Howard Pyle's King
Arthur and his Knights

Chapter First. How King Arthur Went to Tintagalon with Four of His Court, and How He
Disguised Himself for a Certain Purpose.
Now, upon a certain day King Arthur
proclaimed a high feast, which was held at Carleon
upon Usk. Many noble guests were bidden, and an exceedingly splendid Court gathered at the
King's castle. For at that feast there sat seven kings and five queens in royal state, and
there were high lords and beautiful ladies of degree, to the number of three score and
seven; and there were a multitude of those famous knights of the King's Court who were
reckoned the most renowned in arms in all of Christendom. And of all this great gathering
of kings, lords, and knights, not one man looked askance at his neighbor, but all were
united in good fellowship. Wherefore, when the young King looked about him and beheld such
peace and amity among all these noble lords where, aforetime, had been discord and
ill-regard: "Certes," quoth he to himself, " it is wonderful how this reign
of mine hath knit men together in kindness and good fellowship!" And because of such
thoughts as these, his spirit took wings like unto a bird and sang within him.
Now while the King sat thus at feast, lo! there came an herald-messenger from the
west-country. And the herald came and stood before the King, and said: "Greeting to
thee, King Arthur!"
Then the King said: "Speak, and tell me, what is thy message?"
To which the herald made reply: "I come from King Leodegrance of Cameliard, who is
in sore trouble. For thus it is: His enemy and thine enemy, King Ryence of North Wales (he
who at one time in contempt of thee commanded thee to send him thy beard for to trim his
mantle), doth make sundry demands of my master, King Leodegrance, which demands King
Leodegrance is altogether loath to fulfil. And King Ryence of North Wales threateneth to
bring war into Cameliard because King Leodegrance doth not immediately fulfil those
demands. Now King Leodegrance hath no such array of knights and armed men as he one time
had gathered about him for to defend his kingdom against assault. For, since thou in thy
majesty hath brought peace to this realm and hath reduced the power of all those kings
under thee, those knights who once made the Court of King Leodegrance so famous have gone
elsewhither for to seek better opportunities for their great valor and prowess at arms
than his peaceful Court may afford. Wherefore my master, King Leodegrance, doth beseech
aid of thee, who art his King and Overlord."
To these things that the herald-messenger said, King Arthur, and all that Court that
feasted with him, listened in entire silence. And the King's countenance, which erstwhiles
had been expanded with cheerfulness, became overcast and dark with anger. "Ha!"
he cried, "this is, verily, no good news that thou hast brought hither to our feast.
Now I will give what aid I am able to thy master, King Leodegrance, in this extremity, and
that right speedily. But tell me, sir herald, what things are they that King Ryence
demandeth of thy master?"
"That I will tell you, Lord," quoth the herald-messenger. "Firstly, King
Ryence maketh demand upon my master of a great part of those lands of Cameliard that march
upon the borders of North Wales. Secondly, he maketh demand that the Lady Guinevere, the
King's daughter, be delivered in marriage unto Duke Mordaunt of North Umber, who is of kin
unto King Ryence, and that Duke, though a mighty warrior, is so evil of appearance, and so
violent of temper, that I believe that there is not his like for ugliness or for madness
of humor in all of the world."
Now when King Arthur heard this that the messenger said he was immediately seized with
an extraordinary passion of anger. For his eyes appeared, an it were, to shoot forth
sparks of pure light, his King Arthur face flamed like fire, and he ground his teeth
together like the stones of a quern. Then he immediately rose from the chair where he sat
and went forth from that place, and all those who beheld his anger shuddered thereat and
turned their eyes away from his countenance.
Then King Arthur went into an inner room of the castle by himself, and there he walked
up and down for a great while, and in that time no one of his household dared to come nigh
to him. And the reason of the King's wrath was this: that ever since he had lain wounded
and sick nigh unto death in the forest, he bare in mind how the Lady Guinevere had
suddenly appeared before him like some tall, straight, shining angel who had descended
unto him out of Paradise - all full of pity, and exceedingly beautiful. Wherefore, at
thought of that wicked, mad Duke Mordaunt of North Umber making demand unto marriage with
her, he was seized with a rage so violent that it shook his spirit like a mighty wind.
