with Pascent. Then in the eventime, the moon gan to shine, well nigh
all as bright as the sunlight. Then they saw afar a marvellous star;
it was broad, it was large, it was immense! From it came gleams
terribly shining, the star is named in Latin, comet. Came from the
star a gleam most fierce; at this gleam's end was a dragon fair, from
this dragon's mouth came gleams enow! But twain there were mickle,
unlike to the others; the one drew toward France, the other toward
Ireland. The gleam that toward France drew, it was itself bright enow;
to Munt-Giu was seen the marvellous token! The gleam that stretched
right west, it was disposed in seven beams. Uther saw this--but he was
not hereof wary--sorrow was to him in heart, and strangely he was
frightened; so was all the great folk that was in the host. Uther
called Merlin, and bade him come to him, and thus said to him with
very soft words: "Merlin, Merlin, dear friend, prove thyself, and say
to us of the token that we have seen; for I wot not in the
worlds-realm to what end it shall befall; unless thou us counsel, back
we must ride."
Merlin sate him still, a long time, as if he with dream full greatly
laboured. They said who saw it with their own eyes, that oft he turned
him, as if it were a worm! At length he gan to awake, then gan he to
quake, and these words said Merlin the prophet: "Walaway! Walaway! in
this worlds-realm, much is the sorrow that is come to the land! Where
art thou, Uther? Set before me here, and I will say to thee of sorrows
enow. Dead is Aurelie, noblest of kings, so is the other, Constance,
thy brother, whom Vortiger betrayed with his treachery. Now hath
Vortiger's kin killed Aurelie; now art thou alone of thy noble
kindred. But hope not thou for counsel of them that he dead, but think
of thyself--prosperity shall be given to thee;--for seldom he faileth,
who to himself thinketh. Thou shalt become good king, and lord of men.
And thou at the midnight weapon thy knights, that we in the
morning-light may come forth-right, before Meneve—-there thou shalt
fight; ere thou thence depart, slaughter thou shalt make; for thou
shalt both slay there, Pascent and Gillomar, and many thousands of the
men that are with them hither come. The token of the star, that we saw
so far, sooth it is, Uther dear, that betokened thy brother's death.
Before the star was the dragon, to each worm unlike; the token was on
thy half, that was thou, Uther, thyself! Thou shalt have this land,
and thy authority be great and strong. Such tokens are marvellous that
came of the dragon's mouth, two gleams proceeded forth that were
wondrously light. The one stretched far south, out over France--that
signifies a powerful son, that of thy body shall come, who shall win
many kingdoms with conflict, and in the end he shall rule many a
nation. The other gleam that stretched west, wondrously light, that
shall be a daughter, that to thee shall be exceeding dear. The gleams
that gan to spread in seven fair strings, are seven fair sons, who
shall come of thy daughter, who shall win to their own hand many a
kingdom; they shall be well strong, on water and on land. Now thou
hast of me heard what will thee help, quickly forth-right march to thy
fight." And Merlin gan to slumber, as if he would sleep.
Up arose Uther, now he was wise and wary, and ordered his knights
forth-right to horse, and ordered them quickly to proceed to Meneve;
and all their expedition (or forces) to prepare, as if they should
fight. In the troop before he had knights well chosen; seven thousand
knights, brave men and active. He had in the middle knights well
beseen, other seven thousand good thanes. He had behind brave knights
eighteen thousand, brave warriors, and of folk on foot so many
thousands, that in no speech might any man tell them! Forth they
marched quickly, until they came to Meneve.
There saw Gillomar where Uther came to him, and commanded his knights
to weapon them forth-right. And they very speedily grasped their
knives, and off with their breeches--strange were their looks--and
grasped in their hands their long spears, and hung on their shoulders
great battle-axes. Then said Gillomar the king a thing very
strange:--"Here cometh Uther, Aurelie's brother; he will ask my peace,
and not fight with me. The foremost are his swains; march we against
them; ye need never reek, though ye slay the wretches! For if Uther,
Constantine's son, will here become my man, and give to Pascent his
father's realm, I will him grant peace, and let him live, and in fair
bonds lead him to my land." The king spake thus, the while worse him
befell!
Uther's knights were in the town forth-right, and laid fire in the
town, and fought sharply; with swords rushed towards them; and the
Irish were naked. When the Irish men saw, that the Britons were in
conflict, they fought fiercely, and nevertheless they fell; they
called on their king: "Where art thou, nithing! why wilt thou not come
hither? thou lettest us here be destroyed;--and Pascent, thy comrade,
saw us fall here;--come ye to us to help, with great strength!"
