Message #183137

[Jana Chand-Medlock]

KING ARTHUR SLAYS THE GIANT OF ST. MICHAEL'S MOUNT

While the army was encamped in Brittany, awaiting the arrival of the
kings, there came a countryman to Arthur, and told him that a giant,
whose cave was in a neighboring mountain, called St. Michael's
Mount, had for a long time been accustomed to carry off the children
of the peasants, to devour them. "And now he hath taken the Duchess of
Brittany, as she rode with her attendants, and hath carried her away
in spite of all they could do." "Now, fellow," said King Arthur,
"canst thou bring me there where this giant haunteth?" "Yea, sure,"
said the good man; "lo, yonder where thou seest two great fires, there
shalt thou find him, and more treasure than I suppose is in all France
beside." Then the king called to him Sir Bedver and Sir Kay, and
commanded them to make ready horse and harness for himself and them;
for after evening he would ride on pilgrimage to St. Michael's Mount.
So they three departed, and rode forth till they came to the foot of
the mount. And there the king commanded them to tarry, for he would
himself go up into that mount. So he ascended the hill till he came to
a great fire, and there he found an aged woman sitting by a new-made
grave, making great sorrow. Then King Arthur saluted her, and demanded
of her wherefore she made such lamentation; to whom she answered: "Sir
Knight, speak low, for yonder is a devil, and if he hear thee speak he
will come and destroy thee. For ye cannot make resistance to him, he
is so fierce and so strong. He hath murdered the Duchess, which here
lieth, who was the fairest of all the world, wife to Sir Hoel, Duke of
Brittany." "Dame," said the king, "I come from the noble conqueror,
King Arthur, to treat with that tyrant." "Fie on such treaties,"
said she; "he setteth not by the king, nor by no man else." "Well,"
said Arthur, "I will accomplish my message for all your fearful
words." So he went forth by the crest of the hill, and saw where the
giant sat at supper, gnawing on the limb of a man, and baking his
broad limbs at the fire, and three fair damsels lying bound, whose lot
it was to be devoured in their turn. When King Arthur beheld that he
had great compassion on them, so that his heart bled for sorrow.
Then he hailed the giant, saying, "He that all the world ruleth give
thee short life and shameful death. Why hast thou murdered this
Duchess? Therefore come forth, thou caitiff, for this day thou shalt
die by my hand." Then the giant started up, and took a great club, and
smote at the king, and smote off his coronal; and then the king struck
him in the belly with his sword, and made a fearful wound. Then the
giant threw away his club, and caught the king in his arms, so that he
crushed his ribs. Then the three maidens kneeled down and prayed for
help and comfort for Arthur. And Arthur weltered and wrenched, so that
he was one while under, and another time above. And so weltering and
wallowing they rolled down the hill, and ever as they weltered
Arthur smote him with his dagger; and it fortuned they came to the
place where the two knights were. And when they saw the king fast in
the giant's arms they came and loosed him. Then the king commanded Sir
Kay to smite off the giant's head, and to set it on the truncheon of a
spear, and fix it on the barbican, that all the people might see and
behold it. This was done, and anon it was known through all the
country, wherefor the people came and thanked the king. And he said,
"Give your thanks to God; and take ye the giant's spoil and divide
it among you." And King Arthur caused a church to be builded on that
hill, in honor of St. Michael.