Fairies and Fairy Tales

BEWARE OF MORGAN LE FAY
by Viktor Jovanoski

“About this time Morgan le Fay, the wicked sister of King Arthur, sent a present to her brother. It was a beautiful drinking-horn, mounted with gold, and it was supposed to have some magic power, so that no lady or gentlewoman could drink of it unless she truly loved her husband; if she did not love him, then all the liquid would be spilled. Because Morgan le Fay hated Queen Guinevere, she had sent this horn to King Arthur, hoping to work some mischief by her evil spells.”

King Arthur and His Noble Knights:
Stories From Sir Thomas Malory’s Morte D’Arthur

1.
Believe her not, most gentle Arthur,
Believe her not, I pray:
She shall trick thee, she shall part us,
The mad Morgan le Faye.

2.
Behold her in her gown so fair,
Her garment gold and green,
‘Tis made of shiny leopards’ fur,
‘Tis sewn with lizards’ skin.

3.
She has cold and aching look,
A wild and burning hair,
She dwells ‘mong fairies, flames and books
In the darkness of her lair.

4.
She rides on blackest elfin swans,
She bathes in virgins’ blood,
She longs for scepters, ancient thrones,
And the heart of Lancelot.

5.
Yea, she dreams of him, my Arthur dear,
As many ladies do;
But thy faithful Guinevere
Only dreams of you.

6.
These lips that poison shall not mar –
They shall only touch your lips.
If thou art virtuous as thou art –
Thou’ld spill it, sip by sip.

7.
I shan’t drink from that magic horn,
I shan’t taste it alive:
Thy disbelief shall be my urn
When I shall survive.

8.
If faithless, Arthur, have I been
May Death be very nigh.
By’r Gracious Lady, by thy queen
Let this cup pass me by.

9.
I shall soothe thee, I shall love thee
Until the Judgment Day.
Let the Sinless be the judge of me –
Not the wicked Morgan le Faye.

10.
She plots of vengeance in her lair,
She yearns to have her way.
Beware, most dear Arthur, beware
Of the witch Morgan le Faye.

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