looked ahead and saw the walls of a great palace, well built, yet without mortar. 'T was all enclosed of green marble, and above the entry was a tower which seemed to him of silver, so great was the clearness it gave. The doors were of fine ivory, inlaid with golden trefoils, nor was there bar nor lock.

5

feet and hands. Fair was she, long-limbed and softly rounded, in all the world was there nothing so fair, neither lily nor rose as that naked maiden.

As soon as Guingamor beheld her he was stirred by her beauty. He saw her garments on a bush, and turned his horse's bridle thither; he stayed not, but taking her robes, set them high in the fork of a great oak.

Guingamor came on swiftly, and when he saw the door stand wide and the entrance free, he thought him he would go within and 10 When he had taken the boar, he thought to find the goodman who kept the gate, for fain would he know who was lord of the palace, since 't was the fairest he had ever seen. Much it pleased him to look upon its beauties, for he thought he might lightly 15 'Guingamor, let be my robes; an God will,

return and speak with the maiden, for he knew well that she would not go thence naked. But the maiden saw his deed, and called the knight to her, and spake proudly:

never shall it be told among knights that thou didst so discourteous a deed as to hide the garments of a maiden in the fork of a tree! Come hither, and fear not. To-day

overtake the boar ere it had run far, since it was wearied by the chase. So he rode within and drew bridle in the palace, and looked around, but no man might he see, naught was there about him but fine gold; and the 20 shalt thou abide with me, thou hast laboured chambers which opened from the hall seemed of stones of Paradise. That he found neither man nor woman there pleased him not, else was he glad that he had found so fair an adventure to tell again in his own land.

all day and hast had but ill success.'

Then Guingamor went towards her, and proffered her robe, and thanked her for her courtesy, and said he might not lodge with 25 her, since he must seek the boar and the brachet which he had lost.

Then he turned him back, and rode quickly through the meadows by the river, but naught did he see of his boar, quarry and dog were alike lost. Then was Guingamor wrathful. 'Of a truth,' he said, 'I am 30 gave them not mine aid. Let that folly be,

betrayed, men may well hold me for a fool. Methinks that to look upon a house have I lost all my labour. If I find not my dog and my boar little joy or pleasure shall I have henceforward, and never more may I re- 35 turn to my own land.' Much troubled, he betook himself to the high ground of the forest, and began to listen if he might hear the cry of the dog.

The maiden answered him: 'Friend, all the knights in the world let them labour as they might should not find those two, an I

and make this covenant with me; come with me and I pledge thee loyally that I will give thee the boar as a prize, and the brachet shalt thou have again to take with thee into thine own land, on the third day hence.'

'Fair lady,' said the knight, 'by this covenant will I gladly abide even as thou hast spoken.'

her brought her a mule well and richly harnessed, and a palfrey, better had never count nor king. Guingamor lifted the maiden to her saddle, and rode beside her, holding her

Then he dismounted, and the maiden clad Then he heard the brachet give tongue afar 40 herself in a short space, and she who was with off to his right hand, and he waited and hearkened till he surely heard both dog and boar. Then he began again to wind his horn, and rode towards them. The boar passed before him, and Guingamor rode after, en- 45 bridle in his hand. Often did he look upon couraging the brachet with hue and cry.

Thus he came into the open country, and found a spring beneath an olive tree, widespreading, and covered with leaves. The water of the spring was clear and fair, and 50 the gravel thereof gold and silver. In the water a maiden was bathing herself while another combed her hair and washed her

her, and seeing her so fair and tall and graceful, of good will would he become her lover. He looked upon her gently, and prayed her earnestly that she would grant him her love; never aforetime had his heart been troubled for any woman he had looked upon, nor had he thought of love.

The maiden, who was wise and courteous,

answered Guingamor that she would willingly grant him her love, whereof the knight was joyful, and since she had pledged herself to be his lady, he laid his arm around her and kissed her.

The waiting maiden had ridden on quickly to the palace wherein Guingamor had entered, and they had decked it richly, and bidden the knights mount and ride out to

One thing I tell thee, ask where thou wilt, nowhere shalt thou find a man so old that he may tell thee aught of those thou seekest.'

'Lady,' quoth Guingamor, 'I may not 5 believe that thou sayest sooth, but if the thing be so then I swear to thee that I will straightway return hither.'