Gillomar heard this; therefore his heart was sore; with his Irish
knights he came to the fight, and Pascent forth with him--both they
were fated! When Uther saw, that Gillomar was there come, to him he
gan ride, and smote him in the side, so that the spear through
pierced, and glided to the heart. Hastily he passed by him, and
overtook Pascent; and said these words Uther the good: "Pascent, thou
shalt abide; here cometh Uther riding!" He smote him upon the head, so
that he fell down, and the sword put in his mouth—-such meat to him
was strange--so that the point of the sword went in the earth. Then
said Uther: "Pascent, lie now there; now thou hast Britain all won to
thy hand! So is now hap to thee; therein thou art dead; dwell ye shall
here, thou, and Gillomar thy companion, and possess well Britain! For
now I deliver it to you in hand, so that ye may presently dwell with
us here; ye need not ever dread who you shall feed!" Thus said Uther,
and afterwards he there ran, and drove the Irish men over waters and
over fens, and slew all the host that with Pascent came to land. Some
to the sea fled, and leapt into their ships; with weather and with
water there they perished! Thus they sped here, Pascent and Gillomar.
Now was this fight done; and Uther back came, and forth-right marched
into Winchester.
In a broad way he gan meet three knights and their swains, who came
toward him. Anon as they met him, fair they him greeted: "Hail be
thou, Uther; these territories are thine own. Dead is Aurelie, noblest
of kings; he hath set to thee in hand all his regal land; he bade thee
be in prosperity, and think of his soul." Then wept Uther wondrously
much there. Uther proceeded forth-right into Winchester; then were
before him, without the burgh, all the burghers with piteous cries. So
soon as they saw him, they said to him: "Uther, thy favour, now and
evermore! Our king we have lost, woe is to us therefore. Thou wert his
brother—-he had no other, nor he had no son, who might become king.
But take thou the crown, it is thy right, and we will help thee, and
hold for lord, with weapons and with goods, and with all our might."
Uther heard this; he was wise and he was aware, that there was no
other course, since his brother was dead. He took the crown, that came
to him exceeding well, and he worthily became king, and held good
laws, and loved his folk. Whilst that he was king, and chose his
ministers, Merlin disappeared; he knew not ever whither he went, nor
ever in the worlds-realm what became of him. Woe was the king, so was
all his people, and all his courtiers were therefore mourning. The
king caused men to ride wide and far; he offered gold and treasure to
each travelling man, whosoever might find Merlin in the land thereto
he laid mickle praise, but he heard no whit of him. Then bethought
Uther, what Merlin said to him ere, in the expedition into Welsh land,
where they saw the dragon, to each worm incomparable, and he thought
of the tokens that Merlin taught him. The king was exceeding sorry,
and sorrowful in heart, for he lost never a dearer man, since he was
alive, never any other, not even Aurelie, his brother. The king caused
to be worked two images, two golden dragons, all for Merlin's love--
so greatly he desired his coming. When the dragons were ready, the one
was his companion, wheresoever he in the land led his army, it was his
standard, in every hap, the other he worthily gave into Winchester,
into the bishop's see, where he stead holdeth. Thereto he gave his
good spear, wherewith men should bear the dragon, when men should
carry relics at processions. The Britons saw this, these dragons that
were thus made, ever since they called Uther, who for a standard bare
the dragon, the name they laid on him, that was Uther Pendragon;
Pendragon in British, Dragon's-head in English.
Now was Uther their good king, but of Merlin he had nothing. This word
heard Octa, where he dwelt northward, and Ebissa his wed-brother, and
Ossa the other, that Aurelie sent thither, and set them there in his
peace, and gave them in hand sixty hides of land. Octa heard full
truly all how it was transacted, of Aurehe's death, and of Uther's
kingdom. Octa called to him his kin that was nearest, they betook them
to counsel, of their old deeds, that they would by their life desert
Christendom. They held husting, and became heathens, then came there
together, of Hengest's kindred, five and sixty hundred of heathen men.
