and a river ran through the valley, and a path was by theside of the river. And I followed the path until midday, andcontinued my journey along the remainder of the valley until theevening; and at the extremity of the plain I came to a large andlustrous castle, at the foot of which was a torrent. And Iapproached the castle, and there I beheld two youths with yellowcurling hair, each with a frontlet of gold upon his head, and cladin a garment of yellow satin; and they had gold clasps upon theirinsteps. In the hand of each of them was an ivory bow, strung withthe sinews of the stag, and their arrows and their shafts were ofthe bone of the whale, and were winged with peacock's feathers. The shafts also had golden heads. And they had daggers with bladesof gold, and with hilts of the bone of the whale. And they wereshooting 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 yellowsatin, and round the top of his mantle was a band of gold lace. Onhis feet were shoes of variegated leather, [Footnote: Cordwal isthe word in the original, and from the manner in which it is usedit is evidently intended for the French Cordouan or Cordovanleather, which derived its name from Cordova, where it wasmanufactured. From this comes also our English word cordwainer. ]fastened by two bosses of gold. When I saw him I went towards himand saluted him; and such was his courtesy, that he no soonerreceived my greeting than he returned it. And he went with metowards the castle. Now there were no dwellers in the castle, except those who were in one hall. And there I saw four and twentydamsels, embroidering satin at a window. And this I tell thee, Kay, that the least fair of them was fairer than the fairest maidthou didst ever behold in the island of Britain; and the leastlovely of them was more lovely than Guenever, the wife of Arthur, when she appeared loveliest, at the feast of Easter. They rose upat my coming, and six of them took my horse, and divested me of myarmor, and six others took my arms and washed them in a vesseltill they were perfectly bright. And the third six spread clothsupon the tables and prepared meat. And the fourth six took off mysoiled garments and placed others upon me, namely, an under vestand a doublet of fine linen, and a robe and a surcoat, and amantle of yellow satin, with a broad gold band upon the mantle. And they placed cushions both beneath and around me, withcoverings of red linen, and I sat down. Now the six maidens whohad taken my horse unharnessed him as well as if they had been thebest squires in the island of Britain. 

"Then behold they brought bowls of silver, wherein was water towash 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 satnext to him, and below me sat all the maidens, except those whowaited on us. And the table was of silver, and the cloths upon thetable were of linen. And no vessel was served upon the table thatwas not either of gold or of silver or of buffalo horn. And ourmeat was brought to us. And verily, Kay, I saw there every sort ofmeat, and every sort of liquor that I ever saw elsewhere; but themeat and the liquor were better served there than I ever saw themin any other place. 

"Until the repast was half over, neither the man nor any one ofthe damsels spoke a single word to me; but when the man perceivedthat it would be more agreeable for me to converse than to eat anymore, he began to inquire of me who I was. Then I told the man whoI was and what was the cause of my journey, and said that I wasseeking whether any one was superior to me, or whether I couldgain mastery over all. The man looked upon me, and he smiled andsaid, 'If I did not fear to do thee a mischief, I would show theethat which thou seekest. ' Then I desired him to speak freely. Andhe said: 'Sleep here to-night, and in the morning arise early, andtake the road upwards through the valley, until thou readiest thewood. A little way within the wood thou wilt come to a largesheltered glade, with a mound in the centre. And thou wilt see ablack man of great stature on the top of the mound. He has but onefoot, and one eye in the middle of his forehead. He is the wood-ward of that wood. And thou wilt see a thousand wild animalsgrazing around him. Inquire of him the way out of the glade, andhe will reply to thee briefly, and will point out the road bywhich thou shalt find that which thou art in quest of. '

"And long seemed that night to me. And the next morning I aroseand equipped myself, and mounted my horse, and proceeded straightthrough the valley to the wood, and at length I arrived at theglade. And the black man was there, sitting upon the top of themound; and I was three times more astonished at the number of wildanimals that I beheld than the man had said I should be. Then Iinquired of him the way and he asked me roughly whither I wouldgo. 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, andthere thou wilt find an open space like to a large valley, and inthe midst of it a tall tree. Under this tree is a fountain, and bythe side of the fountain a marble slab, and on the marble slab asilver bowl, attached by a chain of silver, that it may not becarried away. Take, the bowl and throw a bowlful of water on theslab. And if thou dost not find trouble in that adventure, thouneedest not seek it during the rest of thy life. '

"So I journeyed on until I reached the summit of the steep. Andthere 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, andby its side the marble slab, and the silver bowl fastened by thechain. Then I took the bowl, and cast a bowlful of water upon theslab, and immediately I heard a mighty peal of thunder, so thatheaven and earth seemed to tremble with its fury. And after thethunder came a, shower; and of a truth I tell thee, Kay, that itwas such a shower as neither man nor beast could endure and live. I turned my horse's flank toward the shower, and placed the beakof my shield over his head and neck, while I held the upper partof it over my own neck. And thus I withstood the shower. Andpresently the sky became clear, and with that, behold, the birdslighted upon the tree, and sang. And truly, Kay, I never heard anymelody equal to that, either before or since. And when I was mostcharmed with listening to the birds, lo! a chiding voice was heardof one approaching me and saying: 'O knight, what has brought theehither? What evil have I done to thee that thou shouldst acttowards me and my possessions as thou hast this day? Dost thou notknow that the shower to-day has left in my dominions neither mannor beast alive that was exposed to it?' And thereupon, behold, aknight on a black horse appeared, clothed in jet-black velvet, andwith a tabard of black linen about him. And we charged each other, and, as the onset was furious, it was not long before I wasoverthrown. Then the knight passed the shaft of his lance throughthe 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 noticeupon me as to imprison me, nor did he despoil me of my arms. So Ireturned along the road by which I had come. And when I reachedthe glade where the black man was, I confess to thee, Kay, it is amarvel that I did not melt down into a liquid pool, through theshame that I felt at the black man's derision. And that night Icame to the same castle where I had spent the night preceding. AndI was more agreeably entertained that night than I had been thenight before. And I conversed freely with the inmates of thecastle; 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 baypalfrey, with nostrils as red as scarlet. And after putting on myarmor, 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 palfreyin the island of Britain. 

"Now, of a truth, Kay, no man ever before confessed to anadventure so much to his own discredit; and verily it seemsstrange to me that neither before nor since have I heard of anyperson who knew of this adventure, and that the subject of itshould exist within King Arthur's dominions without any otherperson lighting upon it. "

CHAPTER III

THE LADY OF THE FOUNTAIN (Continued)

OWAIN'S ADVENTURE

[Footnote: Amongst all the characters of early British historynone is the more interesting, or occupies more conspicuous place, than the hero of this tale. Urien, his father, was prince ofRheged, a district comprising the present Cumberland and part ofthe adjacent country. His valor, and the consideration in which hewas held, are a frequent theme of Bardic song, and form thesubject of several very spirited odes by Taliesin. Among theTriads there is one relating to him; it is thus translated:

"Three Knights of Battle were in court of Arthur Cadwr, the Earlof Cornwall, Launcelot du Lac, and Owain, the son of Urien. Andthis was their characteristic--that they would not retreat frombattle, neither for spear, nor for arrow, nor for sword. AndArthur 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 todiscover that place?"

"By the hand of my friend, " said Kay, "often dost thou utter thatwith 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 likeOwain. "

"By the hand of my friend, good lady, " said Kay, "thy praise ofOwain is not greater than mine. "

With that Arthur awoke, and asked if he had not been sleeping alittle. 

"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 hishousehold sat down to eat. And when the meal was ended Owainwithdrew to his lodging, and made ready his horse and his arms. 

On the morrow with the dawn of day he put on his armor, andmounted his charger, and travelled through distant lands, and overdesert mountains. And at length he arrived at the valley whichKynon had described to him, and he was certain that it was thesame that he sought. And journeying along the valley, by the sideof the river, he followed its course till he came to the plain, and within sight of the castle. When he approached the castle hesaw the youths shooting with their bows, in the place where Kynonhad 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 thechamber; and when he had entered the chamber, he beheld themaidens working at satin embroidery, in chains of gold. And theirbeauty and their comeliness seemed to Owain far greater than Kynonhad represented to him. And they arose to wait upon Owain, as theyhad done to Kynon. And the meal which they set before him gaveeven more satisfaction to Owain than it had done to Kynon. 

About the middle of the repast the yellow man asked Owain theobject of his journey. And Owain made it known to him, and said, "I am in quest of the knight who guards the fountain. " Upon thisthe yellow man smiled, and said that he was as loth to point outthat adventure to him as he had been to Kynon. However, hedescribed the whole to Owain, and they retired to rest. 

The next morning Owain found his horse made ready for him by thedamsels, and he set forward and came to the glade where the blackman was. And the stature of the black man seemed more wonderful toOwain 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 cameto the green tree; and he beheld the fountain, and the slab besidethe fountain, with the bowl upon it. And Owain took the bowl andthrew a bowlful of water upon the slab. And, lo! the thunder washeard, and after the thunder came the shower, more violent thanKynon 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 knightcoming towards him through the valley; and he prepared to receivehim, and encountered him violently. Having broken both theirlances, they drew their swords and fought blade to blade. ThenOwain struck the knight a blow through his helmet, head-piece, andvisor, and through the skin, and the flesh, and the bone, until itwounded the very brain. Then the black knight felt that he hadreceived a mortal wound, upon which he turned his horse's head andfled. And Owain pursued him and followed close upon him, althoughhe was not near enough to strike him with his sword. Then Owaindescried a vast and resplendent castle; and they came to thecastle gate. And the black knight was allowed to enter, and theportcullis was let fall upon Owain; and it struck his horse behindthe saddle, and cut him in two, and carried away the rowels of thespurs that were upon Owains' heels. And the portcullis descendedto the floor. And the rowels of the spurs and part of the horsewere without, and Owain with the other part of the horse remainedbetween the two gates, and the inner gate was closed, so thatOwain could not go thence; and Owain was in a perplexingsituation. And while he was in this state, he could see through anaperture in the gate a street facing him, with a row of houses oneach side. And he beheld a maiden, with yellow, curling hair, anda frontlet of gold upon her head; and she was clad in a dress ofyellow 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 meto 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 thedamsel, "it is very sad that thou canst not be released; and everywoman ought to succor thee, for I know there is no one morefaithful in the service of ladies than thou. Therefore, " quothshe, "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 thyhand, and close thy hand upon the stone. And as long as thouconcealest it, it will conceal thee. When they come forth to fetchthee, they will be much grieved that they cannot find thee. And Iwill await thee on the horseblock yonder, and thou wilt be able tosee me, though I cannot see thee. Therefore come and place thyhand upon my shoulder, that I may know that thou art near me. Andby the way that I go hence do thou accompany me. "

Then the maiden went away from Owain, and he did all that she hadtold him. And the people of the castle came to seek Owain to puthim to death; and when they found nothing but the half of hishorse, they were sorely grieved. 

And Owain vanished from among them, and went to the maiden, andplaced his hand upon her shoulder; whereupon she set off, andOwain followed her, until they came to the door of a large andbeautiful chamber, and the maiden opened it, and they went in. AndOwain looked around the chamber, and behold there was not a singlenail in it that was not painted with gorgeous colors, and therewas not a single panel that had not sundry images in goldportrayed upon it. 

The maiden kindled a fire, and took water in a silver bowl, andgave Owain water to wash. Then she placed before him a silvertable, inlaid with gold; upon which was a cloth of yellow linen, and she brought him food. And, of a truth, Owain never saw anykind of meat that was not there in abundance, but it was bettercooked there than he had ever found it in any other place. Andthere was not one vessel from which he was served that was not ofgold or of silver. And Owain eat and drank until late in theafternoon, when lo! they heard a mighty clamor in the castle, andOwain asked the maiden what it was. "They are administeringextreme unction, " said she, "to the nobleman who owns the castle. "And she prepared a couch for Owain which was meet for Arthurhimself, and Owain went to sleep. 

And a little after daybreak he heard an exceeding loud clamor andwailing, and he asked the maiden what was the cause of it. "Theyare bearing to the church the body of the nobleman who owned thecastle. "

And Owain rose up, and clothed himself, and opened a window of thechamber, and looked towards the castle; and he could see neitherthe bounds nor the extent of the hosts that filled the streets. And they were fully armed; and a vast number of women were withthem, both on horseback and on foot, and all the ecclesiastics inthe city singing. In the midst of the throng he beheld the bier, over which was a veil of white linen; and wax tapers were burningbeside and around it; and none that supported the bier was lowerin 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 beenbrought to them by the Seres, the ancestors of the presentBoukharians, whence it derived its Latin name of Serica. In 551the silkworm was brought by two monks to Constantinople, but themanufacture of silk was confined to the Greek empire till the year1130, when Roger, king of Sicily, returning from a crusade, collected some manufacturers from Athens and Corinth, andestablished them at Palermo, whence the trade was graduallydisseminated over Italy. The varieties of silk stuffs known atthis time were velvet, satin (which was called samite), andtaffety (called cendal or sendall), all of which were occasionallystitched with gold and silver. ] and satin. And, following thetrain, he beheld a lady with yellow hair falling over hershoulders, and stained with blood; and about her a dress of yellowsatin, which was torn. Upon her feet were shoes of variegatedleather. And it was a marvel that the ends of her fingers were notbruised from the violence with which she smote her hands together. Truly she would have been the fairest lady Owain ever saw, had shebeen in her usual guise. And her cry was louder than the shout ofthe men or the clamor of the trumpets. No sooner had he beheld thelady than he became inflamed with her love, so that it took entirepossession 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, andthe most liberal, and the most noble of women. She is my mistress, and she is called the Countess of the Fountain, the wife of himwhom thou didst slay yesterday. " "Verily, " said Owain, "she is thewoman that I love best. " "Verily, " said the maiden, "she shallalso love thee, not a little. "

Then the maiden prepared a repast for Owain, and truly he thoughthe had never before so good a meal, nor was he ever so wellserved. Then she left him, and went towards the castle. When shecame there, she found nothing but mourning and sorrow; and theCountess in her chamber could not bear the sight of any onethrough grief. Luned, for that was the name of the maiden, salutedher, but the Countess answered her not. And the maiden bent downtowards her, and said, "What aileth thee, that thou answereth noone to-day?" "Luned, " said the Countess, "what change hathbefallen thee, that thou hast not come to visit me in my grief. Itwas wrong in thee, and I so sorely afflicted. " "Truly, " saidLuned, "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 anythingelse that thou canst not have?" "I declare to Heaven, " said theCountess, "that in the whole world there is not a man equal tohim. " "Not so, " said Luned, "for an ugly man would be as good asor better than he. " "I declare to Heaven, " said the Countess, "that were it not repugnant to me to put to death one whom I havebrought up, I would have thee executed for making such acomparison to me. As it is, I will banish thee. " "I am glad, " saidLuned, "that thou hast no other cause to do so than that I wouldhave been of service to thee, where thou didst not know what wasto thine advantage. Henceforth, evil betide whichever of us shallmake the first advance towards reconciliation to the other, whether I should seek an invitation from thee, or thou of thineown accord should send to invite. "

With that Luned went forth; and the Countess arose and followedher to the door of the chamber, and began coughing loudly. Andwhen Luned looked back, the Countess beckoned to her, and shereturned to the Countess. "In truth, " said the Countess, "evil isthy 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 impossiblefor thee to preserve thy possessions; delay not, therefore, toseek some one who can defend them. " "And how can I do that?" saidthe Countess. "I will tell thee, " said Luned; "unless thou canstdefend the fountain, thou canst not maintain thy dominions; and noone can defend the fountain except it be a knight of Arthur'shousehold. I will go to Arthur's court, and ill betide me if Ireturn not thence with a warrior who can guard the fountain aswell as, or even better than, he who defended it formerly. " "Thatwill be hard to perform, " said the Countess. "Go, however, andmake proof of that which thou hast promised, "

Luned set out under the pretence of going to Arthur's court; butshe went back to the mansion where she had left Owain, and shetarried there as long as it might have taken her to travel to thecourt of King Arthur and back. And at the end of that time sheapparelled herself, and went to visit the Countess. And theCountess was much rejoiced when she saw her, and inquired whatnews she brought from the court. "I bring thee the best of news, "said Luned, "for I have compassed the object of my mission. Whenwilt thou that I should present to thee the chieftain who has comewith me hither?" "Bring him here to visit me to-morrow, " said theCountess, "and I will cause the town to be assembled by thattime. "

And Luned returned home. And the next day at noon, Owain arrayedhimself 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 werehigh shoes of variegated leather, which were fastened by goldenclasps, in the form of lions. And they proceeded to the chamber ofthe Countess. 

Right glad was the Countess of their coming. And she gazedsteadfastly upon Owain, and said, "Luned, this knight has not thelook of a traveller. " "What harm is there in that, lady?" saidLuned. "I am certain, " said the Countess, "that no other man thanthis chased the soul from the body of my lord. " "So much thebetter for thee, lady, " said Luned, "for had he not been strongerthan thy lord, he could not have deprived him of life. There is noremedy for that which is past, be it as it may. " "Go back to thineabode, " said the Countess, "and I will take counsel. "

The next day the Countess caused all her subjects to assemble, andshowed them that her earldom was left defenceless, and that itcould not be protected but with horse and arms, and militaryskill. "Therefore, " said she, "this is what I offer for yourchoice: either let one of you take me, or give your consent for meto take a husband from elsewhere, to defend my dominions. "

So they came to the determination that it was better that sheshould have permission to marry some one from elsewhere; andthereupon she sent for the bishops and archbishops, to celebrateher nuptials with Owain. And the men of the earldom did Owainhomage. 

And Owain defended the fountain with lance and sword. And this isthe manner in which he defended it. Whensoever a knight camethere, he overthrew him, and sold him for his full worth. And whathe thus gained he divided among his barons and his knights, and noman in the whole world could be more beloved than he was by hissubjects. And it was thus for the space of three years. 

[Footnote: There exists an ancient poem, printed among those ofTaliesin, called the "Elegy of Owain ap Urien, " and containingseveral 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 incessantwarfare 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, heperceived him to be very sad and sorrowful. And Gawain was muchgrieved to see Arthur in his state, and he questioned him, saying, "O my lord, what has befallen thee?" "In sooth, Gawain, " saidArthur, "I am grieved concerning Owain, whom I have lost thesethree years; and I shall certainly die if the fourth year passwithout my seeing him. Now I am sure that it is through the talewhich Kynon, the son of Clydno, related, that I have lost Owain. ""There is no need for thee, " said Gawain, "to summon to arms thywhole dominions on this account, for thou thyself, and the men ofthy household, will be able to avenge Owain if he be slain or toset him free if he be in prison; and, if alive, to bring him backwith thee. " And it was settled according to what Gawain had said. 

Then Arthur and the men of his household prepared to go and seekOwain. And Kynon, the son of Clydno, acted as their guide. AndArthur came to the castle where Kynon had been before. And when hecame there, the youths were shooting in the same place, and theyellow man was standing hard by. When the yellow man saw Arthur, he greeted him, and invited him to the castle. And Arthur acceptedhis invitation, and they entered the castle together. And great aswas the number of his retinue, their presence was scarcelyobserved in the castle, so vast was its extent. And the maidensrose up to wait on them. And the service of the maidens appearedto them all to excel any attendance they had ever met with; andeven the pages, who had charge of the horses, were no worse servedthat 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 ofthe black man was more surprising to Arthur than it had beenrepresented to him. And they came to the top of the wooded steep, and traversed the valley, till they reached the green tree, wherethey saw the fountain and the bowl and the slab. And upon that Kaycame to Arthur, and spoke to him. "My lord, " said he, "I know themeaning of all this, and my request is that thou wilt permit me tothrow the water on the slab, and to receive the first adventurethat may befall. " And Arthur gave him leave. 

Then Kay threw a bowlful of water upon the slab, and immediatelythere came the thunder, and after the thunder the shower. And sucha thunder-storm they had never known before. After the shower hadceased, the sky became clear, and on looking at the tree, theybeheld it completely leafless. Then the birds descended upon thetree. And the song of the birds was far sweeter than any strainthey 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 beforeKay was overthrown. And the knight withdrew. And Arthur and hishost encamped for the night. 

And when they arose in the morning, they perceived the signal ofcombat upon the lance of the knight. Then, one by one, all thehousehold of Arthur went forth to combat the knight, until therewas not one that was not overthrown by him, except Arthur andGawain. And Arthur armed himself to encounter the knight. "O mylord, " said Gawain, "permit me to fight with him first. " AndArthur permitted him. And he went forth to meet the knight, havingover himself and his horse a satin robe of honor, which had beensent him by the daughter of the Earl of Rhangyr, and in this dresshe 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 wasable to unhorse the other. And so it was the next day; they broketheir lances in the shock, but neither of them could obtain themastery. 

And the third day they fought with exceeding strong lances. Andthey were incensed with rage, and fought furiously, even untilnoon. And they gave each other such a shock that the girths oftheir horses were broken, so that they fell over their horses'cruppers to the ground. And they rose up speedily and drew theirswords, and resumed the combat. And all they that witnessed theirencounter felt assured that they had never before seen two men sovaliant or so powerful. And had it been midnight, it would havebeen light, from the fire that flashed from their weapons. And theknight gave Gawain a blow that turned his helmet from off hisface, 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 therobe 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 advancedtoward them. "My lord Arthur, " said Gawam, "here is Owain who hasvanquished 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 hasvanquished the other. " Then Owain put his arms around Arthur'sneck, and they embraced. And all the host hurried forward to seeOwain, and to embrace him. And there was nigh being a loss oflife, so great was the press. 

And they retired that night, and the next day Arthur prepared todepart. "My lord, " said Owain, "this is not well of thee. For Ihave been absent from thee these three years, and during all thattime, up to this very day, I have been preparing a banquet forthee, knowing that thou wouldst come to seek me. Tarry with me, therefore, until thou and thy attendants have recovered thefatigues of the journey, and have been anointed. "

And they all proceeded to the castle of the Countess of theFountain, and the banquet which had been three years preparing wasconsumed in three months. Never had they a more delicious oragreeable banquet. And Arthur prepared to depart. Then he sent anembassy to the Countess to beseech her to permit Owain to go withhim, for the space of three months, that he might show him to thenobles and the fair dames of the island of Britain. And theCountess gave her consent, although it was very painful to her. SoOwain came with Arthur to the island of Britain. And when he wasonce more amongst his kindred and friends, he remained threeyears, instead of three months, with them. 

THE ADVENTURE OF THE LION

And as Owain one day sat at meat, in the city of Caerleon uponUsk, behold a damsel entered the hall, upon a bay horse, with acurling mane, and covered with foam; and the bridle, and as muchas was seen of the saddle, were of gold. And the damsel wasarrayed in a dress of yellow satin. And she came up to Owain, andtook the ring from off his hand. "Thus, " said she, "shall betreated 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 hisguests sat at meat might be illustrated by numerous passages ofancient romance and history. But a quotation from Chaucer'sbeautiful 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 wassorrowful. And having finished eating, he went to his own abode, and made preparations that night. And the next day he arose, butdid not go to the court, nor did he return to the Countess of theFountain, but wandered to the distant parts of the earth and touncultivated mountains. And he remained there until all hisapparel was worn out, and his body was wasted away, and his hairwas grown long. And he went about with the wild beasts, and fedwith them, until they became familiar with him. But at length hebecame so weak that he could no longer bear them company. Then hedescended from the mountains to the valley, and came to a park, that was the fairest in the world, and belonged to a charitablelady. 

One day the lady and her attendants went forth to walk by a lakethat was in the middle of the park. And they saw the form of aman, lying as if dead. And they were terrified. Nevertheless theywent near him, and touched him, and they saw that there was lifein him. And the lady returned to the castle, and took a flask fullof precious ointment and gave it to one of her maidens. "Go withthis, " said she, "and take with thee yonder horse, and clothing, and place them near the man we saw just now; and anoint him withthis balsam near his heart; and if there is life in him, he willrevive, through the efficiency of this balsam. Then watch what hewill do. "

And the maiden departed from her, and went and poured of thebalsam 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 shorttime, she saw him begin to move; and he rose up, and looked at hisperson, 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 heand the maiden proceeded to the castle, and the maiden conductedhim to a pleasant chamber, and kindled a fire, and left him. 