So, for a long while, he walked up and down in his wrath as aforesaid, and no one durst
come nigh unto him, but all stood afar off, watching him from a distance.
Then, after a while, he gave command that Merlin, and Sir Ulfius, and Sir Kay should
come to him at that place where he was. And when they had come thither he talked to them
for a considerable time, bidding Merlin for to make ready to go upon a journey with him,
and bidding Sir Ulfius and Sir Kay for to gather together a large army of chosen knights
and armed men, and to bring that army straightway into those parts coadjacent to the royal
castle of Tintagalon, which same standeth close to the borders of North Wales and of
Cameliard.
So Sir Ulfius and Sir Kay went about to do as King Arthur commanded, and Merlin also
went about to do as he commanded; and the next day King Arthur and Merlin, together with
certain famous knights of the King's Court who were the most approved at arms of all those
about him - to wit, Sir Gawaine, and Sir Ewaine (who were nephews unto the King), and Sir
Pellias and Sir Geraint, the son of Erbin - set forth for Tintagalon across the
forest-land of Usk.
So they travelled for all that day and a part of the next, and that without adventure
or misadventure of any sort. So they came, at last, to that large and noble castle, hight
Tintagalon, which guards the country bordering upon Cameliard and North Wales. Here King
Arthur was received with great rejoicing; for whither-soever the King went the people
loved him very dearly. Wherefore the folk of Tintagalon were very glad when he came unto
them.
Now the morning after King Arthur had come unto Tintagalon (the summer night having
been very warm), he and Merlin were glad to arise betimes to go abroad for to enjoy the
dewy freshness of the early day time. So, in the cool of the day, they walked together in
the garden (which was a very pleasant place), and beneath the shadow of a tall, straight
tower. And all around about were many trees with a good shade, where the little birds sang
sweetly in the cheerfulness of the summer weather.
And here King Arthur opened his mind very freely to Merlin, and he said: "Merlin,
I do believe that the Lady Guinevere is the fairest lady in all of the world; wherefore my
heart seems ever to be entirely filled with love for her, and that to such a degree that I
think of her continually by day (whether I be eating, or drinking, or walking, or sitting
still, or going about my business), and likewise I dream of her many times at night. And
this has been the case with me, Merlin, ever since a month ago, when I lay sick in that
hermit's cell in the forest, what time she came and stood beside me like a shining angel
out of Paradise. So I am not willing that any other man than I should have her for his
wife.
"Now I know very well that thou art wonderfully cunning in those arts of magic
that may change a man in his appearance so that even those who know him best may not
recognize him. Wherefore I very greatly desire it of thee that thou wilt so disguise me
that I may go, unknown of any man, into Cameliard, and that I may dwell there in such a
way that I may see the Lady Guinevere every day. For I tell thee very truly that I greatly
desire to behold her in such a wise that she may not be in any way witting of my regard.
Likewise I would fain see for myself how great may be the perils that encompass King
Leodegrance - the King being my right good friend."
"My Lord King," said Merlin, "it shall be as thou desirest, and this
morning I will cause thee to be so disguised that no one in all the world shall be able to
know thee who thou art."
So that morning, a little before the prime Merlin came unto the King where he was and
gave him a little cap. And the cap was of such a sort that when the King set it upon his
head he assumed, upon the instant, the appearance of a rude and rustic fellow from the
country-side. Then the King commanded that a jerkin of rough frieze should be brought to
him, and with this he covered his royal and knightly vestments, and with it he hid that
golden collar and its jewel, pendent, which he continually wore about his neck. Then,
setting the cup upon his head, he assumed at once the guise of that peasant hind.
Whereupon, being thus entirely disguised, he quitted Tintagalon unknown of any man, and
took his way a-foot unto the town of Cameliard.
