The Fairy Mythology: Illustrative of the Romance and Superstition of Various CountriesKeightley, Thomas
General
The Fairy Mythology: Illustrative of the Romance and Superstition of Various Countries
Keightley, Thomas
Fairies; Fairy tales; Folk literature; Folklore
They greet him courteously in return, and invite him to visit their
mistress, whose pavilion is at hand. Sir Launfal complies with the
invitation, and they proceed to where the pavilion lies. Nothing could
exceed this pavilion in magnificence. It was surmounted by an _erne_
or eagle, adorned with precious stones so rich, that the poet
declares, and we believe, that neither Alexander nor Arthur possessed
"none swiche jewel."
He foundè in the paviloun
The kingès daughter of Oliroun,
Dame Tryamour that hight;
Her father was king of Faërie,
Of occientè[65] fer and nigh,
A man of mickle might.
The beauty of dame Tryamour was beyond conception.
For heat her cloathès down she dede
Almostè to her girdle stede (_place_),
Than lay she uncover't;
She was as white as lily in May,
Or snow that snoweth in winter's day:
He seigh (_saw_) never none so pert (_lively_).
The redè rose, when she is new,
Against her rode was naught of hew
I dare well say in cert;
Her hairè shone as goldè wire:
May no man redè her attire,
Ne naught well think in hert (_heart_).
This lovely dame bestows her heart on Sir Launfal, on condition of his
fidelity. As marks of her affection, she gives him a never-failing
purse and many other valuable presents, and dismisses him next morning
with the assurance, that whenever he wished to see her, his wish would
be gratified on withdrawing into a private room, where she would
instantly be with him. This information is accompanied with a charge
of profound secrecy on the subject of their loves.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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