Tales from Spenser, Chosen from the Faerie Queene

  BRITOMART AND THE MAGIC MIRROR.

  Faerie Queene. Book III. Cantos II., III.

  Once upon a time there lived in Cambria a king whose name was Ryence.Now Ryence was a good king, and dealt justly with his people, and onthis account he won the approval of Merlin, the great magician. AndMerlin gave King Ryence a boon.

  This boon was a looking-glass, so wonderfully made, and possessed ofsuch strange properties, that its fame spread throughout the wide world.The glass was round, shaped like a ball, and hollow inside. He wholooked into it, saw not himself, but saw there portrayed anything thatwas happening in any part of the world that might be of consequence tohim. If a foe were working him secret ill, or a friend feigning falsekindness, this glass revealed their deeds. Such, then, was the boonwhich Merlin had given to King Ryence; and from it the king could learnthe approach of an enemy more surely and more quickly than from theswiftest messenger.

  Now the King of Cambria had one only child. This was Britomart, hisdaughter and his heir. She was a noble damsel, tall and stately, withrich golden hair, which, when loosened from its silken bands, fell likea sunny shower, reaching down to her feet. And she was brave as she wasbeautiful: gentle towards the weak, and ready to help those in trouble;one who scorned to take advantage of the misfortunes of others. A fitdaughter of a great king, from whom her father kept no secrets.

  It chanced that one day, as Britomart was wandering over the palace, shefound herself in the small apartment where Ryence kept the mirror.Forgetful of its strange virtues, the princess looked into it, and wassurprised that she did not see a reflection of herself. Then sheremembered that Merlin's gift was no ordinary looking-glass, and as sherecalled its properties, she began to wonder what she might look forthere that was of importance to herself. Standing lingering by themirror, her thoughts fell on love, and she wondered--as maidenswill--whom fortune would allot for her husband.

  Now Britomart was no foolish maiden, dwelling ever on her future, and init forgetting the duties of the present; but she was a rich and lovelyprincess, and it was only natural that she should expect to marry someday.

  By-and-bye, as she gazed into the mirror, there appeared before her theimage of a knight, completely armed. His countenance was a right manlyone; a countenance to awe his foes, but to endear him to his friends.His frame was large and strong, its natural strength increased by deedsof chivalry which he continually practised. His armour was massive, andseemed of some antique mould, as indeed it was, for in golden lettersthere was written on it these words--

  "ACHILLES' ARMS WHICH ARTEGAL DID WIN."

  Artegal's crest was a hound couchant, and on his shield he bore thefigure of a crowned ermine on an azure field.

  As Britomart looked on the image, she liked it, and having looked at itwell, she went her way, and little thought that Cupid, the false archer,had shot an arrow into her heart. After a time, the stately Britomartbegan to droop. She no longer moved about with her customary princelybearing, but became sad, low-spirited, and full of foolish fears; norcould she discover the cause of her discomfiture. At night when she laydown to sleep, Glauce, the old nurse who still attended her, wondered ather wakefulness, and at the tears which Britomart tried in vain toconceal. And when sleep visited her weary eyes, it was only for a fewminutes at a time, and she started in her sleep as if some ghastly dreamhad affrighted her. She did not know that she loved, but her thoughtsever returned to the fair image she had seen.

  One night when Britomart seemed more uneasy than usual, Glaucedetermined to inquire into the cause of her unrest. With loving wordsshe besought the princess to tell her how it was that her formercheerfulness had changed into this sad melancholy.

  "Ah me," said the old nurse, "how much I fear lest love it be;" andadded--

  "But be it worthy of thy race and royal seed, Then I avow by this most sacred head Of my dear foster-child to ease thy grief And win thy will."

  The nurse was a powerful personage in the king's household, and prayingBritomart to put away this melancholy humour, she promised that neitherdeath nor danger should prevent her from relieving her sorrow. Then shetook her dear foster-child in her arms and fondled her tenderly, andchafed her cold limbs, and kissed and bathed her fair eyes, praying herall the time to take courage and disclose the secret trouble of herheart.

  Britomart did not answer at once; but at length she spoke, and beggedGlauce to inquire no further, since there was no remedy for herdistress.

  "Dear daughter," said the nurse, "despair not; there never yet was awound which something could not soothe."

