SIR GALAHAD'S MISSION.
"Thinkers are scarce as gold: but he, whose thoughts embrace all his
subject, pursues it uninterruptedly and fearless of consequences, is
a diamond of enormous size."--LAVATER.
The winter following the return of Primrose to her old home brought
her no repetition of the previous year's travels and gaieties, and
only such news of her friend Lady Bryn Afon as an occasional letter
afforded. These letters, however, gave her much pleasure, being
always written in most loving and gracious terms, and showing
particular interest in her pursuits and studies, which latter the
lady begged her to pursue diligently, more especially her practisings
upon the harp, she herself having instructed her in this art during
their sojourn together abroad, and having bestowed upon her a most
beautiful instrument for her own possession, which was pronounced by
a certain old harpist of Caer Cynau, from whom she continued to
receive instruction, to be one which the ancient bards of Wales
themselves might touch with pleasure! Of these now extinct musicians
of renown this venerable harpist declared himself a direct
descendant, and considered himself no mean successor, and was even so
gracious as to discern some sign of their ancient skill in his young
pupil, which he set himself with all pains to develop to the best of
his power, finding in her own increasing enjoyment of the art and
growing skill a full reward of his labours.
The Lady Bryn Afon exhorted Primrose to profit well by his teachings,
as well as by all such means as the vicar's great learning afforded
her of storing up information during the shining hours of her youth.
She told her that her own state of health progressed but sadly, and
that she must needs again winter abroad, but this time in company
with her husband, who was loth again to part from her for so long a
time, and to whom the king had granted leave of absence from his
royal person that he might cheer her with his society as befitted a
true and loving husband. So the long winter months wore away once
more in the valley, and very happily for Primrose, who, having
herself no wish to part again so soon from her faithful guardian, was
glad that her services were not immediately required, and that she
had leisure during the long winter evenings for much reading and
study, and for bringing to a greater perfection her playing upon her
beloved instrument, ere she should be again summoned into her
friend's presence.
Meanwhile much talk went on in the hamlet and in the neighbouring
villages as to the young Cambridge student, and the fresh crusade
against the sin of drunkenness and intemperance which some said he
was waging anew during the Christmas season in the parts about Caer
Caradoc. It seemed that during a temporary stay in the Lady
Rosamond's household, he was wont to go forth as a prophet throughout
the country-side, calling people together, with the consent of their
clergy, in barns and outhouses, as in the previous spring-time, and
testifying with wondrous eloquence against the sin so rife amongst
them, and showing forth the virtue of self-control and moderation in
the use of all the good gifts of God, as well as pointing out that
high path of self-denial for the good of others, which must needs be
humbly trodden by many if they would ever see this shameful and
terrible evil uprooted from their midst. And some said that he drew,
in such beautiful language, pictures of the day when men should
return home wise and sober from fair and market--at which noisy
gatherings he had likewise often openly addressed the people--and
should be greeted by happy, smiling wives and children, finding a
happy, holy home to be their lot rather than a brawling hovel of
misery, that he had drawn tears from the most hardened eyes, and that
some few of the most notorious drinkers had even been known to ride
home from the Christmas market without having to be once rescued from
the ditch by their companions, which surely pointed to a better state
of things, since it was no uncommon sight, late on a busy market-day,
to find the men stretched prone in the ditch by the roadside, while
their nags cheerfully nibbled the grass which grew around their
foolish-looking prostrate forms, not to speak of those who, too
intoxicated with strong liquor to ride home in safety, must needs
often place themselves, two on the same poor beast, holding one
another tightly, and lurching dangerously from side to side, while
the second sorry-looking nag came on alone behind, with drooping
tail, as though ashamed of its owner. But Primrose, who, although
she would have blushed to confess it, would fain have seen this young
preacher of novel doctrine face to face, looked for him in vain in
the hamlet of Bryn Afon, for neither there nor to the village of
Cwmfelin or any other in its immediate neighbourhood did he come at
this season, though his fame was noised abroad, and himself the topic
of converse at every fireside; by some held up for admiration, by
others to ridicule; yet his mission always held to be a high and
holy, if withal a fanatical one, and his character to be without
reproach.
