Hero-Myths and Legends of the British Race

About this eBook

Author

Ebbutt, M. I. (Maud Isabel), 1867-1934

Title

Hero-Myths & Legends of the British Race

Credits

Produced by Ted Garvin, Sam W. and the Online Distributed Proofreading Team at www.pgdp.net

Language

English

LoC Class

PN: Language and Literatures: Literature: General, Criticism, Collections

Subject

Romances, English

Category

Text

eBook-No.

25502

Project Gutenberg

https://www.gutenberg.org/ebooks/25502

Release Date

May 17, 2008

Copyright

Public domain in the USA.

Contents

1. 1.HERO-MYTHS & LEGENDS OF THE BRITISH RACE
2. 2.M. I. EBBUTT M. A.
3. 3.PREFACE
4. 4.CONTENTS
5. 5.LIST OF ILLUSTRATIONS
6. 6.INTRODUCTION — FOOTNOTES:
7. 7.CHAPTER I: BEOWULF — Introduction — The Story. The Coming and Passing of Scyld — Hrothgar’s Hall — Grendel — Beowulf — Hrothgar and Beowulf — The Quarrel — Beowulf and Grendel — Grendel’s Mother — The Fight with Grendel’s Mother — Beowulf’s Return — Fifty Years After — Beowulf and the Fire-Dragon — Beowulf Faces Death — Beowulf’s Death
8. 8.CHAPTER II: THE DREAM OF MAXEN WLEDIG — The Position of Constantine — The Emperor Maxen Wledig — The Emperor’s Malady — The Dream of the Emperor — The Quest for the Maiden — The Finding of the Maiden — The Dream Realized
9. 9.CHAPTER III: THE STORY OF CONSTANTINE AND ELENE — The Greatness of Constantine Provokes Attack — The Eve of the Battle — Vision of the Cross — Constantine is Cheered — The Morning of Battle — The Cross is Raised — A Council Summoned — Constantine Desires to Find our Saviour’s Cross — Summons his Mother Elene — Elene’s Vision — She Undertakes the Quest — She Comes to Judæa — She Cross-questions the Rabbis — One Appointed to Answer her — She Threatens him — He Guides her to Calvary — Three Crosses Found — A Miracle to Reveal our Saviour’s Cross — The Nails Sought for — Good News Brought to Constantine
10. 10.CHAPTER IV: THE COMPASSION OF CONSTANTINE — Youth of Constantine — Acclaimed Emperor — Becomes a Leper — Rewards Offered for his Cure — A Desperate Remedy — Constantine Assents Regretfully — A Cruel Proclamation — Constantine is Conscience-stricken — His Noble Resolve — He Announces his Determination — The Victims Sent Home Happy — A Vision — Sylvester Summoned — Constantine Baptized
11. 11.CHAPTER V: HAVELOK THE DANE — The Origin of the Story — Havelok and Godard — Goldborough and Earl Godrich — Havelok Becomes Cook’s Boy — Havelok and Goldborough — The Revelation and Return to Denmark — Havelok and Ubbe — The Death of Godard — Death of Godrich
12. 12.CHAPTER VI: HOWARD THE HALT — Introduction — Icelandic Ghosts — The Story. Howard and Thorbiorn — Olaf Meets Sigrid — Thorbiorn Insults Olaf — Olaf and the Wizard’s Ghost — Olaf’s Second Fight with the Ghost — Olaf Meets Thorbiorn — The Combat — A New Enemy Comes — Olaf’s Death — Howard Claims Wergild for Olaf — Howard at the Thing — Howard and Thorbiorn — Guest and Howard — Guest’s Judgment and the Payment of the Wergild — Biargey and her Brethren — Valbrand — Thorbrand and Asbrand — The Arousing of Howard — Howard Gathers his Friends — Howard’s Plan — Thorbiorn’s Return — Thorbiorn’s Death — Steinthor Shelters Howard — The Thing and Guest’s Award
13. 13.CHAPTER VII: ROLAND, THE HERO OF EARLY FRANCE — The Roland Legends — The Historic Basis — A Spanish Version — The Italian Orlando — Roland in French Literature — The “Chanson de Roland” — The Story — The Saracen Council — Blancandrin’s Advice — An Embassy to Charlemagne — Reception by Charlemagne — He is Perplexed — He Consults his Twelve Peers — Roland Speaks — Ganelon Objects — “Who Shall Go to Saragossa?” — Roland Suggests Ganelon — Ganelon is Angry — He Threatens Roland — But is Sent — He Plots with Marsile’s Messengers — To Betray Roland — Ganelon with the Saracens — Marsile’s Anger — The Saracen Council — Ganelon Plans Treachery — Welcomed by Marsile — Ganelon Returns to Charles — The French Camp. Charles Dreams — A Morning Council — Roland for the Rearguard — Charles is Sad — The Saracen Pursuit — Oliver Descries the Saracens — Roland will not Blow his Horn — It is Too Late — Turpin Blesses the Knights — “Montjoie! Montjoie!” — The Fray — The Saracens Perish — A Second Saracen Army — Gloomy Portents — Many French Knights Fall — The Second Army Defeated — A Third Appears — Roland Willing to Blow his Horn — Oliver Objects. They Quarrel — Turpin Mediates — The Horn is Blown — Ganelon Arrested — Charles Returns — Roland Weeps for his Comrades — He Fights Desperately — Oliver Falls — And Dies — Turpin is Mortally Wounded. The Horn Again — Charles Answers the Horn — Turpin Blesses the Dead — He Dies — Roland’s Last Fight — He Tries to Break his Sword — His Last Prayer — He Dies — Charles Arrives — His Lament — The Dead Buried — Aude the Fair — The Traitor Put to Death — FOOTNOTES:
14. 14.CHAPTER VIII: THE COUNTESS CATHLEEN — Celtic Mysticism — The Cathleen Legend — The Story. Happy Ireland — The Young Countess — Dearth and Famine — Distress of the Peasants — The Misery Increases — Cathleen Heartbroken for her People — Her Wide Charity — Lawlessness Breaks Out — Cathleen Has an Inspiration — She Summons her Steward — Demands to Know what Wealth she Owns — “Go Far and Buy Food” — The Steward Reluctantly Obeys — Buys Stores in England — His Return Delayed — Deepening Misery in Ireland — Two Mysterious Strangers — Their Strange Story — Mysterious Behaviour — Professed Errand of Mercy — A New Traffic — Buyers of Souls — Slow Trade at First — Trade Increases — Cathleen Hears of the Demon Traders — The Peasant’s Story — “Good Gold for Souls” — Cathleen Tries to Check the Traffic — In Vain — She Visits the Demons — They Make a Proposal — False Tidings — Cathleen’s Despair — A Desperate Decision — She Revisits the Demons — Her Terms — The Bond Signed — General Lamentation — Cathleen Fades Away — The Steward Returns — The Demons Cheated — FOOTNOTES:
15. 15.CHAPTER IX: CUCHULAIN, THE CHAMPION OF IRELAND — Introduction — Cuchulain, the Irish Achilles — The Youth of Cuchulain — Cuchulain’s Marriage — Bricriu’s Feast — Bricriu’s Falsehood — Bricriu Meets Conall Cearnach — Bricriu Meets Cuchulain — The Feast and the Quarrel — The Women’s Quarrel — The Husbands Intervene — The Heroes Journey to Connaught — Cuchulain’s Steeds — Queen Meave Watches the Heroes — Terror in Connaught — Conor Explains the Matter — The First Test — The Second Test — Ercol’s Defeat — Meave’s Plan to Avoid Strife in Cruachan — The Return of the Champions — The Champions Visit Curoi — The Giant Fights Laegaire and Conall — Cuchulain’s Trials — The Dragon — The Giant Worsted by Cuchulain — Cuchulain Re-enters the Dun — The Decision — Uath, the Stranger — The Agreement — Laegaire Accepts the Challenge — Laegaire and Conall Disgraced — Cuchulain Accepts the Challenge — Cuchulain Stands the Test — Curoi’s Decision and Cuchulain’s Victory
16. 16.CHAPTER X: THE TALE OF GAMELYN — The “Wicked Brothers” Theme — Literary Influence of the “Gamelyn” Story — The Story — The Father Feels his End Approaching — How Shall he Dispose of his Estate? — The Cruel Eldest Son — Gamelyn Resists — Gamelyn Terrifies the Household — Sir John’s Guile — A Wrestling Match — A Dreaded Champion — Gamelyn Enters — Defeats the Champion — He Wins the Prizes — He Overcomes his Brother’s Servants — A Reckoning with Sir John — Gamelyn Allows Himself to be Chained — Adam Spencer to the Rescue — A Plan of Escape — A Great Feast — The Banquet Disturbed — Sir John in Chains — The Sheriff’s Men Appear — The Sheriff Arrives — Gamelyn Goes to the Greenwood — Gamelyn Joins the Outlaws — The Law at Work — Gamelyn Arrested — Otho as Surety — Gamelyn Goes to the Woods — The Term Expires — Gamelyn in the Court — A Scene — Honour from the King
17. 17.CHAPTER XI: WILLIAM OF CLOUDESLEE — Introduction — Famous Outlaws — The Outlaws — The Leaders — William Goes to Carlisle — The Old Woman’s Treachery — News Brought to the Sheriff — The Hue and Cry — The Siege of the House — The Attack — The House is Burnt — The Sheriff Gives Sentence — News is Brought to the Greenwood — The Outlaws Go to Carlisle — Clym’s Stratagem — They Enter the Town — They Keep the Gates — The Fight in the Market-place — The Rescue — The Mayor of Carlisle — The Escape from Carlisle — Adam and the Keys — William of Cloudeslee and his Wife Meet — William’s Proposed Visit to London — Outlaws in the Royal Palace — The King and the Outlaws — The Queen Intercedes — News Comes to the King — The King’s Test — William of Cloudeslee’s Archery — Cloudeslee Shoots the Apple from his Son’s Head — The Last Shot — The King and Queen Show Favour