Now toward the slanting of the day he drew nigh to that place, and lo! he beheld before
him a large and considerable town of many comely houses with red walls and shining
windows. And the houses of the town sat all upon a high, steep hill, the one overlooking
the other, and the town itself was encompassed around about by a great wall, high and
strong. And a great castle guarded the town, and the castle had very many towers and
roofs. And all round about the tower were many fair gardens and lawns and meadows, and
several orchards and groves of trees with thick and pleasing shade. Now at that time of
the day the sky behind the tower was all, as it were, an entire flame of fire, so that the
towers and the battlements of the castle and the roofs and the chimneys thereof stood
altogether black against the brightness of the light. And, behold! great flocks of pigeons
encircled the towers of the castle in a continual flight against that fiery sky. So,
because King Arthur was a-weary with walking for all that day, it appeared to him that he
had hardly ever beheld in all of his life so fair and pleasing a place as that excellent
castle with its gardens and lawns and groves of trees.
Thus came King Arthur unto the castle of Cameliard, in the guise of a poor peasant from
the country-side, and no man in all of the world knew him who he was.
So, having reached the castle, he made inquiries for the head gardener thereof; and
when he had speech with the gardener he besought him that he might be taken into service
into that part of the garden that appertained to the dwelling-place of the Lady Guinevere.
Then the gardener looked upon him and saw that he was tall and strong and well framed,
wherefore he liked him very well and took him into service even as he desired.
And thus it was that King Arthur of Britain became a gardener's boy at Cameliard.
Now the King was very glad to be in that garden; for in this pleasant summer season the
Lady Guinevere came every day to walk with her damsels among the flowers, and King Arthur,
all disguised as a peasant gardener boy, beheld her very many times when she came thither.
So King Arthur abode at that place for above a week, and he took no care that in all
that time he enjoyed none of his kingly estate, but was only gardener's boy in the castle
garden of Cameliard.
Now it happened upon a day when the weather was ver warm, that one of the damsels who
was in attendance upon the Lady Guinevere, arose all in the early morning whiles the air
was still cool and refreshing. So, leaving the Lady Guinevere still sleeping, this damsel,
whose name was Mellicene of the White Hand, went into the ante-room and, opening the
casement thereof, looked forth into that garden of roses which adjoined the Lady
Guinevere's bower.
Now there was at that place a carven marble figure of a youth, holding in his arms a
marble ewer, and a fountain of water, as clear as crystal, flowed out from the ewer into a
basin of marble. And the figure, and the fountain, and the marble basin into which the
fountain flowed lay beneath the shadow of a linden-tree. And all around was a thick growth
of roses so that the place was entirely hidden, saving only from those windows of the
castle that were above.
So it befell that as the damsel looked down thitherward out of the window, she beheld a
very wonderful sight. For, lo! a strange knight kneeled beside the fountain and bathed his
face and his bosom in the crystal water thereof. And the damsel saw that the sunlight fell
down through the leaves of the linden-tree and lay upon that strange knight. And she
perceived that his hair and his beard were of the color of red gold-shining surpassingly
in the brightness of the morning. And she beheld that his brow and his throat and his
bosom were white like alabaster. And she beheld that around his neck and shoulders there
hung a golden collar of marvellous beauty, so that when the sunlight shone upon it it
flashed like pure lightning.
So, beholding this strange appearance - as it were a vision - the damsel Mellicine
stood for a long while, all entranced with wonder and with pleasure, and wist not whether
that which she saw was a dream or no dream, nor whether he who sat there was a spirit, or
whether he was a man of flesh and blood.
Then, by and by, recovering somewhat from her astonishment, she withdrew herself softly
from the casement, and, turning about, ran fleetly down the turret stairs, and so came out
thence into that fair and blooming garden at the foot of the tower. So she ran through the
garden with all speed and silence, and thus came down an alley-way and to the marble
fountain and the linden-trees and the rose-trees around about where she had anon beheld
that strange knight bathing himself in the crystal waters.