"They say that the youth is to be made my Lord Bryn Afon's chaplain,"
said Jack the boatman, while discussing the young prophet one day in
the following summer with Master Rhys. "An it be true, I would that
he might persuade the noble earl to reside more among his people! So
we should doubly profit, being the better for the presence of our
master in our midst, and I trow not much the worse for so godly an
example of sobriety as this young man might show us." "It would
doubtless be well," said Master Rhys, somewhat sadly; "for though our
valley be in good sooth fair as the Garden of Eden, it is yet but
over plainly marked by the trail of the serpent. For my own part, I
lament sorely that I have grown old ere this matter has been plainly
brought before me, and that now when my eyes are opened to see the
evil, my age renders me thus incapable of embarking on such a work as
our unknown young friend, even ere he enters upon his ministry, has
been bold enough to begin. Methinks he must indeed be fully armed
with the courage of his opinions, for at the university it can be no
light thing boldly to stand out against a multitude of gay companions
and denounce the evil. He will, I fear me, likewise find himself a
sorry subject for jesting when he enters upon the duties of his
chaplaincy, for at Court this question will scarce yet commend itself
for discussion, save in ridicule. Nevertheless our king doth set his
Court a godly example in private life, whatever may be said of his
kingly qualities, and I would fain know it to be more widely
followed." "Our king is a good man," assented Jack heartily, "but I
would have seen him wedded to a lady of our own church rather than to
a Papist, for there is much talk against her in many parts of our
land, and that is greatly to be bewailed, since the Scripture forbids
us to 'speak evil of dignities,' let alone the loyalty of our own
hearts! Alas, that even in our own principality, than which no part
of his Majesty's domains is more loyal, there should already be a
wagging of bitter tongues, and a passing to and fro of seditious
words, such as cause my spirit to burn within me! Had it not been
for the favour shown to my Lord Bryn Afon by his late Majesty, I fear
me we might have lent even more readily than now an ear to the
pestilent doctrine of Master Jones and his followers, whose number, I
thank God, is yet but few! But King James showed ever a true
discernment of the worth of an honest Welshman, and who indeed more
fit to be counted his friend than the Lord Bryn Afon, who can boast
of lineage as ancient as any in our principality, and whose British
blood dates back to a time when the Saxon conqueror was unknown?"
"You are verily a true patriot, friend Jack," laughed the vicar, "and
withal can speak a good word for your conquerors, which bespeaks the
nobility of your soul! Well, should troublous times be before us,
for which we do well to be prepared, you will at least ever remain
staunch to the authority you have so long recognised, and be a true
friend to your king and your church." "So help me God," answered the
old boatman reverently. "Had I lived in the time of my ancestors, I
would have fought for the freedom of my country even as they, but
since it has long been the will of God that the English should rule
over us, I have not seen it my duty to contend against them, since He
has been pleased to call me to a state of life in which I find myself
under their lawful dominion. They have treated us well, methinks,
and shown much confidence in us of late years, besides special
favours to many of our most noble families, and I am well content,
save only that I cannot agree with such of my countrymen who, in
their over-zeal for all that is English, would fain forget wholly
their native tongue, and gladly see it die out from our midst. There
I follow them not, but rejoice to think that our ancient language has
still some few such brave supporters as your own most learned cousin
of Castell Leon, good Master Rhys Prichard, whose efforts to maintain
it I have ever seconded to the best of my poor power. I warrant you
his Gospel Poems are nowhere more oft on the lips of the children, or
better engraved on the hearts of the poor and unlearned, than in your
village of Cwmfelin, or our little hamlet here by the river." "They
have done a good work," said Master Rhys, "and greatly do I esteem my
good cousin for his labours, though I do still confess, to my shame
as a Welshman, an unfair love for the English tongue! But for that
you have ever pardoned me, knowing how my long residence in an
English cure as a younger man was fain to bias my good taste! I well
remember your joy and pride in our first Welsh Bible placed in the
church some five or six years since, good Jack, and how your fair
Primrose gazed with admiration at the big volume, and touched with
awe the chains which bound it to the desk! Ah me! I oft look round
upon my little church and its simple treasures with fear and
trembling in these troublesome times; for that dark storms are
brewing, I doubt not, and it has been ever before me of late that the
day is coming shortly when we who remain loyal to our church will
stand in greater danger than heretofore, if not of our lives, yet of
our livings being wrested from us, and our churches desecrated." "I
pray Heaven such evil may not come in your day, good sir," said Jack,
"though I likewise have evil forebodings, and am sometimes pleased to
think that our seclusion doth somewhat profit us, if only in the
saving of our ears from the pillory! Methinks that youthful
enthusiast of Cambridge must needs take care of his, for in these
days over-boldness will scarce go unchallenged!" "Should he be much
about the Court in his service of chaplain to Lord Bryn Afon," said
Master Rhys, "he is likely to give no displeasure to our present
sovereign by his teachings, for none can deny that King Charles doth
set an example of high and holy living in his own person, such as he
can scarce fail to appreciate in others." "And such too," said Jack,
"as with all reverence to his royal father, was not by any means
shown forth by him. Had our young prophet lived in his day and
preached in his Court his doctrines of abstinence and self-denial, it
had perchance been better for King James--peace be to his
memory!--and worse, I trow, for himself! He had been fortunate then
to have escaped with his ears!" "There is but little doubt that the
late king hastened his death by his excesses," said Master Rhys.
