But because the King loved Esyllt better than his life, and because he feared everything from the jealousy of Guendolen if she should in any way discover that Esyllt lived, he fitted up a secret chamber, curiously contrived years ago by his father Brutus, for the deposit of treasure or for other need; and thither he conveyed the princess in the night, and hid her there for seven weary years. She had not been there many days, when a daughter was bom to her, and care for the new life that had opened in the grave as it were, caused the princess herself to take fresh hold on fife, and gave her strength to bear the privation of the blessed gifts of the sun for all those years. The little Sabrina, it was so Esyllt named her daughter, pined not for what she knew not of; the pale light of the lamp which burnt day and night in the chamber could not ripen the color in her cheeks or the laughter on her lips as the goodly sun does; but she grew ever more sweet and fair, her one pleasure to watch the motion of her mother `s hands as she busily plied the loom, counting the threads and marking with great joy the pattern as it sprung into shape under her creative fingers; and so for seven long years they lived, companions only to each other, and looking fondly for the short visit which Locrinus from time to time was able to pay them. But when the seven years were ended, news came from Cornwall that a sudden sickness had seized Corineus ` and that he was dead. And Locrinus straightway resolved to divorce his Queen Guendolen, whose haughty and cruel temper made the lives of all about her bitter to them, and to bring the imprisoned Esyllt to light again, and place her once more on the throne.
Death of Gorineus
When Guendolen heard the purpose of the King, and that Esyllt was still alive, her anger was very fierce; but forasmuch, as there were none who loved her in Loegria, as Cornwall was far away, and in great confusion at the death of Gorineus, she dissembled her wrath, and taking with her her son Madoc, she went back to her own Duchy of Cornwall, thinking of nothing but how she might revenge herself. But Locrinus fetched home his Queen Esyllt and his little daughter Sabrina in great state, and brought them to his palace in Trinovant; and the whole land rejoiced, as the earth rejoices and covers herself with beauty, when the east wind is driven back to his caverns, and the genial western breeze dimples the lakes and calls forth the lingering flowers. But those who were near enough to see her marveled much at the pale countenance of the Queen, and at the face of the little princess, who sat like one dazzled and sorely perplexed by the side of her mother.
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