But King Arthur had heard the coming of that damsel, and had speedily set the cap upon
his head again. So that when the damsel Mellicene came thither, she found no one by the
fountain but the gardener's boy. Of him she demanded: "Who art thou, fellow? And why
sittest thou here by the fountain?"
And unto her he replied: "I am the gardener's lad who came a short time ago to
take service at this place."
"Then tell me, fellow," quoth she, "and tell me truly. Who was that
young knight who was here beside the fountain but now, and whither hath he gone?"
"Lady, whereunto," he said, "there has been no one at this fountain this
day, but only I."
"Nay, fellow," she cried, "thou art deceiving me, for I do assure thee
that with mine own eyes I beheld but now, where a strange young knight sat bathing himself
in the waters of this fountain." And the gardener's boy said, "Lady, that which
I have told you is the very truth, for indeed there hath no one been here this morn but
only I. Wherefore, an thou deemest thou hast seen anyone else, thou art certainly
mistaken."
At this the damsel set her look upon him, in great perplexity. Likewise, she marvelled
very greatly, for she could not altogether disbelieve him. Nor yet could she entirely
believe him either, because her eyes had beheld that which she had beheld, and she wotted
that she had not been mistaken. Therefore she knew not what to think, and, because of her
perplexity, she felt a very great displeasure at that gardener's boy. "Truly,
wherefore," she said, "if thou art deceiving me, I shall certainly cause thee to
suffer a great deal of pain, for I shall have thee whipped with cords." Thereupon she
turned and went away from that place, much marvelling at that strange thing, and wondering
what it all signified.
That morning she told unto the Lady Guinevere all that she had seen, but the Lady
Guinevere only laughed at her and mocked her, telling her that she had been asleep and
dreaming, when she beheld that vision. And, indeed, the damsel herself had begun to think
this must be the case. Nevertheless, she thereafter looked out every morning from her
casement window, albeit she beheld nothing for a great while, for King Arthur came not
soon to that place again.
So, by and by, there befell another certain morning when she looked out of the casement
and, lo! there sat that strange knight by the fountain once more as he had aforetime sat.
And he bathed his face and his bosom in the water as he had aforetime done. And he
appeared as comely and as noble as he had appeared before; and his hair and his young
beard shone like gold as they had shone before in the sun. And this time she beheld that
his collar of gold lay upon the brink of the fountain beside him, and it sparkled with
great splendor in the sunlight the whiles he bathed his bosom. Then, after that damsel had
regarded him for a considerable time, she ran with all speed to the chamber where the Lady
Guinevere still lay and she cried in a loud voice, "Lady! lady! arouse thee and come
with me! For, lo! that same young knight whom I beheld before, is even now bathing himself
at the fountain under the linden-tree."
Then the Lady Guinevere, greatly marvelling, aroused herself right quickly, and,
dighting herself with all speed, went with the damsel unto that casement window which
looked out into that part of the garden.
And there she herself beheld the young knight where he laved himself at the fountain.
And she saw that his hair and his beard shone like gold in the sunlight; and she saw that
his undervestment was of purple linen threaded with gold; and she saw that beside him lay
that cunningly wrought collar of gold inset with many jewels of various colors, and the
collar shone with great splendor where it lay upon the marble verge of the fountain.
Somewhiles she gazed, exceedingly astonished; then she commanded the damsel Mellicene
for to come with her, and therewith she turned and decended the turret stairs, and went
quickly out into the garden, as her damsel had done aforetime. Then, as that damsel had
done, she straightway hastened with all speed down the alley-way toward the fountain.
But, behold! when she had come there, she found no young knight, but only the gardener
boy, exactly as had happened with the damsel Mellicene aforetime. For King Arthur had
heard her coming, and had immediately put that enchanted cap upon his head. Then the Lady
Guinevere marvelled very greatly to find there only the gardener's boy, and she wist not
what to think of so strange a thing. Wherefore she demanded of him, even as Mellicene had
done, whither had gone the young knight whom she had beheld anon there at the fountain.