"Temptations, such as are common to man, are not always best resisted
in high life, and we must needs be thankful that the Court of to-day
is purer and more sober. I doubt not the young man will gain some
royal support for his new doctrines." "I pray the Lord Bryn Afon
himself may profit by them," said Jack earnestly, "for he has need,
though to none but yourself, good sir, would I say it.--How now,
Primrose? Thy readings over, child? What book hast thou now stolen
from thy pastor's shelves?" The young girl drew from under her arm a
copy of Spenser's _Faery Queene_, over which she had been poring for
some hours in the vicar's library, while he had taken his afternoon
walk to the hamlet, and indulged in his long chat with the old
boatman. "It is not King Arthur to-day," she said with a smile.
"What think you, dad? Passing the village shop a few moments since,
I bethought me of a trifle I needed there, and going in to purchase
it, I laid my book upon the counter, whereupon Master Jones seized
upon it like a vulture upon his prey, and reading its title, flung it
from him as though it had been a coal red-hot from the fire. 'Have
pity on my book, since it is a borrowed one, good Master Jones!' I
said. 'What has it done to deserve such treatment at your hands?'
'It is a pestilent volume, forsooth,' said he, speaking thus"--and
Primrose imitated the good man's nasal twang to such perfection that
her hearers were convulsed with laughter--"'a book which no godly
damsel should look upon, a book full of evil imaginations and lying
wonders, writ by one of Satan's messengers, to lure the young ever
nearer to the pit of destruction. Beware, young woman, lest the vain
visions of unholy poets ensnare and destroy your soul!' 'You would
fain burn the book together with our Prayer Books, is it not so?' I
said; 'and many more precious volumes, I doubt not, an you could lay
violent hands on them! Have you then gained much ill for your own
soul by its perusal, that you are thus bitter against it?' 'Heaven
forbid!' he answered, uplifting his hands in horror, and rolling the
whites of his eyes till I verily feared some fit was overtaking him.
'I would not touch the book with a pair of tongs, much less look
therein!' 'Then,' I said, 'methinks, good sir, it is a wicked sin
you commit, in so slandering good Master Spenser, when you know not
one word of his writings! An you will read the book all through, and
meditate thereon with deep attention, I will gladly hear what you
have to say upon it; but as yet I fear me I can feel but little
respect for your opinion, and will be gone.' Whereupon he looked
sadly foolish, and covering his face with both hands to hide his
confusion, he murmured as I left him: 'Alas, that a lost soul should
dwell in so fair an exterior!" "Beshrew me!" exclaimed Jack
indignantly, "if I e'er suffer thee to set foot again within his
doors! Let him meddle with thy soul at his peril! I fear me thy
beauty doth subject thee to many an insult, sweetheart!" "Nay, I
thought no harm of his speech," she answered, laughing. "He has ever
been wont from time to time to make me a pretty compliment, but so
carefully wrapped with bitter flavourings that it could scarce offend
me by its sweetness! I pray you, dear dad, be not angry against him,
for I doubt not he means well by his warnings, and I half fear that I
ought perchance to repent me of my sauciness. Is it not such counsel
which is on the tip of your tongue, dear Master Rhys?" and she looked
up with a loving smile at the old vicar, who patted her head and
smiled back at her benignantly. "Nay, my child," he answered; "my
tongue is in no present mood for scolding. But I have news for you.
The Lady Rosamond bids me take lunch with her on the morrow at Caer
Caradoc, and says that being just now somewhat lonesome, without
guests or gaieties, she would enjoy the favour of your company for a
few days, should your guardian think fit to spare you to her, and to
entrust me with your escort." Primrose clapped her hands, "A few
days at Caer Caradoc!" she exclaimed. "I would indeed like to see
more of King Arthur's old castle, if I might. What say you, dad?
Will you let me take advantage of her kindness?" "Ay, right
willingly, dear heart," he answered. "She shall accompany you, good
sir, with my great good will, for it were hard on so sweet and
dutiful a daughter to keep her from aught that can give her pleasure;
and since your own friendship towards the Lady Rosamond is a warrant
to me that she will be safe in her keeping, I can suffer her to
depart without fear. It is ever before me that again ere long the
Lady Bryn Afon may perchance have need of her company, and since her
own mother too may likewise claim her ere many more years are past, I
shall do well at times to accustom myself to her loss by dwelling for
a season without having her sweet face to look upon." The old man
heaved a heavy sigh as he spoke, and Primrose clung closely to him,
for greatly though she longed for the time when her unknown mother
should reveal herself, she yet felt her whole future to be so
enshrouded in mystery, that she could but anticipate it with dread,
and a certain shrinking from anything that threatened to break up her
peaceful existence with her foster-father in the beautiful Gwynnon
Valley. "Heaven grant she may treasure you as I do, my darling!"
murmured the old man solemnly; "and may let me find a place at your
feet in those high places which my mind ever pictures as your
portion! The bell ringeth for Evensong. I will lay aside my work
and walk across the hills with you, sweet one, since some few lonely
days must pass ere I kneel by your side again."