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CHAPTER II.

              THE MYTHICAL HISTORY OF ENGLAND.

 

  ACCORDING to the earliest accounts, Albion, a giant, and son of

Neptune, a contemporary of Hercules, ruled over the island, to which

he gave his name. Presuming to oppose the progress of Hercules in

his western march, he was slain by him.

  Another story is that Histion, the son of Japhet, the son of Noah,

had four sons,- Francus, Romanus, Alemannus, and Britto, from whom

descended the French, Roman, German, and British people.

  Rejecting these and other like stories, Milton gives more regard

to the story of Brutus, the Trojan, which, he says, is supported by

"descents of ancestry long continued laws and exploits not plainly

seeming to be borrowed or devised, which on the common belief have

wrought no small impression; defended by many, denied utterly by few."

The principal authority is Geoffrey of Monmouth, whose history,

written in the twelfth century, purports to be a translation of a

history of Britain, brought over from the opposite shore of France,

which, under the name of Brittany, was chiefly peopled by natives of

Britain, who from time to time emigrated thither, driven from their

own country by the inroads of the Picts and Scots. According to this

authority, Brutus was the son of Silvius, and he of Ascanius, the

son of AEneas, whose flight from Troy and settlement in Italy will

be found narrated in "The Age of Fable."

  Brutus, at the age of fifteen, attending his father to the chase,

unfortunately killed him with an arrow. Banished therefor by his

kindred, he sought refuge in that part of Greece where Helenus, with a

band of Trojan exiles, had become established. But Helenus was now

dead, and the descendants of the Trojans were oppressed by

Pandrasus, the king of the country. Brutus, being kindly received

among them, so throve in virtue and in arms as to win the regard of

all the eminent of the land above all others of his age. In

consequence of this the Trojans not only began to hope, but secretly

to persuade him to lead them the way to liberty. To encourage them

they had the promise of help from Assaracus, a noble Greek youth,

whose mother was a Trojan. He had suffered wrong at the hands of the

king, and for that reason the more willingly cast in his lot with

the Trojan exiles.

  Choosing a fit opportunity, Brutus with his countrymen withdrew to

the woods and hills, as the safest place from which to expostulate,

and sent this message to Pandrasus: "That the Trojans, holding it

unworthy of their ancestors to serve in a foreign land, had

retreated to the woods, choosing rather a savage life than a slavish

one. If that displeased him, then, with his leave, they would depart

to some other country." Pandrasus, not expecting so bold a message

from the sons of captives, went in pursuit of them, with such forces

as he could gather, and met them on the banks of the Achelous, where

Brutus got the advantage, and took the king captive. The result was,

that the terms demanded by the Trojans were granted; the king gave his

daughter Imogen in marriage to Brutus, and furnished shipping,

money, and fit provision for them all to depart from the land.

  The marriage being solemnized, and shipping from all parts got

together, the Trojans, in a fleet of no less than three hundred and

twenty sail, betook themselves to the sea. On the third day they

arrived at a certain island, which they found destitute of

inhabitants, though there were appearances of former habitation, and

among the ruins a temple of Diana. Brutus, here performing sacrifice

at the shrine of the goddess, invoked an oracle for his guidance, in

these lines:-

 

        "Goddess of shades, and huntress, who at will

         Walk'st on the rolling sphere, and through the deep;

         On thy third realm, the earth, look now and tell

         What land, what seat of rest, thou bidd'st me seek;

         What certain seat where I may worship thee

         For aye, with temples vowed and virgin choirs."

 

  To whom, sleeping before the altar, Diana, in a vision thus

answered:-

 

        "Brutus! far to the west, in the ocean wide,

         Beyond the realm of Gaul, a land there lies,

         Seagirt it lies, where giants dwelt of old;

         Now, void, it fits thy people: thither bend

         Thy course; there shalt thou find a lasting seat;

         There to thy sons another Troy shall rise,

         And kings be born of thee, whose dreaded might

         Shall save the world, and conquer nations bold."

 

  Brutus, guided now, as he thought, by Divine direction, sped his

course towards the west, and, arriving at a place on the Tyrrhene sea,

found there the descendants of certain Trojans who with Antenor came

into Italy, of whom Corineus was the chief. These joined company,

and the ships pursued their way till they arrived at the mouth of

the river Loire, in France, where the expedition landed, with a view

to a settlement, but were so rudely assaulted by the inhabitants

that they put to sea again, and arrived at a part of the coast of

Britain now called Devonshire, where Brutus felt convinced that he had

found the promised end of his voyage, landed his colony, and took

possession.

  The island, not yet Britain, but Albion, was in a manner desert

and inhospitable, occupied only by a remnant of the giant race whose

excessive force and tyranny had destroyed the others. The Trojans

encountered these and extirpated them, Corineus in particular

signalizing himself by his exploits against them; from whom Cornwall

takes its name, for that region fell to his lot, and there the

hugest giants dwelt, lurking in rocks and caves, till Corineus rid the

land of them.

  Brutus built his capital city, and called it Trojanova (New Troy),

changed in time to Trinovantum, now London;* and, having governed

the isle twenty-four years, died, leaving three sons, Locrine,

Albanact, and Camber. Locrine had the middle part, Camber the west,

called Cambria from him, and Albanact Albania, now Scotland. Locrine

was married to Guendolen, the daughter of Corineus; but, having seen a

fair maid named Estrildis, who had been brought captive from

Germany, he became enamored of her, and had by her a daughter, whose

name was Sabra. This matter was kept secret while Corineus lived;

but after his death, Locrine divorced Guendolen, and made Estrildis

his queen. Guendolen, all in rage, departed to Cornwall, where

Madan, her son, lived, who had been brought up by Corineus, his

grandfather. Gathering an army of her father's friends and subjects,

she gave battle to her husband's forces, and Locrine was slain.

Guendolen caused her rival, Estrildis, with her daughter Sabra, to

be thrown into the river, from which cause the river thenceforth

bore the maiden's name, which by length of time is now changed into

Sabrina or Severn. Milton alludes to this in his address to the river-

and in

 

          "Severn swift, guilty of maiden's death";-

 

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 flight 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.

 

  * "For noble Britons sprong from Trojans bold,

       And Troynovant was built of old Troy's ashes cold."

                                     SPENSER, Book III, Canto IX. 38.

 

  If our readers ask when all this took place, we must answer, in

the first place, that mythology is not careful of dates; and next

that, as Brutus was the great-grandson of AEneas, it must have been

not far from a century subsequent to the Trojan war, or about 1100

years before the invasion of the island by Julius Caesar. This long

interval is filled with the names of princes whose chief occupation

was in warring with one another. Some few, whose names remain

connected with places, or embalmed in literature, we will mention.

 

                         BLADUD.

 

  Bladud built the city of Bath, and dedicated the medicinal waters to

Minerva. He was a man of great invention, and practised the arts of

magic, till, having made him wings to fly, he fell down upon the

temple of Apollo, in Trinovant, and so died, after twenty years'

reign.

 

                          LEIR.

