s: A youth, that following with a costrel bore


s: The means of goodly welcome, flesh and wine.


s: And Enid brought sweet cakes to make them cheer,


s: And in her veil enfolded, manchet bread.


s: And then, because their hall must also serve


s: For kitchen, boiled the flesh, and spread the board,


s: And stood behind, and waited on the three.


s: And seeing her so sweet and serviceable,


s: To stoop and kiss the tender little thumb,


s: That crost the trencher as she laid it down:


s: For now the wine made summer in his veins,


s: Now here, now there, about the dusky hall;


s: 'Fair Host and Earl, I pray your courtesy;


s: This sparrow-hawk, what is he? tell me of him.


s: His name? but no, good faith, I will not have it:


s: Ride into that new fortress by your town,


s: White from the mason's hand, then have I sworn


s: From his own lips to have it--I am Geraint


s: Of Devon--for this morning when the Queen


s: His dwarf, a vicious under-shapen thing,


s: Struck at her with his whip, and she returned


s: Indignant to the Queen; and then I swore


s: That I would track this caitiff to his hold,


s: And fight and break his pride, and have it of him.


s: And all unarmed I rode, and thought to find


s: Arms in your town, where all the men are mad;


s: They take the rustic murmur of their bourg


s: For the great wave that echoes round the world;


s: They would not hear me speak:  but if ye know


s: Where I can light on arms, or if yourself


s: Should have them, tell me, seeing I have sworn


s: That I will break his pride and learn his name,


s: Avenging this great insult done the Queen.'


s: Then cried Earl Yniol, 'Art thou he indeed,


s: For noble deeds? and truly I, when first


s: Felt ye were somewhat, yea, and by your state


s: And presence might have guessed you one of those


s: For this dear child hath often heard me praise


s: Your feats of arms, and often when I paused


s: Hath asked again, and ever loved to hear;


s: To noble hearts who see but acts of wrong:


s: Of suitors as this maiden:  first Limours,


s: A creature wholly given to brawls and wine,


s: Drunk even when he wooed; and be he dead


s: I know not, but he past to the wild land.


s: The second was your foe, the sparrow-hawk,


s: My curse, my nephew--I will not let his name


s: When that I knew him fierce and turbulent


s: Refused her to him, then his pride awoke;


s: And since the proud man often is the mean,


s: Affirming that his father left him gold,


s: And in my charge, which was not rendered to him;


s: Bribed with large promises the men who served


s: Because my means were somewhat broken into


s: Raised my own town against me in the night


s: Before my Enid's birthday, sacked my house;


s: Built that new fort to overawe my friends,


s: For truly there are those who love me yet;


s: And keeps me in this ruinous castle here,


s: Where doubtless he would put me soon to death,


s: But that his pride too much despises me:


s: For I have let men be, and have their way;


s: Am much too gentle, have not used my power:


s: 'Well said, true heart,' replied Geraint, 'but arms,


s: That if the sparrow-hawk, this nephew, fight


s: In next day's tourney I may break his pride.'


s: And Yniol answered, 'Arms, indeed, but old


s: And rusty, old and rusty, Prince Geraint,


s: Are mine, and therefore at thy asking, thine.


s: Two forks are fixt into the meadow ground,


s: The prize of beauty for the fairest there.


s: And this, what knight soever be in field


s: And tilts with my good nephew thereupon,


s: Has earned himself the name of sparrow-hawk.'


s: But thou, that hast no lady, canst not fight.'


s: To whom Geraint with eyes all bright replied,


s: Leaning a little toward him, 'Thy leave!


s: For this dear child, because I never saw,


s: Though having seen all beauties of our time,


s: Nor can see elsewhere, anything so fair.


s: So aid me Heaven when at mine uttermost,


s: Danced in his bosom, seeing better days,


s: And looking round he saw not Enid there,


s: (Who hearing her own name had stolen away)


s: But that old dame, to whom full tenderly


s: And folding all her hand in his he said,


s: And best by her that bore her understood.


s: Go thou to rest, but ere thou go to rest


s: Tell her, and prove her heart toward the Prince.'


s: So spake the kindly-hearted Earl, and she


s: With frequent smile and nod departing found,


s: Half disarrayed as to her rest, the girl;


s: Whom first she kissed on either cheek, and then


s: And kept her off and gazed upon her face,


s: And told them all their converse in the hall,


s: Proving her heart:  but never light and shade


s: Beneath a troubled heaven, than red and pale


s: While slowly falling as a scale that falls,


s: When weight is added only grain by grain,


s: Sank her sweet head upon her gentle breast;


s: Nor did she lift an eye nor speak a word,


s: Rapt in the fear and in the wonder of it;


s: She found no rest, and ever failed to draw


s: And when the pale and bloodless east began


s: To quicken to the sun, arose, and raised


s: Her mother too, and hand in hand they moved


s: Down to the meadow where the jousts were held,


s: And thither came the twain, and when Geraint


s: Beheld her first in field, awaiting him,


s: He felt, were she the prize of bodily force,


s: Himself beyond the rest pushing could move


s: The chair of Idris.  Yniol's rusted arms


s: Were on his princely person, but through these


s: Princelike his bearing shone; and errant knights


s: Flowed in, and settling circled all the lists.


s: And there they fixt the forks into the ground,


s: And over these they placed the silver wand,


s: Then Yniol's nephew, after trumpet blown,


s: Spake to the lady with him and proclaimed,


s: 'Advance and take, as fairest of the fair,


s: What I these two years past have won for thee,


s: The prize of beauty.'  Loudly spake the Prince,


s: 'Forbear:  there is a worthier,' and the knight


s: With some surprise and thrice as much disdain


s: Turned, and beheld the four, and all his face


s: Glowed like the heart of a great fire at Yule,


s: So burnt he was with passion, crying out,


s: 'Do battle for it then,' no more; and thrice


s: They clashed together, and thrice they brake their spears.


s: Then each, dishorsed and drawing, lashed at each


s: So often and with such blows, that all the crowd


s: Wondered, and now and then from distant walls


s: There came a clapping as of phantom hands.


s: So twice they fought, and twice they breathed, and still


s: The dew of their great labour, and the blood


s: Of their strong bodies, flowing, drained their force.


s: But either's force was matched till Yniol's cry,


s: 'Remember that great insult done the Queen,'


s: Increased Geraint's, who heaved his blade aloft,


s: And cracked the helmet through, and bit the bone,


s: And felled him, and set foot upon his breast,


s: And said, 'Thy name?'  To whom the fallen man


s: Made answer, groaning, 'Edyrn, son of Nudd!


s: Ashamed am I that I should tell it thee.


s: My pride is broken:  men have seen my fall.'


s: 'Then, Edyrn, son of Nudd,' replied Geraint,


s: 'These two things shalt thou do, or else thou diest.


s: First, thou thyself, with damsel and with dwarf,


s: Shalt ride to Arthur's court, and coming there,


s: Crave pardon for that insult done the Queen,


s: And shalt abide her judgment on it; next,


s: Thou shalt give back their earldom to thy kin.


s: These two things shalt thou do, or thou shalt die.'


s: And Edyrn answered, 'These things will I do,


s: And thou hast overthrown me, and my pride


s: And rising up, he rode to Arthur's court,


s: And being young, he changed and came to loathe


s: His crime of traitor, slowly drew himself


s: Bright from his old dark life, and fell at last


s: In the great battle fighting for the King.


s: But when the third day from the hunting-morn


s: Made a low splendour in the world, and wings


s: With her fair head in the dim-yellow light,


s: Woke and bethought her of her promise given


s: No later than last eve to Prince Geraint--


s: So bent he seemed on going the third day,


s: He would not leave her, till her promise given--


s: To ride with him this morning to the court,


s: And there be made known to the stately Queen,


s: At this she cast her eyes upon her dress,


s: And thought it never yet had looked so mean.


s: The dress that now she looked on to the dress


s: She looked on ere the coming of Geraint.


s: And still she looked, and still the terror grew


s: Of that strange bright and dreadful thing, a court,


s: And softly to her own sweet heart she said:


s: 'This noble prince who won our earldom back,


s: Sweet heaven, how much I shall discredit him!


s: Would he could tarry with us here awhile,


s: Bent as he seemed on going this third day,


s: Myself would work eye dim, and finger lame,


s: All branched and flowered with gold, a costly gift


s: Of her good mother, given her on the night


s: Before her birthday, three sad years ago,


s: That night of fire, when Edyrn sacked their house,


s: And scattered all they had to all the winds:


s: For while the mother showed it, and the two


s: That Edyrn's men were on them, and they fled


s: Which being sold and sold had bought them bread:


s: And Edyrn's men had caught them in their flight,


s: And placed them in this ruin; and she wished


s: The Prince had found her in her ancient home;


s: Then let her fancy flit across the past,


s: And roam the goodly places that she knew;


s: And last bethought her how she used to watch,


s: Near that old home, a pool of golden carp;


s: And one was patched and blurred and lustreless


s: Among his burnished brethren of the pool;


s: And the gay court, and fell asleep again;


s: And dreamt herself was such a faded form


s: Among her burnished sisters of the pool;


s: And though she lay dark in the pool, she knew


s: That all was bright; that all about were birds


s: That all the turf was rich in plots that looked


s: And lords and ladies of the high court went


s: In silver tissue talking things of state;


s: And children of the King in cloth of gold


s: Glanced at the doors or gamboled down the walks;


s: And while she thought 'They will not see me,' came


s: A stately queen whose name was Guinevere,


s: And all the children in their cloth of gold


s: Ran to her, crying, 'If we have fish at all


s: Let them be gold; and charge the gardeners now


s: To pick the faded creature from the pool,


s: And therewithal one came and seized on her,


s: A suit of bright apparel, which she laid


s: Flat on the couch, and spoke exultingly:


s: 'See here, my child, how fresh the colours look,


s: How fast they hold like colours of a shell


s: That keeps the wear and polish of the wave.


s: Why not?  It never yet was worn, I trow:


s: Look on it, child, and tell me if ye know it.'


s: And Enid looked, but all confused at first,


s: Could scarce divide it from her foolish dream:


s: And answered, 'Yea, I know it; your good gift,


s: Your own good gift!'  'Yea, surely,' said the dame,


s: 'And gladly given again this happy morn.


s: For when the jousts were ended yesterday,


s: Went Yniol through the town, and everywhere


s: He found the sack and plunder of our house


s: All scattered through the houses of the town;


s: And gave command that all which once was ours


s: Should now be ours again:  and yester-eve,


s: While ye were talking sweetly with your Prince,


s: Came one with this and laid it in my hand,


s: For love or fear, or seeking favour of us,


s: And yester-eve I would not tell you of it,


s: But kept it for a sweet surprise at morn.


s: My faded suit, as you, my child, have yours,


s: Ah, dear, he took me from a goodly house,


s: With store of rich apparel, sumptuous fare,


s: And page, and maid, and squire, and seneschal,


s: And pastime both of hawk and hound, and all


s: Yea, and he brought me to a goodly house;


s: But since our fortune swerved from sun to shade,


s: And all through that young traitor, cruel need


s: Constrained us, but a better time has come;


s: So clothe yourself in this, that better fits


s: Our mended fortunes and a Prince's bride:


s: For though ye won the prize of fairest fair,


s: And though I heard him call you fairest fair,


s: She is not fairer in new clothes than old.


s: And should some great court-lady say, the Prince


s: Hath picked a ragged-robin from the hedge,


s: And like a madman brought her to the court,


s: Then were ye shamed, and, worse, might shame the Prince


s: That when my dear child is set forth at her best,


s: That neither court nor country, though they sought


s: Through all the provinces like those of old


s: That lighted on Queen Esther, has her match.'