And he stayed at the castle three months, till he was restored tohis former guise, and became even more comely than he had everbeen before. And Owain rendered signal service to the lady, in acontroversy with a powerful neighbor, so that he made amplerequital to her for her hospitality; and he took his departure. 

And as he journeyed he heard a loud yelling in a wood. And it wasrepeated a second and a third time. And Owain went towards thespot, 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 therock, and a serpent was within the cleft. And near the rock stooda black lion, and every time the lion sought to go thence theserpent darted towards him to attack him. And Owain unsheathed hissword, and drew near to the rock; and as the serpent sprung out hestruck him with his sword and cut him in two. And he dried hissword, and went on his way as before. But behold the lion followedhim, and played about him, as though it had been a greyhound thathe had reared. 

They proceeded thus throughout the day, until the evening. Andwhen it was time for Owain to take his rest he dismounted, andturned his horse loose in a flat and wooded meadow. And he struckfire, and when the fire was kindled, the lion brought him fuelenough to last for three nights. And the lion disappeared. Andpresently the lion returned, bearing a fine large roebuck. And hethrew it down before Owain, who went towards the fire with it. 

And Owain took the roebuck, and skinned it, and placed collops ofits flesh upon skewers round the fire. The rest of the buck hegave to the lion to devour. While he was so employed, he heard adeep groan near him, and a second, and a third. And the placewhence the groans proceeded was a cave in the rock; and Owain wentnear, and called out to know who it was that groaned so piteously. And a voice answered, "I am Luned, the hand-maiden of the Countessof the Fountain. " "And what dost thou here?" said he. "I amimprisoned, " said she, "on account of the knight who came fromArthur's court, and married the Countess. And he staid a shorttime with her, but he afterwards departed for the court of Arthur, and has not returned since. And two of the Countess's pagestraduced him, and called him a deceiver. And because I said Iwould vouch for it he would come before long and maintain hiscause against both of them, they imprisoned me in this cave, andsaid 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 Ihave no one to send to seek him for me. His name is Owain, the sonof Urien. " "And art thou certain that if that knight knew allthis, 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 downto sleep; and never did sentinel keep stricter watch over his lordthan the lion that night over Owain. 

And the next day there came the two pages with a great troop ofattendants to take Luned from her cell, and put her to death. AndOwain asked them what charge they had against her. And they toldhim of the compact that was between them; as the maiden had donethe night before. "And, " said they, "Owain has failed her, therefore we are taking her to be burnt. " "Truly, " said Owain, "heis a good knight; and if he knew that the maiden was in suchperil, I marvel that he came not to her rescue. But if you willaccept 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 withthat, the lion came to Owain's assistance, and they two got thebetter of the young men And they said to him, "Chieftain, it wasnot agreed that we should fight save with thyself alone, and it isharder for us to contend with yonder animal than with thee. " AndOwain put the lion in the place where Luned had been imprisoned, and blocked up the door with stones. And he went to fight with theyoung men as before. But Owain had not his usual strength, and thetwo youths pressed hard upon him. And the lion roared incessantlyat seeing Owain in trouble. And he brust through the wall, untilhe found a way out, and rushed upon the young men and instantlyslew them. So Luned was saved from being burned. 

Then Owain returned with Luned to the castle of the Lady of theFountain. And when he went thence, he took the Countess with himto 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. Andthere he held it seven Easters and five Christmases. And once upona time he held his court there at Whitsuntide. For Caerleon wasthe place most easy of access in his dominions, both by sea and byland. And there were assembled nine crowned kings, who were histributaries, and likewise earls and barons. For they were hisinvited guests at all the high festivals, unless they wereprevented by any great hinderatice. And when he was at Caerleonholding his court, thirteen churches were set apart for mass. Andthus they were appointed: one church for Arthur and his kings, andhis guests; and the second for Guenever and her ladies; and thethird for the steward of the household and the suitors; and thefourth for the Franks and the other officers; and the other ninechurches were for the nine masters of the household, and chieflyfor Gawain, for he, from the eminence of his warlike fame, andfrom the nobleness of his birth, was the most exalted of the nine. And there was no other arrangement respecting the churches thanthat which we have here mentioned. 

And on Whit-Tuesday, as the king sat at the banquet, lo, thereentered a tall, fair-headed youth, clad in a coat and surcoat ofsatin, and a golden-hilted sword about his neck, and low shoes ofleather upon his feet. And he came and stood before Arthur. "Hailto thee, lord, " said he. "Heaven prosper thee, " he answered, "andbe 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 astag, the like of which beheld I never yet. " "What is there abouthim, " asked Arthur, "that thou never yet didst see his like?" "Heis of pure white, lord, and he does not herd with any otheranimal, through stateliness and pride, so royal is his bearing. And I come to seek thy counsel, lord, and to know thy willconcerning him. " "It seems best to me, " said Arthur, "to go andhunt him to-morrow at break of day, and to cause general noticethereof 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 chiefpage. And all received notice; and thus it was arranged. 

Then Guenever said to Arthur, "Wilt thou permit me, lord, to goto-morrow to see and hear the hunt of the stag of which the youngman spoke?" "I will gladly, " said Arthur. And Gawain said toArthur, "Lord, if it seem well to thee, permit that into whosehunt soever the stag shall come, that one, be he a knight or oneon 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. " "Igrant it gladly, " said Arthur, "and let the steward of thehousehold be chastised, if all things are not ready to-morrow forthe chase. "

And they passed the night with songs, and diversions, anddiscourse, and ample entertainment. And when it was time for themall to go to sleep, they went. And when the next day came, theyarose. And Arthur called the attendants who guarded his couch. Andthere were four pages whose names were Cadyrnerth, the son ofGandwy, and Ambreu, the son of Bedwor and Amhar, the son of Arthurand Goreu, the son of Custennin. And these men came to Arthur andsaluted him, and arrayed him in his garments. And Arthur wonderedthat Guenever did not awake, and the attendants wished to awakenher. "Disturb her not, " said Arthur, "for she had rather sleepthan go to see the hunting. "

Then Arthur went forth, and he heard two horns sounding, one fromnear the lodging of the chief huntsman, and the other from nearthat of the chief page. And the whole assembly of the multitudescame 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, " saidshe, "I had leave last night to go and see the hunt. Go one of youto 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 throughthe Usk, and followed the track of the men and the horses. And asthey rode thus, they heard a loud and rushing sound; and theylooked behind them, and beheld a knight upon a hunter foal ofmighty 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 shoesof leather upon his feet; and around him was a scarf of bluepurple, 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 heovertook Guenever, and saluted her. "Heaven prosper thee, Geraint, " said she; "and why didst thou not go with thy lord tohunt?" "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 wholekingdom; and it may be I shall be more amused with the huntingthan they; for we shall hear the horns when they sound and weshall 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 letloose. " And thereupon they heard a loud noise; and they lookedtowards the spot whence it came, and they beheld a dwarf ridingupon a horse, stately and foaming and prancing and strong andspirited. And in the hand of the dwarf was a whip. And near thedwarf they saw a lady upon a beautiful white horse, of steady andstately pace; and she was clothed in a garment of gold brocade. And near her was a knight upon a war-horse of large size, withheavy and bright armor both upon himself and upon his horse. Andtruly they never before saw a knight, or a horse, or armor, ofsuch remarkable size. 

"Geraint, " said Guenever, "knowest thou the name of that tallknight yonder?" "I know him not, " said he, "and the strange armorthat he wears prevents my either seeing his face or his features. ""Go, maiden, " said Guenever, "and ask the dwarf who that knightis. " Then the maiden went up to the dwarf; and she inquired of thedwarf 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 theeto speak to my lord. " Then the maiden turned her horse's headtowards the knight, upon which the dwarf struck her with the whipthat was in his hand across the face and the eyes, so that theblood flowed forth. And the maiden returned to Guenever, complaining of the hurt she had received. "Very rudely has thedwarf treated thee, " said Geraint, and he put his hand upon thehilt of his sword. But he took counsel with himself, andconsidered that it would be no vengeance for him to slay thedwarf, and to be attacked unarmed by the armed knight; so herefrained. 

"Lady, " said he, "I will follow him, with thy permission, and atlast 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 theknight. " "Go, " said she, "and do not attack him until thou hastgood arms; and I shall be very anxious concerning thee, until Ihear tidings of thee. " "If I am alive, " said he, "thou shalt heartidings of me by to-morrow afternoon;" and with that he departed. 

And the road they took was below the palace of Caerleon, andacross the ford of the Usk; and they went along a fair and evenand lofty ridge of ground, until they came to a town, and at theextremity of the town they saw a fortress and a castle. And as theknight passed through the town all the people arose and salutedhim, and bade him welcome. And when Geraint came into the town, helooked 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 lethim have arms, either as a loan or for a pledge. And every househe saw was full of men, and arms, and horses. And they werepolishing shields, and burnishing swords, and washing armor, andshoeing horses. And the knight and the lady and the dwarf rode upto the castle, that was in the town, and every one was glad in thecastle. And from the battlements and the gates they risked theirnecks, through their eagerness to greet them, and to show theirjoy. 

Geraint stood there to see whether the knight would remain in thecastle; and when he was certain that he would do so, he lookedaround him. And at a little distance from the town he saw an oldpalace 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 oldpalace. And when he came near to the palace, he saw a hoary-headedman, standing by it, in tattered garments. And Geraint gazedsteadfastly 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 thoucome forward this way, chieftain, " said he, "and thou shalt haveof the best that can be procured for thee. " So Geraint wentforward. And the hoary-headed man led the way into the hall. Andin the hall he dismounted, and he left there his horse. Then hewent on to the upper chamber with the hoary-headed man. And in thechamber he beheld an old woman, sitting on a cushion, with old, worn-out garments upon her; yet it seemed to him that she musthave been comely when in the bloom of youth. And beside her was amaiden, upon whom were a vest and a veil that were old andbeginning to be worn out. And truly he never saw a maiden morefull of comeliness and grace and beauty than she. And the hoary-headed man said to the maiden, "There is no attendant for thehorse of this youth but thyself. " "I will render the best serviceI am able, " said she, "both to him and to his horse. " And themaiden disarrayed the youth, and then she furnished his horse withstraw and corn; and then she returned to the chamber. And thehoary-headed man said to the maiden, "Go to the town and bringhither 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 hisback a costrel full of good purchased mead, and a quarter of ayoung bullock. And in the hands of the maiden was a quantity ofwhite bread, and she had some manchet bread in her veil, and shecame into the chamber. "I would not obtain better than this, " saidshe, "nor with better should I have been trusted. " "It is goodenough, " said Geraint. And they caused the meat to be boiled; andwhen their food was ready, they sat down. And it was in this wise. Geraint sat between the hoary-headed man and his wife, and themaiden 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 belongedthe palace that he was in. "Truly, " said he, "it was I that builtit, and to me also belonged the city and the castle which thousawest. " "Alas!" said Geraint, "how is it that thou hast lost themnow?" "I lost a great earldom as well as these, " said he, "andthis 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 enterupon them, so he made war upon me, and wrested from me not onlyhis own, but also my estates, except this castle. " "Good sir, "said Geraint, "wilt thou tell me wherefore came the knight and thelady and the dwarf just now into the town, and what is thepreparation which I saw, and the putting of arms in order?" "Iwill do so, " said he. "The preparations are for the game that isto be held to-morrow by the young earl, which will be on thiswise. In the midst of a meadow which is here, two forks will beset up, and upon the two forks a silver rod, and upon the silverrod a sparrow-hawk, and for the sparrow-hawk there will be atournament. And to the tournament will go all the array thou didstsee in the city, of men and of horses and of arms. And with eachman will go the lady he loves best; and no man can joust for thesparrow-hawk, except the lady he loves best be with him. And theknight that thou sawest has gained the sparrow-hawk these twoyears; and if he gains it the third year, he will be called theKnight of the Sparrow-hawk from that time forth. " "Sir, " saidGeraint, "what is thy counsel to me concerning this knight, onaccount of the insult which the maiden of Guenever received fromthe dwarf?" And Geraint told the hoary-headed man what the insultwas 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 thoucouldst have, and there is my horse also, if he seem to theebetter than thine own. " "Ah, sir, " said he, "Heaven reward thee!But my own horse to which I am accustomed, together with thinearms, will suffice me. And if, when the appointed time shall cometo-morrow thou wilt permit me, sir, to challenge for yonder maidenthat is thy daughter, I will engage, if I escape from thetournament, to love the maiden as long as I live. " "Gladly will Ipermit thee, " said the hoary-headed man; "and since thou dost thusresolve, it is necessary that thy horse and arms should be readyto-morrow at break of day. For then the Knight of the Sparrow-hawkwill make proclamation, and ask the lady he loves best to take thesparrow-hawk; and if any deny it to her, by force will he defendher claim. And therefore, " said the hoary-headed man, "it isneedful for thee to be there at daybreak, and we three will bewith thee. " And thus was it settled. 

And at night they went to sleep. And before the dawn they aroseand arrayed themselves; and by the time that it was day, they wereall four in the meadow. And there was the Knight of the Sparrow-hawk making the proclamation, and asking his lady-love to take thesparrow-hawk. "Take it not, " said Geraint, "for here is a maidenwho is fairer, and more noble, and more comely, and who has abetter claim to it than thou. " Then said the knight, "If thoumaintainest the sparrow-hawk to be due to her, come forward and dobattle with me. " And Geraint went forward to the top of themeadow, having upon himself and upon his horse armor which washeavy and rusty, and of uncouth shape. Then they encountered eachother, and they broke a set of lances; and they broke a secondset, and a third. And when the earl and his company saw the Knightof the Sparrow-hawk gaining the mastery, there was shouting andjoy and mirth amongst them; and the hoary-headed man and his wifeand his daughter were sorrowful. And the hoary-headed man servedGeraint with lances as often as he broke them, and the dwarfserved the Knight of the Sparrow-hawk. Then the hoary-headed mansaid 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 Ireceived the honor of knighthood, and from that time to this Inever broke it, and it has an excellent point. " Then Geraint tookthe lance, thanking the hoary-headed man. And thereupon the dwarfalso brought a lance to his lord. "Behold, here is a lance forthee, not less good than his, " said the dwarf. "And bethink theethat no knight ever withstood thee so long as this one has done. ""I declare to Heaven, " said Geraint, "that unless death takes mequickly hence, he shall fare never the better for thy service. "And Geraint pricked his horse towards him from afar, and, warninghim, he rushed upon him, and gave him a blow so severe, andfurious, and fierce, upon the face of his shield, that he cleft itin two, and broke his armor, and burst his girths, so that both heand his saddle were borne to the ground over the horse's crupper. And Geraint dismounted quickly. And he was wroth, and he drew hissword, and rushed fiercely upon him. Then the knight also arose, and drew his sword against Geraint. And they fought on foot withtheir swords until their arms struck sparks of fire like starsfrom one another; and thus they continued fighting until the bloodand sweat obscured the light from their eyes. At length Geraintcalled to him all his strength, and struck the knight upon thecrown of his head, so that he broke all his head-armor, and cutthrough all the flesh and the skin, even to the skull, until hewounded the bone. 

Then the knight fell upon his knees, and cast his sword from hishand, and besought mercy from Geraint. "Of a truth, " said he, "Irelinquish my overdaring and my pride, and crave thy mercy; andunless I have time to commit myself to Heaven for my sins, and totalk with a priest, thy mercy will avail me little. " "I will grantthee grace upon this condition, " said Geraint, "that thou go toGuenever, the wife of Arthur, to do her satisfaction for theinsult which her maiden received from thy dwarf. Dismount not fromthe time thou goest hence until thou comest into the presence ofGuenever, to make her what atonement shall be adjudged at thecourt of Arthur. " "This will I do gladly; and who art thou?" "I amGeraint, the son of Erbin; and declare thou also who thou art. " "Iam Edeym, the son of Nudd. " Then he threw himself upon his horse, and went forward to Arthur's court; and the lady he loved bestwent before him, and the dwarf, with much lamentation. 

Then came the young earl and his hosts to Geraint, and salutedhim, 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 ofall that I can command for thee; and I will order ointment forthee, to recover thee from thy fatigues, and from the wearinessthat is upon thee. " "Heaven reward thee, " said Geraint, "and Iwill go to my lodging. " And thus went Geraint and Earl Ynywl, andhis wife and his daughter. And when they reached the old mansion, the household servants and attendants of the young earl hadarrived, and had arranged all the apartments, dressing them withstraw and with fire; and in a short time the ointment was ready, and Geraint came there, and they washed his head. Then came theyoung earl, with forty honorable knights from among hisattendants, and those who were bidden to the tournament. AndGeraint came from the anointing. And the earl asked him to go tothe hall to eat. "Where is the Earl Ynywl, " said Geraint, "and hiswife and his daughter?" "They are in the chamber yonder, " said theearl's chamberlain, "arraying themselves in garments which theearl has caused to be brought for them. " "Let not the damsel arrayherself, " said he, "except in her vest and her veil, until shecome to the court of Arthur, to be clad by Guenever in suchgarments as she may choose. " So the maiden did not array herself. 

Then they all entered the hall, and they washed, and sat down tomeat. And thus were they seated. On one side of Geraint sat theyoung earl, and Earl Ynywl beyond him, and on the other side ofGeraint was the maiden and her mother. And after these all sataccording to their precedence in honor. And they ate. And theywere served abundantly, and they received a profusion of diverskinds of gifts. Then they conversed together. And the young earlinvited Geraint to visit him next day. "I will not, by Heaven, "said Geraint. "To the court of Arthur will I go with this maidento-morrow. And it is enough for me, as long as Earl Ynywl is inpoverty and trouble; and I go chiefly to seek to add to hismaintenance. " "Ah, chieftain, " said the young earl, "it is not bymy fault that Earl Ynywl is without his possessions. " "By myfaith, " said Geraint, "he shall not remain without them, unlessdeath quickly takes me hence. " "O chieftain, " said he, "withregard to the disagreement between me and Ynywl, I will gladlyabide by thy counsel, and agree to what thou mayest judge rightbetween us. " "I but ask thee, " said Geraint, "to restore to himwhat is his, and what he should have received from the time helost his possessions even until this day. " "That will I do, gladly, for thee, " answered he. "Then, " said Geraint, "whosoeveris here who owes homage to Ynywl, let him come forward, andperform it on the spot. " And all the men did so; and by thattreaty they abided. And his castle and his town, and all hispossessions, were restored to Ynywl. And he received back all thathe had lost, even to the smallest jewel. 

Then spoke Earl Ynywl to Geraint. "Chieftain, " said he, "beholdthe maiden for whom thou didst challenge at the tournament; Ibestow her upon thee. " "She shall go with me, " said Geraint, "tothe court of Arthur, and Arthur and Guenever, they shall disposeof her as they will. " And the next day they proceeded to Arthur'scourt. 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 weredivided into hunting-parties, and the dogs were let loose upon thestag. And the last dog that was let loose was the favorite dog ofArthur; Cavall was his name. And he left all the other dogs behindhim and turned the stag. And at the second turn the stag cametoward the hunting-party of Arthur. And Arthur set upon him; andbefore he could be slain by any other, Arthur cut off his head. Then they sounded the death-horn for slaying and they all gatheredround. 

They came Kadyriath to Arthur and spoke to him. "Lord, " said he, "behold, yonder is Guenever, and none with her save only onemaiden. " "Command Gildas, the son of Caw, and all the scholars ofthe court, " said Arthur, "to attend Guenever to the palace. " Andthey did so. 

Then they all set forth, holding converse together concerning thehead of the stag, to whom it should be given. One wished that itshould be given to the lady best beloved by him, and another tothe lady whom he loved best. And so they came to the palace. Andwhen Arthur and Guenever heard them disputing about the head ofthe stag, Guenever said to Arthur: "My lord, this is my counselconcerning the stag's head; let it not be given away untilGeraint, the son of Erbin, shall return from the errand he isupon. " And Guenever told Arthur what that errand was. "Rightgladly shall it be so, " said Arthur. And Guenever caused a watchto be set upon the ramparts for Geraint's coming. And after middaythey beheld an unshapely little man upon a horse, and after him adame or a damsel, also on horseback, and after her a knight oflarge stature, bowed down, and hanging his head low andsorrowfully, and clad in broken and worthless armor. 

And before they came near to the gate one of the watch went toGuenever, and told her what kind of people they saw, and whataspect they bore. "I know not who they are, " said he, "But Iknow, " said Guenever; "this is the knight whom Geraint pursued, and methinks that he comes not here by his own free will. ButGeraint has overtaken him, and avenged the insult to the maiden tothe uttermost. " And thereupon, behold, a porter came to the spotwhere Guenever was. "Lady, " said he, "at the gate there is aknight, and I saw never a man of so pitiful an aspect to look uponas he. Miserable and broken is the armor that he wears, and thehue of blood is more conspicuous upon it than its own color. ""Knowest thou his name?" said she. "I do, " said he; "he tells methat he is Edeyrn, the son of Nudd. " Then she replied, "I know himnot. "

So Guenever went to the gate to meet him and he entered. AndGuenever was sorry when she saw the condition he was in, eventhough he was accompanied by the churlish dwarf. Then Edeyrnsaluted Guenever. "Heaven protect thee, " said she. "Lady, " saidhe, "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, butmine, lady. And Geraint greets thee well; and in greeting thee hecompelled me to come hither to do thy pleasure for the insultwhich thy maiden received from the dwarf. " "Now where did heovertake thee?" "At the place where we were jousting andcontending for the sparrow-hawk, in the town which is now calledCardiff. And it was for the avouchment of the love of the maiden, the daughter of Earl Ynywl, that Geraint jousted at thetournament. And thereupon we encountered each other, and he leftme, lady, as thou seest. " "Sir, " said she, "when thinkest thouthat Geraint will be here?" "To-morrow, lady, I think he will behere with the maiden. "

Then Arthur came to them. And he saluted Arthur, and Arthur gazeda long time upon him and was amazed to see him thus. And thinkingthat he knew him, he inquired of him, "Art thou Edeyrn, the son ofNudd?" "I am, lord, " said he, "and I have met with much troubleand received wounds unsupportable. " Then he told Arthur all hisadventure. "Well, " said Arthur, "from what I hear it behoovesGuenever to be merciful towards thee. " "The mercy which thoudesirest, lord, " said she. "will I grant to him, since it is asinsulting to thee that an insult should be offered to me as tothyself. " "Thus will it be best to do, " said Arthur; "let this manhave medical care until it be known whether he may live. And if helive, he shall do such satisfaction as shall be judged best by themen of the court. And if he die, too much will be the death ofsuch a youth as Edeyrn for an insult to a maiden. " "This pleasesme, " said Guenever. And Arthur caused Morgan Tud to be called tohim. He was the chief physician. "Take with thee Edeyrn, the sonof Nudd, and cause a chamber to be prepared for him, and let himhave the aid of medicine as thou wouldst do unto myself, if I werewounded, and let none into his chamber to molest him, but thyselfand thy disciples, to administer to him remedies. " "I will do so, gladly, lord, " said Morgan Tud. Then said the steward of thehousehold, "Whither is it right, lord, to order the maiden?" "ToGuenever and her handmaidens, " said he. And the steward of thehousehold 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 watchset on the ramparts by Guenever, lest he should arrive unawares. And one of the watch came to Guenever. "Lady, " said he, "methinksthat I see Geraint, and a maiden with him. He is on horseback, buthe has his walking gear upon him, and the maiden appears to be inwhite, seeming to be clad in a garment of linen. " "Assemble allthe women, " said Guenever, "and come to meet Geraint, to welcomehim, and wish him joy. " And Guenever went to meet Geraint and themaiden. And when Geraint came to the place where Guenever was, hesaluted her. "Heaven prosper thee, " said she, "and welcome tothee. " "Lady, " said he, "I earnestly desired to obtain theesatisfaction, according to thy will; and, behold, here is themaiden through whom thou hadst thy revenge. " "Verily, " saidGuenever, "the welcome of Heaven be unto her; and it is fittingthat we should receive her joyfully. " Then they went in anddismounted. And Geraint came to where Arthur was, and saluted him. "Heaven protect thee, " said Arthur, "and the welcome of Heaven beunto thee. And inasmuch as thou hast vanquished Edeyrn, the son ofNudd, thou hast had a prosperous career. " "Not upon me be theblame, " said Geraint; "it was through the arrogance of Edeyrn, theson of Nudd, himself, that we were not friends. " "Now, " saidArthur, "where is the maiden for whom I heard thou didst givechallenge?" "She is gone with Guenever to her chamber. " Then wentArthur to see the maiden. And Arthur, and all his companions, andhis whole court, were glad concerning the maiden. And certain werethey all, that, had her array been suitable to her beauty, theyhad never seen a maid fairer than she. And Arthur gave away themaiden to Geraint. And the usual bond made between two persons wasmade between Geraint and the maiden, and the choicest of allGuenever's apparel was given to the maiden; and thus arrayed, sheappeared comely and graceful to all who beheld her. And that dayand the night were spent in abundance of minstrelsy, and amplegifts of liquor, and a multiude of games. And when it was time forthem to go to sleep they went. And in the chamber where the couchof Arthur and Guenever was, the couch of Geraint and Enid wasprepared. And from that time she became his wife. And the next dayArthur satisfied all the claimants upon Geraint with bountifulgifts. And the maiden took up her abode in the palace, and she hadmany companions, both men and women, and there was no maiden moreesteemed than she in the island of Britain. 

Then spake Guenever. "Rightly did I judge, " said she, "concerningthe head of the stag, that it should not be given to any untilGeraint's return; and behold, here is a fit occasion for bestowingit. Let it be given to Enid, the daughter of Ynywl, the mostillustrious maiden. And I do not believe that any will begrudge ither, for between her and every one here there exists nothing butlove and friendship. " Much applauded was this by them all, and byArthur also. And the head of the stag was given to Enid. Andthereupon her fame increased, and her friends became more innumber than before. And Geraint from that time forth loved thehunt, and the tournament, and hard encounters; and he camevictorious from them all. And a year, and a second, and a third, he proceeded thus, until his fame had flown over the face of thekingdom. 

And, once upon a time, Arthur was holding his court at Caerleonupon Usk; and behold, there came to him ambassadors, wise andprudent, full of knowledge and eloquent of speech, and theysaluted Arthur. "Heaven prosper you!" said Arthur; "and whence doyou come?" "We come, lord, " said they, "from Cornwall; and we areambassadors from Erbin, the son of Custennin, thy uncle, and ourmission is unto thee. And he greets thee well, as an uncle shouldgreet his nephew, and as a vassal should greet his lord. And herepresents unto thee that he waxes heavy and feeble, and isadvancing in years. And the neighboring chiefs, knowing this, growinsolent towards him, and covet his land and possessions. And heearnestly beseeches thee, lord, to permit Geraint, his son, toreturn to him, to protect his possessions, and to becomeacquainted with his boundaries. And unto him he represents that itwere better for him to spend the flower of his youth and the primeof his age in preserving his own boundaries, than in tournamentswhich are productive of no profit, although he obtains glory inthem. "

"Well, " said Arthur, "go and divest yourselves of youraccoutrements, and take food, and refresh yourselves after yourfatigues; and before you go from hence you shall have an answer. "And they went to eat. And Arthur considered that it would go hardwith him to let Geraint depart from him, and from his court;neither did he think it fair that his cousin should be restrainedfrom going to protect his dominions and his boundaries, seeingthat his father was unable to do so. No less was the grief andregret of Guenever, and all her women, and all her damsels, through fear that the maiden would leave them. And that day andthat night were spent in abundance of feasting. And Arthur toldGeraint the cause of the mission, and of the coming of theambassadors to him out of Cornwall. "Truly, " said Geraint, "be itto my advantage or disadvantage, lord, I will do according to thywill concerning this embassy. " "Behold, " said Arthur, "though itgrieves me to part with thee, it is my counsel that thou go todwell in thine own dominions, and to defend thy boundaries, andtake with thee to accompany thee as many as thou wilt of thosethou lovest best among my faithful ones, and among thy friends, and among thy companions in arms. " "Heaven reward thee! and thiswill I do, " said Geraint. "What discourse, " said Guenever, "do Ihear between you? Is it of those who are to conduct Geraint to hiscountry?" "It is, " said Arthur. "Then is it needful for me toconsider, " said she, "concerning companions and a provision forthe lady that is with me. " "Thou wilt do well, " said Arthur. 

And that night they went to sleep. And the next day theambassadors were permitted to depart, and they were told thatGeraint should follow them. And on the third day Geraint setforth, and many went with him--Gawain, the son of Gwyar, andRiogoned, the son of the king of Ireland, and Ondyaw, the son ofthe Duke of Burgundy, Gwilim, the son of the ruler of the Franks, Howel, the son of the Earl of Brittany, Perceval, the son ofEvrawk, Gwyr, a judge in the court of Arthur, Bedwyr, the son ofBedrawd, Kai, the son of Kyner, Odyar, the Frank, and Ederyn, theson of Nudd. Said Geraint, "I think I shall have enough ofknighthood with me. " And they set forth. And never was there seena fairer host journeying towards the Severn. And on the other sideof the Severn were the nobles of Erbin, the son of Custennin, andhis foster-father at their head, to welcome Geraint with gladness;and many of the women of the court, with his mother, came toreceive Enid, the daughter of Ynywl, his wife. And there was greatrejoicing and gladness throughout the whole court, and through allthe country, concerning Geraint, because of the greatness of theirlove to him, and of the greatness of the fame which he had gainedsince he went from amongst them, and because he was come to takepossession of his dominions, and to preserve his boundaries. Andthey came to the court. And in the court they had ampleentertainment, and a multitude of gifts, and abundance of liquor, and a sufficiency of service, and a variety of games. And to dohonor to Geraint, all the chief men of the country were invitedthat night to visit him. And they passed that day and that nightin the utmost enjoyment. And at dawn next day Erbin arose andsummoned to him Geraint, and the noble persons who had borne himcompany. 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 formyself, I did so. But thou art young, and in the flower of thyvigor and of thy youth. Henceforth do thou preserve thypossessions. " "Truly, " said Geraint, "with my consent thou shaltnot give the power over thy dominions at this time into my hands, and thou shalt not take me from Arthur's court. " "Into thy handswill I give them, " said Erbin, "and this day also shalt thoureceive the homage of thy subjects. "

Then said Gawain, "It were better for thee to satisfy those whohave boons to ask, to-day, and to-morrow thou canst receive thehomage of thy dominions. " So all that had boons to ask weresummoned into one place. And Kadyriath came to them to know whatwere their requests. And every one asked that which he desired. And the followers of Arthur began to make gifts, and immediatelythe men of Cornwall came, and gave also. And they were not long ingiving, so eager was every one to bestow gifts, and of those whocame to ask gifts, none departed unsatisfied. And that day andthat night were spent in the utmost enjoyment. 

And the next day at dawn, Erbin desired Geraint to send messengersto the men to ask them whether it was displeasing to them that heshould come to receive their homage, and whether they had anythingto object to him. Then Geraint sent ambassadors to the men ofCornwall to ask them this. And they all said that it would be thefulness of joy and honor to them for Geraint to come and receivetheir homage. So he received the homage of such as were there. Andthe day after the followers of Arthur intended to go away. "It istoo soon for you to go away yet, " said he; "stay with me until Ihave finished receiving the homage of my chief men, who haveagreed to come to me. " And they remained with him until he haddone so. Then they set forth towards the court of Arthur. AndGeraint went to bear them company, and Enid also, as far asDiganwy; there they parted. And Ondyaw, the son of the Duke ofBurgundy, said to Geraint, "Go, now, and visit the uttermost partsof thy dominions, and see well to the boundaries of thyterritories; and if thou hast any trouble respecting them, sendunto thy companions. " "Heaven reward thee!" said Geraint; "andthis will I do. " And Geraint journeyed to the uttermost parts ofhis dominions. And experienced guides, and the chief men of hiscountry, went with him. And the furthermost point that they showedhim 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 andmighty men, until he had gained as much fame there as he hadformerly done elsewhere. And he enriched his court, and hiscompanions, and his nobles, with the best horses and the bestarms, and with the best and most valuable jewels, and he ceasednot 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 hiswife, and liked to continue in the palace with minstrelsy anddiversions. So he began to shut himself up in the chamber of hiswife, and he took no delight in anything besides, insomuch that hegave up the friendship of his nobles, together with his huntingand his amusements, and lost the hearts of all the host in hiscourt. And there was murmuring and scoffing concerning him amongthe inhabitants of the palace, on account of his relinquishing socompletely 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 thesethings, he spoke unto Enid, and inquired of her whether it was shethat had caused Geraint to act thus, and to forsake his people andhis hosts. "Not I, by my confession unto Heaven, " said she; "thereis nothing more hateful unto me than this. " And she knew not whatshe should do, for, although it was hard for her to own this toGeraint, yet was it not more easy for her to listen to what sheheard, without warning Geraint concerning it. And she was verysorrowful. 

One morning in the summer-time they were upon their couch, andGeraint lay upon the edge of it. And Enid was without sleep in theapartment, which had windows of glass; [Footnote: The terms ofadmiration in which the older writers invariably speak of GLASSWINDOWS would be sufficient proof, if other evidence were wanting, how rare an article of luxury they were in the houses of ourancestors. They were first introduced in ecclesiasticalarchitecture, to which they were for a long time confined. Glassis said not to have been employed in domestic architecture beforethe fourteenth century. ] and the sun shone upon the couch. And theclothes had slipped from off his arms and his breast, and he wasasleep. Then she gazed upon the marvellous beauty of hisappearance, and she said, "Alas! and am I the cause that thesearms and this breast have lost their glory, and the warlike famewhich they once so richly enjoyed!" As she said this the tearsdropped from her eyes, and they fell upon his breast. And thetears she shed and the words she had spoken, awoke him. Andanother thing contributed to awaken him, and that was the ideathat it was not in thinking of him that she spoke thus, but thatit was because she loved some other man more than him, and thatshe wished for other society. Thereupon Geraint was troubled inhis mind, and he called his squire; and when he came to him, "Goquickly, " said he, "and prepare my horse and my arms, and makethem ready. And do thou rise, " said he to Enid, "and apparelthyself; and cause thy horse to be accoutred, and clothe thee inthe worst riding-dress that thou hast in thy possession. And evilbetide me, " said he, "if thou returnest here until thou knowestwhether 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 societythou didst wish for of him of whom thou wast thinking. " So shearose, and clothed herself in her meanest garments. "I knownothing, lord, " said she, "of thy meaning. " "Neither wilt thouknow at this time, " said he. 

Then Geraint went to see Erbin. "Sir, " said he, "I am going upon aquest, 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 sosuddenly. And who will proceed with thee, since thou art notstrong enough to traverse the land of Loegyr alone?" "But oneperson only will go with me. " "Heaven counsel thee, my son, " saidErbin, "and may many attach themselves to thee in Loegyr. " Thenwent Geraint to the place where his horse was, and it was equippedwith foreign armor, heavy and shining. And he desired Enid tomount her horse, and to ride forward, and to keep a long waybefore him. "And whatever thou mayst see, and whatever thou maysthear concerning me, " said he, "do thou not turn back. And unless Ispeak unto thee, say not thou one word, either. " So they setforward. And he did not choose the pleasantest and most frequentedroad, but that which was the wildest and most beset by thieves androbbers and venomous animals. 

And they came to a high road, which they followed till they saw avast forest; and they saw four armed horsemen come forth from theforest. 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 doingagainst yonder single knight who hangs his head so pensively andheavily. " Enid heard this discourse, and she knew not what sheshould do through fear of Geraint, who had told her to be silent. "The vengeance of Heaven be upon me, " said she, "if I would notrather receive my death from his hand than from the hand of anyother; and though he should slay me, yet will I speak to him, lestI should have the misery to witness his death. " So she waited forGeraint until he came near to her. "Lord, " said she, "didst thouhear the words of those men concerning thee?" Then he lifted uphis 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 notfor warning. And though thou shouldst desire to see my defeat andmy death by the hands of those men, yet do I feel no dread. " Thenthe foremost of them couched his lance, and rushed upon Geraint. And he received him, and that not feebly. But he let the thrust goby him, while he struck the horseman upon the centre of hisshield, in such a manner that his shield was split, and his armorbroken, so that a cubit's length of the shaft of Geraint's lancepassed through his body, and sent him to the earth, the length ofthe lance over his horse's crupper. Then the second horsemanattacked him furiously, being wroth at the death of his companion. But with one thrust Geraint overthrew him also, and killed him ashe had done the other. Then the third set upon him, and he killedhim in like manner. And thus also he slew the fourth. Sad andsorrowful was the maiden as she saw all this. Geraint dismountedhis horse, and took the arms of the men he had slain, and placedthem upon their saddles, and tied together the reins of theirhorses; and he mounted his horse again. "Behold what thou mustdo, " said he; "take the four horses and drive them before thee, and proceed forward as I bade thee just now. And say not one wordunto me, unless I speak first unto thee. And I declare untoHeaven, " said he, "if thou doest not thus, it will be to thycost. " "I will do as far as I can, lord, " said she, "according tothy desire. "

So the maiden went forward, keeping in advance of Geraint, as hehad desired her; and it grieved him as much as his wrath wouldpermit, to see a maiden so illustrious as she having so muchtrouble with the care of the horses. Then they reached a wood, andit 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. " "Itwill 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 fromher horse. "I cannot by any means refrain from sleep, throughweariness, " said he; "do thou therefore watch the horses, andsleep not. " "I will, lord, " said she. Then he went to sleep in hisarmor, and thus passed the night, which was not long at thatseason. And when she saw the dawn of day appear, she looked aroundher to see if he were waking, and thereupon he woke. Then hearose, and said unto her, "Take the horses and ride on, and keepstraight on as thou didst yesterday. " And they left the wood, andthey came to an open country, with meadows on one hand, and mowersmowing the meadows. And there was a river before them, and thehorses bent down and drank of the water. And they went up out ofthe river by a lofty steep; and there they met a slender striplingwith a satchel about his neck, and they saw that there wassomething in the satchel, but they knew not what it was. And hehad a small blue pitcher in his hand, and a bowl on the mouth ofthe 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 itbe displeasing to thee if I ask whence thou comest also?" "By nomeans; through yonder wood did I come. " "Thou camest not throughthe wood to-day. " "No, " he replied, "we were in the wood lastnight. " "I warrant, " said the youth, "that thy condition therelast night was not the most pleasant, and that thou hadst neithermeat nor drink. " "No, by my faith, " said he. "Wilt thou follow mycounsel, " said the youth, "and take thy meal from me?" "What sortof meal?" he inquired. "The breakfast which is sent for yondermowers, nothing less than bread and meat and wine, and if thouwilt, sir, they shall have none of it. " "I will, " said he, "andHeaven reward thee for it. "

So Geraint alighted, and the youth took the maiden from off herhorse. Then they washed, and took their repast. And the youth cutthe 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 foodfor the mowers. " "Go first to the town, " said Geraint, "and take alodging for me in the best place that thou knowest, and the mostcommodious one for the horses; and take thou whichever horse andarms thou choosest, in payment for thy service and thy gift. ""Heaven reward thee, lord!" said the youth; "and this would beample to repay services much greater than those I have renderedunto thee. " And to the town went the youth, and he took the bestand the most pleasant lodgings that he knew; and after that hewent to the palace, having the horse and armor with him, andproceeded to the place where the earl was, and told him all hisadventure. "I go now, lord, " said he, "to meet the knight, and toconduct him to his lodging. " "Go, gladly, " said the earl; "andright joyfully shall he be received here, if he so come. " And theyouth went to meet Geraint, and told him that he would be receivedgladly by the earl in his own palace; but he would go only to hislodgings. And he had a goodly chamber, in which was plenty ofstraw and drapery, and a spacious and commodious place he had forthe 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 tothis side of the house; and thou mayst call to thee the woman ofthe house, if thou wilt. " "I will do, lord, " said she, "as thousayest. " Thereupon the man of the house came to Geraint andwelcomed him. And after they had eaten and drank, Geraint went tosleep, and so did Enid also. 

In the evening, behold, the earl came to visit Geraint, and histwelve honorable knights with him. And Geraint rose up andwelcomed him. Then they all sat down according to their precedencein honor. And the earl conversed with Geraint, and inquired of himthe object of his journey. "I have none, " he replied, "but to seekadventures and to follow mine own inclination. " Then the earl casthis eye upon Enid, and he looked at her steadfastly. And hethought he had never seen a maiden fairer or more comely than she. And he set all his thoughts and his affections upon her. Then heasked of Geraint, "Have I thy permission to go and converse withyonder maiden, for I see that she is apart from thee?" "Thou hastit gladly, " said he. So the earl went to the place where themaiden was, and spake with her. "Ah! maiden, " said he, "it cannotbe pleasant to thee to journey with yonder man. " "It is notunpleasant to me, " said she. "Thou hast neither youths nor maidensto serve thee, " said he. "Truly, " she replied, "it is morepleasant for me to follow yonder man, than to be served by youthsand maidens. " "I will give thee good counsel, " said he: "all myearldom will I place in thy possession, if thou wilt dwell withme. "

 "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 firstto whom my faith was ever pledged; and shall I prove inconstant tohim?" "Thou art in the wrong, " said the earl; "if I slay the manyonder, I can keep thee with me as long as I choose; and when thouno longer pleasest me, I can turn thee away. But if thou goestwith me by thy own good-will, I protest that our union shallcontinue as long as I remain alive. " Then she pondered those wordsof his, and she considered that it was advisable to encourage himin his request. "Behold then, chieftain, this is most expedientfor thee to do to save me from all reproach; come here to-morrowand take me away as though I knew nothing thereof. " "I will doso, " said he. So he arose and took his leave, and went forth withhis attendants. And she told not then to Geraint any of theconversation which she had had with the earl, lest it should rousehis anger, and cause him uneasiness and care. 

And at the usual hour they went to sleep. And at the beginning ofthe night Enid slept a little; and at midnight she arose, andplaced all Geraint's armor together so that it might be ready toput on. And although fearful of her errand, she came to the sideof Geraint's bed; and she spoke to him softly and gently, saying, "My lord, arise, and clothe thyself, for these were the words ofthe earl to me and his intention concerning me. " So she toldGeraint 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, " saidhe, "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 Iowe thee?" asked Geraint. "I think thou owest but little. " "Takethe three horses and the three suits of armor. " "Heaven rewardthee, lord, " said he, "but I spent not the value of one suit ofarmor upon thee. " "For that reason, " said he, "thou wilt be thericher. And now, wilt thou come to guide me out of the town?" "Iwill gladly, " said he; "and in which direction dost thou intend togo?" "I wish to leave the town by a different way from that bywhich I entered it. " So the man of the lodgings accompanied him asfar as he desired. Then he bade the maiden to go on before him, and she did so, and went straight forward, and his host returnedhome. 

And Geraint and the maiden went forward along the high-road. Andas they journeyed thus, they heard an exceeding loud wailing nearto them. "Stay thou here, " said he, "and I will go and see what isthe cause of this wailing. " "I will, " said she. Then he wentforward into an open glade that was near the road. And in theglade he saw two horses, one having a man's saddle, and the othera woman's saddle upon it. And behold there was a knight lying deadin his armor, and a young damsel in a riding-dress standing overhim lamenting. "Ah, lady, " said Geraint, "what hath befallenthee?" "Behold, " she answered, "I journeyed here with my belovedhusband, when lo! three giants came upon us, and without any causein the world, they slew him. " "Which way went they hence?" saidGeraint. "Yonder by the high-road, " she replied. So he returned toEnid. "Go, " said he, "to the lady that is below yonder, and awaitme 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 eachof them was greater in stature than three other men, and a hugeclub was on the shoulder of each. Then he rushed upon one of them, and thrust his lance through his body. And having drawn it forthagain, he pierced another of them through likewise. But the thirdturned upon him and struck him with his club so that he split hisshield and crushed his shoulder. But Geraint drew his sword andgave the giant a blow on the crown of his head, so severe, andfierce, and violent, that his head and his neck were split down tohis shoulders, and he fell dead. So Geraint left him thus andreturned to Enid. And when he reached the place where she was hefell down lifeless from his horse. Piercing and loud and thrillingwas the cry that Enid uttered. And she came and stood over himwhere he had fallen. And at the sound of her cries came the Earlof Limours, and they who journeyed with him, whom her lamentationsbrought out of their road. And the earl said to Enid, "Alas, lady, what hath befallen thee?" "Ah, good sir, " said she, "the only manI have loved, or ever shall love, is slain. " Then he said to theother, "And what is the cause of thy grief?" "They have slain mybeloved husband also, " said she. "And who was it that slew them?""Some giants, " she answered, "slew my best-beloved, and the otherknight went in pursuit of them, and came back in the state thouseest. " The earl caused the knight that was dead to be buried, buthe thought that there still remained some life in Geraint; and tosee if he yet would live, he had him carried with him in thehollow of his shield, and upon a bier. And the two damsels went tothe court; and when they arrived there, Geraint was placed upon alittle couch in front of the table that was in the hall. Then theyall took off their traveling-gear, and the earl besought Enid todo the same, and to clothe herself in other garments. "I will not, by Heaven, " said she. "Ah, lady, " said he, "be not so sorrowfulfor this matter. " "It were hard to persuade me to be otherwise, "said she. "I will act towards thee in such wise that thou needestnot be sorrowful, whether yonder knight live or die. Behold, agood earldom, together with myself, will I bestow upon thee; betherefore 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 againsther will, and many times desired her to eat. "I call Heaven towitness, " said she, "that I will not until the man that is uponyonder bier shall eat likewise. " "Thou canst not fulfil that, "said the earl, "yonder man is dead already. " "I will prove that Ican, " said she. Then he offered her a goblet of liquor. "Drinkthis goblet, " he said, "and it will cause thee to change thymind. " "Evil betide me, " she answered, "if I drink aught until hedrink also. " "Truly, " said the earl, "it is of no more avail forme to be gentle with thee than ungentle. " And he gave her a box inthe ear. Thereupon she raised a loud and piercing shriek, and herlamentations were much greater than they had been before; for sheconsidered in her mind, that, had Geraint been alive, he durst nothave struck her thus. But, behold, at the sound of her cry, Geraint revived from his swoon, and he sat upon the bier; andfinding his sword in the hollow of his shield, he rushed to theplace where the earl was, and struck him a fiercely-wounding, severely-venomous, and sternly-smiting blow upon the crown of hishead, so that he clove him in twain, until his sword was staid bythe table. Then all left the board and fled away. And this was notso much through fear of the living, as through the dread they feltat seeing the dead man rise up to slay them. And Geraint lookedupon Enid, and he was grieved for two causes; one was to see thatEnid had lost her color and her wonted aspect; and the other, toknow that she was in the right. "Lady, " said he, "knowest thouwhere our horses are?" "I know, lord, where thy horse is, " shereplied, "but I know not where is the other. Thy horse is in thehouse yonder. " So he went to the house, and brought forth hishorse, and mounted him, and took up Enid, and placed her upon thehorse with him. And he rode forward. And their road lay betweentwo hedges; and the night was gaining on the day. And lo! they sawbehind them the shafts of spears betwixt them and the sky, andthey heard the tramping of horses, and the noise of a hostapproaching. "I hear something following us, " said he, "and I willput thee on the other side of the hedge. " And thus he did. Andthereupon, behold a knight pricked towards him, and couched hislance. When Enid saw this, she cried out, saying, "O chieftain, whoever thou art, what renown wilt thou gain by slaying a deadman?" "O Heaven!" said he, "is it Geraint?" "Yes, in truth, " saidshe; "and who art thou?" "I am Gwiffert Petit, " said he, "thyhusband's ally, coming to thy assistance, for I heard that thouwast in trouble. Come with me to the court of a son-in-law of mysister, which is near here, and thou shalt have the best medicalassistance 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 werereceived there with gladness, and they met with hospitality andattention. The next morning they went to seek physicians; and itwas not long before they came, and they attended Geraint until hewas perfectly well. And while Geraint was under medical careGwiffert caused his armor to be repaired, until it was as good asit 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 andsplendor lasted with renown and honor, both to him and to Enid, from that time forward. 

[Footnote: Throughout the broad and varied region of romance itwould be difficult to find a character of greater simplicity andtruth than that of Enid, the daughter of Earl Ynywl. Conspicuousfor her beauty and noble bearing, we are at a loss whether more toadmire the patience with which she bore all the hardships she wasdestined to undergo or the constancy and affection which finallyachieved the truimph she so richly deserved. 

The character of Enid is admirably sustained through the wholetale; and as it is more natural, because less overstrained, soperhaps it is even more touching than that of Griselda, overwhich, however, Chaucer has thrown a charm that leads us to forgetthe improbability of her story. ]

CHAPTER VIII

PWYLL, PRINCE OF DYVED

Once upon a time Pwyll was at Narberth, his chief palace, where afeast had been prepared for him, and with him was a great host ofmen. And after the first meal Pwyll arose to walk; and he went tothe top of a mound that was above the palace, and was calledGorsedd Arberth. "Lord, " said one of the court, "it is peculiar tothe mound that whosoever sits upon it cannot go thence withouteither receiving wounds or blows, or else seeing a wonder. " "Ifear not to receive wounds or blows, " said Pwyll; "but as to thewonder, gladly would I see it. I will therefore go and sit uponthe mound. "

And upon the mound he sat. And while he sat there, they saw alady, on a pure white horse of large size, with a garment ofshining gold around her, coming along the highway that led fromthe mound. "My men, " said Pwyll, "is there any among you who knowsyonder lady?" "There is not, lord, " said they. "Go one of you andmeet her, that we may know who she is. " And one of them arose, andas he came upon the road to meet her, she passed by; and hefollowed as fast as he could, being on foot, and the greater washis speed, the further was she from him. And when he saw that itprofited him nothing to follow her, he returned to Pwyll, and saidunto him, "Lord, it is idle for any one in the world to follow heron foot. " "Verily, " said Pwyll, "go unto the palace, and take thefleetest 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 hishorse, the further was she from him. And he returned to the placewhere Pwyll was, and said, "Lord, it will avail nothing for anyone to follow yonder lady. I know of no horse in these realmsswifter than this, and it availed me not to pursue her. " "Of atruth, " said Pwyll, "there must be some illusion here; let us gotowards the palace. " So to the palace they went, and spent theday. 

And the next day they amused themselves until it was time to go tomeat. And when meat was ended, Pwyll said, "Where are the hoststhat went yesterday to the top of the mound?" "Behold, lord, weare here, " said they. "Let us go, " said he, "to the mound, and sitthere. And do thou, " said he to the page who tended his horse, "saddle my horse well, and hasten with him to the road, and bringalso my spurs with thee. " And the youth did thus. And they wentand sat upon the mound; and ere they had been there but a shorttime, they beheld the lady coming by the same road, and in thesame manner, and at the same pace. "Young man, " said Pwyll, "I seethe lady coming; give me my horse. " And before he had mounted hishorse she passed him. And he turned after her and followed her. And he let his horse go bounding playfully, and thought that heshould soon come up with her. But he came no nearer to her than atfirst. Then he urged his horse to his utmost speed, yet he foundthat it availed not. Then said Pwyll, "O maiden, for the sake ofhim whom thou best lovest, stay for me. " "I will stay gladly, "said she; "and it were better for thy horse hadst thou asked itlong since. " So the maiden stopped; and she threw back that partof her head-dress which covered her face. Then he thought that thebeauty of all the maidens and all the ladies that he had ever seenwas as nothing compared to her beauty. "Lady, " he said, "wilt thoutell me aught concerning thy purpose?" "I will tell thee, " saidshe; "my chief quest was to see thee. " "Truly, " said Pwyll, "thisis 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 soughtto 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 mightchoose among all the ladies and damsels in the world, thee would Ichoose. " "Verily, " said she, "if thou art thus minded, make apledge to meet me ere I am given to another. " "The sooner I may doso, the more pleasing will it be to me, " said Pwyll; "andwheresoever thou wilt, there will I meet with thee. " "I will thatthou meet me this day twelvemonth at the palace of Heveydd. ""Gladly, " said he, "will I keep this tryst. " So they parted, andhe went back to his hosts, and to them of his household. Andwhatsoever questions they asked him respecting the damsel, healways turned the discourse upon other matters. 

And when a year from that time was gone, he caused a hundredknights to equip themselves, and to go with him to the palace ofHeveydd. And he came to the palace, and there was great joyconcerning him, with much concourse of people, and greatrejoicing, and vast preparations for his coming. And the wholecourt was placed under his orders. 

And the hall was garnished, and they went to meat, and thus didthey sit: Heveydd was on one side of Pwyll, and Rhiannon on theother; and all the rest according to their rank. And they ate andfeasted, and talked one with another. And at the beginning of thecarousal after the meat, there entered a tall, auburn-hairedyouth, of royal bearing, clothed in a garment of satin. And whenhe came into the hall, he saluted Pwyll and his companions. "Thegreeting of Heaven be unto thee, " said Pwyll; "come thou and sitdown. " "Nay, " said he, "a suitor am I, and I will do my errand. ""Do so willingly, " said Pwyll. "Lord, " said he, "my errand is untothee, and it is to crave a boon of thee that I come. " "What boonsoever thou mayest ask of me, so far as I am able, thou shalthave. " "Ah!" said Rhiannon, "wherefore didst thou give thatanswer?" "Has he not given it before the presence of thesenobles?" asked the youth. "My soul, " said Pwyll, "what is the boonthou askest?" "The lady whom best I love is to be thy bride thisnight; I come to ask her of thee, with the feast and the banquetthat are in this place. " And Pwyll was silent, because of thepromise which he had given. "Be silent as long as thou wilt, " saidRhiannon, "never did man make worse use of his wits than thou hastdone. " "Lady, " said he, "I knew not who he was. " "Behold, this isthe man to whom they would have given me against my will, " saidshe; "and he is Gawl, the son of Clud, a man of great power andwealth, and because of the word thou hast spoken, bestow me uponhim, lest shame befall thee. " "Lady, " said he, "I understand notthy 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 whatmeans will that be?" asked Pwyll. Then she told him the thoughtthat was in her mind. And they talked long together. Then Gawlsaid, "Lord, it is meet that I have an answer to my request. " "Asmuch of that thou hast asked as it is in my power to give, thoushalt have, " replied Pwyll. "My soul, " said Rhiannon unto Gawl, "as for the feast and the banquet that are here, I have bestowedthem upon the men of Dyved, and the household and the warriorsthat are with us. These can I not suffer to be given to any. In ayear from to-night, a banquet shall be prepared for thee in thispalace, that I may become thy bride. "

So Gawl went forth to his possessions, and Pwyll went also back toDyved. And they both spent that year until it was the time for thefeast at the palace of Heveydd. Then Gawl, the son of Clud, setout to the feast that was prepared for him; and he came to thepalace, and was received there with rejoicing. Pwyll, also, thechief of Dyved, came to the orchard with a hundred knights, asRhiannon had commanded him. And Pwyll was clad in coarse andragged garments, and wore large, clumsy old shoes upon his feet. And when he knew that the carousal after the meat had begun, hewent toward the hall; and when he came into the hall he salutedGawl, the son of Clud, and his company, both men and women. "Heaven prosper thee, " said Gawl, "and friendly greeting be untothee!" "Lord, " said he, "may Heaven reward thee! I have an errandunto thee. " "Welcome be thine errand, and if thou ask of me thatwhich is right, thou shalt have it gladly. " "It is fitting, "answered he; "I crave but from want, and the boon I ask is to havethis small bag that thou seest filled with meat. " "A requestwithin reason is this, " said he, "and gladly shalt thou have it. Bring him food. " A great number of attendants arose and began tofill the bag; but for all they put into it, it was no fuller thanat first. "My soul, " said Gawl, "will thy bag ever be full?" "Itwill not, I declare to Heaven, " said he, "for all that may be putinto it, unless one possessed of lands, and domains, and treasure, shall arise and tread down with both his feet the food that iswithin 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 twofeet into the bag. And Pwyll turned up the sides of the bag, sothat Gawl was over his head in it. And he shut it up quickly, andslipped a knot upon the thongs, and blew his horn. And thereupon, behold, his knights came down upon the palace. And they seized allthe host that had come with Gawl, and cast them into his ownprison. And Pwyll threw off his rags, and his old shoes, and histattered array. And as they came in, every one of Pwyll's knightsstruck a blow upon the bag, and asked, "What is here?" "A badger, "said they. And in this manner they played, each of them strikingthe bag, either with his foot or with a staff. And thus playedthey with the bag. And then was the game of Badger in the Bagfirst played. 

"Lord, " said the man in the bag, "if thou wouldst but hear me, Imerit not to be slain in a bag. " Said Heveydd, "Lord, he speakstruth; it were fitting that thou listen to him, for he deservesnot this. " "Verily, " said Pwyll, "I will do thy counsel concerninghim. " "Behold, this is my counsel then, " said Rhiannon. "Thou artnow in a position in which it behooves thee to satisfy suitors andminstrels. Let him give unto them in thy stead, and take a pledgefrom him that he will never seek to revenge that which has beendone to him. And this will be punishment enough. " "I will do thisgladly, " said the man in the bag. "And gladly will I accept it, "said Pwyll, "since it is the counsel of Heveydd and Rhiannon. Seekthyself sureties. " "We will be for him, " said Heveydd, "until hismen be free to answer for him. " And upon this he was let out ofthe bag, and his liegemen were liberated. "Verily, lord, " saidGawl, "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 mein all that thou shalt require. " "Willingly, " said Pwyll, "mayestthou 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 andsat down. And as they had sat that time twelvemonth, so sat theythat night. And they ate and feasted, and spent the night in mirthand tranquility. And the time came that they should sleep, andPwyll and Rhiannon went to their chamber. 

And next morning at break of day, "My lord, " said Rhiannon, "ariseand begin to give thy gifts unto the minstrels. Refuse no one to-day that may claim thy bounty. " "Thus shall it be gladly, " saidPwyll, "both to-day and every day while the feast shall last. " SoPwyll arose, and he caused silence to be proclaimed, and desiredall the suitors and minstrels to show and to point out what giftsthey desired. And this being done, the feast went on, and hedenied no one while it lasted. And when the feast was ended, Pwyllsaid unto Heveydd, "My lord, with thy permission, I will set outfor Dyved to-morrow. " "Certainly, " said Heveydd; "may Heavenprosper thee! Fix also a time when Rhiannon shall follow thee. ""By Heaven, " said Pwyll, "we will go hence together. " "Willestthou this, lord?" said Heveydd. "Yes, lord, " answered Pwyll. 

And the next, day they set forward towards Dyved, and journeyed tothe palace of Narberth, where a feast was made ready for them. Andthere came to them great numbers of the chief men and the mostnoble ladies of the land, and of these there were none to whomRhiannon did not give some rich gift, either a bracelet, or aring, or a precious stone. And they ruled the land prosperouslythat year and the next. 

CHAPTER IX

BRANWEN, THE DAUGHTER OF LLYR

Bendigeid Vran, the son of Llyr, was the crowned king of thisisland, and he was exalted from the crown of London. And oneafternoon he was at Harlech, in Ardudwy, at his court; and he satupon the rock of Harlech, looking over the sea. And with him werehis brother, Manawyddan, the son of Llyr, and his brothers by themother's side, Nissyen and Evnissyen, and many nobles likewise, aswas fitting to see around a king. His two brothers by the mother'sside were the sons of Euroswydd, and one of these youths was agood youth, and of gentle nature, and would make peace between hiskindred, and cause his family to be friends when their wrath wasat the highest, and this one was Nissyen; but the other wouldcause strife between his two brothers when they were most atpeace. And as they sat thus they beheld thirteen ships coming fromthe south of Ireland, and making towards them; and they came witha swift motion, the wind being behind them; and they neared themrapidly. "I see ships afar, " said the king, "coming swiftlytowards the land. Command the men of the court that they equipthemselves, and go and learn their intent. " So the men equippedthemselves, and went down towards them. And when they saw theships near, certain were they that they had never seen shipsbetter furnished. Beautiful flags of satin were upon them. And, behold, one of the ships outstripped the others, and they saw ashield lifted up above the side of the ship, and the point of theshield was upwards, in token of peace. And the men drew near, thatthey might hold converse. Then they put out boats, and came towardthe land. And they saluted the king. Now the king could hear themfrom the place where he was upon the rock above their heads. "Heaven prosper you. " said he, "and be ye welcome! To whom dothese ships belong, and who is the chief amongst you?" "Lord, "said they, "Matholch, king of Ireland, is here, and these shipsbelong to him. " "Wherefore comes he?" asked the king, "and will hecome 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 thatbe?" inquired the king. "He desires to ally himself, lord, withthee, " said they, "and he comes to ask Branwen, the daughter ofLlyr, that, if it seem well to thee, the Island of the Mighty[Footnote: The Island of the Mighty is one of the many namesbestowed upon Britain by the Welsh. ] may be leagued with Ireland, and both become more powerful. " "Verily, " said he, "let him cometo land, and we will take counsel thereupon. " And this answer wasbrought to Matholch. "I will go willingly, " said he. So he landed, and they received him joyfully; and great was the throng in thepalace that night, between his hosts and those of the court; andnext day they took counsel, and they resolved to bestow Branwenupon Matholch. Now she was one of the three chief ladies of thisisland, and she was the fairest damsel in the world. 

And they fixed upon Aberfraw as the place where she should becomehis bride. And they went thence, and towards Aberfraw the hostsproceeded, Matholch and his host in their ships, Bendigeid Vranand his host by land, until they came to Aberfraw. And at Aberfrawthey began the feast, and sat down. And thus sat they: the king ofthe Island of the Mighty and Manawyddan, the son of Llyr, on oneside, and Matholch on the other side, and Branwen, the daughter ofLlyr, beside him. And they were not within a house, but undertents. No house could ever contain Bendigeid Vran. And they beganthe banquet, and caroused and discoursed. And when it was morepleasing to them to sleep than to carouse, they went to rest, andBranwen became Matholch's bride. 

And next day they arose, and all they of the court, and theofficers began to equip, and to range the horses and theattendants, and they ranged them in order as far as the sea. 

And, behold, one day Evnissyen, the quarrelsome man, of whom it isspoken above, came by chance into the place where the horses ofMatholch were, and asked whose horses they might be. "They are thehorses of Matholch, king of Ireland, who is married to Branwen, thy sister; his horses are they. " "And is it thus they have donewith a maiden such as she, and moreover my sister, bestowing herwithout my consent? They could have offered no greater insult tome than this, " said he. And thereupon he rushed under the horses, and cut off their lips at the teeth, and their ears close to theirheads, and their tails close to their backs; and he disfigured thehorses, and rendered them useless. 

And they came with these tidings unto Matholch, saying that thehorses were disfigured and injured, so that not one of them couldever be of any use again. "Verily, lord, " said one, "it was aninsult unto thee, and as such was it meant. " "Of a truth, it is amarvel to me that, if they desire to insult me, they should havegiven me a maiden of such high rank, and so much beloved of herkindred, as they have done. " "Lord, " said another, "thou seestthat thus it is, and there is nothing for thee to do but to go tothy ships. " And thereupon towards his ships he set out. 

And tidings came to Bendigeid Vran that Matholch was quitting thecourt without asking leave, and messengers were sent to inquire ofhim wherefore he did so. And the messengers that went were Iddic, the son of Anarawd, and Heveyd Hir. And these overtook him, andasked 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. Ihave been altogether insulted; no one had ever worse treatmentthan I have had here. " "Truly, lord, it was not the will of anythat are of the court, " said they, "nor of any that are of thecouncil, that thou shouldst have received this insult; and as thouhast been insulted, the dishonor is greater unto Bendigeid Vranthan unto thee. " "Verily, " said he, "I think so. Nevertheless, hecannot recall the insult. " These men returned with that answer tothe place where Bendigeid Vran was, and they told him what replyMatholch had given them. "Truly, " said he, "there are no means bywhich we may prevent his going away at enmity with us that we willnot take. " "Well, lord, " said they, "send after him anotherembassy. " "I will do so, " said he. "Arise, Manawyddan, son ofLlyr, and Heveyd Hir, and go after him, and tell him that he shallhave a sound horse for every one that has been injured. And besidethat, as an atonement for the insult, he shall have a staff ofsilver as large and as tall as himself, and a plate of gold of thebreadth 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 mybrother, and therefore it would be hard for me to put him todeath. And let him come and meet me, " said he, "and we will makepeace in any way he may desire. "

The embassy went after Matholch, and told him all these sayings ina friendly manner; and he listened thereunto. "Men, " said he, "Iwill take counsel. " So to the council he went. And in the councilthey considered that, if they should refuse this, they were likelyto have more shame rather than to obtain so great an atonement. They resolved, therefore, to accept it, and they returned to thecourt in peace. 

Then the pavilions and the tents were set in order, after thefashion of a hall; and they went to meat, and as they had sat atthe beginning of the feast so sat they there. And Matholch andBendigeid Vran began to discourse; and, behold, it seemed toBendigeid Vran, while they talked, that Matholch was not socheerful as he had been before. And he thought that the chieftainmight be sad because of the smallness of the atonement which hehad for the wrong that had been done him. "O man, " said BendigeidVran, "thou dost not discourse to-night so cheerfully as thou wastwont. And if it be because of the smallness of the atonement, thoushalt add thereunto whatsoever thou mayest choose, and to-morrow Iwill pay thee for the horses. " "Lord, " said he, "Heaven rewardthee!" "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 thathe will not regain his speech. " And thereupon he gave him greatthanks, and very joyful was he for that cause. 

That night they continued to discourse as much as they would, andhad minstrelsy and carousing; and when it was more pleasant tothem to sleep than to sit longer, they went to rest. And thus wasthe banquet carried on with joyousness; and when it was finished, Matholch journeyed towards Ireland, and Branwen with him; and theywent from Aber Menei with thirteen ships, and came to Ireland. Andin Ireland was there great joy because of their coming. And notone great man nor noble lady visited Branwen unto whom she gavenot either a clasp or a ring, or a royal jewel to keep, such as itwas honorable to be seen departing with. And in these things shespent that year in much renown, and she passed her timepleasantly, enjoying honor and friendship. And in due time a sonwas born unto her, and the name that they gave him was Gwern, theson of Matholch, and they put the boy out to be nursed in a placewhere were the best men of Ireland. 

And, behold, in the second year a tumult arose in Ireland, onaccount of the insult which Matholch had received in Wales, andthe payment made him for his horses. And his foster-brothers, andsuch as were nearest to him, blamed him openly for that matter. And he might have no peace by reason of the tumult, until theyshould revenge upon him this disgrace. And the vengeance whichthey took was to drive away Branwen from the same chamber withhim, and to make her cook for the court; and they caused thebutcher, after he had cut up the meat, to come to her and give herevery day a blow on the ear; and such they made her punishment. 

"Verily, lord, " said his men to Matholch, "forbid now the shipsand the ferry-boats, and the coracles, that they go not intoWales, and such as come over from Wales hither, imprison them, that they go not back for this thing to be known there. " And hedid 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 ofman her brother was. And she wrote a letter of her woes, and thedespite with which she was treated, and she bound the letter tothe root of the bird's wing, and sent it toward Wales. And thebird came to that island; and one day it found Bendigeid Vran atCaer Seiont in Arvon, conferring there, and it alighted upon hisshoulder, 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 whenhe had read the letter, he grieved exceedingly at the tidings ofBranwen's woes. And immediately he began sending messengers tosummon the island together. And he caused seven-score and four ofhis chief men to come unto him, and he complained to them of thegrief that his sister endured. So they took counsel. And in thecounsel they resolved to go to Ireland, and to leave seven men asprinces at home, and Caradoc, [Footnote: Caractacus. ] the son ofBran, as the chief of them. 

Bendigeid Vran, with the host of which we spoke, sailed towardsIreland; and it was not far across the sea, and he came to shoalwater. Now the swine-herds of Matholch were upon the sea-shore, and they came to Matholch. "Lord, " said they, "greeting be untothee. " "Heaven protect you!" said he; "have you any news?" "Lord, "said they, "we have marvellous news. A wood have we seen upon thesea, in a place where we never yet saw a single tree. " "This isindeed a marvel, " said he; "saw you aught else?" "We saw, lord, "said they, "a vast mountain beside the wood, which moved, andthere was a lofty ridge on the top of the mountain, and a lake oneach side of the ridge. And the wood and the mountain, and allthese things, moved. " "Verily, " said he, "there is none who canknow aught concerning this unless it be Branwen. "

Messengers then went unto Branwen. "Lady, " said they, "whatthinkest thou that this is?" "The men of the Island of the Mighty, who have come hither on hearing of my ill-treatment and of mywoes. " "What is the forest that is seen upon the sea?" asked they. "The yards and the masts of ships, " she answered. "Alas!" saidthey; "what is the mountain that is seen by the side of theships?" "Bendigeid Vran, my brother, " she replied, "coming toshoal water, and he is wading to the land. " "What is the loftyridge, with the lake on each side thereof?" "On looking towardsthis island he is wroth, and his two eyes on each side of his noseare the two lakes on each side of the ridge. "

The warriors and chief men of Ireland were brought together inhaste, and they took counsel. "Lord, " said the neighbors untoMatholch, "there is no other counsel than this alone. Thou shaltgive the kingdom to Gwern, the son of Branwen his sister, as acompensation for the wrong and despite that have been done untoBranwen. And he will make peace with thee. " And in the council itwas resolved that this message should be sent to Bendigeid Vran, lest the country should be destroyed. And this peace was made. AndMatholch caused a great house to be built for Bendigeid Vran, andhis host. Thereupon came the hosts into the house. The men of theisland of Ireland entered the house on the one side, and the menof the Island of the Mighty on the other. And as soon as they hadsat down, there was concord between them; and the sovereignty wasconferred upon the boy. When the peace was concluded, BendigeidVran called the boy unto him, and from Bendigeid Vran the boy wentunto Manawyddan; and he was beloved by all that beheld him. Andfrom Manawyddan the boy was called by Nissyen, the son ofEuroswydd, and the boy went unto him lovingly. "Wherefore, " saidEvnissyen, "comes not my nephew, the son of my sister, unto me?Though he were not king of Ireland, yet willingly would I fondlethe boy. " "Cheerfully let him go to thee, " said Bendigeid Vran;and the boy went unto him cheerfully. "By my confession toHeaven, " said Evnissyen in his heart, "unthought of is theslaughter that I will this instant commit. "

Then he arose and took up the boy, and before any one in the housecould seize hold of him he thrust the boy headlong into theblazing fire. And when Branwen saw her son burning in the fire, she strove to leap into the fire also, from the place where shesat between her two brothers. But Bendigeid Vran grasped her withone hand, and his shield with the other. Then they all hurriedabout the house, and never was there made so great a tumult by anyhost in one house as was made by them, as each man armed himself. And while they all sought their arms Bendigeid Vran supportedBranwen between his shield and his shoulder. And they fought. 

Then the Irish kindled a fire under the caldron of renovation, andthey cast the dead bodies into the caldron until it was full; andthe next day they came forth fighting men, as good as before, except that they were not able to speak. Then when Evnissyen sawthe dead bodies of the men of the Island of the Mighty nowhereresuscitated, he said in his heart, "Alas! woe is me, that Ishould have been the cause of bringing the men of the Island ofthe Mighty into so great a strait. Evil betide me if I find not adeliverance therefrom. " And he cast himself among the dead bodiesof the Irish; and two unshod Irishmen came to him, and, taking himto be one of the Irish, flung him into the caldron. And hestretched himself out in the caldron, so that he rent the caldroninto four pieces, and burst his own heart also. 

In consequence of this, the men of the Island of the Mightyobtained such success as they had; but they were not victorious, for only seven men of them all escaped, and Bendigeid Vran himselfwas wounded in the foot with a poisoned dart. Now the men thatescaped were Pryderi, Manawyddan, Taliesin, and four others. 

And Bendigeid Vran commanded them that they should cut off hishead. "And take you my head, " said he, "and bear it even unto theWhite Mount in London, and bury it there with the face towardsFrance. And so long as it lies there, no enemy shall ever land onthe island. " So they cut off his head, and these seven wentforward therewith. And Branwen was the eighth with them. And theycame to land on Aber Alaw, and they sat down to rest. And Branwenlooked towards Ireland, and towards the Island of the Mighty, tosee if she could descry them. "Alas!" said she, "woe is me that Iwas ever born; two islands have been destroyed because of me. "Then she uttered a groan, and there broke her heart. And they madeher 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 andwomen. "Have you any tidings?" said Manawyddan. "We have none, "said they, "save that Caswallawn, [Footnote: Cassivellaunus. ] theson of Beli, has conquered the Island of the Mighty, and iscrowned king in London. " "What has become, " said they, "ofCaradoc, the son of Bran, and the seven men who were left with himin this island?" "Caswallawn came upon them, and slew six of themen, and Caradoc's heart broke for grief thereof. " And the sevenmen journeyed on towards London, and they buried the head in theWhite Mount, as Bendigeid Vran had directed them. [Footnote: Thereis a Triad upon the story of the head buried under the White Towerof London, as a charm against invasion. Arthur, it seems, proudlydisinterred the head, preferring to hold the island by his ownstrength alone. ]

CHAPTER X

MANAWYDDAN

Pwyll and Rhiannon had a son, whom they named Pryderi. And when hewas 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 thathis cousin had seized all his possessions, and much grief andheaviness came upon him. "Alas! woe is me!" he exclaimed; "thereis none save myself without a home and a resting-place. " "Lord, "said Pryderi, "be not so sorrowful. Thy cousin is king of theIsland of the Mighty, and though he has done thee wrong, thou hastnever been a claimant of land or possessions. " "Yea, " answered he, "but although this man is my cousin, it grieveth me to see any onein the place of my brother, Bendigeid Vran; neither can I be happyin the same dwelling with him. " "Wilt thou follow the counsel ofanother?" 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 bestowher upon thee, and the seven cantrevs with her; and though thouhadst no possessions but those cantrevs only, thou couldst nothave any fairer than they. Do thou and Rhiannon enjoy them, and ifthou desire any possessions thou wilt not despise these. " "I donot, chieftain, " said he. "Heaven reward thee for the friendship!I will go with thee to seek Rhiannon, and to look at thypossessions. " "Thou wilt do well, " he answered; "and I believethat thou didst never hear a lady discourse better than she, andwhen she was in her prime, none was ever fairer. Even now heraspect is not uncomely. "

They set forth, and, however long the journey, they came at lastto 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 hethought in his heart he had never beheld any lady more fulfilledof grace and beauty than she. "Pryderi, " said he, "I will that itbe 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 himwho 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 Englandto tender my homage unto Caswallawn, the son of Beli. " "Lord, "said Rhiannon, "Caswallawn is in Kent; thou mayest therefore tarryat the feast, and wait until he shall be nearer. " "We will wait, "he answered. So they finished the feast. And they began to makethe circuit of Dyved, and to hunt, and to take their pleasure. Andas they went through the country, they had never seen lands morepleasant to live in, nor better hunting grounds, nor greaterplenty of honey and fish. And such was the friendship betweenthese four, that they would not be parted from each other by nightnor by day. 

And in the midst of all this he went to Caswallawn at Oxford, andtendered his homage; and honorable was his reception there, andhighly was he praised for offering his homage. 

And after his return Pryderi and Manawyddan feasted and took theirease and pleasure. And they began a feast at Narberth, for it wasthe chief palace. And when they had ended the first meal, whilethose who served them ate, they arose and went forth, andproceeded to the Gorsedd, that is, the Mount of Narberth, andtheir retinue with them. And as they sat thus, behold a peal ofthunder, and with the violence of the thunder-storm, lo! therecame a fall of mist, so thick that not one of them could see theother. And after the mist it became light all around. And whenthey looked towards the place where they were wont to see thecattle and herds and dwellings, they saw nothing now, neitherhouse, nor beast, nor smoke, nor fire, nor man, nor dwelling, butthe buildings of the court empty, and desert, and uninhabited, without either man or beast within them. And truly all theircompanions were lost to them, without their knowing aught of whathad befallen them, save those four only. 

"In the name of Heaven, " said Manawyddan, "where are they of thecourt, and all my host beside? Let us go and see. "

So they came to the castle, and saw no man, and into the hall, andto the sleeping-place, and there was none; and in the mead-cellarand in the kitchen there was naught but desolation. Then theybegan to go through the land, and all the possessions that theyhad; and they visited the houses and dwellings, and found nothingbut wild beasts. And when they had consumed their feast and alltheir 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 theyranged their dogs and went forth. And some of the dogs ran beforethem, and came to a bush which was near at hand; but as soon asthey were come to the bush, they hastily drew back, and returnedto the men, their hair bristling up greatly. "Let us go near tothe bush, " said Pryderi, "and see what is in it. " And as they camenear, behold, a wild boar of a pure white color rose up from thebush. 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, andmade a stand against the dogs, without retreating from them, untilthe men had come near. And when the men came up, he fell back asecond time, and betook him to flight. Then they pursued the boaruntil they beheld a vast and lofty castle, all newly built, in aplace 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 menbegan to wonder at finding a castle in a place where they hadnever before seen any building whatsoever. And from the top of theGorsedd they looked and listened for the dogs. But so long as theywere there, they heard not one of the dogs, nor aught concerningthem. 

"Lord, " said Pryderi, "I will go into the castle to get tidings ofthe dogs. " "Truly, " he replied, "thou wouldst be unwise to go intothis castle, which thou hast never seen till now. If thou wouldstfollow my counsel, thou wouldst not enter therein. Whosoever hascast 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 thecastle 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 thecentre of the castle-floor he beheld a fountain with marble-workaround it, and on the margin of the fountain a golden bowl upon amarble slab, and chains hanging from the air, to which he saw noend. 

And he was greatly pleased with the beauty of the gold, and withthe rich workmanship of the bowl; and he went up to the bowl, andlaid hold of it. And when he had taken hold of its his hands stuckto the bowl, and his feet to the slab on which the bowl wasplaced; and all his joyousness forsook him, so that he could notutter a word. And thus he stood. 

And Manawyddan waited for him till near the close of the day. Andlate in the evening, being certain that he should have no tidingsof Pryderi or the dogs, he went back to the palace. And as heentered, Rhiannon looked at him. "Where, " said she, "are thycompanion and thy dogs?" "Behold, " he answered, "the adventurethat has befallen me. " And he related it all unto her. "An evilcompanion hast thou been, " said Rhiannon, "and a good companionhast thou lost. " And with that word she went out, and proceededtowards 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 layinghold 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; andas she did so, her hands also became fast to the bowl, and herfeet to the slab, and she was not able to utter a word. And withthat, as it became night, lo! there came thunder upon them, and afall of mist; and thereupon the castle vanished, and they with it. 

When Kicva, the daughter of Gwynn Gloy, saw that there was no onein the palace but herself and Manawyddan, she sorrowed so that shecared not whether she lived or died. And Manawyddan saw this. "Thou art in the wrong, " said he, "if through fear of me thougrievest thus. I call Heaven to witness that thou hast never seenfriendship more pure than that which I will bear thee as long asHeaven 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 Ideemed of thee. " And the damsel thereupon took courage, and wasglad. 

"Truly, lady, " said Manawyddan, "it is not fitting for us to stayhere; we have lost our dogs, and cannot get food. Let us go intoEngland; it is easiest for us to find support there. " "Gladly, lord, " said she, "we will do so. " And they set forth together toEngland. 

"Lord, " said she, "what craft wilt thou follow? Take up one thatis seemly. " "None other will I take, " answered he, "but that ofmaking shoes. " "Lord, " said she, "such a craft becomes not a manso nobly born as thou. " "By that however will I abide, " said he. "I know nothing thereof, " said Kicva. "But I know, " answeredManawyddan, "and I will teach thee to stitch. We will not attemptto dress the leather, but we will buy it ready dressed, and willmake the shoes from it. "

So they went into England, and went as far as Hereford; and theybetook themselves to making shoes. And he began by buying the bestcordwain that could be had in the town, and none other would buy. And he associated himself with the best goldsmith in the town, andcaused him to make clasps for the shoes, and to gild the clasps;and he marked how it was done until he learned the method. Andtherefore is he called one of the three makers of gold shoes. Andwhen they could be had from him, not a shoe nor hose was bought ofany of the cordwainers in the town. But when the cordwainersperceived that their gains were failing (for as Manawyddan shapedthe work, so Kicva stitched it), they came together and tookcounsel, and agreed that they would slay them. And he had warningthereof, and it was told him how the cordwainers had agreedtogether to slay him. 

"Lord, " said Kicva, "wherefore should this be borne from theseboors?" "Nay, " said he, "we will go back unto Dyved. " So towardsDyved they set forth. 

Now Manawyddan, when he set out to return to Dyved, took with hima burden of wheat. And he proceeded towards Narberth, and there hedwelt. And never was he better pleased than when he saw Narberthagain, and the lands where he had been wont to hunt with Pryderiand with Rhiannon. And he accustomed himself to fish, and to huntthe deer in their covert. And then he began to prepare someground, and he sowed a croft, and a second, and a third. And nowheat in the world ever sprung up better. And the three croftsprospered with perfect growth, and no man ever saw fairer wheatthan 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 wasripe. "I will reap this to-morrow, " said he. And that night hewent back to Narberth, and on the morrow, in the gray dawn, hewent to reap the croft; and when he came there, he found nothingbut the bare straw. Every one of the ears of the wheat was cut offfrom the stalk, and all the ears carried entirely away, andnothing but the straw left. And at this he marvelled greatly. 

Then he went to look at another croft, and, behold, that also wasripe. "Verily, " said he, "this will I reap to-morrow. " And on themorrow he came with the intent to reap it; and when he came there, he found nothing but the bare straw. "O gracious Heaven!" heexclaimed. "I know that whosoever has begun my ruin is completingit, 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. Whoevercarried 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 hadbefallen. "Verily, " said she, "what thinkest thou to do?" "I willwatch the croft to-night, " said he. And he went to watch thecroft. 

And at midnight he heard something stirring among the wheat; andhe looked, and behold, the mightiest host of mice in the world, which could neither be numbered nor measured. And he knew not whatit was until the mice had made their way into the croft, and eachof them, climbing up the straw, and bending it down with itsweight, had cut off one of the ears of wheat, and had carried itaway, leaving there the stalk; and he saw not a single straw therethat had not a mouse to it. And they all took their way, carryingthe ears with them. 

In wrath and anger did he rush upon the mice; but he could no morecome 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 fastthat a man on foot could scarce overtake it. And after this one hewent, and he caught it, and put it in his glove, and tied up theopening of the glove with a string, and kept it with him, andreturned 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 apeg. "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 herhow the mice came to the last of the fields in his sight. "And oneof 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 behanging such a reptile as this. " "Woe betide me, " said he, "if Iwould not hang them all, could I catch them, and such as I have Iwill hang. " "Verily, lord, " said she, "there is no reason that Ishould 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. Andwhile he was doing this, behold, he saw a scholar coming towardshim, in old and poor and tattered garments. And it was now sevenyears since he had seen in that place either man or beast, exceptthose four persons who had remained together until two of themwere lost. 

"My lord, " said the scholar, "good-day to thee. " "Heaven prosperthee, and my greeting be unto thee! And whence dost thou come, scholar?" asked he. "I come, lord, from singing in England; andwherefore 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 throughthis land unto mine own. And what work art thou upon, lord?" "I amhanging a thief that I caught robbing me, " said he. "What mannerof thief is that?" asked the scholar. "I see a creature in thyhand like unto a mouse, and ill does it become a man of rank equalto 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 itrobbing me, and the doom of a thief will I inflict upon it, and Iwill hang it. " "Lord, " said he, "rather than see a man of rankequal 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 thescholar went his way. 

And as he was placing the cross-beam upon the two forks, behold, apriest came towards him, upon a horse covered with trappings. "Good day to thee, lord, " said he. "Heaven prosper thee!" saidManawyddan; "thy blessing. " "The blessing of Heaven be upon thee!And what, lord, art thou doing?" "I am hanging a thief that Icaught robbing me, " said he. "What manner of thief, lord?" askedhe. "A creature, " he answered, "in form of a mouse. It has beenrobbing me, and I am inflicting upon it the doom of a thief. ""Lord, " said he, "rather than see thee touch this reptile, I wouldpurchase its freedom. " "By my confession to Heaven, neither will Isell it nor set it free. " "It is true, lord, that it is worthnothing to buy; but rather than see thee defile thyself bytouching such a reptile as this, I will give thee three pounds tolet it go. " "I will not, by Heaven, " said he, "take any price forit. As it ought, so shall it be hanged. " And the priest went hisway. 

Then he noosed the string around the mouse's neck, and as he wasabout to draw it up, behold, he saw a bishop's retinue, with hissumpter-horses and his attendants. And the bishop himself cametowards him. And he stayed his work. "Lord Bishop, " said he, "thyblessing. " "Heaven's blessing be unto thee!" said he. "What workart thou upon?" "Hanging a thief that I caught robbing me, " saidhe. "Is not that a mouse that I see in thy hand?" "Yes, " answeredhe, "and she has robbed me. " "Ay, " said he, "since I have come atthe doom of this reptile I will ransom it of thee. I will givethee seven pounds for it, and that rather than see a man of rankequal to thine destroying so vile a reptile as this. Let it loose, and thou shalt have the money. " "I declare to Heaven that I willnot let it loose. " "If thou wilt not loose it for this, I willgive 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 thehorses that thou seest in this plain, and the seven loads ofbaggage, and the seven horses that they are upon. " "By Heaven, Iwill not, " he replied. "Since for this thou wilt not set it free, do so at what price soever thou wilt. " "I will that Rhiannon andPryderi be free, " said he. "That thou shalt have, " he answered. "Not yet will I loose the mouse, by Heaven. " "What then wouldstthou?" "That the charm and the illusion be removed from the sevencantrevs of Dyved. " "This shalt thou have also; set therefore themouse free. " "I will not set it free, by Heaven, " said he, "till Iknow who the mouse may be. " "She is my wife. " "Wherefore came sheto me?" "To despoil thee, " he answered. "I am Lloyd, the son ofKilwed, and I cast the charm over the seven cantrevs of Dyved. Andit was to avenge Gawl, the son of Clud, from the friendship I hadtowards him, that I cast the charm. And upon Pryderi did I avengeGawl, the son of Clud, for the game of Badger in the Bag, thatPwyll, the son of Auwyn, played upon him. And when it was knownthat thou wast come to dwell in the land, my household came andbesought me to transform them into mice, that they might destroythy corn. And they went the first and the second night, anddestroyed thy two crops. And the third night came unto me my wifeand the ladies of the court, and besought me to transform them. And I transformed them. Now she is not in her usual health. Andhad she been in her usual health, thou wouldst not have been ableto overtake her; but since this has taken place, and she has beencaught, I will restore to thee Pryderi and Rhiannon, and I willtake the charm and illusion from off Dyved. Set her thereforefree. " "I will not set her free yet. " "What wilt thou more?" heasked. "I will that there be no more charm upon the seven cantrevsof Dyved, and that none shall be put upon it henceforth; moreover, that vengeance be never taken for this, either upon Pryderi orRhiannon, or upon me. " "All this shalt thou have. And truly thouhast done wisely in asking this. Upon thy head would have lit allthis trouble. " "Yea, " said he, "for fear thereof was it that Irequired this. " "Set now my wife at liberty. " "I will not, " saidhe, "until I see Pryderi and Rhiannon with me free. " "Behold, herethey come, " he answered. 

And thereupon behold Pryderi and Rhiannon. And he rose up to meetthem, and greeted them, and sat down beside them. "Ah, chieftain, set now my wife at liberty, " said the bishop. "Hast thou notreceived all thou didst ask?" "I will release her, gladly, " saidhe. And thereupon he set her free. 

Then he struck her with a magic wand, and she was changed backinto a young woman, the fairest ever seen. "Look round upon thyland, " said he, "and thou wilt see it all tilled and peopled as itwas in its best estate. " And he rose up and looked forth. And whenhe looked he saw all the lands tilled, and full of herds anddwellings. 

And thus ends this portion of the Mabinogi. 

The following allusions to the preceding story are found in aletter of the poet Southey to John Rickman, Esq. , dated June 6th, 1802:

"You will read the Mabinogeon, concerning which I ought to havetalked to you. In the last, that most odd and Arabian-like storyof the mouse, mention is made of a begging scholar, that helps tothe date; but where did the Cymri get the imagination that couldproduce such a tale? That enchantment of the basin hanging by thechain from heaven is in the wildest spirit of the Arabian Nights. I am perfectly astonished that such fictions should exist inWelsh. They throw no light on the origin of romance, everythingbeing utterly dissimilar to what we mean by that term, but they doopen a new world of fiction; and if the date of their language befixed about the twelfth or thirteenth century, I cannot but thinkthe mythological substance is of far earlier date; very probablybrought from the East by some of the first settlers orconquerors. "

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 PrinceAnlawd. And after their union the people put up prayers that theymight have an heir. And they had a son through the prayers of thepeople; and called his name Kilwich. 

After this the boy's mother, Goleudid, the daughter of PrinceAnlawd, fell sick. Then she called her husband to her, and said tohim, "Of this sickness I shall die, and thou wilt take anotherwife. Now wives are the gift of the Lord, but it would be wrongfor thee to harm thy son. Therefore I charge thee that thou takenot a wife until thou see a briar with two blossoms upon mygrave. " And this he promised her. Then she besought him to dressher grave every year, that no weeds might grow thereon. So thequeen died. Now the king sent an attendant every morning to see ifanything were growing upon the grave. And at the end of theseventh year they neglected that which they had promised to thequeen. 

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 takea wife: and the King saw the briar. And when he saw it, the kingtook counsel where he should find a wife. Said one of hiscounsellors, "I know a wife that will suit thee well; and she isthe wife of King Doged. " And they resolved to go to seek her; andthey slew the king, and brought away his wife. And they conqueredthe kings' lands. And he married the widow of King Doged, thesister of Yspadaden Penkawr. 

And one day his stepmother said to Kilwich, "It were well for theeto have a wife. " "I am not yet of an age to wed, " answered theyouth. Then said she unto him, "I declare to thee that it is thydestiny not to be suited with a wife until thou obtain Olwen, thedaughter of Yspadaden Penkawr. " And the youth blushed, and thelove of the maiden diffused itself through all his frame, althoughhe had never seen her. And his father inquired of him, "What hascome over thee, my son, and what aileth thee?" "My stepmother hasdeclared to me that I shall never have a wife until I obtainOlwen, the daughter of Yspadaden Penkawr. " "That will be easy forthee, " 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 abridle of linked gold on his head, and upon him a saddle of costlygold. And in the youth's hand were two spears of silver, sharp, well-tempered, headed with steel, three ells in length, of anedge to wound the wind, and cause blood to flow, and swifter thanthe fall of the dew-drop from the blade of reed-grass, when thedew of June is at the heaviest. A gold-hilted sword was upon histhigh, the blade of which was gilded, bearing a cross of inlaidgold of the hue of the lightning of heaven. His war-horn was ofivory. Before him were two brindled, white-breasted greyhounds, having strong collars of rubies about their necks, reaching fromthe shoulder to the ear. And the one that was upon the left sidebounded across to the right side, and the one on the right to theleft, and, like two sea-swallows, sported around him. And hiscourser cast up four sods, with his four hoofs, like four swallowsin the air, about his head, now above, now below. About him was afour-cornered cloth of purple, and an apple of gold was at eachcorner, and every one of the apples was of the value of an hundredkine. And there was precious gold of the value of three hundredkine upon his shoes, and upon his stirrups, from his knee to thetip of his toe. And the blade of grass bent not beneath him, solight was his courser's tread, as he journeyed toward the gate ofArthur's palace. 

Spoke the youth: "Is there a porter?" "There is; and if thouholdest not thy peace, small will be thy welcome. I am Arthur'sporter every first day of January. " "Open the portal. " "I will notopen it. " "Wherefore not?" "The knife is in the meat, and thedrink is in the horn, and there is revelry in Arthur's hall; andnone may enter therein but the son of a king of a privilegedcountry, or a craftsman bringing his craft. But there will berefreshment for thy dogs and for thy horse; and for thee therewill be collops cooked and peppered, and luscious wine, andmirthful songs; and food for fifty men shall be brought unto theein the guest-chamber, where the stranger and the sons of othercountries eat, who come not into the precincts of the palace ofArthur. Thou wilt fare no worse there than thou wouldst withArthur in the court. A lady shall smooth thy couch, and shall lullthee with songs; and early to-morrow morning, when the gate isopen for the multitude that came hither to-day, for thee shall itbe opened first, and thou mayest sit in the place that thou shaltchoose in Arthur's hall, from the upper end to the lower. " Saidthe youth: "That will I not do. If thou openest the gate, it iswell. If thou dost not open it, I will bring disgrace upon thylord, and evil report upon thee. And I will set up three shouts atthis 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 entertherein, until I first go and speak with Arthur. "

Then Glewlwyd went into the hall. And Arthur said to him, "Hastthou news from the gate?" "Half of my life is passed, " saidGlewlwyd, "and half of thine. I was heretofore in Kaer Se andAsse, in Sach and Salach, in Lotor and Fotor, and I have been inIndia the Great and India the Lesser, and I have also been inEurope and Africa, and in the islands of Corsica, and I waspresent when thou didst conquer Greece in the East. Nine supremesovereigns, handsome men, saw we there, but never did I behold aman of equal dignity with him who is now at the door of theportal. " Then said Arthur: "If walking thou didst enter here, return thou running. It is unbecoming to keep such a man as thousayest he is in the wind and the rain. " Said Kay: "By the hand ofmy friend, if thou wouldst follow my counsel, thou wouldst notbreak through the laws of the court because of him. " "Not so, blessed Kay, " said Arthur; "it is an honor to us to be resortedto, and the greater our courtesy, the greater will be our renownand 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, yetdid he not dismount, but he rode in upon his charger. Then saidhe, "Greeting be unto thee, sovereign ruler of this island, and bethis greeting no less unto the lowest than unto the highest, andbe it equally unto thy guests, and thy warriors, and thychieftains; let all partake of it as completely as thyself. Andcomplete be thy favor, and thy fame, and thy glory, throughout allthis island. " "Greeting unto thee also, " said Arthur; "sit thoubetween two of my warriors, and thou shalt have minstrels beforethee, and thou shalt enjoy the privileges of a king born to athrone, as long as thou remainest here. And when I disperse mypresents to the visitors and strangers in this court, they shallbe in thy hand at my commencing. " Said the youth, "I came not hereto consume meat and drink; but if I obtain the boon that I seek, Iwill requite it thee, and extol thee; but if I have it not, I willbear forth thy dispraise to the four quarters of the world, as faras thy renown has extended. " Then said Arthur, "Since thou wiltnot remain here, chieftain, thou shalt receive the boon, whatsoever thy tongue may name, as far as the wind dries, and therain moistens, and the sun revolves, and the sea encircles, andthe earth extends; save only my ship Prydwen, and my mantle, andCaliburn, my sword, and Rhongomyant, my lance, and Guenever, mywife. By the truth of Heaven, thou shalt have it cheerfuly, namewhat thou wilt. " "I would that thou bless my hair, " said he. "Thatshall be granted thee. "

And Arthur took a golden comb, and scissors whereof the loops wereof silver, and he combed his hair. And Arthur inquired of him whohe was; "for my heart warms unto thee, and I know that thou artcome of my blood. Tell me, therefore, who thou art. " "I will tellthee, " said the youth. "I am Kilwich, the son of Kilydd, the sonof Prince Kelyddon, by Goleudyd, my mother, the daughter of PrinceAnlawd. " "That is true, " said Arthur; "thou art my cousin. Whatsoever boon thou mayest ask, thou shalt receive, be it what itmay that thy tongue shall name. " "Pledge the truth of Heaven andthe faith of thy kingdom thereof. " "I pledge it thee gladly. " "Icrave of thee, then, that thou obtain for me Olwen, the daughterof Yspadaden Penkawr, to wife; and this boon I likewise seek atthe hands of thy warriors. I seek it from Kay and from Bedwyr; andfrom Gwynn, the son of Nudd, and Gadwy, the son of Geraint, andPrince Flewddur Flam and Iona, king of France, and Sel, the son ofSelgi, and Taliesin, the chief of the bards, and Geraint, the sonof Erbin, Garanwyn, the son of Kay, and Amren, the son of Bedwyr, Ol, the son of Olwyd, Bedwin, the bishop, Guenever, the chieflady, 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 indiscriminatelyLlyr or Lludd. All the old chronicles give the story of herdevotion to her aged parent, but none of them seem to have beenaware that she is destined to remain with him till the day ofdoom, whilst Gwyn ap Nudd, the king of the fairies, and Gwythyr opGreidiol, fight for her every first of May, and whichever of themmay be fortunate enough to be the conqueror at that time willobtain her as a bride. ] the daughter of Lludd, the constantmaiden, and Ewaedah, the daughter of Kynvelyn, [Footnote: TheWelsh have a fable on the subject of the half man, taken to beillustrative of the force of habit. In this allegory Arthur issupposed to be met by a sprite, who appears at first in a smalland indistinct form, but who, on approaching nearer, increases insize, and, assuming the semblance of half a man, endeavors toprovoke the king to wrestle. Despising his weakness, andconsidering that he should gain no credit by the encounter, Arthurrefuses to do so, and delays the contest until at length the halfman (Habit) becomes so strong that it requires his utmost effortsto overcome him. ] the half-man. " All these did Kilwich, the son ofKilydd, adjure to obtain his boon. 

