The MARSHALLES Tale
And whan the KNIGHT had his owne tale y-told,
Alle been acorded that he certes is bold,
To find no equell in our companye,
In grace and manner and eek chilvalrye.
The MARSHAL did sit with the KNIGHTES squyre,
And spake, “I woot a tale if be your desyre,
A tale so told fro marshal to novyce,
To keep to ooths and vows of our servyce.”
Than seyd the KNIGHT, “A marshal keep the fight,
Made wyse fro days so spent in tym with knight. 10
Whan man was new and greet his naivetee,
So weren marshals greet the necessitee.
Now mony hath the skill and woot well fyte,
So we to spur and tewe the belt of whyte.
No man so need to chekk myne owne armor,
A knight dooth keep wel safe his soth honor;
And nathemor so safe as he in fight,
Than he to taken sword so geynse the knight.
Ful wel, I woot to land my shot and blade,
To hit aye trewe ech throw I ever made; 20
For knight be pure in skill and tewe servyce,
To nar a-miss in mark or ooths promyce.”
{So heer did BOWMAN than to MARSHAL snicker,
Nay but the tewe to eer his low whisper.}
And KNIGHT, “No need for marshals word follo,
For end as tym of Arthures his also.
The marshal serves to keep the spectator,
Yet him the spectacle they see the mor;
So wys his werd to nar to be of werthe,
So greet and vast, but secon to his gerthe.” 30
And here than weren our good marshals werd,
“ . . . A tale of honour greet and eek the swerd . . . ”
At speche did squyre seem off of his humour,
And mor the ill whyl less gay revolour.
Than marshal spake, “. . . Of king and curtesy . . .”
Heere SQUYRE did fill his cup thogh nay empty,
Aye most the attentive our SQUYRE tis trewe,
And y-filled the MARSHALS cup a-new.
Thanne seyde the MARSHAL, “ At his cor treeson,
A tale to keepen al in our season, 40
To tyms of warre and nay of cold wynter,
But mor to qwests and fights the moste bitter,
A tale of war and at its hert a knight.”
Our SQUYRE so looked struck by plague or blight.
And here MARSHALS tale for sakes of merriment,
For certes, good sport to be his lane entent.
Here biginneth the MARSHAL his tale
Whylom ther was a kynge so good and wyse,
And with his quene a plan did he devyse,
For thogh aye trewe in grace and tewe honor,
Nar did they child and successor; 50
To find hir heir so wasen this hir plan,
To holden turney greet and mor the gran,
Ne oon but stead to three vpon the three,
With last to claim the kynges soverentee.
As prys for ech a stoon to be given,
Fro oon to nyne for fight to than winnen--
With garnet, onyx, and opal, ferst of threes,
And amber, purl and sapphyre, as perees,
So four to six in bataille ferce and fight,
With rubee, tewe, and emrald find delight, 60
And last of al the best, the dyamond,
To prick to hert and rayse in sword to hond.
The sport so was the third the mone ful trewe,
Than set vpon the thryce to hold and shewe.
And with the dimond did icum scepter,
The land and tewe the right as born reuler,
So wasen seyd in royale decree.
The kyngeso did have oon the greet secree,
Tis trewe he hadd no sonne by berth so found,
Lo, in his stables was a lad of hounde, 70
A lad that keepen hounde and hunt, tis trewe,
And was the much the mor—the kynges nephewe.
Noone but the kynge did woot of lades linage;
To throne by merit nay by heritage—
For this did king so want and secrete hold,
So lad could prove his werth and hert so bold.
Fate is the juge and woot al destiny,
Wether to deth or gretest victory.
As Fates hond so guide the trials by fight,
So tewe the deserved oon by bloud and right. 80
The kynge his feith still trewe to Fate as feire,
Did holden fast to tourney for his heire,
And certes he was she wold so lead to throne,
The lad and to his hand the dimond stone.
This tale is of a lond and successor,
Nay oon but twa to bloud for kynges sceptor.
Our lad so was to hound and tewe falcon,
And nay aferd to fang or birdes talon.
He woot nay nar of welth and richenesse, 90
The kynge as oncle noon to than ne gesse.
He lerned swords and scyenc tewe with ard,
Fro Wylgar, wyse the trewe of al the gard.
The secon lad ne nar to kings stable,
By Natures plenty did he hes owne trade,
In wood of ook and eek the meade and glade.
The lad of hound his heint was Shaemas,
And secon Galvikk y-cleped he was.
So Galvikk did of prys to win holpen,
And journy him with brothers ful seven. 100
The lads thise two so gaidred to bekkon,
For seken kynges call nay abandon.
As Shaemus had his frend and tewe teecher,
So Galvikk thogh mor to hert so senester.
To Galvikk he tewe was for now unkown,
His face and hert stil nay to lad yet shown.
The guide so was a shade and tewe silent,
So lad nay woot of him or his entent.
For sterte with one of honor, arms, and swerd,
In certes, tale doth bigin with kynges werd, 110
But not to lond, in the stead to Wylger,
To than come right as he hath in tyms er,
But heere so come in whisper and secree,
On eve of the fers of all the tournee.
And trewe to swerd and king to bekkoning,
To feith as secree as the summoning.
In lyf, so maketh twe jurnees, a knight--
To soules vigile in walk and wikkes light,
The secon to than endure eek the qwest,
Swich trial was heere now for Wylgar, the test. 120
His qwest wold tewe be of the same vigile,
For eval so the good to aye begile,
And tewe to be a tym of waymentinge
For mor did kynge than seye with news to bringe,
Of Wylgares frend, and in spur his brother,
A knight who did to quest the ilke er,
A man of Gryphones wynge and tewe the chain,
To search in qwest hadde he now in vain,
He now to Fate, his end at last to mete,
For certes to deth, for trewe was his defete. 130
The knight ifor nar wold to fail of lest,
He did so leev his lyf within the qwest.
And now by call the wyse and eek divyn,
Was Wylgar relic than the prys to fyn,
Now qwest the mor in bloud of lost the knight,
To be to Wylgars owne and eek his plight.
To him the king so spake, “This can refoos,
Or seken trewe for croun if yow so choos.
So preshus be this thing of greet legents,
In lar and halwes frost by old gients, 140
A mirror glass y-forged er tym bigan,
And lost to ages sin the tym of man.
A gientes skull doth hold the stars as sky,
To keepen hevenes blewe and bird that fly.
His lyf so fro do rivers run and flow,
To stones his bonis and the trees marrow.
Ifor he fell his hond to greet hammer,
To carve the ice of Asgard lyke smither,
And fro but semple shard a lane splintor,
So forged a thing of beautee, this mirror. 150
This relic wolde tym and sunn endur,
So greet the craft and skill of this treesur.
In face so her to eye mor than beautee,
But windo trewe to oones destinee.
She reflecteth the treuth and nay deceet,
A trickery she can for certes defeet.
In this myne land is swich the foule snake,
That deceeveth al in evul it doth wel make.
With mirror trewe, can we it than banish,
His darknesse than to arête and vanquish. 160
Ful wel did Wylgar woot hes fate fulfil,
To aid the land and save fro grete evil.
As serpents feste to root of lyf the Tree,
So in this land had come grete trecheree.
The face of evil of remayns unknown,
Unwerthie tewe in hert yet to be shown.
The king did holp to yife a gift his heire,
A land of goodeness so trewe and feire
With shades doth creep the night and sonne to reste,
To bringen ayelness and what good deteste, 170
And in that land so sew a sekeness,
Of discontent, and hertes darkeness.
The lad of hound did Wylgar abandun,
To Fate as he hem than to kinges berdun.
Thurgh farne landes Wylgar rit for prys,
For ooth to king as cheyn so was promys.
In hert so was he sor to weep the mor,
His brother knight thoght ded on straunge the shor.
To hert and mind this knight so cleped Palman,
With Wylgar aye fro berth to lad and man, 180
As kin as tew in womb and oon mother,
Thogh no nar bloud did share were as brother.
Could yow than seye that oon of Amicus,
With second swich as be Amelius.
The tewe our brothers whyt did eek sharen,
A cup for ech fro singul stone claiven.
The goblets tew were twins in trewe of kind,
And ech to other lyken make so bind,
As were the tewe of ooth hir lyke master,
So lyken Wylgar, Palman as brother. 190
Yet now the cups as masteres were apert,
So divided in lyf to deth hir hert.
On did this Wylgar ryd for qwest and king,
His mind to tas and hert to mournening.
A lady dame soon met his ye in glade,
Whylst sonne did set and day to night did fade.
She sat on stoon in shape of fyn courser,
To plukk a harp with swete the skill’d finger.
Here yen weren someres kind in grene,
And wreeth to brow as croun so sit to quene. 200
Her heer with leef so twined of grene ivy,
So spekked with primeroles whit and pigges-ny.
Ech blossom so did hold nay not necter,
But stoon of yello in deep its harts center.
Her harp hadde bonis frame and for strynge shonn,
The threeds of heer as bright as afttide sonn.
The womman plukked gentil finger to the strynge,
With melody sad for sky to weep did synge.
Her goun so was the leef to foot growen,
For smooth the ivys face so flow lyken; 210
A fynest silke nay woot of mor beautee,
As leef that array her in hir bountee,
Of three so ech to other peak and fold,
And stakk as plate to keep fro wind and cold.
Yea, much the lyken cert a dame of san,
Was she of ivy grene and harp to han.
To womman than so Wylgar rit and speke,
“So good to yow and ny to mischief seke,
Ich was so upon here and wel to weye,
Whan yow to ye and harp to eer did pleye. 220
If yow to faerye be than lat thurgh plees,
So me to be to myn owne path in trees,
To leev in thyne so sad the song of greef,
For nay be myne intent to be cause mischeef,
If but I can to ees yow thyn sadeness,
For myn is qwest but stil to holp goodeness,
To stay I shall for tym in tarryeing,
If tewe but ees and pees to yow so bring.
But lo if yow of charms and enchantment,
If develes be thyne work and eek intent, 230
Myne hert is in the qwest to king so wed,
So nay by thyne so wol to y-lymed.”
And than she spake, “To see to hert thurgh ye,”
From face so find the hert as trueth so spye,
And nar so trewe the mor a wish nay was,
But so in face of mirror trewe in glas.”
So did gyfe stert of feith the knight,
In hert did woot so close he was in plight.
And Wylgar sayde, “To thee than doth I preye,
The mor of this so tel ful all to seye.” 240
And here be dame and ech of al her werd,
“Well woot so I the kind of belt and swerd,
And tewe of glass and al of yow your qwest,
Of peril grete to trial and wel ech test.
