Arteloise

PART FIRST. (Page 1.) The Origin of the Tale

Arthur, King of England, Scotland, Wales and Ireland. A Partial List of the Knights of the Round Table. Their Usefulness. The Feast at Camelot. The Tournament ; Beau De Main is by King Arthur Declared Victor; is Crowned with a Wreath by Clotilda. A Description of that Maid. Her Birth and Education. An Old Man Enters at the Feast with a Sword. Hands the same to the King. All Endeavor to Draw it from the Sheath, and all Fail to do so except Beau De Main, who Draws it Easily. A Descri[)tion of the Sword. A Description of Arthur's Halls. The Old Man and Beau De Main go on a Quest. They Reach the Cave of a Dragon. A Description of the Monster. The Knight's Prayer for Victory. He Slays the Monster. He Passes with his Guide Through a Secret Passage to the Towers of Arteloise. A Description of Those Bulwarks. His Conquest of the Place, which Ends the First Day.

PART SECOND. (Page 40.) Argument

Time— Night. The Knight with his Guide seeks an Entrance to the Towers. They see Wizards Dancing round a Skull, within which Burns a Light. They give Battle to the Knight and are Overthrown. He Extinguishes their Light by the Dragon's Blood. The Towers Reel and Rock, and over all

IV CONTENTS.

Instantly is Wrought a Change. The Hymn of the Captives. They are sought for and set at Liberty, but their Succor arrives too late. They Die of Exliaustion while Drinking from a Fountain of Water. The Towers and all their Halls are Explored. The Strange and Wonderful Scenes therein Found. The Prophet of the Shrine. His Anger at seeing the Deathless Jew. The Jew Confronts him with equal Scorn. After a Wordy War the Prophet strikes his Shield with his Sword, which sets up a Terrible Noise. Then the Prophet Mysteriously Disappears.

PART THIRD. (Page 80.) Argument

A Continuation of the Description of the Scenes of Wonder found within the Towers of Arteloise. The Sculptured Walls, Floors and Ceiling Described. The Guide's Sudden Disappearance. The Knight enters the Forbidden Halls, where Dwell the Spirits of Fire. He Fights with them and they are Overthrown. Their Wonderful Book. He passes on to another Hall, and finds Clotilda and her Attendant Maidens l,ying on Couches in an Enchanted Sleep, brought about b}^ the Artifice of Merlin. He Overthrows all the Temptations of Sin. The Halls Catch on Fire. His Prayer for Deliverance. The Place is suddenly filled with a Polar Atmosphere, wliich as suddenly becomes Heated, and Expands and Blows the Place to Atoms, leaving Clotilda and her Maidens Unharmed and still Asleep.

PART FOURTH. (Page 112.) Argument

Griselda, the Daughter of King Pellinore, meets the Knight on his Passage to another Tower, wherein is Heard Melodious •Music. Description of Griselda. She goes with the Knight to

CONTENTS. V

Slay a Dragon that has Guarded the Cyclops' Treasures for Two Thousand Years. They meet the Dragon at the Mouth of his Cavern. The Knight gives Battle to the Dragon, and while the Monster's Breast is Impaled on the boss of his Shield Griselda Pierces it to Death with Arrows from her Bow. At this Necromancy gives a Dying Groan. The Hills around Quake, and a General Change Overtakes the Appearance of the Yalley. The Moon Rises. How all Nature Looks under the Brightness of her Beams. Both the Maiden and the Knight tell' how they have Sought for the Holy Grail. Sweet Music issues from everything Around, and Lulls all Nature to Sweet Repose. Two Songs, coming from an LTnknown Source, are Sung and are Paradox. Again all Space and Earth are Teeming with Music. The Heavens shoAv Wonderful Signs, and a Bridge of Light Instantl}^ Spans from the Sky to the Hill wdiereon stand the Knight and Maiden, and a Throng of Angels come Descending on the Bridge, Bearing to the Knight and Maiden the Holy Grail. It is Given to the Two, and after the Foremost Angel Pours a Blessing on the Maid and Knight they take tlieir Departure over the bright Bridge of Light back to Heaven, which Ends the First Niulit.

