By Monica Ann Pedone (Columbia University)
1-5 Power has its limits: the story of Daedalus and Icarus
6-8 The realm of the fairies
9-11 Judgement Comes to Dragontina
12-14 Dragontina falls for Sir Galwain
15-17 Dragontina is rebuffed and takes revenge
18-19 Circella’s Tale
20-21 Judgement Comes to Dragontina
22-27 The Queen of the Fey holds court
28-32 Dragontina is found guilty by the Queen
33-35 Dragontina is made to drink two potions and is transformed
36-38 Dragontina in monster form encounters a paladin and is slain
39-40 Fiordelisa seeks mercy for Dragontina and pleads to the Queen
41-43 The Queen poses a riddle to Dragontina
44-45 Dragontina answers the riddle and is turned human
Power has its limits: the story of Daedalus and Icarus
1 It is the way with all such things no matter what or who they be
That when given great powers and abilities by the gods themselves
Do oft dare and cross the line that was drawn under such a divine decree
And find that by their dalliance into dire circumstances do delve
To be not satisfied with what one has is surely the path to ruin
To seek the things that are forbidden is to see through a crooked glass
That twists and turns a wicked end which once viewed the gods will make their do in
For theirs is an end to which no good may ever come and only evil pass
2 Such a case was father and son both steeped in knowledge and in skill
Who didst construct for old King Minos a prison for the half bull son of his wife
A labyrinth so secret and clever that the monster Minotaur would use to kill
But the hero Theseus with spinning Ariadne’s help did escape from death with his life
When the enraged Minos heard of this, his thoughts turned to the one who did it
Of all the names that came to him Daedalus’ name was foremost and the first
Must be he who created the maze was the one who this did permit
Minos then decided that into his own creation traitor Daedalus would be cursed
3 So into that infernal abyss inhabited by the monstrous aberration, the Minotaur
Daedalus and his son Icarus must be interred, their eyes never to see their home
But Minos did not know that the men he buried would soon be the ones to soar
For clever Daedalus and son were to devise a way to from this prison roam
From feathers of the sea birds that he found and dregs of wax from long spent lights
Such cleverness and cunning did Daedalus show soon the fruits of his great work
He and his son fashioned great wings upon which they could soon take flight
He counseled his young impetuous son that these wings did have but one quirk
4 Once the wings are strapped on, then into the air and the clouds you will surely go
But be prudent my son, for there are limits to these for they are made by man
Your course must be true taking the middle height, neither too high nor too low
For if you waver and fly too high the Sun’s heat will melt your fabulous plumed span
But as sons for ages old are oft to do when wisely cautioned by their father
Icarus nodded in assent and took flight, and to the skies he flew up and away
The cautions he was told he discarded, they must surely be an old man’s bother
Between the clouds and the birds he flew, but soon it was for youth Icarus to stray
5 His father, also in flight, seeing this yelled and screamed, the youth took no heed
Son, you fly too high, the wax will melt, you must fly lower, but to no avail
But soon that rebellious son would reap the awful rewards for his disastrous deed
Feather, wax, and ribs of the wings soon parted and those wonderous wings did fail
The clever Daedalus saw the tiny splash in the sea that young son Icarus made
But down to that sea he could not go, his wings would dampen, and flight be lost
And thus, Daedalus, powerless and broken, grieved for his foolish son, given the price he paid
Gained freedom from the terrible maze, but had born the ultimate cost
The realm of the fairies
6 The world we see is firm and real but not the only one known
There exist realms that cannot be seen, touched, or felt
Heaven is one such place that from the Holy Bible is shown
Hell too, Heaven’s counterpart, is real — at least to whom this prison’s dealt
‘Tis a fourth, the fairy realm, that around our world does ring
To which all creatures under magic’s hand do rightly dwell
And pass to and from their fey place and many a joy or sadness bring
And do their good and mischievous, arcane deeds and cast many a spell
7 There are rules for these, the denizens of the world called Fey
To perchance answer the call that is made by desperate men
For whom the end seems about to come and to their Creator prey
And from such disastrous fate theses wonder workers must defend
But like the men upon the earth these fey have a will that is free