Swich secree wol remeyn the lip bixtwene,
Until so part by water pure and clene,
Of streem by wrym so kept and well garded,
So ferce the mor is noon and no gyve dred;
To beste this beest of flame is grete the feat,
For nombres as the stars he him defeat. 250
Than Wylgar rit and beest did sley aft find,
The womman trewe her promys wel to bind.
In skin he dip so fil in waters blewe,
Than rit to dame so gyve and eek to shewe.
And quod the dame, “In cup of stoon so be,
The drink so pure myne werds to find and free.”
But cup so Wylgar than did witholden,
An ooth so old to wish the mor keepen,
A vow so made to Palman his brother,
That drink they wold the stoon and noon other, 260
To take the cup of ech but masters han,
So this the ooth twene Wylgar and Palman.
And even thogh the oon so was his end,
To Wylgar mor the ooth so was to frend,
For knights so doth the bind of his promys,
Of stoon to cheyn and bone, his hertes servys;
To find a knightes promys is his merit,
And lost for certes if he his werd forfit.
And sayde than Wylgar, “Trewe myne brother fel,
For certes to swerd of monster or mor devel; 270
His woundes certayn were grete and sor,
But to his enemees for trewe the mor.
His lyf so cut but fang or haps the blade,
And nay to ye or eer to yow of glade.
To cup so than thyne gentil lips to press,
As if to brothers brow to tender bless;
His deth so find the wish his sword to han,
For kyng in farnee shor and nay homes land.
Your kiss so him the pure in deth to find,
And wish him pees, for soth, in love and kind. 280
To dye and bleed is lyf for the brave man,
Yet last nis woe, but kiss fro a womman.
{And here BOWMAN so sayde, “Aye mor delight,
In kiss from lass the deth than sword and fight!}
Than aft so pass your lips this swete water,
So shall I cleeve this cup to but splinter.
I noot not wher to feld or shour body,
But goblet same to be whyl with lady,
And eek his brother now so put to ground,
A cup to be as bone for own was nar so found.” 290
With word the nathemor he cup to grave,
So wel the knight his kin to rest so gave.
Than womman quod, “In quest are you stil trewe,
And brothers ooth in gost the wel so tewe.
The vows in yuthe but seed of thos to man,
For chaunge so doth in mind and wel tewe han.
In hert thou dost your brother keep to mind,
His love and honor stil to yow dost bind.
And bind so eek to me I made promyse,
To tell and for so keep to your servyse. 300
To seken glas this relic grete mirror,
Oon need not trewe to good and nay honor,
{And BOWMAN, “Nathemor in this the plyt,
Than be to wearen bel so greet and whyt.}
But mor to last the trial of nyne endur,
To keep the glas of faith the mor the spur,
In mor the hert and eek in puritee,
And may than take to thyne and own contree.
But woot this wel that al can ac as grace,
So glas to see and shewe of your trewe face. 310
Ifor to gaze so take to hert and wel,
To al to see of good or of devel,
For so to take to face the hert so trewe,
To shapen form hert than al to shewe.”
And Wylgar quod, “A hert and tewe can spye,
So juge by deed for here so not to lye.
By deed the werthie wear the belt of whyt,
And hert aye pure as deed so with the knyt.”
Than womman spake, “A snake so can begyle,
For fang and forked tongue thurgh stil to smyle.” 320
And Wylgar: “So tempers body er spur,
To maken hert the mor so best of pur,
And taken knight he by deed by eyen,
Be certes to woot so wel his heart beaten.”
And here did womman than so breek to teer,
So Wylgar thinketh himi the cause afeer.
Than he did speke, “Lo, find no hurt fro werd,
No mor than aferd fro this myne swerd.”
So quod did she, “Stil even colour whyt,
Can hide the snake, his bile so ferce in byt. 330
To yow doth belt and spur so trewe and shone,
For yow to king wold graunt own flesh and bone.
But woot that trewe is shell a mans armour,
With hert to hide neeth face of false honour.”
To which than he replyed, “If soul not whyte,
Than spur and belt nye maken oon the knight,
So this yow seye and trewe I understonde,
But taken belt so meaneth deed to honde,
To hert the love and weys of our greet kynge,
And goodness trump and eek to aye synge. 340
A belt of whyt nar to the hert evel.”
The womman speke, “As can to flight angel
The wing as bird for any tas and all,
The good tis trewe but tewe with them can fall.”
And sayde than Wylgar, “May I shewe valor,
For sake of belt and chain so do honour.”
The womman smiled, “I speke of not than you
Per aventure to prove I holp shaltou,
For nyne the trials swich be than can shewen,
And may thyne honor stond and you keepen. 350
This tas the fers of nyn ful out of doute,
And hasten wel on this so be thyne route.
So hast you keepen trewe to your brother,
To king and quest by grave of cups splinter.
To yow I gif of gift or cerse this ring,
And holpen goodness and best to you bring.
The best or worst to be in this smal band,
Yet choos it shal in hert of owners hand.”
Ageyn did weep for nine teers, this womman,
To put the eaht in ring and one to han, 360
The eaht to ring as stoon of blewe bedekk;
The last so did to hold unto her nekk,
Like preshus purl so did she clutch and hold.
This lane of teer from Wylgar to withhold,
And spake, “As we shall for this now the oon,
So do ageyn when ech in trial so doon.
For in the teer be good or tewe evel;
Thyne future hold so in his blewe to tel,
Aft ech so answer this as questiuon,
To which is mor hertes own devotioun-- 370
To thyne own face if doth so chaunge as rome,
Or mor to shoures of king and thynges of home.
In this your qwest the teer as mirror pees,
Can certes to be as worse than enemees,
For so to chaunge they fro thyne heart to face,
And noon to hide by craft or false the grace.
Aft nyne the triyals, al so doon, so see,
To behold thee as thyne trewe hert to be.
So be the fers now ask which to be sene--
Your face or of your king and land so grene?” 380
“Ther is a lad so left to Fates plan,
So see myne eye if not to help by own han.”
And Wylgar saugh the lad in his own land,
The garnet stoon did rest within his hand.
The lad of houndes had winnen the tourney,
The fers of his wyl Wylgar to journey.
Than unto Wylgar the brave and trewe knight
The womman askede him to stay the night,
To hir so pay of kindess properly,
By daun to weye but night to company. 390
{And here our KNIGHT did spake, “As so be old,
As you, your knight, one yung to be mor bold,
And wold as I so take to aye the qwest,
With need be noon to sleep or even rest.”
To add the BOWMAN, “Aye so trewe indeed,
The knight as yow so swift in swich the deed.”
And here the MARSHAL nay the two ignor,
So did than speke this werd er tale the mor,
“The novyce trewe tewe quikk in deed, I seye,
Old hands doth take time for woot wel the weye.” 400
“So sound of age to tire and sleep,” quod knight.
And BOWMAN: “Noon to rest whan doon a-right!”}
With daun the womman did the harp to pleye,
And tewe our knight to be wel to his weye.
To him so yave by dame round nekk to reed,
A bit of silk as haps for wel his deed.
So he than rit to Fate with nekk so red,
As one of spurs to songs and one balled.
Our knight was wel in age and tewe with scar;
His hand of left so grete a wound did bar, 410
Fro long ago in yuthes ful jurnee;
His trade nay arrete by this injurie--
Stil, hold a sword colde he and swing to trewe.
{And BOWMAN seye: “As red to nekk doth shewe.”}
For hand tis trewe was ther no remedye,
The werthe of mor in yuthe for certes in tweye.
Aye ful worth was he and devout of will,
As another—‘Yow, yow, and yow, to kill’—
And tewe in lyke a weye the same other,
In skill and belt and spur so as brother. 420
Soon did our knight to weye and his triyal,
And trewe ful skill in feald his next rival.
In meade our Wylgar did so brave than mete,
A man to armour shon and wepon grete.
As man so tewe in highte was ful his sord,
To lengthe as lym a bow be trewe myne word.
{And BOWMAN sayde, “Yea, noon to be so long,
As yew and lym to bowman so doth belong.”}
So knightes these two in feald with sord did fight,
To sord and sord with fury grete and might. 430
But so did sord so grete geyns Wylgars sheeld,
So break to splinter than rival to yeeld.
To take his Fate the worthy did to knee,
And haps his deth for Wylgars victoree.
Our knight with grace in fight so wel did mete,
And spare his rival from deth aft defete.
In stead of blade, so met than hand to han,
To help to foot, this other knight and man.
And voys spake, “We shall for this now the oon,
So do ageyn when ech in trial so doon. 440
For in the teer be good or tewe evel;
Thyne future hold so in his blewe to tel,
Aft ech so answer this as questiuon,
To which is mor hertes own devotioun--
To thyne own face if doth so chaunge as rome,
Or mor to shoures of king and thynges of home.
In this your qwest the teer as mirror pees,
Can certes to be as worse than enemees,
For so to chaunge they fro thyne heart to face,
And noon to hide by craft or false the grace. 450
Aft nyne the triyals, al so doon, so see,
To behold thee as thyne trewe hert to be.
So be the secon ask which to be sene--
Your face or of your king and land so grene?”
And with thes words did teer than fall from band,
And rest so within Wylgares stedy hand.
And than did Wylgar pure in heart and mind,
So seye to teer in hond his wish to find:
“Ther is a lad so left to Fates plan,
So see myne eye if not to help by own han.” 460
And Wylgar saugh the lad in his own land,
The onyx stoon did rest within his hand.
The lad of houndes had winnen the tourney,
The secon his wyl Wylgar to journey.
The three did our knight seken victory,
And come to face a knight of calvary.
The knight had face as set upon in ston;
His armor wasen bright to sun so shon.
So he so sat to beest, a fyn courser,
With heed and knee tewe in swich bright armer. 470
The beest to whyt did roll so ferce the eye,
So all but maisters will for certes defye.
The horseman wasen lead as customm old,
By lady pure to fight with chain of gold.
The chain to nekk as circlet hadd our knight,
For queene ful aye to tourney to surely fight.
{Add BOWMAN, “Ah the tyms to long olden,
A knight by hert and chain so enslaven--”
The rest of speche shall here I not utter,
For hard to write it al as narater, 480
But certes that in trewe prayse was his werd,
Thurgh trewe that knightes hand to fall to swerd;
But rayse so sure in greet celebration,
To BOWMANES words of swich exaltation,
Which can so make even att best a man,
To take his frendes nekk unto his han.