s: Here ceased the kindly mother out of breath;


s: And Enid listened brightening as she lay;


s: Then, as the white and glittering star of morn


s: Parts from a bank of snow, and by and by


s: Slips into golden cloud, the maiden rose,


s: And left her maiden couch, and robed herself,


s: Helped by the mother's careful hand and eye,


s: Who, after, turned her daughter round, and said,


s: She never yet had seen her half so fair;


s: And called her like that maiden in the tale,


s: Whom Gwydion made by glamour out of flowers


s: And sweeter than the bride of Cassivelaun,


s: Flur, for whose love the Roman Caesar first


s: As this great Prince invaded us, and we,


s: Not beat him back, but welcomed him with joy


s: And I can scarcely ride with you to court,


s: For old am I, and rough the ways and wild;


s: But Yniol goes, and I full oft shall dream


s: Clothed with my gift, and gay among the gay.'


s: But while the women thus rejoiced, Geraint


s: Woke where he slept in the high hall, and called


s: His princess, or indeed the stately Queen,


s: He answered:  'Earl, entreat her by my love,


s: That she ride with me in her faded silk.'


s: Yniol with that hard message went; it fell


s: Dared not to glance at her good mother's face,


s: Laid from her limbs the costly-broidered gift,


s: And robed them in her ancient suit again,


s: More than Geraint to greet her thus attired;


s: And glancing all at once as keenly at her


s: As careful robins eye the delver's toil,


s: Made her cheek burn and either eyelid fall,


s: But rested with her sweet face satisfied;


s: Then seeing cloud upon the mother's brow,


s: Her by both hands she caught, and sweetly said,


s: 'O my new mother, be not wroth or grieved


s: When late I left Caerleon, our great Queen,


s: In words whose echo lasts, they were so sweet,


s: Made promise, that whatever bride I brought,


s: Herself would clothe her like the sun in Heaven.


s: Thereafter, when I reached this ruined hall,


s: I vowed that could I gain her, our fair Queen,


s: No hand but hers, should make your Enid burst


s: Sunlike from cloud--and likewise thought perhaps,


s: That service done so graciously would bind


s: Should love each other:  how can Enid find


s: A nobler friend?  Another thought was mine;


s: That though her gentle presence at the lists


s: Might well have served for proof that I was loved,


s: I doubted whether daughter's tenderness,


s: Or whether some false sense in her own self


s: And such a sense might make her long for court


s: And all its perilous glories:  and I thought,


s: That could I someway prove such force in her


s: Linked with such love for me, that at a word


s: (No reason given her) she could cast aside


s: Yet therefore tenfold dearer by the power


s: That I could rest, a rock in ebbs and flows,


s: Fixt on her faith.  Now, therefore, I do rest,


s: Between us.  Grant me pardon for my thoughts:


s: When your fair child shall wear your costly gift


s: Beside your own warm hearth, with, on her knees,


s: Who knows? another gift of the high God,


s: Which, maybe, shall have learned to lisp you thanks.'


s: He spoke:  the mother smiled, but half in tears,


s: Then brought a mantle down and wrapt her in it,


s: And claspt and kissed her, and they rode away.


s: Now thrice that morning Guinevere had climbed


s: The giant tower, from whose high crest, they say,


s: And white sails flying on the yellow sea;


s: Looked the fair Queen, but up the vale of Usk,


s: By the flat meadow, till she saw them come;


s: And then descending met them at the gates,


s: Embraced her with all welcome as a friend,


s: And did her honour as the Prince's bride,


s: And clothed her for her bridals like the sun;


s: For by the hands of Dubric, the high saint,


s: They twain were wedded with all ceremony.


s: And this was on the last year's Whitsuntide.


s: Drest in that dress, and how he loved her in it,


s: And all her foolish fears about the dress,


s: And all his journey toward her, as himself


s: Had told her, and their coming to the court.


s: And now this morning when he said to her,


s: 'Put on your worst and meanest dress,' she found


s: And took it, and arrayed herself therein.


s: Do forge a life-long trouble for ourselves,


s: By taking true for false, or false for true;


s: Here, through the feeble twilight of this world


s: Groping, how many, until we pass and reach


s: That other, where we see as we are seen!


s: So fared it with Geraint, who issuing forth


s: That morning, when they both had got to horse,


s: Perhaps because he loved her passionately,


s: And felt that tempest brooding round his heart,


s: Which, if he spoke at all, would break perforce


s: 'Not at my side.  I charge thee ride before,


s: And forth they rode, but scarce three paces on,


s: I will not fight my way with gilded arms,


s: All shall be iron;' he loosed a mighty purse,


s: Hung at his belt, and hurled it toward the squire.


s: Was all the marble threshold flashing, strown


s: With gold and scattered coinage, and the squire


s: Chafing his shoulder:  then he cried again,


s: 'To the wilds!' and Enid leading down the tracks


s: Through which he bad her lead him on, they past


s: The marches, and by bandit-haunted holds,


s: Gray swamps and pools, waste places of the hern,


s: And wildernesses, perilous paths, they rode:


s: Round was their pace at first, but slackened soon:


s: A stranger meeting them had surely thought


s: They rode so slowly and they looked so pale,


s: That each had suffered some exceeding wrong.


s: To dress her beautifully and keep her true'--


s: And there he broke the sentence in his heart


s: May break it, when his passion masters him.


s: And she was ever praying the sweet heavens


s: To save her dear lord whole from any wound.


s: Which made him look so cloudy and so cold;


s: Till the great plover's human whistle amazed


s: Her heart, and glancing round the waste she feared


s: Then thought again, 'If there be such in me,


s: I might amend it by the grace of Heaven,


s: If he would only speak and tell me of it.'


s: But when the fourth part of the day was gone,


s: Then Enid was aware of three tall knights


s: On horseback, wholly armed, behind a rock


s: In shadow, waiting for them, caitiffs all;


s: And heard one crying to his fellow, 'Look,


s: Here comes a laggard hanging down his head,


s: Who seems no bolder than a beaten hound;


s: Come, we will slay him and will have his horse


s: And armour, and his damsel shall be ours.'


s: Then Enid pondered in her heart, and said:


s: And I will tell him all their caitiff talk;


s: Than that my lord should suffer loss or shame.'


s: Then she went back some paces of return,


s: Met his full frown timidly firm, and said;


s: 'My lord, I saw three bandits by the rock


s: Waiting to fall on you, and heard them boast


s: That they would slay you, and possess your horse


s: And armour, and your damsel should be theirs.'


s: Your warning or your silence? one command


s: And thus ye keep it!  Well then, look--for now,


s: Long for my life, or hunger for my death,


s: Yourself shall see my vigour is not lost.'


s: And down upon him bare the bandit three.


s: And at the midmost charging, Prince Geraint


s: Drave the long spear a cubit through his breast


s: And out beyond; and then against his brace


s: Of comrades, each of whom had broken on him


s: Once, twice, to right, to left, and stunned the twain


s: Or slew them, and dismounting like a man


s: That skins the wild beast after slaying him,


s: Stript from the three dead wolves of woman born


s: The three gay suits of armour which they wore,


s: And let the bodies lie, but bound the suits


s: Of armour on their horses, each on each,


s: And tied the bridle-reins of all the three


s: Together, and said to her, 'Drive them on


s: Before you;' and she drove them through the waste.


s: Against his anger in him, while he watched


s: The being he loved best in all the world,


s: Driving them on:  he fain had spoken to her,


s: And loosed in words of sudden fire the wrath


s: And smouldered wrong that burnt him all within;


s: At once without remorse to strike her dead,


s: Than to cry 'Halt,' and to her own bright face


s: And thus tongue-tied, it made him wroth the more


s: That she could speak whom his own ear had heard


s: Call herself false:  and suffering thus he made


s: Minutes an age:  but in scarce longer time


s: In the first shallow shade of a deep wood,


s: Before a gloom of stubborn-shafted oaks,


s: Three other horsemen waiting, wholly armed,


s: Whereof one seemed far larger than her lord,


s: And shook her pulses, crying, 'Look, a prize!


s: Three horses and three goodly suits of arms,


s: And all in charge of whom? a girl:  set on.'


s: 'Nay,' said the second, 'yonder comes a knight.'


s: The third, 'A craven; how he hangs his head.'


s: The giant answered merrily, 'Yea, but one?


s: Wait here, and when he passes fall upon him.'


s: And Enid pondered in her heart and said,


s: Needs must I speak, and though he kill me for it,


s: And she abode his coming, and said to him


s: With timid firmness, 'Have I leave to speak?'


s: He said, 'Ye take it, speaking,' and she spoke.


s: 'There lurk three villains yonder in the wood,


s: And each of them is wholly armed, and one


s: Is larger-limbed than you are, and they say


s: That they will fall upon you while ye pass.'


s: To which he flung a wrathful answer back:


s: 'And if there were an hundred in the wood,


s: And every man were larger-limbed than I,


s: And all at once should sally out upon me,


s: And if I fall, cleave to the better man.'


s: Not dare to watch the combat, only breathe


s: Short fits of prayer, at every stroke a breath.


s: And he, she dreaded most, bare down upon him.


s: Aimed at the helm, his lance erred; but Geraint's,


s: A little in the late encounter strained,


s: Struck through the bulky bandit's corselet home,


s: And then brake short, and down his enemy rolled,


s: And there lay still; as he that tells the tale


s: From the long shore-cliff's windy walls to the beach,


s: And there lie still, and yet the sapling grew:


s: So lay the man transfixt.  His craven pair


s: Of comrades making slowlier at the Prince,


s: When now they saw their bulwark fallen, stood;


s: On whom the victor, to confound them more,


s: Spurred with his terrible war-cry; for as one,


s: That listens near a torrent mountain-brook,


s: All through the crash of the near cataract hears


s: At distance, were the soldiers wont to hear


s: His voice in battle, and be kindled by it,


s: And foemen scared, like that false pair who turned


s: Themselves had wrought on many an innocent.


s: Thereon Geraint, dismounting, picked the lance


s: That pleased him best, and drew from those dead wolves


s: Their three gay suits of armour, each from each,


s: And bound them on their horses, each on each,


s: And tied the bridle-reins of all the three


s: Together, and said to her, 'Drive them on


s: Before you,' and she drove them through the wood.


s: He followed nearer still:  the pain she had


s: To keep them in the wild ways of the wood,


s: Two sets of three laden with jingling arms,


s: The sharpness of that pain about her heart:


s: And they themselves, like creatures gently born


s: But into bad hands fallen, and now so long


s: By bandits groomed, pricked their light ears, and felt


s: Her low firm voice and tender government.


s: So through the green gloom of the wood they past,


s: And close beneath, a meadow gemlike chased


s: In the brown wild, and mowers mowing in it:


s: There came a fair-haired youth, that in his hand


s: Bare victual for the mowers:  and Geraint


s: Then, moving downward to the meadow ground,


s: He, when the fair-haired youth came by him, said,


s: 'Friend, let her eat; the damsel is so faint.'


s: 'Yea, willingly,' replied the youth; 'and thou,


s: My lord, eat also, though the fare is coarse,


s: And only meet for mowers;' then set down


s: His basket, and dismounting on the sward


s: They let the horses graze, and ate themselves.


s: To close with her lord's pleasure; but Geraint


s: And when he found all empty, was amazed;


s: And 'Boy,' said he, 'I have eaten all, but take


s: A horse and arms for guerdon; choose the best.'


s: 'Ye will be all the wealthier,' cried the Prince.


