_The Sweet and Touching Tale of_ FLEUR & BLANCHEFLEUR [Illustration] _The Sweet and Touching Tale of_FLEUR & BLANCHEFLEUR A Mediæval Legend Translated fromthe French by Mrs. Leighton, withThirty-seven Coloured Illustrations byEleanor Fortescue Brickdale [Illustration] PUBLISHED IN LONDON BYDANIEL O'CONNOR, AT 90 GREATRUSSELL STREET, W. C. 1. 1922 _The Sweet and Touching Tale of_ FLEUR & BLANCHEFLEUR _Chapter I_ It is recorded by ancient chronicles that in the year of grace 624 acertain heathen King of Spain, Fenis by name, whose Queen was also aheathen, crossed over the sea with a mighty host into Christendom, andthere, in the space of three days, made such havoc of the land, withdestruction of towns, churches, and cloisters, that for full thirtymiles from the shore where he had landed, not a human being orhabitation was left to show where happy homes had been. Moreover, thisKing Fenis, while lading his ships with the booty thus ill-got, postedforty of his men in ambush over against the highway, there to lie inwait for any pilgrims who might pass by; and when presently a wearypilgrim band was seen toiling down the steep slope of a mountain nigh athand, the forty thieves rushed out upon the pilgrims and threatened themwith death, to escape which they readily parted with their goods; oneonly of the band showed fight, and he was a Count of France, conductinghis daughter, a new-made widow, to the shrine of St. James atCompostella, where she had vowed to offer up prayer for her lord, latelyslain in battle. Bravely this Count fought, but all in vain, for, overborne by numbers, he was killed, and his daughter carried a captive to the heathen KingFenis, who, straightway taking ship, sailed back to Spain, and, whenKing Fenis was come home again, he divided the spoil among his soldiery, giving a portion to each man according to his rank; but the Christianlady he bestowed upon his Queen, who, long desirous of such anattendant, received her gladly into the royal apartments, suffering herto retain her Christian creed: in return for this kindness, the captivelady did good service, waiting faithfully both late and early on theQueen, and giving her instruction in the French tongue. Moreover, by hergentleness, wisdom, and discretion, this Christian captive won allhearts in the heathen court. [Illustration] Now it happened that on Palm Sunday after these things the Queen gavebirth to a lovely boy, whom the learned heathen masters, because he wasborn in the season of flowers, named Fleur; [more correctly 'Floire. ']and on that same Palm Sunday the Christian captive lady bore a daughter, whom with her own hands she baptized, giving her the name ofBlanchefleur. At the birth of his son, King Fenis rejoiced, and made greatfestivities; also he commanded that the infant should be nursed by aheathen, but brought up by the Christian captive, who, thus beingcharged with both children, tended them with such loving care that shescarce knew which was dearest to her, the King's son or her owndaughter. So tended, the two children grew to be the sweetest andloveliest ever seen, and such was the love that they bore each one tothe other that they could not endure to be parted. [Illustration] [Illustration] _Chapter II_ [Illustration] When some time had passed and King Fenis marked that the intelligence ofhis son was now beginning to awake, he called the child to him and said:'Fleur, now must you go diligently to school and learn of the wiseMaster Gaidon. ' But for all answer to this command Fleur burst intotears, crying out: 'Father! neither reading, writing, nor aught else will I learn, except Ihave Blanchefleur to be my fellow scholar. ' To this the king consented, so the two children with great joy went hand in hand to school, andthere by mutual aid and encouragement so quickly acquired the rudimentsof learning that in no long time they were able to exchange loveletters, which, being written in the Latin tongue, were not understoodby the other scholars. [Illustration] The tender love which, thus growing with their growth, knit the heartsof these two children together, began, however, to cause displeasure tothe King, who, fearing lest it should tend to thwart his plan of weddinghis son to a royal bride, determined to part the two, if by fairmeans--well! if not, then by Blanchefleur's death; but the Queen, indread that her son might die of grief, pled with her lord to spareBlanchefleur, saying: 'Sir! rather command Master Gaidon, under pretextof failing health, to give up his charge. Thus shall occasion be madefor sending Fleur to school at Montorio, where my aunt is Duchess, andamong the many high-born maidens there assembled, haply he may findanother love. ' [Illustration] To this plan the King consented, yet found not in it the help he hoped;for, on hearing that he was to go to Montorio, leaving his Blanchefleurat home to tend her mother, who, like Master Gaidon, was commanded tofeign herself sick, Fleur became so frantic with grief that, to calm histransports, the King and Queen were fain to promise that, in two weeks'time, Blanchefleur should follow him to Montorio. Somewhat comforted by this promise, Fleur took a tender farewell of hislove, whom he fondly kissed and embraced in the presence of her motherand his own father. [Illustration] King Fenis, though by no means best pleased with his son's deportment, yet sent him nobly equipped and provided to Montorio, where, on arrival, Fleur was warmly welcomed by Duke Toras, the Duchess, and their daughterSibylla, and, when recovered from the fatigue of travel, was by Sibyllaconducted to school, where many a fair and noble damsel was to beseen. All was in vain: no matter what of beauty or of loveliness mightmeet his eye or strike his ear, the thoughts of Fleur were ever and onlywith his Blanchefleur, for whose sake he heaved many a sigh and droppedmany a tear against the day appointed for her coming; and when it cameand brought her not, because his parents trusted that she was nowforgotten, Fleur drooped and pined; unable, from heaviness of heart, toeat, drink, or sleep; and when his chamberlain saw that Fleur was sickhe hasted back to tell King Fenis, who, calling for his Queen, tookcounsel with her on the matter. 