Bulfinch's Mythology, page 429 by Thomas Bulfinch
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430
fault had told, The mantle soon became her, Right comely as it should.
"Most rich and fair of color, Like gold it glittering shone, And much the knights in Arthur's court Admired her every one."
[Footnote 1: New-fangled--fond of novelty.]
The ballad goes on to tell of two more trials of a similar kind, made by means of a boar's head and a drinking horn, in both of which the result was equally favorable with the first to Sir Cradock and his lady. It then concludes as follows:
"Thus boar's head, horn, and mantle Were this fair couple's meed; And all such constant lovers, God send them well to speed"
--Percy's Reliques.
CHAPTER VIII
LAUNCELOT OF THE LAKE
King Ban, of Brittany, the faithful ally of Arthur was attacked by his enemy Claudas, and after a long war saw himself reduced to the possession of a single fortress, where he was besieged by his enemy. In this extremity he determined to solicit the assistance of Arthur, and escaped in a dark night, with his wife Helen and his infant son Launcelot, leaving his castle in the hands of his seneschal, who immediately surrendered the place to Claudas. The flames of his burning citadel reached the eyes of the unfortunate monarch during his flight and he expired with grief. The wretched Helen, leaving her child on the brink of a lake, flew to receive the last sighs of her husband, and on returning perceived the little Launcelot in the arms of a nymph, who, on the approach of the queen, threw herself into the lake with the child. This nymph was Viviane, mistress of the enchanter Merlin, better known by the name of the Lady of the Lake.