s: 'I take it as free gift, then,' said the boy,


s: While your good damsel rests, return, and fetch


s: Fresh victual for these mowers of our Earl;


s: For these are his, and all the field is his,


s: And I myself am his; and I will tell him


s: How great a man thou art:  he loves to know


s: And he will have thee to his palace here,


s: And serve thee costlier than with mowers' fare.'


s: Then said Geraint, 'I wish no better fare:


s: Than when I left your mowers dinnerless.


s: But hire us some fair chamber for the night,


s: With victual for these men, and let us know.'


s: 'Yea, my kind lord,' said the glad youth, and went,


s: Held his head high, and thought himself a knight,


s: Leading the horse, and they were left alone.


s: But when the Prince had brought his errant eyes


s: Home from the rock, sideways he let them glance


s: At Enid, where she droopt:  his own false doom,


s: That shadow of mistrust should never cross


s: Betwixt them, came upon him, and he sighed;


s: Then with another humorous ruth remarked


s: And watched the sun blaze on the turning scythe,


s: But she, remembering her old ruined hall,


s: About her hollow turret, plucked the grass


s: There growing longest by the meadow's edge,


s: Now over, now beneath her marriage ring,


s: Wove and unwove it, till the boy returned


s: And told them of a chamber, and they went;


s: Where, after saying to her, 'If ye will,


s: Call for the woman of the house,' to which


s: She answered, 'Thanks, my lord;' the two remained


s: Apart by all the chamber's width, and mute


s: As two creatures voiceless through the fault of birth,


s: Painted, who stare at open space, nor glance


s: On a sudden, many a voice along the street,


s: And heel against the pavement echoing, burst


s: Their drowse; and either started while the door,


s: Pushed from without, drave backward to the wall,


s: Entered, the wild lord of the place, Limours.


s: Greeted Geraint full face, but stealthily,


s: In the mid-warmth of welcome and graspt hand,


s: Then cried Geraint for wine and goodly cheer


s: To feed the sudden guest, and sumptuously


s: Call in what men soever were his friends,


s: And feast with these in honour of their Earl;


s: 'And care not for the cost; the cost is mine.'


s: And wine and food were brought, and Earl Limours


s: Drank till he jested with all ease, and told


s: Free tales, and took the word and played upon it,


s: And made it of two colours; for his talk,


s: When wine and free companions kindled him,


s: Was wont to glance and sparkle like a gem


s: Of fifty facets; thus he moved the Prince


s: To laughter and his comrades to applause.


s: Then, when the Prince was merry, asked Limours,


s: 'Your leave, my lord, to cross the room, and speak


s: To your good damsel there who sits apart,


s: And seems so lonely?'  'My free leave,' he said;


s: 'Get her to speak:  she doth not speak to me.'


s: Then rose Limours, and looking at his feet,


s: Like him who tries the bridge he fears may fail,


s: Crost and came near, lifted adoring eyes,


s: Bowed at her side and uttered whisperingly:


s: Enid, the loss of whom hath turned me wild--


s: What chance is this? how is it I see you here?


s: Ye are in my power at last, are in my power.


s: Yet fear me not:  I call mine own self wild,


s: Here in the heart of waste and wilderness.


s: I thought, but that your father came between,


s: Make me a little happier:  let me know it:


s: Owe you me nothing for a life half-lost?


s: Yea, yea, the whole dear debt of all you are.


s: You come with no attendance, page or maid,


s: To serve you--doth he love you as of old?


s: For, call it lovers' quarrels, yet I know


s: Though men may bicker with the things they love,


s: They would not make them laughable in all eyes,


s: Not while they loved them; and your wretched dress,


s: Your story, that this man loves you no more.


s: A common chance--right well I know it--palled--


s: For I know men:  nor will ye win him back,


s: For the man's love once gone never returns.


s: But here is one who loves you as of old;


s: With more exceeding passion than of old:


s: Good, speak the word:  my followers ring him round:


s: They understand:  nay; I do not mean blood:


s: Nor need ye look so scared at what I say:


s: No stronger than a wall:  there is the keep;


s: He shall not cross us more; speak but the word:


s: Or speak it not; but then by Him that made me


s: I will make use of all the power I have.


s: When first I parted from thee, moves me yet.'


s: At this the tender sound of his own voice


s: And sweet self-pity, or the fancy of it,


s: Made his eye moist; but Enid feared his eyes,


s: Moist as they were, wine-heated from the feast;


s: And answered with such craft as women use,


s: Guilty or guiltless, to stave off a chance


s: That breaks upon them perilously, and said:


s: 'Earl, if you love me as in former years,


s: And do not practise on me, come with morn,


s: Leave me tonight:  I am weary to the death.'


s: Low at leave-taking, with his brandished plume


s: Brushing his instep, bowed the all-amorous Earl,


s: And the stout Prince bad him a loud good-night.


s: Nor cared a broken egg-shell for her lord.


s: But Enid left alone with Prince Geraint,


s: And that she now perforce must violate it,


s: Held commune with herself, and while she held


s: To wake him, but hung o'er him, wholly pleased


s: Anon she rose, and stepping lightly, heaped


s: Then dozed awhile herself, but overtoiled


s: By that day's grief and travel, evermore


s: Seemed catching at a rootless thorn, and then


s: And strongly striking out her limbs awoke;


s: Then thought she heard the wild Earl at the door,


s: Sound on a dreadful trumpet, summoning her;


s: Which was the red cock shouting to the light,


s: As the gray dawn stole o'er the dewy world,


s: And glimmered on his armour in the room.


s: But touched it unawares:  jangling, the casque


s: Fell, and he started up and stared at her.


s: Then breaking his command of silence given,


s: She told him all that Earl Limours had said,


s: Except the passage that he loved her not;


s: Nor left untold the craft herself had used;


s: Low-spoken, and of so few words, and seemed


s: That though he thought 'was it for him she wept


s: In Devon?' he but gave a wrathful groan,


s: Saying, 'Your sweet faces make good fellows fools


s: And traitors.  Call the host and bid him bring


s: Charger and palfrey.'  So she glided out


s: Among the heavy breathings of the house,


s: And like a household Spirit at the walls


s: Beat, till she woke the sleepers, and returned:


s: Then tending her rough lord, though all unasked,


s: In silence, did him service as a squire;


s: Till issuing armed he found the host and cried,


s: 'Thy reckoning, friend?' and ere he learnt it, 'Take


s: Five horses and their armours;' and the host


s: 'My lord, I scarce have spent the worth of one!'


s: 'Ye will be all the wealthier,' said the Prince,


s: Or fancy (though I count it of small use


s: To charge you) that ye speak not but obey.'


s: And Enid answered, 'Yea, my lord, I know


s: Your wish, and would obey; but riding first,


s: I hear the violent threats you do not hear,


s: Then not to give you warning, that seems hard;


s: 'Yea so,' said he, 'do it:  be not too wise;


s: But one with arms to guard his head and yours,


s: And ears to hear you even in his dreams.'


s: With that he turned and looked as keenly at her


s: As careful robins eye the delver's toil;


s: And that within her, which a wanton fool,


s: Or hasty judger would have called her guilt,


s: Made her cheek burn and either eyelid fall.


s: And Geraint looked and was not satisfied.


s: Then forward by a way which, beaten broad,


s: Doorm, whom his shaking vassals called the Bull,


s: Once she looked back, and when she saw him ride


s: More near by many a rood than yestermorn,


s: It wellnigh made her cheerful; till Geraint


s: 'Ye watch me,' saddened all her heart again.


s: But while the sun yet beat a dewy blade,


s: The sound of many a heavily-galloping hoof


s: Smote on her ear, and turning round she saw


s: Dust, and the points of lances bicker in it.


s: And yet to give him warning, for he rode


s: As if he heard not, moving back she held


s: Because she kept the letter of his word,


s: Was in a manner pleased, and turning, stood.


s: Borne on a black horse, like a thunder-cloud


s: Whose skirts are loosened by the breaking storm,


s: Half ridden off with by the thing he rode,


s: And all in passion uttering a dry shriek,


s: Dashed down on Geraint, who closed with him, and bore


s: Down by the length of lance and arm beyond


s: The crupper, and so left him stunned or dead,


s: And overthrew the next that followed him,


s: And blindly rushed on all the rout behind.


s: They vanished panic-stricken, like a shoal


s: Come slipping o'er their shadows on the sand,


s: But lift a shining hand against the sun,


s: Betwixt the cressy islets white in flower;


s: So, scared but at the motion of the man,


s: Fled all the boon companions of the Earl,


s: So vanish friendships only made in wine.


s: Then like a stormy sunlight smiled Geraint,


s: Who saw the chargers of the two that fell


s: Start from their fallen lords, and wildly fly,


s: Mixt with the flyers.  'Horse and man,' he said,


s: 'All of one mind and all right-honest friends!


s: Not a hoof left:  and I methinks till now


s: Was honest--paid with horses and with arms;


s: And so what say ye, shall we strip him there


s: Your lover? has your palfrey heart enough


s: To bear his armour? shall we fast, or dine?


s: No?--then do thou, being right honest, pray


s: That we may meet the horsemen of Earl Doorm,


s: I too would still be honest.'  Thus he said:


s: And answering not one word, she led the way.


s: Falls in a far land and he knows it not,


s: But coming back he learns it, and the loss


s: So pains him that he sickens nigh to death;


s: So fared it with Geraint, who being pricked


s: And so rode on, nor told his gentle wife


s: What ailed him, hardly knowing it himself,


s: Till his eye darkened and his helmet wagged;


s: The Prince, without a word, from his horse fell.


s: And Enid heard the clashing of his fall,


s: Dismounting, loosed the fastenings of his arms,


s: Nor let her true hand falter, nor blue eye


s: Moisten, till she had lighted on his wound,


s: Had bared her forehead to the blistering sun,


s: And swathed the hurt that drained her dear lord's life.


s: Then after all was done that hand could do,


s: For in that realm of lawless turbulence,


s: Was cared as much for as a summer shower:


s: One took him for a victim of Earl Doorm,


s: Nor dared to waste a perilous pity on him:


s: Half whistling and half singing a coarse song,


s: He drove the dust against her veilless eyes:


s: The long way smoke beneath him in his fear;


s: At which her palfrey whinnying lifted heel,


s: And scoured into the coppices and was lost,


s: While the great charger stood, grieved like a man.


s: But at the point of noon the huge Earl Doorm,


s: Broad-faced with under-fringe of russet beard,


s: But ere he came, like one that hails a ship,


s: Cried out with a big voice, 'What, is he dead?'


s: 'No, no, not dead!' she answered in all haste.


s: And bear him hence out of this cruel sun?


s: Most sure am I, quite sure, he is not dead.'


s: Then said Earl Doorm:  'Well, if he be not dead,


s: Why wail ye for him thus? ye seem a child.


s: Your wailing will not quicken him:  dead or not,


s: Yet, since the face is comely--some of you,


s: Here, take him up, and bear him to our hall:


s: An if he live, we will have him of our band;


s: And if he die, why earth has earth enough


s: To hide him.  See ye take the charger too,


s: But left two brawny spearmen, who advanced,


s: Each growling like a dog, when his good bone


s: Seems to be plucked at by the village boys


s: Who love to vex him eating, and he fears


s: To lose his bone, and lays his foot upon it,


s: Gnawing and growling:  so the ruffians growled,


s: Fearing to lose, and all for a dead man,


s: Their chance of booty from the morning's raid,


s: Yet raised and laid him on a litter-bier,


s: Such as they brought upon their forays out


s: For those that might be wounded; laid him on it


s: All in the hollow of his shield, and took


s: And bore him to the naked hall of Doorm,


s: (His gentle charger following him unled)


s: And cast him and the bier in which he lay


s: Their luckier mates, but growling as before,


s: And cursing their lost time, and the dead man,


s: And their own Earl, and their own souls, and her.