 

  Leir, who next reigned, built Leicester, and called it after his

name. He had no male issue, but only three daughters. When grown

old, he determined to divide his kingdom among his daughters, and

bestow them in marriage. But first, to try which of them loved him

best, he determined to ask them solemnly in order, and judge of the

warmth of their affection by their answers. Goneril, the eldest,

knowing well her father's weakness, made answer that she loved him,

"above her soul." "Since thou so honorest my declining age," said

the old man, "to thee and to thy husband I give the third part of my

realm." Such good success for a few words soon uttered was ample

instruction to Regan, the second daughter, what to say. She therefore,

to the same question replied, that "she loved him more than all the

world beside"; and so received an equal reward with her sister. But

Cordeilla, the youngest, and hitherto the best beloved, too honest

to profess in words more than she felt in her heart, was not moved

from the solid purpose of a sincere and virtuous answer, and

replied: "Father, my love towards you is as my duty bids. They who

pretend beyond this flatter." When the old man, sorry to hear this,

and wishing her to recall these words, persisted in asking, she

still restrained her expressions so as to say rather less than more

than the truth. Then Leir, all in a passion, burst forth: "Since

thou hast not reverenced thy aged father like thy sisters, think not

to have any part in my kingdom or what else I have";- and without

delay, giving in marriage his other daughters, Goneril to the Duke

of Albany, and Regan to the Duke of Cornwall, he divides his kingdom

between them. Cordeilla, portionless, married the prince of France,

who shortly after succeeded his father upon the throne.

  King Leir went to reside with his eldest daughter, attended only

by a hundred knights. But in a short time his attendants, being

complained of as too numerous and disorderly, are reduced to thirty.

Resenting that affront, the old king betakes him to his second

daughter; but she, instead of soothing his wounded pride, takes part

with her sister, and refuses to admit a retinue of more than five.

Then back he returns to the other, who now will not receive him with

more than one attendant. Then the remembrance of Cordeilla comes to

his thoughts, and he takes his journey into France to seek her, with

little hope of kind consideration from one whom he had so injured, but

to pay her the last recompense he can render,- confession of his

injustice. When Cordeilla is informed of his approach, and of his

sad condition, she pours forth true filial tears. And, not willing

that her own or others' eyes should see him in that forlorn condition,

she sends one of her trusted servants to meet him, and convey him

privately to some comfortable abode, and to furnish him with such

state as befitted his dignity. After which Cordeilla, with the king

her husband, went in state to meet him, and, after an honorable

reception, the king permitted his wife Cordeilla to go with an army

and set her father again upon his throne. They prospered, subdued

the wicked sisters and their consorts, and Leir obtained the crown and

held it three years. Cordeilla succeeded him, and reigned five

years; but the sons of her sisters, after that, rebelled against

her, and she lost both her crown and life.

  Shakespeare has chosen this story as the subject of his tragedy of

King Lear, varying its details in some respects. The madness of

Lear, and the ill success of Cordeilla's attempt to reinstate her

father, are the principal variations, and those in the names will also

be noticed. Our narrative is drawn from Milton's History; and thus the

reader will perceive that the story of Leir has had the

distinguished honor of being told by the two acknowledged chiefs of

British literature.

 

                    FERREX AND PORREX.

 

  Ferrex and Porrex were brothers, who held the kingdom after Leir.

They quarrelled about the supremacy, and Porrex expelled his

brother, who, obtaining aid from Suard, king of the Franks, returned

and made war upon Porrex. Ferrex was slain in battle, and his forces

dispersed. When their mother came to hear of her son's death, who

was her favorite, she fell into a great rage, and conceived a mortal

hatred against the survivor. She took, therefore, her opportunity when

he was asleep, fell upon him, and, with the assistance of her women,

tore him in pieces. This horrid story would not be worth relating,

were it not for the fact that it has furnished the plot for the

first tragedy which was written in the English language. It was

entitled Gorboduc, but in the second edition Ferrex and Porrex, and

was the production of Thomas Sackville, afterwards Earl of Dorset, and

Thomas Norton, a barrister. Its date was 1561.

 

                    DUNWALLO MOLMUTIUS.

 

  This is the next name of note. Molmutius established the Molmutine

laws, which bestowed the privilege of sanctuary on temples, cities,

and the roads leading to them, and gave the same protection to

ploughs, extending a religious sanction to the labors of the field.

Shakespeare alludes to him in Cymbeline, Act III, Sc. I.:-

 

              "Molmutius made our laws;

         Who was the first of Britain which did put

         His brows within a golden crown, and called

         Himself a king."

 

                    BRENNUS AND BELINUS,

 

the sons of Molmutius, succeeded him. They quarrelled, and Brennus was

driven out of the island, and took refuge in Gaul, where he met with

such favor from the king of the Allobroges, that he gave him his

daughter in marriage, and made him his partner on the throne.

Brennus is the name which the Roman historians give to the famous

leader of the Gauls who took Rome in the time of Camillus. Geoffrey of

Monmouth claims the glory of the conquest for the British prince,

after he had become king of the Allobroges.

 

                        ELIDURE.

 

  After Belinus and Brennus there reigned several kings of little

note, and then came Elidure. Arthgallo, his brother, being king,

gave great offence to his powerful nobles, who rose against him,

deposed him, and advanced Elidure to the throne. Arthgallo fled, and

endeavored to find assistance in the neighboring kingdoms to reinstate

him, but found none. Elidure reigned prosperously and wisely. After

five years' possession of the kingdom, one day, when hunting, he met

in the forest his brother, Arthgallo, who had been deposed. After long

wandering, unable longer to bear the poverty to which he was

reduced, he had returned to Britain, with only ten followers,

designing to repair to those who had formerly been his friends.

Elidure, at the sight of his brother in distress, forgetting all

animosities, ran to him, and embraced him. He took Arthgallo home with

him, and concealed him in the palace. After this he feigned himself

sick, and, calling his nobles about him, induced them, partly by

persuasion, partly by force, to consent to his abdicating the kingdom,

and reinstating his brother on the throne. The agreement being

ratified, Elidure took the crown from his own head, and put it on

his brother's head. Arthgallo after this reigned ten years, well and

wisely, exercising strict justice towards all men.

  He died, and left the kingdom to his sons, who reigned with

various fortunes, but were not long-lived, and left no offspring, so

that Elidure was again advanced to the throne, and finished the course

of his life in just and virtuous actions, receiving the name of the

pious, from the love and admiration of his subjects.

  Wordsworth has taken the story of Artegal and Elidure for the

subject of a poem, which is No. 2 of "Poems founded on the

Affections."

 

                           LUD.

 

  After Elidure the Chronicle names many kings, but none of special

note, till we come to Lud, who greatly enlarged Trinovant, his

capital, and surrounded it with a wall. He changed its name, bestowing

upon it his own, so that thenceforth it was called Lud's town,

afterwards London. Lud was buried by the gate of the city called after

him Ludgate. He had two sons, but they were not old enough at the time

of their father's death to sustain the cares of government, and

therefore their uncle Caswallaun, or Cassibellaunus, succeeded to

the kingdom. He was a brave and magnificent prince, so that his fame

reached to distant countries.

 

                      CASSIBELLAUNUS.

 

  About this time it happened (as is found in the Roman histories)

that Julius Caesar, having subdued Gaul, came to the shore opposite

Britain. And having resolved to add this island also to his

conquest, he prepared ships and transported his army across the sea,

to the mouth of the river Thames. Here he was met by Cassibellaun,

with all his forces, and a battle ensued, in which Nennius, the

brother of Cassibellaun, engaged in single combat with Caesar. After

several furious blows given and received, the sword of Caesar stuck so

fast in the shield of Nennius, that it could not be pulled out, and,

the combatants being separated by the intervention of the troops,

Nennius remained possessed of this trophy. At last, after the

greater part of the day was spent, the Britons poured in so fast

that Caesar was forced to retire to his camp and fleet. And finding it

useless to continue the war any longer at that time, he returned to

Gaul.

  Shakespeare alludes to Cassibellaunus, in Cymbeline:-

 

        "The famed Cassibelan, who was once at point

         (O giglot fortune!) to master Caesar's sword,

         Made Lud's town with rejoicing fires bright,

         And Britons strut with courage."

 

                KYMBELINUS, OR CYMBELINE.

