The White Hart, King Arthur and the Forest of Dean (General)

by slowhands , proud of his ancient Dean Forest roots, Tuesday, January 22, 2013, 11:26 (4393 days ago) @ slowhands

For the ancient Celts, the white hart (stag) was a harbinger of doom, a
living symbol that some taboo has been transgressed or a moral law broken.
The white hart's reputation improved in Arthurian legends, where its appearance
was a sign to Arthur and his knights that it was time to embark on a quest - it was
considered the one animal that could never be caught so it came to symbolise
humanity's never-ending pursuit of knowledge and the unattainable.

http://www.thisisgloucestershire.co.uk/Rare-white-stag-caught-camera/story-11939373-det...

http://en.wikisource.org/wiki/The_Mabinogion/Geraint_the_Son_of_Erbin

And on Whit-Tuesday, as the King sat at the banquet, lo! there entered a tall, fair-headed youth, clad in a coat and a
surcoat of diapered satin, and a golden-hilted sword about his neck, and low shoes of leather upon his feet. And he
came, and stood before Arthur.
"Hail to thee, Lord!" said he.
"Heaven prosper thee," he answered, "and be thou welcome.
"Dost thou bring any new tidings?"
"I do, Lord," he said.
"I know thee not," said Arthur.
"It is a marvel to me that thou dost not know me. I am one of thy foresters, Lord, in the Forest of Dean, and my name is Madawc,
the son of Twrgadarn."
"Tell me thine errand," said Arthur.
"I will do so, Lord," said he. "In the Forest I saw a stag, the like of which beheld I never yet."
"What is there about him," asked Arthur, "that thou never yet didst see his like?"
"He is of pure white, Lord, and he does not herd with any other animal through stateliness and pride, so royal is his bearing.
And I come to seek thy counsel, Lord, and to know thy will concerning him."
"It seems best to me," said Arthur, "to go and hunt him to-morrow at break of day; and to cause general notice thereof to
be given to-night in all quarters of the Court."
And Arryfuerys was Arthur's chief huntsman, and Arelivri was his chief page. And all received notice; and thus it was arranged.
And they sent the youth before them. Then Gwenhwyvar said to Arthur, "Wilt thou permit me, Lord," said she, "to go to-morrow to
see and hear the hunt of the stag of which the young man spoke?"
"I will gladly," said Arthur.
"Then will I go," said she.
And Gwalchmai said to Arthur, "Lord, if it seem well to thee,permit that into whose hunt soever the stag shall come, that one, be
he a knight, or one on foot, may cut off his head, and give it to whom he pleases, whether to his own lady-love, or to the lady of his friend."
"I grant it gladly," said Arthur, "and let the Steward of the Household be chastised, if all are not ready to-morrow for the chase."

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Ἀριστοτέλης A Gloster & Hereford Boy in the Forest of Dean ><((((*>