'What remedy there be for Fleur I knownot, ' said the King, 'but this thing I know full well, that Blanchefleurhas cast a spell upon him, and by enchantment has bound him so fast inlove to her that he can look on none other than herself; so go, fetch meBlanchefleur, that she may die and be forgotten. ' Once more did the Queen plead for Blanchefleur's life. [Illustration] 'Sir, ' said she, 'it is ill said that Blanchefleur has bewitched ourchild, for she loves him with a love that passes words, and has known nojoy since he departed, but sits alone in tears and sorrow, refusing toeat. ' [Illustration] Thus did the Queen save Blanchefleur from a cruel death, and thus didshe further counsel her lord: 'Ah, sir!' said she, ''twere sin and shameto slay the child thus untried and unheard; better far, let her be takento the harbour, and there sold away into distant lands and never beheard of more. ' Approving the counsel of his Queen, King Fenis sent for two richmerchants, and bade them take Blanchefleur and sell her to foreigntraders at the harbour of Nicæa, which they promised faithfully to do. When dismissed from the presence of the King and Queen, these twomerchants hastened to the port of Nicæa, and, out of the many foreigntraders who there bought and sold, chose two rich dealers from a distantland, who purchased Blanchefleur at a price that caused the vendors torejoice, for these men gave 100 pounds of gold, 100 of silver, 100 websof Indian silk, 100 scarlet mantles, 100 good horses, and 300 birds, such as falcons, hawks, and sparrow-hawks: last and greatest of all, they gave a cup matchless in beauty and beyond all price. Vulcan hadmade this cup, and on it he had pictured how Paris, son of Priam, kingin Troy, had carried off Helena, and was pursued in wrath by Menelaus, Helena's lord, together with his brother Agamemnon, at the head of amighty host; and how the Greeks besieged and stormed Troy town, whichthe Trojans for their part defended, and when the city was taken, Æneasbrought away the cup and gave it to a brother of his love Lavinia. [Illustration] When the purchase was completed, these traders led Blanchefleur away toBabylon, and offered her for sale to its Admiral, whom she pleased sowell that he bought her for ten times her weight in gold from thesemerchants, who, well pleased with the price bestowed, departed afterthanks given to the Admiral, who, judging from her great beauty and richattire that his new purchase must come of noble race, resolved to breakhis rule of oft-repeated marriage by plighting his troth once and forall to her and her alone. With this intent accordingly he sentBlanchefleur to the women's tower, appointing twenty-five maidens forher service and solace, seeing that she was ere long to be crowned Queenof Babylon. No sooner, however, did Blanchefleur, a helpless stranger in a distantland, find herself in a chamber alone and undisturbed, than, giving wayto tears and lamentations, she cried, 'Alas, Fleur! who has torn usasunder? Never shall I cease to love and mourn you, for well know I thatyour heart is rent with the same pangs of love and grief, and that weboth must surely die, for without love who would consent to live?' _Chapter III_ Now, leaving Blanchefleur thus bewailing herself at Babylon, let usreturn to King Fenis and his Queen. On receiving at the hands of the twomerchants the goodly treasure paid as Blanchefleur's price, King Feniswas well pleased, but not so the Queen, who in trouble of spirit cried, 'Now must we take good heed what we do, lest Fleur our son die ofgrief. ' King Fenis accordingly, after taking thought upon the matter, caused a tomb of exceeding beauty to be made, of ivory, of marble, andof crystals, and in the tomb was set a coffin, and on the coffin werefigured in gold the images of two children in the likeness of Fleur andBlanchefleur; on the head of each child was a crown of gold, and in thatof Fleur was set a carbuncle that sparkled bright by night as in theday. Moreover, long pipes were laid down, which, catching the wind as itblew, caused the children to fondle and embrace each other as though insport and play, and when the wind ceased they stood still, each oneproffering to the other the flowers it held, and all seemed natural aslife itself. Never had maiden a costlier tomb, for it was encrusted with preciousgems, such as sapphires, chalcedonies, amethyst, topaz, turquoise, jasper, chrysolite, diamond, and jacinth; also in letters of gold itbore this inscription: _'Here lies Blanchefleur, who loved young Fleur with tender love and true. '_ [Illustration: Who loved young Fleur with tender love and true] When all things were now ready, King Fenis, bidding his people bewarefor their lives of breathing a word to the effect that Blanchefleur, being yet alive, was not buried in this tomb, sent to Montorio, biddinghis son return home. Joyfully did Fleur, all unknowing what had passed, obey the summons, and when, after greeting and salutation offered to hisparents, he asked for Blanchefleur, and no man dared to answer him, heran to her mother's chamber and asked where was Blanchefleur, whom hehad left there. 'Fleur, ' said the mother, 'I know not where she is. ' 'Mock me not, ' cried he, 'but say where is she whom for these three longweeks I have not seen?' Then said the lady, 'Blanchefleur is dead and buried. ' At these words spoken Fleur fell stunned and senseless as though from aheavy blow, and the mother in her terror gave a cry, which, being heardthroughout the court, brought the King and Queen running in, to beholdwith horror and dismay their child stretched lifeless on the ground. When at length Fleur came to himself, neither prayers nor threatsavailed to calm the violence of his grief, but when he begged to see hisbeloved's tomb, the Queen his mother led him by the hand to the vaultwhere she was supposed to lie; and, when Fleur read the golden lettersthat told how Blanchefleur lay within the tomb, he thrice fell faintingon it, and when at length his spirit came again, he cried, kneeling uponthe tomb, 'Alas, my Blanchefleur! why have you forsaken me? We who livedand loved, should we not have died together? Woe, woe is me thus leftwithout my love; Oh, cruel Death, to take my dear away! Why tarry now?come, take my life, or I myself will take it, and so pass to thosebright fields of light where dwells the soul of Blanchefleur amid theflowers!' After this lament Fleur arose, and drawing a golden stilus from itscase, he said, 'This stilus, her parting gift, and all now left to meof Blanchefleur, shall be my comfort by taking me from a world in whichwithout her I cannot bear to live. ' So saying, Fleur would have stabbedhimself to the heart with the golden stilus, but the Queen his mothertore it from his hand, crying: 'What madness were it to lose your lifefor love! Be well assured that never thus could you come to