PART FIFTH. (Page 149 ) Argument

The Second Day Arrives. The Sunrise. How the Earth and all Nature are Delighted at his Coming, and how everything Shines, Grows and Teems with Life under the Glory of his Beams. Griselda Carries the Holy Grail to where Clotilda and her Maidens still Lie iu tlieir Euchanted Sleep. She Wakens them. Clotilda tells haw Merlin Wrought his Enchantment over them. Merlin's Sudden Appearance. A Description of hira. His Wishes. His Prophecies. Two Great Battles to be

>1

VI CONTENTS.

Fought. He requests Beau De Main to go to the Polar Regions and bring away his Daughter, Ursula, Avho has there been Sleeping an Enchanted Sleep forever Six Hundred Years. Fate has Decreed that no one shall Waken her but Beau De Main. King- Arthur and his Knights arrive at the Towers of Arteloise. 'J'he Deathless Jew leads them to the Dragon's Cave, from which they carry the Enormous Treasures of the Giants of Old and their Cyclops Allies. A Description of the Wonderful Amount •of Treasure. Lions, Elephants and all manner of Beast are there found cast out of Solid Gold. The Knight, with the Deathless Jew, sets sail, which Ends the Second Day. As the Mortal-made Armor that he wears would be useless in Battle againstthe Polar Spirits lie has to obtain Arms wrought by Yulcan. His Guide steers the Barge to the Straits of Hercules. They enter the Mediterranean Sea and sail to the Isle of Sicil}' , where they enter the Gorge that leads them to the Forges of Vulcan. A Description of the Place. Vulcan measures the Knight for a Suit of Armor. His Forges glow and his three Cyclops Smiths aid in building the Armor. It is completed and the Knight dons it. A General Description of Vulcan's Wonderful Workmanship, of the Shield and its artistic engraving. A Spear ol' Enormous Size and Strength is next forged. Then an Axe of Redundant Brightness. Th*ni the Sword is forged by Vulcan and all three of his Cyclops Smitlis. Vulcan places a Vast Wedge on an Anvil, and, witli one terrific blow, cuts both Wedge and Anvil in two with the Sword, without the least injury to its keenness. The Kniglit with his Armor leaves Vulcan's Works, guided by the Jew. Tliey sail to the Polar Seas. A General Description of the Whole Place. The Beasts there found Frozen in the Ice. What caused the Polar Mountains of Ice. An Open Sea found. How it Originated, and for what Purpose. The Knight meets the Might of the Polar Spirits. A Battle ensues, in which those Spirits are Overthrown. Ursula found and roused from her Sleep. Is brought away to Britain. A Description of the Places they pass, which Ends the Second Night.

CONTENTS. VII

PART SIXTH. (Page 201.) Argument

The Birth, Life and Education of Ursula. Her Fondness for tiie Tourney, caused by the Teaching of her Sire, Merlin. Her Cruelty and Pride. The Knight carries her to the Halls of King Arthur, where the Extreme Beauty of her Charms creates Quite an Excitement amongsc the Heroes of the Round Table, and even on the King, A Herald enters, bearing a Broken Cross, and tells of the Approach of the Invading Roman Fleet. Amidst the Darkness and Confusion that ensues Ursula and the Jew depart and Night sets in, which closes the Third Day. The King orders the Fires for Signals of Distress to be lit on the Hill-tops, to warn his Allies of his and their own Danger. Their glow lights up the Hills, and soon the answering Signals are seen. The Forges are all fired and the old armor repaired, and new ones made. A General Description of the Stir and Activity displayed amongst the Troops throughout the Night. King Arthur, armed and on horseback, departs from his Followers. His Adventures. His Prayer. The History of the Deathless Jew. His Mode of Setting Fire to the Roman Fleet. He suddenly Departs in Search of Beau de Main, and the King and Ursula are left alone on tlie Hill for the Night. Their Admiration for each other, which Ends the Third Night.

