Chapter 4

CHAPTER IV.
CARADOC BRIEFBRAS; OR CARADOC WITH THE SHRUNKEN ARM. CARADOC was the son of Ysenne, the beautiful niece of Arthur. He was
ignorant who his father was, till it was discovered in the following
manner: When the youth was of proper years to receive the honors of
knighthood, King Arthur held a grand court for the purpose of
knighting him. On this occasion a strange knight presented himself,
and challenged the knights of Arthur's court to exchange blow for blow
with him. His proposal was this,- to lay his neck on a block for any
knight to strike, on condition that, if he survived the blow, the
knight should submit in turn to the same experiment. Sir Kay, who
was usually ready to accept all challenges, pronounced this wholly
unreasonable, and declared that he would not accept it for all the
wealth in the world. And when the knight offered his sword, with which
the operation was to be performed, no person ventured to accept it,
till Caradoc, growing angry at the disgrace which was thus incurred by
the Round Table, threw aside his mantle and took it. "Do you do this
as one of the best knights?" said the stranger. "No," he replied, "but
as one of the most foolish." The stranger lays his head upon the
block, receives a blow which sends it rolling from his shoulders,
walks after it, picks it up, replaces it with great success, and
says he will return when the court shall be assembled next year, and
claim his turn. When the anniversary arrived both parties were
punctual to their engagement. Great entreaties were used by the king
and queen, and the whole court, in behalf of Caradoc, but the stranger
was inflexible. The young knight laid his head upon the block, and
more than once desired him to make an end of the business, and not
keep him longer in so disagreeable a state of expectation. At last the
stranger strikes him gently. with the side of the sword, bids him
rise, and reveals to him the fact that he is his father, the enchanter
Eliaures, and that he gladly owns him for a son, having proved his
courage, and fidelity to his word.
But the favor of enchanters is short-lived and uncertain. Eliaures
fell under the influence of a wicked woman, who, to satisfy her
pique against Caradoc, persuaded the enchanter to fasten on his arm
a serpent, which remained there sucking at his flesh and blood, no
human skill sufficing either to remove the reptile or alleviate the
torments which Caradoc endured.
Caradoc was betrothed to Guimier, sister to his bosom friend
Cador, and daughter to the king of Cornwall. As soon as they were
informed of his deplorable condition, they set out for Nantes, where
Caradoc's castle was, that Guimier might attend upon him. When Caradoc
heard of their coming his first emotion was that