Blanchefleurin her flowery meads; rather would you be sent to dwell in eternal griefand pain with Pyramus and Thisbe, who for a like offence were condemnedto seek forever the comfort that they shall never find in love: takeheart, therefore, my child, for I have skill to call your Blanchefleurback to life. ' [Illustration] After these words spoken to Fleur, the Queen, in sore trouble of spirit, sought her lord the King, and showing to him the golden stilus, said, 'Sir, take pity on your child, for with this golden stilus he had donehimself to death but for my staying hand; and, sir, were he, our onlychild, to die, bethink you how grievous would be our loss! Say then, sir, what think you were best to do?' To the entreaties of his Queen, King Fenis thus made reply: 'Tell Fleur to be comforted, seeing that hisBlanchefleur lives. ' Glad at heart to be bearer of such a message, the Queen hasted to herson, and, taking him apart, she said to the sorrowing Fleur, 'Weep nomore, but know the truth; your love lies not in the tomb. ' Then, opening the coffin and showing to him its emptiness, the Queentold all to Fleur: how she and the King his father had sent him toMontorio, that there he might forget his Blanchefleur, a Christian and aslave, and choose in her stead a heathen bride of royal race, and how, finding him still faithful, King Fenis could have slain Blanchefleur, but, yielding to his Queen's entreaties, had spared her life and soldher for much gold into distant lands. Then, standing before that empty grave, Fleur rejoiced with exceedingjoy, and vowed a vow that he would go forth and search through the wideworld till he found his love or died in the attempt. _Chapter IV_ [Illustration] When Fleur had thus learned all the truth, he left the empty tomb andsought his father, saying, 'Father, let me go forth into the wide worldto seek my Blanchefleur, for till she is found I can know neither peacenor joy. ' Hearing these words from his son, King Fenis was sorelytroubled, cursing in his heart the day on which he had soldBlanchefleur, whom now he would fain have bought back ten pounds dearerthan he sold her, did he but know where she was to be found. 'Abide with me, O Fleur, my son!' pleaded the King, 'and I will wed youto a royal bride!' [Illustration] 'Not so, my father!' Fleur replied; 'for there lives no woman upon earththat I can love save Blanchefleur, and her alone; so be content to letme go!' 'If needs must, then go, ' said King Fenis, yielding to his son's desire, 'and I will make provision of all things needful for your journey. ' ''Twere best, ' said Fleur, 'for me to travel as a merchant; so give me, I pray you, twelve mules, three laden with skins, three with coin of therealm, two with costly apparel of silk, velvet and scarlet, and theother four with furs. Give me also twelve muleteers to lead the mules, and twelve men-at-arms to be my guard; likewise one of your stewards, and a chamberlain of wisdom and discretion; last of all, send with methe two merchants, who, having sold Blanchefleur into distant lands, will best know how and where to seek her. ' [Illustration] [Illustration] At the thought and talk of parting the King wept sore, yet gave to hisson according to his desire, adding thereto a palfrey, richlycaparisoned; and when Fleur, wearing golden spurs, was mounted on thepalfrey and would be gone, his mother came to say farewell, and gave himas her parting gift a ring, which she bade him ever wear, for the fairgem set in this golden ring had magic power to ward off hurt from foe, or fire, or water, or of wild beasts, nor while he wore it could any manrefuse him aught he asked: so Fleur, with heartfelt thanks to his motherfor so great a gift, put the ring upon his ringer. Then came good-bye, said with sorrow sore and deep on either side, more especially byfather and mother, who with sinking hearts thrice kissed their son, wellknowing that they should see his face no more. [Illustration] Thus provided and equipped with loving care did Fleur ride forth intothe wide world in quest of Blanchefleur, steadfastly purposing to findher or perish in the quest; and, having left his home, he rode with allhis train to the seaport of Nicæa, where Blanchefleur had been sold, andwhen come there he took his lodgings in the house of a rich man, whonobly entertained his guest; but Fleur, thinking only of his love, satedolefully at table, scarce knowing what or if he ate, and this hismournful mien being perceived by the hostess, she bade her husband markit too, saying, 'Master, see you how sad and thoughtful is that youngman who sits and sighs? He calls himself a merchant, but I misdoubt mewhat may be the wares he seeks!' Then turning to Fleur himself thishostess said, 'Young sir, in sitting thus sad and silent, and keepingfast where a feast is spread; likewise, in age, mien, and bearing, yourecall to my remembrance a fair maiden who no long time ago was here, and sate sighing as you now do. Her name was Blanchefleur, and Fleurthe name of him she mourned, and for whose sake she was brought to thisport of Nicæa and sold for a great price to merchants who were leadingher away to Babylon, there, as they hoped, to sell her again at doublethe price they gave. ' At the sound of Blanchefleur's name Fleur answered not, but for verybewilderment of joy overturned the wine-cup before him with his knife. When somewhat come to himself, he drew from his stores a golden cup andoffered it to the hostess, saying, 'Accept this cup as payment, both forthe wine which has been spilt and for the tidings you have given of mylost Blanchefleur;' and when the hostess had thanked him, Fleur aroseand went to the harbour, and there hired a ship in which to sail toBabylon; and when the ship was ready he and his servants, and all thatthey had, embarked in it, and sailed on and on till they came to a citycalled Bagdad; and at Bagdad they landed, and took up their abode with arich man, who set the best of everything before them; but though Fleursate at the table, his thoughts were far away with his lost love. 'Sir, ' said the host, marking the dejection of his guest, 'why do younot eat? Is the fare not to your taste?' And when Fleur answered not tohis inquiries, the host continued, 'Young sir, give ear to me! I willtell you somewhat to distract your thoughts. No long time ago somemerchants came to this house to spend the night, and with them theybrought a maiden, who for fairness of face and sorrow of heart resembledyou, for she sate weeping, and would neither eat nor drink, and by thoseof her company she was called Blanchefleur. ' 'Sir host!' cried Fleur with altered mien, 'can you not tell me more?Marked you not what road the travellers took on leaving you?' 