Soon was the word reported and over the land known, that Octa,
Hengest's son, was become heathen, and all these same men to whom
Aurelie had granted peace. Octa sent his messengers into Welsh land,
after the Irish that from Uther were fled, and after the Alemains
(Germans), that away were drawn, that were gone to the wood, the while
men slew Pascent, and hid them well everywhere, the while men slew
Gillomar, the folk out of the wood drew, and toward Scotland
proceeded. There came ever more and more, and proceeded toward Octa,
when they together were all come, then were there thirty thousand,
without the women, of Hengest's kin. They took their host, and forth
gan to fare, and set all in their hand beyond the Humber, and the
people, where they gan march, there was a marvellous host! And they
proceeded right to York, and on each side the heathen people gan ride
about the burgh, and the burgh besieged, and took it all in their
hand, forth into Scotland, all that they saw they accounted their own.
But Uther's knights who were in the castle, defended the town within,
so that they might never get within, in no place heard any one, of few
men that did so well!
So soon as Uther of this thing was aware, he assembled a strong army,
over all his kingdom, and he very speedily marched toward York,
proceeded forth-right anon, where Octa him lay. Octa and his forces
marched against them; encountered them together with grim strength,
hewed hardily, helms resounded; the fields were dyed with the blood of
the slain, and the heathen souls hell sought! When the day's end
arrived, then was it so evilly done, that the heathen folk had the
upper hand, and with great strength routed the Britons, and drove them
to a mount that was exceeding strong. And Uther with his men drew to
the mount, and had lost in the fight his dear knights, full seven
hundred—-his hap was the worse! The mount hight Dunian, that Uther was
upon, the mount was overgrown with a fair wood. The king was there
within with very many men, and Octa besieged him with the heathen men
night and day—-besieged him all about, woe was to the Britons! Woe was
the King Uther, that he was not ere aware, that he had not in land
better understood. Oft they went to counsel of such need, how they
might overcome Octa, Hengest's son.
There was an earl Gorlois, bold man full truly—-knight he was good, he
was Uther's man,—-Earl of Cornwall, known he was wide—-he was a very
wise man, in all things excellent. To him said Uther, sorry in heart:
"Hail be thou, Gorlois, lord of men! Thou art mine own man, and very
well I thee treat; thou art knight good, great is thy wisdom, all my
people I put in thy counsel, and all we shall work after thy will."
Then hung he his brows down, the King Uther Pendragon, and stood him
full still, and bade Gorlois say his will. Then answered Gorlois, who
was courteous full truly, "Say me, Uther Pendragon, why bowest thou
thy head down? Knowest thou not that God alone is better than we all
clean? He may to whomsoever he will give worship. Promise we him in
life that we will not him deceive, and let we counsel us of our
misdeeds. Each man forth-right take shrift of all his sins, each man
shrive other, as if it were his brother, and every good knight take on
him much shrift, and God we shall promise to amend our sins. And at
the midnight prepare us to fight, these heathen hounds account us all
here bound. Octa, Hengest's son, weeneth that we are all taken, they
he in these fields covered in their tents, they are very weary of
carrying their weapons, now anon they shall slumber, and afterwards
sleep; of us they have no care, that we will march against them. At
the midnight we shall forth-right go exceeding still, down from this
hill, be no knight so mad, that he ask any word, nor ever any man be
so mad, that he blow horn. But we shall step to them as if we would
steal, ere they are aware, we shall destroy them, we shall approach to
them, and tell them tidings. And let every brave man strongly lay on
them, and so we shall drive the foreigners from the land, and with the
might of our Lord, win our rights." All this host did as Gorlois had
bid them, each man forth-right put him under shrift promised to do
good, and Uther Pendragon foremost went down, and all his knights,
exceeding still, and smote in the wealds, among all the tents, and
slew the heathens with great strength, slew over the fields the yellow
locks, of folk it was most wretched, they drew along their bowels,
with much destruction they fell to the ground.
And there was forth-right captured Octa, Hengest's son, and his
wed-brother Ebissa, and his comrade Ossa. The king caused them to be
bound with iron bands, and delivered them to sixty knights, who were
good in fight, fast to hold over the weald. And he himself drove him
forth, and made much din, and Gorlois the fair, forth on the other
side, and all their knights ever forth-right slew downright all that
they came nigh. Some they crept to the wood on their bare knees, and
they were on the morrow most miserable of all folk. Octa was bound,
and led to London, and Ebissa, and Ossa--was never to them such woe.