And for the better or for the worse their actions can be
Like men they suffer punishment and reward for which their actions agree
And one such tale was once told by Turpin, and now the tale is told by me
8 Dragontina was her name and about her fate we now will hear
For truly dragons are fierce and noble and wise, though she was small
Though she was small, her role was to be big and she acted without fear
But sadly, from this lofty height to far below she did fall
To incline men’s minds to the good, to her this gift was given
To guide them on a narrow path and avoid their lesser fate
But due to one tragic flaw, off the true path she was driven
For love drives many mad, it’s true, and in reverse shows itself as hate
Judgement comes to Dragontina
9 All went quiet and black and then a shining bright white light appeared
She opened her eyes to see a world at first that she dimly recalled
Slowly she came to realize where she was, it was as she feared
Swept from the earthly plane to the Fey her essence was called
As the rising morning sun clears the fog and dew on the verdant plain
And what was vague and indistinct with each passing moment grows more clear
She tried and tried to recall her last hours and twas not in vain
‘cause what came to be was made known to her yet one thing did she fear
10 Truly the gods, as is their right, did to all creatures thus ordain
That to the gifts that they are given, they must be used as was intended
To transgress this bond each one must undergo judgment and pain
And each such use that was not right must be strongly amended
Now for her actions the price was to be paid as such it was required
And this tale is strange, dark, and sad and a warning to us all
And you, dear reader, may ask how this came to be and what transpired
Thus now you’ll hear just what occurred and how our fairy did fall
11 What was the crime that didst commit sad Dragontina, consigned to discontent
It was a crime of the heart, one in which many, fey or man, do stumble
For no one who draws breath is immune to the arrow that is by Eros sent
But how one handles that wound itself makes one rise or crumble
For love is known to twist and turn and many a lover’s heart is fickle
but one such as this valiant knight, his love is as a river’s course, strong and true
and this torrent cannot be diverted and ne’er be turned into a sorry trickle
It would take a fey’s magic black and fell to this knight’s love undo
Dragontina falls for Sir Galwain
12 His name was Sir Galwain, brave knight who was fierce and strong and true
Had caught our fairy Dragontina’s eye and also touched her heart
She had not before known the pangs of Love, and her feelings for him thus grew
But ‘twas not supposed to be her fate and never this love affair to start
To achieve her aims and make him hers upon her fairy art did she rely
And though he was promised to another, this to her was of no matter
For she wanted what she did want and to his heart a spell she did let fly
And thus, she did make his feelings for his lady disappear and shatter
13 Love is anything but soft and those that try to upon it play a trick
Soon to understand what they have done, as Love gets its turn to return the favor
And from its vast stores of ways to see its goals, Love will surely pick
Eros was to be the victor and from his arrows course, true love did not waver
Soon Galwain held his lady dear, cradled with love, the fair and kind Danielle
From Eros’ quiver, that arrow’s true course all fell magic did dispel
And restored what was meant to be to the Knight reunited with his loving, fair damoiselle
All false feelings incurred in our brave knight did that missive quickly repel
14 The opposite was true for that fey, for Dragontina did burn and sputter
At the very moment she did decide that this was to be all Knights’ fate
At the thought that her plan was foiled and Galwain was to love another
Since one knight has done such to her on all Knights’ will rain her hate
If love was to be denied to her, that she must Sir Galwain ever forget
That such an end was fitting and just, that each Knight can remember no thing
In such a way, the maddened fey would make them all Eros’ action regret
Crafting such a fell plan mad made her madder still, and revenge it did her bring
Dragontina is rebuffed and takes revenge
15 Back to the earthly plane to carry out her plan she did fly
Once there, an evil garden did she make to trap and keep each noble knight
Once they forgot who they were, with her evil plans they would comply
And all that might try to oppose her way, these bewitched knights would for her fight
In her madness the fey Dragontina a sumptuous palace had so built
A citadel with floors of the finest stone, green and white marble were laid