 

  Caesar, on a second invasion of the island, was more fortunate and

compelled the Britons to pay tribute. Cymbeline, the nephew of the

king, was delivered to the Romans as a hostage for the faithful

fulfilment of the treaty, and, being carried to Rome by Caesar, he was

there brought up in the Roman arts and accomplishments. Being

afterwards restored to his country, and placed on the throne, he was

attached to the Romans, and continued through all his reign at peace

with them. His sons, Guiderius and Arviragus, who make their

appearance in Shakespeare's play of Cymbeline, succeeded their father,

and, refusing to pay tribute to the Romans, brought on another

invasion. Guiderius was slain, but Arviragus afterward made terms with

the Romans, and reigned prosperously many years.

 

                        ARMORICA.

 

  The next event of note is the conquest and colonization of Armorica,

by Maximis, a Roman general, and Conan, lord of Miniadoc or

Denbigh-land, in Wales. The name of the country was changed to

Brittany, or Lesser Britain; and so completely was it possessed by the

British colonists, that the language became assimilated to that spoken

in Wales, and it is said that to this day the peasantry of the two

countries can understand each other when speaking their native

language.

  The Romans eventually succeeded in establishing themselves in the

island, and after the lapse of several generations they became blended

with the natives so that no distinction existed between the two races.

When at length the Roman armies were withdrawn from Britain, their

departure was a matter of regret to the inhabitants, as it left them

without protection against the barbarous tribes, Scots, Picts, and

Norwegians, who harassed the country incessantly. This was the state

of things when the era of King Arthur began.

 

  The adventure of Albion, the giant, with Hercules is alluded to by

Spenser, Faery Queene, Book IV., Canto XI.:-

 

        "For Albion the son of Neptune was;

         Who for the proof of his great puissance,

         Out of his Albion did on dry foot pass,

         Into old Gaul that now is cleped France,

         To fight with Hercules, that did advance

         To vanquish all the world with matchless might;

         And there his mortal part by great mischance

         Was slain."

                       CHAPTER III.

                         ARTHUR.

 

  WE shall begin our history of King Arthur by giving those

particulars of his life which appear to rest on historical evidence;

and then proceed to record those legends concerning him which form the

earliest portion of British literature.

  Arthur was a prince of the tribe of Britons called Silures, whose

country was South Wales,- the son of Uther, named Pendragon, a title

given to an elective sovereign, paramount over the many kings of

Britain. He appears to have commenced his martial career about the

year 500, and was raised to the Pendragonship about ten years later.

He is said to have gained twelve victories over the Saxons. The most

important of them was that of Badon, by some supposed to be Bath, by

others Berkshire. This was the last of his battles with the Saxons,

and checked their progress so effectually that Arthur experienced no

more annoyance from them, and reigned in peace, until the revolt of

his nephew Modred, twenty years later, which led to the fatal battle

of Camlan, in Cornwall, in 542. Modred was slain, and Arthur, mortally

wounded, was conveyed by sea to Glastonbury, where he died, and was

buried. Tradition preserved the memory of the place of his interment

within the abbey, as we are told by Giraldus Cambrensis, who was

present when the grave was opened by command of Henry II. in 1150, and

saw the bones and sword of the monarch, and a leaden cross let into

his tombstone, with the inscription in rude Roman letters, "Here

lies buried the famous King Arthur, in the island Avolonia." This

story has been elegantly versified by Warton. A popular traditional

belief was long entertained among the Britons that Arthur was not

dead, but had been carried off to be healed of his wounds in

Fairy-land, and that he would reappear to avenge his countrymen, and

reinstate them in the sovereignty of Britain. In Wharton's Ode a

bard relates to King Henry the traditional story of Arthur's death,

and closes with these lines:-

 

          "Yet in vain a paynim foe

           Armed with fate the mighty blow;

           For when he fell, the Elfin queen,

           All in secret and unseen,

           O'er the fainting hero threw

           Her mantle of ambrosial blue,

           And bade her spirits bear him far,

           In Merlin's agate-axled car,

           To her green isle's enamelled steep,

           Far in the navel of the deep.

           O'er his wounds she sprinkled dew

           From flowers that in Arabia grew.

 

           There he reigns a mighty king,

           Thence to Britain shall return,

           If right prophetic rolls I learn,

           Borne on victory's spreading plume,

           His ancient sceptre to resume,

           His knightly table to restore,

           And brave the tournaments of yore."

 

  After this narration another bard came forward, who recited a

different story:-

 

        "When Arthur bowed his haughty crest,

         No princess veiled in azure vest

         Snatched him, by Merlin's powerful spell,

         In groves of golden bliss to dwell;

         But when he fell, with winged speed,

         His champions, on a milk-white steed,

         From the battle's hurricane

         Bore him to Joseph's towered fane,*

 

         In the fair vale of Avalon;

         There, with chanted orison

         And the long blaze of tapers clear,

         The stoled fathers met the bier;

         Through the dim aisles, in order dread

         Of martial woe, the chief they led,

         And deep entombed in holy ground,

         Before the altar's solemn bound."

 

  * Glastonbury Abbey, said to be founded by Joseph of Arimathea, in a

spot anciently called the island or valley of Avalonia.

  Tennyson, in his Palace of Art, alludes to the legend of Arthur's

rescue by the Fairy queen, thus:-

 

          "Or mythic Uther's deeply wounded son,

             In some fair space of sloping greens,

           Lay dozing in the vale of Avalon,

             And watched by weeping queens."

 

  It must not be concealed, that the very existence of Arthur has been

denied by some. Milton says of him: "As to Arthur, more renowned in

songs and romances than in true stories, who he was, and whether

ever any such reigned in Britain, hath been doubted heretofore, and

may again, with good reason." Modern critics, however, admit that

there was a prince of this name, and find proof of it in the

frequent mention of him in the writings of the Welsh bards. But the

Arthur of romance, according to Mr. Owen, a Welsh scholar and

antiquarian, is a mythological person. "Arthur," he says, "is the

Great Bear, as the name literally implies (Arctos, Arcturus), and

perhaps this constellation, being so near the pole, and visibly

describing a circle in a small space, is the origin of the famous

Round Table." Let us now turn to the history of King Arthur, as

recorded by the romantic chroniclers.

  Constans, king of Britain, had three sons, Moines, Ambrosius,

otherwise called Uther, and Pendragon. Moines, soon after his

accession to the crown, was vanquished by the Saxons, in consequence

of the treachery of his seneschal, Vortigern, and growing unpopular

through misfortune, he was killed by his subjects, and the traitor

Vortigern chosen in his place.

  Vortigern was soon after defeated in a great battle by Uther and

Pendragon, the surviving brothers of Moines, and Pendragon ascended

the throne.

  This prince had great confidence in the wisdom of Merlin, and made

him his chief adviser. About this time a dreadful war arose between

the Saxons and Britons. Merlin obliged the royal brothers to swear

fidelity to each other, but predicted that one of them must fall in

the first battle. The Saxons were routed, and Pendragon, being

slain, was succeeded by Uther, who now assumed, in addition to his own

name, the appellation of Pendragon.

  Merlin still continued a favorite counsellor. At the request of

Uther, he transported by magic art enormous stones from Ireland, to

form the sepulchre of Pendragon. These stones constitute the

monument now called Stonehenge, on Salisbury Plain.

  Merlin next proceeded to Carlisle to prepare the Round Table, at

which he seated an assemblage of the great nobles of the country.

The companions admitted to this high order were bound by oath to

assist each other at the hazard of their own lives, to attempt

singly the most perilous adventures, to lead, when necessary, a life

of monastic solitude, to fly to arms at the first summons, and never

to retire from battle till they had defeated the enemy, unless night

intervened and separated the combatants.

