The Story of King Arthur and his Knights
terraces of lawns, and smooth slopes of grass lying all about the
borders of the island, and overlooking the sea from tall white walls of
pure marble. And in the midst of these gardens and orchards and
plantations and lawns and terraces, were a multitude of castles and
towers built up the one above the other--some as white as snow and
others very gay with many colors.
And the greatest marvel of that wonderful island was this: that in the
midst of all those castles and towers was a single tower built entirely
of loadstone. And in that lay the great mystery of that place.
For the island floated upon the surface of the water, and that tower of
loadstone possessed such a potency that Avalon would float from place to
place according to the will of Queen Morgana le Fay, so that sometimes
it would be here, and sometimes it would be there, as that royal lady
willed it to be.
Nor was there a very many people who had seen that island, for
somewhiles it would be all covered over with a mist of enchantment like
to silver, so that no eyes could behold it unless they were fay. But
sometimes it had been seen, as it were a vision of Paradise. What time
he who beheld it would hear gay voices sounding from its lawns and
plantations--very thin and clear because of the great distance (for no
one ever came nigh to Avalon unless by authority of Queen Morgana le
Fay), and he would hear music of so sweet a sort that it was likely that
his soul would grow all faint because of the music. Then Avalon would
suddenly disappear very marvellously, and he who had seen it would be
aware that it was not likely that he would ever see it again.
Such was the island of Avalon, and if you would read of it more
particularly you shall find much about it in a certain book written in
French and called “Ogier le Danois.”
Queen Morgana le Fay loved this island a very great deal, and it is said
by many that King Arthur is yet alive in that place, lying there very
peacefully and tranquilly whiles he awaits that certain time when he
shall return unto the world to make right all that is wrong therein. So
it is I have told you of it with these particulars at this place.
PART I
The Story of Merlin
_Here followeth a particular account of the enchantment of Merlin by a
certain damsel, hight Vivien, and of all the circumstances thereunto
appertaining.
Likewise it is to be narrated how King Arthur was betrayed by his own
sister, and of how he would certainly have been slain only for the help
of that same enchantress Vivien who was the cause of Merlin’s undoing.
Also it shall be told how the sheath of Excalibur was lost at that
time._
[Illustration] Chapter First.
_How Queen Morgana le Fay Meditated Evil Against King Arthur and How She
Sent a Damsel to Beguile the Enchanter, Merlin._
Now Morgana le Fay was a very cunning enchantress, and was so much
mistress of magic that she could, by means of potent spells, work her
will upon all things, whether quick or dead. For Merlin himself had been
her master in times past, and had taught her his arts whilst she was
still a young damsel at the Court of Uther-Pendragon. So it was that,
next to Merlin, she was, at that time, the most potent enchanter in all
the world. Nevertheless she lacked Merlin’s foreknowledge of things to
happen and his gift of prophecy thereupon, for these things he could not
impart unto anyone, wherefore she had not learned them of him.
[Sidenote: _Queen Morgana contemplates evil against King Arthur._]
Now, after Queen Morgana le Fay had come to the Island of Avalon as
aforetold, she brooded a great deal over that affront which she deemed
King Arthur had placed upon her house; and the more she brooded upon it
the more big did it become in her mind. Wherefore, at last, it seemed to
her that she could have no pleasure in life unless she could punish King
Arthur for that which he had done. Yea; she would have been glad to see
him dead at her feet because of the anger that she felt against him.
But Queen Morgana was very well aware that she could never do the King,
her brother, an injury so long as Merlin was there to safeguard him, for
Merlin would certainly foresee any danger that might threaten the King,
and would counteract it, wherefore she was aware that if she would
destroy the King, she must first destroy Merlin.
Now, there was at the Court of Queen Morgana le Fay, a certain damsel of
such marvellous and bewitching beauty that her like was hardly to be
seen in all of the world. This damsel was fifteen years old and of royal
blood, being the daughter of the King of Northumberland; and her name
was Vivien. This damsel, Vivien, was both wise and cunning beyond all
measure for one so young. Moreover, she was without any heart, being
cold and cruel to all who were contrary-minded to her wishes. So,
because she was so cunning and wise, Queen Morgana liked her and taught
her many things of magic and sorcery which she knew. But,
notwithstanding all that Queen Morgana did for her, this maiden did not
feel any love for her mistress, being altogether devoid of heart.
[Sidenote: _Queen Morgana talketh with the Damsel Vivien._]
One day this damsel and Queen Morgana le Fay sat together in a garden of
that magic island of Avalon, and the garden was upon a very high terrace
and overlooked the sea. And the day was very fair and the sea so
wonderfully blue that it appeared to be as though the blue sky had
melted into water and the water into the sky. As Vivien and the Queen
sat in this beautiful place, the Queen said to the damsel, “Vivien, what
wouldst thou rather have than anything else in all the world?” To which
Vivien replied, “Lady, I would rather have such wisdom as thou hast,
than anything else.”
Then Queen Morgana laughed and said, “It is possible for thee to be as
wise as I am, and wiser too, if so be thou wilt do according to my
ordination. For I know a way in which thou mayst obtain wisdom.”