PART SEVENTH. (Page 240.) Argument

Day Dawns. The Gathering of the Allies and Preparing for Battle. Their Appearance in Battle Array. The Names of some of King Arthur's Knights. A Description of the Roman Host. TliB Appearnnce of the Prophet of the Shrine. He Marslials his Host for Battle. The First Day's Battle. The Dctermina-

VIII CONTENTS.

tion of either Host to Win. Tlie Heroic Deeds of Arthur and Beau de Main. Ursula and tlie Deathless Jew with their Mirrors Fire the Roman i^'leet. Its Destruction, ^^ight closing in, puts an end to the First Day's Battle, which ends the Fourth Day. After Sentinels are placed to Watch the Enem}', the Britons take Rest and Refreshments. Arthur and Beau de Main Discover Clotilda wounded on the Battle-Field amongst the Slain. How she became Wounded. Her Death. Their Sorrow over her Fate. They then both go to the ''I'ent of King Pellinore. A Description of that King. Arthur and his Knights join in the Feast that is there Spread. Pellinore Sings a Love Tale. AVhon the Song ends he finds Arthur and his Knights fast asleep. Day Dawns. Both Armies Drawn up in Battle Array. How they Looked. The Second Daj^'s Battle. The Fierceness of the Conflict. A Knight sheathed in White Armor rides ui) to the Roman Line that walled in the Prophet from Harm. He breaks through it. Drives his Spear through the Prophet, and while he is in the act of Falling the Knight Cuts his Head off", and casts it up high in air to the view of all. The Desperate Struggle of Arthur, Beau de Main and Pellinore to save the life of the Knight in White Armor. He is killed by the Romans. The Earth Quakes, and Merlin arises amidst the Battle. His Magic Banner. It waA^es in Windless Air as in a Storm. A Description of the Banner. The Battle ends with the Total Destruction of the Roman Army. The Earth Quakes, and Merlin, wrapping his Banner around his child, departs mysteriously. A general silence ensues. All being Over-fatigued with the Toil of the Day, Rest where they are. Night having closed in. Griselda, witli the Holy Grail, meets Beau de Main. They exchange mutual Sentiments of Love. The Deathless Jew Approaches them. Joins their Hands, Blesses them and tells them that he is a Rabbi and that they are Wed, which closes the Story.

Dedication

To My Son.

Among the many races found

Within wide Nature's spacious bound

I. A story of our fathers

In the misty da3^s of old, Their deeds of daring and their tourneys,

Their battles fierce and bold; Their high feasts and merr}' meetings,

Their love, their hate, their joys and woes, And of their dread necromancers

This ancient story shall disclose. And how in Etna's fiery caves,

Within the mighty Cyclops' den, Were forged on thundering anvils.

Immortal arms for godlike men. The shield no earthly spear could pierce,

The breakless, adamantine helm. The sword and axe, that aye in fight

Would every enemy o'erwhelm. The morion before whose sheen

The hardiest foemen quail, By the light it threw, full well they knew

Immortal Vulcan forged the mail. And how in rocky caves of hills.

Guarded safe by dragons bold. Lie enormous hoarded treasures

Of glittering gems and gold. And how a knight of fearless prowess,

With soul untouched by mortal sin,

As prophesied by Merlin's breath, Did the countless treasure win.

Of gallant knights and ladies fair,

Whom grisly giants sought to wrong;

Of courts of kings and castles strange, I yet shall tell you in this song.

II. A king in ancient Britain reigned

For high valor far renowned; Before him no greater hero lived,

And since no greater can be found. He ruled o'er all merry England,

Fair Scotland, Ireland, and "Wales, And manj^ Islands of the deep

The far distant sea assails. In peace and war was he renowned,

And good King Arthur was his name; O'er Christendom where mortal lived

Was spead wide his deathless fame. And many knights and chiefs had he,

Of mighty prowess and of worth, Whose gallant deeds of hardihood

Ever shall be sung on earth; Their many battles, fierce and bold,

With proud princes and with kings; With monsters, dreadful to behold,

Dragons and infernal things, Shall down the corridors of time.

Come on poet's deathless song. And how they, aye, upbuoyed the right.

And bore ever down the wrong.

ARTELOISE.

How day and night in armour bright, They ever sought for perils new;

To crush the cruel, faithless, vile — Aid the noble, good, and true.

III. There was Lancelot de Lake

With glittering sword and shield, Who, aye, ready was for lady's sake

His conquering blade to wield. And Sir Tristeam, the bold and strong,

The proud, fear-defying chief, Who ever warr'd 'gainst others' wrong,

Soothed and lessened others' grief. There was Gawaine, Kings Bore and Ban

All desperate men in fraj ; And Bedivere, who, in the A'an

Of glory, shone both night and day. And there was Percivale, the famed,

With the helmet crushing mace; And gallant Lionell, who claimed.