s: They might as well have blest her:  she was deaf


s: To blessing or to cursing save from one.


s: There in the naked hall, propping his head,


s: And chafing his pale hands, and calling to him.


s: Till at the last he wakened from his swoon,


s: And found his own dear bride propping his head,


s: And chafing his faint hands, and calling to him;


s: And felt the warm tears falling on his face;


s: And said to his own heart, 'She weeps for me:'


s: And yet lay still, and feigned himself as dead,


s: That he might prove her to the uttermost,


s: And say to his own heart, 'She weeps for me.'


s: The huge Earl Doorm with plunder to the hall.


s: His lusty spearmen followed him with noise:


s: Each hurling down a heap of things that rang


s: Against his pavement, cast his lance aside,


s: And doffed his helm:  and then there fluttered in,


s: Half-bold, half-frighted, with dilated eyes,


s: And mingled with the spearmen:  and Earl Doorm


s: Struck with a knife's haft hard against the board,


s: And called for flesh and wine to feed his spears.


s: And men brought in whole hogs and quarter beeves,


s: And all the hall was dim with steam of flesh:


s: And none spake word, but all sat down at once,


s: Feeding like horses when you hear them feed;


s: To shun the wild ways of the lawless tribe.


s: But when Earl Doorm had eaten all he would,


s: He rolled his eyes about the hall, and found


s: Then he remembered her, and how she wept;


s: And out of her there came a power upon him;


s: God's curse, it makes me mad to see you weep.


s: Eat!  Look yourself.  Good luck had your good man,


s: For were I dead who is it would weep for me?


s: Sweet lady, never since I first drew breath


s: And so there lived some colour in your cheek,


s: Were fit to wear your slipper for a glove.


s: And I will do the thing I have not done,


s: For ye shall share my earldom with me, girl,


s: And we will live like two birds in one nest,


s: And I will fetch you forage from all fields,


s: He spoke:  the brawny spearman let his cheek


s: Bulge with the unswallowed piece, and turning stared;


s: While some, whose souls the old serpent long had drawn


s: Down, as the worm draws in the withered leaf


s: And makes it earth, hissed each at other's ear


s: Women, or what had been those gracious things,


s: But now desired the humbling of their best,


s: Yea, would have helped him to it:  and all at once


s: They hated her, who took no thought of them,


s: But answered in low voice, her meek head yet


s: She spake so low he hardly heard her speak,


s: With what himself had done so graciously,


s: Assumed that she had thanked him, adding, 'Yea,


s: Eat and be glad, for I account you mine.'


s: She answered meekly, 'How should I be glad


s: Henceforth in all the world at anything,


s: Here the huge Earl cried out upon her talk,


s: And sickly nothing; suddenly seized on her,


s: And bare her by main violence to the board,


s: And thrust the dish before her, crying, 'Eat.'


s: 'No, no,' said Enid, vext, 'I will not eat


s: And eat with me.'  'Drink, then,' he answered.  'Here!'


s: (And filled a horn with wine and held it to her,)


s: 'Lo! I, myself, when flushed with fight, or hot,


s: God's curse, with anger--often I myself,


s: Before I well have drunken, scarce can eat:


s: Drink therefore and the wine will change thy will.'


s: 'Not so,' she cried, 'by Heaven, I will not drink


s: Till my dear lord arise and bid me do it,


s: And drink with me; and if he rise no more,


s: At this he turned all red and paced his hall,


s: Now gnawed his under, now his upper lip,


s: And coming up close to her, said at last:


s: 'Girl, for I see ye scorn my courtesies,


s: Take warning:  yonder man is surely dead;


s: Not eat nor drink?  And wherefore wail for one,


s: Who put your beauty to this flout and scorn


s: That I forbear you thus:  cross me no more.


s: At least put off to please me this poor gown,


s: This silken rag, this beggar-woman's weed:


s: I love that beauty should go beautifully:


s: Who loves that beauty should go beautifully?


s: Rise therefore; robe yourself in this:  obey.'


s: Displayed a splendid silk of foreign loom,


s: Where like a shoaling sea the lovely blue


s: Played into green, and thicker down the front


s: When all night long a cloud clings to the hill,


s: And with the dawn ascending lets the day


s: Strike where it clung:  so thickly shone the gems.


s: Than hardest tyrants in their day of power,


s: With life-long injuries burning unavenged,


s: And now their hour has come; and Enid said:


s: 'In this poor gown my dear lord found me first,


s: And loved me serving in my father's hall:


s: In this poor gown I rode with him to court,


s: And there the Queen arrayed me like the sun:


s: In this poor gown he bad me clothe myself,


s: Of honour, where no honour can be gained:


s: And this poor gown I will not cast aside


s: And bid me cast it.  I have griefs enough:


s: Yea, God, I pray you of your gentleness,


s: Then strode the brute Earl up and down his hall,


s: And took his russet beard between his teeth;


s: Last, coming up quite close, and in his mood


s: Dame, to be gentle than ungentle with you;


s: Take my salute,' unknightly with flat hand,


s: However lightly, smote her on the cheek.


s: And since she thought, 'He had not dared to do it,


s: Except he surely knew my lord was dead,'


s: Sent forth a sudden sharp and bitter cry,


s: Which sees the trapper coming through the wood.


s: This heard Geraint, and grasping at his sword,


s: (It lay beside him in the hollow shield),


s: Made but a single bound, and with a sweep of it


s: Shore through the swarthy neck, and like a ball


s: The russet-bearded head rolled on the floor.


s: So died Earl Doorm by him he counted dead.


s: Rose when they saw the dead man rise, and fled


s: 'Enid, I have used you worse than that dead man;


s: Done you more wrong:  we both have undergone


s: That trouble which has left me thrice your own:


s: Henceforward I will rather die than doubt.


s: Not, though mine own ears heard you yestermorn--


s: You thought me sleeping, but I heard you say,


s: I heard you say, that you were no true wife:


s: I swear I will not ask your meaning in it:


s: And will henceforward rather die than doubt.'


s: She felt so blunt and stupid at the heart:


s: She only prayed him, 'Fly, they will return


s: And slay you; fly, your charger is without,


s: My palfrey lost.'  'Then, Enid, shall you ride


s: Behind me.'  'Yea,' said Enid, 'let us go.'


s: And moving out they found the stately horse,


s: But free to stretch his limbs in lawful fight,


s: Neighed with all gladness as they came, and stooped


s: With a low whinny toward the pair:  and she


s: Kissed the white star upon his noble front,


s: Mounted, and reached a hand, and on his foot


s: She set her own and climbed; he turned his face


s: And kissed her climbing, and she cast her arms


s: O'er the four rivers the first roses blew,


s: Than lived through her, who in that perilous hour


s: Put hand to hand beneath her husband's heart,


s: And felt him hers again:  she did not weep,


s: But o'er her meek eyes came a happy mist


s: Like that which kept the heart of Eden green


s: Yet not so misty were her meek blue eyes


s: Right in the gateway of the bandit hold,


s: A knight of Arthur's court, who laid his lance


s: In rest, and made as if to fall upon him.


s: Then, fearing for his hurt and loss of blood,


s: She, with her mind all full of what had chanced,


s: Shrieked to the stranger 'Slay not a dead man!'


s: 'The voice of Enid,' said the knight; but she,


s: Was moved so much the more, and shrieked again,


s: 'O cousin, slay not him who gave you life.'


s: 'My lord Geraint, I greet you with all love;


s: I took you for a bandit knight of Doorm;


s: And fear not, Enid, I should fall upon him,


s: Who love you, Prince, with something of the love


s: Wherewith we love the Heaven that chastens us.


s: For once, when I was up so high in pride


s: That I was halfway down the slope to Hell,


s: Now, made a knight of Arthur's Table Round,


s: And since I knew this Earl, when I myself


s: I come the mouthpiece of our King to Doorm


s: (The King is close behind me) bidding him


s: Disband himself, and scatter all his powers,


s: Submit, and hear the judgment of the King.'


s: 'He hears the judgment of the King of kings,'


s: Cried the wan Prince; 'and lo, the powers of Doorm


s: Are scattered,' and he pointed to the field,


s: Where, huddled here and there on mound and knoll,


s: While some yet fled; and then he plainlier told


s: How the huge Earl lay slain within his hall.


s: But when the knight besought him, 'Follow me,


s: Prince, to the camp, and in the King's own ear


s: Speak what has chanced; ye surely have endured


s: Strange chances here alone;' that other flushed,


s: Fearing the mild face of the blameless King,


s: To Arthur, then will Arthur come to you,'


s: 'Enough,' he said, 'I follow,' and they went.


s: One from the bandit scattered in the field,


s: And one from Edyrn.  Every now and then,


s: When Edyrn reined his charger at her side,


s: From which old fires have broken, men may fear


s: Fresh fire and ruin.  He, perceiving, said:


s: 'Fair and dear cousin, you that most had cause


s: To fear me, fear no longer, I am changed.


s: Yourself were first the blameless cause to make


s: My nature's prideful sparkle in the blood


s: Break into furious flame; being repulsed


s: By Yniol and yourself, I schemed and wrought


s: (With one main purpose ever at my heart)


s: Did her mock-honour as the fairest fair,


s: So waxed in pride, that I believed myself


s: And, but for my main purpose in these jousts,


s: I should have slain your father, seized yourself.


s: I lived in hope that sometime you would come


s: To these my lists with him whom best you loved;


s: And there, poor cousin, with your meek blue eyes


s: The truest eyes that ever answered Heaven,


s: Then, had you cried, or knelt, or prayed to me,


s: I should not less have killed him.  And so you came,--


s: But once you came,--and with your own true eyes


s: Beheld the man you loved (I speak as one


s: My proud self, and my purpose three years old,


s: And set his foot upon me, and give me life.


s: There was I broken down; there was I saved:


s: Though thence I rode all-shamed, hating the life


s: And all the penance the Queen laid upon me


s: Was but to rest awhile within her court;


s: Where first as sullen as a beast new-caged,


s: Because I knew my deeds were known, I found,


s: Manners so kind, yet stately, such a grace


s: And find that it had been the wolf's indeed:


s: And oft I talked with Dubric, the high saint,


s: Which, when it weds with manhood, makes a man.


s: And you were often there about the Queen,


s: But saw me not, or marked not if you saw;


s: Nor did I care or dare to speak with you,


s: But kept myself aloof till I was changed;


s: And fear not, cousin; I am changed indeed.'


s: Of what they long for, good in friend or foe,


s: There most in those who most have done them ill.


s: And when they reached the camp the King himself


s: Advanced to greet them, and beholding her


s: Though pale, yet happy, asked her not a word,


s: And, gravely smiling, lifted her from horse,


s: And kissed her with all pureness, brother-like,


s: And glancing for a minute, till he saw her


s: Pass into it, turned to the Prince, and said:


s: 'Prince, when of late ye prayed me for my leave


s: To move to your own land, and there defend


s: Your marches, I was pricked with some reproof,


s: As one that let foul wrong stagnate and be,


s: By having looked too much through alien eyes,


s: And wrought too long with delegated hands,


s: Not used mine own:  but now behold me come


s: To cleanse this common sewer of all my realm,


s: With Edyrn and with others:  have ye looked


s: At Edyrn? have ye seen how nobly changed?


s: This work of his is great and wonderful.