'Young sir, ' replied the host, 'they took the road to Babylon. ' Then Fleur arose, and brought from his store a golden cup and a scarletmantle. 'Take these, ' said he to the host, 'as my gift, but keep yourthanks for Blanchefleur, who reigns within my heart. ' [Illustration] Well pleased with such a lordly gift, the host wished his guestGod-speed and good-luck to find his love. Supper over, the company retired to rest, and at the morrow's early dawnFleur himself awoke his chamberlain and bade him rouse their people, ashe would be up and away; so when all was ready they set forth, guidedthrough the city by their host, and when he had set them on the rightway, they rode on and on till they came to a great river, and saw on itsfarther side a city, Montfelis by name; and here was no bridge, but onlya horn hanging on a cypress tree for those to blow who would call theferryman. So Fleur blew the horn, which being heard in Montfelis, presently alarge boat appeared in which the servants and baggage were ferriedacross the river, but the master ferryman took Fleur alone in a littleboat. [Illustration] 'Young sir, ' said the boatman, marking the doleful bearing of hispassenger, 'whither go you and what seek you in this land?' 'As you may see, we are merchants, ' replied Fleur, 'and on our way toBabylon, but as to-night it is too late to travel farther, can you tellus of any hostelry where we and our horses may stay the night?' 'Sir, ' said the boatman, 'truly I know of an inn to suit your purpose, but the cause which moved me to ask your journey's purpose is, that notlong ago we ferried across this river a maiden who resembled you in formand sadness, and by the people with her she was called Blanchefleur;this Blanchefleur was the fairest creature ever seen; and in my ownhouse she told me that she was loved by a heathen prince, and because ofhim had been sold away into distant lands. ' Starting up in eager haste at sound of Blanchefleur's name, Fleur cried, 'And whither went the maiden Blanchefleur on leaving you?' [Illustration] 'Young sir, ' replied the boatman, as I have heard tell, Blanchefleurwas sold to the Admiral of Babylon, and he loved her more than all hiswives. ' At these tidings Fleur rejoiced; but, fearing for his life, he let dropno word of seeking Blanchefleur. After lodging for the night in the ferry-house, Fleur asked his host ifhe could commend him to any good friend in Babylon for lodging andfurtherance in his trade. 'Yes, truly that I can, ' replied the boatman. 'At the entrance toBabylon you will find a river, and on the river a bridge, and on thebridge a toll-keeper, to whom, if you give this ring from me, you willbe welcome. ' _Chapter V_ Having said adieu to the friendly boatman, Fleur pushed on with suchdiligence that by eventide he reached the bridge which guarded theapproach to Babylon, and, on presenting the ring to the toll-keeper, wasby him kindly received and taken for the night to his house in the city. Next day, when Fleur went forth to view the city, and beheld how greatwas the Admiral's might and how strong were the town's defences, hisheart fainted within him. 'Alas!' thought he, 'I am now whereBlanchefleur is, but what does that avail me? It was ill done to leavemy father's house, where I might have found another love, and even now'twere best to turn and save my life, for did the Admiral but hear of meI were a dead man, seeing that not for all the treasure of all the worldwould he give up my Blanchefleur; so what seek I here, where I have noneto trust and no hope of help?' While Fleur yet stood thus rapt in melancholy meditation, his host cameup and thus accosted him: 'Friend! why stand you thus looking soill-pleased? if any thing be amiss in your food and lodging, tell me andit shall be mended. ' 'Sir, ' replied Fleur, 'all in your house is so well appointed that mywhole life were scarce long enough to give you thanks equal to theservice I have received; but, from fear of failing in the business thatcalls me here, I am sorely troubled and distressed. ' 'Let us first to dinner, and after that we will talk your matter over, 'said the host. So the two went home and sate them down to table; but Fleur, markingthat his servant had served him with the cup that was Blanchefleur'sprice, was so pierced to the heart with sorrow at the sight that thetears streamed from his eyes, and Lycoris, the hostess, in pity for hispain, said to her husband Daries, 'Quick, sir! let us clear the table, for this young man seeks other support than food. ' [Illustration] So, when the table was cleared, Daries desired his guest to declare hisgrief, if so be that help for it might be found in counsel. But saidLycoris again: 'Sir, so far as I can judge by his mien and bearing, Ideem that this youth grieves for the maiden Blanchefleur, who, now shutup in the Admiral's high tower, spent two weeks with us in grievoussorrow of heart, bewailing her sad fate in being thus sold away far fromthe youth she loved, and for whose sake she shed many a tear and heavedmany a sigh; and, as you may remember, sir, on leaving us thisBlanchefleur was bought by the Admiral for ten times her weight in gold. Now, to my thinking, this youth is brother or lover to the maidenBlanchefleur. ' 'No brother but her lover am I!' cried Fleur in glad surprise; thenbethinking him how by such heedless speech his life was put in peril, he cried again: 'No! no! I don't mean that; I am brother and not loverto Blanchefleur. We are children of the same parents. ' 'With all respect for your word, young sir, you contradict yourself inone breath, ' said Daries the host. 