Lofty ceilings of blue and gold enamel and columns of amber and bases of the finest gilt
A garden of flowers from which rose a sweet scent, cedars and palms for ample shade
16 When Orlando did reach this, he saw a damsel on a bridge holding a crystal chalice
It was none other than the cunning Dragontina, but to him this was not known
She beckoned the Count to come and drink, it was custom for all who pass without malice
Our innocent knight with her seemingly simple request did comply, as she was all alone
But just as he had swallowed the enchanted drink it, its effect was sure and swift
He knew not who he was or why he had come to this strange place
But his heart was turned to the fey Dragontina and all else had gone adrift
Who he was and his love for Angelica, his devotion to Dragontina did displace
17 He was not the only knight in all the realms whose power Dragontina did affect
Though they did not know who they were many a cavalier was there
Ballano, Chiarone, Oberto, Grifone, Aquilante, Hadrian and Antifor all she did select
Of their own knowledge even that being Saracen or Christian didst any of them bear
Orlando, staring, upon panels in the loggia, stories of nobles and ladies he did see
A story of a damsel by the sea who with her potion did turn men into beasts
‘Twas the Fey, Circella, who did to the men who upon her shores came to be
And so, on all fours these proud men crowded her shores and her island’s reefs
Circella’s Tale
18 Circella was a sister to our dear Fey and to these sisters the same fate would soon apply
To be undone and their end they must meet as surely as I tell this tale to you
For in the very heart of each fell and evil plan, no matter how cunning or sly
There exist the seeds of its demise, on this outcome the fates ordain that will be true
Having seen a fair baron whose looks her heart did so inflame and radiate
And maddened with love mistakenly partake of potion that she brewed with Medea of old
Transformed into a white deer, she fell prey to a hunter’s trap and thus was her fate
To be undone by the very means that she used to undo others the decree has surely tolled
19 Twas not by a knight or baron bold that Orlando was to be saved
But by the lovely Angelica who with her wits and craft did the Count surely free
Was she to free the hapless Baron and all the other knights, that by the Fey were enslaved
With her ring so craftily made, invisible to the eye and that made all magic flee
She slipped it on Orlando’s finger and at once his forgetful slumber did desist
And to the other knights, each one in turn did Angelica’s ring from this spell did break
And since that garden palace was made but by a spell, it too had ceased to exist
And of the palace and the bridge was left but a woods, her spells it did unmake.
Judgement comes to Dragontina
20 Now that it is known just how it is that Dragontina fell so far and became adrift
And that she did cause others to suffer to allay her pain
Payment must come, for it rides a horse that is sure and swift
And the heavens cry for its payment so that she will no longer be knights’ bain
For Fey there is right and wrong and to make these lawbreakers become contrite
None may misuse their powers for long to cause others grief and tears
It has been set by those above to make what is wrong into what is right
And thus, many a fey turned bad has come to realize their fears
21 Accounts must be balanced, that has always been the Divine plan
Though through trickery and deceit full recompense of the balance may be delayed
This sacred law does apply to all, whether angel, fey and even man
One way or the other, the heavens decree that in full this debt must be paid
So it was that the judgement of Dragontina drew nearer still than the breath we all exhale
Each sphere its own does judge and rule and for the guilty a sentence pursue
It would be wrong for fey to go astray and to not balance Justice’s scale
Such was the court drawn since olden days and let loose its verdict true
The Queen of the Fey holds court
22 It was no simple court, for our Fey has a serious crime committed
And to judge her fate there must be three, among them Queen of the Fey
No less than this was to hear the case and see if she was guilty or to be acquitted
Swift is Justice in this sphere and her fate would be determined in a day
The three judges took their seats, high up behind a lofty table
They looked down upon the one so charged, who committed that heinous crime
Dragontina was contained below and from any escape she was unable
Such did the trial commence for that sad, poor fey for she had run out of time
23 There was one who read the charges to the court and pointed at the fey
Twas Dragontina did use her powers in a way that was not intended