Then said Arthur, "O chieftain, I have never heard of the maidenof whom thou speakest, nor of her kindred, but I will gladly sendmessengers in search of her. Give me time to seek her. " And theyouth said, "I will willingly grant from this night to that at theend of the year to do so. " Then Arthur sent messengers to everyland within his dominions to seek for the maiden, and at the endof the year Arthur's messengers returned without having gained anyknowledge or intelligence concerning Olwen, more than on the firstday. Then said Kilwich, "Every one has received his boon, and Iyet lack mine. I will depart, and bear away thy honor with me. "Then said Kay, "Rash chieftain! dost thou reproach Arthur? Go withus, and we will not part until thou dost either confess that themaiden exists not in the world, or until we obtain her. " ThereuponKay rose up. And Arthur called Bedwyr, who never shrank from anyenterprise upon which Kay was bound. None were equal to him inswiftness throughout this island except Arthur alone; and althoughhe was one handed; three warriors could not shed blood faster thanhe on the field of battle. 

And Arthur called to Kyndelig, the guide, "Go thou upon thisexpedition with the chieftain. " For as good a guide was he in aland 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 homewithout achieving the adventure of which he went in quest. 

And Arthur called Meneu, the son of Teirgwed, in order that, ifthey went into a savage country, he might cast a charm and anillusion over them, so that none might see them, whilst they couldsee every one. 

They journeyed until they came to a vast open plain, wherein theysaw a great castle, which was the fairest of the castles of theworld. And when they came before the castle, they beheld a vastflock of sheep. And upon the top of a mound there was a herdsmankeeping the sheep. And a rug made of skins was upon him, and byhis side was a shaggy mastiff, larger than a steed nine wintersold. 

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 togo thither, for I will cast a spell upon the dog, so that he shallinjure no one. " And they went up to the mound whereon the herdsmanwas, and they said to him, "How dost thou fare, herdsman?" "Notless fair be it to you than to me. " "Whose are the sheep that thoudost 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 toseek Olwen, the daughter of Yspadaden Penkawr. " "O men! the mercyof Heaven be upon you; do not that for all the world. None whoever came hither on this quest has returned alive. " And theherdsman rose up. And as he rose Kilwich gave unto him a ring ofgold. 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, "Whencecame this ring, for thou art not wont to have good fortune. " "Owife, him to whom this ring belonged thou shalt see here thisevening. " "And who is he?" asked the woman. "Kilwich, the son ofKilydd, by Goleudid, the daughter of Prince Anlawd, who is come toseek Olwen as his wife. " And when she heard that, she had joy thather nephew, the son of her sister, was coming to her, and sorrow, because she had never known any one depart alive who had come onthat quest. 

And the men went forward to the gate of the herdsman's dwelling. And when she heard their footsteps approaching, she ran out withjoy to meet them. And Kay snatched a billet out of the pile. Andwhen she met them, she sought to throw her arms about their necks. And Kay placed the log between her two hands, and she squeezed itso that it became a twisted coil. "O woman, " said Kay, "if thouhadst squeezed me thus, none could ever again have set theiraffections on me. Evil love were this. " They entered into thehouse and were served; and soon after, they all went forth toamuse themselves. Then the woman opened a stone chest that wasbefore the chimney-corner, and out of it arose a youth withyellow, curling hair. Said Gurhyr, "It is a pity to hide thisyouth. I know that it is not his own crime that is thus visitedupon him. " "This is but a remnant, " said the woman. "Three andtwenty of my sons has Yspadaden Penkawr slain, and I have no morehope of this one than of the others. " Then said Kay, "Let him comeand be a companion with me, and he shall not be slain unless Ialso am slain with him. " And they ate. And the woman asked them, "Upon what errand come you here?" "We come to seek Olwen for thisyouth. " Then said the woman, "In the name of Heaven, since no onefrom the castle hath yet seen you, return again whence you came. ""Heaven is our witness, that we will not return until we have seenthe maiden. Does she ever come hither, so that she may be seen?""She comes here every Saturday to wash her head, and in the vesselwhere she washes she leaves all her rings, and she never eithercomes herself or sends any messengers to fetch them. " "Will shecome here if she is sent to?" "Heaven knows that I will notdestroy my soul, nor will I betray those that trust me; unless youwill pledge me your faith that you will not harm her, I will notsend 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 abouther neck was a collar of ruddy gold, on which were preciousemeralds and rubies. More yellow was her head than the flower ofthe broom, [Footnote: The romancers dwell with great complacencyon the fair hair and delicate complexion of their heroines. Thistaste continued for a long time, and to render the hair light wasan object of education. Even when wigs came into fashion they wereall flaxen. Such was the color of the hair of the Gauls and oftheir German conquerors. It required some centuries to reconciletheir eyes to the swarthy beauties of their Spanish and Italianneighbors. ] and her skin was whiter than the foam of the wave, andfairer were her hands and her fingers than the blossoms of thewood-anemone amidst the spray of the meadow fountain. The eye ofthe trained hawk was not brighter than hers. Her bosom was moresnowy than the breast of the white swan, her cheek was redder thanthe reddest roses. Whoso beheld her was filled with her love. Fourwhite trefoils sprung up wherever she trod. And therefore was shecalled Olwen. 

She entered the house and sat beside Kilwich upon the foremostbench; and as soon as he saw her, he knew her. And Kilwich saidunto her, "Ah! maiden, thou art she whom I have loved; come awaywith me, lest they speak evil of thee and of me. Many a day have Iloved thee. " "I cannot do this, for I have pledged my faith to myfather not to go without his counsel, for his life will last onlyuntil the time of my espousals. Whatever is to be, must be. But Iwill give thee advice, if thou wilt take it. Go, ask me of myfather, and that which he shall require of thee, grant it, andthou wilt obtain me; but if thou deny him anything, thou wilt notobtain me, and it will be well for thee if thou escape with thylife. " "I promise all this, if occasion offer, " said he. 

She returned to her chamber, and they all rose up, and followedher to the castle. And they slew the nine porters, that were atthe nine gates, in silence. And they slew the nine watch-dogswithout one of them barking. And they went forward to the hall. 

"The greeting of Heaven and of man be unto thee, YspadadenPenkawr, " said they. "And you, wherefore come you?" "We come toask thy daughter Olwen for Kilwich, the son of Kilydd, the son ofPrince Kelyddon. " "Where are my pages and my servants? Raise upthe 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 thethree poisoned darts that lay beside him, and threw it after them. And Bedwyr caught it, and flung it, and pierced Yspadaden Penkawrgrievously with it through the knee. Then he said, "A cursedungentle son-in-law, truly! I shall ever walk the worse for hisrudeness, and shall ever be without a cure. This poisoned ironpains me like the bite of a gad-fly. Cursed be the smith whoforged 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 theherdsman. The next day, with the dawn, they arrayed themselves andproceeded to the castle, and entered the hall; and they said, "Yspadaden Penkawr, give us thy daughter in consideration of herdower and her maiden fee, which we will pay to thee, and to hertwo kinswomen likewise. " Then he said, "Her four great-grandmothers and her four great-grandsires are yet alive; it isneedful 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 thatwas beside him, and cast it after them. And Meneu, the son ofGawedd, caught it, and flung it back at him, and wounded him inthe 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 whoformed it! So sharp is it! Henceforth, whenever I go up hill, Ishall have a scant in my breath, and a pain in my chest, and Ishall often loathe my food. " And they went to meat. 

And the third day they returned to the palace. And YspadadenPenkawr said to them, "Shoot not at me again unless you desiredeath. Where are my attendants? Lift up the forks of my eyebrows, which have fallen over my eyeballs, that I may see the fashion ofmy son-in-law. " Then they arose, and, as they did so, YspadadenPenkawr took the third poisoned dart and cast it at them. AndKilwich caught it, and threw it vigorously, and wounded himthrough the eyeball. "A cursed ungentle son-in-law, truly! As longas I remain alive, my eyesight will be the worse. Whenever I goagainst the wind, my eyes will water; and peradventure my headwill burn, and I shall have a giddiness every new moon. Like thebite of a mad dog is the stroke of this poisoned iron. Cursed bethe 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 harmand torture as thou now hast, and even more. " Said Kilwich, "Giveme thy daughter; and if thou wilt not give her, thou shalt receivethy death because of her. " "Where is he that seeks my daughter?Come hither where I may see thee. " And they placed him a chairface 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 otherwisethan is just; and when I have gotten that which I shall name, mydaughter thou shalt have. "

"I promise thee that willingly, " said Kilwich; "name what thouwilt. "

"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 flaxwere sown therein, and none has yet sprung up, white nor black. Irequire to have the flax to sow in the new land yonder, that whenit grows up it may make a white wimple for my daughter's head onthe day of thy wedding. "

"It will be easy for me to compass this, although thou mayestthink 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 desiresthat it should play, it does so of itself; and when he desiresthat it should cease, it ceases. And this he will not give of hisown free will, and thou wilt not be able to compel him. "

"It will be easy for me to compass this, although thou mayestthink 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 notknown where he now is, nor whether he is living or dead. "

"It will be easy for me to compass this, although thou mayestthink 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 willhold them, but a leash made from the beard of Dillus Varwawc, therobber. And the leash will be of no avail unless it be pluckedfrom his beard while he is alive. While he lives he will notsuffer this to be done to him, and the leash will be of no useshould he be dead, because it will be brittle. "

"It will be easy for me to compass this, although thou mayestthink 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 notgive it, and thou wilt never be able to compel him. "

"It will be easy for me to compass this, although thou mayestthink 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, inseeking this, and if thou obtain it not, neither shalt thou obtainmy daughter. "

"Horses shall I have, and chivalry; and my lord and kinsman, Arthur, will obtain for me all these things. And I shall gain thydaughter, and thou shalt lose thy life. "

"Go forward. And thou shalt not be chargeable for food or raimentfor my daughter while thou art seeking these things; and when thouhast compassed all these marvels, thou shalt have my daughter forthy wife. "

CHAPTER XII

KILWICH AND OLWEN (Continued)

All that day they journeyed until the evening, and then theybeheld 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 outfrom the castle. And they spoke unto him, and said, "O man, whosecastle is that?" "Stupid are ye, truly, O men! There is no one inthe world that does not know that this is the castle of Gwernachthe Giant. " "What treatment is there for guests and strangers thatalight in that castle?" "O chieftain, Heaven protect thee! Noguests ever returned thence alive, and no one may enter thereinunless he brings with him his craft. "

Then they proceeded towards the gate. Said Gurhyr Gwalstat, "Isthere a porter?" "There is; wherefore dost thou call?" "Open thegate. " "I will not open it. " "Wherefore wilt thou not?" "The knifeis in the meat, and the drink is in the horn, and there is revelryin the hall of Gwernach the Giant; and except for a craftsman whobrings his craft, the gate will not be opened to-night. " "Verily, porter, " then said Kay, "my craft bring I with me. " "What is thycraft?" "The best burnisher of swords am I in the world. " "I willgo and tell this unto Gwernach the Giant, and I will bring thee ananswer. "

So the porter went in, and Gwernach said to him, "Hast thou newsfrom the gate?" "I have. There is a party at the door of the gatewho desire to come in. " "Didst thou inquire of them if theypossessed any art?" "I did inquire, " said he, "and one told methat he was well skilled in the burnishing of swords. " "We haveneed of him then. For some time have I sought for some one topolish my sword, and could find no one. Let this man enter, sincehe brings with him his craft. "

The porter thereupon returned and opened the gate. And Kay went inby himself, and he saluted Gwernach the Giant. And a chair wasplaced for him opposite to Gwernach. And Gwernach said to him, "Oman, is it true that is reported of thee, that thou knowest how toburnish swords?" "I know full well how to do so, " answered Kay. Then was the sword of Gwernach brought to him. And Kay took a bluewhetstone from under his arm, and asked whether he would have itburnished white or blue. "Do with it as it seems good to thee, oras thou wouldst if it were thine own. " Then Kay polished one halfof the blade, and put it in his hand. "Will this please thee?"asked he. "I would rather than all that is in my dominions thatthe whole of it were like this. It is a marvel to me that such aman as thou should be without a companion. " "O noble sir, I have acompanion, 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 knowhim. The head of his lance will leave its shaft, and draw bloodfrom the wind, and will descend upon its shaft again. " Then thegate was opened, and Bedwyr entered. And Kay said, "Bedwyr is veryskilful, though he knows not this art. "

And there was much discourse among those who were without, becausethat Kay and Bedwyr had gone in. And a young man who was withthem, the only son of the herdsman, got in also; and he contrivedto admit all the rest, but they kept themselves concealed. 

The sword was now polished, and Kay gave it unto the hand ofGwernach the Giant, to see if he were pleased with his work. Andthe giant said, "The work is good; I am content therewith. " SaidKay, "It is thy scabbard that hath rusted thy sword; give it tome, that I may take out the wooden sides of it, and put in newones. " And he took the scabbard from him, and the sword in theother hand. And he came and stood over against the giant, as if hewould have put the sword into the scabbard; and with it he struckat the head of the giant, and cut off his head at one blow. Thenthey despoiled the castle, and took from it what goods and jewelsthey would. And they returned to Arthur's court, bearing with themthe sword of Gwernach the Giant. 

And when they told Arthur how they had sped, Arthur said, "It is agood beginning. " Then they took counsel, and said, "Which of thesemarvels 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 befound unless we first find Eidoel, the son of Aer, his kinsman. "Then Arthur rose up, and the warriors of the island of Britainwith him, to seek for Eidoel; and they proceeded until they cameto the castle of Glivi, where Eidoel was imprisoned. Glivi stoodon the summit of his castle, and he said, "Arthur, what requirestthou of me, since nothing remains to me in this fortress, and Ihave neither joy nor pleasure in it, neither wheat nor oats? Seeknot, therefore, to do me harm. " Said Arthur, "Not to injure theecame I hither, but to seek for the prisoner that is with thee. " "Iwill give thee my prisoner, though I had not thought to give himup to any one, and therewith shalt thou have my support and myaid. "

His followers said unto Arthur, "Lord, go thou home, thou canstnot proceed with thy host in quest of such small adventures asthese. " Then said Arthur, "It were well for thee, Gurhyr Gwalstat, to go upon this quest, for thou knowest all languages, and artfamiliar with those of the birds and the beasts. Thou, Eidoel, oughtest likewise to go with thy men in search of thy cousin. Andas for you, Kay and Bedwyr, I have hope of whatever adventure yeare in quest of, that ye will achieve it. Achieve ye thisadventure for me. "

They went forward until they came to the Ousel of Cilgwri. AndGurhyr adjured her, saying, "Tell me if thou knowest aught ofMabon, the son of Modron, who was taken when three nights old frombetween his mother and the wall?" And the Ousel answered, "When Ifirst came here, there was a smith's anvil in this place, and Iwas then a young bird; and from that time no work has been doneupon it, save the pecking of my beak every evening; and now thereis not so much as the size of a nut remaining thereof; yet duringall 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 foran embassy from Arthur. There is a race of animals who were formedbefore 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 fromArthur, for we have not heard of any animal older than thou. Say, knowest thou aught of Mabon, the son of Modron, who was taken fromhis mother when three nights old?" The Stag said, "When first Icame hither there was a plain all around me, without any treessave one oak sapling, which grew up to be an oak with an hundredbranches; and that oak has since perished, so that now nothingremains of it but the withered stump; and from that day to this Ihave been here, yet have I never heard of the man for whom youinquire. Nevertheless, being an embassy from Arthur, I will beyour guide to the place where there is an animal which was formedbefore I was, and the oldest animal in the world, and the one thathas travelled most, the Eagle of Gwern Abwy. "

Gurhyr said, "Eagle of Gwern Abwy, we have come to thee, anembassy from Arthur, to ask thee if thou knowest aught of Mabon, the son of Modron, who was taken from his mother when he was threenights old?" The Eagle said, "I have been here for a great spaceof time, and when I first came hither, there was a rock here fromthe top of which I pecked at the stars every evening; and it hascrumbled away, and now it is not so much as a span high. All thattime I have been here, and I have never heard of the man for whomyou inquire, except once when I went in search of food as far asLlyn Llyw. And when I came there, I struck my talons into asalmon, thinking he would serve me as food for a long time. But hedrew me into the water, and I was scarcely able to escape fromhim. After that I made peace with him. And I drew fifty fish-spears out of his back, and relieved him. Unless he know somethingof him whom you seek, I cannot tell who may. However, I will guideyou to the place where he is. "

So they went thither; and the Eagle said, "Salmon of Llyn Llyw, Ihave come to thee with an embassy from Arthur, to ask thee if thouknowest aught of Mabon, the son of Modron, who was taken away atthree nights old from his mother. " "As much as I know I will tellthee. With every tide I go along the river upward, until I comenear to the walls of Gloucester, and there have I found such wrongas I never found elsewhere; and to the end that ye may givecredence thereto, let one of you go thither upon each of my twoshoulders. " So Kay and Gurhyr Gwalstat went upon the two shouldersof the Salmon, and they proceeded until they came unto the wall ofthe prison; and they heard a great wailing and lamenting from thedungeon. Said Gurhyr, "Who is it that laments in this house ofstone?" "Alas! it is Mabon, the son of Modron, who is hereimprisoned; and no imprisonment was ever so grievous as mine. ""Hast thou hope of being released for gold or for silver, or forany gifts of wealth, or through battle and fighting?" "By fightingwill what ever I may gain be obtained. "

Then they went thence, and returned to Arthur, and they told himwhere Mabon, the son of Modron, was imprisoned. And Arthursummoned the warriors of the island, and they journeyed as far asGloucester, to the place where Mabon was in prison. Kay and Bedwyrwent upon the shoulders of the fish, whilst the warriors of Arthurattacked the castle. And Kay broke through the wall into thedungeon, and brought away the prisoner upon his back, whilst thefight 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, hesprang forward and went towards it. And when he came there, he sawa fire burning among the turf, and an ant-hill nearly surroundedwith the fire. And he drew his sword, and smote off the ant-hillclose 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 fetchedthe nine bushels of flax-seed which Yspadaden Penkawr had requiredof Kilwich, and they brought the full measure, without lackingany, except one flax-seed, and that the lame pismire brought inbefore night. 

Then said Arthur, "Which of the marvels will it be best for us toseek next?" "It will be best to seek for the two cubs of the wolfGast Rhymhi. "

"Is it known, " said Arthur, "where she is?" "She is in AberCleddyf, " said one. Then Arthur went to the house of Tringad, inAber Cleddyf, and he inquired of him whether he had heard of herthere. "She has often slain my herds, and she is there below in acave in Aber Cleddyf. "

Ther Arthur went in his ship Prydwen by sea, and the others wentby land to hunt her. And they surrounded her and her two cubs, andtook them and carried them away. 

As Kay and Bedwyr sat on a beacon-cairn on the summit ofPlinlimmon, in the highest wind that ever was, they looked aroundthem and saw a great smoke, afar off. Then said Kay, "By the handof my friend, yonder is the fire of a robber. " Then they hastenedtowards the smoke, and they came so near to it that they could seeDillus Varwawc scorching a wild boar. "Behold, yonder is thegreatest robber that ever fled from Arthur, " said Bedwyr to Kay. "Dost thou know him?" "I do know him, " answered Kay; "he is DillusVarwarc, and no leash in the world will be able to hold the cubsof Gast Rhymi, save a leash made from the beard of him thou seestyonder. And even that will be useless unless his beard be pluckedout alive, with wooden tweezers; for if dead it will be brittle. ""What thinkest thou that we should do concerning this?" saidBedwyr. "Let us suffer him. " said Kay, "to eat as much as he willof the meat, and after that he will fall asleep. " And during thattime they employed themselves in making the wooden tweezers. Andwhen Kay knew certainly that he was asleep, he made a pit underhis feet, and he struck him a violent blow, and squeezed him intothe pit. And there they twitched out his beard completely with thewooden tweezers, and after that they slew him altogether. And fromthence they went, and took the leash made of Dillus Varwawc'sbeard, and they gave it into Arthur's hand. 

Thus they got all the marvels that Yspadaden Penkawr had requiredof Kilwich; and they set forward, and took the marvels to hiscourt. And Kilwich said to Yspadaden Penkawr, "Is thy daughtermine now?" "She is thine, " said he, "but therefore needest thounot thank me, but Arthur, who hath accomplished this for thee. "Then Goreu, the son of Custennin, the herdsman, whose brothersYspadaden Penkawr had slain, seized him by the hair of his head, and dragged him after him to the keep, and cut off his head, andplaced it on a stake on the citadel. Then they took possession ofhis castle, and of his treasures. And that night Olwen becameKilwich's bride, and she continued to be his wife as long as shelived. 

CHAPTER XIII

TALIESIN

Gwyddno Garanhir was sovereign of Gwaelod, a territory borderingon the sea. And he possessed a weir upon the strand between Dyviand Aberystwyth, near to his own castle, and the value of anhundred pounds was taken in that weir every May eve. And Gwyddnohad an only son named Elphin, the most hapless of youths, and themost needy. And it grieved his father sore, for he thought that hewas born in an evil hour. By the advice of his council, his fatherhad granted him the drawing of the weir that year, to see if goodluck would ever befall him, and to give him something wherewith tobegin the world. And this was on the twenty-ninth of April. 

The next day, when Elphin went to look, there was nothing in theweir but a leathern bag upon a pole of the weir. Then said theweir-ward unto Elphin, "All thy ill-luck aforetime was nothing tothis; and now thou hast destroyed the virtues of the weir, whichalways yielded the value of an hundred pounds every May eve; andto-night there is nothing but this leathern skin within it. " "Hownow, " said Elphin, "there may be therein the value of a hundredpounds. " Well! they took up the leathern bag, and he who opened itsaw the forehead of an infant, the fairest that ever was seen; andhe said, "Behold a radiant brow?" (In the Welsh language, taliesin. ) "Taliesin be he called, " said Elphin. And he lifted thebag in his arms, and, lamenting his bad luck, placed the boysorrowfully behind him. And he made his horse amble gently, thatbefore had been trotting, and he carried him as softly as if hehad been sitting in the easiest chair in the world. And presentlythe boy made a Consolation, and praise to Elphin; and theConsolation 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 consoleElphin in his grief for that the produce of the weir was lost, andwhat was worse, that all the world would consider that it wasthrough his fault and ill-luck. Then Elphin asked him what hewas, 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 Taliesinwith 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 saidGwyddno, "Alas! what will he profit thee?" And Taliesin himselfreplied and said, "He will profit him more than the weir everprofited thee. " Asked Gwyddno, "Art thou able to speak, and thouso little?" And Taliesin answered him, "I am better able to speakthan 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 andlovingly. Thenceforward Elphin increased in riches more and more, day after day, and in love and favor with the king; and thereabode Taliesin until he was thirteen years old, when Elphin, sonof Gwyddno, went by a Christmas invitation to his uncle, MaelganGwynedd, who held open court at Christmas-tide in the castle ofDyganwy, for all the number of his lords of both degrees, bothspiritual and temporal, with a vast and thronged host of knightsand squires. And one arose and said, "Is there in the whole worlda king so great as Maelgan, or one on whom Heaven has bestowed somany gifts as upon him;--form, and beauty, and meekness, andstrength, besides all the powers of the soul?" And together withthese they said that Heaven had given one gift that exceeded allthe others, which was the beauty, and grace, and wisdom, andmodesty of his queen, whose virtues surpassed those of all theladies and noble maidens throughout the whole kingdom. And withthis they put questions one to another, Who had braver men? Whohad fairer or swifter horses or greyhounds? Who had more skilfulor wiser bards than Maelgan?

