. The Family tutor . with love of the lady, tom^ake speed to woo, for else he prophesiedGuinever would be queen of Britain. AndMordred did make speed, for he soughtthe lady, and with his utmost blandish-ments pressed her to accept his hand; buthe was refused, and presently after Arthurwas accepted. Then, Mordred, how bitterwas thy hatred to both ! But he concealedhis venomous nature, and Guinever triedto esteem him because he was dear toArthur. One more cause of bitterness yet re-mained. Arthur returned with his brideto Cornwall, and was elected Pendragon,supreme king of the British princes. A
. The Family tutor . with love of the lady, tom^ake speed to woo, for else he prophesiedGuinever would be queen of Britain. AndMordred did make speed, for he soughtthe lady, and with his utmost blandish-ments pressed her to accept his hand; buthe was refused, and presently after Arthurwas accepted. Then, Mordred, how bitterwas thy hatred to both ! But he concealedhis venomous nature, and Guinever triedto esteem him because he was dear toArthur. One more cause of bitterness yet re-mained. Arthur returned with his brideto Cornwall, and was elected Pendragon,supreme king of the British princes. And now began Mordred to bring hisenvy and hatred into visible action. Hefirst secretly leagued with Cerdic, theprime enemy of Arthur ; but this was dis-covered through the watchfulness of , who suspected deception in Saxon, disguised as a British armourer,was found to have been introduced by thetraitor into the castle of Tintagel—a dis-covery that led to the hasty execution of 176 THE GOLDEN the Saxon spy, and the banishment ofMordred. Some months passed, and Arthur hadachieved his sixth victory. The heraldswere ranged by the gateway of Tintagel,the knights of the Round Table were as-sembled in the court. Alike were they inmagnificence, and proud of equality invalour and honourable fame. And therewas a goodly gathering of British soldiersaround the outskirts of the courtyard, gaz-ing with curiosity, admiration, and pride. The heralds trumpets blew high notesof welcoming as Arthur rode into thegateway. But who is this that presentshimself, bending low in homage, and, as itseems, in deep humility, before the tri-umphant hero? It is Mordred, bare- headed, alone, casting himself on thegenerosity and magnanimity of the manhe has so deeply injured; and well heknows that in so doing he takes a sure pathto the noble heart of the hero. Arthur recognised him in a moment,and his feelings, ever quick and ardent,brimmed up at first with indignationmixed with wound
Size: 1533px × 1629px
Photo credit: © Reading Room 2020 / Alamy / Afripics
License: Licensed
Model Released: No
Keywords: ., bookcentury1800, bookdecade1850, bookpublisherlondo, bookyear1851