But soon was to mor ale and mor laughter,
And BOWMAN than did so choose to whisper,
“This tale is certes the best so to be found,
So doth I wish for hunt and myne own hound, 490
A houndes keeper I woot and the bees,
To train to heel upon so short the lees.”
And here our MARSHAL, “Love and loyalty,
May keep us al from deeds of trechery;
The hound the lees and maister so doth heed,
And us restraint and chivalry agreed.”
So heer our BOWMAN found mor to his ale,
And MARSHAL than to further in his tale.}
So thryes to fight nye sword but lance to han,
To meet in joust our knight and eek horsman. 500
And three the tyms did Wylgar than to ground,
In skill of hors his maister had so found.
So quod the horsman, “Mor so test in might,
And stil so til you victor here in fight.”
Than sayde our knight, “By steed so be you best,
And so than I to fail my king and qwest.
Namor to fight but stead than now to yeeld,
To yow myne armor, sord, and eek the sheeld.”
Than horsman spake, “So keep thyne own armor,
Ful wel so keepth yow to your honor. 510
So Artur hadde his pride and dignitee,
But woot the mor so trewe humilitee.
A knight by belt is seen as chaste and pure,
And eek be brave as by so gold the spure.
No man to woot al wisdom and skell,
Mor grete to woot his match and tewe equell.
To woot whan thou hast lost the fight is best,
So heere the trial trewe your tas and test.”
And voys spake, “We shall for this now the oon,
So do ageyn when ech in trial so doon. 520
For in the teer be good or tewe evel;
Thyne future hold so in his blewe to tel,
Aft ech so answer this as questiuon,
To which is mor hertes own devotioun--
To thyne own face if doth so chaunge as rome,
Or mor to shoures of king and thynges of home.
In this your qwest the teer as mirror pees,
Can certes to be as worse than enemees,
For so to chaunge they fro thyne heart to face,
And noon to hide by craft or false the grace. 530
Aft nyne the triyals, al so doon, so see,
To behold thee as thyne trewe hert to be.
So be this the third ask which to be sene--
Your face or of your king and land so grene?”
And with thes words did teer than fall from band,
And rest so within Wylgares stedy hand.
And than did Wylgar pure in heart and mind,
So seye to teer in hond his wish to find:
“Ther is a lad so left to Fates plan,
So see myne eye if not to help by own han.” 540
And Wylgar saugh the lad in his own land,
The opal stoon did rest within his hand.
The lad of houndes had winnen the tourney,
This his third win wyl Wylgar to journey.
Than Wylgar rit and found a smal shelter,
A yuthful scribe he did so finden ther.
Trewe Wylgar could wel read and wryte,
And eek with letter coulde so make endyte.
With pen and paint so wel to plees the yë,
Ful fit he was in fight and to purtreye. 550
A knight be whole by fight and tewe knowlege,
By skill of art and tewe by grete corege.
This treuth ful known our Wylgar good and sound,
And so had toght to lad, the boy of hound.
To teech is swich to tend to smal flower,
So it may florish and wel to propser.
And so the teecher juged fer ne ner,
By his student and nay to brow laurer.
So did he shewe the scribe to hold the pen,
His skill and serifs eek to so strengthen. 560
And here than did the yuthful scribe make speche,
“So grete is he that can do but eek teche,
To ply by art to nurture goost and mind,
For him is none the mor att best to find.
Be trewe to fight and skill from blade to haft,
And keep so tewe in art so find thyne craft.
The man that doth the swerd only follow,
Be nay not whole, and but only shadow.”
And voys spake, “We shall for this now the oon,
So do ageyn when ech in trial so doon. 570
For in the teer be good or tewe evel;
Thyne future hold so in his blewe to tel,
Aft ech so answer this as questiuon,
To which is mor hertes own devotioun--
To thyne own face if doth so chaunge as rome,
Or mor to shoures of king and thynges of home.
In this your qwest the teer as mirror pees,
Can certes to be as worse than enemees,
For so to chaunge they fro thyne heart to face,
And noon to hide by craft or false the grace. 580
Aft nyne the triyals, al so doon, so see,
To behold thee as thyne trewe hert to be.
So be this the third ask which to be sene--
Your face or of your king and land so grene?”
And with thes words did teer than fall from band,
And rest so within Wylgares stedy hand.
And than did Wylgar pure in heart and mind,
So seye to teer in hond his wish to find:
“Ther is a lad so left to Fates plan,
So see myne eye if not to help by own han.” 590
And Wylgar saugh the lad in his own land,
The amber stoon did rest within his hand.
The lad of houndes had winnen the tourney,
This fourth his win wyl Wylgar to journey.
So mor to Wylgar and to this his qwest,
To ride and than to face the five of test.
He rit over the hills so laced silver,
By crocus, so beautiful the flower.
Its petals kiss the land with swich beauty,
So soft as silke the maid as purity. 600
Than soon did he so find a skilled bowman,
A man of craft whan yew unto han.
This gentle did sit in wait in a glade,
No finer shot within Dianas Blade.
The lyke of levene in strike his arwe;
A trewer marksman was none, this felwe.
Than Wylgar sayde, “I am man of the sheeld,
And tewe the swerd, but nay to yow will yeeld.
I have bringen but wepons and armer,
But bow and arwe be as quikk adder. 610
To this my han has never gone the yewe,
So wold thee now the skill to me so shewe?”
From day to night and still to morwening,
Did archer show the knight to plukk the stringe,
And tewe the odd of three, the fletch feather,
To shoot so withouten pad or bracer.
But woot wel that a day nar maken skill,
And still our knight nar was bowmanes equill.
And here did bowman maken than his speche,
“So grete be man who can his wisdom teche, 620
And so doth his own skill than tewe strengthen,
Whan students to side and wing than taken.
So mor the grete is he that still can lern,
The wisdom of another nay than to spern.”
And voys spake, “We shall for this now the oon,
So do ageyn when ech in trial so doon.
For in the teer be good or tewe evel;
Thyne future hold so in his blewe to tel,
Aft ech so answer this as questiuon,
To which is mor hertes own devotioun-- 630
To thyne own face if doth so chaunge as rome,
Or mor to shoures of king and thynges of home.
In this your qwest the teer as mirror pees,
Can certes to be as worse than enemees,
For so to chaunge they fro thyne heart to face,
And noon to hide by craft or false the grace.
Aft nyne the triyals, al so doon, so see,
To behold thee as thyne trewe hert to be.
So be this the third ask which to be sene--
Your face or of your king and land so grene?” 640
And with thes words did teer than fall from band,
And rest so within Wylgares stedy hand.
And than did Wylgar pure in heart and mind,
So seye to teer in hond his wish to find:
“Ther is a lad so left to Fates plan,
So see myne eye if not to help by own han.”
And Wylgar saugh the lad in his own land,
And trewe the purl did rest within his hand.
The lad of houndes had winnen the tourney,
This fifth his win wyl Wylgar to journey. 650
So rit and Wylgar came to grete the stoon,
And here he reign to hors and stop anoon,
For here did sit a fowel of colores bold,
And with it tewe a heep of coin and gold.
Nay take to sky thurgh of winged fether,
For to his foot to rokk with chain sylver.
And here did voys to Wylgar than to say,
“So true hath thou proven thyself thurgh way,
And battaille tewe and well in heart and mind,
Yet mor to wit be this tas so in kind. 660
And on this stoon of bird and coin thy plight,
Thy victory nye found in skill nor fight.
But win you shal if answer but question,
This riddle short with but oon solution.
So which be mor to werth to good the man,
This bird of wing or treesur to his han?”
And here to speed was Wylgar in answer,
For nar in heart or mind to nar falter.
Aye true in heart was this our gentle knight,
And pure to mind in quest and tewe in fight. 670
Wel true to wit was he so sharp as blade,
{And BOWMAN: “Sharp he was in tewe the glade!”}
So heere he quod, so true in speech and word,
With mind to win and nay not by the sord.
{And heere so oonce the mor to speke BOWMAN,
“As with our KNIGHT and tewe his bileve-can!”}
“With gold can much the good so be than doone,
But stil no nay to hand but leave to stoone.
A treesur can bringen servants, trewly,
But hearts to gold nay are to loyalty, 680
So nar to love but stead mercenary,
And only certes to greed and trechery.
The mor I wold to be the bird of chayne,
Of this so true am I the mor certayne.
May hert than so to king to bind,
None mor loyal than to ever so find.
So may I nar to wish for gold or treesure,
But stead to serve with hert the good and pure.”
And voys spake, “We shall for this now the oon,
So do ageyn when ech in trial so doon. 690
For in the teer be good or tewe evel;
Thyne future hold so in his blewe to tel,
After ech so answer this as question,
To which is mor hertes own devotioun—
To thyne own face if doth so chaunge as rome,
Or mor to shoures of king and thynges of home.
In this your qwest the tea as mirror pees,
Can certes to be as worse than enemees,
For so to chaunge they fro thyne heart to face,
And noon to hide by craft or false the grace. 700
Aft mynethe tricals, al so doon so see to be,
To behold thee as thyne trewe hert to be.
So be this six ask swich to be sene,
Your face or of your king and land so grene?”
And with these words did teer than fall from band,
And rest so within Wylgares stedy hand.
And than did Wylgar pure in heart and mind,
So seye to teer in hond his wish to find.
“Ther is a lad so left to Fates plan,
So myne eye not to help by own han,” 710
And Wylgar saugh the lad in his own land,
The sapphyre did rest within his hand.
The lad of houndes had winnen the tourney,
This his sixth win whyl Wylgar to journey.
And as robin and dove doth maken toone,
To bend the eer and snare the heart so swoon,
As Lancelot had the nine twixt Elaine,
And Uther tewe his lane night with Ygraine,
In semple the feat love can put asunder,
One night in all kingdom to deliver. 720
Just as the flesh so shorn by cleeve and sword,
So tewe the hart by untempered word.
A knight must so then by deed and labor,
Work to keep cleen his blade and more his honor.
To stone and cloth so aye to shine his blade,
And more to keepen oath ever he made—
As one doth show his skill in war and fight,
The o’er doth the more his honor as knight.
Aye greet is the win o’er the enemee,
And eek the more the show of curtesee. 730
So then Wylgar of wit and arms so kene,
Did ryde so bold to this his next of tene.
In glade of sprynge did he then espye,
A jolly band in merry companye.
In this the felawschipe were there ful nyne,
Of pleasant humor did alle seem benyne.