'Best speak the truth out plainly as, forsooth, I now do in declaring that it were madness to come in quest ofthe maiden Blanchefleur; for, if the Admiral but hears of you, you are adead man. ' [Illustration] 'Sir, ' said Fleur, 'hear the whole truth--I am son to the King of Spain, and seek my stolen Blanchefleur, without whom I cannot live; help me toher, and I will give you gold to your heart's content, for ere anothermoon has waxed and waned, find her I must or die. ' 'Life, ' replied Daries, 'were ill lost for sake of a maiden, whom no aidof mine can make your own, seeing that not, were the whole world to helpyou, could Blanchefleur be taken from the Admiral, Lord of a hundredkings, whose city Babylon is a four-square of twenty miles, and has forits defence walls full seventy feet in height, built of a stone so hardthat no engine of war from enemies without can pierce their stony front, and in these walls are three-and-thirty doors of solid steel let in withcunning art, and high uplifted are seven hundred towers, the loftiestever seen by mortal eye, and these towers are guarded by seven hundredgreat lords, each one of whom is great as any king; and if all thesesuffice not to prove the madness of your quest, know that in the heartof the city a mighty castle stands; four stories high is the castle, andon the fourth and topmost dwells your Blanchefleur, together with fourother noble damsels in a fair chamber, whose windows are cased in woodof the sweet-scented myrtle tree, while its doors are formed of ebonythat never yields to fire, and this ebony is overlaid with beaten gold, on which are graven strange devices of words and scroll and flower-work, and, because none but maidens dwell there, this tower is called theMaidens' Tower. In its midst stands a crystal pillar, and from thepillar gushes forth a fountain, whose waters are led on arches intoevery room, and so back into the pillar; and from the maidens' chamber awinding stair leads to that wherein dwells the Admiral himself, andwhither, for fourteen days' service at a time, two maidens must waitmorning and evening on their Lord, one with a fair linen towel, theother with water in a golden bowl. Fierce and cruel beyond words is thewatchman of this tower, and any man who, without good and lawful cause, approaches it, he slays. Besides all this, the tower day and night isguarded by sixteen furious men, who never close their eyes in sleep;and there is yet another strange thing which you shall hear. [Illustration] 'Every springtide the Admiral takes to him a wife; and when the year isout, he calls to him all the lords, kings, and princes of his realm, andin their presence casts off his wife, and causes a knight to behead her, that no man may wed her after him; thus with the bitterness of an earlydeath does she pay for the fleeting honour of royal wedlock; and whenhis wife is dead, the Admiral, with intent to replace her with another, summons the maidens who are within the tower to appear before him in agarden, which trembling they enter, none coveting the fatal honour ofhis choice. This garden, which walls of gold and lapis-lazuli enclose, contains noble trees of every kind, so that in it may be found at allseasons every fruit known to mankind; precious spices also abound, suchas ginger, cinnamon, balm, cloves, nutmeg, and mace; all which, togetherwith the scent of flowers and the song of birds, makes of this garden avery earthly paradise. In the midst of this paradise gushes forth aspring of clear water, and overhanging the spring is a tree, ever greenand ever putting forth fresh blossoms and varied fruits. 'Beneath this tree the Admiral, surrounded by his lords, takes his seat;and when seated, he causes the maidens one by one to cross the streambefore him; if they be good maidens and true the water remains clear ascrystal, but if it turn dark and turbid they may prepare for death. Thisordeal passed, the Admiral calls the maidens before him beneath theblooming tree, which by magic art drops one of its rosy blossoms on herwhom its Lord loves best, and who accordingly becomes Queen for onefleeting year. Now, dear youth, bethink you what wise man would cheeryou on in the quest of Blanchefleur, seeing that, ere this very month beout, the Admiral will hold this marriage feast with a new-made wife, whoall say will be this Blanchefleur, whose loveliness has won his heart?Moreover, for some time past, it is she and Clarissa, her companion, whohave been called to wait on their Lord, morning and evening, with thelinen towel and the golden bowl; for which cause they live in dailyterror of being chosen, the one or other, to be his crowned victim. ' 'Oh good mine host!' cried Fleur, goaded to madness by what he heard, 'help me with your counsel how to act. My Blanchefleur will I claimwithin that garden, for she is mine, and mine alone. What if I die?Death for her sake is sweet, as it but sends me on before to that fairparadise whither her soul will follow mine, to dwell for ever amid theflowers. ' 'Young man, ' said the host, 'by your readiness to brave all perils--nay, even death itself--for sake of your dear love, I see that you aresteadfast of purpose; and therefore, though perilling my own lifethereby, I will give you counsel which, if followed, shall not turn toyour hurt. ' So saying, Daries took Fleur aside, and in secret unfoldedto him a plan, which Fleur accepting with grateful heart followed out insuch wise as the coming chapter will record. _Chapter VI_ [Illustration] Arising betimes next day, Fleur, as instructed by his host, arrayedhimself with great magnificence, and in this bravery of attire startedfor the Maidens' Tower. When come there, he set with great seemingearnestness and diligence to measuring the tower's dimensions of height, depth, length, and breadth; soon, however, his business was rudelyinterrupted by the watchman, who, catching sight of this measuringstranger, shouted at him for a spy, asking by what right or by whoseleave he came there to meddle with the tower of the Lord High Admiral ofBabylon. Unabashed by this rough reception, Fleur replied in easy, carelessphrase: 'Friend, the shape and form of your tower please me so well thatI am taking their dimensions, with intent, on returning to my own land, of building me such a tower to be my treasure-house; and taking this oneof yours to be used for the like purpose, I would fain seek admittanceto examine it within as well as without, which admittance might indeedbe granted to me without fear by you and your Lord, seeing that I amwealthier than the two of you put together. ' 'In mistrusting this man I erred, ' thought the watchman; 'for, indeed, such rich attire would ill become a spy. ' So, after putting somesearching questions to test his quality, the watchman, eased of doubt bythe ready answers he received, invited the stranger to step into hishouse and play a game of chess; and when Fleur, accepting the challengeand invitation, was come in, his host and opponent said, 'Now, sir, saywhat shall be the stakes?' 'A hundred byzants a side, ' said Fleur. 