child to be conveyed, with a letter
explaining all, and his gold ring, by means of which it might, in due
time, discover and make itself known to its parents. It proved to be a
boy; the ring was hung about its neck, with a purse containing the
letter; he was placed in a soft cradle, swathed in the finest linen,
with an embroidered pillow under his head, and a rich coverlid edged
with sable to protect him from the cold. Milun, in delivering him to the
attendants, ordered that during the journey he should stop seven times
in the day, for the purpose of being washed, fed, and put to sleep. The
nurse, and all the servants who attended, had been selected with great
care, and performed their charge with fidelity; and the Northumbrian
lady assured her sister, by a letter which they brought back, that she
accepted the charge with pleasure. This being settled, Milun left his
castle for a short time on some military business, and during his
absence the young lady's father resolved to bestow her in marriage on a
neighbouring baron. She was now almost reduced to despair, her lover, to
whom she was more than ever attached, was absent; to avow to her new
husband what had happened was impossible, and to conceal it extremely
difficult. But she was compelled to submit. The marriage took place; and
Milun, on his return, was scarcely less distressed than his mistress,
till he recollected she was still in the neighbourhood, and he might
perhaps be able to devise some means of procuring an interview. He had a
favourite swan, long accustomed to feed out of his hand. Having written
and sealed a letter, he tied it round its neck, and finding it
effectually concealed by the feathers, called a favourite servant, and
directed him to repair to the lady's habitation, devise some contrivance
for gaining admission, and deliver the same into her own hands. The man
executed his commission with great ingenuity. He represented himself to
the porter of the castle as a poacher; stated that he had just caught a
fine swan close to Caerleon; and much wished to conciliate the future
intercession of the lady by presenting it to her. The porter, after some
hesitation, went to explore the anti-chamber; and, finding in it only
two knights, intent on a game of chess, returned immediately, and
conducted the man to his lady's apartment, which, on his knocking, was
opened to them. Having graciously accepted the present, she was going to
recommend the swan to the care of