And she answered, 'I charge thee when thou hast passed the river to return to thine

meet their lady, to do honour to the lover 10 own land, that thou neither eat nor drink, whom she brought with her. Three hundred

or more of them there were, nor was there one but was clad in vest of silk wrought with gold thread. Each knight led with him his lady. 'T was a passing fair company. There 15 were squires with hawks, and fair falcons that had passed their moulting. In the palace were there as many playing at chess and other games.

When Guingamor dismounted he beheld 20 the ten knights who had gone forth to chase the boar, and been lost from his land. They rose from their seats to meet him, and greeted him right joyfully, and Guingamor kissed them each one. A fair lodging was his that 25 night, great plenty of rich meats, with much rejoicing, and great state; there was the sound of harps and viols, the song of youths and maidens. Much did he marvel at the noble fare, the beauty and the richness of 30 all around. He bethought him that he would abide there two days, and on the third would take his way homeward; the dog and the boar would he take, and make known to his uncle the adventure which had befallen him, 35 then would he return again to his lady.

Yet otherwise than he deemed had it chanced to him; not three days but three hundred years had he been in that palace; dead was the king, and dead his household 40 and the men of his lineage, and the cities he had known had fallen into destruction and ruin.

On the third day Guingamor prayed leave of his love that he might go to his own land, 45 and that she would give him the brachet and the boar, according to her covenant; and the maiden answered:

'Friend, thou shalt have them, but know that thou wilt go hence for naught; 't is 50 three hundred years past since thou camest hither, thine uncle and his folk are dead; neither friends nor kinsmen shalt thou find.

however great may be thy need, till thou return once more to this land, otherwise art thou undone.'

Then she bade them bring his steed, and the great boar, and the brachet which she gave him in leash, and Guingamor took the boar's head (more might he not carry), and mounted his steed and went forth. His lady rode with him to the river, and had him put across in a boat, then she commended him to God and left him.

The knight rode forward and wandered till midday in the forest, nor might he find a way out. 'T was all so ill-looking and overgrown that he might know the way no longer. Then afar to the left he heard the axe of a woodcutter, who had made a fire and burnt charcoal, and he spurred towards the sound, and gave the man greeting, and asked where his uncle the king abode, and at what castle he should seek for him.

'Of a

But the charcoal-burner answered: faith, sire, I know naught; the king of whom thou speakest 't is over three hundred years since he died, he and all his folk, and the castles of which thou askest have long been in ruins. There are certain of the old folk who full oft tell tales of that king, and of his nephew who was a wondrous valiant knight, how he went one day to hunt within this forest and was seen no more.' Guingamor heard what he said, and a great pity seized him for the king his uncle, whom he had thus lost, and he spake to the charcoal-burner: 'Hearken what I say to thee, for I will tell thee what has befallen me. I am he who went hunting in this forest, and I thought to return and bring with me the white boar.' Then he began to tell of the palace he had found, and the maiden whom he had met, how she had lodged him royally for two days; 'and on the third did I depart, and she gave me my dog and the boar.'

Then he gave him the boar's head and bade him keep it well till he returned to his home, and might tell the folk of the land how he had seen and spoken with Guingamor the king's nephew.

The poor man thanked him, and Guingamor bade him farewell, and turned him back and left him. 'T was already past nones and the day drew towards vesper-tide; so great a hunger seized the knight that he became 10 well-nigh ravening; by the roadside as he went there grew a wild apple tree, the boughs well laden with fruit; he drew near and plucked three and ate them. He did ill in that he forgat his lady's command, for even 15 as he tasted the fruit he was aged and undone, so feeble of limb that he fell from his steed, and might move neither hand nor foot; when he might speak he began in a feeble voice to bemoan himself.

The charcoal-burner had followed him and

seen what had chanced, and it seemed to him that he might scarce live till the evening. But as he would go to his aid there came riding two fair maidens, well and richly 5 dressed, who dismounted beside Guingamor, and blamed him much, and reproached him for that he had so ill kept his lady's command. Gently they lifted the knight and set him on his horse, and led him to the river, where they placed him, his steed, and his dog, in a boat and rowed them over.