'Done with you!' cried the host; and when, at his call, a chess-board ofebony and ivory was brought, the two sate down to play. Now Fleur wore upon his finger that priceless ring, his mother's partinggift, and in playing took heed to keep its gem turned outwards towardshis opponent, who, seeing, coveted the jewel; and by keeping his eye onit and off the board, speedily lost the game, and with it, to his fury, the double stakes; but Fleur, forewarned by the friendly Daries that hisantagonist's greed of gain equalled his love of chess, refused to takethe winnings, and was accordingly invited by the grateful loser to comeand play a return match on the morrow. Fleur accepted the challenge, andnext day staking two hundred byzants against as many on the watchman'sside, he again contrived, by help of the ring, to win the game andstakes, and as before handed over the latter to his antagonist, who, equally amazed and delighted by such unwonted liberality, declaredhimself ready to perform any service for so generous a player. Next daythe stakes rose to four hundred byzants on either side, and were won byFleur, who promptly relieved the horror of his host at such heavy lossby handing over to him the entire eight hundred. Overcome by suchliberality, the watchman invited his noble opponent to a collation inhis chamber on the following day; and when Fleur thus bidden appeared, he brought with him his splendid drinking-cup, and placed it on theboard before him. [Illustration] The watchman, unable to keep his eyes off the cup, so greatly did headmire it, offered, if his guest would play him for it, to stake athousand byzants on his side. 'Sell or game away the cup I may not, ' replied Fleur; 'but for help inthe time of need I will freely give it. ' Then, overcome by greed of so goodly a gift, the watchman swore to Fleurthat he would be his man, and do service good and true, whensoever andhowsoever he might be called on. Having thus made sure of the guardian of the tower, Fleur plainly saidthat he must find his way within to his beloved or die. 'Ah, friend!' cried the watchman, sorely repenting him of his rashpromise; 'I fear me your riches have lured me on to the destruction ofus both; nevertheless, the word that I have given I will keep, so returnnow to your lodging, and there abide for two days; and on the third, which will be May Day, come again to me, all clad from head to foot inrosy red, and you shall be borne up to the topmost story of the towerwhere Blanchefleur dwells. ' _Chapter VII_ [Illustration] At the bidding of his watchman friend Fleur went back to his lodging, and there in hope and joy abode for two long days; and when the third, which was May Day, dawned, he arose and clad himself from head to footin rosy red and hasted to the tower; and when he came to the guard-room, he found a great basket on the floor, and heaped up around the basketwere all the fresh-blown flowers of spring that the watchman had causedto be gathered from the gardens of Babylon, as May-Day offering toBlanchefleur. 'Sir, ' said the watchman, 'here lay you down within the basket and stirnot. ' So when Fleur was laid down flat and still, within the basket, thewatchman put a hat of red upon his head, and, this done, covered him allover with piles of flowers. This done, he called two strong porters andsaid, 'Carry up this basket of flowers as my May-Day offering to themaiden Blanchefleur, and when you have presented it, tarry not, but comeagain to me. ' So the porters, obedient to their officer, took up the basket and beganto ascend the stairs; but ere they were half-way up, they began to haltand curse, vowing that never in all their days had they carried suchheavy flowers; and when at length the top was reached, they mistook thechamber, for they knocked at Clarissa's door, shouting, 'Here, open! toreceive the watchman's May-Day offering to the maiden Blanchefleur. ' [Illustration] And at the sound of Blanchefleur's name Clarissa ran and opened wide thedoor; but without telling the porters of their error, she suffered themto bring their flowery burden in and then depart. When they were gone, Clarissa came and took from the basket a flower that pleased her, whereupon Fleur, thinking she was Blanchefleur, sprang out, and sostartled the maiden that she cried in fright: 'Oh! what is that? Oh!what can that be?' And at her cry the other maidens came running in toknow what had affrighted Clarissa, their companion, but Fleur theymarked not, because he had laid him down again beneath the blossoms, and, being clothed in rosy red, was not distinguished from the roseswhich were his bed; then Clarissa, calling to mind how often she hadheard Blanchefleur speak of a youth in Spain of form and face resemblingher own, bethought her that this May-Day offering might be the Spanishlove of Blanchefleur; so with a laugh she dismissed the maidens who wereher fellows, saying that a hornet springing out from amid the flowershad frighted her. Reader, picture to yourself the terror of Fleur onfinding he was discovered! But fortune was kind, for Clarissa, thecaptive daughter of a Duke of Alemannia, was the bosom friend of lovelyBlanchefleur, and often had the two together bemoaned their lot in beingthe pair appointed to wait morning and evening on the Admiral with thelinen hand-towel and water in the golden bowl. [Illustration] Now as the chambers of these two maidens adjoined, and a door led fromthe one into the other, Clarissa with care closed her outer door andpassed through the inner one into the chamber of Blanchefleur, whom shefound sitting all woebegone and rapt in thought of her absent love. 'Blanchefleur!' cried Clarissa, 'come with me and I will show youflowers such as you never saw before. ' [Illustration] 'Alas! Clarissa, ' replied the mournful, drooping Blanchefleur, 'myheart is too heavy to be cheered by flowers, seeing that I am so farfrom my love and he from me. ' 'Cease your wailing, ' cried Clarissa, 'and dear as your love may be, yetcome and see the lovely flowers!' So Blanchefleur slowly rising came to see the flowers, whereupon Fleur, who heard the voice and knew his love was near, sprang from among theblossoms, all clad like the roses in rosy red, and Blanchefleur knewhim, and he knew her, and they gazed speechless with love and joy faceto face upon each other, and silently they fell on each other's neckwith kisses and fond embraces, until at length Blanchefleur found wordsto say, 'Clarissa! behold my love! my heart's delight, my comfort, andmy joy!' Then the two joined in praying good Clarissa not to part theirlove by declaring it, as that would be their death. 