LILY MAID OF ASTOLAT

 

The gentle waters carry the frail Elaine to her beloved.

Elaine of Astolat met Lancelot when he lodged in her father's house. It was not long before Elaine became infatuated with the famous knight. While staying under her father's roof, Lancelot began planning a disguise with which he hoped to fool his fellow knights in an upcoming tournament. It was the custom for the knights of the day to display a token of their lady when they entered the tournament. Thinking it would add to the diguise, Lancelot agree to wear the scrlet sleeve belonging to Elaine. This gesture only served to fuel her passion. However, Lancelot was soon glad for her kindness, as after being seriously injued it was Elaine who patiently nursed him back to health. All this time the maid's love deepened, while Lancelot remained unaware of her feelings.

When the day came for Lancelot to return to the court, Elaine disclosed her undying love. Lancelot did his utmost to console the maid, but he could nto reciprocate her love, as his heart belonged to Geunevere alone.

With this departure Elaine's heart broke. She refused to eat, and over the days began to waste away, the Lily Maid only wished to die.

Elaine's despairing father was called to her bedside where she instructed him to make ready a barge and choose a trusted man to guide it. She then asked that she be placed within the barge and set to drift downstream. All was done as Elaine had instructed.

The river carried the Lily Maid to Arthur's court as she had intended. a crowd gathered to look upon the beautiful young woman whose skin was a s white as a lily.

Word of the maid reached Lancelot, who, on beholding the cold body, remembered the fair Elaine. In her hand lay a scroll telling of her love, which had been the cause of her death. The king read her story and dying wish aloud. All eyes turned to Lancelot whose heart was heavy with sorrosw. He honored the Lily Maid's dyying wish in offering the mass penny and burying her frail Body.

The story may seem familiar to some owing to Tennyson's poem "the Lady of Shalott. Tennyson drew from an Italian source, and we conclude from the poet's own remarks that at that time he was unaware of the story of the Maid of Astolat.





Ferguson, Anna-Marie. Keeper of Words. 1995 Llewellyn Publications. St. Paul, Minnesota.

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