A Word of Explanation

by Mark Twain

　　It was in Warwick Castle that I came across thecurious stranger whom I am going to talk about.He attracted me by three things: his candid simplicity,his marvelous familiarity with ancient armor, and therestfulness of his company -- for he did all the talking.We fell together, as modest people will, in the tail ofthe herd that was being shown through, and he at oncebegan to say things which interested me. As hetalked along, softly, pleasantly, flowingly, he seemedto drift away imperceptibly out of this world and time,and into some remote era and old forgotten country;and so he gradually wove such a spell about me that Iseemed to move among the specters and shadows anddust and mold of a gray antiquity, holding speech witha relic of it! Exactly as I would speak of my nearestpersonal friends or enemies, or my most familiarneighbors, he spoke of Sir Bedivere, Sir Bors deGanis, Sir Launcelot of the Lake, Sir Galahad, and allthe other great names of the Table Round -- and howold, old, unspeakably old and faded and dry andmusty and ancient he came to look as he went on!Presently he turned to me and said, just as one mightspeak of the weather, or any other common matter --"You know about transmigration of souls; do youknow about transposition of epochs -- and bodies?"I said I had not heard of it. He was so little interested -- just as when people speak of the weather --that he did not notice whether I made him any answeror not. There was half a moment of silence, immediately interrupted by the droning voice of the salariedcicerone:"Ancient hauberk, date of the sixth century, timeof King Arthur and the Round Table; said to havebelonged to the knight Sir Sagramor le Desirous; observe the round hole through the chain-mail in the leftbreast; can't be accounted for; supposed to have beendone with a bullet since invention of firearms -- perhaps maliciously by Cromwell's soldiers."My acquaintance smiled -- not a modern smile, butone that must have gone out of general use many, manycenturies ago -- and muttered apparently to himself:"Wit ye well, I saw it done." Then, after a pause,added: "I did it myself."By the time I had recovered from the electric surprise of this remark, he was gone.All that evening I sat by my fire at the WarwickArms, steeped in a dream of the olden time, while therain beat upon the windows, and the wind roared aboutthe eaves and corners. From time to time I dippedinto old Sir Thomas Malory's enchanting book, andfed at its rich feast of prodigies and adventures,breathed in the fragrance of its obsolete names, anddreamed again. Midnight being come at length, I readanother tale, for a nightcap -- this which here follows,to wit:HOW SIR LAUNCELOT SLEW TWO GIANTS, AND MADE A CASTLE FREEAnon withal came there upon him two great giants,well armed, all save the heads, with two horribleclubs in their hands. Sir Launcelot put his shieldafore him, and put the stroke away of the onegiant, and with his sword he clave his head asunder.When his fellow saw that, he ran away as he werewood [* demented], for fear of the horrible strokes,and Sir Launcelot after him with all his might,and smote him on the shoulder, and clave him tothe middle. Then Sir Launcelot went into the hall,and there came afore him three score ladies anddamsels, and all kneeled unto him, and thankedGod and him of their deliverance. For, sir, saidthey, the most part of us have been here thisseven year their prisoners, and we have worked allmanner of silk works for our meat, and we are allgreat gentle-women born, and blessed be the time,knight, that ever thou wert born;for thou hastdone the most worship that ever did knight in theworld, that will we bear record, and we all prayyou to tell us your name, that we may tell ourfriends who delivered us out of prison. Fairdamsels, he said, my name is Sir Launcelot duLake. And so he departed from them and betaughtthem unto God. And then he mounted upon hishorse, and rode into many strange and wildcountries, and through many waters and valleys,and evil was he lodged. And at the last byfortune him happened against a night to come toa fair courtilage, and therein he found an oldgentle-woman that lodged him with a good-will,and there he had good cheer for him and his horse.And when time was, his host brought him into afair garret over the gate to his bed. ThereSir Launcelot unarmed him, and set his harnessby him, and went to bed, and anon he fell onsleep. So, soon after there came one onhorseback, and knocked at the gate in greathaste. And when Sir Launcelot heard this he roseup, and looked out at the window, and saw by themoonlight three knights come riding after thatone man, and all three lashed on him at oncewith swords, and that one knight turned on themknightly again and defended him. Truly, saidSir Launcelot, yonder one knight shall I help,for it were shame for me to see three knightson one, and if he be slain I am partner of hisdeath. And therewith he took his harness andwent out at a window by a sheet down to the fourknights, and then Sir Launcelot said on high,Turn you knights unto me, and leave yourfighting with that knight. And then they allthree left Sir Kay, and turned unto Sir Launcelot,and there began great battle, for they alightall three, and strake many strokes at SirLauncelot, and assailed him on every side. ThenSir Kay dressed him for to have holpen SirLauncelot. Nay, sir, said he, I will none ofyour help, therefore as ye will have my helplet me alone with them. Sir Kay for the pleasureof the knight suffered him for to do his will,and so stood aside. And then anon within sixstrokes Sir Launcelot had stricken them to theearth.And then they all three cried, Sir Knight, weyield us unto you as man of might matchless. Asto that, said Sir Launcelot, I will not takeyour yielding unto me, but so that ye yieldyou unto Sir Kay the seneschal, on that covenantI will save your lives and else not. Fair knight,said they, that were we loath to do; for as forSir Kay we chased him hither, and had overcomehim had ye not been; therefore, to yield us untohim it were no reason. Well, as to that, saidSir Launcelot, advise you well, for ye maychoose whether ye will die or live, for an ye beyielden, it shall be unto Sir Kay. Fair knight,then they said, in saving our lives we will doas thou commandest us. Then shall ye, said SirLauncelot, on Whitsunday next coming go unto thecourt of King Arthur, and there shall ye yieldyou unto Queen Guenever, and put you all threein her grace and mercy, and say that Sir Kaysent you thither to be her prisoners. On the mornSir Launcelot arose early, and left Sir Kaysleeping; and Sir Launcelot took Sir Kay's armorand his shield and armed him, and so he went tothe stable and took his horse, and took his leaveof his host, and so he departed. Then soon afterarose Sir Kay and missed Sir Launcelot; andthen he espied that he had his armor and hishorse. Now by my faith I know well that he willgrieve some of the court of King Arthur; for onhim knights will be bold, and deem that it is I,and that will beguile them; and because of hisarmor and shield I am sure I shall ride in peace.And then soon after departed Sir Kay, andthanked his host.As I laid the book down there was a knock at thedoor, and my stranger came in. I gave him a pipeand a chair, and made him welcome. I also comfortedhim with a hot Scotch whisky; gave him another one;then still another -- hoping always for his story. Aftera fourth persuader, he drifted into it himself, in a quitesimple and natural way: