Now the feast went much as the earlier meal had done; and Baudoin was
surly and Arthur blithe and buxom; and nought befell to tell of, save
that dishes and meats, and flasks and cups, and all things came upon
the board as if they were borne thereon by folk unseen; and thereat we
wondered not much, considering in what wonder-house we were. But the
lady-witch looked on us and smiled, and said: Knights, ye marvel at the
manner of our service, but call to mind that we told you this morning
that we were enough for Ourselves, and we have so dight our days here
that whoso is our friend on this Isle of Increase shall lack nothing.
Fear not, therefore, to see aught ugly in our servants as now unseen,
if their shapes were made manifest unto you.
All things were we heedful to note at this banquet; but when it was
over, then came music into the hall from folk unseen, but not as if the
musicians were a many, only belike some three or four. And thereat the
lady spake, saying: Knights, ye may deem our minstrels but few, but
such is our mind that we love not our music overloud, and for the most
part only three sing or play unto us at one time.
Thereafter the lady brought us to fair chambers, and we slept there in
all ease, and we arose on the morrow and found the lady still blithe
with us; yet I noted this, that she seemed to deal with Arthur as if
she saw him now for the first time, and much he seemed to be to her
liking.
Again we fared forth, and were no less diligent in searching the isle
than erst, and found nought; and all went that day as before.
On the morrow (that is, the third day) the witch seemed to have
somewhat more memory of Arthur than erst, and even yet more liking of
him, so that she reached out her hand for him to kiss, which needs must
he do, despite his loathing of her.
When we had lain under the apple-tree a little while, Baudoin spake and
said: Yesterday and the day before we searched the open land and found
nought; now to-day let us search the house, and if we find nought, then
at least it shall lie behind us. We yeasaid it, and presently went
back, and from chamber to chamber, and all was fair and goodly as might
be, and we marvelled what would betide to it when the witch was undone
and her sorcery come to an end.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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