For what was to be used for good for Love’s desire she lost her way
She made sport of many a knight and left their lives unremembered
For this there is no defense, no reason that may excuse such a deed
To use her powers that were for good to be twisted in such a way
She beguiled many a knight who rode to her grand palace on his steed
As such when they drank from her cup these knights she did lead astray
24 Once that potion they had tasted, all sense of self was no longer known
And in doing so she had felt joy, knowing that they were now devoted to her
For if she could not have the gallant Sir Galwain, then they would be hers and hers alone
And to her wishes, whims and commands, these mighty knights were forced to defer
But each of these gallant knights had their own mind and soul
And from them she slyly robbed their memories using her evil craft
And as such their swords, shields and fates were the things she did control
She robbed them of their lives, twisting her gifts into vile witchcraft
25 So having heard the charges made by that accuser of the Fey,
The three judges turned and asked Dragontina if she had any defense
Trembling and unsure there came a voice from below hesitant to have its say
Tis Love that made me do such things, a love that was without any sense
I saw him, the gallant and brave Sir Galwain and my heart did quickly stir
Though I knew I could not have him, and he was promised to another maiden true
My needs and desires did overcome that despite what recompense it might incur
And to make him mine with my powers that knight’s heart I would pursue
26 If he were made to forget his love, the fair and pure princess Danielle
Perhaps to me his heart would turn, his love would be all mine
But Eros having seen my plan, to my scheme would soon rebel
Because these two were meant for each other, their love was truly divine
So a second arrow he did shoot, his power greater than that which was mine
Its course was straight and true, his memory restored and his love made stronger still
And so went awry that plan I made and the two lovers their hearts did entwine
I was left with nothing but a gaping spot in my heart that with sheer hate I would fill
27 So I decided that from this day onward, my revenge upon the knights I would take
And to the land I descended and using fell magic and twisting my evil art
A palace I made, with bridge, stream and garden a trap to many a knight I would take
Each unwary knight that strode into my lair of my army become a part
A simple spell, a crystal cup of which I would have each knight drink
But once they emptied the contents of the cup, their minds were cleared and void
And to my will they were bent, unable to remember their past or even think
And to my army these valiant knights were tricked and thus they were deployed
Dragontina is found guilty by the Queen
28 Is that all you have to say for yourself, the accuser demanded and pointed at our Fey
For I hear not one word of excuse or reason for such debauched deeds
And such a love itself is not a reason for many have felt so and not gone astray
For to damage others for your wants, to solely do this to sate your needs
I demand for justice that this court that sits in judgement high above
Hear what here has been said and render to this creature below a sentence stern and just
And to the crime the punishment should accrue for her misuse of gifts for love
From her current form she must be changed and Dragontina we can never again trust
29 With this the accuser sat in her chair, satisfied that Dragontina’s guilt was well applied
And the matter was turned to the judges three, headed by the queen of the fey
The stern three took their counsel and amongst themselves did talk and decide
And to a judgement they did arrive as if on winged courser they did fly
The Queen looked at the other judges, one to her left and one to her right
And regally rose to her feet and gathered up her robe and gestured with her hand
Was the verdict to be pronounced and as such the fate of the accused to be set
The chattering stopped, she cleared her throat and all the court went quickly quiet
30 When the Queen does speak, surely all the fey do deeply quake
For from her pronouncements are the law and no deviation can be sought
The case has been made, Dragontina is guilty and payment for her crimes she must make
And a fitting punishment has been set to atone for the crimes and sins that she has wrought
She will be made to forget who she was, as she did to others will be done to her
And monstruous as her actions were, so shall a monster she become
Doomed to be slain by those very knights that she made them not remember
To arise anew, another monster become only to suffer and to a knight’s sword succumb
