United States or Brunei ? Vote for the TOP Country of the Week !
You heard the blame that Graelent set upon me before all my Court. You know the deep dishonour that he fastened on the Queen. How may such a disloyal vassal deal honestly with his lord, for as the proverb tells, 'Hope not for friendship from the man who beats your dog!" The lords of the King's household went out from before him, and gathered themselves together to consider their judgment.
Now do with me according to your will." "Sir Graelent," said the King, "very foully have you spoken. You have slandered the Queen, and given all my lords the lie. When you go from my hands never will you do more mischief with your tongue." Then the King spoke with a high voice to his barons. "Lords, I pray and command you to give judgment in this matter.
She came at slow pace before the King, and dismounting from the palfrey, spoke very courteously in this fashion. "Sire," said she, "hearken to me, and you, lord barons, give heed to my pleading. You know the words Graelent spake to the King, in the ears of men, when the Queen made herself a show before the lords, saying that often had he seen a fairer lady.
Now without the town there spread a great forest, thick with trees, and through the forest ran a river. Towards this forest Graelent rode, deep in heavy thought, and very dolent. Having ridden for a little space beneath the trees, he spied within a leafy thicket a fair white hart, whiter even than snow on winter branches.
Right heavy was the King when he heard these words. He conjured Graelent to tell him straightly if he knew a daintier dame. "Yes, Sire, and thirty times more gracious than the Queen." The Queen was marvellously wrathful to hear this thing, and prayed her husband of his grace to compel the knight to bring that woman to the Court of whose beauty he made so proud a boast.
"Lord barons, how seems it to you? Beneath the sky is there a lovelier Queen than mine, be she maid, lady or demoiselle?" So all the lords made haste to praise the Queen, and to cry and affirm that in all the world was neither maid nor wife so dainty, fresh and fair. Not a single voice but bragged of her beauty, save only that of Graelent.
Graelent took no heed to her words, but forced his horse to enter the river, so that speedily the waters closed above his head. Then the lady seized his bridle, and with extreme toil brought horse and rider back again to land. "Graelent," said she, "you may not pass this river, however mightily you pain yourself, therefore must you remain alone on this bank."
That evening, when the boards were cleared, a singer out of Wales, a master, came forward among the barons in Hall and sang a harpers song, and as this harper touched the strings of his harp, Tristan who sat at the Kings feet, spoke thus to him: Oh master, that is the first of songs! The Bretons of old wove it once to chant the loves of Graëlent.
So the King bade his guards to lay hands on Graelent, swearing that between them never should be love nor peace, nor should the knight issue forth from prison, until he had brought before him her whose beauty he had praised so much. Graelent was held a captive. He repented him of his hasty words, and begged the King to grant him respite.
The hart fled before him, and Graelent followed so closely in her track that man and deer presently came together to a grassy lawn, in the midst of which sprang a fountain of clear, sweet water. Now in this fountain a demoiselle disported herself for her delight. Her raiment was set on a bush near by, and her two maidens stood on the bank busied in their lady's service.
Word Of The Day