In field and foray, foremost place. There was Galahad, the divine,

Loved of angels and the Lord; Who hung upon religions' shrine,

All the trophies of his sword. There was Aglovale, of giant limb,

There was Tor, and Pelinore; All knights in peril, bold and grim,

And full a thousand heroes more Who made renowned the Table Round;

For knights of prowess and of worth —

ARTELOISE.

Whose fame through fleeting times hall go

'Till deeds heroic fade from earth. True knights wlio by King Arthur's side,

Full, twelve times, in bloody fray, Crushed down the Roman ranks of pride;

And overwhelmed them with dismay. Save King Arthur, of all that Train,

For deeds of hardihood and worth Was none like valiant Beau de Main

'Mongst all the heroes of the earth. True kniglit was he to friend or foe.

In time of peace and battle grim; A heart more true in weal or woe.

Ne'er sent blood through human limb. He was the knight of prowess bold,

And of sin untainted soul; Whom the voice of Merlin had foretold,

Should the power alone control That should slay the dragon fierce and grim,

Within a cavern dark and drear; And monsters of gigantic limb

That guarded hoarded treasures there. And bring the hoard from out that den,

With spirit void of mortal fears — Though it had hidden been from men,

Twice one thousand fleeting 3'ears.

IV. A royal feast at Camelot

Had the noble Arthur spread, Nor was there a single knight forgot

Who did glory's pathway tread;

ABTELOISE.

All knights renowned of the Table Round, And kings were gathered there, I ween There many a comely knight was found

And many a courteous queen ; The morning fair midst tourney sports,

Had most blithely past away, The din throughout King Arthur's courts

Had sprightly rung of mimic fray; The groiaid where it had been all strown,

With wreck'd and splintered spears was seen, And plumes of every color known

With these were spread o'er all the green. Had storms of lightning and of hail,

Fiercely over woodlands past, And countless branches strown the gale,

And broken on the earth had cast; And there unnumbered flowers brought

Of all shape and size and hue, And strewing them 'midst limbs had sought

To hide the grassy earth from view; It had resembled much the ground

Where had past that mimic fray. Where shivered spears were cast around,

And torn plumes unnumbered lay; And that grand morning's tourney prize

The gallant Beau de Main had won, He 'neath King Arthur's judging eyes

The knightliest deeds had done; And never breathed a man on earth

More fitter than that gallant king, To judge a hero's knightly worth,

And deed of skill in tourney ring.

ABTELOISK

A mighty helm of flashing steel,

With purest ruddy gold inlaid, That o'er it saving plumes reveal

That day as prize the Monarch made. And on the head of Beau de Main

Was placed that helm by Arthur's hand, While joyous shouts from all his Train

Reechoed loud across the land; The fairest of the maidens there

Forth stepped from out the female crowd. With wreath as fair as queen could wear,

On knee to her the hero bowed; Firm on his head the wreath was placed,

Where waved the towering plumes above; Tlien spoke the maid, A wreath ne'er graced

Chief fitter maiden's faith, and love; And I have crowned thee here, Sir Knight

Champion of the Chaste and fair, May virtue be thy guiding light,

And woman's houor be thy care.

V. All knights renowned of the Table Round

Have thronged unto the festive board. Ceased is the clanging armor's sound,

And ringing clash of spear and sword, With sparkling wave the cups are crowned,

For in them ruddy wine is poured; And not a care-worn face is found

From humblest knight to proudest lord. All is merry feasting, joy and mirth,

In every stir and sight and sound, Nor happier scenes has witnessed earth

Since ever hero kings were crowned,

ARTELOISE.

By knights where e'er the eye may go,

Are all beauteous maidens seen, Tlie best the whole wide world can show- In comeliness of face and mien. Each gallant baron, king and knight,

Has his fair partner b}' his side, For whose fair name and honor bright

He unto deed of death would ride. The fair Guenever ever blest

"With sweetest charms in beauty stored, Sits with heart at ease and soul at rest,

Beside her loved and loving lord; But those who'd know each beauteous guest

That sat around that spacious board, Let them through Arthur's annals quest,

The tales will well their time reward I Of her who sat b}^ Beau de Main It will be my duty here to tell: Of all the maids 'neath Arthur's reign

She did in comeliness excell. Her eyes were like the living light

Of meteors born of blue, And from each orb, so starry bright,

A generous soul looked through Her face like garden of the East

When summer blooms in all her prime, Roses red and white the showers feast,

Do all commingling bloom sublime. A nobler head and fairer brow

"Was never seen with mortal maid, Nor through all the ages until now

Were such wavy, golden locks surve3'ed; As opening rose her mouth was sweet, Never yet did rubier lip

ABTELOISE.