This fight was all done, and the king forth marched into
Northumberland with great bliss, and afterwards to Scotland, and set
it all in his own hand. He established peace, he established quiet,
that each man might journey with from land to land, though he bare
gold in his hand, of peace he did such things, that no king might ever
ere, from that time that the Britons here arrived. And then, after a
time, he proceeded to London, he was there at Easter, with his good
folk, blithe was the London's town, for Uther Pendragon. He sent his
messengers over all his kingdom, he bade the earls, he bade the
churls, he bade the bishops, and the book learned men, that they
should come to London, to Uther the king, into London's town, to Uther
Pendragon. Rich men soon to London came; they brought wife, they
brought child, as Uther the king commanded. With much goodness the
king heard mass, and Gorlois, the Earl of Cornwall, and many knights
with him; much bliss was in the town, with King Uther Pendragon. When
the mass was sung, to the hall they crowded, trumpets they blew,
boards they spread, all the folk ate and drank, and bliss was among
them.
There sate Uther the king in his high chair; opposite to him Gorlois,
fair knight full truly, the Earl of Cornwall, with his noble wife.
When they were all seated, the earls to their meat, the king sent his
messengers to Ygaerne the fair, Gorlois the earl's wife, woman fairest
of all. Oft he looked on her, and glanced with his eyes, oft he sent
his cup-bearers forth to her table, oft he laughed at her, and made
glances to her, and she him lovingly beheld--but I know not whether
she loved him. The king was not so wise, nor so far prudent, that
among his folk he could his thoughts hide. So long the king this
practised, that Gorlois became him wrath, and angered him greatly with
the king, because of his wife. The earl and his knights arose
forth-right, and went forth with the woman, knights most wrath. King
Uther saw this, and herefore was sorry, and took him forth-right
twelve wise knights, and sent after Gorlois, chieftain of men, and
bade him come in haste to the king, and do the king good right, and
acknowledge his fault, that he had disgraced the king, and from his
board had departed, he, and his knights, with mickle wrong, for the
king was cheerful with him, and for he hailed (drank health) to his
wife. And if he would not back come, and acknowledge his guilt, the
king would follow after him, and do all his might, take from him all
his land, and his silver, and his gold. Gorlois heard this, lord of
men, and he answer gave, wrathest of earls: "Nay, so help me the Lord,
that formed the daylight, will I never back come, nor yearn his peace,
nor shall he ever in life disgrace me of my wife! And say ye to Uther
the king, at Tintateol he may find me, if he thither will ride, there
will I abide him, and there he shall have hard game, and mickle
world's shame." Forth proceeded the earl, angry in his mood, he was
wrath with the king wondrously much, and threatened Uther the king,
and all his thanes with him. But he knew not what should come
subsequently, soon thereafter.
The earl proceeded anon into Cornwall; he had there two castles
inclosed most fast, the castles were good, and belonged to the race of
his ancestors. To Tintateol he sent his mistress who was so fair,
named Ygaerne, best of all women; and he inclosed her fast in the
castle. Ygaerne was sorry, and sorrowful in heart, that so many men
for her should there have destruction. The earl sent messengers over
all Britain, and bade each brave man, that he should come to him, for
gold and for silver, and for other good gifts, that they full soon
should come to Tintateol, and bade his own knights to come
forth-right. When they were together, the good thanes, then had he
full fifteen thousand, and they fast inclosed Tintateol. Upon the
sea-strand Tintateol standeth, it is with the sea cliffs fast
inclosed, so that it may not be won, by no kind of man, but if hunger
come therein under. The earl marched thence with seven thousand men,
and proceeded to another castle, and inclosed it full fast, and left
his wife in Tintateol, with ten thousand men. For it needed the
knights, day or night, only to guard the castle gate, and he careless
asleep; and the earl kept the other, and with him his own brother.
Uther heard this, who was king most stark, that Gorlois, his earl, had
gathered his forces, and would hold war, with much wrath. The king
summoned his host over all this territory, over all the land that
stood in his hand, people of many kind marched them together, and came
to London to the sovereign. Out of London's town fared Uther
Pendragon, he and his knights proceeded forth-right, so long, that
they came into Cornwall, and over the water they passed, that Tambres
hight, right to the castle, where they knew Gorlois to be. With much
enmity the castle they besieged, oft they assaulted it with fierce
strength; together they leapt, people there fell. Full seven nights
the king with his knights besieged the castle, his men there had
sorrow, he might not of the earl anything win, and all the se'nnight
lasted the marvellous fight. When Uther the king saw that nothing sped
to him, oft he bethought him what he might do, for Ygaerne was so dear
to him, even as his own life, and Gorlois was to him in the land of
all men most loathsome; and in each way was woe to him in this world's
realm, because he might not have anything of his will.