Ther were in numbred woman fyve tis trewe,
And men in group there was by one the fewe.
Then did the test of nyne itself reveel,
A choice for our knight to make ful weel. 740
For in the choice so doth the hart then shyne,
To show the ghost as mirror so divyne.
The ferst this woman good of these our fyve,
Had beautee greet to snar an eye caytyve.
This dame she wore a goun of deep yelwe,
So none not ray of sonne finer shewe.
The maid of next of fyve had tewe a goun,
So blakk and deep the mor than nightes oun.
Wyth them was dame of greet beautee,
To stroke the hevenes skye to jalousee,
With silken dress alle rainbowes color,
Of blewes and reds and grenes afyre the mor. 750
The other thryce the same in pagentree,
To tame eek beest and man with their beautee—
In goun fro amber, purl, and well sapphyre,
With next in dress of redder flame than fyre.
Her sister tewe did wear dress in sure the fine,
A grene more beautiful than Isles in design.
But just to lamb doth so also the ewe,
So more to fold, than one is eek to trewe.
A doe can birth a fawn of pure the white,
And tewe another strikken by a blite. 760
Tis trewe that Nature is eek a mother,
To shapen the face one as another.
With one so graceful fingers to kess,
And o’er one lane a mother to bless.
Some rest aloft the tree of life tis trewe,
And some to hit the branch on way belewe.
The last of ladies was so last indeed,
On her face did look as if a fury freed.
A finest cloth she so sport to dressed,
With coin tis sure, not looks,was she than blessed. 770
And round with dyamaunts was so her nekk,
As pearl to stump one would than bedekk.
Such visage tis trewe could be so than found,
Amongst the courser or haps for the hound.
She had voix to match a choir of daemon,
With humuors of titans or haps gorgon.
And here was the tas so ifore our knight,
One more to dread than fercest of the fight,
A choice to chill the hart as in winter,
To take the hand of one to be partner. 780
Of eaght to make a choice of trewe beautee,
Or nine with face to call jackdawes from tree.
A shepherd so to guide than seketh staff,
And farmer plukk the wheat from chaff.
So ech to own to life with aid and tool,
Even the jester has his wit as the fool.
The shepherd with crook to quicken his herd,
And tewe huntsman with sling and stone to berd,
And farmer well his plough to soil and feald,
So tewe to judge, the hart doth know to yeald, 790
To nay the yë but still find course wiser,
To temper his choice through trewe the laber,
And guide not sight, but atte best all the mor,
To choose through couresieye and show honor,
Through every maid so doth light be shon,
And so let that guide hart and more to hon,
{And here did our bowman than sure to crye,
“With eese it is to shut the yë whan be to lie!”
To this our marshall met with stern shoulder,
“All maids be gems and more so flower, 800
So pure to meet with but manner,
If neeth not beautees love and banner.
And nay with develes harlotrye,
Swich lewd the speche be villeineye.
So neeth the bonis and blood seye me,
Fro Eve hir harts but mor Maree.
And to this gool we them do elevate,
So our hartes own blakk to abate.
For them dost we to prove our werth and might,
To protect them delicate with blood and fight.” 810
To this our knight did speke and so agree,
“To court and goun be best the lot ladee,
For wilt a flower does whean steep in gore,
To bataille be a fighteres clame the more.”
And than bade archer seye to “Stint they clappe!
For wit is in the mind not worn as cappe.
To woot the weye of bow and well tewe strynge
Is naught if nay to hand doth them thou brynge,
And knowe that shot e’en fro a pedestal,
Whan mark and aim be trewe be still mortal, 820
Tewe be the same sword in deuce I wage,
For even with beautee can hide corage.”
Than did our marshal maken this his speche,
To take to silence knight and archer eche,
“Than swich of sisters these of them the nyne,
Wouldst though so choose with yën divyne?”
To this the archer: “Riddle this you seye,
But nay to honor or e’en curteiseye.
If nyne so came with one to put to hond,
To choose I wold the dame of diyamond. 830
Naught good in hart to maken choice nor grace,
For even smal the welth can hide a face.”
Than knight did speche try so to than proceed,
But bowman still his werd nigh and not heed,
“To your trewe wit is nigh to dame and court,
Tis trewe that mor in fight and man to spourt!”
With this came feest food fine and best,
To lay the mouth of our bowman to rest.
Whyl sup so tewe to marshal did lend eer,
His tale to ring as bell in silence cleer. 840
The meodye rang swete in merriment,
As in the hares woods of enchantment.
Our knight naught tempt by develry,
But tempered stone by love and curteisy.
Of dyamaunt was than his choice to hond,
But nay of welth or helped of grete lond.
A knight of belt and mind so chaste and pure,
Will any service so in treuthe endure.
To fight or bleed for honor or happenchaunce,
To save a maid fro beest or with a daunce. 850
To those of chaeyne doth curteiseye so reine,
When hart to that than naught be done in veine.”
And voys spake, “We shall for this now the oon,
So do ageyn when ech in trial so doon.
For in the teer be good or tewe evel;
Thyne future hold so in his blewe to tel,
After ech so answer this as question,
To which is mor hertes own devotioun—
To thyne own face if doth so chaunge as rome,
Or mor to shoures of king and thynges of home. 860
In this your qwest the tea as mirror pees,
Can certes to be as worse than enemees,
For so to chaunge they fro thyne heart to face,
And noon to hide by craft or false the grace.
Aft mynethe tricals, al so doon so see to be,
To behold thee as thyne trewe hert to be.
So be this six ask swich to be sene,
Your face or of your king and land so grene?”
And with these words did teer than fall from band,
And rest so within Wylgares stedy hand. 870
And than did Wylgar pure in heart and mind,
So seye to teer in hond his wish to find.
“Ther is a lad so left to Fates plan,
So myne eye not to help by own han,”
And Wylgar saugh the lad in his own land,
The rubee did rest within his hand.
The lad of houndes had winnen the tourney,
This his seventh whyl Wylgar to journey.
After long the ryde did Wylgar sound,
Until a feald and swordsman than he found. 880
Ther was to grass a lad with nigh but blade,
A swordsman fair in grene of that the glade,
But this wolde be a test not so of might,
Not steel but wit wolde shewe the best of fight.
As Dantes did his riddle inferno,
So this than wold in path and wit follo.
And hence did speke the swordsman fair and yong,
To seken match nay braun but with wit as strong:
“As we so stand ther be these sisters tewe,
And one to wearen silken coates of blewe, 890
T’other mor to gounes nighten shade,
I woot to both and doth hir face fro glade,
And pass they do withouten foot afeald,
If thou can name these sisters than I yeald.”
To this did Wylgar than so speke full well,
“Of these sisteres tewe well I woot to tell,
To hartes none to say or none the wise,
For one to fall, doth make the other rise,
And ech with robes as vast as an ocioun,
To pull the skirts of sky to wear as goun. 900
But none to feet, nor hands, nor hart and bone,
Tis sisteres tewe you speke of sunne and mone.”
To this the swordsman did so find his word,
His anser treue, with wit as sharp as sword,
“Yow anser doth ring trewe with wit but heed,
For test so blakk is yet for yow in deed.
So men of womman tewe can find hir doom,
Whan one to fall and other left to bloom.
And well to woot that bloude so trewe can bind,
Yet still a hart so blakk in twin to find. 910
As sun so faire hath so a dark in sister,
Can one of white so the same in brother.”
And voys spake, “We shall for this now the oon,
So do ageyn when ech in trial so doon.
For in the teer be good or tewe evel;
Thyne future hold so in his blewe to tel,
After ech so answer this as question,
To which is mor hertes own devotioun—
To thyne own face if doth so chaunge as rome,
Or mor to shoures of king and thynges of home. 920
In this your qwest the tea as mirror pees,
Can certes to be as worse than enemees,
For so to chaunge they fro thyne heart to face,
And noon to hide by craft or false the grace.
Aft mynethe tricals, al so doon so see to be,
To behold thee as thyne trewe hert to be.
So be this six ask swich to be sene,
Your face or of your king and land so grene?”
And with these words did teer than fall from band,
And rest so within Wylgares stedy hand. 930
And than did Wylgar pure in heart and mind,
So seye to teer in hond his wish to find.
“Ther is a lad so left to Fates plan,
So myne eye not to help by own han,”
And Wylgar saugh the lad in his own land,
The emrauld did rest within his hand.
The lad of houndes had winnen the tourney,
This to eaght whyl Wylgar to journey.
With word than did ifore our knight so stand,
A dame with mirror glass bitwixe her hand. 940
Full fine she was, as emperyce in state,
With features kind in rose as delicate.
To yë was swich an olden saddeness,
To stroke the hart to touch or oonce to bless,
With but a melodye trewe or kiss tender,
To spark to merriment so remember.
Hir fingers weren cut fro ivory,
To possess hart to times of memory,
And taint a soul of pure and best to dreem,
To things unfit and more the so unseem. 950
And aye to tempt was this life this creature,
To slay the hert and snare the ghoost so pure.
Hir mouth did frame from past this werd,
Afor Wylgar first his trials mony with wit and swerd,
And so she quod, “In quest are you stil trewe,
And brothers ooth in gost the wel so tewe.
The vows in yuthe but seed of thos to man,
For chaunge so doth in mind and wel tewe han.
In hert thou dost your brother keep to mind,
His love and honor stil to yow dost bind. 960
And bind so eek to me I made promyse,
To tell and for so keep to your servyse.
To seken glas this relic grete mirror,
Oon need not trewe to good and nay honor,
But mor to last the trial of nyne endur,
To keep the glas of faith the mor the spur,
In mor the hert and eek in puritee,
And may than take to thyne and own contree.
But woot this wel that al can ac as grace,
So glas to see and shewe of your trewe face. 970
Ifor to gaze so take to hert and wel,
To al to see of good or of devel,
For so to take to face the hert so trewe,
To shapen form hert than al to shewe”.
And more spake, “We shall for this now the oon,
So do ageyn when ech in trial so doon.
For in the teer be good or tewe evel;
Thyne future hold so in his blewe to tel,
After ech so answer this as question,
To which is mor hertes own devotioun— 980
To thyne own face if doth so chaunge as rome,
Or mor to shoures of king and thynges of home.
In this your qwest the tea as mirror pees,
Can certes to be as worse than enemees,
For so to chaunge they fro thyne heart to face,
And noon to hide by craft or false the grace.
Aft mynethe tricals, al so doon so see to be,
To behold thee as thyne trewe hert to be.
