The Lay of Princess Lune (V)

THE MADMAN (lines 249 - 316)

This is the fifth instalment of the lay; here are the others, in case you missed one:

I. PROLOGUE

II. THE PRIEST

III. THE ICY WOOD

IV. THE CASTLE

(you are here)

VI. THE MONSTER

FINALE

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Mont Saint Michel (2024).

V. THE MADMAN

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.

In fact, the knight had little doubt,
His madness likely came about
From serving in the lightless rooms,
That monster soon to be entombed.
For when he found that evil thing,
He would a vengeful justice bring.
Indeed, the knight was beyond rage
To see that princess in a cage.

'I stand here on the beast's threshold
To free this kingdom from his cold
And sleepless, cruel, condemning grip;
Let it be known, his blood will drip.'

'I see,' the madman then intoned.
'You want to see the beast dethroned.
Long have we languished in his power
As he watches from his tower.
You are a harbinger of joy
If, the beast, you will destroy.
But come, you must first raise your health
Before you fight the beast himself.
Come in, break bread, before you go,
And in this kingdom peace bestow.'
And thus the madman stood aside
And let the knight then inwards stride.

The knight did thank him for this thought;
For many days, he'd eaten naught.
The madman led him to a room
Where, by chance, a feast was strewn
Across stone tables, long and grim,
And lit by shadows few and dim.

'The monster will soon come to feast,'
The madman said, 'So take your piece.'

To eat the shroud was then removed,
And to the madman, this did prove
That ripe and ruddy was his flesh;
The monster would enjoy this guest.

The knight set to, with hungry bites
As, one by one, out went the lights.
The food was rich; the wine was poor;
The knight slowed down; then ate no more.

'Why have you stopped?' the madman said,
'You cannot yet be fully fed ...'

'I cannot over-eat, my friend,
Before the monster meets his end.'
The knight pushed back his chair and stood;
About his neck, he wound his hood.

The madman frowned, then shrugged and said,
'But won't you have a bit more red?'
He offered, then, a silver cup.
'The best, to finish well your sup.'

The knight accepted, thanking him,
And set his lips upon the brim,
But as the liquid touched his tongue,
Like flame and ice, it harshly stung;
Over the rim of silver chalice,
The monster grinned with open malice.

His teeth were sharp; his eyes were red;
His face was pale, bloodless, dead.
In him there was an ageless ire;
A hunger that would never tire.

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TO BE CONTINUED …

'Now feel the lust within your veins,'
The monster laughed over his pain.
'And soon you'll understand, you'll see,
Just why the princess caged must be [...]

Click here for the next instalment.

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