Then was with the king an old man exceeding well-informed; he was a
very rich thane, and skilful in each doom, he was named Ulfin, much
wisdom was with him. The king drew up his chin, and looked on Ulfin,
greatly he mourned, his mood was disturbed. Then quoth Uther Pendragon
to Ulfin the knight: "Ulfin, say me some counsel, or I shall be full
soon dead, so much it longeth me after the fair Ygaerne, that I may
not live. This word hold to me secret; for Ulfin the dear, thy good
counsels, loud and still I will do them." Then answered Ulfin to the
king who spake with him: "Now hear I a king say great marvel! Thou
lovest Ygaerne, and holdest it so secret, the woman is to thee dear,
and her lord all loath, his land thou consumest, and makest him
destitute, and threatenest himself to slay, and his kin to destroy.
Weenest thou with such harm to obtain Ygaerne? She should do then as
no woman doth, with dread unmeet hold love sweet. But if thou lovest
Ygaerne, thou shouldest hold it secret, and send her soon of silver
and of gold, and love her with art, and with loving behest. The yet it
were a doubt, whether thou mightest possess her, for Ygaerne is
chaste, a woman most true; so was her mother, and more of the kin. In
sooth I thee say, dearest of all kings, that otherwise thou must
begin, if thou wilt win her. For yesterday came to me a good hermit,
and swore by his chin, that he knew Merlin, where he each night
resteth under heaven, and oft he spake with him, and stories him told.
And if we might with art get Merlin, then mightest thou thy will
wholly obtain."
Then was Uther Pendragon the softer in his mood, and gave answer:
"Ulfin, thou hast well said counsel, I give thee in hand thirty
ploughs of land, so that thou get Merlin, and do my will." Ulfin went
through the folk, and sought all the host, and he after a time found
the hermit, and in haste brought him to the king. And the king set to
him in hand seven ploughs of land, if he might find and bring Merlin
to the king. The hermit gan wend in the west end, to a wilderness, to
a mickle wood, where he had dwelt well many winters, and Merlin very
oft sought him there. So soon as the hermit came in, then found he
Merlin, standing under a tree, and sore gan for him long, he saw the
hermit come, as whilom was his custom, he ran towards him, both they
rejoiced for this; they embraced, they kissed, and familiarly spake.
Then said Merlin--much wisdom was with him--"Say thou, my dear friend,
why wouldest thou not say to me, through no kind of thing, that thou
wouldest go to the king? But full quickly I it knew anon as I thee
missed, that thou wert come to Uther the king, and what the king spake
with thee, and of his land thee offered, that thou shouldest bring me
to Uther the king. And Ulfin thee sought, and to the king brought, and
Uther Pendragon forth-right anon, set him in hand thirty ploughs of
land, and he set thee in hand seven ploughs of land. Uther is desirous
after Ygaerne the fair, wondrously much, after Gorlois's wife. But so
long as is eternity, that shall never come, that he obtain her, but
through my stratagem, for there is no woman truer in this world's
realm. And nevertheless he shall possess the fair Ygaerne; and he
shall beget on her what shall widely rule, he shall beget on her a man
exceeding marvellous. So long as is eternity, he shall never die, the
while that this world standeth, his glory shall last, and he shall in
Rome rule the thanes. All shall bow to him that dwelleth in Britain,
of him shall gleemen goodly sing; of his breast noble poets shall eat;
of his blood shall men be drunk; from his eyes shall fly fiery embers;
each finger on his hand shall be a sharp steel brand, stone walls
shall before him tumble; barons shall give way, and their standards
fall! Thus he shall well long fare over all the lands, people to
conquer, and set his laws. These are the tokens of the son, that shall
come of Uther Pendragon and of Ygaerne. This speech is full secret,
for yet neither it knoweth, Ygaerne nor Uther, that of Uther Pendragon
such a son shall arise; for yet he is unbegot, that shall govern all
the people. But, Lord," quoth Merlin, "now it is thy will, that forth
I shall go to the host of the king; thy words I will obey, and now I
will depart, and proceed I will for thy love to Uther Pendragon. And
thou shalt have the land that he set thee in hand."