s: His very face with change of heart is changed.


s: The world will not believe a man repents:


s: And this wise world of ours is mainly right.


s: Both grace and will to pick the vicious quitch


s: And make all clean, and plant himself afresh.


s: Edyrn has done it, weeding all his heart


s: I, therefore, made him of our Table Round,


s: Not rashly, but have proved him everyway


s: A thousand-fold more great and wonderful


s: Than if some knight of mine, risking his life,


s: Should make an onslaught single on a realm


s: Of robbers, though he slew them one by one,


s: And were himself nigh wounded to the death.'


s: So spake the King; low bowed the Prince, and felt


s: His work was neither great nor wonderful,


s: And past to Enid's tent; and thither came


s: The King's own leech to look into his hurt;


s: Her constant motion round him, and the breath


s: Of her sweet tendance hovering over him,


s: Filled all the genial courses of his blood


s: As the south-west that blowing Bala lake


s: Fills all the sacred Dee.  So past the days.


s: But while Geraint lay healing of his hurt,


s: The blameless King went forth and cast his eyes


s: On each of all whom Uther left in charge


s: Long since, to guard the justice of the King:


s: He looked and found them wanting; and as now


s: Men weed the white horse on the Berkshire hills


s: To keep him bright and clean as heretofore,


s: Or guilty, which for bribe had winked at wrong,


s: And in their chairs set up a stronger race


s: With hearts and hands, and sent a thousand men


s: To till the wastes, and moving everywhere


s: Cleared the dark places and let in the law,


s: And broke the bandit holds and cleansed the land.


s: Then, when Geraint was whole again, they past


s: There the great Queen once more embraced her friend,


s: And clothed her in apparel like the day.


s: And though Geraint could never take again


s: That comfort from their converse which he took


s: Before the Queen's fair name was breathed upon,


s: He rested well content that all was well.


s: Thence after tarrying for a space they rode,


s: And fifty knights rode with them to the shores


s: Of Severn, and they past to their own land.


s: And there he kept the justice of the King


s: So vigorously yet mildly, that all hearts


s: Applauded, and the spiteful whisper died:


s: They called him the great Prince and man of men.


s: Of times to be; nor did he doubt her more,


s: But rested in her fealty, till he crowned


s: A happy life with a fair death, and fell


s: In battle, fighting for the blameless King.


s: Pellam the King, who held and lost with Lot


s: In that first war, and had his realm restored


s: To send his tribute; wherefore Arthur called


s: His treasurer, one of many years, and spake,


s: 'Go thou with him and him and bring it to us,


s: Lest we should set one truer on his throne.


s: 'We go but harken:  there be two strange knights


s: Who sit near Camelot at a fountain-side,


s: And overthrowing every knight who comes.


s: 'Old friend, too old to be so young, depart,


s: Delay not thou for aught, but let them sit,


s: Until they find a lustier than themselves.'


s: So these departed.  Early, one fair dawn,


s: The light-winged spirit of his youth returned


s: On Arthur's heart; he armed himself and went,


s: Brethren, to right and left the spring, that down,


s: Sang, and the sand danced at the bottom of it.


s: 'Fair Sirs,' said Arthur, 'wherefore sit ye here?'


s: In Arthur's court; that also have we proved;


s: 'I too,' said Arthur, 'am of Arthur's hall,


s: Than famous jousts; but see, or proven or not,


s: And Arthur lightly smote the brethren down,


s: And lightly so returned, and no man knew.


s: The carolling water set themselves again,


s: And spake no word until the shadow turned;


s: When from the fringe of coppice round them burst


s: A spangled pursuivant, and crying 'Sirs,


s: Rise, follow! ye be sent for by the King,'


s: They followed; whom when Arthur seeing asked


s: 'Tell me your names; why sat ye by the well?'


s: Balin, "the Savage"--that addition thine--


s: My brother and my better, this man here,


s: Was gauntleted, half slew him; for I heard


s: He had spoken evil of me; thy just wrath


s: Sent me a three-years' exile from thine eyes.


s: For I that did that violence to thy thrall,


s: Saving for Balan:  those three kingless years


s: Have past--were wormwood-bitter to me.  King,


s: Methought that if we sat beside the well,


s: And hurled to ground what knight soever spurred


s: Against us, thou would'st take me gladlier back,


s: And make, as ten-times worthier to be thine


s: Than twenty Balins, Balan knight.  I have said.


s: Abashed us both, and brake my boast.  Thy will?'


s: Said Arthur 'Thou hast ever spoken truth;


s: Thy too fierce manhood would not let thee lie.


s: Rise, my true knight.  As children learn, be thou


s: Wiser for falling! walk with me, and move


s: Thy chair, a grief to all the brethren, stands


s: Vacant, but thou retake it, mine again!'


s: Thereafter, when Sir Balin entered hall,


s: The Lost one Found was greeted as in Heaven


s: With joy that blazed itself in woodland wealth


s: Of leaf, and gayest garlandage of flowers,


s: Along the walls and down the board; they sat,


s: And cup clashed cup; they drank and some one sang,


s: Sweet-voiced, a song of welcome, whereupon


s: Their common shout in chorus, mounting, made


s: Those banners of twelve battles overhead


s: Stir, as they stirred of old, when Arthur's host


s: Proclaimed him Victor, and the day was won.


s: A wealthier life than heretofore with these


s: And Balin, till their embassage returned.


s: 'Sir King' they brought report 'we hardly found,


s: So bushed about it is with gloom, the hall


s: A Christless foe of thine as ever dashed


s: Horse against horse; but seeing that thy realm


s: Hath prospered in the name of Christ, the King


s: And finds himself descended from the Saint


s: Brought the great faith to Britain over seas;


s: He boasts his life as purer than thine own;


s: Eats scarce enow to keep his pulse abeat;


s: Hath pushed aside his faithful wife, nor lets


s: Lest he should be polluted.  This gray King


s: Showed us a shrine wherein were wonders--yea--


s: Rich arks with priceless bones of martyrdom,


s: Thorns of the crown and shivers of the cross,


s: And therewithal (for thus he told us) brought


s: Wherewith the Roman pierced the side of Christ.


s: He much amazed us; after, when we sought


s: The tribute, answered "I have quite foregone


s: All matters of this world:  Garlon, mine heir,


s: Of him demand it," which this Garlon gave


s: With much ado, railing at thine and thee.


s: 'But when we left, in those deep woods we found


s: A knight of thine spear-stricken from behind,


s: Dead, whom we buried; more than one of us


s: Cried out on Garlon, but a woodman there


s: Was once a man, who driven by evil tongues


s: From all his fellows, lived alone, and came


s: To learn black magic, and to hate his kind


s: With such a hate, that when he died, his soul


s: Became a Fiend, which, as the man in life


s: Was wounded by blind tongues he saw not whence,


s: Strikes from behind.  This woodman showed the cave


s: From which he sallies, and wherein he dwelt.


s: We saw the hoof-print of a horse, no more.'


s: Then Arthur, 'Let who goes before me, see


s: This demon of the woods?'  Said Balan, 'I'!


s: So claimed the quest and rode away, but first,


s: Embracing Balin, 'Good my brother, hear!


s: Let not thy moods prevail, when I am gone


s: Who used to lay them! hold them outer fiends,


s: Who leap at thee to tear thee; shake them aside,


s: Dreams ruling when wit sleeps! yea, but to dream


s: That any of these would wrong thee, wrongs thyself.


s: Witness their flowery welcome.  Bound are they


s: To speak no evil.  Truly save for fears,


s: Would make me wholly blest:  thou one of them,


s: Their bearing in their common bond of love,


s: No more of hatred than in Heaven itself,


s: So Balan warned, and went; Balin remained:


s: Who--for but three brief moons had glanced away


s: From being knighted till he smote the thrall,


s: Of exile--now would strictlier set himself


s: Manhood, and knighthood; wherefore hovered round


s: Lancelot, but when he marked his high sweet smile


s: Make knight or churl or child or damsel seem


s: From being smiled at happier in themselves--


s: Sighed, as a boy lame-born beneath a height,


s: That glooms his valley, sighs to see the peak


s: Sun-flushed, or touch at night the northern star;


s: For one from out his village lately climed


s: And brought report of azure lands and fair,


s: Far seen to left and right; and he himself


s: Hath hardly scaled with help a hundred feet


s: Up from the base:  so Balin marvelling oft


s: How far beyond him Lancelot seemed to move,


s: Groaned, and at times would mutter, 'These be gifts,


s: Born with the blood, not learnable, divine,


s: Beyond my reach.  Well had I foughten--well--


s: In those fierce wars, struck hard--and had I crowned


s: With my slain self the heaps of whom I slew--


s: So--better!--But this worship of the Queen,


s: That honour too wherein she holds him--this,


s: This was the sunshine that hath given the man


s: A growth, a name that branches o'er the rest,


s: And strength against all odds, and what the King


s: Her likewise would I worship an I might.


s: That brought her hither.  Shall I pray the King


s: Whereon to gaze, remembering her--forget


s: What, if the Queen disdained to grant it! nay


s: My darkness blackness? and with how sweet grace


s: She greeted my return!  Bold will I be--


s: In lieu of this rough beast upon my shield,


s: Langued gules, and toothed with grinning savagery.'


s: And Arthur, when Sir Balin sought him, said


s: 'What wilt thou bear?' Balin was bold, and asked


s: To bear her own crown-royal upon shield,


s: Whereat she smiled and turned her to the King,


s: Who answered 'Thou shalt put the crown to use.


s: The crown is but the shadow of the King,


s: And this a shadow's shadow, let him have it,


s: So this will help him of his violences!'


s: So Balin bare the crown, and all the knights


s: Approved him, and the Queen, and all the world


s: The nightingale, full-toned in middle May,


s: Thus, after some quick burst of sudden wrath,


s: The music in him seemed to change, and grow


s: His passion half had gauntleted to death,


s: That causer of his banishment and shame,


s: Smile at him, as he deemed, presumptuously:


s: His arm half rose to strike again, but fell:


s: Weighted it down, but in himself he moaned:


s: These high-set courtesies are not for me.


s: Shall I not rather prove the worse for these?


s: Fierier and stormier from restraining, break


s: Into some madness even before the Queen?'


s: Thus, as a hearth lit in a mountain home,


s: And glancing on the window, when the gloom


s: Of twilight deepens round it, seems a flame


s: So when his moods were darkened, court and King


s: And all the kindly warmth of Arthur's hall


s: Shadowed an angry distance:  yet he strove


s: To learn the graces of their Table, fought


s: Hard with himself, and seemed at length in peace.


s: Then chanced, one morning, that Sir Balin sat


s: Close-bowered in that garden nigh the hall.


s: And down that range of roses the great Queen


s: Came with slow steps, the morning on her face;


s: Sir Lancelot as to meet her, then at once,


s: As if he saw not, glanced aside, and paced


s: The long white walk of lilies toward the bower.


s: Followed the Queen; Sir Balin heard her 'Prince,


s: As pass without good morrow to thy Queen?'


s: To whom Sir Lancelot with his eyes on earth,


s: 'Fain would I still be loyal to the Queen.'


s: 'Yea so' she said 'but so to pass me by--


s: Let be:  ye stand, fair lord, as in a dream.'


s: Then Lancelot with his hand among the flowers


s: 'Yea--for a dream.  Last night methought I saw


s: That maiden Saint who stands with lily in hand


s: In yonder shrine.  All round her prest the dark,


s: Flowed from the spiritual lily that she held.


s: Lo! these her emblems drew mine eyes--away:


s: For see, how perfect-pure!  As light a flush


s: As hardly tints the blossom of the quince


s: Would mar their charm of stainless maidenhood.'


