The Story of the Grail and the Passing of ArthurPyle, Howard
General
The Story of the Grail and the Passing of Arthur
Pyle, Howard
Arthur, King -- Legends; Arthurian romances -- Adaptations; Folklore -- England; Grail -- Legends; Knights and knighthood -- Folklore
“All the affairs of state were left to my command, whilst my brother
contented himself with his domestic life and did very little to regulate
the affairs of the state. Hence it befell that the people of this town
looked to me to help them and to advise with them. Thus, at last, I
became the real ruler of all our affairs. This continued for several
years; then at last the people said, ‘Why should we support our Earl who
does nothing for us, whilst this lord whom we do not support giveth us
all that he hath in him to give?’ So the people arose one night, and
drove their earl and his wife and his daughter out of the castle and out
of the town, and since that time he hath been dwelling in that old
ruined castle that one time belonged to me, where thou didst find him;
and I have been dwelling here. This, Sir Geraint, is the true story of
our affairs.”
Then Sir Geraint turned to the old Earl and he said, “Sir, I pray you
tell me, is this true?” The old Earl said, “Methinks it is true.”
“Then,” said Sir Geraint, “this is the doom that I pronounce: That the
present Earl shall rule this town as he hath ruled it heretofore, but
that he shall give to the old Earl the one-half of all the money
receipts of the town, so that he may support the style of living
befitting his rank. And I furthermore ordain that this Earl who rules
this city shall transmit the rule thereof to whatsoever heirs or assigns
he may elect to succeed him.”
[Sidenote: _Sir Geraint proclaims the doom of the two Earls._]
So Sir Geraint decided his doom, and that which he said was satisfactory
to all. And he abided several days at that place, and during that time
he saw much of Enid and the more he saw of her the more he loved her.
So one day, they two walking in the garden of the old castle alone
together, he said to her, “Lady, I have seen many fair dames in my day,
but never did I behold one who was so dear to my heart as thou art. Now
I pray thee tell me, have I found favor in thy sight?” She said, “Yea,
Lord, thou hast found great favor.” Said Sir Geraint, “Have I found such
favor that thou wilt depart hence with me as my wife?” Enid said, “Lord,
if it is thy desire to have me do so I will gladly become thy wife, and
will depart with thee whithersoever thou dost command; for, in truth, I
have now no other thought in all the world but of thee.”
Then Sir Geraint kissed her and thus was their troth plighted.
[Sidenote: _Sir Geraint is betrothed to Enid._]
So they were wedded, and before they were wedded the young Earl said,
“Sir Geraint, suffer that I purvey thy lady with a robe of cloth of gold
meet for such an one to wear upon the occasion of her marriage.” But Sir
Geraint said to him, “Not so, Messire, for I won her whilst she was clad
in this robe of plain blue cloth. Thus will I take her to the Court of
King Arthur and thus will I present her to Queen Guinevere, and I will
have it that Queen Guinevere will provide her with fresh raiment meet
for her to wear.”
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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