And unto her the gardener lad made answer as aforetime: "Lady! there hath been no one
at this place at any time this morning, but only I."
Now when King Arthur had donned his cap at the coming of the Lady, he had, in his great
haste, forgotten his golden collar, and this Guinevere beheld where it lay shining very
brightly, beside the margin of the fountain. "How now!" quoth she. "Wouldst
thou dare to make a mock of me? Now tell me, thou fellow, do gardeners' boys in the land
whence thou didst come wear golden collars about their necks like unto that collar that
lieth yonder beside the fountain? Now, an I had thee well whipped, it would be thy
rightful due. But take thou that bauble yonder and give it unto him to whom it doth
rightfully belong, and tell him from me that it doth ill become a true belted knight for
to hide himself away in the privy gardens of a lady." Then turned she with the damsel
Mellicene, and left she that place and went back again into her bower.
Yet, indeed for all that day, as she sat over her 'broidery, she did never cease to
marvel and to wonder how it was possible that that strange young knight should so suddenly
have vanished away and left only the poor gardener's boy in his stead. Nor, for a long
time, might she unriddle that strange thing.
Then, of a sudden, at that time when the heat of the day was sloping toward the cooler
part of the afternoon, she aroused herself because of a thought that had come in an
instant unto her. So she called the damsel Mellicene to come to her, and she bade her to
go and tell the gardener's lad for to fetch her straightway a basket of fresh roses for to
adorn her tower chamber.
So Mellicene went and did as she bade, and after considerable time the gardener's lad
came bearing a great basket of roses. And, lo! he wore his cap upon his head. And all the
damsels in waiting upon the Lady Guinevere, when they saw how he wore his cap in her
presence, cried out upon him, and Mellicene of the White Hand demanded of him: "What!
How now, Sir boor! Dost thou know so little of what is due unto a king's daughter that
thou dost wear thy cap even in the presence of the Lady Guinevere? Now I bid thee
straightway to take thy cap off thy head."
And to her King Arthur made answer: "Lady, I cannot take off my cap."
Quoth the Lady Guinevere: "And why canst thou not take off thy cap, thou surly
fellow?"
"Lady," said he, " I cannot take off my cap, because I have an ugly
place upon my head."
"Then wear thy cap," quoth the Lady Guinevere. "Only fetch thou the
roses unto me."
And so at her bidding, he brought the roses to her. But when he had come nigh unto the
lady, she, of a sudden, snatched at the cap and plucked it off from his head. Then, lo! he
was upon the instant transformed; for instead of the gardener's boy there stood before the
Lady Guinevere and her damsel the appearance of a noble young knight with hair and beard
like threads of gold. Then he let fall his basket of roses so that the flowers were
scattered all over the floor, and he stood and looked at all who were there. And some of
those damsels in attendance upon the Lady Guinevere shrieked, and others stood still from
pure amazement and wist not how to believe what their eyes beheld. But not one of those
ladies knew that he whom she beheld was King Arthur. Nevertheless the Lady Guinevere
remembered that this was the knight whom she had found so sorely wounded, lying in the
hermit's cell in the forest.
Then she laughed and flung him back his cap again. "Take thy cap," quoth she,
"and go thy ways, thou gardener's boy who hath an ugly place upon his head."
Thus she said because she was minded to mock him.
But King Arthur did not reply to her, but straightway, with great sobriety of aspect,
set his cap upon his head again. So resuming his humble guise once more, he turned and
quitted that place, leaving those roses scattered all over the floor even as they had
fallen.
And after that time, whenever the Lady Guinevere would come upon the gardener's lad in
the garden, she would say unto her damsel in such a voice that he might hear her speech:
"Lo! yonder is the gardener's lad who hath an ugly place upon his head so that he
must always wear his cap for to hide it."
Thus she spake openly, mocking at him; but privily she bade her damsels to say naught
concerning these things, but to keep unto themselves all those things which had befallen.
  
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