Friday, December 17, 2010
Last Minute Controversy, I know
My Farewell to the Round Table
I have heard that the Round Table is in great trouble. I am now currently questing with Niviane along with her knights. I sense that Arthur is preparing a fight against Mordred and his army. We expect to reach the battlefield in ten days. I will recover the Excalibur as soon as possible for Arthur's keeping. Mordred will be no match against this sword. I know a dwarf that can sharpen the blade to my liking. Not even the toughest dragon in the kingdom of Logres will be able to withstand the blade.
We're currently resting at a small house where there lies the most extravagant furnishings. Why you should see the the red cloth covering the tomb inside! The two lovers entombed inside had a splend time living here. This is indeed a beautiful place. Oh my, I'm getting rather drowsy. I need to rest. It must be late at night, for I see a full moon outside. Our company will depart at dawn tommorrow.
Your friend,
Merlin
Thursday, December 16, 2010
Alone again...
Wednesday, December 15, 2010
What a strange place!
What in the name of all belonging to England!? Tiny iron gates protect the labyrinth containing the fragile boxes with glass lids on the covers. So many people and it took much time to find a place to dismount and tie my horse. I was in Fortune’s grace however because one of the castles surrounding the labyrinth made change for the parking meetres; Star-Deer or I think they call them “Bucks.” Stupid lady looked at me funny! Who heard of a spinning door! The city is a confusing place but inside the puzzle palace is where the real horror begins. What magic or trickery can turn Lions to stone? Is this some type of warning to those who are in the possessing the courage greater than I? Or do they have majick to also reanimate into flesh and attack intruders. Ah, but the red knight in those haunting wall drawing made it all worth the while. Such a story, but where’s my representation? Are the painters of the court afraid to take a drawing of me? They take drawings of people with wings!
Monty Python
The Abbey Paintings
Tuesday, December 14, 2010
In defense of Excalibur
King of the Grail
Monday, December 13, 2010
Wonderuful works of art!
Arthur's Aimless Search for the Grail
My presence would have made no difference, for Arthur himself must learn to trust his heart. As King, Arthur seems to struggle to maintain cohesion among his knights. He is depicted as a gullible authority by listening to Tim. I’m afraid Arthur is blinded by his search for an unattainable thing. The Grail may very well be an aimless desire of man, which is pursued by ideological motive.
My Representation In Art
It was of course the day that good King Arthur knighted me and accepted me into the Round Table. There is no greater honor in all of the land than to be in the company of the best knights in the world. I wore red and knelt before the magnificent King and was brought into the same majestic circle of fantastically talented men, such as my father Lancelot. Before the eyes of God I was bestowed the title that makes men quiver with fear and women quiver with passion. But alas I had no time for the quivering of women, even though I do deserve their quivering.
Though I may have suffered and was tortured by the arduous task of achieving the Grail, it was all worth it in the end, my name shall ring out through the ages, for I am Sir Galahad, Knight of the Round Table, Champion of the Holy Grail.
Abbey Paintings
Sunday, December 12, 2010
Delineations of Galahad
End of an Era (the Death of Arthur)
Abbey's Round Table
First and foremost, I was first taken aback by the sheer size of these pieces, which must have been close to ten feet in height and with endless length! The fifteen total images, telling us a tale in succession, surrounded the whole of the room with these colorful and awe-inspiring works. The deep, rich wood of the walls below the paintings and the dynamic lighting made the empty room seemingly fill up with the richness of the pictures above. One of the other things that stood out to me immediately was the way in which the Fisher King’s bed is prominently resting on top of a red and black marble doorway. Certainly a fitting spot of beauty unto which a King should perish should the Grail not be found!
My favorite panel of the collection was the third, in which my most noble Round Table is gathered and we sit and watch as Joseph of Arimathea escorts the pure Galahad to the Seat Perilous. There seems to be great concern written on the faces of those who fill the room. Many of my guests seem scared and apprehensive of someone attempting to sit in the Seat Perilous, but Galahad is up to the task and my standing to welcome him recognizes my confidence within this great knight.
