--- title: Opening, part 8 — Morien: A Metrical Romance Rendered into English… · full text with trees · page 2 description: Opening, part 8, «Morien: A Metrical Romance Rendered into English Prose from the Mediæval Dutch» by Jessie L. Weston: the whole chapter, every sentence with its dependency tree and pragmatics. It begins: With that came the hermit into the chapel, and spake, and told them how he had heard tidings fr --- [Mova](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/) · [this page in HTML](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/tales/pg8447/8/page/2/) [home](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/) / [corpora](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/) / [tales](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/tales/) / [Morien: A Metrical Romance Rendered in…](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/tales/pg8447/) / Opening, part 8 # Opening, part 8 · page 2 [1](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/tales/pg8447/8/) **2** Quoth Sir Gariët, "That will I tell ye."[56](../../56/ "tree and pragmatics") Thus went the twain into the chapel, where they found that good man, the hermit, and Morien, who was black of face and of limb.[57](../../57/ "tree and pragmatics") Then was Sir Gariët somewhat in fear, when he saw him so great of limb and of such countenance.[58](../../58/ "tree and pragmatics") This marked well his brother, Sir Gawain, and he gave him to wit of the knight, and of his name, who he was, and whence he came, ere he asked him aught; for he saw well that he somewhat misdoubted him when he saw the good knight Morien of such countenance.[59](../../59/ "tree and pragmatics") So sat they down together, and each bade the other welcome, and made much joy of their meeting.[60](../../60/ "tree and pragmatics") But Sir Gawain was more desirous than I may tell ye of knowing wherefore Sir Gariët, his brother, came thither, till he brought him to that point that he spake the truth concerning what had chanced to King Arthur, and told how the worst had befallen him. "[61](../../61/ "tree and pragmatics") King Arthur is taken captive\![62](../../62/ "tree and pragmatics") As he fared on a day to hunt in a great forest, as he was wont to do, there came upon him the greatest company of armed men that I may tell ye of, in these few words, who were all the King of the Saxons' men.[63](../../63/ "tree and pragmatics") They were in such force that they took King Arthur, who foresaw naught of this, and had but few folk with him, as he but went a-hunting.[64](../../64/ "tree and pragmatics") Thereof are his people sore troubled, and the queen above all--she is well nigh distraught in that the king is captive.[65](../../65/ "tree and pragmatics") She knows not whither the folk who took him in the forest have led him, or what may since have befallen him.[66](../../66/ "tree and pragmatics") Thereof is many a heart sorrowful.[67](../../67/ "tree and pragmatics") The forest standeth by the sea shore, whence came the folk who took the king by force, and led him whither they would.[68](../../68/ "tree and pragmatics") They who rode with King Arthur were unarmed, and defenceless; their strength was not worth a groat.[69](../../69/ "tree and pragmatics") Thereto have we another woe; the Irish King hath come into the land, and made war; one town hath he already won, and layeth siege to another.[70](../../70/ "tree and pragmatics") He hath made his boast that he will win all Arthur's land, hill and vale, castle and town (this is his intent), and bring all under his hand ere he quit our land.[71](../../71/ "tree and pragmatics") Of this is the queen sore afraid, and they who be with her, they look not to escape.[72](../../72/ "tree and pragmatics") Had ye, brother, been in the land, and Perceval, and Lancelot, then had we never come to such a pass, for there liveth no man so bold that he durst withstand ye three in any venture that might chance.[73](../../73/ "tree and pragmatics") Now hath my lady the queen taken counsel, and sent messengers far and near into every land to seek ye and Lancelot in this her sore need.[74](../../74/ "tree and pragmatics") And I be one of these messengers, and have ridden as swiftly as my steed might bear me from Arthur's Court hitherward, and ever have I sought tidings of ye, till at length men told me, and I knew that ye twain had come over to this cross, to this parting of the ways.