In another thread, the name Brenda occurred to me. Later, I
searched for the meaning of the name, which I thought was
Celtic. To my surprise, the answer was that it was of German origin, and meant "Sword Blade". That reminded me of
the Death of Arthur, and his order to Sir Bedivere to throw
the sword Excalibur into the lake. From the Idylls of the King:
301 Then quickly rose Sir Bedivere, and ran,
302And, leaping down the ridges, lightly, plunged
303Among the bulrush beds, and clutch'd the sword,
304And strongly wheel'd and threw it. The great brand
305Made lightnings in the splendour of the moon,
306And flashing round and round, and whirl'd in an arch,
307Shot like a streamer of the northern morn,
308Seen where the moving isles of winter shock
309By night, with noises of the Northern Sea.
310So flash'd and fell the brand Excalibur:
311But ere he dipt the surface, rose an arm
312Clothed in white samite, mystic wonderful,
313And caught him by the hilt, and brandish'd him
314Three times, and drew him under in the mere.
315And lightly went the other to the King.
It also gives me better understanding to the word "brandish".
OP