  "But mine," said Britomart, "is like no other; for it, reason can findno remedy."

  "Nevertheless," replied Glauce, "love can mount higher than reason, andhas oft done wondrous things."

  "But," urged the poor princess, "not even love can do that which is notpossible to be done."

  "Things often seem impossible," said Glauce, "before they areattempted."

  Then Britomart broke out bitterly--"These idle words," she said, "do meno good; mine is no common grief, but, since you will know it, I shallno longer conceal my crime, if crime it be. Neither for prince nor peeris my heart pained, but only for the image and semblance of a knight,aye, and the semblance of one I have not even seen."

  So saying, she related to Glauce the adventure of the magic mirror, andadded that the image haunted her so that she almost longed for deathitself.

  "Daughter," replied Glauce, "why be so dismayed? Thy love hath a strangebeginning, but there is nothing to be ashamed of in it, joy thereforehave thou, and eternal bliss;" and stooping over the maiden she kissedher tenderly.

  "Ah! nurse," said the Princess, "what you say comforts me but little;for what good is it although my love be worthy if it be fixed on nothingmore than a shadow?"

  "Nay," said Glauce, "there never was a shadow that had not a substance,and one which could not by some means be discovered. Still, if thoucan'st conquer this evil before it grows more powerful, yield thee not,but if it prove too great for thee, I promise that the beloved knightshall be found."

  Cheered by her words, Britomart laid herself down to sleep. Glaucecovered her with tender care, and by-and-bye the damsel slept. Wellpleased, the nurse darkened the light of the rude oil lamp and sat downto watch her charge, and as she watched, tears fell from her aged eyes.When morning dawned Glauce roused Britomart, and together they went tothe church to pray. But even there Britomart could not command herthoughts--nor for that matter could Glauce--and as soon as they returnedhome the old melancholy came back upon the Princess. When Glauceperceived this she called Britomart into her own bower, and there triedthe effect of spells much resorted to in those old fairy days. But thespells were of no avail, and Britomart grew worse, and became so thinand pale that Glauce was well nigh in despair. At length it occurred toher that it might be wise to consult Merlin, the great magician. Shetherefore disguised herself and the Princess, and set out.

  Now Merlin dwelt in a dark cave which ran low underneath the ground. Itwas entered from a rock which lay a little way from a fierce brawlingstream that flowed amongst densely-wooded hills. It was a dismal spot,and when the travellers reached it they paused and feared to enter, andhalf repented their coming. But Britomart, whose nature was full ofspirit, recovered courage, and entered, followed by her nurse.

  They found the magician busied in his mysteries, writing strangecharacters on the ground. Their entrance did not surprise him, for byhis art he knew before-hand of their coming, and knew also the nature oftheir business; but feigning ignorance, he bade them tell their errand.

  Then Glauce spoke, humbly praying him not to be offended by their comingsince no light cause had brought them there. She paused, but he bade hergo on. Then she related how for the last three months the maiden beforehim had been afflicted by a sore evil, but what it was she scarce couldtell; of one thing only was she certain, that unless a remedy were foundher nursling must die.

  On hearing this Merlin began to smile, and knowing
that she had not yettold him the whole truth, said quietly, "If this be all, the damsel hathneed of a physician rather than of me," and added these words,

  "Who help may have elsewhere In vain seeks wonders out of magic spell."

  This speech rather disconcerted Glauce, who wished to secure his helpwithout confessing who they were or referring to the magic mirror, whichwould at once reveal the maiden's parentage. "Ah," she exclaimed, "ifphysicians' skill or any learned means could have relieved my deardaughter, truly I should be loath to disturb thee; but this evil hasarisen from a source beyond nature."

  Thereupon the wizard laughed outright.

  "Glauce," he said, "why try to cloak what is self-betrayed? And thou,fair Britomart," he continued, turning towards the Princess, "art nomore hidden by thy disguise than is the sun when a passing cloudconceals him. Thy good fortune hath brought thee hither to ask my help,and it shall be granted thee."

  On finding herself thus addressed, Britomart blushed deeply, but oldGlauce took heart and replied, "Since then thou knowest our grief, pityit, I pray thee, and relieve us."

  Whereupon Merlin sat silent for a time, and then spoke thus.