When they had all made an end of their praising the king and hisgifts, it befell that Elphin spoke on this wise. "Of a truth, nonebut a king may vie with a king; but were he not a king, I wouldsay that my wife was as virtuous as any lady in the kingdom, andalso that I have a bard who is more skilful than all the king'sbards. " In a short space some of his fellows told the king all theboastings of Elphin; and the king ordered him to be thrown into astrong prison, until he might show the truth as to the virtues ofhis wife, and the wisdom of his bard. 

Now when Elphin had been put in a tower of the castle, with athick 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 wasneither wife nor maiden with whom he held converse but was evilspoken of. While Rhun went in haste towards Elphin's dwelling, being fully minded to bring disgrace upon his wife, Taliesin toldhis mistress how that the king had placed his master in durance inprison, and how that Rhun was coming in haste to strive to bringdisgrace upon her. Wherefore he caused his mistress to array oneof the maids of her kitchen in her apparel; which the noble ladygladly did, and she loaded her hands with the best rings that sheand her husband possessed. 

In this guise Taliesin caused his mistress to put the maiden tosit at the board in her room at supper; and he made her to seem asher mistress, and the mistress to seem as the maid. And when theywere in due time seated at their supper, in the manner that hasbeen said, Rhun suddenly arrived at Elphin's dwelling, and wasreceived with joy, for the servants knew him; and they brought himto the room of their mistress, in the semblance of whom the maidrose up from supper and welcomed him gladly. And afterwards shesat down to supper again, and Rhun with her. Then Rhun beganjesting with the maid, who still kept the semblance of hermistress. And verily this story shows that the maiden became sointoxicated that she fell asleep; and the story relates that itwas a powder that Rhun put into the drink, that made her sleep sosoundly that she never felt it when he cut off from her hand herlittle finger, whereon was the signet ring of Elphin, which he hadsent to his wife as a token a short time before. And Rhun returnedto the king with the finger and the ring as a proof, to show thathe had cut it off from her hand without her awaking from her sleepof intemperance. 

The king rejoiced greatly at these tidings, and he sent for hiscouncillors, to whom he told the whole story from the beginning. And he caused Elphin to be brought out of prison, and he chidedhim because of his boast. And he spake on this wise: "Elphin, beit known to thee beyond a doubt, that it is but folly for a man totrust in the virtues of his wife further than he can see her; andthat thou mayest be certain of thy wife's vileness, behold herfinger, with thy signet ring upon it, which was cut from her handlast night, while she slept the sleep of intoxication. " Then thusspake Elphin: "With thy leave, mighty king, I cannot deny my ring, for it is known of many; but verily I assert that the fingeraround which it is was never attached to the hand of my wife; forin truth and certainty there are three notable things pertainingto 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 thatthis ring would never remain upon her thumb, whereas you canplainly see that it is hard to draw it over the joint of thelittle finger of the hand whence this was cut. The second thingis, that my wife has never let pass one Saturday since I haveknown her, without paring her nails before going to bed, and youcan see fully that the nail of this little finger has not beenpared for a month. The third is, truly, that the hand whence thisfinger came was kneading rye dough within three days before thefinger was cut therefrom, and I can assure your highness that mywife has never kneaded rye dough since my wife she has been. "

The king was mightily wroth with Elphin for so stoutlywithstanding him, respecting the goodness of his wife; whereforehe ordered him to his prison a second time, saying that he shouldnot be loosed thence until he had proved the truth of his boast, as well concerning the wisdom of his bard as the virtues of hiswife. 

In the meantime his wife and Taliesin remained joyful at Elphin'sdwelling. And Taliesin showed his mistress how that Elphin was inprison because of them; but he bade her be glad, for that he wouldgo to Maelgan's court to free his master. So he took leave of hismistress, and came to the court of Maelgan, who was going to sitin his hall, and dine in his royal state, as it was the custom inthose days for kings and princes to do at every chief feast. Assoon as Taliesin entered the hall he placed himself in a quietcorner, near the place where the bards and the minstrels were wontto come, in doing their service and duty to the king, as is thecustom at the high festivals, when the bounty is proclaimed. So, when the bards and the heralds came to cry largess, and toproclaim the power of the king, and his strength, at the momentwhen they passed by the corner wherein he was crouching, Taliesinpouted out his lips after them, and played "Blerwm, blerwm!" withhis finger upon his lips. Neither took they much notice of him asthey went by but proceeded forward till they came before the king, unto whom they made their obeisance with their bodies, as theywere wont, without speaking a single word, but pouting out theirlips, 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 himselfthat they were drunk with many liquors. Wherefore he commanded oneof his lords, who served at the board, to go to them and desirethem to collect their wits, and to consider where they stood, andwhat 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, desiringthem to go forth from the hall. At the last the king ordered oneof his squires to give a blow to the chief of them, named HeininVardd; and the squire took a broom and struck him on the head, sothat he fell back in his seat. Then he arose, and went on hisknees, and besought leave of the king's grace to show that thistheir fault was not through want of knowledge, neither throughdrunkenness, but by the influence of some spirit that was in thehall. And he spoke on this wise: "O honorable king, be it known toyour grace that not from the strength of drink, or of too muchliquor, are we dumb, but through the influence of a spirit thatsits in the corner yonder, in the form of a child. " Forthwith theking commanded the squire to fetch him; and he went to the nookwhere Taliesin sat, and brought him before the king, who asked himwhat he was, and whence he came. And he answered the king inverse:

 "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 wonderedmuch, 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 badeHeinin, his first and wisest bard, to answer Taliesin, and tostrive 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 fourand twenty bards, they all did likewise, and could do no other. And Maelgan asked the boy Taliesin what was his errand, and heanswered 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 ofwind, so that the king and all his nobles thought that the castlewould fall upon their heads. And the king caused them to fetchElphin in haste from his dungeon, and placed him before Taliesin. And it is said that immediately he sung a verse, so that thechains opened from about his feet. 

After that Taliesin brought Elphin's wife before them, and showedthat she had not one finger wanting. And in this manner did he sethis master free from prison, and protect the innocence of hismistress, and silence the bards so that not one of them dared tosay 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 ofBeowulf, which appeals to all English-speaking people in a veryspecial way, since he is the one hero in whose story we may seethe ideals of our English forefathers before they left theirContinental home to cross to the islands of Britain. 

Although this hero had distinguished himself by numerous feats ofstrength during his boyhood and early youth, it was as thedeliverer of Hrothgar, king of Denmark, from the monster Grendelthat he first gained wide renown. Grendel was half monster andhalf man, and had his abode in the fen-fastnesses in the vicinityof Hrothgar's residence. Night after night he would steal into theking's great palace called Heorot and slay sometimes as many asthirty 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. Thefollowing night Grendel's mother, a fiend scarcely less terriblethan her son, carried off one of Hrothgar's boldest thanes. Oncemore Beowulf went to the help of the Danish king, followed theshe-monster to her lair at the bottom of a muddy lake in the midstof the swamp, and with his good sword Hrunting and his ownmuscular arms broke the sea-woman's neck. 

Upon his return to his own country of the Geats, loaded withhonors bestowed upon him by Hrothgar, Beowulf served the king ofGeatland as the latter's most trusted counsellor and champion. When, after many years, the king fell before an enemy, the Geatsunanimously chose Beowulf for their new king. His fame as awarrior kept his country free from invasion, and his wisdom as astatesman increased its prosperity and happiness. 

In the fiftieth year of Beowulf's reign, however, a great terrorfell upon the land in the way of a monstrous fire-dragon, whichflew forth by night from its den in the rocks, lighting up theblackness with its blazing breath, and burning houses andhomesteads, men and cattle, with the flames from its mouth. Whenthe news came to Beowulf that his people were suffering and dying, and that no warrior dared to risk his life in an effort to deliverthe country from this deadly devastation, the aged king took uphis shield and sword and went forth to his last fight. At theentrance of the dragon's cave Beowulf raised his voice and shouteda furious defiance to the awesome guardian of the den. Roaringhideously and napping his glowing wings together, the dragonrushed forth and half flew, half sprang, on Beowulf. Then began afearful combat, which ended in Beowulf's piercing the dragon'sscaly armor and inflicting a mortal wound, but alas! in himselfbeing given a gash in the neck by his opponent's poisoned fangswhich resulted in his death. As he lay stretched on the ground, his head supported by Wiglaf, an honored warrior who had helped inthe fight with the dragon, Beowulf roused himself to say, as hegrasped 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 seekdanger and brave to look on death and Fate undaunted, fell backdead. According to his last desires, his followers gathered woodand piled it on the cliff-head. Upon this funeral pyre was laidBeowulf's body and consumed to ashes. Then, upon the same cliff ofHronesness, was erected a huge burial cairn, wide-spread andlofty, to be known thereafter as Beowulf's Barrow. 

CUCHULAIN, CHAMPION OF IRELAND

Among all the early literatures of Europe, there are two which, atexactly opposite corners of the continent, display most strikinglysimilar characteristics. These are the Greek and the Irish, andthe legend of the Irish champion Cuchulain, which well illustratesthe similarity of the literatures, bears so close a resemblance tothe story of Achilles as to win for this hero the title of "theIrish Achilles. " Certainly in reckless courage, power of inspiringdread, sense of personal merit, and frankness of speech the Irishhero is fully equal to the mighty Greek. 

Cuchulain was the nephew of King Conor of Ulster, son of hissister Dechtire, and it is said that his father was no mortal man, but the great god Lugh of the Long Hand. Cuchulain was brought upby King Conor himself, and even while he was still a boy his famespread all over Ireland. His warlike deeds were those of a provedwarrior, not of a child of nursery age; and by the time Cuchulainwas seventeen he was without peer among the champions of Ulster. 

Upon Cuchulain's marriage to Emer, daughter of Forgall the Wily, aDruid of great power, the couple took up their residence atArmagh, the capital of Ulster, under the protection of King Conor. Here there was one chief, Bricriu of the Bitter Tongue, who, likeThersites among the Grecian leaders, delighted in making mischief. Soon he had on foot plans for stirring up strife among the heroesof Ulster, leaders among whom were the mighty Laegaire, ConallCearnach, cousin of Cuchulain, and Cuchulain himself. Inviting themembers of King Conor's court to dinner, Bricriu arranged that acontest should arise over who should have the "champion'sportion, " and so successful was he that, to avoid a bloody fight, the three heroes mentioned decided to submit their claims to thechampionship of Ireland to King Ailill of Connaught. 

Ailill put the heroes to an unexpected test. Their dinner wasserved them in a separate room, into which three magic beasts, inthe shape of monstrous cats, were sent by the king. When they sawthem Laegire and Conall rose from their meal, climbed among therafters, and stayed there all night. Cuchulain waited until onecat attacked him, and then, drawing his sword, struck the monster. It showed no further sign of fight, and at daybreak the magicbeasts 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 wiseman, who set out to discover by wizardry and enchantments the bestamong the heroes. In turn they stood watch outside Curoi's castle, where Laegire and Conall were overcome by a huge giant, who hurledspears of mighty oak trees, and ended by throwing them over thewall into the courtyard. Cuchulain alone withstood the giant, whereupon he was attacked by other magic foes. Among these was adragon, which flew on horrible wings from a neighboring lake, andseemed ready to devour everything in its way. Cuchulain sprang up, giving his wonderful hero-leap, thrust his arm into the dragon'smouth and down its throat, and tore out its heart. After themonster fell dead, he cut off its scaly head. 

As even yet Cuchulain's opponents would not admit hischampionship, they were all three directed to return to Armagh, toawait Curoi's judgment. Here it happened that all the Ulsterheroes were in the great hall one night, except Cuchulain and hiscousin 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 andshining edge. Upon King Conor's inquiring his business there, thestranger replied:

"Behold my axe! The man who will grasp it to-day may cut my headoff with it, provided that I may, in like manner, cut off his headto-morrow. If you have no champion who dare face me, I will saythat Ulster has lost her courage and is dishonored. "

At once Laegire accepted the challenge. The giant laid his head ona 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 hereturned, sound as ever, to claim the fulfilment of Laegire'spromise, the latter's heart failed him and he did not comeforward. The stranger then jeered at the men of Ulster becausetheir great champion durst not keep his agreement, nor face theblow he should receive in return for the one he gave. 

The men of Ulster were utterly ashamed, but Conall Cearnach, whowas present that night, made a new agreement with the stranger. Hegave a blow which beheaded the giant, but again, when the latterreturned whole and sound on the following evening, the championwas not to be found. 

Now it was the turn of Cuchulain, who, as the others had done, cutoff the giant's head at one stroke. The next day the members ofConor's court watched Cuchulain to see what he would do. Theywould not have been surprised if he had failed like the others, who now were present. The champion, however, showed no signs offailing or retreat. He sat sorrowfully in his place, and with asigh said to King Conor as they waited: "Do not leave this placetill all is over. Death is coming to me very surely, but I mustfulfil my agreement, for I would rather die than break my word. "

Towards the close of day the stranger strode into the hallexultant. 

"Where is Cuchulain?" he cried. 

"Here I am, " was the reply. 

"Ah, poor boy! your speech is sad to-night, and the fear of deathlies heavy on you; but at least you have redeemed your word andhave not failed me. "

The youth rose from his seat and went towards him, as he stoodwith the great axe ready, and knelt to receive the blow. 

The hero of Ulster laid his head on the block; but the giant wasnot satisfied. "Stretch out your neck better, " said he. 

"You are playing with me, to torment me, " said Cuchulain. "Slay menow speedily, for I did not keep you waiting last night. "

However, he stretched out his neck as ordered, and the strangerraised his axe till it crashed upwards through the rafters of thehall, like the crash of trees falling in a storm. When the axecame down with a terrific sound all men looked fearfully atCuchulain. The descending axe had not even touched him; it hadcome down with the blunt side on the ground, and the youth kneltthere unharmed. Smiling at him, and leaning on his axe, stood noterrible and hideous stranger, but Curoi of Kerry, come to givehis decision at last. 

"Rise up, Cuchulain, " said Curoi. "There is none among all theheroes of Ulster to equal you in courage and loyalty and truth. The Championship of the Heroes of Ireland is yours from this dayforth, and the Champion's Portion at all feasts; and to your wifeI adjudge the first place among all the women of Ulster. Woe tohim who dares to dispute this decision!" Thereupon Curoi vanished, and the warriors gathered around Cuchulain, and all with one voiceacclaimed him the Champion of the Heroes of all Ireland--a titlewhich has clung to him until this day. 

This is one of many stories told of the Irish champion, whosedeeds of bravery would fill many pages. Cuchulain finally came tohis end on the field of battle, after a fight in which hedisplayed all his usual gallantry but in which unfair means wereused to overcome him. 

For Wales and for England during centuries Arthur has been therepresentative "very gentle perfect knight. " In a similar way, inEngland's sister isle, Cuchulain stands ever for the highestideals of the Irish Gaels. 

HEREWARD THE WAKE

In Hereward the Wake (or "Watchful") is found one of those heroeswhose date can be ascertained with a fair amount of exactness andyet in whose story occur mythological elements which seem tobelong to all ages. The folklore of primitive races is a greatstorehouse whence a people can choose tales and heroic deeds toglorify its own national hero, careless that the same tales anddeeds have done duty for other peoples and other heroes. Hence ithappens that Hereward the Saxon, a patriot hero as real and actualas Nelson or George Washington, whose deeds were recorded in proseand verse within forty years of his death, was even thensurrounded by a cloud of romance and mystery, which hid invagueness his family, his marriage, and even his death. 

Briefly it may be stated that Hereward was a native ofLincolnshire, and was in his prime about 1070. In that year hejoined a party of Danes who appeared in England, attackedPeterborough and sacked the abbey there, and afterward took refugein the Isle of Ely. Here he was besieged by William the Conqueror, and was finally forced to yield to the Norman. He thus came tostand for the defeated Saxon race, and his name has been passeddown as that of the darling hero of the Saxons. For his splendiddefence of Ely they forgave his final surrender to Duke William;they attributed to him all the virtues supposed to be inherent inthe free-born, and all the glorious valor on which the Englishprided themselves; and, lastly, they surrounded his death with ahalo of desperate fighting, and made his last conflict aswonderful as that of Roland at Roncesvalles. If Roland is theideal of Norman feudal chivalry, Hereward is equally the ideal ofAnglo-Saxon sturdy manliness and knighthood. 

An account of one of Hereward's adventures as a youth will serveas illustration of the stories told of his prowess. On an enforcedvisit 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 PrinceSigtryg of Waterford, son of a Danish king in Ireland. Hereward, ever chivalrous, picked a quarrel with the giant and killed him infair fight, whereupon the king threw him into prison. In thefollowing night, however, the released princess arranged that thegallant 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 thegrief of both, they learned upon their arrival that the princesshad just been betrothed to a wild Cornish hero, Haco, and thewedding feast was to be held that very day. Sigtryg at once sent atroop of forty Danes to King Alef demanding the fulfilment of thetroth-plight between himself and his daughter, and threateningvengeance if it were broken. To this threat the king returned noanswer, and no Dane came back to tell of their reception. 

Sigtryg would have waited till morning, trusting in the honor ofthe king, but Hereward disguised himself as a minstrel andobtained admission to the bridal feast, where he soon won applauseby his beautiful singing. The bridegroom, Haco, in a raptureoffered him any boon he liked to ask, but he demanded only a cupof wine from the hands of the bride. When she brought it to him heflung into the empty cup the betrothal ring, the token she hadsent to Sigtryg, and said: "I thank thee, lady, and would rewardthee for thy gentleness to a wandering minstrel; I give back thecup, richer than before by the kind thoughts of which it bears thetoken. " The princess looked at him, gazed into the goblet, and sawher ring; then, looking again, she recognized her deliverer andknew that rescue was at hand. 

While men feasted Hereward listened and talked, and found out thatthe forty Danes were prisoners, to be released on the morrow whenHaco was sure of his bride, but released useless and miserable, since they would be turned adrift blinded. Haco was taking hislovely bride back to his own land, and Hereward saw that anyrescue, to be successful, must be attempted on the march. 

Returning to Sigtryg, the young Saxon told all that he hadlearned, and the Danes planned an ambush in the ravine where Hacohad decided to blind and set free his captives. The whole wascarried out exactly as Hereward arranged it. The Cornishmen, withthe Danish captives, passed first without attack; next came Haco, riding grim and ferocious beside his silent bride, he exulting inhis success, she looking eagerly for any signs of rescue. As theypassed Hereward sprang from his shelter, crying, "Upon them, Danes, and set your brethren free!" and himself struck down Hacoand smote off his head. There was a short struggle, but soon therescued Danes were able to aid their deliverers, and the Cornishguards were all slain; the men of King Alef, never very zealousfor the cause of Haco, fled, and the Danes were left masters ofthe field. 

Sigtryg had in the meantime seen to the safety of the princess, and now, placing her between himself and Hereward, he escorted herto the ship, which soon brought them to Waterford and a happybridal. The Prince and Princess of Waterford always recognized inHereward their deliverer and best friend, and in their gratitudewished him to dwell with them always; but the hero's roving anddaring temper forbade his settling down, but rather urged him onto deeds of arms in other lands, where he quickly won a renownsecond to none. 

ROBIN HOOD

Among the earliest heirlooms of the Anglo-Saxon tongue are thesongs and legends of Robin Hood and his merry outlaws, which havecharmed readers young and old for more than six hundred years. These entertaining stories date back to the time when Chaucerwrote his "Canterbury Tales, " when the minstrel and scribe stoodin the place of the more prim and precise modern printed book. 

The question of whether or not Robin Hood was a real person hasbeen asked for many years, just as a similar question has beenasked about William Tell and others whom everyone would muchrather accept on faith. It cannot be answered by a brief "yes" or"no, " even though learned men have pored over ancient records andhave written books on the subject. According to the general beliefRobin was an outlaw in the reign of Richard I, when in the depthsof Sherwood Forest he entertained one hundred tall men, all goodarchers, with the spoil he took; but "he suffered no woman to beoppressed or otherwise molested; poore men's goods he spared, abundantlie relieving them with that which by theft he got fromabbeys and houses of rich carles. " Consequently Robin was animmense favorite with the common people. 

This popularity extended from the leader to all the members of hishardy band. "God save Robin Hood and all his good yeomanry" is theending of many old ballads. The clever archer who could outshoothis fellows, the brave yeoman inured to blows, and the man whocould be true to his friends through thick and thin were favoritesfor all time; and they have been idealized in the persons of RobinHood and his merry outlaws. 

One of the best-known stories of this picturesque figure of earlyEnglish times is that given by Sir Walter Scott in "Ivanhoe, "concerning the archery contest during the rule or misrule ofPrince John, in the absence of Richard from the kingdom. RobinHood, under the assumed name of Locksley, boldly presents himselfat a royal tournament at Ashby, as competitor for the prize inshooting with the long-bow. From the eight or ten archers whoenter the contest, the number finally narrows down to two, --Hubert, a forester in the service of one of the king's nobles, andLocksley or Robin Hood. Hubert takes the first shot in the finaltrial of skill, and lands his arrow within the inner ring of thetarget, but not exactly in the centre. 

"'You have not allowed for the wind, Hubert, ' said Locksley, 'orthat had been a better shot. '

"So saying, and without showing the least anxiety to pause uponhis aim, Locksley stepped to the appointed station, and shot hisarrow as carelessly in appearance as if he had not even looked atthe mark. He was speaking almost at the instant that the shaftleft the bow-string, yet it alighted in the target two inchesnearer to the white spot which marked the centre than that ofHubert. 

"'By the light of Heaven!' said Prince John to Hubert, 'an thousuffer that runagate knave to overcome thee, thou art worthy ofthe gallows!'

"Hubert had but one set speech for all occasions. 'An yourhighness 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 shallbe worse for thee!'

"Thus exhorted, Hubert resumed his place, and not neglecting thecaution which he had received from his adversary, he made thenecessary allowance for a very light air of wind, which had justrisen, and shot so successfully that his arrow alighted in thevery centre of the target. 

"'A Hubert! a Hubert!' shouted the populace, more interested in aknown person than in a stranger. 'In the clout!--in the clout!--aHubert forever!'

"'Thou canst not mend that shot, Locksley, ' said the Prince, withan insulting smile. 

"'I will notch his shaft for him, however, ' replied Locksley. 

"And letting fly his arrow with a little more precaution thanbefore, it lighted right upon that of his competitor, which itsplit to shivers. The people who stood around were so astonishedat his wonderful dexterity, that they could not even give vent totheir surprise in their usual clamor. 'This must be the devil, andno man of flesh and blood, ' whispered the yeomen to each other;'such archery was never seen since a bow was first bent inBritain. '

"'And now, ' said Locksley, 'I will crave your Grace's permissionto plant such a mark as is used in the North Country; and welcomeevery brave yeoman who shall try a shot at it to win a smile fromthe bonny lass he loves best. '"

Locksley thereupon sets up a willow wand, six feet long and asthick as a man's thumb. Hubert is forced to decline the honor oftaking part in such a trial of archery skill, but his rival easilysplits the wand at a distance of three hundred feet and carriesoff the prize. 

"Even Prince John, in admiration of Locksley's skill, lost for aninstant his dislike to his person. 'These twenty nobles, ' he said, 'which, with the bugle, thou hast fairly won, are thine own; wewill make them fifty, if thou wilt take livery and service with usas a yeoman of our bodyguard, and be near to our person. For neverdid so strong a hand bend a bow, or so true an eye direct ashaft. '" [Footnote: Ivanhoe, Vol. 1, chap. XIII. ]

Locksley, however, declares that it is impossible for him to enterthe Prince's service, generously shares his prize with the worthyHubert, and retires once more to his beloved haunts among thelights and shadows of the good greenwood. 

