The Idylls of the Queen

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Phyllis Ann Karr. The Idylls of the Queen

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The setting is Britain in the Fifth Century A.D.—but not a Fifth Century known to any of our history books. It is, rather, an attempt to recreate in modern language the anachronistic, semi-mystical era described by Sir Thomas Malory and his predecessors, when necromancy was as much a fact of life as was the constant need to do battle in the Holy Land, when it was not then as it is nowadays, for “such custom was used in those days, that neither for favour, neither for love nor affinity, there should be none other but righteous judgment, as well upon a king as upon a knight, and as well upon a queen as upon another poor lady.” (Sir Thomas Malory, Le Morte d’Arthur, Book XVIII, CHAPTER 6.)

I have sometimes used “Artus” and “Kex,” alternate forms in certain old romances for “Arthur” and “Kay,” as nicknames. In my mind, I always hear “Gawain” accented on the first syllable, the preferred way according to the older dictionaries I have consulted.

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“Sick, sir,” said Clarance, one of the older lads, looking none too well himself.

“All right, Clarance,” I said, “go summon the King.”

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