On the appointed day King Mark and Iseult, and the barons of Cornwall,
stood by the river; and the knights of Arthur and all their host were
arrayed beyond.
And just before them, sitting on the shore, was a poor pilgrim,
wrapped in cloak and hood, who held his wooden platter and begged
alms.
Now as the Cornish boats came to the shoal of the further bank, Iseult
said to the knights:
"My lords, how shall I land without befouling my clothes in the
river-mud? Fetch me a ferryman."
And one of the knights hailed the pilgrim, and said:
"Friend, truss your coat, and try the water; carry you the Queen to
shore, unless you fear the burden."
But as he took the Queen in his arms she whispered to him:
"Friend."
And then she whispered to him, lower still
"Stumble you upon the sand."
And as he touched shore, he stumbled, holding the Queen in his arms;
and the squires and boatmen with their oars and boat-hooks drove the
poor pilgrim away.
But the Queen said:
"Let him be; some great travail and journey has weakened him."
And she threw to the pilgrim a little clasp of gold.
Before the tent of King Arthur was spread a rich Nicean cloth upon the
grass, and the holy relics were set on it, taken out of their covers
and their shrines.
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