In his sleep he saw and did see him all about the stone circle where he had his resting. Each stone of the night a figure most dark, each figure as still as a stone excepting one which must come forward to his feet, who had the form of an woman. The Blue Knight was moved to ask this wraith whence it came but it spoke and said,
I am the Shepherdess, and this is my flock is here, I come to your quest that is rich with meaning that you cannot give. Be still, raise up your face, raise up your body, raise up your thoughts, be still with me, here.
I have wisdom, if you will, that I have known this many years to gift. Each stone gives a gift of wisdom that you may find, each night must you stay until it is done only. Bring your mind to drink at our river, full of spirit there to drink in places.
In his dream there came four beasts
The first was a great darkness with a cloud at its heart, rent with lightning and raining blood and gore all this way and that. It was flung out of the north wyth its own wind, unstoppable and strong as all iron, it smote at his eyes and ears until he was all but lost.
The second was giant dog higher than a great tree with its mouth an army of teeth each carrying a long bright spear, its eyes burning liken unto watch fires. Its coat of silver and gold all matted and torn. Its paws as big as a mile with claws of clean diamonds made as long and cruel as all men could believe. Its tail of red iron mail wounding the world with great lashes. It came from the south land, leaping continents.
The third came from the west with wings like black sails, lustrous with darkness. Its beak a bright blade shining. Its two claws hung down in metal cages, in one a raving priest, in the other a golden idol of some marvelous deity. Its tail spanning wide the deserts from which blew a sandstorm, all feathered in Blue damask and Tyrian purple, the choice of potentates and emperors.
The fourth was come out of the orient east with pestilence and plague its retinue trailing, a great worm or asp grown out of the sorrows of the poor, its back all glorious with lighted tapers so that its shining did herald its coming. Its furious tongue cut into many parts, better to partake of the suffering. Its eyes, white as snow, full blind and its crushing tail that has no end.
Now the four beasts came together and troubled the people sore and a hero could not be found to stand against them.
Now the Beasts came to trouble the Blue Knight and cast him into the shadows. He stood tall and unarmed, undefended but unbowed. He said to them, I see you, I see you now and ever, I cannot strike you or bring you low with my wisdom. Wreak your havoc, I cannot smite you down nor ignore you, but I will call you by your name true and speak the truth of you all my days.
Then the beasts moved about him in anger, but they could not come near him and the light of his truth smote them fierce, first in the mouth, then in the ears, then in the shoulders, then in the arms and belly, then in the innards, then in the genitals, then in the thighs, then in the feet and tail so that they were broken at the smallest part as were dissolved and made thin, each piece flying from the other in a universe of direction so that they might not hold their form.
The Blue Knight awoke and took some food and drink.
The Guardians of the Cave 