  Soon after this institution, the king invited all his barons to

the celebration of a great festival, which he proposed holding

annually at Carlisle.

  As the knights had obtained the sovereign's permission to bring

their ladies along with them, the beautiful Igerne accompanied her

husband, Gerlois, Duke of Tintadiel, to one of these anniversaries.

The king became deeply enamored of the Duchess, and disclosed his

passion; but Igerne repelled his advances, and revealed his

solicitations to her husband. On hearing this, the Duke instantly

removed from court with Igerne, and without taking leave of Uther. The

king complained to his council of this want of duty, and they

decided that the Duke should be summoned to court, and, if refractory,

should be treated as a rebel. As he refused to obey the citation,

the king carried war into the estates of his vassal, and besieged

him in the strong castle of Tintadiel. Merlin transformed the king

into the likeness of Gerlois, and enabled him to have many stolen

interviews with Igerne. At length the Duke was killed in battle, and

the king espoused Igerne.

  From this union sprang Arthur, who succeeded his father, Uther, upon

the throne.

 

                   ARTHUR CHOSEN KING.

 

  Arthur, though only fifteen years old at his father's death, was

elected king, at a general meeting of the nobles. It was not done

without opposition, for there were many ambitious competitors; but

Bishop Brice, a person of great sanctity, on Christmas eve addressed

the assembly, and represented that it would well become them, at

that solemn season, to put up their prayers for some token which

should manifest the intentions of Providence respecting their future

sovereign. This was done, and with such success, that the service

was scarcely ended, when a miraculous stone was discovered, before the

church door, and in the stone was firmly fixed a sword, with the

following words engraven on its hilt:-

 

              "I am hight Escalibore,

               Unto a king fair tresore."

 

  Bishop Brice, after exhorting the assembly to offer up their

thanksgivings for this signal miracle, proposed a law, that whoever

should be able to draw out the sword from the stone, should be

acknowledged as sovereign of the Britons; and his proposal was decreed

by general acclamation. The tributary kings of Uther, and the most

famous knights, successively put their strength to the proof, but

the miraculous sword resisted all their efforts. It stood till

Candlemas; it stood till Easter, and till Pentecost, when the best

knights in the kingdom usually assembled for the annual tournament.

Arthur, who was at that time serving in the capacity of squire to

his foster-brother, Sir Kay, attended his master to the lists. Sir Kay

fought with great valor and success, but had the misfortune to break

his sword, and sent Arthur to his mother for a new one. Arthur

hastened home, but did not find the lady; but having observed near the

church a sword sticking in a stone, he galloped to the place, drew out

the sword with great ease, and delivered it to his master. Sir Kay

would willingly have assumed to himself the distinction conferred by

the possession of the sword; but when, to confirm the doubters, the

sword was replaced in the stone, he was utterly unable to withdraw it,

and it would yield a second time to no hand but Arthur's. Thus

decisively pointed out by Heaven as their king, Arthur was by

general consent proclaimed such, and an early day appointed for his

solemn coronation.

  Immediately after his election to the crown, Arthur found himself

opposed by eleven kings and one duke, who with a vast army were

actually encamped in the forest of Rockingham. By Merlin's advice

Arthur sent an embassy to Brittany to solicit aid of King Ban and King

Bohort, two of the best knights in the world. They accepted the

call, and with a powerful army crossed the sea, landing at Portsmouth,

where they were received with great rejoicing. The rebel kings were

still superior in numbers; but Merlin by a powerful enchantment,

caused all their tents to fall down at once, and in the confusion

Arthur with his allies fell upon them and totally routed them.

  After defeating the rebels, Arthur took the field against the

Saxons. As they were too strong for him unaided, he sent an embassy to

Armorica, beseeching the assistance of Hoel, who soon after brought

over an army to his aid. The two kings joined their forces, and sought

the enemy, whom they met, and both sides prepared for a decisive

engagement. "Arthur himself," as Geoffrey of Monmouth relates,

"dressed in a breastplate worthy of so great a king, places on his

head a golden helmet engraved with the semblance of a dragon. Over his

shoulders he throws his shield called Priwen, on which a picture of

the Holy Virgin constantly recalled her to his memory. Girt with

Caliburn, a most excellent sword, and fabricated in the isle of

Avalon, he graces his right hand with the lance named Ron. This was

a long and broad spear, well contrived for slaughter." After a

severe conflict, Arthur, calling on the name of the Virgin, rushes

into the midst of his enemies, and destroys multitudes of them with

the formidable Caliburn, and puts the rest to flight. Hoel, being

detained by sickness, took no part in this battle.

  This is called the victory of Mount Badon, and, however disguised by

fable, it is regarded by historians as a real event.

  The feats performed by Arthur at the battle of Badon Mount are

thus celebrated in Drayton's verse:-

 

      "They sung how he himself at Badon bore, that day,

       When at the glorious goal his British scepter lay;

       Two dais together how the battle stronglie stood;

       Pendragon's worthie son, who waded there in blood,

       Three hundred Saxons slew with his owne valiant hand."

                                                         Song IV.

 

                          MERLIN.

 

          "-The most famous man of all those times,

           Merlin, who knew the range of all their arts,

           Had built the King his havens, ships and halls,

           Was also Bard, and knew the starry heavens;

           The people called him wizard."- TENNYSON.

 

  Now Merlin, of whom we have already heard somewhat and shall hear

more, was the son of no mortal father, but of an Incubus, one of a

class of beings not absolutely wicked, but far from good, who

inhabit the regions of the air. Merlin's mother was a virtuous young

woman, who, on the birth of her son, intrusted him to a priest, who

hurried him to the baptismal fount, and so saved him from sharing

the lot of his father, though he retained many marks of his

unearthly origin.

  At this time Vortigern reigned in Britain. He was a usurper, who had

caused the death of his sovereign, Moines, and driven the two brothers

of the late king, whose names were Uther and Pendragon, into

banishment. Vortigern, who lived in constant fear of the return of the

rightful heirs of the kingdom, began to erect a strong tower for

defence. The edifice, when brought by the workmen to a certain height,

three times fell to the ground, without any apparent cause. The king

consulted his astrologers on this wonderful event, and learned from

them that it would be necessary to bathe the cornerstone of the

foundation with the blood of a child born without a mortal father.

  In search of such an infant, Vortigern sent his messengers all

over the kingdom, and they by accident discovered Merlin, whose

lineage seemed to point him out as the individual wanted. They took

him to the king; but Merlin, young as he was, explained to the king

the absurdity of attempting to rescue the fabric by such means, for he

told him the true cause of the instability of the tower was its

being placed over the den of two immense dragons, whose combats

shook the earth above them. The king ordered his workmen to dig

beneath the tower, and when they had done so they discovered two

enormous serpents, the one white as milk, the other red as fire. The

multitude looked on with amazement, till the serpents, slowly rising

from their den, and expanding their enormous folds, began the

combat, when every one fled in terror, except Merlin, who stood by

clapping his hands and cheering on the conflict. The red dragon was

slain, and the white one, gliding through a cleft in the rock,

disappeared.

  These animals typified, as Merlin afterwards explained, the invasion

of Uther and Pendragon, the rightful princes, who soon after landed

with a great army. Vortigern was defeated, and afterwards burned alive

in the castle he had taken such pains to construct. On the death of

Vortigern, Pendragon ascended the throne. Merlin became his chief

adviser, and often assisted the king by his magical arts. Among

other endowments, he had the power to transform himself into any shape

he pleased. At one time he appeared as a dwarf, at others as a damsel,

a page, or even a greyhound or a stag. This faculty he often

employed for the service of the king, and sometimes also for the

diversion of the court and the sovereign.