So be this last ask swich to be sene,
Your face or of your king and land so grene?” 990
And with these words did teer than fall from band,
And rest so within Wylgares stedy hand.
And than did Wylgar pure in heart and mind,
So seye to teer in hond his wish to find.
“Ther is a lad so left to Fates plan,
So myne eye not to help by own han,”
And Wylgar saugh the lad in his own land,
The last stone nigh rest within his hand.
The lad of houndes had failed in tourney,
His birthright so lost whyl Wylgar journey. 1000
And dame did seye, “Here came yow for magick,
Yet same to lad to cause his strife, this trick.
But thou hast pure and morso trewe the hert,
To pass the triyal of these nyne to cert.
For yow grete knight of chayne and pure the whyt,
To find in flesshe now match yowr herte in fyt.
Tis trewe that age can cloud the eyen cleer,
And maken weak the swete of song to eer.
Yet tewe so wit, swich is the march of time,
To gain the hert, yet close to toll of chime, 1010
And wenden to deathes cold and embrace,
The fool and tewe the man of hert and grace.
Yowr reward is thine to now so choose,
The mirror pees and thine new yuthe to loose.
Or keepen thine new flesshe to match corage,
And so leev mirror and be lost to age.
So stave thine hert from wear of houndes boy,
Thir stead find in me love and endless joy,
To age and strife so then be forgotten,
And care not to lad with croun withouten.” 1020
Here did Wylgar, now so yong as the yuethe,
His herte still beat and full well for the treuthe,
The chayene of gold so did him than bind,
To justyce well and e’er to look and find.
And sorwe though trewe it may brynge,
He woot his herte and ghoost was to his kynge.
And so he spake, “To liege so Ich gyve best,
Whan enden tymes so then doth come my rest,
As yung the boy so did I live for thryce the men,
And withen that shall I than be sore conten. 1030
My herte in this and comfort nigh to ees,
But stead to king and lad for mirror pees.”
And voys spake, “We shall for this now the oon,
So do ageyn when ech in trial so doon.
For in the teer be good or tewe evel;
Thyne future hold so in his blewe to tel,
After ech so answer this as question,
To which is mor hertes own devotioun—
To thyne own face if doth so chaunge as rome,
Or mor to shoures of king and thynges of home. 1040
In this your qwest the tea as mirror pees,
Can certes to be as worse than enemees,
For so to chaunge they fro thyne heart to face,
And noon to hide by craft or false the grace.
Aft mynethe tricals, al so doon so see to be,
To behold thee as thyne trewe hert to be.
Now at the last, is this the test of nyne,
To juge thine hart to be of pure divyne.
Thine yuthe do keep and trewe in thyne servyce,
To then so fight the more and for justyce. 1050
For this thine fight so still to you mirror,
To aide thine qwest and ees mor thine labor.
And taken unto hart this word suffyce,
To thine this plight know this thine sacrifyce;
The mirror woot nay of suppication,
But shew to eye the treuthe and reflection.
The serpent has tong enouf to flatter,
To turn the hart with nay but a whisper.
The robin doth sing so trewe of sprynge,
His tuune of joy that warmth so doth it brynge. 1060
To mor so some the serpant than to seke,
For mor to ear and the ey to clowd so eke.
| The MARSHAL’S Tale
When the knight has finished telling his tale,
Everyone agreed that he was certainly bold,
Finding none to equal him in our company,
In his grace, manners, and also chivalry.
The MARSHAL, who sat with the KNIGHT’S squire,
spoke, “I know a story, if it would please you,
A tale passed from marshal to apprentice,
To remind us of the vows of our trade.”
Then, the KNIGHT said, “A marshal upholds the rules of battle,
But is made wise by all the time he 10
spends with knights.
When mankind was new to the world,
Marshals were a great necessity.
Now, many are skilled and know how to fight,
Such as us knights.
No man needs to check my armour,
For it is a reflection of a knight’s honor.
And no one is safer in a fight,
Than the one who fights the knight.
I know exactly where to aim my shot,
And I always hit my target; 20
A knight is pure in his skill and in rendering service,
And would no more miss his mark, than break an oath.” {Here the BOWMAN
Snickered with the MARSHAL, but no one else heard what he said.}
And the KNIGHT continued, “There’s no need to listen to marshal,
For their time, like Arthur’s, is over.
The marshal serves to keep the spectator save,
But they see more of him than of the fight;
His words are so wise, but they are worthless,
His constant wisdom is outweighed only by his size.” 30
And now our good marshal continued,
“. . . A tale that has honor and fights . . .”
At this, the squyre seemed out of sorts,
And was more ill and less into the gay revelry.
Then the marshal spoke, “ . . . Of king and
curtesy . . .” Then the SQUIRE filled the MARSHALL’s cup,
Even though it wasn’t empty,
He really was most attentive, and filled the MARHSAL’s cup yet again.
Then the MARSHAL said, “At its center is treason,
A tale of war to 40
make us forget our situation,
With quests and bitter fights,
A tale that centers on a knight.”
Our SQUIRE now looked like he had the plaque,
And this is the MARSHAL’S tale for your entertainment,
For good sport is certainly his only intent.
Here starts the MARSHAL’s tale
Once upon a time, there was a good and wise king,
Who, with his wife, came up with a plan,
For even though they were faithful to their people
And honorable, they had no children or successors; 50
Their plan to find an heir was
To hold a great and grand tourney,
Not just one, but nine,
And whoever won the last one, would be king.
A stone would be the prize for each tourney,
Nine in all to fight for and win—
The first three would be garnet, onyx, and opal,
Followed by amber, pearl, and sapphire,
Which were the prizes for tourneys four through six,
Then ruby and embrald as wonderful prizes, 60
And lastly, the best of all, the diamond,
Which would entice people to fight in the tourney.
The tourney was to begin on the third full moon,
And the others would be held three months apart.
And with the diamond, one would win the scepter
And the right to rule as if he had been born a king,
And so was the royal decree.
The king, however, had a great secret,
It’s true that he had no son,
But, in his stables that was a boy, a hound keeper, 70
Who tended to the animals of the hunt,
And he was much more—the king’s nephew.
Only the king knew of the lad’s lineage;
He wanted the boy to win the throne through his merit,
Not heritage, so he kept the secret,
And allow the boy to prove his worthiness and courage.
Fate is the judge of all destiny,
And if you will die or win a great victory.
Just as Fate presides over trials by combat,
So also,
It makes sure that the deserving get their rewards. 80
The king still believed in Fate,
And that the tourney would give him his heir,
And that Fate would lead his nephew to the throne,
And put the diamond stone in his hand.
This tale is about a naiton and king’s successor,
But two would end-up battling for the right to be king.
One is the hound keeper, who also tended the falcons
And wasn’t afraid of any beast.
He didn’t know anything of wealth or riches, 90
And no one would guess that the king was his uncle.
He learned about swordplay and the arts and sciences,
From Wylgar, a wise and faithful guard.
The second lad wasn’t a stable boy,
But was a forester, making his livelihood,
In the woods, meadows, and glades.
The hound keeper was named Shaemus,
And the forester was named Galvikk.
Galvikk hoped to with the tourneys,
So he journeyed there with his seven brothers. 100
These two gathered together,
Answering the king’s call.
Just as Shaemus had Wylgar, his friend and teacher,
So did Galvikk have someone, but he was more sinister.
Galvikk didn’t know that he had help,
That man’s face and motivations were unknown to him.
The man was like a shadow and just as silent,
So that the lad (for now) would not know of him or his intent.
But will start with the honorable man,
This tale starts, truly, with the king’s word, but 110
with his word to Wylgar, not his decree,
And to him he told to come as he had often times before,
But this time to come quietly and secretly,
On the night before the first of the nine tourneys.
Faithful to his trade and to his king,
He came as quietly as he was summoned.
In life, a knight makes two kinds of journeys--
One is his vigil, which is a walk by candlelight,
The second he is to endure is the quest,
Now Wylgar was called to go on such a test. 120
His quest would also be partly a vigil,
Because evil always tries to deceive the good,
And it would also be a time of lamentation,
For the king also brought news,
Of Wylgar’s
Friend, and brother in the knighthood,
A knight who had the same quest as Wylgar did now.
The knight with arms of the gryphon had quested,
But now it was all in vain,
He had met his fate, and had surely died
With the utterness of his defeat. 130
Wylgar’s friend wouldn’t have failed unless he ended up
Dying during the course of the quest.
By king’s request, and as it would seem, destiny,
Wilgar was next to look for the relic,
But now the quest meant more since a knight had died looking,
So Wylgar would make it his own quest.
To Wylgar, the king said, “You can refuse to look,
Or you can take on this quest for your king if you choose to,
This relic is precious and a legendary thing,
For it was dwelt in the lair and hallows of 140
the frost giants, this mirror glass made before time began,
And has since been lost to men.
A giant’s skull forms the sky, holding in the stars,
And all the blue of the heavens and flying birds.
His blood forms the rivers,
The stones are made from his bones, and the trees from his bone marrow.
Before he died, this giant used a great hammer,
And carved out the fortress of Asgard from the ice,
And from one piece of ice,
He made a beautiful mirror. 150
This relic has survived the sun and the passage of time,
Because of how well-crafted it was.
It was more than just beautiful,
But also showed one’s destiny.
It reflected only truth, seeing through deceit,
So that it can’t be tricked.
In my land there is a foul person,
One that deceives and does evil deeds.
With the mirror, we can banish it,
And stop its darkness and vanquish it. 160
Wylgar knew that it would be his fate,
To save the land from the great evil.
Just as serpents eat the roots of the Tree of Life,
Treachery had also come to the king’s land.
Evil often hides his face,
But sooner or later its true heart/intentions are seen.
The king hoped to give his heir a gift:
A land of goodness and beauty.
While the sun wanes, shadows grow into night,
Bringing corruption and wickedness, 170
And in that land, too, the people were growing sick,
With discontent and a darkness in their hearts.
Wylgar abandoned the hound keeper to find his own Fate,
As he embarked on the king’s quest.
Wylgar searched through far-off lands,
Bound by his oath and promise.
In his heart, though, he was weeping,
For his brother knight was thought to be dead in a foreign land.
In his heart and mind, he thought of him, a knight named Palman.
Wylgar had
grown-up with him, 180
And they were as close as if they’d shared a mother,
Though they didn’t.
You could say that one was like Amicus,
Making the second one Amelius.
The tewe knights also shared something else,
Each had a cup cut from the same stone.
