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〃Not so； dear friend； for who can tell whether life or
death will come to the city； whether its people will remember
at last； or whether they will forget forever。 Its lot is
mine； for I was born here； and here my life is rooted。 But
you are of the Children of the Unquiet Heart； whose feet can
never rest until their task of errors is completed and their
lesson of wandering is learned to the end。 Until then go
forth； and do not forget that I shall remember always。〃
Behind her quiet voice I heard the silent call that
compels us； and passed down the street as one walking in a
dream。 At the place where the path turned aside to the ruined
vineyards I looked back。 The low sunset made a circle of
golden rays about her head and a strange twin blossom of
celestial blue seemed to shine in her tranquil eyes。
Since then I know not what has befallen the city； nor
whether it is still called Saloma； or once more Ablis； which
is Forsaken。 But if it lives at all； I know that it is
because there is one there who remembers； and keeps the hour of
visitation； and treads the steep way； and breathes the beautiful
name over the spring； and sometimes I think that long before my
seeking and journeying brings me to the Blue Flower； it will
bloom for Ruamie beside the still waters of the Source。
THE MILL
I
How the Young Martimor would Become a Knight
and Assay Great Adventure
When Sir Lancelot was come out of the Red Launds where he did
many deeds of arms； he rested him long with play and game in
a land that is； called Beausejour。 For in that land there are
neither castles nor enchantments； but many fair manors； with
orchards and fields lying about them； and the people that
dwell therein have good cheer continually。
Of the wars and of the strange quests that are ever afoot
in Northgalis and Lionesse and the Out Isles； they hear
nothing； but are well content to till the earth in summer when
the world is green； and when the autumn changes green to gold
they pitch pavilions among the fruit…trees and the vineyards；
making merry with song and dance while they gather harvest of
corn and apples and grapes； and in the white days of winter for
pastime they have music of divers instruments and the playing of
pleasant games。
But of the telling of tales in that land there is little
skill； neither do men rightly understand the singing of
ballads and romaunts。 For one year there is like another； and
so their life runs away； and they leave the world to God。
Then Sir Lancelot had great ease for a time in this quiet
land； and often he lay under the apple…trees sleeping； and
again he taught the people new games and feats of skill。 For
into what place soever he came he was welcome； though the
inhabitants knew not his name and great renown； nor the famous
deeds that he had done in tournament and battle。 Yet for his
own sake； because he was a very gentle knight； fair…spoken and
full of courtesy and a good man of his hands withal； they
doted upon him。
So he began to tell them tales of many things that have
been done in the world by clean knights and faithful squires。
Of the wars against the Saracens and misbelieving men； of the
discomfiture of the Romans when they came to take truage of King
Arthur； of the strife with the eleven kings and the battle that
was ended but never finished； of the Questing Beast and how King
Pellinore and then Sir Palamides followed it； of Balin that
gave the dolourous stroke unto King Pellam； of Sir Tor that
sought the lady's brachet and by the way overcame two knights
and smote off the head of the outrageous caitiff Abelleus；of
these and many like matters of pith and moment； full of blood
and honour； told Sir Lancelot； and the people had marvel of
his words。
Now； among them that listened to him gladly； was a youth
of good blood and breeding； very fair in the face and of great
stature。 His name was Martimor。 Strong of arm was he； and
his neck was like a pillar。 His legs were as tough as beams
of ash…wood； and in his heart was the hunger of noble tatches
and deeds。 So when he heard of Sir Lancelot these redoubtable
histories he was taken with desire to assay his strength。 And
he besought the knight that they might joust together。
But in the land of Beausejour there were no arms of war save
such as Sir Lancelot had brought with him。 Wherefore they made
shift to fashion a harness out of kitchen gear； with a brazen
platter for a breast…plate； and the cover of the greatest of all
kettles for a shield； and for a helmet a round pot of iron；
