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Even in these days of anti-tobacco campaigns, women smoking cigarettes can come across as sexy, risqué, and slightly dangerous. Mark suggests one reason by mentioning her “blazing” eyes; the archetypal symbolism of fire, powerful and untamable, hints at Lady Kate’s character.
Also, asking for a light can be a gesture charged with meaning; it can be a deliberate overture to something more, if a subtle one. Compare the
Thin bat-squeak of sexuality
telegraphed when Charles lit Julia’s cigarette in Brideshead Revisited
You're knocking fellas to the floor and still they're coming back for more Miles of Bones – Lady Kate
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The lady in question is a classic femme fatale, who uses sensuality as a means to dominate. Admittedly, the protagonist has a bit of a warped perspective, since she doesn’t seem to be too interested in him; she might not be quite as evil as he suggests.
Rivers flowing red
With the blood of four thousand men
That I did behead Sir Christopher Lee – The Bloody Verdict of Verden
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He isn’t kidding about the blood!
There’s some irony here, as the rivers now flowing with blood are the very ones in which the Saxons would have been baptized.
Given that the location was Verden, the river in question was presumably the Aller.
In the name of Jesus Christo, our Lord Sir Christopher Lee – The Bloody Verdict of Verden
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#FEEL THE LOVE OF JESUS!
“Jesus Christo” is actually a very odd usage. My personal opinion is that Lee was supposed to say Jesu (archaic but known, could be in keeping with the mediæval theme of the song) Christos (the original form of the word, which is Greek for “Anointed One”), and simply transposed the S.
Against churches and priests of our Christian state Sir Christopher Lee – The Bloody Verdict of Verden
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Uther appears in ancient Welsh legend, but his first real biography comes from Geoffrey of Monmouth’s History of the Kings of Britain.
He’s usually seen as a good king, though a little rash, attempting to preserve civilization after the Romans have abandoned Britain. He would probably have floreat in the 5th century AD.
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Latin for Here lies Arthur, the Once and Future King.
Despite the claims of the monks, I and all other trueborn Englishmen know that he shall come again…
Just like Charlemagne, and Constantine XI.
This epitaph gave a title to the unhappy but learned T.H. White’s magnum opus.
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This mountain is reputedly Mont-Saint-Michel, a tidal island now topped by a fantastic mediæval abbey-cum-gaol-cum-fortress.
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Tintagel Castle has been a site of Romano-British occupation, an early medieval (Celtic) stronghold, and a mighty Norman castle. It’s now the property of Prince Charles, who also happens to be the current Duke of Cornwall.
The arms of the Duchy of Cornwall
Insofar as Le Morte is historical, it’s presumably the Celtic fortress which is mentioned here.
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The Saxon tribes had gotten a little riled up at scenes like this. From a Catholic perspective (though not, for example, an Anabaptist or Baptist one) this sacrament is basically unrelated to the will, and is therefore effective even if involuntary. Hence the pædobaptism so prevalent to this day.
This isn’t true. Baptism is only licit if the participant is willing, according to Catholic Church teaching. In the case of infants, parents consent on their behalf. Charlemagne, Cortez etc were not theologians.