MY FAVOURITE CHARACTER IN STORY.

Otago Witness, Issue 2812, 5 February 1908, Page 84

MY FAVOURITE CHARACTER IN STORY.

Br Shasta. To find my favourite hero — or must I confess it — heroes, I have gone away back to the old romance of King Arthur and his knights of the Round Table. King Arthur, Lancelot and Sir Galahad : the names themselves take me far away from the practical everyday life of to-day to the enchanted land where Arthur lived so lon^ ago. What fact 3 the story grew out of we do not know, but the ideal Arthur lives and reigns in that old kingdom of romance whose capital was Camelot. We see the old cities with their frowning castles, their towers and glittering spiies shining through the mists of time, a very homeland of romance and chivalry. King Arthur, the central figure, waa ihe ideal knight, brave, just, and true, as perfect as man can be, one who faithfully fulfilled the duties entrusted to him, content to do the right and leave th© issue in higher hands. "It is the flower of chivalry which Arthur typifies, grown in the garden of romance, full of poetic and spiritual symbolism, which charms us to-day." The setting of the story is beautiful : the noble castles set on the hillsides, the dark, mysterious ■woods, the willow-fringed river, and the cloud shadow flitting by, these form a fitting background for tilt and tourney. Mailed men and merry maidens troop by, the knights to struggle together m the lists for victory and the maidens to applaud the victors. Here it is that Lancelot appears to advantage * King Arthur watchos while his brave knight strong and confident, brings down one after another of his opponents, and finally receives . his reward from some fair lady's hand. Lancelot, the bravest of the brave, the King's chosen friend, true in s!l else, yet false " where he- should b« most irue, is I think more lovable than the perfect King. Th» King is honoured and respected: Lancelot is loved.

With Sir Galmr-ad we leave the court and tournwner.t w> fellow through dark foreaU.-

try bridge?, past town", and over mountains on the que-st for the Holy Grail. We leave the splendours of the court and the excitement of the tourney, and with, puie hearts and reverent minds go in quest of spiritual treasure. «nd always as we journey we hear soft voices calling. "Ride on! the prize is near!" King Arthur I have chosen for his justice and nobi.ity, Lancelot for his bravery and fidelity, and Sir Galahad for his goodness md purity.

We have Lancelot, who erred so humanly. Arthur, who forg-ave so generously, and Sir Galahad, spiritual and pure, too virtuous to need man's forgiveness, faithfully pursuing the mystic light that shone afar. The whole story of the quest of the Holy Grail is beautiful, arid Tennyson has caught the full spiritual significance and poetic mysticism of Sir GalaEed'B quest when'he says "Sometimes on lonely mountain meres

I find a. magic bark ; I leap on board: no helmsman steeds:

I float till all is dark. A gentle sound, — an awful light!

Three angels bear the Holy Grai' [With folded feet, in stoles of whitr On sleeping wings they saij,."