whereof the handle stuck down at Martimor's back like a tail。
And for spear he got him a stout young fir…tree； the point
hardened in the fire； and Sir Lancelot lent to him the sword that
he had taken from the false knight that distressed all ladies。
Thus was Martimor accoutred for the jousting； and when he
had climbed upon his horse； there arose much laughter and
mockage。 Sir Lancelot laughed a little； though he was
ever a grave man； and said； 〃Now must we call this knight； La
Queue de Fer； by reason of the tail at his back。〃
But Martimor was half merry and half wroth； and crying
〃'Ware！〃 he dressed his spear beneath his arm。 Right so he
rushed upon Sir Lancelot； and so marvellously did his harness
jangle and smite together as he came； that the horse of Sir
Lancelot was frighted and turned aside。 Thus the point of
the fir…tree caught him upon the shoulder and came near to
unhorse him。 Then Martimor drew rein and shouted： 〃Ha！ ha！
has Iron…Tail done well？〃
〃Nobly hast thou done；〃 said Lancelot； laughing； the while
he amended his horse； 〃but let not the first stroke turn thy
head； else will the tail of thy helmet hang down afore thee
and mar the second stroke！〃
So he kept his horse in hand and guided him warily； making
feint now on this side and now on that； until he was aware
that the youth grew hot with the joy of fighting and sought to
deal with him roughly and bigly。 Then he cast aside his spear
and drew sword； and as Martimor walloped toward him； he
lightly swerved； and with one stroke cut in twain the young
fir…tree； so that not above an ell was left in the youth's
hand。
Then was the youth full of fire； and he also drew sword
and made at Sir Lancelot； lashing heavily as； he would hew
down a tree。 But the knight guarded and warded without
distress； until the other breathed hard and was blind with
sweat。 Then Lancelot smote him with a mighty stroke upon the
head； but with the flat of his sword； so that Martimor's breath
went clean out of him； and the blood gushed from his mouth； and
he fell over the croup of his horse as he were a man slain。
Then Sir Lancelot laughed no more； but grieved； for he
weened that he had harmed the youth； and he liked him passing
well。 So he ran to him and held him in his arms fast and
tended him。 And when the breath came again into his body；
Lancelot was glad； and desired the youth that he would pardon
him of that unequal joust and of the stroke too heavy。
At this Martimor sat up and took him by the hand。
〃Pardon？〃 he cried。 〃No talk of pardon between thee and me；
my Lord Lancelot！ Thou hast given me such joy of my life as
never I had before。 It made me glad to feel thy might。 And
now am I delibred and fully concluded that I also will become
a knight； and thou shalt instruct me how and in what land I
shall seek great adventure。〃
II
How Martimor was Instructed of Sir Lancelot to
Set Forth Upon His Quest
So right gladly did Sir Lancelot advise the young Martimor of
all the customs and vows of the noble order of knighthood； and
shew how he might become a well…ruled and a hardy knight to
win good fame and renown。 For between these two from the
first there was close brotherhood and affiance； though in
years and in breeding they were so far apart； and this
brotherhood endured until the last； as ye shall see； nor was
the affiance broken。
Thus willingly learned the youth of his master； being
instructed first in the art and craft to manage and guide a
horse； then to handle the shield and the spear； and both to
cut and to foin with the sword； and last of all in the laws of
honour and courtesy； whereby a man may rule his own spirit and
so obtain grace of God； praise of princes； and favour of fair
ladies。
〃For this I tell thee；〃 said Sir Lancelot； as they sat
together under an apple…tree； 〃there be many good fighters
that are false knights； breaking faith with man and woman；
envious； lustful and orgulous。 In them courage is cruel； and
love is lecherous。 And in the end they shall come to shame
and shall be overcome by a simpler knight than themselves； or
else they shall win sorrow and despite by the slaying of
better men than they be； and with their paramours they shall
have weary dole and distress of soul and body； for he that is
false； to him shall none be true； but all things shall be
unhappy about him。〃
〃But how and if a man be true in heart；〃 said Martimor；
〃yet by some enchantment； or evil fortune； he may do an ill
deed and one that is harmful to his lord or to his friend；
even as Balin and his brother Balan slew each the other
unknown？〃
〃That is in God's