The Water of the Wondrous Isles · Chapter
XXVII: Sir Arthur Cometh to the House Under the Wood explained
Sir Arthur crosses a stream and enters a familiar-looking house, where he is joyfully reunited with his beloved.
What happens
Sir Arthur crosses a stream and enters a familiar-looking house, where he is joyfully reunited with his beloved. Overcome with emotion, they embrace and exchange words of love and longing, acknowledging past grief and separation.
Themes in this chapter
Love and Desire
The chapter centers on the intense reunion of Arthur and Birdalone, filled with physical and emotional longing.
Characters to notice
- Arthur the Black Squire
Arrives at the house under the wood, overjoyed to find his love.
- Birdalone
Waiting in the house, she welcomes Arthur with passionate embraces and words of love.
- Habundia
Mentioned as the wood-wife who guided Arthur and told Birdalone to expect him the next day.
Key passages
“May a traveller in the woodland be welcome here tonight, dealing with all in all honour?”
Arthur asks if he may stay the night, promising to behave honorably.
Arthur's formal request before recognizing Birdalone.
“O friend, I fled from thee once and left thee lonely of me because I deemed need drave me to it; and I feared the strife of friends, and confusion and tangle.”
Birdalone explains she left Arthur earlier out of necessity and fear of conflict.
Birdalone's justification for her past flight.