31 Having declared the verdict true there was but one more thing that she must do
She raised her and beckoned forth, and her aid understood what was to happen next
The sentence now declared must be done and the action upon Dragontina would ensue
And thus, the convicted fey stood before them all, dreading to see the coming effect
The Queen called for her fairy chest; a box of elm and Lindenwood set upon a silver tray
Within were many delicate bottles, strange vials, and gilded flasks made for her fairy art
She paused, thought, and then acted, two she took from that box and sent the rest away
For these would be the things she needed for the evil fairy’s infliction to start
32 Of the two bottles, each she cradled in her fairy hands, left and right
The first of which came from that stream that made so many knights forget
The second was from Circella, but instead of a beast a monster would become her plight
At this point to which it has come for cursed Dragontina ever to regret
The first drink she swallowed deep and full, at the Fairy Queen’s command
And as it touched her lips, she forgot just who she was, and her mind went blank
Once she had drunk full this potion of forgetfulness upon the Queen’s demand
She had the same trick played upon her deservingly, to her vile nature she could thank
Dragontina is made to drink two potions and is transformed
33 Now that she could not know any of her past where or who she was
Such as it is easier to paint a picture upon a canvas that is blank and white
The second potion was all the stronger, and took its horrible effect without pause
And from a standing shape she transformed and crouched down from this blight
You will be sent back down to earth, to the lands where knights do roam
And fight them as a monster each time and when you surely lose
Then another beast you shall become for you now have no home
This is your fate, detested one, to atone for those that you did abuse
34 The feral beast that once was Dragontina tried to hide and looked to escape and be free
With a clap of her hands the Fairy Queen concluded the court and sent the beast to earth
And with just the mind and senses of a beast this new life was all that she was to be
And to writhe and wail upon the land, knight’s fodder was to be its worth
But beasts have cunning even if not wise and cover and shelter it did seek
And soon its nature took the better as its stomach rumbled and hideous lips went dry
It sought to sate these animal urges, searching for some prey and to feast upon the weak
As such, this creature had not any sense and soon assailed that which first passed by
35 Twas fortune’s lot to have a brave paladin of France be the first the monster did see
On his way, the Duke of Chambery was set to join the battle that loomed to the north
Clad in finest armor, lance and jewel studded shield movement stirred behind a tree
From the shadows, the monster known as Sibilaccia its hulking shape did bring forth
Dragontina in monster form encounters a paladin and is slain
36 As a shepherd dog watches for the wolf, and guards the flock in his charge
and any threat that may occur, has already thought and fended off far ahead
So the valiant Sir Rober did see in front of him, this monster grow from small to large
And so the monster did attack the stalwart paladin, its claws of iron mere mortals would strike with dread
Sir Rober did hear its vile sound as it breathed and so was made quite aware
That rasping sound that issued forth from its mouth that was a gaping maw
And saw each tooth that wobbled and shook in its mouth, and its yellow eyes did glare
He knew at once what he must do and without in an instant his sword he did draw
37 His aim was true, as if guided by a fairy hand and struck the beast in its yellow eye
All fight and vigor left the beast rent by his sword to the back of its wooly head
It met the ground with a thunderous shake and let out one last mournful sigh
And from its lips escaped a wheezing hiss, “Dragontina” and then was dead
The knight was shocked that it could speak and heard it say that infamous name
He stared at its hulking but lifeless form that soon formed into a swirling mist
The mist hovered a bit and with a breeze the mist was gone and clear air it became
Neither blood nor sinew was left on the ground as if the fell creature did not exist
38 The first but not the last of many an indignant and gruesome death this was to be
As fast as she had died into a new monster shape by the Fey Queen she was magically cast
And all but the pain from her mind was cleansed, and from this fate she would not be free
The fey above kept the count, for her monster mind could not, this was not to be her last
