Chapter 4 - Page 2

of joy and love.
But soon he began to fear that the sight of his emaciated form and
of his sufferings would disgust Guimier; and this apprehension
became so strong that he departed secretly from Nantes, and hid
himself in a hermitage. He was sought far and near by the knights of
Arthur's court, and Cador made a vow never to desist from the quest
till he should have found him. After long wandering, Cador
discovered his friend in the hermitage, reduced almost to a
skeleton, and apparently near his death. All other means of relief
having already been tried in vain, Cador at last prevailed on the
enchanter Eliaures to disclose the only method which could avail for
his rescue. A maiden must be found, his equal in birth and beauty, and
loving him better than herself, so that she would expose herself to
the same torment to deliver him. Two vessels were then to be provided,
the one filled with sour wine and the other with milk. Caradoc must
enter the first, so that the wine should reach his neck, and the
maiden must get into the other, and, exposing her bosom upon the
edge of the vessel, invite the serpent to forsake the withered flesh
of his victim for this fresh and inviting food. The vessels were to be
placed three feet apart, and as the serpent crossed from one to the
other a knight was to cut him in two. If he failed in his blow,
Caradoc, would indeed be delivered, but it would only be to see his
fair champion suffering the same cruel and hopeless torment. The
sequel may be easily foreseen. Guimier willingly exposed herself to
the perilous adventure, and Cador, with a lucky blow, killed the
serpent. The arm, in which Caradoc had suffered so long, recovered its
strength, but not its shape, in consequence of which he was called
Caradoc Briefbras, Caradoc of the Shrunken Arm.
Caradoc and Guimier are the hero and heroine of the ballad of the
Boy and the Mantle, which follows. THE BOY AND THE MANTLE. In Carlisle dwelt King Arthur,
A prince of passing might,
And there maintained his Table
Beset with many a knight. And there he kept his Christmas,
With mirth and princely cheer,
When lo! a strange and cunning boy
Before him did appear. A kirtle and a mantle
This boy had him upon,
With brooches, rings, and ouches,
Full daintily bedone. He had a sash of silk.
About his middle meet;
And thus with seemly curtesie
He did King Arthur greet: "God speed thee, brave King Arthur,
Thus feasting in thy bower,
And Guenever, thy goodly queen,
That fair and peerless flower. "Ye gallant lords and lordlings,
I wish you all take heed,
Lest what ye deem a blooming rose
Should prove a cankered weed." Then straightway from his bosom
A little wand he drew;
And with it eke a mantle,