My reply is that my uncle was a ruler never thought himself greater than God, and always prayed for guidance.
Being a Saxon, Master Wistan can’t fully forgive Britons for the terrible massacre they once committed. However, King Arthur managed to extinguish the flame of the war between them and made sworn enemies to live peacefully side by side. Wistan couldn’t help but wonder how Arthur did that, so when he meets Sir Gawain, who is Arthur’s nephew, he doesn’t miss the chance to ask him about it. Sir Gawain’s reply is that his uncle “was a ruler never thought himself greater than God, and always prayed for guidance”. Readers should pay attention to this fact, for it explains why Arthur decided to use magic to stop the war. He knew that he was no God, that he couldn’t stop the war by his will, so he had to ask the magician for help. One might think that he had no right to do that, that it was cheating but he didn’t have a lot of options. Either cheating or war.
Who among them would turn on neighbors loved since childhood?
As soon as Master Wistan kills the dragon, the spell Merlin casted many years ago is destroyed. The warrior starts talking about the armies of Saxons who are going to invade Britons’ villages to avenge the victims of massacre. Beatrice can’t believe it, she asks him, “who among them would turn on neighbors loved since childhood?” What she means is that Britons and Saxons have been living peacefully side by side for many years. Beatrice have already forgotten, how quickly hated is roused and how easily former friends become sworn enemies.
The giant, once well buried, now stirs.
Master Wistan spent his childhood among Britons. They taught him to fight and survive the most brutal battle. To his credit, the warrior is grateful for that valuable knowledge. But as much as he is grateful, he is full of hate, “for the giant, once well buried, now stirs”, all recollections of the massacre committed by Britons are restored. He says, “the friendly bonds between us will prove as knots young girls make with the stems of small flowers”, which means that friendship between Britons and Saxons is fragile, but hatred is strong.