  Merlin continued to be a favorite counsellor through the reigns of

Pendragon, Uther, and Arthur, and at last disappeared from view, and

was no more found among men, through the treachery of his mistress,

Viviane, the Fairy, which happened in this wise.

  Merlin, having become enamored of the fair Viviane, the Lady of

the Lake, was weak enough to impart to her various important secrets

of his art, being impelled by a fatal destiny, of which he was at

the same time fully aware. The lady, however, was not content with his

devotion, unbounded as it seems to have been, but "cast about," the

Romance tells us, how she might "detain him for evermore," and one day

addressed him in these terms: "Sir, I would that we should make a fair

place and a suitable, so contrived by art and by cunning that it might

never be undone, and that you and I should be there in joy and

solace." "My lady," said Merlin, "I will do all this." "Sir," said

she, "I would not have you do it, but you shall teach me, and I will

do it, and then it will be more to my mind." "I grant you this,"

said Merlin. Then he began to devise, and the damsel put it all in

writing. And when he had devised the whole, then had the damsel full

great joy, and showed him greater semblance of love than she had

ever before made, and they sojourned together a long while. At

length it fell out that, as they were going one day in hand through

the forest of Breceliande, they found a bush of white-thorn, which was

laden with flowers; and they seated themselves, under the shade of

this white-thorn, upon the grass, and Merlin laid his head upon the

damsel's lap, and fell asleep. Then the damsel rose, and made a ring

with her wimple round the bush, and round Merlin, and began her

enchantments, such as he himself had taught her; and nine times she

made the ring, and nine times she made the enchantment, and then she

went and sat down by him, and placed his head again upon her lap.

And when he awoke, and looked round him, it seemed to him that he

was enclosed in the strongest tower in the world, and laid upon a fair

bed. Then said he to the dame: "My lady, you have deceived me,

unless you abide with me, for no one hath power to unmake this tower

but you alone." She then promised that she would be often there, and

in this she held her covenant with him. And Merlin never went out of

that tower where his Mistress Viviane had enclosed him; but she

entered and went out again when she listed.

  After this event Merlin was never more known to hold converse with

any mortal but Viviane, except on one occasion. Arthur, having for

some time missed him from his court, sent several of his knights in

search of him, and among the number Sir Gawain, who met with a very

unpleasant adventure while engaged in this quest. Happening to pass

a damsel on his road, and neglecting to salute her, she revenged

herself for his incivility by transforming him into a hideous dwarf.

He was bewailing aloud his evil fortune as he went through the

forest of Breceliande, when suddenly he heard the voice of one

groaning on his right hand; and, looking that way, he could see

nothing save a kind of smoke, which seemed like air, and through which

he could not pass. Merlin then addressed him from out the smoke, and

told him by what misadventure he was imprisoned there. "Ah, sir!" he

added, "you will never see me more, and that grieves me, but I

cannot remedy it; I shall never more speak to you, nor to any other

person, save only my mistress. But do thou hasten to King Arthur,

and charge him from me to undertake, without delay, the quest of the

Sacred Graal. The knight is already born, and has received

knighthood at his hands, who is destined to accomplish this quest."

And after this he comforted Gawain under his transformation,

assuring him that he should speedily be disenchanted; and he predicted

to him that he should find the king at Carduel, in Wales, on his

return, and that all the other knights who had been on like quest

would arrive there the same day as himself. And all this came to

pass as Merlin had said.

  Merlin is frequently introduced in the tales of chivalry, but it

is chiefly on great occasions, and at a period subsequent to his

death, or magical disappearance. In the romantic poems of Italy, and

in Spenser, Merlin is chiefly represented as a magical artist. Spenser

represents him as the artificer of the impenetrable shield and other

armor of Prince Arthur (Faery Queene, Book I., Canton vii.), and of

a mirror, in which a damsel viewed her lover's shade. The Fountain

of Love, in the Orlando Innamorato, is described as his work; and in

the poem of Ariosto we are told of a hall adorned with prophetic

paintings, which demons had executed in a single night, under the

direction of Merlin.

  The following legend is from Spenser's Faery Queene (Book III.,

Canto iii.):-

 

  CAER-MERDIN, OR CAERMARTHEN (IN WALES), MERLIN'S TOWER, AND THE

                   IMPRISONED FIENDS.

 

       Forthwith themselves disguising both, in straunge

       And base attire, that none might them bewray,

       To Maridunum, that is now by chaunge

       Of name Caer-Merdin called, they took their way:

       There the wise Merlin, whylome wont (they say)

       To make his wonne, low underneath the ground

       In a deep delve, far from the view of day,

       That of no living wight he mote be found,

     Whenso he counselled with his sprights encompassed round.

 

       And if thou ever happen that same way

       To travel, go to see that dreadful place;

       It is a hideous hollow cave (they say)

       Under a rock that lies a little space,

       From the swift Barry, tombling down apace

       Amongst the woody hills of Dynevor;

       But dare not thou, I charge, in any case,

       To enter into that same baleful bower,

     For fear the cruel fiends should thee unwares devour.

 

       But standing high aloft, low lay thine ear,

       And there such ghastly noise of iron chains

       And brazen cauldrons thou shalt rumbling hear,

       Which thousand sprites with long enduring pains

       Do toss, that it will stun thy feeble brains;

       And oftentimes great groans, and grievous stounds,

       When too huge toil and labor them constrains;

       And oftentimes loud strokes and ringing sounds

     From under that deep rock most horribly rebounds.

 

       The cause some say is this. A little while

       Before that Merlin died, he did intend

       A brazen wall in compas to compile

       About Caermerdin, and did it commend

       Unto these sprites to bring to perfect end;

       During which work the Lady of the Lake,

       Whom long he loved, for him in haste did send;

       Who, thereby forced his workmen to forsake,

     Them bound till his return their labor not to slack.

 

       In the meantime, through that false lady's train,

       He was surprised, and buried under beare,*

       Ne ever to his work returned again;

       Natheless 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.

 

  * Buried under beare. Buried under something which enclosed him like

a coffin or bier.

 

                        GUENEVER.

 

           "Leodogran, the King of Cameliard,

            Had one fair daughter, and none other child,

            And she was fairest of all flesh on earth,

            Guenevere, and in her his one delight."

                                              TENNYSON.

 

  Merlin had planned for Arthur a marriage with the daughter of King

Laodegan* of Carmalide. By his advice Arthur paid a visit to the court

of that sovereign, attended only by Merlin and by thirty-nine

knights whom the magician had selected for that service. On their

arrival they found Laodegan and his peers sitting in council,

endeavoring, but with small prospect of success, to devise means for

resisting the impending attack of Ryence, King of Ireland, who, with

fifteen tributary kings and an almost innumerable army, had nearly

surrounded the city. Merlin, who acted as leader of the band of

British knights, announced them as strangers, who came to offer the

king their services in his wars; but under the express condition

that they should be at liberty to conceal their names and quality

until they should think proper to divulge them. These terms were

thought very strange, but were thankfully accepted, and the strangers,

after taking the usual oath to the king, retired to the lodging

which Merlin had prepared for them.

 

  * The spelling of these proper names is very often only a matter

of taste. I think, however, Leodogran and Guenevere are less common

than Laodegan and Guenever.

 

  A few days after this, the enemy, regardless of a truce into which

they had entered with King Laodegan, suddenly issued from their camp

and made an attempt to surprise the city. Cleodalis, the king's

general, assembled the royal forces with all possible despatch. Arthur

and his companions also flew to arms, and Merlin appeared at their

head, bearing a standard on which was emblazoned a terrific dragon.