  "Be not thou dismayed, most noble virgin, by the sharp pangs which haveso sore oppressed thine heart, for so must all excellent things begin.Nor was it idle chance that led thee to look into the charmed mirror;thine eyes were guided by eternal providence in order that heaven'sdestiny be fulfilled. Thine is no evil fate, thus to love the noblestamong knights. Therefore submit thyself to Heaven, and take all duemeans to fulfil thy destiny."

  "But," said Glauce "advise us, thou great magician, what means to take.How shall she find this knight, or indeed why need she do aught sincethe fates can of themselves fulfil their own purpose."

  "Nay," replied Merlin, "true is it that naught can shake the heavenlydestiny, nevertheless men must use their own endeavour to work it out.Know then that he whom Britomart loves, and is to marry, is the knightArtegal. He dwells in the Faeryland, and yet he is neither born of afairy nor in any way related to one, but was by them stolen from hiscradle, and to this day he is ignorant that he belongs not to theirrace. But he is in truth a son of Gorlois, and a brother of Cador, thegreat Cornish king, whose deeds are renowned from east to west. And tothee, Britomart, is it given to bring Artegal back to his native soil.He shall return to help his country to withstand the foreign invasionwhich now threatens thy father's territory. His great strength and hisdreaded name shall render great assistance against the foe; and thyprowess shall be added unto his, and together ye shall wear arms andbear great command."

  Then the magician saw before him a vision of the future. In his visionhe beheld wars and desolation, a ruined church, and a king made captive.Overcome by the sorrows which lay before his people, the aged wizardpassed into an ecstasy which much alarmed the two women, who stoodsilent and confused. Presently it passed away, the natural colourreturned to his face, and the expression of horror gave way to one ofcalm cheerfulness. He then instructed Britomart and her nurse as to whatthey should do, and they, with lightened hearts, bade him farewell andreturned home. There they held secret counsel how best to carry outtheir difficult enterprise, proposing now one, and now a different plan.At length Glauce hit upon a bold device.

  "Daughter," she said, "I think that plan is ever the wisest that takesinto consideration present advantages. Good King Uther is now making warupon the Saracens, and all Britain is in arms. Let us too wear arms andlearn to use the shield and spear; so shall we pass unrecognized wherewe will throughout the land. Thou art tall and large of limb, and armourwill befit thee well, and practice will soon bring thee the needfulskill in handling weapons. Truly," continued Glauce waxing eager inpraise of her plan, "it ought to inflame thy courage to remember howmany women of thy house--a house inferior to none--have done deeds torival those of the bravest men. Remember bold Bundeca, brave Gwendolin,Martia, and Emmeline; and more than these, let the example of the SaxonVirgin incite thy courage."

  "Ah," said Britomart, "what is her name?"

  "Men call her fair Angela," replied the nurse, "for she is as fair asshe is courageous in battle: she is more dreaded than all the Saxons byher foes, and so beloved by her people that they call themselves by hername. Therefore, fair child, take her example for thine, and equal herin courage."

  These hearty words of Glauce sank deep into Britomart's heart, andinspired in her a great desire to excel in arms. She therefore resolvedto undertake the perils of knighthood, and consulted with her nurse howto attire herself in suitable array.

  Now it chanced that only a few days previously a band of Cambrians whohad gone out against the Saxons had returned with much prey, and amongother booty had carried back a complete suit of the armour worn byAngela, the Saxon Queen. It was a rich and beautiful suit, and frettedover with gold. This suit along with other spoils of war King Ryence hadcaused to be hung up in his chief church as a lasting monument of hissuccess and victory.

  In the same church was a famous and mighty spear. It had been fashionedin olden days by magic lore, and was preserved on account of its magicpowers. No matter how well or firmly a warrior sat his charger, thisspear bore him to the ground.

  Glauce remembered these things, and late in the evening she ledBritomart to the church, and taking down Angela's armour from its placeon the wall, arrayed her fair nursling therein. She took also the spear,and with it a shield, and gave them to Britomart.

  When she had thus completed the Princess' attire, she took another suitof armour and put it on herself, that she might attend Britomart and actas her squire. And now, both being fully equipped, they mounted thehorses which Glauce had caused to be ready, and under cover of thedarkness escaped from the palace, nor did they rest until they reachedthe Faeryland to which Merlin, the great magician, had directed them.