"People say that you have the strength
of ten men; can't you trust to it without depending on these toggeries
and tricks?
of ten men; can't you trust to it without depending on these toggeries
and tricks?
Tennyson
You will get all
maimed and mangled if you go on now when you are tired. There, I vow you
must not try the fourth. "
But Gareth told her that her sharp words during the day had just spurred
him on to do his best and he said he must not now leave his quest until
he had finished. So Lancelot advised him how best to manage his horse
and his lance, his sword and his shield when meeting a foe that was
stouter than himself, winning with fineness and skill where he lacked in
strength.
But Gareth replied that he knew but one rule in fighting and that was to
dash against his foe and overcome him.
"Heaven help you," cried Lynette, and she made her palfrey halt.
"There! " They were facing the camp of the Knight of Death.
There was a huge black pavilion, a black banner and a black horn. Gareth
blew the horn and heard hollow tramplings to and fro and muffled voices.
Then on a night-black horse, in night-black arms rode forth the dread
warrior. A white breast-bone showed in front. He spoke not a word which
made him the more fearful.
"Fool! " shouted Gareth sturdily.
"People say that you have the strength
of ten men; can't you trust to it without depending on these toggeries
and tricks? "
But the Knight of Death said nothing. Lady Lyonors at her castle window
wept, and one of her maids fainted away, and Gareth felt his head
prickling beneath his helmet and Lancelot felt his blood turning cold.
Every one stood aghast.
Then the chargers bounded forward and Gareth struck Death to the ground.
Drawing out his sword he split apart the vast skull; one half of it fell
to the right and one half to the left. Then he was about to strike at
the helmet when out of it peeped the face of a blooming young boy, as
fresh as a flower.
"O Knight! " cried the laddie. "Do not kill me. My three brothers made me
do it to make a horror all about the castle. They never dreamed that
anyone could pass the bridges. "
Then Lady Lyonors with all her house had a great party of dancing and
revelry and song and making merry because the hideous Knight of Death
that had terrified them so was only a pretty little boy. And there was
mirth over Gareth's victorious quest.
And some people say that Gareth married Lynette, but others who tell the
story later say he wedded with Lyonors.
THE MARRIAGE OF GERAINT.
maimed and mangled if you go on now when you are tired. There, I vow you
must not try the fourth. "
But Gareth told her that her sharp words during the day had just spurred
him on to do his best and he said he must not now leave his quest until
he had finished. So Lancelot advised him how best to manage his horse
and his lance, his sword and his shield when meeting a foe that was
stouter than himself, winning with fineness and skill where he lacked in
strength.
But Gareth replied that he knew but one rule in fighting and that was to
dash against his foe and overcome him.
"Heaven help you," cried Lynette, and she made her palfrey halt.
"There! " They were facing the camp of the Knight of Death.
There was a huge black pavilion, a black banner and a black horn. Gareth
blew the horn and heard hollow tramplings to and fro and muffled voices.
Then on a night-black horse, in night-black arms rode forth the dread
warrior. A white breast-bone showed in front. He spoke not a word which
made him the more fearful.
"Fool! " shouted Gareth sturdily.
"People say that you have the strength
of ten men; can't you trust to it without depending on these toggeries
and tricks? "
But the Knight of Death said nothing. Lady Lyonors at her castle window
wept, and one of her maids fainted away, and Gareth felt his head
prickling beneath his helmet and Lancelot felt his blood turning cold.
Every one stood aghast.
Then the chargers bounded forward and Gareth struck Death to the ground.
Drawing out his sword he split apart the vast skull; one half of it fell
to the right and one half to the left. Then he was about to strike at
the helmet when out of it peeped the face of a blooming young boy, as
fresh as a flower.
"O Knight! " cried the laddie. "Do not kill me. My three brothers made me
do it to make a horror all about the castle. They never dreamed that
anyone could pass the bridges. "
Then Lady Lyonors with all her house had a great party of dancing and
revelry and song and making merry because the hideous Knight of Death
that had terrified them so was only a pretty little boy. And there was
mirth over Gareth's victorious quest.
And some people say that Gareth married Lynette, but others who tell the
story later say he wedded with Lyonors.
THE MARRIAGE OF GERAINT.