The goblets were identical to only each other,
And thus were bound together,
As were their masters by their knightly oaths,
So Wylgar really thought of Palman as his brother. 190
But now, the cups and masters were seperated,
Divided, for one was alive and the other was dead.
Wylgar rode on to pursue his king’s quest,
Though he mourned in his mind and heart.
When the sun was setting,
He saw a woman in the glade.
She sat on a stone that was shaped like a horse,
And she skillfully played the harp.
Here eyes were a bright green,
And she wore a wreath on her head as a queen wears a crown. 200
Ivy was braided into her hair,
Along with morning glories and daisies.
The flowers didn’t have nectar,
But had a yellow stone in their centers.
Her harp’s frame was made out of bone, and its shining strings,
Were hairs, as bright as in the afternoon sunshine.
The woman gently plucked the stringes,
Making a song so sad that it began to rain.
Her gown was made of leeves that grew down to her feet,
The ivy was beautiful and flowed like a gown; 210
One of finest silk wouldn’t have been more beautiful,
As the leaves that dressed her in their multitude,
The leaves had three peaks and veins like creases,
And were stakked together like plate armor to keep her warm.
Yes, she seemed a lot like La Belle Dame Sans Merci (or a fairy) while she played her harp.
Wylgar spoke to the woman,
“Greetings and I don’t wish to cause you any trouble,
I was travelling when I came upon you,
When I saw you and heard your music. 220
If you are a fairy, then please let me go,
And continue on my own way through the forest,
And leave you in your sad song,
For I don’t want any trouble,
But if I ease your sadness,
I will because my ultimate quest to help the good,
So I will stay,
If I can ease you and bring you peace.
But if you are an enchantress,
And you seek to do the devil’s bidding, 230
Than know that my heart is in my quest,
So you won’t be able to ensnare it.”
And then she spoke, “To see what’s in a man’s heart by looking at him,
As truly as you look in his face,
And never was there a purer wish ever made,
But so it can come true in the face of the mirror glass.”
The knight was startled,
For he knew that surely he was closer to the end of his quest.
And Wylgar said, “Then I ask you,
To tell me everything that you know.” 240
And this is all that the woman said,
“I know all about knights,
And also about the mirror and your quest,
And also the peril that you will face.
But these secrets I won’t tell you,
Until you give me the purest water to drink,
From the stream, guarded by a dragon,
A fierce creature, have no doubt about that;
To best him is a great task,
For he has killed countless men. 250
Then Wylgar rode and killed the dragon,
So that the woman would make good on her promise.
He filled his waterskin with the blue water,
Then rode back to give it to the womman.
And she said, “I will only tell you my secrets
If I can drink out of your stone cup.”
But Wylgar refused,
For he wanted to keep his oath,
A vow that he had man to his brother, Palman,
That only they would drink out of the cups, 260
That only they would hold the cups,
So this was the oath between Wylgar and Palman.
And even though one was dead,
Wylgar wanted to keep it, in honor of his friend,
For knight are bound by their promises,
Like stone, stronger than chain or bones;
A knight’s true worth is in the promises he keeps,
And he has none, if he breaks his oaths.
And then Wylgar said, “It is true that my brother died,
Certainly, by some monster’s sword or 270
more likely a devil’s;
I’m sure his wounds were terrible,
But he, I’m sure, did worse to his enemies.
He died by fang or maybe was cut down by a sword,
Never to see or hear you here in this glade.
Please, drink from this cups,
As if you were tenderly kissing my brother;
I hope that he died with his sword in his hand,
For he was far from his own country.
I hope your kiss will somehow find him,
And give him peace. 280
Dying is part of life for a real man,
But may his last moments be with a kiss from you.
{And here the BOWMAN said, “Dying after a kiss,
What a way to go!}
Then after you drink the water,
I will break the cup into pieces.
I don’t know where his body is,
But this goblet will act as such while we
Are here and now will bury it,
For it will act as his body since none has been found. 290
Without saying anything else, he buried the cup,
So his brother could rest in peace.
Then the woman said, “You are still faithful to your quest,
And you have also keep your vow, in spirit.
The vows of boys lead to those of manhood,
For over time, boys change in mind as well as in body.
In your heart, you still think of your brother,
And am bound to him through love and honor.
I, too, am bound to you by the promise I made,
And will tell you how to complete your quest. 300
You don’t need honor or even to
Be a good person to seek the mirror,
{And the BOWMAN said, “No more here than you do
To have to wear the knight’s belt.}
Instead, you have to endure nine trials,
To get the mirror, you need to put more stock in
Your own purity than that of the knighthood,
And then you might get the mirror for your king.
But remember this, that anyone can act nice,
But the glass will see and show what you’re really like. 310
Before you look in the mirror, think heart,
Because everyone will then see if you’re good or evil,
For the mirror will reflect your heart and
Then shape your face to match it.”
And Wylgar responded, “A man’s deeds
Don’t lie about his heart either.
Your deeds make you worthy to be a knight,
For it takes a pure heart to wear the white belt.”
The woman said, “A snake can trick you,
Because even with its fang and forked tong it can 320
Smile and look friendly.
And Wylgar said, “Before a man is a knight,
He tempers his body and makes his heart pure,
So you can easily judge him by his deeds,
To look at him is to know what kind of man he is.”
And then the woman started crying,
Making Wylgar think that he had frightened her.
Then he said, “Please, don’t find my words hurtful,
And be no more afraid of them as you would my sword.”
(For I wouldn’t hurt you). Then she said,
“Even a venomous snake can be white. 330
You are faithful to your knightly oaths,
Because you would give your life for your king.
But know that a man’s armor is only a covering,
One that hides the heart behind what can be false honor.”
To which he replied, “It takes more than a white belt
To make a man a knight,
This is what you’re saying and I understand,
But if you have this belt, you have done great things,
And shown your love and honor to the king,
And vowed to triumph on the side of good. 340
Someone with an evil heart wouldn’t be a knight.”
The woman spoke, “Just as an angel has wings
That can help it do wonderful things,
In spite of them, they can fall/disgrace themselves.”
And Wylgar said, “To prove the knighthood,
May I show valor (in my quest).”
The woman smiled, “I wasn’t talking about you,
I wish you luck and hope you do prove faithful,
For you have nine trials in which to prove yourself,
And I hope you honor will protect you. 350
You have passed the first trial, without a doubt,
And I hope you a quick journey through the rest.
You proved yourself faithful to your brother, your king,
And your quest by burying the broken cup.
I’m giving you this ring, hoping that it will help you,
But it can be a blessing or a curse,
It can be the best thing or the worst,
But it takes on the heart of whoever wears it.”
Once again, she started crying, this woman,
Putting eight tears in the ring, held one in her hand; 360
The eight became like a blue stone in the ring,
While the last she held to her neck,
Clutching it like something of great value.
This last tear, she didn’t give to Wylgar,
And said, “Just as we’re going to do with this tear,
Do with the rest of the eight, one after each trial.
In this tear there is either evil or good;
It can show your future.
After each trial, answer this question,
As to which your heart desires more— 370
To make sure that you aren’t physically changing,
Or to see what’s going on in your homeland.
In your quest, these tears are pieces of the mirror,
And can be worse than even your enemies,
For they will change your face to show what you’re really like,
And none can escape them.
After all nine trials, then you will see,
Yourself to reflect what lies in your heart.
Now, to start with the first one, which do you want to see—
Your own reflection or your homeland?” 380
“There is a boy that I had to leave,
So I’d like to see him now since I can’t be there to help him.”
And then Wylgar saw his homeland,
And the boy was holding the garnet stone;
The hound-keeper had won the first tourny,
While Wylgar had been questing.
Then, the woman asked Wylgar, brave and faithful
And repay her kindness in his own way,
The night he could spend with her,
Then ride out at dawn. 390
{And then our KNIGHT said, “Surely your knight is as old as you,
Because a younger one, like me, would always stick to his quest,
With no need of sleep and rest.”
Then the BOWMAN added, “So true,
For a knight like you would really be quick in such a deed.”
And the MARSHAL didn’t ignore the conversation,
And said this before he continued his tale,
“The novice is always too quick in the deed, I say,
Old hands take their time because they know how from experience.”
“Sounds more like you are 400
just tired and old,” said the KNIGHT.
The BOWMAN: “Nobody gets any rest when you’re doing it right!”}
When morning came, the woman played or harp,
And the knight went on his way.
She gave him a piece of red silk and wrapped it around his neck
As a reward for he was very good in his deed.
Then he rode off to meet his Fate with a redneck,
Like another knight of song, and one ballad written about him.
Our knight was old and had many scars;
His left hand had been badly when he had been a youth. 410
You could see his whole life, by looking at his wounds,
But he could still hold a sword and use it skillfully,
{And the BOWMAN said, “As shown by the red silk around his neck.}
Nothing could fix his injured hand,
But he was still worth as much as two young knights.
Always, he was valiant and strong-willed,
Like another—(allusion to Sir Anghus)
You, you and you, KILL THAT MAN!
The two were alike not only in skill,
But also they were both knights. 420
Soon, Wylgar was on his way and found the next trial,
His opponent was very skilled.
In a meadow, Wylgar bravely met the other,
A man who had shining weapon and a great sword.
The man was tall, and so was his sord,
Just as long as a true long bow, so I tell you.
{And BOWMAN said, “Yeah, none is as long,
As the bowman’s yew and limb.}
So these two knights fought,
With great fury and might. 430
But the rival’s sword broke against Wylgar’s shield,
And splintered, forcing the rival to yield.
He, valiant, kneeled, willing to receive his Fate,
Even if it meant his death since Wylgar had won.
Our knight fought with grace and so met the man,
Sparing his life.
Instead of killing him, Wylgar took him by the hand,
And helped him to this feet for he was a knight and also a man.
Then a voice spoke, “We will take this one,
And will do again after every trial. 440
For this tear can be either good or evil;
Within its blue, it can tell your future,
After each trial, answer this question,
As to which your want more—
To see your own face that might be changing,
Or to see your homeland and what’s happening there.
In your quest, this tear is like a piece of the mirror,
But it can certainly be worse than your enemies,
For it can change you to make your face reflect your heart,
And none can hide from it. 450
After the nine trial, you will see,
What your heart is truly like.
Now, after the second, which do you wish to see—
Your reflection or your king and homeland?”
And then a tear fell from the ring,
And landed in Wylgar’s steady hand.
He, pure in heart and mind,
Said to the tear in holps of his wish being granted:
“There is a lad that I left to seek his own Fate,
And may I see him even if I can’t help him.” 460
And Wylgar then saw the lad and his homeland,
The boy had won the onyx stone.
