The Lay of Princess Lune (IV)
THE CASTLE (lines 195 - 248)
This is the fourth instalment of the lay; here are the others, in case you missed one:
(you are here)
PREVIOUSLY …
The lady wailed and nodded once. 'The thirst will soon, my knight, confront.' [...] She rose and fled back through the dark; Upon his throat, she left her mark.
IV. THE CASTLE
The knight knew he must hurry now To slay the loathsome beast somehow. He passed through icy woods at last, Not daring once to lift his mask. He came then to a barrow hill, Or so he thought, for all was still; Then by the moonfey's light, he knew The castle had come into view. A sad and eerie place atop A harsh and windswept stone outcrop. The windows of the palace, dark, Were stained with long-forgotten marks -- Icons of an ancient time, Long-covered now with webs of rime. The knight took comfort in them though; In the meekness that they showed. He clambered up the barren knoll And left behind the frigid wald. The iron gates were torn asunder 'Neath the clouds and rhythmic thunder. Each face he saw within the walls Would harken to a raven's call. So deathly pale, the citizens, Their thirst, a wail, admitted him They saw his shroud and thought him dead; As dead as they, by monster bled. Then looked the prince into the sky And saw the cage, raised up on high, Hung from a palace turret, black, And seeing her, his face went slack. What beauty that vile beast had trapped! Beauty long the world had lacked. Her every movement, every grace ... In phantasy, I hid my face. And staring at that moonfey fair, He stepped upon the palace stair ... And looking on from dark window, The monster saw the love he showed, And seething ire then filled the beast As he descended from his feast. He opened wide the palace door And met the knight with wordless roar. But when the knight did not draw back Away from his abrupt attack (But took a stance; unsheathed his sword) The beast pulled back and said, 'My Lord ...' A sudden eloquence he showed. 'Why stand you here, in this abode?' Within his mind, he thought, Well, well, A knight has wandered into hell. He is not mine, as I first thought, Only a stranger by fate caught; He'll soon be taught he should not stare At this king's daughter, pale and fair.
TO BE CONTINUED …
The knight, confused, maintained his stance,
And wondered at the madman's glance.
He thought the man another thrall
Who served within the monster's halls.
The enemy, he had been told,
Was a vile creature, monstrous, old,
But this madman was quite well-dressed
And in his forties, at a guess [...]Click here for the next instalment.