This wondrous shield, with the rich sword and armour, had been made for Prince Arthur by Merlin, the great and good magician.
Timias, the Prince's squire, was a gentle youth. He bore a spear of ebony, with a square pike head, which had been three times heated in the furnace; and he rode a proud and stubborn steed that chafed under its rider, but was kept well in hand.
As Prince Arthur approached the lady, he spoke courteously to her, and when he perceived that his words drew forth slow and unwilling answers, he guessed that a secret sorrow rent her heart. He then tried to draw from her the cause of her distress, until, moved by his kind words, Una spoke.
"What happiness," she asked, "could reach a heart plunged in a sea of sorrow, and heaped with huge misfortunes?" As soon as she thought of her distress a cold chill crept over her, and she felt as if stung by an iron arrow. Griefs which could not be cured were best not spoken of,—she could only weep and wail.
Then said the Prince—"Ah! dear lady, well do I believe that your grief is a heavy one, for only to hear you speak fills my soul with sadness; but let me entreat of you to unfold it, for counsel eases the worst sorrow."
"But great grief," said Una, "will not bear to be spoken of; it is easy to think about, but hard to utter."
"True," replied the Prince, "but he that wills not, can do nothing."
"Ah!" pleaded Una, "but grief that is spoken, and finds no relief, grows still heavier, and leads to despair."
"Not so," said the Prince, "when there is trust and faith."
And thus was Una at length persuaded to disclose her secret sorrow.