Although Abbey does not depict the Round Table as may normally envision it, I can assure you that he goes to great lengths to bring about an air of truth in the passion of the room and the way unto which we would gather for monumental occasions. As the panels progress, we see just how truly worthy Sir Galahad is and to this effort we must praise the worthy painter of these scenes, as he has told us a dynamic story, in great detail, on canvas.
Arthur- I appreciate your attempt to avenge me.
Galahad
Saturday, December 11, 2010
hmm what the wear?
Also, in the boat with Galahad in number XII are three tree branches, one white, one green and one red. The white which is representative of the tree of life, the green branch for when Cain was begotten and red when Cain killed his brother Abel. I believe the red cape is not worn by Galahad because it symbolizes purity, but because it does represent sin, guilt and passion, which Galahad must overcome for 'the world.'
Guinevere's Musings
Also, does any knight or lady know whose is the face looming behind Blanchefleur in painting X? Here, Galahad leaves her (poor girl) to finish his quest for the Grail. However, it looks as if he is leaving her to this dark figure and thus to her demise. How sad that neither Galahad nor Blanchefleur will ever partake in earthly joys for I believe that heaven can actually be found in them.
Thursday, December 9, 2010
Galahad and the Divine Presence
The Siege Perilous looks Different...
Tuesday, December 7, 2010
Re: Guinevere's Profile. Knight Seeking Queen
Could it really be possible you love me half as much as I love you? After looking at your profile, it does, indeed, seem as if you are just as enamored. I must confess, I read and reread it countless times, trying to discern whether my eyes were deceiving me or not, and if I may be so bold as to say that I do believe they were not! Oh, my beloved, it warms my heart every time I see that you described me as your knight in shining armor. I will always be yours; my entire being was made with you in mind.
It says that your favorite books are anything written about me. My question to you is whether you prefer Chretien de Troyes or Malory's portrayal of myself. I shall strive to be which ever type of knight appeals to you most.
Yours forever and ever,
Lancelot
xoxo
ps. Is Arthur around? Do you think we can possibly meet up later? My heart is near bursting at this discovery and I must see you.
The Cup is Mightier than The Sword
Monday, December 6, 2010
Saturday, December 4, 2010
Strife of Maidens
I feel a great likeness to the fair and lovely Lady of Shalott, not only for we have both "lovely faces," but the ever present feelings of hopeless and of entrapment. Dost all women feel this way though? For we live to simply to marry and bear children. The Lady of Shalott, however, is able to be unto herself to practice her weaving like that of Brigantia. But, can she not have her weaving, personal identity and love of a man? For when the Lady of Shalott utters, “I’m half sick of shadows,” when she sees two lovers wed, she seems to wish for love of a man as well as her weaving. So as soon as Lady Shalott hears the singing of Sir Lancelot, “Tirra lira,” she ventures out into the world where she later dies upon a swimming boat.
This curse that has befallen upon her seems to be a prevalent curse that all women share. I was taken from my lovely Ireland, forced to travel to foreign lands and marry a strange man, all for mere diplomatic purposes. It seems as though I were once entombed, when wedded to King Mark and then escaped to attain true love, with that of my dearest Tristan.
Friday, December 3, 2010
The Glory of the Holy Grail
Fool-hardy Knights!
Tennyson wast right when he wrote that I “rode by Lancelot, wailed and shrieked aloud, ‘This madness has come on us for our sins.'" And madness it wast for Lancelot lost his wits and Percival drankst the dirt and Sir Bors wast seized and bound. Each of thou errest save Galahad (though, if thou asketh me, for all of his talk of chastity, he wast getting a bit close with Percival's sister).
I wouldst also liketh to point out that since all of thee hast sinned, thou canst stop pestering me about my affair with Lancelot. As the good Lord teacheth: thee without sin cast the first stone.