Though he had not named his mistress to the queen he had yet spoken of his happiness, and dreaded the resentment of the fairy. Scarcely had he got home before he gave the accustomed signal, but on this occasion it was not answered. It was in vain that he poured forth lamentations and sighs, cursed his indiscretion, and sued for pardon his vows were uttered to the wind! : The barons found him in this melancholy situation when they brought him the royal mandate to appear at court in his defence. With despair at heart, and little solicitude concerning a life that had now become odious, he followed them to the castle.

Immediately on his appearance the king began to reproach him in the most pointed terms. Lanval, full of surprise, made solemn protestations of his innocence respecting any attempt to seduce the honour of the queen, but acknowledged the petulant expression that had escaped him in his anger, and submitted himself to the judgment of the court. In consequence the proper number of judges were chosen among his peers.

The day fixed for the trial having arrived, the barons assembled, and Arthur himself presided at the board. Animated by the queen, who was present, he strove to infuse the same spirit into the judges. The accused knight was interrogated, and was commanded to retire that the bench might proceed to judgment. But these brave

warriors felt a repugnance to condemn to death a knight without blemish, a youth of so much comeliness and promise, far removed from his native country, and without support or connection in a strange court. Several were for imprisonment, and one of them, in hope of saving the culprit, having proposed that he should produce his mistress-in order that, after comparison, they might determine whether he was just in preferring her to the queen his suggestion was unanimously adopted. Unfortunately it was no longer in his power to see her; and this last expedient only served to convince him that he was now deprived of every resource.

They were proceeding to judgment, on Lanval's declining the award, when suddenly two damsels mounted on grey palfreys appeared before them, of such extraordinary beauty, that the barons concluded one of them to be the much-boasted mistress of Lanval. They were presented to the king, and announced to him the arrival of their mistress. An instant afterwards two others appeared, of majestic stature, and still more beautiful than the former. They were very superbly dressed and mounted upon Spanish mules. The monarch went himself to conduct them, and returned quickly to expedite judgment lest the knight should escape his vengeance.

But loud shouts of joy and acclamations from without again stopped the proceedings of the

judges. They looked out, and saw approaching, upon a horse whiter than snow, a lady of supernatural beauty. Men and women, knights and commonalty, all in short who inhabited the environs of the castle, ran to attend her in her progress, and nothing could be heard around her but a confused murmur of admiration and applause.

The friends of Lanval, doubting not but that was the lady from whom alone he was to expect relief, came in haste to announce the fortunate arrival. Seated apart, a prey to anguish and sorrowful reflections, he waited the stroke of death with resignation, as he had lost all that could render life supportable. At the discourse of his friends, he raised up his eyes, and cried, "It is she! I die happy since I have once more beheld her!"

The sovereign, with all his court, arose to receive the lady. She entered the palace, saluted the assembly, and spoke in the following manner: "King, and you, O barons, listen to me! Arthur, I have loved one of your knights, on whom I have been obliged to confer the reward that should have proceeded from you. He was guilty of an act of disobedience, and I was inclined to punish him, by leaving him for a time on the brink of death, but I have now come to extricate him from it, in return for his fidelity. Barons, you required my presence to condemn or absolve him; here I am! now compare, and give judgment." They all ex

claimed that Lanval was in the right, and with a unanimous voice acquitted him. The fairy then departed with her damsels. The knight, mounting on some marble steps that were placed at the gate of the castle, vaulted upon the fairy's horse as she passed, and went along with her.

The Bretons gave out that she conducted him to a charming island, named Avalon, where their love was crowned with happiness. It is certain at least that he has never since been heard of.

THE PEDLAR.

A

A COMIC STORY.

RICH baron, of very extensive possessions,

had throughout his territories established so strict a police that rogues and thieves durst not make their appearance in them, but had through his severity been driven to commit their depredations in other quarters.

On a certain day he gave public notice of a new fair. Considerable merchants accordingly brought their carriages loaded with goods from the adjacent towns, and among them a dealer in small wares appeared, whose parcel being rather too heavy for his own shoulders was borne by a pack-horse. When he came to unload and display his effects for sale, he found his horse an incumbrance. He could not afford his subsistence at the livery stables, and to let him graze at random in the meadows would be at the risk of losing him. A merchant who was standing by soon relieved the pedlar from his embarrassment. "Follow my example," said he, "go and put your beast under the protection of the baron, and then you may sleep in quiet. You will nowhere find such protection and security as here. Should any man be daring enough to steal the horse