The hound-keeper had won the second tourney,
While Wylgar was on his journey.
Our knight still sought to win in the third trial,
And then came face to face with a knight on horseback.
The knight had hardened features,
And his armor shone like the sun.
He sat upon a fine horse,
Its head and knees also bearing bright armor. 470
The horse rolled its fierce eyes,
Showing that it would only obey its master.
The horseman, as was the old custom, was lead
To the fight on a gold chain, by a lady.
Our knight also had a chain around his neck like a necklace,
But he fought for his queen.
{And the BOWMAN added, “Ah, to be back to those old times
When a knight was enslaved by his love--”
I’m not going to write what else he said,
Because, as a narrator, it’s hard to write 480
everything down. Certainly, his words were in praise,
Though the KNIGHT did reach for his sword;
But surely that was to raise it in celebration,
Of hearing the BOWMAN’s exalting words,
Which could make even the man in his best of moods,
Want to strangle his friend.
But soon there was more drink and more laughter,
And the BOWMAN whispered,
“This is the best tale,
For it makes me wish for the hunt and my own 490
Because I know a hounds-keeper, too, and dogs, too,
And how to make them heel on a short leash.”
And then our MARSHAL said, “May love and loyalty keep us
From doing foolish things;
Just as the hound heels to his leash and master may we
Do so to restraint and chivalry.”
The BOWMAN here, found more interest in his drink,
Letting the MARSHAL continue his story.
Three times the two fought with lances,
Jousting, our knight and horseman. 500
And three times Wylgar was knocked from his horse,
For the other was better than him at jousting.
The horseman said, “This is a test of might,
So we can keep doing it until you win.”
But our knight said, “You’re the best on horseback,
And I know that I have failed my king and in my quest.
Instead of fighting, I’ll yield,
Giving you my armor, sword, and also shield.”
The horseman said, “Keep your things,
For you have remained true to your honor. 510
Arthur had his pride and dignity,
But it’s more important to know humility.
A knight’s belt shows that he is chaste and pure,
And the spur symbolizes bravery.
No man knows everything or has every skill,
The greater knowledge is when he knows his equal.
The best knowledge is when to know that you’ve lost,
So in this were you true to your task.”
And then a voice said, “We shall for this one,
So do again after each trial is finished. 520
For this tear can be either good or evil;
Your future it holds within its blue,
After each trial answer this question,
Which is more important to you—
To see your reflection or your homeland.
In your quest, this tear is like a piece of mirror,
It can be your worst enemy,
For it can change your face to
match your heart,
And none by wit or false grace can trick it. 530
After all nine trials, everyone will see
You and your true intentions.
With this the third time, tell what you want to see—
Your reflection or your homeland?”
And with these words, a tear fell from the ring,
To rest in Wylgar’s palm.
And Wylgar pure in heart and mind,
Said to the tear:
“There is a lad I left to his own fate,
I want to see him even if I can’t help him.” 540
And Wylgar saw the lad and his homeland,
He was holding the opal.
The hound-keeper had won the third tourney,
While Wylgar had been on his quest.
Then Wylgar round and found a small building,
And within it, found a young scribe.
Now Wylgar could read and write,
He could also write poetry.
He made beautiful scrolls,
And was as good at fighting as he was at drawing. 550
A knight is made whole by fighting and know-how,
By being skilled in the arts as well as having a strong spirit.
This, Wylgar knew to be right,
And had even tought the hound-keeper so.
Teaching is like tending to a small plant,
So that it well flourish and proper.
And so then the teacher is judged, more or less,
By his student, and not what awards he, the teacher, might have.
Wylgar showed the scribe how
To hold the pen and made him better at his art. 560
Then the young scribe said,
“Great is the man who can do something, but also teach it,
And with art he nurtures his soul and mind,
No one is better than such a person.
Be good in fight,
But also keep doing art.
A man that only fights,
Isn’t a whole man, but only a shadow.”
And then a voice said, “We shall for this one,
Do and so again after each trial is finished. 570
For this tear can be either good or evil;
Your future it holds within its blue,
After each trial answer this question,
Which is more important to you—
To see your reflection or your homeland.
In your quest, this tear is like a piece of mirror,
It can be your worst enemy,
For it can change your face to
match your heart,
And none by wit or false grace can trick it. 580
After all nine trials, everyone will see
You and your true intentions.
With this the third time, tell what you want to see—
Your reflection or your homeland?”
And with these words, a tear fell from the ring,
To rest in Wylgar’s palm.
And Wylgar pure in heart and mind,
Said to the tear:
“There is a lad I left to his own fate,
I want to see him even if I can’t help him.” 590
And Wylgar saw the lad and his homeland,
He was holding the amber stone.
The hound-keeper had won the fourth tourney,
While Wylgar had been on his quest.
Then Wylgar continued on his quest,
Riding off to face the fifth trial.
He rode over hills that were lace in the silver
Of crocus, that beautiful flower.
Its petals kiss the land with great beauty,
That is so soft and pure, like a maiden. 600
He soon found a skilled bowman,
A man skilled with a bow.
This man was waiting in a field,
Ther was no finer shot even within the Order of the Blade of Diana.
His arrows struck the target like lightning;
There was no better shot than this fellow.
Then Wylgar said, “I am a heavy fighter,
But I will not yield to you.
I have brought only my weapons and armor,
But your bow and arrow as quick as the adder. 610
I have never shot a bow before,
So would you teach me?”
For two days,
The archer show Wylgar how to shoot,
And how about the odd fletching,
And also how to shoot without an armguard.
But practicing one day doesn’t make you an expert,
And our knight couldn’t equal the bowman in skill.
And than the bowman said,
“Great is the man who can teach, 620
He increases his own skill,
When he takes students under his wing to teach them.
But greater still is a man that can still learn,
And won’t ignore another’s teachings.”
And then a voice said, “We shall for this one,
Do and so again after each trial is finished.
For this tear can be either good or evil;
Your future it holds within its blue,
After each trial answer this question,
Which is more important to you— 630
To see your reflection or your homeland.
In your quest, this tear is like a piece of mirror,
It can be your worst enemy,
For it can change your face to
match your heart,
And none by wit or false grace can trick it.
After all nine trials, everyone will see
You and your true intentions.
With this the third time, tell what you want to see—
Your reflection or your homeland?” 640
And with these words, a tear fell from the ring,
To rest in Wylgar’s palm.
And Wylgar pure in heart and mind,
Said to the tear:
“There is a lad I left to his own fate,
I want to see him even if I can’t help him.”
And Wylgar saw the lad and his homeland,
He was holding the purl.
The hound-keeper had won the fifth tourney,
While Wylgar had been on his quest. 650
Wylgar rode on and found a great stone,
And here did his reign in his horse,
Because on the rock sat a brightly-colored bird
And also a heap of coins and gold.
The bird didn’t fly away,
Because he had a silver chain connecting him to the rock.
And here a voice said to Wylgar,
“You have proven yourself along the way,
And also in battle, proving strong of heart and mind,
But this trial has much more to do with wit. 660
On this stone is your next trial,
But you won’t find victory through battle.
Instead, you will win if you answer a question,
For this riddle has only one solution.
So which would a good man prefer to have
This bird or the treasure?”
And here Wylgar answered quickly,
For he never faltered in matters of the heart or mind.
He was always true to his heart, our gentle knight,
And also had a pure mind in questing and in 670
fighting. His wit was as sharp as a sword,
{And BOWMAN: “He was sharp in the
glade, too!}
So he spoke wel,
Fighting his battle with his mind and not his sword.
{And here again our BOWMAN spoke,
“As with our KNIGHTso must be his creed!}
“With gold you can do much good,
But I’d still leave it upon the stone.
You can buy servants with treasure, this is I true,
But they’re thoughts are to the gold and not to loyalty, 680
So you don’t buy their love but instead only a mercenary
Whose thinking about greed and betraying you.
I would rather be the enslaved bird,
Of this, I am certain.
And like the bird, may my heart be bound to the kind,
So that he would find none more loyal,
This I’d choose over treasure and gold,
To serve with a good and pure heart.”
And then a voice said, “We shall for this one,
Do and so again after each trial is finished. 690
For this tear can be either good or evil;
Your future it holds within its blue,
After each trial answer this question,
Which is more important to you—
To see your reflection or your homeland.
In your quest, this tear is like a piece of mirror,
It can be your worst enemy,
For it can change your face to
match your heart,
And none by wit or false grace can trick it. 700
After all nine trials, everyone will see
You and your true intentions.
With this the third time, tell what you want to see—
Your reflection or your homeland?”
And with these words, a tear fell from the ring,
To rest in Wylgar’s palm.
And Wylgar pure in heart and mind,
Said to the tear:
“There is a lad I left to his own fate,
I want to see him even if I can’t help him.” 710
And Wylgar saw the lad and his homeland,
He was holding the saphhire.
The hound-keeper had won the sixth tourney,
While Wylgar had been on his quest.
Just as the robins and doves sing,
Songs that can capture the heart,
Just as Lancelot had the nine trails with Elaine,
And Uther had one night with Ygraine,
Love can destroy,
Or it can deliver an entire kingdom. 720
Just as the sword can cut through the body,
So can an unthoughtful word cut the heart.
A knight must then, through deep and work,
Keep his blade clean, but also stay true to his honor.
He tends to his sword with a cloth and whet stone,
And also needs to keep all his oaths—
With one he shows his skill in battle,
The other he does to keep his honor as a knight.
It’s always good to conquer your enemy,
But a show of curtesy is a finer triumph. 730
Then Wylgar, smart and a strong fighter,
Boldly approached his next trial.
In a spring glade, he saw,
A joyful band of people.
In the group, there were nine people,
All seemingly pleasant and harmless.
There were five women in the group of nine,
And only four men.
Then it was clear what the seventh test would be,
That Wylgar would have to make a choice. 740
Your heart/intent can be seen through your choices,
Just as the mirror can show your true face/soul.
The first of the five women,
She was so beautiful that she could hold any captive at a glance,
And she wore a yellow dress,
Of a finer shade of yellow than even the sun.
The second woman had a beautiful gown that
Was blacker than even night.
The third woman was also very beautiful,
So as to even make heaven jealous,
In her rainbow-colored dress,
With vibrant blues, reds, and greens. 750
The other tree were just as beautiful,
Enough to tame men and beasts.
