" No tillage there,no coulter to tear the bosom of the earth. Without labor it affords wheatand the grape. There the lives extend beyond a century. There ninesisters, whose will is the only law, rule over those who go from us tothem. The eldest excels in the art of healing, and exceeds her sisters inbeauty. She is called Morgana, and knows the virtues of all the herbs ofthe meadow. She can change her form, and soar in the air like a bird; shecan be where she pleases in a moment, and in a moment descend on ourcoasts from the clouds. Her sister Thiten is renowned for her skill on theharp.'"'With the prince we arrived, and Morgana received us with fittinghonour. And in her own chamber she placed the king on a bed of gold, andwith delicate touch, she uncovered the wound. Long she considered it, andat length said to him that she could heal it if he stayed long with her,and willed her to attempt her cure. Rejoiced at this news, we intrustedthe king to her care, and soon after set sail.'"Sir Thomas Malory, who wrote the book called the "Historie of KingArthur," or more commonly the "Morte d'Arthur," utters these high thoughtsconcerning the memory of the great king:--"Oh, yee mightie and pompeous lords, shining in the glory transitory ofthis unstable life, as in raigning over great realmes and mightie greatcountries, fortified with strong castles and toures, edified with many arich citie; yee also, yee fierce and mightie knights, so valiant inadventurous deeds of armes; behold, behold, see how this mightieconquerour king Arthur, whom in his humaine life all the world doubted,see also the noble queene Guenever, which sometime sat in her chaireadorned with gold, pearles, and precious stones, now lye full low inobscure fosse or pit, covered with clods of earth and clay; behold alsothis mightie champion Sir Launcelot, pearelesse of all knighthood, see nowhow hee lyeth groveling upon the cold mould, now being so feeble and faintthat sometime was so terrible.
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