s: 'Sweeter to me' she said 'this garden rose


s: Deep-hued and many-folded! sweeter still


s: The wild-wood hyacinth and the bloom of May.


s: Prince, we have ridden before among the flowers


s: In those fair days--not all as cool as these,


s: Though season-earlier.  Art thou sad? or sick?


s: Our noble King will send thee his own leech--


s: Then Lancelot lifted his large eyes; they dwelt


s: Deep-tranced on hers, and could not fall:  her hue


s: Changed at his gaze:  so turning side by side


s: They past, and Balin started from his bower.


s: 'Queen? subject? but I see not what I see.


s: My father hath begotten me in his wrath.


s: I suffer from the things before me, know,


s: Learn nothing; am not worthy to be knight;


s: A churl, a clown!' and in him gloom on gloom


s: Deepened:  he sharply caught his lance and shield,


s: Nor stayed to crave permission of the King,


s: But, mad for strange adventure, dashed away.


s: He took the selfsame track as Balan, saw


s: The fountain where they sat together, sighed


s: 'Was I not better there with him?' and rode


s: Wearily hewing.  'Churl, thine axe!' he cried,


s: 'Lord, thou couldst lay the Devil of these woods


s: If arm of flesh could lay him.'  Balin cried


s: 'Him, or the viler devil who plays his part,


s: To lay that devil would lay the Devil in me.'


s: 'Nay' said the churl, 'our devil is a truth,


s: Hath learned black magic, and to ride unseen.


s: Look to the cave.'  But Balin answered him


s: 'Old fabler, these be fancies of the churl,


s: Look to thy woodcraft,' and so leaving him,


s: Now with slack rein and careless of himself,


s: Now with dug spur and raving at himself,


s: Now with droopt brow down the long glades he rode;


s: So marked not on his right a cavern-chasm


s: Yawn over darkness, where, nor far within,


s: The whole day died, but, dying, gleamed on rocks


s: Roof-pendent, sharp; and others from the floor,


s: Tusklike, arising, made that mouth of night


s: He marked not this, but blind and deaf to all


s: Save that chained rage, which ever yelpt within,


s: Past eastward from the falling sun.  At once


s: And tremble, and then the shadow of a spear,


s: Shot from behind him, ran along the ground.


s: Sideways he started from the path, and saw,


s: With pointed lance as if to pierce, a shape,


s: A light of armour by him flash, and pass


s: And vanish in the woods; and followed this,


s: He burst his lance against a forest bough,


s: Dishorsed himself, and rose again, and fled


s: Far, till the castle of a King, the hall


s: Of Pellam, lichen-bearded, grayly draped


s: With streaming grass, appeared, low-built but strong;


s: Then spake the men of Pellam crying 'Lord,


s: Why wear ye this crown-royal upon shield?'


s: Said Balin 'For the fairest and the best


s: So stalled his horse, and strode across the court,


s: But found the greetings both of knight and King


s: Faint in the low dark hall of banquet:  leaves


s: Laid their green faces flat against the panes,


s: Sprays grated, and the cankered boughs without


s: Whined in the wood; for all was hushed within,


s: Till when at feast Sir Garlon likewise asked


s: 'Why wear ye that crown-royal?' Balin said


s: 'The Queen we worship, Lancelot, I, and all,


s: To bear it!'  Such a sound (for Arthur's knights


s: Were hated strangers in the hall) as makes


s: The white swan-mother, sitting, when she hears


s: A strange knee rustle through her secret reeds,


s: Made Garlon, hissing; then he sourly smiled.


s: 'Fairest I grant her:  I have seen; but best,


s: Best, purest? thou from Arthur's hall, and yet


s: So simple! hast thou eyes, or if, are these


s: This fair wife-worship cloaks a secret shame?


s: Stood, all of massiest bronze:  one side had sea


s: And ship and sail and angels blowing on it:


s: And one was rough with wattling, and the walls


s: Of that low church he built at Glastonbury.


s: This Balin graspt, but while in act to hurl,


s: Through memory of that token on the shield


s: Relaxed his hold:  'I will be gentle' he thought


s: 'And passing gentle' caught his hand away,


s: Then fiercely to Sir Garlon 'Eyes have I


s: Shot from behind me, run along the ground;


s: Eyes too that long have watched how Lancelot draws


s: From homage to the best and purest, might,


s: Name, manhood, and a grace, but scantly thine,


s: Who, sitting in thine own hall, canst endure


s: To mouth so huge a foulness--to thy guest,


s: The scorn of Garlon, poisoning all his rest,


s: Stung him in dreams.  At length, and dim through leaves


s: Blinkt the white morn, sprays grated, and old boughs


s: Whined in the wood.  He rose, descended, met


s: The scorner in the castle court, and fain,


s: For hate and loathing, would have past him by;


s: But when Sir Garlon uttered mocking-wise;


s: 'What, wear ye still that same crown-scandalous?'


s: His countenance blackened, and his forehead veins


s: Bloated, and branched; and tearing out of sheath


s: So thou be shadow, here I make thee ghost,'


s: Hard upon helm smote him, and the blade flew


s: Splintering in six, and clinkt upon the stones.


s: Then Garlon, reeling slowly backward, fell,


s: Dragged him, and struck, but from the castle a cry


s: Sounded across the court, and--men-at-arms,


s: A score with pointed lances, making at him--


s: He dashed the pummel at the foremost face,


s: Beneath a low door dipt, and made his feet


s: Wings through a glimmering gallery, till he marked


s: And inward to the wall; he stept behind;


s: Thence in a moment heard them pass like wolves


s: Howling; but while he stared about the shrine,


s: In which he scarce could spy the Christ for Saints,


s: The longest lance his eyes had ever seen,


s: Point-painted red; and seizing thereupon


s: Pushed through an open casement down, leaned on it,


s: Leapt in a semicircle, and lit on earth;


s: Then hand at ear, and harkening from what side


s: The blindfold rummage buried in the walls


s: Might echo, ran the counter path, and found


s: An arrow whizzed to the right, one to the left,


s: 'Stay, stay him! he defileth heavenly things


s: With earthly uses'--made him quickly dive


s: Beneath the boughs, and race through many a mile


s: Of dense and open, till his goodly horse,


s: Stumbled headlong, and cast him face to ground.


s: Half-wroth he had not ended, but all glad,


s: Knightlike, to find his charger yet unlamed,


s: Sir Balin drew the shield from off his neck,


s: Stared at the priceless cognizance, and thought


s: 'I have shamed thee so that now thou shamest me,


s: Thee will I bear no more,' high on a branch


s: Hung it, and turned aside into the woods,


s: And there in gloom cast himself all along,


s: The woodland alleys, Vivien, with her Squire.


s: 'The fire of Heaven has killed the barren cold,


s: And kindled all the plain and all the wold.


s: The fire of Heaven is not the flame of Hell.


s: 'Old priest, who mumble worship in your quire--


s: Old monk and nun, ye scorn the world's desire,


s: Yet in your frosty cells ye feel the fire!


s: 'The fire of Heaven is on the dusty ways.


s: The whole wood-world is one full peal of praise.


s: 'The fire of Heaven is lord of all things good,


s: And starve not thou this fire within thy blood,


s: But follow Vivien through the fiery flood!


s: The fire of Heaven is not the flame of Hell!'


s: Then turning to her Squire 'This fire of Heaven,


s: This old sun-worship, boy, will rise again,


s: And beat the cross to earth, and break the King


s: Where under one long lane of cloudless air


s: Sparkled, and swaying upon a restless elm


s: Drew the vague glance of Vivien, and her Squire;


s: Amazed were these; 'Lo there' she cried--'a crown--


s: Borne by some high lord-prince of Arthur's hall,


s: And there a horse! the rider? where is he?


s: See, yonder lies one dead within the wood.


s: Not dead; he stirs!--but sleeping.  I will speak.


s: Hail, royal knight, we break on thy sweet rest,


s: Not, doubtless, all unearned by noble deeds.


s: But bounden art thou, if from Arthur's hall,


s: To help the weak.  Behold, I fly from shame,


s: A lustful King, who sought to win my love


s: Through evil ways:  the knight, with whom I rode,


s: Hath suffered misadventure, and my squire


s: Hath in him small defence; but thou, Sir Prince,


s: Wilt surely guide me to the warrior King,


s: I charge thee by that crown upon thy shield,


s: And by the great Queen's name, arise and hence.'


s: And Balin rose, 'Thither no more! nor Prince


s: Nor knight am I, but one that hath defamed


s: The cognizance she gave me:  here I dwell


s: Savage among the savage woods, here die--


s: Die:  let the wolves' black maws ensepulchre


s: Their brother beast, whose anger was his lord.


s: Which our high Lancelot hath so lifted up,


s: And been thereby uplifted, should through me,


s: My violence, and my villainy, come to shame.'


s: Thereat she suddenly laughed and shrill, anon


s: Sighed all as suddenly.  Said Balin to her


s: Hence, for I will not with thee.'  Again she sighed


s: 'Pardon, sweet lord! we maidens often laugh


s: When sick at heart, when rather we should weep.


s: I knew thee wronged.  I brake upon thy rest,


s: And now full loth am I to break thy dream,


s: But thou art man, and canst abide a truth,


s: Though bitter.  Hither, boy--and mark me well.


s: Ay, thou rememberest well--one summer dawn--


s: Nay, truly we were hidden:  this fair lord,


s: The flower of all their vestal knighthood, knelt


s: In amorous homage--knelt--what else?--O ay


s: Knelt, and drew down from out his night-black hair


s: And mumbled that white hand whose ringed caress


s: Had wandered from her own King's golden head,


s: And lost itself in darkness, till she cried--


s: I thought the great tower would crash down on both--


s: "Rise, my sweet King, and kiss me on the lips,


s: Thou art my King."  This lad, whose lightest word


s: Is mere white truth in simple nakedness,


s: Saw them embrace:  he reddens, cannot speak,


s: So bashful, he! but all the maiden Saints,


s: The deathless mother-maidenhood of Heaven,


s: Cry out upon her.  Up then, ride with me!


s: Talk not of shame! thou canst not, an thou would'st,


s: Do these more shame than these have done themselves.'


s: She lied with ease; but horror-stricken he,


s: Breathed in a dismal whisper 'It is truth.'


s: Sunnily she smiled 'And even in this lone wood,


s: Sweet lord, ye do right well to whisper this.


s: Fools prate, and perish traitors.  Woods have tongues,


s: As walls have ears:  but thou shalt go with me,


s: And we will speak at first exceeding low.


s: Meet is it the good King be not deceived.


s: See now, I set thee high on vantage ground,


s: From whence to watch the time, and eagle-like


s: Stoop at thy will on Lancelot and the Queen.'


s: She ceased; his evil spirit upon him leapt,


s: He ground his teeth together, sprang with a yell,


s: Tore from the branch, and cast on earth, the shield,


s: Drove his mailed heel athwart the royal crown,


s: Stampt all into defacement, hurled it from him


s: Among the forest weeds, and cursed the tale,


s: Unearthlier than all shriek of bird or beast,


s: Thrilled through the woods; and Balan lurking there


s: (His quest was unaccomplished) heard and thought


s: 'The scream of that Wood-devil I came to quell!'


s: Then nearing 'Lo! he hath slain some brother-knight,


s: And tramples on the goodly shield to show


s: His loathing of our Order and the Queen.