[75](../../75/ "tree and pragmatics") And beyond the border did men tell me that would I ride hither I must fare for long upon the road ere I found a soul, man or woman, who lived, and was of the faith of Christendom.[76](../../76/ "tree and pragmatics") Against this did I prepare myself, and brought with me food, meat and bread, lest I had need thereof, and cool clear wine in two flasks that hang here by my saddle, that I might lay my hand on them when I had need thereto."[77](../../77/ "tree and pragmatics") Then laughed Sir Gawain the bold when he heard him speak of food, and said that he had come thither in a good hour since they had no victuals, much or little, nor drink there within, nor knew they where they might find any had he brought none with him.[78](../../78/ "tree and pragmatics") But God had thought upon them betimes, and Mary, His Blessed Mother.[79](../../79/ "tree and pragmatics") Then quoth Sir Gariët his brother, "Let us eat and drink, and begin our meal, as we have need to do--but where is Sir Lancelot, that I see him not here?[80](../../80/ "tree and pragmatics") Sir Gawain, brother, tell me, for fain would I know the truth?"[81](../../81/ "tree and pragmatics") And Sir Gawain spake, "He rode hence a while ago to seek Sir Perceval."[82](../../82/ "tree and pragmatics") Sir Gariët answered and said, "That ye vex yourselves thus to seek him, 'tis labour lost, for tidings have come to court that Perceval hath become hermit, and doeth penance for his sins.[83](../../83/ "tree and pragmatics") He hath learnt the truth; did he seek till Doomsday that which he went forth to seek, the spear and the grail, he would find them not; that cometh altogether from his sin against his mother whereas he left her in the forest, and would no more remain with women--then did she die for sorrow.[84](../../84/ "tree and pragmatics") That sin hath hindered him, did he otherwise come upon them, of winning the spear and the grail.[85](../../85/ "tree and pragmatics") He must be pure and clean from all stain, from all sin (so is it now declared for truth) who would have the spear at his will, and the grail.[86](../../86/ "tree and pragmatics") For sorrow at this hath Perceval betaken himself to a hermitage, thereof have tidings come to court, even as he willed that it should be made known.[87](../../87/ "tree and pragmatics") And concerning his brother Sir Agloval, of him did they tell that he lay sick, with his uncle, sorely wounded; but the messenger did us to wit that he was like to be healed, that do I tell ye, Sir Gawain.[88](../../88/ "tree and pragmatics") Now let us eat, and go on our way to the queen with honour, that doth my lady require of ye and of Sir Lancelot, upon your faith to her.[89](../../89/ "tree and pragmatics") But I am sore vexed that he hath thus escaped me!"[90](../../90/ "tree and pragmatics") When Morien, the son of Sir Agloval, had heard and understood this tale, he asked forthwith if any there within could give him true tidings and make known to him the road to the hermitage whither his uncle had betaken himself, and where his father lay wounded; since he would fain know thereof.[91](../../91/ "tree and pragmatics") Their host quoth straightway, "He that had a boat at his will and a favouring wind might be there ere even."[92](../../92/ "tree and pragmatics") He said that he knew the hermit; "And 'twixt water and land 'tis a good fifteen mile thither, that do I know for a truth, for oft-times have I heard men speak thereof since I came hither.[93](../../93/ "tree and pragmatics") Now hearken to what I tell ye," (thus he spake to Morien) "over the arm of the sea, there where ye cross, neither more nor less, on the further shore is there a forest, to all seeming the greatest men may wot of, and the wildest--'tis long withal and wide.[94](../../94/ "tree and pragmatics") But as ye come thither, to one side, at the entering in of the forest, they who would seek it may find the hermitage within but a short distance, even as it were the mountance of a mile.[95](../../95/ "tree and pragmatics") Of this be ye sure, with never a doubt."[96](../../96/ "tree and pragmatics") [1](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/tales/pg8447/8/) **2** - ← previous: [page 1](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/tales/pg8447/8/) - next →: [Opening, part 9](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/tales/pg8447/9/) - ↑ back to [Morien: A Metrical Romance Rendered into English Prose from the Mediæval Dutch](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/tales/pg8447/)