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
When night came, Ogier recommended himself to God, and seeing the
castle of loadstone all resplendent with light, he went from one to
the other of the vessels that were wrecked there, and so got into the
island where it was. On arriving at the gate he found it guarded by
two fierce lions. He slew them and entered; and making his way into a
hall, found a horse sitting at a table richly supplied. The courteous
animal treats him with the utmost respect, and the starving hero makes
a hearty supper. The horse then prevails on him to get on his back,
and carries him into a splendid chamber, where Ogier sleeps that
night. The name of this horse is Papillon, "who was a Luiton, and had
been a great prince, but king Arthur conquered him, so he was
condemned to be three hundred years a horse without speaking one
single word, but after the three hundred years he was to have the
crown of joy which they wore in Faerie."[78]
Next morning he cannot find Papillon, but on opening a door he meets a
huge serpent, whom he also slays, and follows a little path which
leads him into an orchard "tant bel et tant plaisant, que cestoit ung
petit paradis a veoir." He plucks an apple from one of the trees and
eats it, but is immediately afflicted by such violent sickness as to
be put in fear of speedy death. He prepares himself for his fate,
regretting "le bon pays de France, le roi Charlemaigne ... et
principallement la bonne royne dangleterre, sa bonne espouse et vraie
amie, ma dame Clarice, qui tant estoit belle et noble." While in this
dolorous state, happening to turn to the east, he perceived "une moult
belle dame, toute vestue de blanc, si bien et si richement aornee que
cestoit ung grant triumphe que de la veoir."
Ogier, thinking it is the Virgin Mary, commences an Ave; but the lady
tells him she is Morgue la Faye, who at his birth had kissed him, and
retained him for her loyal amoureux, though forgotten by him. She
places then on his finger a ring, which removes all infirmity, and
Ogier, a hundred years old, returns to the vigour and beauty of
thirty. She now leads him to the castle of Avalon, where were her
brother king Arthur, and Auberon, and Mallonbron, "ung luiton de mer."
"And when Morgue drew near to the said castle of Avalon, the Fays came
to meet Ogier, singing the most melodiously that ever could be heard, so
he entered into the hall to solace himself completely. There he saw
several Fay ladies adorned and all crowned with crowns most sumptuously
made, and very rich, and evermore they sung, danced, and led a right
joyous life, without thinking of any evil thing whatever, but of taking
their mundane pleasures."[79] Morgue here introduces the knight to
Arthur, and she places on his head a crown rich and splendid beyond
estimation, but which has the Lethean quality, that whoso wears it,
Forthwith his former state and being forgets,
Forgets both joy and grief, pleasure and pain;
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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