The peasant turned him back, and that night he sought his home bearing with him. the boar's head; far and wide he told the tale, and affirmed it by his oath. The head he gave unto the king, who caused it to be shown at many a feast; and that none might forget the adventure the king bade make a lay which bare the name of Guingamor 20 and so do the Bretons call it. ca. 1165

LATIN

Geoffrey of Monmouth (1100?-1154)

HISTORY OF THE KINGS
OF BRITAIN,* BK. IX
Chapter XI

Arthur invited unto him all soever of most
prowess from far-off kingdoms and began
to multiply his household retinue, and to 30
hold such courtly fashion in his household as
begat rivalry amongst peoples at a distance,
insomuch as the noblest in the land, fain to
vie with him, would hold himself as nought,
save in the cut of his clothes and the manner 35
of his arms he followed the pattern of
Arthur's knights. . . .

Chapter XII

desire unto his familiars, he, by their counsel, made choice of the City of Legions wherein to fulfil his design. For, situate in 25 a passing pleasant position on the river Usk in Glamorgan, not far from the Severn sea, and abounding in wealth above all other cities, it was the place most meet for so high a solemnity. For on the one side thereof flowed the noble river aforesaid whereby the Kings and Princes that should come from oversea might be borne thither in their ships; and on the other side, girdled about with meadows and woods, passing fair was the magnificence of the kingly palaces thereof with the gilded verges of the roofs that imitated Rome. Howbeit, the chiefest glories thereof were the two churches, one raised in honour of the Martyr Julius, that was right fair graced by a convent of virgins that had dedicated them unto God, and the second, founded in the name of the blessed Aaron, his companion, the main pillars. whereof were a brotherhood of canons

When the high festival of Whitsuntide 40 began to draw nigh, Arthur, filled with exceeding great joy at having achieved so great success, was fain to hold high court, and to set the crown of the kingdom upon his head, to convene the Kings and Dukes that were 45 regular, and this was the cathedral church his vassals to the festival so that he might the more worshipfully celebrate the same, and renew his peace more firmly amongst his barons. Howbeit, when he made known his

of the third Metropolitan See of Britain. It had, moreover, a school of two hundred philosophers learned in astronomy and in the other arts, that did diligently observe the

* Translation by Sebastian Evans, J. M. Dent & Sons, London. By permission of the publishers.

courses of the stars, and did by true inferences foretell the prodigies which at that time were about to befall unto King Arthur. Such was the city, famed for such abundance of things delightsome, that was now busking her for the festival that had been proclaimed. Messengers were sent forth into the divers kingdoms, and all that owed allegiance throughout the Gauls and the neighbour islands were invited unto the court. . . .

Chapter XIII

doing on lighter robes of state, went to meat, he to his palace with the men, she to another palace with the women. For the Britons did observe the ancient custom of the Tro5 jans, and were wont to celebrate their high festival days, the men with the men and the women with the women severally. And when all were set at table according as the rank of each did demand, Kay the Seneschal, 10 in a doublet furred of ermines, and a thousand youths of full high degree in his company, all likewise clad in ermines, did serve the meats along with him. Of the other part, as many in doublets furred of vair did follow Bedevere the Butler, and along with him did serve the drinks from the divers ewers into the manifold-fashioned cups. In the palace of the Queen no less did numberless pages, clad in divers brave liveries, offer their service each after his office, the which were I to go about to describe I might draw out my history into an endless prolixity. For at that time was Britain exalted unto so high a pitch of dignity as that it did surpass all other kingdoms in plenty of riches, in luxury of adornment, and in the courteous wit of them that dwelt therein. Whatsoever knight in the land was of renown for his prowess did wear his clothes and his arms all of one same colour. And the dames, no less witty, would apparel them in like manner in a single colour, nor would they deign have the love of none save he had thrice approved him in the wars. Wherefore at that time did dames

When all at last were assembled in the city on the high day of the festival, the arch- 15 bishops were conducted unto the palace to crown the King with the royal diadem. Dubric, therefore, upon whom the charge fell, for that the court was held within his diocese, was ready to celebrate the service. As 20 soon as the King had been invested with the ensigns of kingship, he was led in right comely wise to the church of the Metropolitan See, two archbishops supporting him, the one upon his right hand side the other 25 upon his left. Four Kings, moreover, to wit, those of Albany, Cornwall, and North and South Wales, went before him, bearing before him, as was their right, four golden swords. A company of clerics in holy orders 30 of every degree went chanting music marvellous sweet in front. Of the other party, the archbishops and pontiffs led the Queen, crowned with laurel and wearing her own ensigns, unto the church of the virgins dedi- 35 wax chaste and knights the nobler for their

love.