Merlin advanced to the gate, and commanded the porter to open it,

which the porter refused to do, without the king's order. Merlin

thereupon took up the gate, with all its appurtenances of locks, bars,

and bolts, and directed his troop to pass through, after which he

replaced it in perfect order. He then set spurs to his horse, and

dashed, at the head of the little troop, into a body of two thousand

Pagans. The disparity of numbers being so enormous, Merlin cast a

spell upon the enemy, so as to prevent their seeing the small number

of their assailants; notwithstanding which the British knights were

hard pressed. But the people of the city, who saw from the walls

this unequal contest, were ashamed of leaving the small body of

strangers to their fate, so they opened the gate and sallied forth.

The numbers were now more nearly equal, and Merlin revoked his

spell, so that the two armies encountered on fair terms. Where Arthur,

Ban, Bohort, and the rest fought, the king's army had the advantage;

but in another part of the field the king himself was surrounded and

carried off by the enemy. This sad sight was seen by Guenever, the

fair daughter of the king, who stood on the city wall and looked at

the battle. She was in dreadful distress, tore her hair, and swooned

away.

  But Merlin, aware of what passed in every part of the field,

suddenly collected his knights, led them out of the battle,

intercepted the passage of the party who were carrying away the

king, charged them with irresistible impetuosity, cut in pieces or

dispersed the whole escort, and rescued the king. In the fight

Arthur encountered Caulang, a giant fifteen feet high, and the fair

Guenever, who already began to feel a strong interest in the

handsome young stranger, trembled for the issue of the contest. But

Arthur, dealing a dreadful blow on the shoulder of the monster, cut

through his neck so that his head hung over on one side, and in this

condition his horse carried him about the field, to the great horror

and dismay of the Pagans. Guenever could not refrain from expressing

aloud her wish that the gentle knight, who dealt with giants so

dexterously, were destined to become her husband, and the wish was

echoed by her attendants. The enemy soon turned their backs, and

fled with precipitation, closely pursued by Laodegan and his allies.

  After the battle Arthur was disarmed and conducted to the bath by

the Princess Guenever, while his friends were attended by the other

ladies of the court. After the bath the knights were conducted to a

magnificent entertainment, at which they were diligently served by the

same fair attendants. Laodegan, more and more anxious to know the name

and quality of his generous deliverers, and occasionally forming a

secret wish that the chief of his guests might be captivated by the

charms of his daughter, appeared silent and pensive, and was

scarcely roused from his reverie by the banter of his courtiers.

Arthur, having had an opportunity of explaining to Guenever his

great esteem for her merit, was in the joy of his heart, and was still

further delighted by hearing from Merlin the late exploits of Gawain

at London, by means of which his immediate return to his dominions was

rendered unnecessary, and he was left at liberty to protract his

stay at the court of Laodegan. Every day contributed to increase the

admiration of the whole court for the gallant strangers, and the

passion of Guenever for their chief; and when at last Merlin announced

to the king that the object of the visit of the party was to procure a

bride for their leader, Laodegan at once presented Guenever to Arthur,

telling him that, whatever might be his rank, his merit was sufficient

to entitle him to the possession of the heiress of Carmalide. Arthur

accepted the lady with the utmost gratitude, and Merlin then proceeded

to satisfy the king of the rank of his son-in-law; upon which

Laodegan, with all his barons, hastened to do homage to their lawful

sovereign, the successor of Uther Pendragon. The fair Guenever was

then solemnly betrothed to Arthur, and a magnificent festival was

proclaimed, which lasted seven days. At the end of that time, the

enemy appearing again with renewed force, it became necessary to

resume military operations.*

 

  * Guenever, the name of Arthur's queen, also written Genievre and

Geneuras, is familiar to all who are conversant with chivalric lore.

It is to her adventures, and those of her true knight, Sir

Launcelot, that Dante alludes in the beautiful episode of Francesca da

Rimini.

 

  We must now relate what took place at or near London while Arthur

was absent from his capital. At this very time a band of young

heroes were on their way to Arthur's court, for the purpose of

receiving knighthood from him. They were Gawain and his three

brothers, nephews of Arthur, sons of King Lot, and Galachin, another

nephew, son of King Nanters. King Lot had been one of the rebel chiefs

whom Arthur had defeated, but he now hoped by means of the young men

to be reconciled to his brother-in-law. He equipped his sons and his

nephew with the utmost magnificence, giving them a splendid retinue of

young men, sons of earls and barons, all mounted on the best horses,

with complete suits of choice armor. They numbered in all seven

hundred, but only nine had yet received the order of knighthood; the

rest were candidates for that honor, and anxious to earn it by an

early encounter with the enemy. Gawain, the leader, was a knight of

wonderful strength; but what was most remarkable about him was that

his strength was greater at certain hours of the day than at others.

From nine o'clock till noon his strength was doubled, and so it was

from three to even-song; for the rest of the time it was less

remarkable, though at all times surpassing that of ordinary men.

  After a march of three days they arrived in the vicinity of

London, where they expected to find Arthur and his court; and very

unexpectedly fell in with a large convoy belonging to the enemy,

consisting of numerous carts and wagons, all loaded with provisions,

and escorted by three thousand men, who had been collecting spoil from

all the country round. A single charge from Gawain's impetuous cavalry

was sufficient to disperse the escort and to recover the convoy, which

was instantly despatched to London. But before long a body of seven

thousand fresh soldiers advanced to the attack of the five princes and

their little army. Gawain, singling out a chief named Choas, of

gigantic size, began the battle by splitting him from the crown of the

head to the breast. Galachin encountered King Sanagran, who was also

very huge, and cut off his head. Agrivain and Gahariet also

performed prodigies of valor. Thus they kept the great army of

assailants at bay, though hard pressed, till of a sudden they

perceived a strong body of the citizens advancing from London, where

the convoy which had been recovered by Gawain had arrived, and

informed the mayor and citizens of the danger of their deliverer.

The arrival of the Londoners soon decided the contest. The enemy

fled in all directions, and Gawain and his friends, escorted by the

grateful citizens, entered London, and were received with

acclamations.

  After the great victory of Mount Badon, by which the Saxons were for

the time effectually put down, Arthur turned his arms against the

Scots and Picts, whom he routed at Lake Lomond, and compelled to sue

for mercy. He then went to York to keep his Christmas, and employed

himself in restoring the Christian churches which the Pagans had

rifled and overthrown. The following summer he conquered Ireland,

and then made a voyage with his fleet to Iceland, which he also

subdued. The kings of Gothland and of the Orkneys came voluntarily and

made their submission, promising to pay tribute. Then he returned to

Britain, where, having established the kingdom, he dwelt twelve

years in peace.

  During this time, he invited over to him all persons whatsoever that

were famous for valor in foreign nations, and augmented the number

of his domestics, and introduced such politeness into his court as

people of the remotest countries thought worthy of their imitation. So

that there was not a nobleman who thought himself of any consideration

unless his clothes and arms were made in the same fashion as those

of Arthur's knights.

  Finding himself so powerful at home, Arthur began to form designs

for extending his power abroad. So, having prepared his fleet, he

first attempted Norway, that he might procure the crown of it for Lot,

his sister's husband. Arthur landed in Norway, fought a great battle

with the king of that country, defeated him, and pursued the victory

till he had reduced the whole country under his dominion, and

established Lot upon the throne. Then Arthur made a voyage to Gaul and

laid siege to the city of Paris. Gaul was at that time a Roman

province, and governed by Flollo, the Tribune. When the siege of Paris

had continued a month, and the people began to suffer from famine,

Flollo challenged Arthur to single combat, proposing to decide the

conquest in that way. Arthur gladly accepted the challenge, and slew

his adversary in the contest, upon which the citizens surrendered

the city to him. After the victory Arthur divided his army into two

parts, one of which he committed to the conduct of Hoel, whom he

ordered to march into Aquitaine, while he with the other part should

endeavor to subdue the other provinces. At the end of nine years, in

which time all the parts of Gaul were entirely reduced, Arthur

returned to Paris, where he kept his court, and calling an assembly of

the clergy and people, established peace and the just administration

of the laws in that kingdom. Then he bestowed Normandy upon Bedver,

his butler, and the province of Andegavia upon Kay, his steward,*

and several others upon his great men that attended him. And, having

settled the peace of the cities and countries, he returned back in the

beginning of spring to Britain.