s: My quest, meseems, is here.  Or devil or man


s: Guard thou thine head.'  Sir Balin spake not word,


s: But snatched a sudden buckler from the Squire,


s: And vaulted on his horse, and so they crashed


s: Redded at once with sinful, for the point


s: Across the maiden shield of Balan pricked


s: The hauberk to the flesh; and Balin's horse


s: Was wearied to the death, and, when they clashed,


s: Rolling back upon Balin, crushed the man


s: Inward, and either fell, and swooned away.


s: Then to her Squire muttered the damsel 'Fools!


s: This fellow hath wrought some foulness with his Queen:


s: Else never had he borne her crown, nor raved


s: But thou, Sir Chick, that scarce hast broken shell,


s: Art yet half-yolk, not even come to down--


s: And yet hast often pleaded for my love--


s: See what I see, be thou where I have been,


s: Or else Sir Chick--dismount and loose their casques


s: I fain would know what manner of men they be.'


s: And when the Squire had loosed them, 'Goodly!--look!


s: They might have cropt the myriad flower of May,


s: And butt each other here, like brainless bulls,


s: 'I hold them happy, so they died for love:


s: And, Vivien, though ye beat me like your dog,


s: I too could die, as now I live, for thee.'


s: 'Live on, Sir Boy,' she cried.  'I better prize


s: The living dog than the dead lion:  away!


s: Then leapt her palfrey o'er the fallen oak,


s: And bounding forward 'Leave them to the wolves.'


s: But when their foreheads felt the cooling air,


s: Balin first woke, and seeing that true face,


s: Crawled slowly with low moans to where he lay,


s: Dying; and he lifted faint eyes; he felt


s: One near him; all at once they found the world,


s: Staring wild-wide; then with a childlike wail


s: And drawing down the dim disastrous brow


s: That o'er him hung, he kissed it, moaned and spake;


s: To save thy life, have brought thee to thy death.


s: Why had ye not the shield I knew? and why


s: Trampled ye thus on that which bare the Crown?'


s: Then Balin told him brokenly, and in gasps,


s: All that had chanced, and Balan moaned again.


s: 'Brother, I dwelt a day in Pellam's hall:


s: This Garlon mocked me, but I heeded not.


s: And one said "Eat in peace! a liar is he,


s: And hates thee for the tribute!" this good knight


s: Told me, that twice a wanton damsel came,


s: And sought for Garlon at the castle-gates,


s: Who stood beside thee even now, the same.


s: "She dwells among the woods" he said "and meets


s: And dallies with him in the Mouth of Hell."


s: Foul are their lives; foul are their lips; they lied.


s: Pure as our own true Mother is our Queen."


s: My madness all thy life has been thy doom,


s: Thy curse, and darkened all thy day; and now


s: The night has come.  I scarce can see thee now.


s: Goodmorrow--Dark my doom was here, and dark


s: It will be there.  I see thee now no more.


s: I would not mine again should darken thine,


s: 'Goodnight, true brother here! goodmorrow there!


s: Together by one doom:' and while he spoke


s: Closed his death-drowsing eyes, and slept the sleep


s: With Balin, either locked in either's arm.


s: A storm was coming, but the winds were still,


s: For he that always bare in bitter grudge


s: The slights of Arthur and his Table, Mark


s: The Cornish King, had heard a wandering voice,


s: But the great Queen herself, fought in her name,


s: Sware by her--vows like theirs, that high in heaven


s: Love most, but neither marry, nor are given


s: In marriage, angels of our Lord's report.


s: He ceased, and then--for Vivien sweetly said


s: (She sat beside the banquet nearest Mark),


s: In Arthur's household?'--answered innocently:


s: 'Ay, by some few--ay, truly--youths that hold


s: It more beseems the perfect virgin knight


s: All hopes of gaining, than as maiden girl.


s: They place their pride in Lancelot and the Queen.


s: Beyond the limit of their bond, are these,


s: For Arthur bound them not to singleness.


s: Brave hearts and clean! and yet--God guide them--young.'


s: Then Mark was half in heart to hurl his cup


s: Straight at the speaker, but forbore:  he rose


s: To leave the hall, and, Vivien following him,


s: Turned to her:  'Here are snakes within the grass;


s: And you methinks, O Vivien, save ye fear


s: The monkish manhood, and the mask of pure


s: Worn by this court, can stir them till they sting.'


s: And Vivien answered, smiling scornfully,


s: 'Why fear? because that fostered at thy court


s: I savour of thy--virtues? fear them? no.


s: As Love, if Love is perfect, casts out fear,


s: So Hate, if Hate is perfect, casts out fear.


s: My father died in battle against the King,


s: She bore me there, for born from death was I


s: And then on thee! and shown the truth betimes,


s: That old true filth, and bottom of the well


s: Where Truth is hidden.  Gracious lessons thine


s: And maxims of the mud!  "This Arthur pure!


s: Great Nature through the flesh herself hath made


s: Gives him the lie!  There is no being pure,


s: My cherub; saith not Holy Writ the same?"--


s: If I were Arthur, I would have thy blood.


s: Thy blessing, stainless King!  I bring thee back,


s: When I have ferreted out their burrowings,


s: The hearts of all this Order in mine hand--


s: Ay--so that fate and craft and folly close,


s: Perchance, one curl of Arthur's golden beard.


s: To me this narrow grizzled fork of thine


s: Is cleaner-fashioned--Well, I loved thee first,


s: But Vivien, into Camelot stealing, lodged


s: When Guinevere was crossing the great hall


s: Cast herself down, knelt to the Queen, and wailed.


s: 'Why kneel ye there?  What evil hath ye wrought?


s: And stood with folded hands and downward eyes


s: Of glancing corner, and all meekly said,


s: 'None wrought, but suffered much, an orphan maid!


s: The sad sea-sounding wastes of Lyonnesse--


s: Poor wretch--no friend!--and now by Mark the King


s: For that small charm of feature mine, pursued--


s: Save, save me thou--Woman of women--thine


s: The wreath of beauty, thine the crown of power,


s: Be thine the balm of pity, O Heaven's own white


s: Earth-angel, stainless bride of stainless King--


s: Help, for he follows! take me to thyself!


s: Fear-tremulous, but humbly hopeful, rose


s: Fixt on her hearer's, while the Queen who stood


s: All glittering like May sunshine on May leaves


s: In green and gold, and plumed with green replied,


s: 'Peace, child! of overpraise and overblame


s: We choose the last.  Our noble Arthur, him


s: Ye scarce can overpraise, will hear and know.


s: Well, we shall test thee farther; but this hour


s: He hath given us a fair falcon which he trained;


s: We go to prove it.  Bide ye here the while.'


s: She past; and Vivien murmured after 'Go!


s: I bide the while.'  Then through the portal-arch


s: Peering askance, and muttering broken-wise,


s: Beheld the Queen and Lancelot get to horse.


s: 'Is that the Lancelot? goodly--ay, but gaunt:


s: Courteous--amends for gauntness--takes her hand--


s: That glance of theirs, but for the street, had been


s: A clinging kiss--how hand lingers in hand!


s: Let go at last!--they ride away--to hawk


s: As that gray cricket chirpt of at our hearth--


s: Touch flax with flame--a glance will serve--the liars!


s: Thy hole by night to let the boundless deep


s: Down upon far-off cities while they dance--


s: Or dream--of thee they dreamed not--nor of me


s: These--ay, but each of either:  ride, and dream


s: The mortal dream that never yet was mine--


s: Ride, ride and dream until ye wake--to me!


s: Then, narrow court and lubber King, farewell!


s: For Lancelot will be gracious to the rat,


s: And our wise Queen, if knowing that I know,


s: Will hate, loathe, fear--but honour me the more.'


s: Yet while they rode together down the plain,


s: Their talk was all of training, terms of art,


s: Diet and seeling, jesses, leash and lure.


s: 'She is too noble' he said 'to check at pies,


s: Nor will she rake:  there is no baseness in her.'


s: Here when the Queen demanded as by chance


s: 'Know ye the stranger woman?'  'Let her be,'


s: The goodly falcon free; she towered; her bells,


s: Tone under tone, shrilled; and they lifted up


s: Their eager faces, wondering at the strength,


s: Boldness and royal knighthood of the bird


s: Who pounced her quarry and slew it.  Many a time


s: As once--of old--among the flowers--they rode.


s: Among her damsels broidering sat, heard, watched


s: And whispered:  through the peaceful court she crept


s: And whispered:  then as Arthur in the highest


s: Leavened the world, so Vivien in the lowest,


s: And sowing one ill hint from ear to ear,


s: While all the heathen lay at Arthur's feet,


s: And no quest came, but all was joust and play,


s: Leavened his hall.  They heard and let her be.


s: Death in the living waters, and withdrawn,


s: The wily Vivien stole from Arthur's court.


s: She hated all the knights, and heard in thought


s: Their lavish comment when her name was named.


s: For once, when Arthur walking all alone,


s: Of some corruption crept among his knights,


s: Had met her, Vivien, being greeted fair,


s: Would fain have wrought upon his cloudy mood


s: With reverent eyes mock-loyal, shaken voice,


s: With dark sweet hints of some who prized him more


s: Than who should prize him most; at which the King


s: But one had watched, and had not held his peace:


s: That Vivien should attempt the blameless King.


s: Him, the most famous man of all those times,


s: Merlin, who knew the range of all their arts,


s: Had built the King his havens, ships, and halls,


s: Was also Bard, and knew the starry heavens;


s: The people called him Wizard; whom at first


s: She played about with slight and sprightly talk,


s: And vivid smiles, and faintly-venomed points


s: Of slander, glancing here and grazing there;


s: And yielding to his kindlier moods, the Seer


s: Would watch her at her petulance, and play,


s: Even when they seemed unloveable, and laugh


s: As those that watch a kitten; thus he grew


s: Tolerant of what he half disdained, and she,


s: Perceiving that she was but half disdained,


s: Began to break her sports with graver fits,


s: Turn red or pale, would often when they met


s: With such a fixt devotion, that the old man,


s: Though doubtful, felt the flattery, and at times


s: Would flatter his own wish in age for love,


s: And half believe her true:  for thus at times


s: He wavered; but that other clung to him,


s: Fixt in her will, and so the seasons went.


s: He walked with dreams and darkness, and he found


s: World-war of dying flesh against the life,


s: Death in all life and lying in all love,


s: The meanest having power upon the highest,


s: And the high purpose broken by the worm.


s: So leaving Arthur's court he gained the beach;


s: There found a little boat, and stept into it;


s: And Vivien followed, but he marked her not.


s: She took the helm and he the sail; the boat


s: Drave with a sudden wind across the deeps,


s: And touching Breton sands, they disembarked.


s: And then she followed Merlin all the way,


s: For Merlin once had told her of a charm,


s: The man so wrought on ever seemed to lie


s: Closed in the four walls of a hollow tower,


s: And none could find that man for evermore,


s: Nor could he see but him who wrought the charm


s: And lost to life and use and name and fame.


s: And Vivien ever sought to work the charm


s: As fancying that her glory would be great


s: According to his greatness whom she quenched.


s: There lay she all her length and kissed his feet,


s: A twist of gold was round her hair; a robe


s: Of samite without price, that more exprest


s: Than hid her, clung about her lissome limbs,


s: On sallows in the windy gleams of March:


s: And while she kissed them, crying, 'Trample me,


s: Dear feet, that I have followed through the world,


s: And I will pay you worship; tread me down


s: And I will kiss you for it;' he was mute:


s: So dark a forethought rolled about his brain,


s: The blind wave feeling round his long sea-hall


s: In silence:  wherefore, when she lifted up


s: A face of sad appeal, and spake and said,


s: 'O Merlin, do ye love me?' and once more,


s: 'Great Master, do ye love me?' he was mute.


