The Silver Chair: Chapters 10–12

They were of all sizes, from little gnomes barely a foot high to stately figures taller than men.

Two Earthmen stood one on each side of the arch like sentries, or footmen.

There were rich tapestries hanging on the walls.

“Narnia? What land is that? I have never heard the name. It must be a thousand leagues from those parts of the Overworld that I know. But it was a strange fantasy that brought you seeking this—how do you call him?—Billian? Trillian? in my Lady’s realm. Indeed, to my certain knowledge, there is no such man here.”

“From which it is plain that some great king of the ancient giants, who lives buried there, caused this boast to be cut in the stone over his sepulcher; though the breaking up of some stones, and the carrying away of others for new buildings, and the filling up of the cuts with rubble, has left only two words that can still be read. Is it not the merriest jest in the world that you should have thought they were written to you?”

“Very shrewd, Frog-face,” said the Knight, clapping Puddleglum on the shoulder and laughing again.

She is of divine race, and knows neither age nor death. I am the more thankful to her for all her infinite bounty to such a poor mortal wretch as I.

For you must know, Sirs, I am a man under most strange afflictions, and none but the Queen’s grace would have had patience with me.

Sir, be pleased to take another breast of pigeon, I entreat you.

He looked slightly, very slightly troubled for a moment or two; but his face soon cleared and he broke out, with another of his loud laughs, “But fie on gravity! Is it not the most comical and ridiculous thing in the world to think of them all going about their business and never dreaming that under their peaceful fields and floors, only a fathom down, there is a great army ready to break out upon them like a fountain!..."

And then I must go fully armed and with visor down, so that no man may see my face, and I must speak to no one. For she had found out by art magical that this would hinder my deliverance from the grievous enchantment I lie under.

And then I must go fully armed and with visor down, so that no man may see my face, and I must speak to no one. For she had found out by art magical that this would hinder my deliverance from the grievous enchantment I lie under.

And then I must go fully armed and with visor down, so that no man may see my face, and I must speak to no one. For she had found out by art magical that this would hinder my deliverance from the grievous enchantment I lie under.

And Jill was thinking, “He’s the silliest, most conceited, selfish pig I’ve met for a long time.”

“Stay here, I vote,” said Jill. “I’d much rather not see it.” But she felt a little inquisitive all the same.

Make no noise, for I told that prying chamberlain that you were in bed.

When the fit is upon me, it well may be that I shall beg and implore you, with entreaties and threatenings, to loosen my bonds.

"...But if once I were up and out of this chair, then first would come my fury, and after that”—he shuddered—“the change into a loathsome serpent.”

His face was as pale as putty, and he writhed in his bonds.

“I beseech you to hear me,” said the Knight, forcing himself to speak calmly.

Now you can save me; when this hour has passed, I shall be witless again—the toy and lap-dog, nay, more likely the pawn and tool, of the most devilish sorceress that ever planned the woe of men.

“Once and for all,” said the prisoner, “I adjure you to set me free. By all fears and all loves, by the bright skies of Overland, by the great Lion, by Aslan himself, I charge you—”
“Oh!” said the three travelers as though they had been hurt.

He walked resolutely to the door and flung it wide open.

First—as for your Ladyship’s design of putting me at the head of an army of Earthman that so I may break out into the Overworld and there, by main force, make myself king over some nation that never did me wrong—murdering their natural lords and holding their throne as a bloody and foreign tyrant—now that I know myself, I do utterly abhor and renounce it as plain villainy.

First—as for your Ladyship’s design of putting me at the head of an army of Earthman that so I may break out into the Overworld and there, by main force, make myself king over some nation that never did me wrong—murdering their natural lords and holding their throne as a bloody and foreign tyrant—now that I know myself, I do utterly abhor and renounce it as plain villainy.

She began to play it with her fingers—a steady, monotonous thrumming that you didn’t notice after a few minutes.

“Up there,” said Puddleglum, stoutly, pointing overhead.

“How?” said the Queen, with a kind, soft, musical laugh. “Is there a country up among the stones and mortar on the roof?”

“And thou art Queen of Narnia too, I doubt not, pretty one,” said the Witch in the same coaxing, half-mocking tone.

Quick as lightning another great loop darted round, intending to pinion his sword-arm to his side.