 

  * This name, in the French romances, is spelled Queux, which means

head cook. This would seem to imply that it was a title, and not a

name; yet the personage who bore it is never mentioned by any other.

He is the chief, if not the only, comic character among the heroes

of Arthur's court. He is the Seneschal or Steward, his duties also

embracing those of chief of the cooks. In the romances his general

character is a compound of valor and buffoonery, always ready to

fight, and generally getting the worst of the battle. He is also

sarcastic and abusive in his remarks, by which he often gets into

trouble. Yet Arthur seems to have an attachment to him, and often

takes his advice, which is generally wrong.

 

  Upon the approach of the feast of Pentecost, Arthur, the better to

demonstrate his joy after such triumphant successes, and for the

more solemn observation of that festival, and reconciling the minds of

the princes that were now subject to him, resolved during that

season to hold a magnificent court, to place the crown upon his

head, and to invite all the kings and dukes under his subjection to

the solemnity. And he pitched upon Caerleon, the City of Legions, as

the proper place for his purpose. For, besides its great wealth

above the other cities,* its situation upon the river Usk, near the

Severn sea, was most pleasant and fit for so great a solemnity. For on

one side it was washed by that noble river, so that the kings and

princes from the countries beyond the seas might have the

convenience of sailing up to it. On the other side the beauty of the

meadows and groves, and magnificence of the royal palaces, with

lofty gilded roofs that adorned it, made it even rival the grandeur of

Rome. It was also famous for two churches, whereof one was adorned

with a choir of virgins, who devoted themselves wholly to the

service of God, and the other maintained a convent of priests.

Besides, there was a college of two hundred philosophers, who, being

learned in astronomy and the other arts, were diligent in observing

the courses of the stars, and gave Arthur true predictions of the

events that would happen. In this place, therefore, which afforded

such delights, were preparations made for the ensuing festival.

 

  * Several cities are allotted to King Arthur by the romance-writers.

The principal are Caerleon, Camelot, and Carlisle.

  Caerleon derives its name from its having been the station of one of

the legions during the dominion of the Romans. It is called by Latin

writers Urbs Legionum, the City of Legions,- the former word being

rendered into Welsh by Caer, meaning city, and the latter contracted

into lleon. The river Usk retains its name in modern geography, and

there is a town or city of Caerleon upon it, though the city of

Cardiff is thought to be the scene of Arthur's court. Chester also

bears the Welsh name of Caerleon; for Chester, derived from castra,

Latin for camp, is the designation of military headquarters.

  Camelot is thought to be Winchester.

  Shalott is Guildford.

  Hamo's Port is Southampton.

  Carlisle is the city still retaining that name, near the Scottish

border. But this name is also sometimes applied to other places, which

were, like itself, military stations.

 

  Ambassadors were then sent into several kingdoms, to invite to court

the princes both of Gaul and of the adjacent islands. Accordingly

there came Augusel, king of Albania, now Scotland, Cadwallo, king of

Venedotia, now North Wales, Sater, king of Demetia, now South Wales;

also the archbishops of the metropolitan sees, London and York, and

Dubricius, bishop of Caerleon, the City of Legions. This prelate,

who was primate of Britain, was so eminent for his piety that he could

cure any sick person by his prayers. There were also the counts of the

principal cities, and many other worthies of no less dignity.

  From the adjacent islands came Guillamurius, king of Ireland,

Gunfasius, king of the Orkneys, Malvasius, king of Iceland, Lot,

king of Norway, Bedver the butler, Duke of Normandy, Kay the sewer,

Duke of Andegavia; also the twelve peers of Gaul, and Hoel, Duke of

the Armorican Britons, with his nobility, who came with such a train

of mules, horses, and rich furniture, as is difficult to describe.

Besides these, there remained no prince of any consideration on this

side of Spain who came not upon this invitation, and no wonder, when

Arthur's munificence, which was celebrated over the whole world,

made him beloved by all people.

  When all were assembled, upon the day of the solemnity, the

archbishops were conducted to the palace in order to place the crown

upon the king's head. Then Dubricius, inasmuch as the court was held

in his diocese, made himself ready to celebrate the office. As soon as

the king was invested with his royal habiliments, he was conducted

in great pomp to the metropolitan church, having four kings, viz.,

of Albania, Cornwall, Demetia, and Venedotia, bearing four golden

swords before him. On another part was the queen, dressed out in her

richest ornaments, conducted by the archbishops and bishops to the

Church of Virgins; the four queens, also, of the kings last mentioned,

bearing before her four white doves, according to ancient custom. When

the whole procession was ended, so transporting was the harmony of the

musical instruments and voices, whereof there was a vast variety in

both churches, that the knights who attended were in doubt which to

prefer, and therefore crowded from one to the other by turns, and were

far from being tired of the solemnity, though the whole day had been

spent in it. At last, when divine service was over at both churches,

the king and queen put off their crowns, and, putting on their lighter

ornaments, went to the banquet. When they had all taken their seats

according to precedence, Kay the sewer, in rich robes of ermine,

with a thousand young noblemen all in like manner clothed in rich

attire, served up the dishes. From another part Bedver the butler

was followed by the same number of attendants, who waited with all

kinds of cups and drinking-vessels. And there was food and drink in

abundance, and everything was of the best kind, and served in the best

manner. For at that time Britain had arrived at such a pitch of

grandeur that in riches, luxury, and politeness it far surpassed all

other kingdoms.

  As soon as the banquets were over they went into the fields

without the city, to divert themselves with various sports, such as

shooting with bows and arrows, tossing the pike, casting of heavy

stones and rocks, playing at dice, and the like, and all these

inoffensively, and without quarrelling. In this manner were three days

spent, and after that they separated, and the kings and noblemen

departed to their several homes.

  After this Arthur reigned five years in peace. Then came ambassadors

from Lucius Tiberius, Procurator under Leo, Emperor of Rome, demanding

tribute. But Arthur refused to pay tribute, and prepared for war. As

soon as the necessary dispositions were made, he committed the

government of his kingdom to his nephew Modred and to Queen

Guenever, and marched with his army to Hamo's Port, where the wind

stood fair for him. The army crossed over in safety, and landed at the

mouth of the river Barba. And there they pitched their tents to wait

the arrival of the kings of the islands.

  As soon as all the forces were arrived, Arthur marched forward to

Augustodunum, and encamped on the banks of the river Alba. Here

repeated battles were fought, in all which the Britons, under their

valiant leaders, Hoel, Duke of Armorica, and Gawain, nephew to Arthur,

had the advantage. At length Lucius Tiberius determined to retreat,

and wait for the Emperor Leo to join him with fresh troops. But

Arthur, anticipating this event, took possession of a certain

valley, and closed up the way of retreat to Lucius, compelling him

to fight a decisive battle, in which Arthur lost some of the bravest

of his knights and most faithful followers. But on the other hand

Lucius Tiberius was slain, and his army totally defeated. The

fugitives dispersed over the country, some to the by-ways and woods,

some to the cities and towns, and all other places where they could

hope for safety.

  Arthur stayed in those parts till the next winter was over, and

employed his time in restoring order and settling the government. He

then returned into England, and celebrated his victories with great

splendor.