“How may I obtain that wisdom, Lady?” said Vivien.
Then Queen Morgana le Fay said, “Hearken and I will tell thee. Thou must
know that Merlin, whom thou hast several times seen at the Court of King
Arthur, is the master of all the wisdom that it is possible for anyone
to possess in this world. All that I know of magic Merlin hath taught
me, and he knoweth many things that he did not teach me, but which he
withheld from me. For Merlin taught me, when I was a young damsel at the
Court of my mother’s husband, because I was beautiful in his eyes. For
Merlin loveth beauty above all things else in the world, and so he
taught me many things of magic and was very patient with me.
“But Merlin hath a gift which belongeth to him and which he cannot
communicate to anyone else, for it is instinct with him. That gift is
the gift of foreseeing into the future and the power of prophesying
thereupon.
“Yet though he may foresee the fate of others, still he is blind to his
own fate. For so he confessed to me several times: that he could not
tell what was to happen in his own life when that happening concerned
himself alone.
“Now thou, Vivien, art far more beautiful than I was at thine age.
Wherefore I believe that thou wilt easily attract the regard of Merlin
unto thee. And if I give thee, besides, a certain charm which I possess,
I may cause it to be that Merlin may love thee so much that he will
impart to thee a great deal more of his wisdom than ever he taught me
when I was his disciple.
“But thou art to know, Vivien, that in winning this gift of knowledge
from Merlin thou wilt put thyself in great peril. For, by and by, when
the charm of thy beauty shall have waned with him, then he may easily
regret what he hath done in imparting his wisdom to thee; in the which
case there will be great danger that he may lay some spell upon thee to
deprive thee of thy powers; for it would be impossible that both thou
and he could live in the same world and each of ye know so much cunning
of magic.”
Now unto all this Vivien listened with a great deal of attention, and
when Queen Morgana had ended the damsel said, “Dear Lady, all that thou
tellest me is very wonderful, and I find myself possessed with a
vehement desire to attain such knowledge in magic as that. Wherefore, if
thou wilt help me in this matter so that I may beguile his wisdom from
Merlin, thou wilt make of me a debtor unto thee for as long as I may
live. And touching the matter of any danger that may fall to me in this
affair, I am altogether willing to assume that; for I have a great hope
that I may be able so to protect myself from Merlin that no harm shall
befall me. For when I have drawn all the knowledge that I am able to
obtain from him, then I will use that same knowledge to cast such a
spell upon him that he shall never be able to harm me or anyone else
again. In this I shall play my wit against his wisdom and my beauty
against his cunning, and I believe that I shall win at that game.”
Then Queen Morgana fell a-laughing beyond all measure, and when she had
stinted her laughter, she cried, “Hey, Vivien! certes thou art cunning
beyond anything that I ever heard tell of, and I believe that thou art
as wicked as thou art cunning. For whoever heard of a child of fifteen
years old who would speak such words as thou hast just now spoken; or
whoever could suppose that so young a girl could conceive the thought of
compassing the downfall of the wisest magician who hath ever lived.”
[Sidenote: _Queen Morgana giveth Vivien two enchanted rings._]
Then Queen Morgana le Fay set to her lips a small whistle of ivory and
gold and blew very shrilly upon it, and in reply there came running a
young page of her Court. Queen Morgana commanded him to bring to her a
certain casket of alabaster, cunningly carved and adorned with gold and
set with several precious stones. And Queen Morgana opened the box and
took from within it two rings of pure yellow gold, beautifully wrought
and set, the one ring with a clear white stone of extraordinary
brilliancy, and the other with a stone as red as blood. Then Queen
Morgana said, “Vivien, behold these two rings! They possess each a spell
of wonderful potency. For if thou wearest that ring with the white
stone, whoever weareth the ring with the red stone shall love thee with
such a passion of love that thou mayst do with him whatever thou hast a
will to do. So take these rings and go to King Arthur’s Court and use
them as thy cunning may devise.”
So Vivien took the two rings and gave Queen Morgana le Fay thanks beyond
all measure for them.
* * * * *
[Sidenote: _Vivien appears before King Arthur at the Feast of
Pentecost._]
Now King Arthur took much pleasure in holding a great feast each
Pentecost, at which time his Court was gathered about him with much
mirth and rejoicing. At such times it delighted him to have some
excellent entertainment for to amuse himself and his Court, wherefore it
befell that nearly always something happened that gave much
entertainment to the King. So came the Feast of Pentecost, and King
Arthur sat at the table with a great many noble and lordly folk and
several kings and queens. Now as they all sat at that feast, their
spirits greatly expanded with mirth and good cheer, there suddenly came
into the hall a very beautiful young damsel, and with her a dwarf,
wonderfully misshapen and of a very hideous countenance. And the maiden
was dressed all in flame-colored satin, very rich, and with beautiful
embroidery of gold and embroidery of silver. And her hair, which was red
like gold, was coiled into a net of gold. And her eyes were black as
coals and extraordinarily bright and glistening. And she had about her