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effulgentpoet:

there was a spot for one brief shining moment that was known as Camelot:

ELAINE OF CORBENIC

Elaine of Corbenic is a character in the Arthurian legend, described as “passing fair and young”. The sorceress Morgan le Fay is jealous of Elaine’s beauty, and magically traps her in a boiling bath. After Sir Lancelot rescues her, Elaine falls in love with him, only to find he is already in love with Queen Guinevere. In order to seduce Lancelot, Elaine goes to the sorceress Dame Brusen for help. Dame Brusen gives Lancelot wine and Elaine a ring of Guinevere’s in order to trick Lancelot into thinking Elaine is Guinevere. Afterwards, Elaine remains in her father’s castle and gives birth to Galahad. Thereafter, there is a feast at King Arthur’s court, and Elaine goes to it. Lancelot ignores her when he sees her, and she is sad because she loves him. That night, Dame Brusen brings Lancelot to Elaine, pretending that it is Guinevere that summons him. He goes along, and once again sleeps with Elaine. At the same time, however, Guinevere herself actually summons Lancelot. She finds him in bed with Elaine. She is furious with him and tells him she never wants to see him again. Lancelot goes mad with grief and, naked, jumps out a window and runs away. Elaine confronts Guinevere as to her treatment of Lancelot. She accuses Guinevere of causing Lancelot’s madness and tells her that she is being unnecessarily cruel. After this, she leaves court. Time passes in the story, and Elaine next appears when she finds Lancelot insane in her garden. She brings him to the Holy Grail, which cures him. When he regains his mental facilities, he decides to live with Elaine, and they live together for several years as man and wife.