Wearing amber, white, and blue dresses,
While the fifth one wore a dress redder than any fire.
Her sister wore an even finer dress,
One more beautiful than the fields of Ireland.
But just as a ewe has one lamb,
They often have many more.
A deer can have one beautiful offspring,
While having another that is sickly. 760
It’s true that Nature is a mother,
Shaping all of our faces.
With graceful fingers one face to kiss,
And making another one that only a mother would bless.
Some sit high in the tree of life, and some look
Like they’ve hit every branch on their way down.
The last one was last indeed,
It looked as though a fury had been unleashed on her face.
She was dressed in a fine gown.
She’d been blessed with money, not looks. 770
Diamonds encircled her neck,
Like a pearl necklace around a stump.
A face like that may yet to be found,
Among the horses or the hounds.
She had a voice that match a demonic choir,
And the personality of a monster.
And here was our knight’s task,
One more feared than the fiercest battle,
A choice that could freeze his heart,
He had to pick one to be his partner. 780
He could pick any of the eight beauties,
Or one whose face could make the crows fall in shock out of the trees.
A shepherd staff helps him,
And a farmer separates the wheat from the chaff.
Everyone has tools to help them,
Even the jester has his wit, though he’s always the fool.
The shepherd uses his staff,
The huntsman a stone and sling.
A farmer uses a plough to till his land,
And also judgments need guides, 790
And don’t rely on the eyes; it’s wiser,
To temper one’s choice through experience,
And not judge by what you see alone.
But be guided by courtesy and honor.
There is goodness in every maid,
And that should guide choices and actions,
{And here our bowman said:
“It’s easy enough to close your eyes!”
To this our marshal met sternly with:
“All women are treasure, and are more like 800
flowers, They should be met with manners
Whether they’re beautiful or not,
And not with obscene words,
Which is nothing but monstrous.
Underneath, I say, all women, are more
Like Mary, then the sinful Eve.
To treat women well and hold them in high esteem,
Can help us be better men.
We prove ourselves to them,
And also protect their fragility. 810
Our knight then spoke in agreement,
“Ladies are best to keep to court,
For battle would make such flowers wilt,
And battle is a place for men, anyway.”
Then the archer said, “Shut your mouths!
Wit isn’t anything unless you use it.
It’s one thing to know how to use a bow,
But it’s worthless unless you actually do it,
And just know that a shot fired from high ground,
Can be deadly all the same, 820
And know that the same as to do with swordplay,
Because even courage can hide itself behind a pretty face.”
Our marshal then spoke
To silence the other two,
“Which of the nine women would you choose,
With your fine ideals?”
Then the archer replied, “You think it’s a riddle,
But it has nothing to do
with honor or courtesy.
If I had to pick one of the nine,
Then I pick the one wearing diamonds. 830
It doesn’t take a good heart to pick her,
Because wealth can make the ugly appealing.”
Then knight started to talk,
But the bowman interrupted him,
“Your experience has nothing to do with women,
But instead with fighting and men!”
Then feast was served,
And the bowman’s mouth was put to rest.
While we ate, we listened to the marshal,
As he spoke, the others silent. 840
The music was joyful and merry,
As the times spent in Daddy Rabbit’s Enchanting wood.
Our knight didn’t give into temptation,
But stayed true to love and curtesy.
He chose the woman who wore diamonds,
Though didn’t do so for wealth.
A knight is chaste and pure,
And will endure anything in the pursuit of justice.
He’ll fight and bleed should the need arise,
And save a maid by dancing with her. 850
When curtesy rules your heart,
Nothing is done in vain.”
And then a voice said, “We shall for this one,
Do and so again after each trial is finished.
For this tear can be either good or evil;
Your future it holds within its blue,
After each trial answer this question,
Which is more important to you—
To see your reflection or your homeland.
In your quest, this tear is like a piece of mirror, 860
It can be your worst enemy,
For it can change your face to
match your heart,
And none by wit or false grace can trick it.
After all nine trials, everyone will see
You and your true intentions.
With this the third time, tell what you want to see—
Your reflection or your homeland?”
And with these words, a tear fell from the ring,
To rest in Wylgar’s palm. 870
And Wylgar pure in heart and mind,
Said to the tear:
“There is a lad I left to his own fate,
I want to see him even if I can’t help him.”
And Wylgar saw the lad and his homeland,
He was holding the ruby.
The hound-keeper had won the seventh tourney,
While Wylgar had been on his quest.
After a long ride, Wylgar
Came across a swordsman in a field. 880
There in the green of the field
Was a swordsman with his blade,
But this would be a battle of wits and not just a fight
Between swords,
Just like the riddles in Dante’s Infero,
This would be the same.
And then the young swordsman said,
Seeking his match in wit:
“Just as we two stand here, there are two sisters,
One wears blue robes of silk, 890
The other black.
I know both these sisters and have seen them from this glade,
Though they have never set foot here,
If you can name them, I’ll yield to you.”
Then Wylgar spoke skillfully,
“I know about these two sisters,
Wise men don’t speak of what they’re like,
Though one prospers when the other falls,
And each has robes as vast as any ocean,
Wearing the sky itself as a gown. 900
They aren’t of flesh,
These two sisters are the sun and the moon.”
Then the swordsman spoke,
Finding Wylgar’s answer correct,
“You’re right, but listen,
A worst task is ahead of you.
Mortal men can find their doom,
Whan one of them fails, the other will win.
Know that blood can bind men together,
But a good man can have an evil twin, 910
Just as the sun itself has a darker sister,
A knight can have a foul brother.”
And then a voice said, “We shall for this one,
Do and so again after each trial is finished.
For this tear can be either good or evil;
Your future it holds within its blue,
After each trial answer this question,
Which is more important to you—
To see your reflection or your homeland.
In your quest, this tear is like a piece of mirror, 920
It can be your worst enemy,
For it can change your face to
match your heart,
And none by wit or false grace can trick it.
After all nine trials, everyone will see
You and your true intentions.
With this the third time, tell what you want to see—
Your reflection or your homeland?”
And with these words, a tear fell from the ring,
To rest in Wylgar’s palm. 930
And Wylgar pure in heart and mind,
Said to the tear:
“There is a lad I left to his own fate,
I want to see him even if I can’t help him.”
And Wylgar saw the lad and his homeland,
He was holding the emerald.
The hound-keeper had won the eight tourney,
While Wylgar had been on his quest.
After he spoke, a woman appeared before Wylgar,
The mirror held between her hands. 940
She was beautiful and as stately as an empress,
With gentle and delicate features, like a rose.
Her eyes were filled with an old sadness,
That touched one’s heart, making you wish
To find some way to make her happy,
To make her remember happiness.
Her fingers were as white as if made of ivory,
And could make you wish for the times of long ago,
And could make a pure man think
Unbefitting things. 950
Afterall, her sole purpose was temptation,
To make a pure man fall from grace by stealing his heart.
She said something another said to him,
Before his many trials.
She said, “You are still faithful to your quest,
And you have also kep your vow, in spirit.
The vows of boys lead to those of manhood,
For over time, boys change in mind as well as in body.
In your heart, you still think of your brother,
And am bound to him through love and honor. 960
I, too, am bound to you by the promise I made,
And will tell you how to complete your quest.
You don’t need honor or even
To be a good person to seek the mirror,
Instead, you have to endure nine trials,
To get the mirror, you need to put more stock
In your own purity than that of the knighthood,
And then you might get the mirror for your king.
But remember this, that anyone can act nice,
But the glass will see and show what you’re really like. 970
Before you look in the mirror, think heart, because
Everyone will then see if you’re good or evil,
For the mirror will reflect your heart
And then shape your face to match it.
She added, “We shall for this one,
Do and so again after each trial is finished.
For this tear can be either good or evil;
Your future it holds within its blue,
After each trial answer this question,
Which is more important to you— 980
To see your reflection or your homeland.
In your quest, this tear is like a piece of mirror,
It can be your worst enemy,
For it can change your face to
match your heart,
And none by wit or false grace can trick it.
After all nine trials, everyone will see
You and your true intentions.
With this the third time, tell what you want to see—
Your reflection or your homeland?” 990
And with these words, a tear fell from the ring,
To rest in Wylgar’s palm.
And Wylgar pure in heart and mind,
Said to the tear:
“There is a lad I left to his own fate,
I want to see him even if I can’t help him.”
And Wylgar saw the lad and his homeland,
The boy wasn’t holding the last stone,
The hound-keeper had lost the last tourney,
He’d lost the kingship while Wylgar was gone. 1000
And the woman said, “Just as you came here for magic,
Someone else used magic to make him lose.
But you came and are pure and true,
Because you passed the nine trials.
You are a great knight,
And now your body will match your heart.
It’s true that as you get older, your eyes fail,
And your ears as well.
But that is how time marches on, but the time
You gain knowledge, you’re close to the end of 1010
your life, And ready to meet your death,
Such is the fate of fools and good men.
You may now choose your reward,
You can have the mirror and lose your newfound youth,
Or stay young and
Leave the mirror.
Don’t worry about this boy any longer,
Instead, stay with me.
Forget about aging or pain,
And don’t worry about the boy with no crown.”1020
Wylgar, now as young as the hound’s keeper,
Still knew right from wrong,
For the knight’s golden chain bound him,
To see forever seek justice.
Even though it could bring him sorrow,
He knew that his heart and soul belonged to his king.
And then he spoke, “I give my best to my king,
And when I die, I’ll finally have rest,
And when I was young, I ‘ve lived three lifetimes,
And with that, I’m satisfied. 1030
I never went on this quest for myself,
But for my king and the boy, to find the mirror.”
And then a voice said, “We shall for this one,
Do and so again after each trial is finished.
For this tear can be either good or evil;
Your future it holds within its blue,
After each trial answer this question,
Which is more important to you—
To see your reflection or your homeland.
In your quest, this tear is like a piece of mirror, 1040
It can be your worst enemy,
For it can change your face to
match your heart,
And none by wit or false grace can trick it.
After all nine trials, everyone will see
You and your true intentions.
Now you truly have passed the last tast,
And shown yourself to be pure.
You will still keep your youth,
And use it to fight for justice. 1050
Also, use the mirror,
And may it help you in your quest.
And listen to these words (may they be good enough),
That you realize what you’re sacrificing;
Because the mirror doesn’t know how to serve,
But only shows what really is.
The serpent can flatter,
And turn men to evil with only a whisper.
A robin sings of spring,
So that it brings warmth to who hears him. 1060
But many seek out the deceitful,
To hear and see what they want to.
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