Chapter 2 describes the miracle of the sword in the stone, King Arthur taking the throne, his immediate wars. Chapter 3 begins the various battles. I find it interesting that Arthur is portrayed as passive in many modern versions. In this, he is extremely violent and eager for battle, slaughtering on right and left. Chapter 4: More British domination of other realms. More magical swords that can't be pulled out except by the "right" knight (Balin, this time). Balin lops off the head of a lady who killed his mother (though Balin had killed her brother). Ladies get their heads lopped off every other chapter. Chapter 5: Balin unknowingly fights with his own brother, Balan, as punishment for lopping off the head of woman in Chapter 4. Balin also defiles the chapel of the Holy Grail. Balin is killed by his own brother, and Balin kills his brother. the two are buried together. Merlin takes Balin's sword, sets it in a stone, and it floats on the river until Galahad (son of Lancelot) achieves it years later. Another sword in the stone!
"To all humankind, Tess was only a passing thought. Even to friends, she was only a frequently passing thought." Angel Clare is a good character. He's "enlightened," in so many ways, but when Tess's confesses her "crime," he reverts to ancestral form . . . Tess's "confession" comes earlier than I expected, right after Angel reveals that he has had a bad moment with a woman. Tess points out the similarity in their transgressions, though his is the only true transgression, expecting forgiveness. She doesn't get it. She returns to her mother . . . realizes she can't stay with her. Thoughts to suicide. Unhappiness that divorce is not possible. Departs. Tragic in that the two, if Angel could just see clearly, would indeed be a great couple, each adding to the other. Nature as a definite force involved in the tragedy. It's not neutral--when things go bad, the very skies mock Tess. Tess as unaware of the power of her bea...
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