The searching eye of nature greet,

Nor from a mortal goblet sip. White as the foam the billows show,

Heaved 'neath gauz}^ silk her bosom fair. As golden sunshine cast on snow

O'er neck and shoulders stream'd her hair; Her white round arms were like the down

That waves upon the autumn field, That with snow}^ loveliness doth crown

The dark brown hulls that did it yield. A form more perfect and more fair,

By nature crowned with nobler grace, Ne'er trod the earth, nor breathed its air,

Nor did those of mortal mold embrace. A foot more light, j^et firm than hers.

Upon this world has never trod; Not lighter summer's zephyr stirs

That bows no grass along the sod, Her tread was like the fleecy snow

That touches on the river's face. But ruffles not its tranquil flow,

Nor leaves behind the slightest tra,ce; Her voice was soft as wind that sighs

At summer through the sultr^^ vale, Sweet as perfumes that on it rise —

From violets, rose and lilies pale I

VI

No wonder that the maid was fair, And famed for beauty o'er the earth,

For from a bright immortal pair

'Twas said that maiden drew her birth.

ARTELOISK.

A pair of angels, so the story runs,

Left their lieavenlj' liomes of yore, To journey space and view the suns,

And countless planets to explore; From world to world, from star to slar,

The adventurous angels flew. And where the comets blazed afar

All grand, but terrible to view; And while amidst the realms of space,

Where worlds on worlds unnumbered glow'd And over all creation's face

Their blazing lights eternal flowed. Amidst the boundless realms afar,

A world they saw in glowing azure drest Tiiat seem'd to them a gleaming star.

More beautiful than all the rest; And down they shot on lightning Aving8

Beyond the utmost speed of thought, Past planets form'd in glowing rings,

All with immortal beaut}^ fraught; And lighted here upon this sphere.

The lovely home of moital man; Enraptured stare the angel pair.

No world thej^'d seen of grander plan; And here on earth their home they made,

Though all unseen of mortal men, Save at noons when forests spread their shade,

And sunshine warm'd the hill and glen. All those wlio saw the lovely pair.

Of them did wonderous marvels tell, One was a maiden heavenly fair,

Her waving, golden tresses fell

O'er shoulders fair as froth on seas,

Face with all charms in rainbows seen; Her airy step was like the breeze

That stirs not e'en the aspen green. The other was a comely youth,

Of godlike, all commanding mien, Whose visage seem'd the shrine of truth,

With every virtue glittering sheen; The Genii he was styled b}^ men

Of all the mountains and the hills, And she the Nymph of sunny glen,

And all the fountains and the rills; One sole offspring, but of form divine,

Sprung from the union of this pair, In her did all their viitues shine,

And all beauties of her mother fair: They kept her in their secret glen

Throughout many an age of time. And taught her all that mortals ken,

And all of angel lore sublime; Then sent her forth as mortal maid,

To charm and gladden human kind; In ever}^ glorious cause to aid,

And lead the race on paths refined. Clotilda was this maiden named,

In Orkney she'd been born and bred. And much through her those isles were famed.

Back in the misty ages fled. The glories of King Arthur's court.

Had reached her in her secret glen, And unto Camelot did she resort

To see this first of moi'tal men.

In quest of gallant knight came she,

Who could achieve achentures bold, And for her pining captives free,

Grim giants kept in rocky hold. But none like Beau de Main she found

In perilous deeds and knightly worth; All knights renowned of the Table Round

He far out shone, and all on earth; So he she singled for perils grim,

And dread, awe inspiring deed; What recked he loss of life and limb,

Her faith and love his glorious meed; If was death his lot, he lost her not,

His spirit would move at her side, If he lived, then at high Camelot

Her King Arthur would give as bride.

