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to entice the boy away and cut off liis head. Cerialtan 

 accordingly went to Beuzit, and took with him his son, Justan, 

 who had been a playfellow of Melor, and to whom he was 

 attached. The treacherous foster-father persuaded the prince to 

 come with him, and he so threatened his wife that the woman 

 was unable further to protect the boy. Cerialtan placed Justan 

 with Melor in one bed, and during the night stole to it and cut 

 off the prince's head. As he and Justan were leaving the castle, 

 by climbing over the wall, carrying the head, Justan lost his 

 footing, fell, and was killed. Cerialtan, however, pushed on till 

 he reached a place called Kerlean (Caerleon), at a little distance 

 from Carhaix, where, exhausted, and parched with thirst, he 

 laid down the head and exclaimed, "Confounded be I! I have 

 lost my son, and am now myself perishing for water." Thereupon 

 the dead head replied — " Cerialtan, drive your walking-stick into 

 the soil, and you will obtain water." Much astonished, the 

 murderer complied ; thereupon a copious spring burst forth, 

 and more than that, the rod took root, threw out branches, and in 

 time became a great tree. On reaching the residence of Rivold, 

 Cerialtan delivered up the head, whereupon the prince bade the 

 man receive the reward of his crime. He first blinded him, and 

 then sent him to the top of Mont Coc to lay claim to as much 

 territory as he could see. 



Such is the legend as given by Dom F. B. Plaine in the 

 Analecta Bollandiana (T. V. 1886), from a fragmentary life 

 written after 849, in the National Library at Paris. 



The same occurs in Grand isson's Legendarium, in the Dean 

 and Chapter Library at Exeter, with slight variations. It begins : 

 " Sanctus Melorus, Meliani Cornubm regis filius, cum esset septem 

 amiornm, orbatus est Patre. Genetrix aiitem illius erat de Bevonia 

 regione, Sawrilla nomine, ex RivolAi Comitis stemmate qui a trans- 

 marinis partihus quondam adveneraty 



The whole story is fabulous, though probably based on fact. 

 That fact is that Melor was mutilated by Eivold, and then by his 

 orders put to death. The silver hand and brazen foot are 

 mythological adjuncts. 



There are various versions of the story. In one, Melor, 

 forwarned by the wife of Cerialtan, runs away and is pursued. 



