Stories from the Faerie Queen, Told to the Children

very year, the Queen of the Fai

en people wanted help to slay a dragon or a savage beast, or to driv

His hair was grey, and he leaned heavily on his long staff. He tol

and handsomest of her young knights. 'You shall go w

ir Guyon, 'but I will do

se had never paced so slowly before, for Guyo

adventures, but in every fight Guyon was the victor, because he listened to

ho sang and laughed and seemed very happy and very gay. She was a servant of the wicked witch for whom Guyon was looking, but

retty and merry, and so kind,

ang, she sang along with them, and when little waves gurgle

oved her gay laugh no longer, and presently left her and wa

d a rough and ugly man. His face was tanned with smoke and his eyes were bleared. Great heaps of gold lay about him on every side. When he s

kly at him and cau

r money in this lonely place, instead

sky. If you will be my servant, all this money shall be yours. Or if this be not gold enou

head. 'I want none o

y steeds, bright

es fit for an adv

ill buy you all those things. It

bloodshed and bitterness,' said

God grew a

you refuse,' he said.

to the thickest of the bushes and

ings came and glared at them, and owls and night

s. A light like the light of the moon from behind a dark cloud showed Guyon great iron chests and coffers full of money, but t

lay about him on e

ammon. 'Only be my servant, and

ered Guyon. 'I place a highe

another room where were a

n gold. When they saw Guyon in his shining armour, they stopped their work and stared at him in fear and amazement. Never before had they

gh this gate they passed, and Guyon found himself in a vast golden room

dy, dressed in clothes more gorgeous than a

wife, and all these treasures that are too great to be

aid Guyon, 'but my love

rden where dark cypresses hung their heads over the flaming blossoms of poppies that made men sleep for ever,

kly leaved and heavily hung with shining golden apples. The b

and moaning in the dark and fearful water. Some were trying to grasp the frui

not pick some of the golden fruit tha

e dark land of the Money God, was too true and good a knight to do what Mammon wished. Had he picked

fruit,' he said; 'I w

ys and days, Guy

eyes, he found that his head was rest

away, the palmer had tried and tried to find a mea

y a fairy voice called to him, loud and cle

came, and in the dark thicket where Mammon had

any colours, like the wings of a lovely bird, sat by Guyon

ls, and he had many fights and many adventures. But ever after he had been tempt

who needed help, and at last he and the palmer reached the s

oatman to row them, and for two

f raging water. In the trembling light of the dawn that was spreading a

s many ships were wrecked. But the palmer steered so straight and wel

be wrecked. It was a magic rock, and the water round it tried to draw Guyon's boat against its ragged sides, that

the magic rock and got into calm water. And still the boatman rowed so hard that the little boa

!' at last

er they found that they looked fresh and green and pleasa

and!' cri

atman shoo

hey are magic islands, and if any one lands on

r. She beckoned and called to them to come on shore, and when they woul

ul servant, and they took no notice of her. So she go

n, when they were free of that, a great storm arose, and every fierce and ugly fish and monster that ever live

yon. 'These ugly shapes were only mad

sea. The waves sank down to rest, and

saw on an island a lady, who we

o help those who wanted help,

mer would n

s of the witch,' he said, 'and

he shadow of a great grey hill, and from it ca

n water, and the melody of their song made Guyon long t

r son of ge

mighty arms

ghts that eve

rudder hithe

torm-beat vess

t of rest from

inn from pain and

d seemed to blend with the melody and make it so beautiful that Guyon longed and longed to go with them to

and they could not tell where to steer. And round the boat flew great flocks o

began to clear. And, when the fog was gone, they saw at last the fair land to which the

s boat, and Guyon and the palmer landed. And the palme

hore. But the palmer waved his staff at them, and they shrank tremb

a young man decked with flowers, and holding a staff in his hand. He impudently held out a great bowl of wine for

rs, and came to another gate made of green boughs and branches. Over it spread a

grapes, and squeezed their juice into a golden cup and offered it to G

place there rang magic music. Sweet voices, the song of birds, the whispering winds, the

beautiful were the sights they

d of red roses, they f

at they were near, Guyon threw over her a net that the palmer had made. She struggled

nd all the things that had seemed so beautiful

r boat that waited by the shore, the fierce beasts that had

it was only the witch's magic that had made them beasts. One of them, named Gryll, who had

ryll, and have

epart whilst weath

the p

court, and gave their wicked pris

Faerie Queen's commands, to war against all e