Chapter XIV

cate. The four Queens, moreover, of the four Kings already mentioned, did bear before her according to wont and custom four white doves, and the ladies that were present did follow after her rejoicing greatly. At 40 Refreshed by their banqueting, they go last, when the procession was over, so mani- forth into the fields without the city, and fold was the music of the organs and so many sundry among them fall to playing at sundry were the hymns that were chanted in both manner games. Presently the knights enchurches, that the knights who were there gage in a game on horseback, making show of scarce knew which church they should enter 45 fighting a battle whilst the dames and damfirst for the exceeding sweetness of the har- sels looking on from the top of the walls, for monies in both. First into the one and then whose sake the courtly knights make believe into the other they flocked in crowds, nor, to be fighting, do cheer them on for the sake had the whole day been given up to the cele- of seeing the better sport . . . And after bration, would any have felt a moment's 50 the first three days had been spent on this

weariness thereof. And when the divine services had been celebrated in both churches, the King and Queen put off their crowns, and

wise, upon the fourth day all they that had done service in virtue of the office they held were summoned, and unto each was made

grant of the honour of the office he held in possession, earldom, to wit, of city or castle, archbishopric, bishopric, abbacy, or whatsoever else it might be.

ca. 1135

Jocelin of Brakelond (fl. 1200)

CHRONICLE OF ST. EDMUNDS-
BURY*

HOW ABBOT SAMSON WAS RECEIVED
AT THE MONASTERY

by the will of God, to be their lord and pastor. And asking in a few words that they would pray for him, he addressed the clerks and knights, and asked them to advise him 5 for the good of the monastery.

Then Wimer, the sheriff, answered for them all, and said, 'We also are ready to be with you in counsel and in helping you in every way, as with a dear lord whom the 10 Lord has called for His honour, and for the honour of the holy martyr Edmund.'

Now the lord abbot was thus received. The night before he had lain at Kentford, and 15 at the proper moment we went to meet him in solemn procession, after leaving the chapter, as far as the gate of the graveyard, while bells were rung in the choir and outside it. But he was surrounded by a multitude of 20 men, and when he saw the monastery, dismounted from his horse without the threshold of the gate, and causing his sandals to be removed, was received within the door barefooted, the prior and the sacristan sup- 25 porting him on either side. And we chanted the responses 'Benedictus Dominus' from the service for Trinity Sunday, and afterwards the 'Martiri adhuc' from that for St. Edmund, and conducted the abbot as 30 far as the high altar.

Afterwards the charters of the king concerning the donation of the abbacy were brought forth, and were read in the hearing of all. The abbot himself also prayed that God would guide him according to His grace, and all answered 'Amen.' Then he went into his own chamber, and celebrated his day of festival with more than a thousand guests and with great joy.

HOW ABBOT SAMSON BEGAN TO

RULE THE MONASTERY

In those days I was prior's chaplain, and within four months was made chaplain to the abbot. And I noted many things and committed them to memory. So, on the morrow of his feast, the abbot assembled the prior and some few others together, as if to seek advice from others, but he himself knew what he would do.

He said that a new seal must be made and adorned with a mitred effigy of himself,

And when this had been done, the organs and bells were silenced, and the prior said the prayer 'Omnipotens sempiterne Deus, miserere huic,' over the prostrate abbot. 35 though his predecessors had not had such a Then the abbot made oblation and kissed the shrine, and returned to the choir. There Samson the precentor took him by the hand and led him to the abbot's chair on the western side of the choir, and while he stood 40 there the precentor at once began 'Te Deum laudamus,' and while it was being chanted, the abbot was embraced by the prior and by the whole monastery.

And so, these ceremonies being completed, 45 the abbot entered the chapter, the whole monastery and many others following. He said many times 'Benedicite,' and then he first returned thanks to the monastery that they had chosen him, the least of them all, 50 as he said, not for his own merits but only

seal. For a time, however, he used the seal of our prior, writing at the end of all letters that he did so for the time being because he had no seal of his own. And afterwards he ordered his household, and transferred various officials to other offices, saying that he proposed to maintain twenty-six horses in his court, and many times he declared that 'a child must first crawl, and afterwards he may stand upright and walk.' And he laid this special command upon his servants, that they should take care that he might not be laid open to the charge of not providing enough food and drink, but that they should assiduously provide for the maintenance of the hospitality of the house.

* Translation by L. C. Jane, "Medieval Library," American Branch Oxford University Press, 1922. permission of Chatto and Windus, Publishers.

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