As night follows day and day follows night, the sun rises, it sets and rises again
Dragontina was punished without remorse and made to suffer without hope of recourse
There was one, who knew her in her fairy form and remembered her without such disdain
For in her heart she judged no one lost and beyond hope if they showed some true remorse
Fiordelisa seeks mercy for Dragontina and pleads to the Queen
39 For that symbol of many a town and nation, claimed by both Firenze and La Belle France
Was named Fiordelisa, neither angel or demon, who bore that name and wore it well
Having freed the Conte de Anglante from the Fonte del Riso, on this she would also chance
And appeal to the fey court to release Dragontina from this never ending hell
She prayed and prayed and called to the Queen who finally heard her plea
And summoned the dear Fiordelisa and allowed her to plead her case
“O Queen your rule is just and truly is as should be and such was your decree”
But once a year prisoners may be granted a special kind of cleansing grace
40 For it was set upon the rules, set by the one in Heaven who is above all
That an opportunity for mercy must be given for those who may so merit
And by this rule, I invoke your clemency on poor Dragontina who did fall
And if you do accede to this. A new life and new path she might in this way inherit
With this our flower rested her case and the Fairy Queen was duly moved
And set but one condition, as was her wont upon the means of her release
If she passed this test of her worthiness Dragontina’s freedom she would approve
And no longer would she be fated to live and die endlessly as every kind of beast
The Queen poses a riddle to Dragontina
41 So Dragontina was summoned to the court. Into her prior form she was fully restored
Trembling before the Fairy Court she fell on her knees and begged mercy from the Queen
The Queen pronounced it is Fiordelisa who speaks for you, for your mercy she has implored
I have acceded so, but one condition made, a riddle I give and its answer you must glean
42 If you do not answer it in the manner I propose, then to your beastly form you will return
For such are the rules and the riddle will judge if your heart has turned and is now true
So be careful in your answer here, for if you fail your release you will not earn
But if you do succeed, as a human you will live and a life of goodness you will do
So here is my riddle for you to solve, just you and you alone, for no one may help or aid
Think deeply but do not tarry or waste as your fate hangs in the balance
Truly no one is outstanding without me, nor fortunate;
I embrace all those whose hearts ask for me.
He who goes without me goes about in the company of death;
and he who bears me will remain lucky for ever.
But I stand lower than earth and higher than heaven.
43 The court gasped at the riddle, because surely no one the answer knew
Had Dragontina learned her lesson, among the deaths and punishments she bore
If only to this knotty riddle she had an answer, but she had not even a clue
Truly to be able to answer this, to the God above, she must surely implore
But Dragontina had learned her lesson at the hand of and by the sword of many a knight
That the lesson was to cure the arrogance that she had shown to Sir Gawain
And the answer to the riddle truly must in some way be related to her plight
Once of this defect she was cured, then to a better form she could return again
Dragontina answers the riddle and is turned human
44 She pondered and thought, no answer came, her mind was like the fog she cast upon them
The thought of returning to the beastly form and its pain crashed down upon her
Surely this was to be her chance, a chance that she could not squander
Because if she failed and did not answer, as a monster she would wander
Then as the lightning strikes its target, swiftly and from the heavens above
The idea struck her and split that fog and she could clearly see
That the answer to the riddle was deep inside her, spurred on by divine love
That to be free tis one thing that she must have and it was Humility
45 With this the Queen smiled, knowing that her punishment had worked its way
She learned her lesson and it helped to set the things gone amiss to right
And Dragontina was cleansed and fully her debt she did repay
From now on no longer a fey she would be, but as a human who walks in the light
So to the earth below both she and Fiordelisa were returned, and the flower she did thank
Tis my fate now, as long as I am here, to care for these knights both injured and old
And to the castle that cares for such she withdrew and gave her service for every rank
And took the name, Giolla, which means servant, for which her new tales would be told