--- title: Opening, part 9 — Morien: A Metrical Romance Rendered into English… · full text with trees · page 2 description: Opening, part 9, «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: "So help me God," quoth Morien, "an it fall out according to my will there shall I be ere even. --- [Mova](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/) · [this page in HTML](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/tales/pg8447/9/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 9 # Opening, part 9 · page 2 [1](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/tales/pg8447/9/) **2** As they came to the ships, Morien told him how it had fared with him before when he thought to make the crossing, and he said that he found no living soul among all that he saw there who would let him into his ship, since he seemed to them so huge, and black withal.[53](../../53/ "tree and pragmatics") "They counted themselves for lost, deeming that I were the devil, and were sore afeard, and put out to sea.[54](../../54/ "tree and pragmatics") Now see, Sir Gariët, what counsel ye may find, and how we may so contrive that we cross the water; doubt ye not that an they once behold me and know me they will straightway set sail again and put to sea.[55](../../55/ "tree and pragmatics") I fear me we may not cross over!"[56](../../56/ "tree and pragmatics") Quoth Sir Gariët: "By what ye tell me, methinks 'twere better that I ride on ahead, and hire me a ship.[57](../../57/ "tree and pragmatics") Ye shall follow on softly; and let me once come therein, and have my steed aboard and the boatman in my power, he shall not depart hence ere that ye be come thither.[58](../../58/ "tree and pragmatics") May my soul be lost if he do!"[59](../../59/ "tree and pragmatics") Further spake the knight Sir Gariët: "Even should he be beside himself when he first see ye, I shall not let him free ere he have taken us to the further shore, or I shall have from him such forfeit 'twere better for him to be sunken and drowned in the depths of the sea!"[60](../../60/ "tree and pragmatics") Then answered Morien: "Ye have found the best counsel that may be devised.[61](../../61/ "tree and pragmatics") Now ride ye without delay, and hire us a boat, good and strong, that may well carry us over the water.[62](../../62/ "tree and pragmatics") I shall abide behind, and wait till ye have done your part.[63](../../63/ "tree and pragmatics") I will do even as ye shall counsel!"[64](../../64/ "tree and pragmatics") Thus they agreed together, and Sir Gariët rode alone till he came to the ships, where he found a boat that pleased him well.[65](../../65/ "tree and pragmatics") He offered the boatman money enow to take him to the further side with no delay.[66](../../66/ "tree and pragmatics") He gave him the gold in his hand, and he made him ready and hoisted sail and rigging.[67](../../67/ "tree and pragmatics") Of this did he swiftly repent.[68](../../68/ "tree and pragmatics") Even as the steed was aboard and all was ready for the crossing came Morien riding, blacker than any son of man whom Christian eyes had e'er beheld.[69](../../69/ "tree and pragmatics") And the boatman was fain to flee when he beheld him and he drew nigh to him, for he had seen him aforetime.[70](../../70/ "tree and pragmatics") He deemed that he should surely die of fear, and scarce might move a limb.[71](../../71/ "tree and pragmatics") Then Sir Gariët asked him: "Sir boatman, what aileth thee?[72](../../72/ "tree and pragmatics") By Heaven, it availeth thee naught; thou shall ferry us over swiftly.[73](../../73/ "tree and pragmatics") Now make us no ado, or this shall be thy last day.[74](../../74/ "tree and pragmatics") By the Lord who made us, of what art thou afraid?[75](../../75/ "tree and pragmatics") This is not the devil\![76](../../76/ "tree and pragmatics") Hell hath he never seen! '[77](../../77/ "tree and pragmatics") Tis but my comrade; let him in.[78](../../78/ "tree and pragmatics") I counsel thee straitly!"[79](../../79/ "tree and pragmatics") Then must the boatman obey, though he liked it but ill.[80](../../80/ "tree and pragmatics") He saw that better might not be: he might neither leap out of the boat nor otherwise escape.[81](../../81/ "tree and pragmatics") So soon as he had in his boat Morien, of whom he was sore afraid, in that he was so huge, and had shipped his steed, which was in seeming over-strong, he pushed the boat from shore and put out to sea.[82](../../82/ "tree and pragmatics") He feared him greatly, even as one who deems that he is lost.[83](../../83/ "tree and pragmatics") When Morien had sat himself down he did off his helmet of steel.[84](../../84/ "tree and pragmatics") Then the boatman deemed that he was a dead man, and prayed for mercy, beholding his face, for he though he might scarce be a Christian.[85](../../85/ "tree and pragmatics") Sir Gariët asked of him tidings, if there had passed that way two knights, of whom the one bestrode a red horse and wore red armour, and the other bare the badge of King Arthur.[86](../../86/ "tree and pragmatics") If he might tell him aught of them he besought him to do so; an he knew where they yet abode he would give him great thanks.[87](../../87/ "tree and pragmatics") The boatman said: "'Tis not long since that they were even in my boat; the one knight ware red armour and had with him a red steed, and the other was wounded and bare King Arthur's badge; and I know full well," quoth the boatman, "the knights who bear that badge, by that same token shall ye yourself be one of King Arthur's knights.[88](../../88/ "tree and pragmatics") They would both cross over, and I ferried them to the further side. '[89](../../89/ "tree and pragmatics") Twas to them an unknown land; that did I hear well from their speech.[90](../../90/ "tree and pragmatics") Methought that they were ill at ease, I wist not wherefore.[91](../../91/ "tree and pragmatics") I saw that the one wept so that the tears fell thick adown his face.[92](../../92/ "tree and pragmatics") And when I had brought them to the other side the knight, who was glad thereof, asked me if I knew where stood a hermitage wherein a hermit dwelt.[93](../../93/ "tree and pragmatics") That did I shew him--no more and no less."[94](../../94/ "tree and pragmatics") Thus fared they, having heard the tale and speaking of the twain, till that they touched the sand.[95](../../95/ "tree and pragmatics") Then did the boatman shew them the way they should ride thence to where the hermitage stood, and declared to them the road.[96](../../96/ "tree and pragmatics") Thus left they the boatman, who was much rejoiced to be safely quit of them.[97](../../97/ "tree and pragmatics") But the knights went on their way till they knew that they drew near to the hermitage, and came even unto it.[98](../../98/ "tree and pragmatics") Then they dismounted, and made fast their steeds before the door, and cried with a loud voice to those within: "Let us in\![99](../../99/ "tree and pragmatics") Open of your goodwill!"[100](../../100/ "tree and pragmatics") A lad came to the door and asked them what they desired, and if aught ailed them that they required aid.[101](../../101/ "tree and pragmatics") Then Sir Gariët spake, and said that an it were pleasing to them, they would fain have speech with the hermit and with Sir Agloval.[102](../../102/ "tree and pragmatics") And the messenger went his way to the twain, and told them how two knights stood without the gate. "[103](../../103/ "tree and pragmatics") The one is a goodly man to look upon and well armed, and so, forsooth, is the other, but his armour and his limbs, so far as I might see, were blacker than soot or pitch.[104](../../104/ "tree and pragmatics") I wot not if ye know aught of them or of their errand.[105](../../105/ "tree and pragmatics") They said that they would fain speak with ye, and they prayed me straitly, the twain of them, that I should come hither and tell ye this."[106](../../106/ "tree and pragmatics") Sir Agloval, who deemed this passing strange, went, as best he might, to the gate, and his uncle the hermit followed him with no delay.[107](../../107/ "tree and pragmatics") Sir Agloval looked through the wicket, and was ware of Sir Gariët, Sir Gawain's brother, and bethought him how that he belonged to King Arthur's court and was worthy of great honour, for though he were not so well known throughout the land as was his brother Sir Gawain, yet was he a strong knight and bold, and a doer of valiant deeds.[108](../../108/ "tree and pragmatics") [1](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/tales/pg8447/9/) **2** - ← previous: [page 1](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/tales/pg8447/9/) - next →: [Opening, part 10](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/tales/pg8447/10/) - ↑ back to [Morien: A Metrical Romance Rendered into English Prose from the Mediæval Dutch](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/tales/pg8447/)