VII. Done is the feast, the mirth has ceased

In King Arthur's glittering halls; Where spear and sword and targes broad

Hang vast along the mighty walls. Where axes bright and mace of might

The gazing coward's soul appalls; And high o'er head the banner red,

O'er helms and gleaming armor falls, In awful rows they there repose,

For not a sound to battle calls. But loud the la}^ of love and fray

The skillful bards of Arthur sing; Deep, full and strong, flows forth the song.

While chords of harps responding ring.

Of gallant knight and lacl}^ bright,

Of loves and hates and wars of old, Of daring king in tourney ring,

Waving plume and helm ot gold; Of h^^lras dread with dragon's head,

By arm of mortal heroes slain; Of slighted oath and broken troth,

And dying friendship's throes and pain; Hunts o'er brake, and moor for stag and boar,

And glories of the chase they sing, And varied swell and songs as well

From bards and harps alternate ring.

Viii.

The festive day is waning fast,

Yet shines the sun in Arthur's halls, Though eastward of those towers vast

Apace a lengthening shadow falls; Yet, 'ere he goes his beams are cast

In living splendor on those walls, On shield and lance the sunbeams glance,

And all like waving flame they blaze; On greaves of steel the sunbeams reel,

And flash around their blinding rays. On shield and lance the sunbeams glance,

On Morion,sword and helmet sheen, On armor bright those beams alight.

And all resplendent glows the scene; So long they glar'd on polished steel.

And so intense the sheen became, It seems those halls within reveal

One waving flood of dazzling flame;

Then at the sight as if inspired

With brightness that around them fell, Each bard and minstrel's soul seems tired

With something more than mortal spell. And loud and louder still their song,

And strains of music roar and ring, 'Till like a storm it sweeps along

Through all the castles of the king; And swiftly turns where splendor burns

The eyes of every chief and knight, Soul and mind all thought and feeling spurns,

Save steel gleaming to the sunbeams bright.

IX. While gleam'd the shine of the da3''s decline

In princely Arthur's royal halls, And stirring chime of minstrel's rhyme

Reechoed loud Avithin the walls; Strode in the hall an aged man,

With locks as white as Denmark's snow. Who bowed to the king and then began

To speak in accents soft and low; King Arthur, o'er man}^ a mile

Of earth ray weary feet have trod, O'er mountain high and deep defile,

O'er deserts drear and vernal sod. To many a kingly court I've been,

And noble kings were they, I trow, But never place like this I've seen.

Through all my journeys until now. The knights renown'd of the Table Round

Are known throughout the spacious earth,

Their praise doth sound where men are found

Who honor give to fame and worth; And hither here IVe sped to see

If any hero I can find, Whose soul's of every baseness free,

And has an unpolluted mind, For such alone can draw this sword,

From out its diamond studded sheath, And he who doth, shall be its lord,

Nor any peril fear jon sky beneath; With that he placed in Arthur's hand

A long, massive glittering sword, Than Excalibur, far more grand.

More terrible and long and broad.

X. Long, long essayed the gallant king

To draw from out its sheath that magic blade, But it from sheath he could not bring,

Though he with all his might essayed; Tlien all disma3'ed liis chiefs surveyed

The ponderous, glittering brand Tliey knew 'twas "vain for them to try

When failed had Arthur's stalwart hand. They all essayed to draw that blade

They all essayed but Beau de Main, In his hand was laid the starry blade

Nor was that hero's effort vain; Forth at his touch the weapon came,

Loud rattling from its starry sheath, The glittering falchion flashed like flame

From burning cloud on midnight heath;

Then high up on the Table Round

He the glittering falchion threw. There it fell, with thundering sound,

While gems of lightning from it flew, Abashed with surprise the heroes all

The wonderous deed behold, And louder through King Arthur's hall

The swelling strains of music rolled.

XI. Come, come with me, the old man spake

And thou shalt rise to honors new; Thou shalt j'okes of banded tyrants break,

And gloiy's brightest path pursue. Thou art the lord of magic sword,

And thou with it shall prowess do; On battle field, 'twill cleave each shield,

And smite all mortal armor through. Eeneath its sheen and edges keen,

Those who never fled before shall fly; And monsters grim in form and limb

That vex and curse the world shall die So mount thy steed and with me speed

For ere yon sun our sight shall leave. Thou shalt range through a castle strange,

And deeds of prowess high achieve.