'Have no fear, ' replied Clarissa; 'I will help you as best I can; thefood and wine that are brought for two will suffice for three, and youwill find me ever true. ' [Illustration] Then the two lovers went into Blanchefleur's chamber, and sitting themdown upon the bed, which was spread with a gold-embroidered silkencover, they told each other all that had befallen them since theirparting. 'Ah, love!' sighed Fleur, 'what have I not suffered for your sake? I hadwell-nigh died of sorrow. ' 'And I, ' said Blanchefleur, 'since the day on which you departed toMontorio, have known no joy, but have gone mourning for my love;' andthen again the lovers kissed each other, and Fleur showed Blanchefleurthe ring, his mother's parting gift, and told her of its magic power. Meanwhile good Clarissa, trembling lest the secret of her friend shouldbe betrayed, guarded it with jealous care as though it had been her own:so these three lived and ate and drank together, letting no living soulshare their secret, and the lovers, happy as the day was long, wouldgladly thus have lived and died together, but, alas! the course of truelove never can run smooth, and all too soon was their joy turned intosorrow. One morning Clarissa woke to find the sun already high in the heavens;so, running in to Blanchefleur, she bade her too arise, as it was late, and full time that both were in attendance on their Lord. 'Go on before, ' said Blanchefleur, half-waking and half-dreaming, and Iwill follow;' and she came not, but fell asleep again. So when Clarissa, returning from the spring with her golden bowl, again knocked, and thistime got no answer, she hasted to the Admiral, thinking to findBlanchefleur gone on before to him, but she found her not. 'Why tarries Blanchefleur?' asked the Admiral, wondering that Clarissacame alone. 'Sire, ' said Clarissa, 'all through the night, Blanchefleur was readingin her psalter and praying long life for you, and towards the morningshe fell asleep and slumbers still. ' 'That, ' said the Admiral, well pleased, 'was a good work, and as rewardfor it Blanchefleur shall be my bride. ' Next morning the same thing happened. Again Clarissa overslept herself, and on waking found the sun already high in the heavens; again shecalled to Blanchefleur to make ready while she filled her golden bowlwith water at the spring, and again Blanchefleur, half-waking andhalf-dreaming, replied, 'I come, ' and came not, but fell back inslumber, so that Clarissa on hasting to their Lord found no Blanchefleurthere. 'Where, ' again asked the Admiral, 'is Blanchefleur?' 'Sire, ' said Clarissa, 'I called in passing at her door ere filling mygolden bowl with water at the spring, and Blanchefleur said she would behere before me. ' In some surprise the Admiral then bade a chamberlain go see whyBlanchefleur tarried: so the chamberlain hasted to Blanchefleur'schamber, which was all ablaze with precious stones, and there, locked ineach other's arms, found Fleur and Blanchefleur, and, taking Fleur inhis tender beauty to be Clarissa, the chamberlain had not the heart towake the two, but hasted back to tell his Lord how sweetly Blanchefleurand Clarissa slept, and, lo! Clarissa stood before him. As for the Admiral, he turned white with fury. _Chapter VIII_ [Illustration] 'Give me my sword, ' cried the Admiral, 'and with it I will soon find whois this feigned Clarissa, for here the true one stands before me. ' Sosaying, the furious Lord went with the chamberlain to Blanchefleur'schamber, and when the thick silken curtains were drawn aside and thebright sunlight streamed in, he beheld the sleeping pair, and so fairwas Fleur that even the Admiral in his fury doubted if he were not amaiden, but all the same with uplifted sword he prepared to smite bothFleur and Blanchefleur to the death, when suddenly they awoke, andseeing before them this furious Lord with uplifted sword they shedbitter tears, well knowing that they must die. 'Miscreant!' cried theAdmiral to Fleur, 'who are you, and how dared you enter into my Tower?For so doing you shall die the death. ' 'Have mercy, sire, ' said Fleur, 'on the maiden Blanchefleur and on me, for we love each other with a love more true and tender than has e'erbeen known before!' Then came forward the chamberlain and prayed his Lord to spare thecaptives that they might have due trial for their offence. To this respite the Admiral consented, but, fearing lest the prisonersmight escape, he commanded that they were to be bound with ropes untilby the lords of all the land sentence should be passed upon them. Now asthe Admiral's yearly wedding festival was near at hand, the great lordsof the realm, such as kings, dukes, counts and barons, were alreadyassembled in Babylon; so they appeared without delay at the summons oftheir Lord in his glorious hall, which for splendour could not have beenmatched by Priam, King of Troy, for it was a full mile square, andcrystal pillars supported its lofty dome. When, therefore, the Admiralwas enthroned in majesty with all his lords around him, silence wascommanded, while he thus addressed the assembly: 'My lords, hearken unto me, your King, and pass a sentence on theseprisoners that will redound to my honour and your own. Behold thisBlanchefleur, whom for a great price of ten times her own weight in goldI bought, thinking to promote her to honour by taking her as my one andonly wedded wife on the day appointed for my marriage festival, anduntil that day came, that my eyes might be gladdened by her beauty, Ibrought her into my Maidens' Tower and ordained that she and Clarissa, her companion, should wait morning and evening upon me with a fairlinen towel and water in a golden bowl; yet scarce had this Blanchefleurbeen for four months within my Tower than she betrayed me for another, whom with herself I had in righteous indignation well-nigh slain. Sonow, my lords, it is for you to pass judgment just and unbending uponthese offenders. ' [Illustration] Responding to the call of their King and Admiral, these lords with oneconsent passed sentence of death upon the prisoners, though differingamong themselves as to the execution of the same. Some were for hanging, others for the bow-string, while others again proposed that the culpritsshould be torn asunder by wild horses; most, however, were in favour ofburning, or perhaps drowning with a heavy stone round the neck: on onepoint, however, all agreed--viz. That the guilty pair must die. Then arose a certain king, Aliers by name, and thus spoke. 