s: And lissome Vivien, holding by his heel,


s: Writhed toward him, slided up his knee and sat,


s: Clung like a snake; and letting her left hand


s: Droop from his mighty shoulder, as a leaf,


s: Made with her right a comb of pearl to part


s: The lists of such a board as youth gone out


s: Had left in ashes:  then he spoke and said,


s: Not looking at her, 'Who are wise in love


s: Love most, say least,' and Vivien answered quick,


s: But neither eyes nor tongue--O stupid child!


s: Yet you are wise who say it; let me think


s: And ask no kiss;' then adding all at once,


s: 'And lo, I clothe myself with wisdom,' drew


s: Caught in a great old tyrant spider's web,


s: Who meant to eat her up in that wild wood


s: Without one word.  So Vivien called herself,


s: Veiled in gray vapour; till he sadly smiled:


s: 'To what request for what strange boon,' he said,


s: 'Are these your pretty tricks and fooleries,


s: For these have broken up my melancholy.'


s: 'What, O my Master, have ye found your voice?


s: I bid the stranger welcome.  Thanks at last!


s: In mine own lady palms I culled the spring


s: That gathered trickling dropwise from the cleft,


s: And offered you it kneeling:  then you drank


s: And knew no more, nor gave me one poor word;


s: O no more thanks than might a goat have given


s: With no more sign of reverence than a beard.


s: And I was faint to swooning, and you lay


s: Foot-gilt with all the blossom-dust of those


s: Deep meadows we had traversed, did you know


s: That Vivien bathed your feet before her own?


s: And yet no thanks:  and all through this wild wood


s: And all this morning when I fondled you:


s: Boon, ay, there was a boon, one not so strange--


s: How had I wronged you? surely ye are wise,


s: But such a silence is more wise than kind.'


s: And Merlin locked his hand in hers and said:


s: And watch the curled white of the coming wave


s: Glassed in the slippery sand before it breaks?


s: Even such a wave, but not so pleasurable,


s: Dark in the glass of some presageful mood,


s: Had I for three days seen, ready to fall.


s: And then I rose and fled from Arthur's court


s: To break the mood.  You followed me unasked;


s: And when I looked, and saw you following me still,


s: My mind involved yourself the nearest thing


s: In that mind-mist:  for shall I tell you truth?


s: You seemed that wave about to break upon me


s: And sweep me from my hold upon the world,


s: My use and name and fame.  Your pardon, child.


s: Your pretty sports have brightened all again.


s: And ask your boon, for boon I owe you thrice,


s: Once for wrong done you by confusion, next


s: For thanks it seems till now neglected, last


s: For these your dainty gambols:  wherefore ask;


s: And take this boon so strange and not so strange.'


s: Not yet so strange as you yourself are strange,


s: Nor half so strange as that dark mood of yours.


s: And see, yourself have owned ye did me wrong.


s: The people call you prophet:  let it be:


s: But not of those that can expound themselves.


s: Take Vivien for expounder; she will call


s: That three-days-long presageful gloom of yours


s: No presage, but the same mistrustful mood


s: That makes you seem less noble than yourself,


s: Now asked again:  for see you not, dear love,


s: That such a mood as that, which lately gloomed


s: Your fancy when ye saw me following you,


s: Must make me fear still more you are not mine,


s: Must make me yearn still more to prove you mine,


s: And make me wish still more to learn this charm


s: As proof of trust.  O Merlin, teach it me.


s: The charm so taught will charm us both to rest.


s: For, grant me some slight power upon your fate,


s: I, feeling that you felt me worthy trust,


s: Should rest and let you rest, knowing you mine.


s: And therefore be as great as ye are named,


s: Not muffled round with selfish reticence.


s: That makes me passing wrathful; then our bond


s: Had best be loosed for ever:  but think or not,


s: By Heaven that hears I tell you the clean truth,


s: As clean as blood of babes, as white as milk:


s: If these unwitty wandering wits of mine,


s: Have tript on such conjectural treachery--


s: May this hard earth cleave to the Nadir hell


s: Down, down, and close again, and nip me flat,


s: If I be such a traitress.  Yield my boon,


s: Till which I scarce can yield you all I am;


s: The great proof of your love:  because I think,


s: And Merlin loosed his hand from hers and said,


s: Too curious Vivien, though you talk of trust,


s: Than when I told you first of such a charm.


s: Yea, if ye talk of trust I tell you this,


s: Too much I trusted when I told you that,


s: And stirred this vice in you which ruined man


s: Through woman the first hour; for howsoe'er


s: In children a great curiousness be well,


s: Who have to learn themselves and all the world,


s: In you, that are no child, for still I find


s: Your face is practised when I spell the lines,


s: I call it,--well, I will not call it vice:


s: But since you name yourself the summer fly,


s: I well could wish a cobweb for the gnat,


s: That settles, beaten back, and beaten back


s: Settles, till one could yield for weariness:


s: But since I will not yield to give you power


s: Yea, by God's rood, I trusted you too much.'


s: And Vivien, like the tenderest-hearted maid


s: Made answer, either eyelid wet with tears:


s: 'Nay, Master, be not wrathful with your maid;


s: Caress her:  let her feel herself forgiven


s: I heard the great Sir Lancelot sing it once,


s: And it shall answer for me.  Listen to it.


s: "In Love, if Love be Love, if Love be ours,


s: Faith and unfaith can ne'er be equal powers:


s: Unfaith in aught is want of faith in all.


s: That by and by will make the music mute,


s: "The little rift within the lover's lute


s: Or little pitted speck in garnered fruit,


s: That rotting inward slowly moulders all.


s: "It is not worth the keeping:  let it go:


s: But shall it? answer, darling, answer, no.


s: And Merlin looked and half believed her true,


s: So tender was her voice, so fair her face,


s: So sweetly gleamed her eyes behind her tears


s: Like sunlight on the plain behind a shower:


s: 'Far other was the song that once I heard


s: By this huge oak, sung nearly where we sit:


s: For here we met, some ten or twelve of us,


s: To chase a creature that was current then


s: In these wild woods, the hart with golden horns.


s: It was the time when first the question rose


s: And noble deeds, the flower of all the world.


s: And while we waited, one, the youngest of us,


s: We could not keep him silent, out he flashed,


s: And into such a song, such fire for fame,


s: Such trumpet-glowings in it, coming down


s: To such a stern and iron-clashing close,


s: That when he stopt we longed to hurl together,


s: And should have done it; but the beauteous beast


s: Scared by the noise upstarted at our feet,


s: Through the dim land; and all day long we rode


s: Through the dim land against a rushing wind,


s: That glorious roundel echoing in our ears,


s: And chased the flashes of his golden horns


s: That laughs at iron--as our warriors did--


s: Where children cast their pins and nails, and cry,


s: "Laugh, little well!" but touch it with a sword,


s: It buzzes fiercely round the point; and there


s: We lost him:  such a noble song was that.


s: But, Vivien, when you sang me that sweet rhyme,


s: I felt as though you knew this cursed charm,


s: And felt them slowly ebbing, name and fame.'


s: And all through following you to this wild wood,


s: Lo now, what hearts have men! they never mount


s: And touching fame, howe'er ye scorn my song,


s: Take one verse more--the lady speaks it--this:


s: '"My name, once mine, now thine, is closelier mine,


s: For fame, could fame be mine, that fame were thine,


s: And shame, could shame be thine, that shame were mine.


s: 'Says she not well? and there is more--this rhyme


s: Is like the fair pearl-necklace of the Queen,


s: That burst in dancing, and the pearls were spilt;


s: Some lost, some stolen, some as relics kept.


s: But nevermore the same two sister pearls


s: Ran down the silken thread to kiss each other


s: On her white neck--so is it with this rhyme:


s: And every minstrel sings it differently;


s: Yet is there one true line, the pearl of pearls:


s: "Man dreams of Fame while woman wakes to love."


s: Yea!  Love, though Love were of the grossest, carves


s: And uses, careless of the rest; but Fame,


s: The Fame that follows death is nothing to us;


s: And what is Fame in life but half-disfame,


s: And counterchanged with darkness? ye yourself


s: Know well that Envy calls you Devil's son,


s: And since ye seem the Master of all Art,


s: They fain would make you Master of all vice.'


s: And Merlin locked his hand in hers and said,


s: And found a fair young squire who sat alone,


s: Had carved himself a knightly shield of wood,


s: And then was painting on it fancied arms,


s: In dexter chief; the scroll "I follow fame."


s: I took his brush and blotted out the bird,


s: With this for motto, "Rather use than fame."


s: You should have seen him blush; but afterwards


s: For you, methinks you think you love me well;


s: For me, I love you somewhat; rest:  and Love


s: Should have some rest and pleasure in himself,


s: Too prurient for a proof against the grain


s: Of him ye say ye love:  but Fame with men,


s: Being but ampler means to serve mankind,


s: Should have small rest or pleasure in herself,


s: That dwarfs the petty love of one to one.


s: Use gave me Fame at first, and Fame again


s: Increasing gave me use.  Lo, there my boon!


s: What other? for men sought to prove me vile,


s: Because I fain had given them greater wits:


s: The sick weak beast seeking to help herself


s: By striking at her better, missed, and brought


s: Her own claw back, and wounded her own heart.


s: Sweet were the days when I was all unknown,


s: But when my name was lifted up, the storm


s: Brake on the mountain and I cared not for it.


s: Right well know I that Fame is half-disfame,


s: Yet needs must work my work.  That other fame,


s: To one at least, who hath not children, vague,


s: The cackle of the unborn about the grave,


s: I cared not for it:  a single misty star,


s: That seem a sword beneath a belt of three,


s: Of some vast charm concluded in that star


s: To make fame nothing.  Wherefore, if I fear,


s: Giving you power upon me through this charm,


s: That you might play me falsely, having power,


s: Have turned to tyrants when they came to power)


s: I rather dread the loss of use than fame;


s: If you--and not so much from wickedness,


s: To keep me all to your own self,--or else


s: Should try this charm on whom ye say ye love.'


s: And Vivien answered smiling as in wrath:


s: 'Have I not sworn?  I am not trusted.  Good!


s: Well, hide it, hide it; I shall find it out;


s: Might feel some sudden turn of anger born


s: Is accurate too, for this full love of mine


s: Without the full heart back may merit well


s: Your term of overstrained.  So used as I,


s: Was this fair charm invented by yourself?


s: I well believe that all about this world


s: Closed in the four walls of a hollow tower


s: Then the great Master merrily answered her:


s: 'Full many a love in loving youth was mine;


s: I needed then no charm to keep them mine


s: But youth and love; and that full heart of yours


s: Whereof ye prattle, may now assure you mine;


s: So live uncharmed.  For those who wrought it first,


s: The wrist is parted from the hand that waved,


s: The feet unmortised from their ankle-bones


s: Who paced it, ages back:  but will ye hear


s: The legend as in guerdon for your rhyme?


s: 'There lived a king in the most Eastern East,


s: Less old than I, yet older, for my blood


s: Hath earnest in it of far springs to be.


s: Whose bark had plundered twenty nameless isles;


s: And passing one, at the high peep of dawn,


s: And pushing his black craft among them all,


s: He lightly scattered theirs and brought her off,


s: With loss of half his people arrow-slain;


s: A maid so smooth, so white, so wonderful,


s: They said a light came from her when she moved:


s: And since the pirate would not yield her up,


s: Then made her Queen:  but those isle-nurtured eyes


s: Waged such unwilling though successful war


s: On all the youth, they sickened; councils thinned,