18. 18.CHAPTER XII: BLACK COLIN OF LOCH AWE — Introduction — The Highland Clans — The Knight of Loch Awe — Black Colin’s Youth — He Goes on Crusade — The Lady of Loch Awe — The Token — The Journey — The Crusade — The Lady’s Suitor — The Baron’s Plot — A Forged Letter — The Lady’s Stratagem — Black Colin Hears the News — Black Colin’s Return — The Foster-Mother’s Recognition — The Foster-Mother’s Plan — The Beggar at the Wedding — The Beggar’s Demand — The Token — The Recognition — The Baron’s Flight — Castle Kilchurn
19. 19.CHAPTER XIII: THE MARRIAGE OF SIR GAWAYNE — Introduction — Sir Gawayne — King Arthur Keeps Christmas — His Discontent — The Damsel’s Request — King Arthur’s Vow — The Fight — The Ransom — The King’s Search — The Loathly Lady — The Lady’s Secret — The Ransom — The Price of the Ransom — King Arthur’s Return — Sir Gawayne’s Devotion — The Hunting Party — Sir Kay and the Loathly Lady — The Betrothal — The Lady’s Words — The Journey to Carlisle — The Bridal — Sir Gawayne’s Bride — Sir Gawayne’s Choice — The Dilemma — Sir Gawayne’s Decision — The Lady’s Story — The Surprise of the Knights
20. 20.CHAPTER XIV: KING HORN — Introduction — The Royal Family of Suddene — The Saracen Invasion — Horn’s Escape — Arrival in Westernesse — Farewell to the Boat — King Ailmar and Childe Horn — Ailmar’s Decision — Childe Horn at Court — The Princess Rymenhild — Athelbrus Deceives the Princess — Athelbrus Summons Horn — Horn and Rymenhild — Horn Refuses the Princess — Horn Becomes a Knight — Horn and Athulf Go to Rymenhild — Horn’s First Exploit — Rymenhild’s Dream — Fikenhild’s False Accusation — Horn’s Banishment — Horn Slays the Giant Emir — Horn Refuses the Throne — Rymenhild’s Distress — Horn and King Thurston — Horn Returns on the Wedding-day — Horn Is Disguised as a Palmer — The Recognition — Horn’s Stratagem — Horn Slays King Modi — Horn’s Departure — The Apostate Knight — The Recognition — The Reconquest of Suddene — Fikenhild Imprisons Rymenhild — Horn’s Dream — Horn’s Disguise — Death of Fikenhild
21. 21.CHAPTER XV: ROBIN HOOD — Introduction — Robin Hood Seeks a Guest — The Outlaws’ Rules — Robin Hood’s Guest — Little John Escorts the Knight — Robin Hood’s Feast — Robin Converses with the Knight — Robin Demands Payment — The Knight’s Poverty — The Knight’s Story — How the Money was Lost — The Sum Required — Robin Offers a Loan — The Knight Offers Surety — Robin Hood’s Gifts — The Bond of Repayment — Sir Richard’s Journey — The Abbot and Prior of St. Mary’s — Sir Richard Returns — The Abbot and Sir Richard — Sir Richard Implores the Justice — The Justice Suggests a Compromise — Sir Richard Pays the Money — Sir Richard Sets Out to Repay the Loan — The Wrestling — Robin’s Impatience — The Monks Approach — The Capture of the Black Monk — The Outlaws’ Feast — The High Cellarer and the Suretyship — The Monk is Searched — Success of the Search — The Monk Departs — Sir Richard Arrives
22. 22.CHAPTER XVI: HEREWARD THE WAKE — Introduction — The Saxon Patriot — Leofric of Mercia — Hereward’s Youth — His Strength and Leadership — Leofric and Hereward — Hereward at Court — Hereward’s Exile — Hereward’s Farewell — Hereward in Northumbria — The Fairy Bear — Hereward Slays the Bear — Hereward’s Trick on the Knights — Hereward Leaves Northumbria — Hereward in Cornwall — Hereward Released from Prison — The Princess Visits the Captives — Sigtryg Ranaldsson of Waterford — Hereward Binds the Princess — Prince Sigtryg — Hereward and Sigtryg — Return to Cornwall — Hereward in the Enemy’s Hall — Haco’s Plan — Rescue for Haco’s Bride — The Ambush — Success
23. 23.GLOSSARY AND INDEX

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