'It is ashame and disgrace, ' said he, 'to hear in a royal court such babel ofvoices, each crying for a different opinion. Be so good, my lords, as todepute one among you to speak for all. Moreover, having now heard theaccusation of His Highness, it is but just to listen to the prisoners'defence. ' 'Not so, ' cried Basier, King of Arabia, 'not so, my lords. If theseprisoners have betrayed our Lord the Admiral, let them die unheard, likethieves caught in the act and punished red-handed without form oftrial. ' The Admiral now commanded the prisoners to be produced, who when theyappeared were very sad, regarding each other with tender pity. 'My Lord, ' said Fleur to the Admiral, 'being guilty I am prepared todie, but spare my Blanchefleur, for she is innocent, seeing that withouther knowledge I came within your Tower. ' 'My Lord, ' cried Blanchefleur, 'the guilt is mine, for had I not been inyour Tower never would Fleur have sought to enter it. Moreover, it wereshame that a king's son should die for me, who am but the daughter ofhis handmaid. ' 'Not so, my Lord, ' cried Fleur again; 'let me die, that Blanchefleur maylive. ' 'Be easy, ' said the Admiral, 'for with my own hand I will slay youboth. ' So saying, he made for the prisoners with his drawn sword, whereupon Blanchefleur sprang forward and offered her neck for the blow, but was dragged back by Fleur, who with indignant tears exclaimed:'What! Shall I, to my shame, suffer you, a woman, to die for me, who ama man, before the eyes of this great assembly?' And so saying, Fleurextended his neck instead for the death-blow, but Blanchefleur in turnpulled him back by his clothes and ran in before him, holding out herneck. Thus for some time these lovers strove, each seeking to die beforethe other, until for pity the lords began to weep, and even the Admiral, feeling his heart relent, let the sword drop from his hands. Then stepped forward a certain Duke, and in the name of all presentmade earnest petitions for the prisoners' lives. 'Methinks, ' said he, 'that for the safety and honour of our Lord the Admiral 'twere best tospare the prisoners, whose death would profit him not, whereas byfreeing them on condition that Fleur revealed in what wise he stole intothe Tower, His Highness may discover and punish his unfaithfulservants. ' The Admiral, marking that all his lords were inclined to mercy, agreedto this Duke's proposal and offered their lives to the captives if Fleurwould but tell how he made his way into the Tower. ' 'That, sire, replied Fleur, 'I may only do under promise of pardon tothose who were my helpers. ' 'No! no!' cried the Admiral, furious at the thought of further mercy. 'They shall all die, every man among them. ' Then came forward a Bishop, who, falling at the Admiral's feet, entreated that the gracious mercy of His Highness might be extended toall concerned; 'for, ' said the Lord Bishop, 'it would please theassembled company better to hear the prisoners' story than to beholdtheir death. ' These words of the Bishop were supported by all the lords, who with one acclaim called on their King and Admiral to pardon theprisoners at the prayer of his faithful subjects. So the Admiral gaveear to the prayer of his lords and pardoned the lovers and all andsundry who were their helpers, and when this was done Fleur arose andtold the whole sweet and touching story of Blanchefleur and himself fromthe time of their birth up to the moment when they were found togetherin the Tower, and when his tale was told Fleur knelt down before theAdmiral and entreated His Highness with tears for the gift ofBlanchefleur, for whose sake he had done and suffered so great things;seeing, moreover, that without her he could not live, nor indeed couldshe, if torn from him, find life endurable. Then the Admiral took Fleur by the hand, and kissing him bade him sitby his side as beseemed the son of a king, and taking Blanchefleur alsoby the hand His Highness said to Fleur: 'Friend, herewith I give andgrant to you the maiden Blanchefleur, together with pardon full and freeof all offence committed by you against my kingly power and majesty. ' [Illustration] Overcome with joy and gratitude, those lovers sank at the feet of theirbenefactor, who raised and kissed them, and after that he made Fleur aknight according to the fashion of the land. _Chapter IX_ [Illustration] Now when all had turned out thus happily for Fleur and Blanchefleur, theAdmiral proclaimed a great festival, and in pomp and splendour led tochurch Clarissa, daughter of the Duke of Alemannia, and there took heras his one and only wedded wife, to have and to hold, for better forworse, to his life's end: in the same church also and at the same timewere Fleur and Blanchefleur united in holy wedlock. Then came the feast, at which the Admiral sat enthroned with his bride Clarissa on one side, and Fleur and Blanchefleur on the other, and after them all the lords ofthe realm, placed in order according to their rank. When the banquet wasover the wedding guests diverted themselves with jousting, tilting, wrestling, and jumping matches, not forgetting music and song, thatlasted for days together, and while the merry-making was at its height, behold! there came ambassadors bearing tidings from Spain that KingFenis and his Queen were dead, and the mourning country stood in soreneed of the absent Fleur, heir and successor to the King deceased: andat these heavy tidings the joy of Fleur was turned to sorrow, and, seeking the Admiral, he prayed His Highness for permission to depart tohis own country, which so sorely needed its King and ruler; but theAdmiral, loath to part with the guest he had learned to love, sought topersuade Fleur, by promise of a greater and richer kingdom than his own, to give up land and people and abide with him; but when Fleur, whoseheart was true to his home and Spain, would not be tempted from hispurpose, the Admiral, commending his departing guests to the care of hisgods, speeded him on his way with many a rich and costly gift. Thus didFleur and Blanchefleur take their journey back again to Spain, and whenthey were come the people received them with great joy, and crownedFleur King in the place of his father Fenis, and Blanchefleur theycrowned as Queen, and so this happy pair lived on united in tender lovetogether to their hundredth year, and when Fleur was made King heembraced the Christian faith of his Blanchefleur, and caused all hispeople to become Christians and receive baptism, and soon after thesethings Fleur inherited the land of Hungary from his uncle, who diedchildless; but to Fleur and his Queen Blanchefleur was born a daughter, Bertha by name, who became wife to King Pepin of France, and mother ofCharles, that great Emperor whose fame is known throughout the world. [Illustration: FINIS]