  Then the king established all his knights, and to them that were not

rich he gave lands, and charged them all never to do outrage nor

murder, and always to flee treason; also, by no means to be cruel, but

to give mercy unto him that asked mercy, upon pain of forfeiture of

their worship and lordship; and always to do ladies, damosels, and

gentlewomen service, upon pain of death. Also that no man take

battle in a wrongful quarrel, for no law, nor for any world's goods.

Unto this were all the knights sworn of the Table Round, both old

and young. And at every year were they sworn at the high feast of

Pentecost.

 

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

 

  While the army was encamped in Brittany, awaiting the arrival of the

kings, there came a countryman to Arthur, and told him that a giant,

whose cave was in a neighboring mountain, called St. Michael's

Mount, had for a long time been accustomed to carry off the children

of the peasants, to devour them. "And now he hath taken the Duchess of

Brittany, as she rode with her attendants, and hath carried her away

in spite of all they could do." "Now, fellow," said King Arthur,

"canst thou bring me there where this giant haunteth?" "Yea, sure,"

said the good man; "lo, yonder where thou seest two great fires, there

shalt thou find him, and more treasure than I suppose is in all France

beside." Then the king called to him Sir Bedver and Sir Kay, and

commanded them to make ready horse and harness for himself and them;

for after evening he would ride on pilgrimage to St. Michael's Mount.

  So they three departed, and rode forth till they came to the foot of

the mount. And there the king commanded them to tarry, for he would

himself go up into that mount. So he ascended the hill till he came to

a great fire, and there he found an aged woman sitting by a new-made

grave, making great sorrow. Then King Arthur saluted her, and demanded

of her wherefore she made such lamentation; to whom she answered: "Sir

Knight, speak low, for yonder is a devil, and if he hear thee speak he

will come and destroy thee. For ye cannot make resistance to him, he

is so fierce and so strong. He hath murdered the Duchess, which here

lieth, who was the fairest of all the world, wife to Sir Hoel, Duke of

Brittany." "Dame," said the king, "I come from the noble conqueror,

King Arthur, to treat with that tyrant." "Fie on such treaties,"

said she; "he setteth not by the king, nor by no man else." "Well,"

said Arthur, "I will accomplish my message for all your fearful

words." So he went forth by the crest of the hill, and saw where the

giant sat at supper, gnawing on the limb of a man, and baking his

broad limbs at the fire, and three fair damsels lying bound, whose lot

it was to be devoured in their turn. When King Arthur beheld that he

had great compassion on them, so that his heart bled for sorrow.

Then he hailed the giant, saying, "He that all the world ruleth give

thee short life and shameful death. Why hast thou murdered this

Duchess? Therefore come forth, thou caitiff, for this day thou shalt

die by my hand." Then the giant started up, and took a great club, and

smote at the king, and smote off his coronal; and then the king struck

him in the belly with his sword, and made a fearful wound. Then the

giant threw away his club, and caught the king in his arms, so that he

crushed his ribs. Then the three maidens kneeled down and prayed for

help and comfort for Arthur. And Arthur weltered and wrenched, so that

he was one while under, and another time above. And so weltering and

wallowing they rolled down the hill, and ever as they weltered

Arthur smote him with his dagger; and it fortuned they came to the

place where the two knights were. And when they saw the king fast in

the giant's arms they came and loosed him. Then the king commanded Sir

Kay to smite off the giant's head, and to set it on the truncheon of a

spear, and fix it on the barbican, that all the people might see and

behold it. This was done, and anon it was known through all the

country, wherefor the people came and thanked the king. And he said,

"Give your thanks to God; and take ye the giant's spoil and divide

it among you." And King Arthur caused a church to be builded on that

hill, in honor of St. Michael.

 

    KING ARTHUR GETS A SWORD FROM THE LADY OF THE LAKE.

 

  One day King Arthur rode forth, and on a sudden he was ware of three

churls chasing Merlin to have slain him. And the king rode unto them

and bade them, "Flee, churls!" Then were they afraid when they saw a

knight, and fled. "O Merlin," said Arthur, "here hadst thou been

slain, for all thy crafts, had I not been by." "Nay," said Merlin,

"not so, for I could save myself if I would; but thou art more near

thy death than I am." So, as they went thus walking, King Arthur

perceived where sat a knight on horseback, as if to guard the pass.

"Sir knight," said Arthur, "for what cause abidest thou here?" Then

the knight said, "There may no knight ride this way unless he joust

with me, for such is the custom of the pass." "I will amend that

custom," said the king. Then they ran together, and they met so hard

that their spears were shivered. Then they drew their swords and

fought a strong battle, with many great strokes. But at length the

sword of the knight smote King Arthur's sword in two pieces. Then said

the knight unto Arthur, "Thou art in my power, whether to save thee or

slay thee, and unless thou yield thee as overcome and recreant thou

shalt die." "As for death," said King Arthur, "welcome be it when it

cometh; but to yield me unto thee as recreant I will not." Then he

leapt upon the knight, and took him by the middle and threw him

down; but the knight was a passing strong man, and anon he brought

Arthur under him, and would have razed off his helm to slay him.

Then said Merlin, "Knight, hold thy hand, for this knight is a man

of more worship than thou art aware of." "Why, who is he?" said the

knight. "It is King Arthur." Then would he have slain him for dread of

his wrath, and lifted up his sword to slay him; and therewith Merlin

cast an enchantment on the knight, so that he fell to the earth in a

great sleep. Then Merlin took up King Arthur and set him on his horse.

"Alas!" said Arthur, "what hast thou done, Merlin? hast thou slain

this good knight by thy crafts?" "Care ye not," said Merlin; "he is

wholer than ye be. He is only asleep, and will wake in three hours."

  Right so the king and he departed, and went unto an hermit that

was a good man and a great leech. So the hermit searched all his

wounds and gave him good salves; so the king was there three days, and

then were his wounds well amended that he might ride and go, and so

departed. And as they rode Arthur said, "I have no sword." "No force,"

said Merlin; "hereby is a sword that shall be yours." So they rode

till they came to a lake, the which was a fair water and broad, and in

the midst of the lake Arthur was ware of an arm clothed in white

samite, that held a fair sword in that hand. "So," said Merlin,

"yonder is that sword that I spake of." With that they saw a damsel

going upon the lake. "What damsel is that?" said Arthur. "That is

the Lady of the Lake," said Merlin; "and within that lake is a rock,

and therein is as fair a place as any on earth, and richly beseen, and

this damsel will come to you anon, and then speak ye fair to her and

she will give thee that sword." Anon withal came the damsel unto

Arthur and saluted him, and he her again. "Damsel," said Arthur, "what

sword is that that yonder the arm holdeth above the waves? I would

it were mine, for I have no sword." "Sir Arthur king," said the

damsel, "that sword is mine, and if ye will give me a gift when I

ask it you ye shall have it." "By my faith," said Arthur, "I will give

ye what gift ye shall ask." "Well," said the damsel, "go you into

yonder barge and row yourself to the sword, and take it and the

scabbard with you, and I will ask my gift when I see my time." So

Arthur and Merlin alighted, and tied their horses to two trees, and so

they went into the ship, and when they came to the sword that the hand

held, Arthur took it by the handles, and took it with him. And the arm

and the hand went under the water.

  Then they returned unto the land and rode forth. And Sir Arthur

looked on the sword and liked it right well.

  So they rode unto Caerleon, whereof his knights were passing glad.

And when they heard of his adventures they marvelled that he jeopard

his person so alone. But all men of worship said it was a fine thing

to be under such a chieftain as would put his person in adventure as

other poor knights did.

 

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