“O Guyon,” such was the song which they heard, “flower of chivalry, most famous of all knights upon earth, turn thy bark hither, and rest awhile.”
“Listen not,” said the pilgrim, “they do but seek to lure you to your death.”
These things past, they came to the place for which they were bound. And the pilgrim said: “This, Sir Knight, is the place where you must contend for the mastery. Take your arms, and make yourself ready, for the hour of trial is at hand.”
And now the ferryman drove the boat upon the shore, and Sir Guyon and his guide stepped out upon the sand. Straightway they heard a hideous bellowing as of savage beasts, and soon the beasts themselves came in view, threatening as if they would devour them. But no sooner did the pilgrim hold out his staff than they ceased their roaring, and humbled themselves to the ground. And now they came to the Bower of Bliss, a place most daintily adorned with all that could please the eye. The porch by which they entered was of ivory cunningly adorned with carved work, in which was told the story of Jason and Medea; how he sailed in the good ship Argo, and how he won the love of the king’s daughter, and how she helped him to win the fleece of gold from the dragon which guarded it, and how she fled with him over the sea. And when they had passed through the porch they came to a very fair meadow, adorned with the fairest trees and flowers. And the meadow being passed they came to another gate, where there sat a comely damsel, who pressed the clusters of a vine which hung above her head into a cup. This cup she proffered to the knight, and he, suspecting evil in all that seemed most fair and pleasant, took it from her hand, and threw it violently on the ground, so that it was broken into many pieces, and all the liquor was spilt.
Sir Guyon and the Men in Bestial Shapes.
Many other tempting sights did they see, and all the knight passed by unscathed, the pilgrim not ceasing on occasion to give counsel and warning. So at last they came to the most sacred place of the Bower, where the queen herself, Acrasia by name, had her abode. Fair she was beyond all words and daintily arrayed, and at her feet there lay a goodly knight asleep. He was of goodly aspect, just come to the years of manhood, with the down newly sprung upon his cheeks and his lips. His arms hung idly on a tree hard by, but his shield was without an emblem, as if he had put away the purpose of his life.
Sir Guyon and the pilgrim drew near, none seeming to heed them, so occupied were they with the pleasures of the place. And then the pilgrim threw over the queen and the knight a net which he had cunningly prepared for that same purpose. Fast did it hold them for all their struggles, neither force nor art could avail them, though they strove with all their might. The queen being thus captured, they bound her with chains of adamant, for nothing else could hold her safely; but the knight they soon set free, for he was of a noble nature, though it was much decayed by evil ways, and he was willing to take to himself good advice and counsel. And the beauty and glory of the Bower did they deface and spoil, the goodly carvings they broke in pieces, and cut down the pleasant groves. As for the beasts, when the pilgrim raised his staff over them, they left their bestial shapes and came back to their own, for, indeed, they were men whom this same evil queen had changed to the forms and thoughts of beasts. So did Sir Guyon perform the command of Queen Gloriana.
CHAPTER XV
BRITOMART
Sir Guyon returned to rest awhile in the castle of the Lady Alma, where also he had Prince Arthur for companion. Acrasia he sent to Queen Gloriana under a strong guard, lest perchance her friends and followers, of whom there was great multitude, should seek to deliver her. After a while the two knights set out again on their journey. Many good deeds they did, helping the weak and setting right the things that were wrong. It happened on a certain day that they espied a knight riding towards them, with an aged squire by his side, who seemed too weak for the burden which he bare. The knight had a shield with the device of a lion on a field of gold. Sir Guyon said to Prince Arthur, “Let me, I pray you, have this turn.”