Stories from Le Morte DArthur and the Mabinogion | Page 8

petition to make to him; and Arthur,
doubting nothing of her good faith, suffered himself to be led within.
Then was a great feast spread, and Annoure caused the King to be
seated in a chair of state at her right hand, while squires and pages
served him on bended knee. So when they had feasted, the King turned
to the Lady Annoure and said courteously: "Lady, somewhat ye said of
a request that ye would make. If there be aught in which I may pleasure
you, I pray you let me know it, and I will serve you as knightly as I
may." "In truth," said the lady, "there is that which I would fain entreat
of you, most noble knight; yet suffer, I beseech you, that first I may
show you somewhat of my castle and my estate, and then will I crave a
boon of your chivalry." Then the sorceress led King Arthur from room
to room of her castle, and ever each displayed greater store of beauty
than the last. In some the walls were hung with rich tapestries, in others
they gleamed with precious stones; and the King marvelled what might
be the petition of one that was mistress of such wealth. Lastly, Annoure
brought the King out upon the battlements, and as he gazed around him,
he saw that, since he had entered the castle, there had sprung up about
it triple walls of defence that shut out wholly the forest from view.
Then turned he to Annoure, and gravely he said: "Lady, greatly I
marvel in what a simple knight may pleasure one that is mistress of so
wondrous a castle as ye have shown me here; yet if there be aught in
which I may render you knightly service, right gladly would I hear it
now, for I must forth upon my way to render service to those whose
knight I am sworn." "Nay, now, King Arthur," answered the sorceress
mockingly, "ye may not think to deceive me; for well I know you, and
that all Britain bows to your behest." "The more reason then that I
should ride forth to right wrong and succour them that, of their loyalty,
render true obedience to their lord." "Ye speak as a fool," said the
sorceress; "why should one that may command be at the beck and call
of every hind and slave within his realm? Nay, rest thee here with me,
and I will make thee ruler of a richer land than Britain, and give thee to
satisfy thy every desire." "Lady," said the King sternly, "I will hear and
judge of your petition at this time, and then will I forth upon my way."
"Nay," said Annoure, "there needs not this harshness. I did but speak

for thine advantage. Only vow thee to my service, and there is naught
that thou canst desire that thou shalt not possess. Thou shalt be lord of
this fair castle and of the mighty powers that obey me. Why waste thy
youth in hardship and in the service of such as shall render thee little
enough again?"
Thereupon, without ever a word, the King turned him about and made
for the turret stair by which he had ascended, but nowhere could he find
it. Then said the sorceress, mocking him: "Fair sir, how think ye to
escape without my good-will? See ye not the walls that guard my
stronghold? And think ye that I have not servants enow to do my
bidding?" She clapped her hands and forthwith there appeared a
company of squires who, at her command, seized the King and bore
him away to a strong chamber where they locked him in.
And so the King abode that night, the prisoner of that evil sorceress,
with little hope that day, when it dawned, should bring him better cheer.
Yet lost he not courage, but kept watch and vigil the night through lest
the powers of evil should assail him unawares. And with the early
morning light, Annoure came to visit him. More stately she seemed
than the night before, more tall and more terrible; and her dress was
one blaze of flashing gems, so that scarce could the eye look upon her.
As a queen might address a vassal, so greeted she the King, and as
condescending to one of low estate, asked how he had fared that night.
And the King made answer: "I have kept vigil as behoves a knight who,
knowing him to be in the midst of danger, would bear himself meetly in
any peril that should offer." And the Lady Annoure, admiring his
knightly courage, desired more earnestly even than before to win him
to her will, and she said: "Sir Arthur, I know well your courage and
knightly fame,