GLOSSARY

Abdalrahman, founder of the independent Ommiad (Saracenic) powerin 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, nowcalled Jebel Musa or Ape's Hill, forming the Northwesternextremity of the African coast opposite Gibraltar (See Pillars ofHercules)

Acestes, son of a Trojan woman who was sent by her father toSicily, that she might not be devoured by the monsters whichinfested 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 ofPlenty

Achilles, the hero of the Iliad, son of Peleus and of the NereidThetis, slain by Paris

Acis, youth loved by Galatea and slain by Polyphemus

Acontius, a beautiful youth, who fell in love with Cydippe, thedaughter of a noble Athenian. 

Acrisius, son of Abas, king of Argos, grandson of Lynceus, thegreat-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 killedby 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 Greecefor his justice and piety. 

Aeaea, Circe's island, visited by Ulysses. 

Aeetes, or Aeeta, son of Helios (the Sun) and Perseis, and fatherof 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), andborn on Mount Ida, reputed first settler of Rome, Aeneid, poem by Virgil, relating the wanderings of Aeneas fromTroy to Italy, Ae'olus, son of Hellen and the nymph Orseis, represented in Homeras the happy ruler of the Aeolian Islands, to whom Zeus had givendominion 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 ofMycenae, although the chief commander of the Greeks, is not thehero of the Iliad, and in chivalrous spirit altogether inferior toAchilles, 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 killedby Orlando, Agrivain, one of Arthur's knights, Ahriman, the Evil Spirit in the dual system of Zoroaster, SeeOrmuzd

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 spareher 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 changedto a fountain, Althaea, mother of Meleager, whom she slew because he had in aquarrel killed her brothers, thus disgracing "the house ofThestius, " 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 ofJupiter, 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'shead, Amrita, nectar giving immortality, Amun, See Ammon

Amymone, one of the fifty daughters of Danaus, and mother byPoseidon (Neptune) of Nauplius, the father of Palamedes, Anaxarete, a maiden of Cyprus, who treated her lover Iphis withsuch 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 thefather 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 byPerseus

Aneurin, Welsh bard

Angelica, Princess of Cathay

Anemone, short lived wind flower, created by Venus from the bloodof the slain Adonis

Angerbode, giant prophetess, mother of Fenris, Hela and theMidgard Serpent

Anglesey, a Northern British island, refuge of Druids fleeing fromRomans

Antaeus, giant wrestler of Libya, killed by Hercules, who, findinghim stronger when thrown to the earth, lifted him into the air andstrangled 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 sisterlyfidelity

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 bydaughters 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 byMinerva for daring to compete with her, Arcadia, a country in the middle of Peloponnesus, surrounded onall 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 ofthe 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 Argonauticexpedition, 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 theMinotaur, 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 himsafely 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 Rinaldoto 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 inItaly, Asuias, opponents of the Braminical gods, Atalanta, beautiful daughter of King of Icaria, loved and won in afoot race by Hippomenes, Ate, the goddess of infatuation, mischief and guilt, Athamas, son of Aeolus and Enarete, and king of Orchomenus, inBoeotia, 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 projectsfrom Chalcidice in Macedonia, Atlantes, foster father of Rogero, a powerful magician, Atlantis, according to an ancient tradition, a great island westof the Pillars of Hercules, in the ocean, opposite Mount Atlas, Atlas, a Titan, who bore the heavens on his shoulders, aspunishment 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 milkwas frost melted into raindrops, Augean stables, cleansed by Hercules, Augeas, king of Elis, Augustan age, reign of Roman Emperor Augustus Caesar, famed formany great authors, Augustus, the first imperial Caesar, who ruled the Roman Empire 31BC--14 AD, Aulis, port in Boeotia, meeting place of Greek expedition againstTroy, 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 WesternSeas, burial place of King Arthur, Avatar, name for any of the earthly incarnations of Vishnu, thePreserver (Hindu god), Aventine, Mount, one of the Seven Hills of Rome, Avernus, a miasmatic lake close to the promontory between Cumaeand Puteoli, filling the crater of an extinct volcano, by theancients 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 butonce 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 sungod, 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 orwife of Mars, Beltane, Druidical fire festival, Belus, son of Poseidon (Neptune) and Libya or Eurynome, twinbrother 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 toconstellation of Ursa Major, Boreas, North wind, son of Aeolus and Aurora, Bosporus (Bosphorus), the Cow-ford, named for Io, when as a heifershe 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 theAllobroges, 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, deifiedteacher of self abnegation, virtue, reincarnation, Karma(inevitable sequence of every act), and Nirvana (beatificabsorption into the Divine), lived about

Byblos, in Egypt, Byrsa, original site of Carthage, C

Cacus, gigantic son of Vulcan, slain by Hercules, whose capturedcattle he stole, Cadmus, son of Agenor, king of Phoenicia, and of Telephassa, andbrother of Europa, who, seeking his sister, carried off byJupiter, had strange adventures--sowing in the ground teeth of adragon he had killed, which sprang up armed men who slew eachother, all but five, who helped Cadmus to found the city ofThebes, 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 theEmpire, 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), changedby Jupiter to constellation Ursa Minor, Calpe, a mountain in the south of Spain, on the strait between theAtlantic and Mediterranean, now Rock of Gibraltar, Calydon, home of Meleager, Calypso, queen of Island of Ogyia, where Ulysses was wrecked andheld seven years, Camber, son of Brutus, governor of West Albion (Wales), Camelot, legendary place in England where Arthur's court andpalace were located, Camenae, prophetic nymphs, belonging to the religion of ancientItaly, Camilla, Volscian maiden, huntress and Amazonian warrior, favoriteof 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 ofHelenus, a prophetess, who foretold the coming of the Greeks butwas not believed, Cassibellaunus, British chieftain, fought but not conquered byCaesar, Cassiopeia, mother of Andromeda, Castalia, fountain of Parnassus, giving inspiration to Oracularpriestess 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, andwhose infant son Triptolemus was in gratitude made great by Ceres, Cellini, Benvenuto, famous Italian sculptor and artificer inmetals, Celtic nations, ancient Gauls and Britons, modern Bretons, Welsh, Irish and Gaelic Scotch, Centaurs, originally an ancient race, inhabiting Mount Pelion inThessaly, in later accounts represented as half horses and halfmen, 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 ancientof 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 atTours

CHARLOT, son of Charlemagne

CHARON, son of Erebos, conveyed in his boat the shades of the deadacross 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 bodywas that of a lion, the hind part that of a dragon, and the middlethat 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) andPhilyra, 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 tokill 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 ofScotland

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, whocelebrated her worship with dances, to the sound of the drum andthe 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, lyingsouth 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, seeressof 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 agigantic and lawless race of shepherds in Sicily, who devouredhuman beings, they helped Vulcan to forge the thunderbolts of Zeusunder Aetna

Cymbeline, king of ancient Britain

Cynosure (Dog's tail), the Pole star, at tail of ConstellationUrsa 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 werebetrothed to the fifty sons of Aegyptus, but were commanded bytheir 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, identifiedby Romans with Ceres

Demeha, South Wales

Demodocus, bard of Alomous, king of the Phaeaeians

Deucalion, king of Thessaly, who with his wife Pyrrha were theonly pair surviving a deluge sent by Zeus

Dia, island of

Diana (Artemis), goddess of the moon and of the chase, daughter ofJupiter 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 shipwreckedAeneas

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 andZethus to tie Antiope to a wild bull, but they, learning Antiopeto 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--enchantedform 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 avoice

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 awakenfeelings of piety and a cheerful hope of better life in the future

Eleusis, Grecian city

Elgin Marbles, Greek sculptures from the Parthenon of Athens, nowin 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--someevil, some good

Elvidnir, the ball of Hela

Elysian Fields, the land of the blest

Elysian Plain, whither the favored of the gods were taken withoutdeath

Elysium, a happy land, where there is neither snow, nor cold, norram. Hither favored heroes, like Menelaus, pass without dying, andlive happy under the rule of Rhadamanthus. In the Latin poetsElysium is part of the lower world, and the residence of theshades 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 ofthe worship of Aeculapius, whose temple was situated near the town

Epimetheus, son of Iapetus, husband of Pandora, with his brotherPrometheus took part in creation of man

Epirus, country to the west of Thessaly, lying along the AdriaticSea

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 whichher husband was slain

Eris (Discordia), goddess of discord. At the wedding of Peleus andThetis, 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 forjudgment, 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 thepoisoned shirt of Nessus

Eude, king of Aquitaine, ally of Charles Martel

Eumaeus, swineherd of Aeeas

Eumenides, also called Erinnyes, and by the Romans Furiae orDiraae, 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 motherof Minos, Rhadamanthus, and Sarpedon

Eurus, the East wind

Euyalus, a gallant Trojan soldier, who with Nisus entered theGrecian camp, both being slain, Eurydice, wife of Orpheus, who, fleeing from an admirer, waskilled by a snake and borne to Tartarus, where Orpheus sought herand was permitted to bring her to earth if he would not look backat 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 pileand 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 SolarTheory 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 thedarkness and obscurity of human destiny--or of Zeus and Themis, that is, "daughters of the just heavens" they were Clo'tho, whospun the thread of life, Lach'esis, who held the thread and fixedits length and At'ropos, who cut it off

FAUNS, cheerful sylvan deities, represented in human form, withsmall 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 ofshepherds, 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, destructiveexcept when chained

FENSALIR, Freya's palace, called the Hall of the Sea, where werebrought together lovers, husbands, and wives who had beenseparated 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, Romantribune 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 ofNoah, 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, sendingsunshine, rain, and harvest

FROH, one of the Norse gods

FRONTI'NO, Rogero's horse

FURIES (Erinnyes), the three retributive spirits who punishedcrime, 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 ofthe 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 safelytook 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 theCorinthian 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 toOlympus that he might fill the cup of Zeus and live among theimmortal 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 thetwin brothers after death, 158

GENGHIS Khan, Tartar conqueror

GENIUS, in Roman belief, the protective Spirit of each individualman, See Juno

GEOFFREY OF MON'MOUTH, translator into Latin of the Welsh Historyof 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 judgmentday

GIANTS, beings of monstrous size and of fearful countenances, represented as in constant opposition to the gods, in Wagner'sNibelungen Ring

GIBICHUNG RACE, ancestors of Alberich

GIBRALTAR, great rock and town at southwest corner of Spain (SeePillars 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 toJupiter, fleece was guarded by sleepless dragon and gained byJason and Argonauts (which See, also Helle)

GONERIL, daughter of Leir

GORDIAN KNOT, tying up in temple the wagon of Gordius, he whocould untie it being destined to be lord of Asia, it was cut byAlexander the Great, 48

Gordius, a countryman who, arriving in Phrygia in a wagon, wasmade king by the people, thus interpreting an oracle, 48

Gorgons, three monstrous females, with huge teeth, brazen clawsand 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 ofher 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 recoverybecoming a sacred quest for Arthur's knights

Graces, three goddesses who enhanced the enjoyments of life byrefinement 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, withone 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 andthe head and wings of an eagle, dwelling in the Rhipaeanmountains, 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 laterused 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 ofSiegfried, HALCYONE, daughter of Aeneas, and the beloved wife of Ceyx, who, when he was drowned, flew to his floating body, and the pityinggods changed them both to birds (kingfishers), who nest at seaduring 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, legsand tail of birds, seizing souls of the wicked, or punishingevildoers 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 atnight all kinds of demons and terrible phantoms from the lowerworld

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 fromwhich 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 thosewho had not died in battle

HELA (Death), the daughter of Loki and the mistress of theScandinavian Hel

HELEN, daughter of Jupiter and Leda, wife of Menelaus, carriedoff by Paris and cause of the Trojan War

HELENUS, son of Priam and Hecuba, celebrated for his propheticpowers

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 fromcruel 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 forHelle

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, achievedtwelve 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 Centaursoffered 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 withgolden 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 byhim, changed in death to the flower, hyacinth

HYADES, Nysaean nymphs, nurses of infant Bacchus, rewarded bybeing 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 andinvoked in bridal songs

HYMETTUS, mountain in Attica, near Athens, celebrated for itsmarble 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 artificialwings, 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 andIo, also first king of Argos, and said to have given his name tothe river Inachus

INCUBUS, an evil spirit, supposed to lie upon persons in theirsleep

INDRA, Hindu god of heaven, thunder, lightning, storm and rain

INO, wife of Athamas, fleeing from whom with infant son she spranginto 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, whereSt Columba founded a missionary monastery (563 AD)

IONIA, coast of Asia Minor

IPHIGENIA, daughter of Agamemnon, offered as a sacrifice butcarried 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 WarISME'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 belashed with serpents to a wheel which a strong wind drovecontinually around

J

JANICULUM, Roman fortress on the Janiculus, a hill on the otherside of the Tiber

JANUS, a deity from the earliest times held in high estimation bythe 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 usedinterchangeably, 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 innature and mankind

KYNER, father of Kav

KYNON, son of Clydno

L

LABYRINTH, the enclosed maze of passageways where roamed theMinotaur 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, inTroy, who warned the Trojans against the Wooden Horse (which See), but when two serpents came out of the sea and strangled him andhis two sons, the people listened to the Greek spy Sinon, andbrought 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 tohis daughter's wedding but who attacked them for offering violenceto 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 seeHero, 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, wassaid to have thrown herself into the sea

LEUCOTHEA, a sea goddess, invoked by sailors for protection (SeeIno)

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 loyalknight

LOTIS, a nymph, changed to a lotus-plant and in that form pluckedby Dryope

LOTUS EATERS, soothed to indolence, companions of Ulysses landingamong them lost all memory of home and had to be dragged awaybefore they would continue their voyage

LOVE (Eros) issued from egg of Night, and with arrows and torchproduced life and joy

LUCAN, one of Arthur's knights

Lucius Tiberius, Roman procurator in Britain demanding tributefrom 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 theWelsh

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 religionthrough disciples and then by force till it prevailed, withArabian dominion, over vast regions in Asia, Africa, and Spain inEurope

MAIA, daughter of Atlas and Pleione, eldest and most beautiful ofthe 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 musicalcompetition, 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 propheticpowers

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 kingof 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 successfor 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 mythicaltransformations, a large source of our knowledge of classicmythology

METANIRA, a mother, kind to Ceres seeking Proserpine

METEMPSYCHOSIS, transmigration of souls--rebirth of dying menand 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 topalace of the gods

MILO, a great athlete

MLON, father of Orlando

MILTON, John, great English poet, whose History of England is herelargely 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, anenchantress

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, lyricpoetry; Melpomene, tragedy, Polyhymnia, oratory and sacred songTerpsichore, 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 earlypeoples

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 thewater

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 hima robe or shirt steeped in the blood of Nessus, which poisoned him

NESTOR, king of Pylos, renowned for his wisdom, justice, andknowledge of war

NIBELUNGEN HOARD, treasure seized by Siegfried from theNibelungs, buried in the Rhine by Hagan after killing Siegfried, and lost when Hagan was killed by Kriemhild, theme of Wagner'sfour music dramas, "The Ring of the Nibelungen, "

NIBELUNGEN LIED, German epic, giving the same nature myth as theNorse 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 absentspirits

NILE, Egyptian river

NIOBE, daughter of Tantalus, proud Queen of Thebes, whose sevensons and seven daughters were killed by Apollo and Diana, at whichAmphion, her husband, killed himself, and Niobe wept until she wasturned to stone

NISUS, King of Megara

NOAH, as legendary ancestor of French, Roman, German, and Britishpeoples

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 ofnight

Numa, second king of Rome

NYMPHS, beautiful maidens, lesser divinities of nature Dryads andHamadryads, 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 (whichSee), becoming King of Thebes

OENEUS, King of Calydon

OENONE, nymph, married by Paris in his youth, and abandoned forHelen

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 werecelebrated

OLYMPIADS, periods between Olympic games (four years)

OLYMPIAN GAMES, See GAMES

OLYMPUS, dwelling place of the dynasty of gods of which Zeus wasthe head

OMPHALE, queen of Lydia, daughter of Iardanus and wife of Tmolus

OPHION, king of the Titans, who ruled Olympus till dethroned bythe gods Saturn and Rhea

OPS See RHEA

ORACLES, answers from the gods to questions from seekers forknowledge or advice for the future, usually in equivocal form, soas to fit any event, also places where such answers were givenforth 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 crimein killing his mother, he was pursued by the Furies until purifiedby 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 goodas his brother Ahriman (Arimanes) was of evil, in Persian orZoroastrian 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 speciallyapplied to an image at Troy, which was stolen by Ulysses andDiomedes

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 inmemory of Syrinx

PANDORA (all gifted), first woman, dowered with gifts by everygod, 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 underBrutus, 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 tosuccessful poets

PARNASSUS, mountain near Delphi, sacred to Apollo and the Muses

PARSEES, Persian fire worshippers (Zoroastrians), of whom thereare still thousands in Persia and India

PARTHENON, the temple of Athene Parthenos ("the Virgin") on theAcropolis 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 ofMedusa

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 hisreturn from the Trojan War, put off the suitors for her hand bypromising to choose one when her weaving was done, but unravelledat night what she had woven by day

PENEUS, river god, river

PENTHESILEA, queen of Amazons

PENTHEUS, king of Thebes, having resisted the introduction ofthe 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'ssun chariot

PHANTASOS, a son of Somnus, bringing strange images to sleepingmen

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 sungod

PHOENIX, a messenger to Achilles, also, a miraculous bird dyingin fire by its own act and springing up alive from its own ashes

PHORBAS, a companion of Aeneas, whose form was assumed by Neptunein luring Palinuras the helmsman from his roost

PHRYXUS, brother of Helle

PINABEL, knight

PILLARS OF HERCULES, two mountains--Calpe, now the Rock ofGibraltar, southwest corner of Spain in Europe, and Abyla, facingit 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 ofTheseus, husband of Hippodamia

PLEASURE, daughter of Cupid and Psyche

PLEIADES, seven of Diana's nymphs, changed into stars, one beinglost

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 bushthat 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 pontiffin 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 alsohimself served by Theseus

PROETUS, jealous of Bellerophon

PROMETHEUS, creator of man, who stole fire from heaven for man'suse

PROSERPINE, the same as Persephone, goddess of all growingthings, daughter of Ceres, carried off by Pluto

PROTESILAUS, slain by Hector the Trojan, allowed by the gods toreturn 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 bycuriosity to see him (as he came to her only by night), butfinally 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 tolife 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 parentsopposing, they talked through cracks in the house wall, agreeingto meet in the near by woods, where Pyramus, finding a bloody veiland thinking Thisbe slain, killed himself, and she, seeing hisbody, killed herself (Burlesqued in Shakespeare's "MidsummerNight's Dream")

PYRRHA, wife of Deucalion

PYRRHUS (Neoptolemus), son of Achilles

PYTHAGORAS, Greek philosopher (540 BC), who thought numbers to bethe essence and principle of all things, and taught transmigrationof 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 beRomulus, 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 bybetween 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 ofthe judges in the lower world

RHAPSODIST, professional reciter of poems among the Greeks

RHEA, female Titan, wife of Saturn (Cronos), mother of the chiefgods, worshipped in Greece and Rome

RHINE, river

RHINE MAIDENS, OR DAUGHTERS, three water nymphs, Flosshilda, Woglinda, and Wellgunda, set to guard the Nibelungen Hoard, buriedin 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 beesent by her to call him to her, and she punished him withblindness

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 RichardCoeur 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 forPendragon, Arthur's father, as a knightly order, continued andmade famous by Arthur and his knights

RUNIC CHARACTERS, or runes, alphabetic signs used by earlyTeutonic peoples, written or graved on metal or stone

RUTULIANS, an ancient people in Italy, subdued at an early periodby the Romans

RYENCE, king in Ireland

S

SABRA, maiden for whom Severn River was named, daughter of Locrineand 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 ofBrittany, opposite Cornwall

SAKYASINHA, the Lion, epithet applied to Buddha

SALAMANDER, a lizard like animal, fabled to be able to live infire

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, worshippedin 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 ofLeucadia 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 Valhallabecoming 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 Circeto a monster and finally to a dangerous rock on the Siciliancoast, facing the whirlpool Charybdis, many mariners being wreckedbetween the two, also, daughter of King Nisus of Megara, who lovedMinos, besieging her father's city, but he disliked her disloyaltyand drowned her, also, a fair virgin of Sicily, friend of seanymph 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 empireof Nineveh

SENAPUS, King of Abyssinia, who entertained Astolpho

SERAPIS, or Hermes, Egyptian divinity of Tartarus and ofmedicine

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, fatalto any but him who was destined to achieve the quest of theSangreal (See Galahad)

SIEGFRIED, young King of the Netherlands, husband of Kriemhild, she boasted to Brunhild that Siegfried had aided Gunther to beather 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 anddeserts 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 byHereward

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 byhis son Brutus

SIMONIDES, an early poet of Greece

SINON, a Greek spy, who persuaded the Trojans to take the WoodenHorse into their city

SIRENS, sea nymphs, whose singing charmed mariners to leap intothe sea, passing their island, Ulysses stopped the ears of hissailors with wax, and had himself bound to the mast so that hecould 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 bigrock 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 bygetting him Gerda for his wife

SKRYMIR, a giant, Utgard Loki in disguise, who fooled Thor inathletic 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 propoundingriddles to all passers, on pain of death, for wrong guessing, whokilled herself in rage when Aedipus guessed aright

SPRING

STONEHENGE, circle of huge upright stones, fabled to be sepulchreof Pendragon

STROPHIUS, father of Pylades

STYGIAN REALM, Hades

STYGIAN SLEEP, escaped from the beauty box sent from Hades toVenus by hand of Psyche, who curiously opened the box and wasplunged 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 theirdestruction (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 abunch 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 waterthat retired when he would drink, under fruit trees that withdrewwhen he would eat

TARCHON, Etruscan chief

TARENTUM, Italian city

TARPEIAN ROCK, in Rome, from which condemned criminals werehurled

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 blackabyss below Hades later, represented as place where the wickedwere punished, and sometimes the name used as synonymous withHades

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 competitionin 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'shead

THESEUM, Athenian temple in honor of Theseus

THESEUS, son of Aegeus and Aethra, King of Athens, a great hero ofmany 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 Ulysseslanded, but, his men killing some cattle for food, their ship waswrecked 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 Atalantaher hunting trophy, and was slain by Melauger, who had awarded itto her

TRIAD, the Hindu

TRIADS, Welsh poems

TRIMURTI, Hindu Triad

TRIPTOL'EMUS, son of Celeus, and who, made great byCeres, founded her worship in Eleusis

TRISTRAM, one of Arthur's knights, husband of Isoude of the WhiteHands, lover of Isoude the Fair, TRITON, a demi god of the sea, son of Poseidon (Neptune) andAmphitrite

TROEZEN, Greek city of Argolis

TROJAN WAR

TROJANOVA, New Troy, City founded in Britain (See Brutus, andLud)

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 theTrojan War and the destruction of Troy

TROY, fall of

TURNUS, chief of the Rutulianes in Italy, unsuccessful rival ofAeneas for Lavinia

TURPIN, Archbishop of Rheims

TURQUINE, Sir, a great knight, foe of Arthur, slain by SirLauncelot

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 whosedaughter'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 thePast

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 Valhallaand 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 appearanceswon the love of Pomona

VESTA, daughter of Cronos and Rhea, goddess of the homefire, orhearth

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 indtheir 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, goddessof innocence and purity

VISHNU, the Preserver, second of the three chief Hindu gods

VIVIANE, lady of magical powers, who allured the sage Merlin andimprisoned him in an enchanted wood

VOLSCENS, Rutulian troop leader who killed Nisus and Euryalus

VOLSUNG, A SAGA, an Icelandic poem, giving about the same legendsas the Nibelungen Lied

VORTIGERN, usurping King of Britain, defeated by Pendragon 390, 397

VULCAN (Greek, Haephestus), god of fire and metal working, withforges 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 Troyas a pretended offering to Minerva when the Greeks feigned to sailaway, accepted by the Trojans (See Sinon, and Laocoon), broughtinto 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 supportthe 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 inWestern Asia from about 550 BC to about 650 AD, and is still heldby many thousands in Persia and in India