s: His crime demanded; nor by savage beasts


s: Torn, did he suffer; but by Magnus' death,


s: Alas the shame!  he fell; his head by sword


s: Hacked from his shoulders.  Next by frauds prepared


s: Arsinoe (26) from the Court to Caesar's foes;


s: There in the absence of the King she ruled


s: That this be all thy vengeance!  Not the king


s: Nor all the stock of Lagos for thy death


s: Would make fit sacrifice!  So Fortune deemed;


s: And not till patriot swords shall drink the blood


s: Of Caesar, Magnus, shalt thou be appeased.


s: Still, though was slain the author of the strife,


s: Sank not their rage: with Ganymede for chief


s: Again they rush to arms; in deeds of fight


s: Again they conquer.  So might that one day


s: Have witnessed Caesar's fate; so might its fame


s: Crushed on the narrow surface of the mole,


s: Prepared to throw his troops upon the ships,


s: With all their terrors came.  In dense array


s: Their navy lined the shores, while on the rear


s: The footmen ceaseless charged.  No hope was left,


s: For flight was not, nor could the brave man's arm


s: Not now were needed for great Caesar's fall,


s: Caught in the toils of nature, routed host


s: Or mighty heaps of slain: his only doubt


s: To fear or hope for death: while on his brain


s: Brave Scaeva's image flashed, now vainly sought,


s: Earned fame immortal, and with single arm


s: Drove back Pompeius as he trod the breach....


s: (1)  The body of Alexander was embalmed, and the mummy placed in


s: a glass case.  The sarcophagus which enclosed them is stated


s: (3)  The kettledrum used in the worship of Isis.  (See Book VIII,


s: (4)  At the Battle of Actium.  The island of Leucas, close to the


s: refers to this battle. (See also Virgil, "Aeneid", viii.,


s: (7)  Yet the Mareot grape was greatly celebrated. (See Professor


s: Rawlinson's note to Herodotus. ii., 18.)


s: (8)  The calendar introduced by Caesar, in B.C. 45, was founded


s: Eudoxus seems to have dealt with this year and to have


s: corrected it.  He is probably alluded to by Virgil,


s: (9)  Herodotus was less fortunate.  For he says "Concerning the


s: nature of the river I was not able to gain any information


s: either from the priests or others." (ii., 19.)


s: (10) It was supposed that the Sun and Moon and the planets


s: (Saturn, Jupiter, Mars, Mercury, and Venus) were points


s: which restrained the motion of the sky in its revolution.


s: (12) That is, at the autumnal equinox.  The priest states that


s: the planet Mercury causes the rise of the Nile.  The passage


s: is difficult to follow; but the idea would seem to be that


s: this god, who controlled the rise and fall of the waves of


s: the sea, also when he was placed directly over the Nile


s: (13) So also Herodotus, Book ii., 22.  Yet modern discoveries


s: (14) So, too, Herodotus, Book ii., 20, who attributes the theory


s: to Greeks who wish to get a reputation for cleverness.


s: (15) See on Book V., 709.  Herodotus mentions this theory also,


s: (16) The historians state that Alexander made an expedition to


s: the temple of Jupiter Hammon and consulted the oracle.


s: Jupiter assisted his march, and an army of crows pointed out


s: the path (Plutarch).  It is, however stated, in a note in


s: Langhorne's edition, that Maximus Tyrius informs us that the


s: object of the journey was the discovery of the sources of


s: (17) Sesostris, the great king, does not appear to have pushed


s: (18) See Herodotus, iii., 17.  These Ethiopian races were


s: supposed to live to the age of 120 years, drinking milk, and


s: eating boiled flesh.  On Cambyses's march his starving


s: troops cast lots by tens for the one man who was to be


s: (19) The Seres are, of course, the Chinese.  The ancients seem to


s: possible that there was another tribe of this name dwelling


s: (20) A passage of difficulty.  I understand it to mean that at


s: this spot the summer sun (in Leo) strikes the earth with


s: (21) Reading "ibi fas ubi proxima merees", with Hosius.


s: (23) Medea, who fled from Colchis with her brother, Absyrtus.


s: Pursued by her father Aeetes, she killed her brother and


s: strewed the parts of his body into the sea.  The king paused


s: (24) It was in this conflagration that a large part of the


s: library of the Ptolemies was destroyed.  400,000 volumes are


s: (25) The island of Pharos, which lay over against the port of


s: Alexandria, had been connected with the mainland in the


s: middle by a narrow causeway.  On it stood the lighthouse.


s: (See Book IX, 1191.)  Proteus, the old man of the sea, kept


s: here his flock of seals, according to the Homeric story.


s: Lucan's "Pharsalia" (or, "Civil War", as many scholars now prefer


s: Lucan was born into a prominent Roman family (Seneca the Elder


s: was his grandfather, and Seneca the Younger his uncle), and seems


s: was for several years a poet of some prominence in the Emperor's


s: court, and it is during this period that the "Civil


s: War"/"Pharsalia" was probably begun.  However, Nero and Lucan's


s: friendship evidently soured, and in A.D. 65 Lucan joined


s: Calpurnius Piso's conspiracy to overthrow Nero.  When the


s: conspiracy was discovered, Lucan was given the option of suicide


s: or death; he chose suicide, and recited several lines of his


s: poetry while he died (possibly Book III, l. 700-712).


s: Lucan's "Pharsalia" was left (probably) unfinished upon his


s: death, coincidentally breaking off at almost the exact same point


s: War".  Ten books are extant; no one knows how many more Lucan


s: planned, but two to six more books (possibly taking the story as


s: far as Caesar's assassination in B.C. 46) seem a reasonable


s: It should be noted that, as history, Lucan's work is far from


s: being scrupulously accurate, frequently ignoring historical fact


s: for the benefit of drama and rhetoric.  For this reason, it


s: should not be read as a reliable account of the Roman Civil War.


s: However, as a work of poetic literature, it has few rivals; its


s: powerful depiction of civil war and its consequences have haunted


s: London, 1928).  Latin text with English translation.


s: Oxford, 1992).  NOTE: Highly Recommended Translation!


s: Classics, London, 1967).  Also contains "The Alexandrian War",


s: "The African War", and "The Spanish War", all anonymous.


s: These to His Memory--since he held them dear,


s: Perchance as finding there unconsciously


s: Scarce other than my king's ideal knight,


s: 'Who reverenced his conscience as his king;


s: Whose glory was, redressing human wrong;


s: Who spake no slander, no, nor listened to it;


s: Who loved one only and who clave to her--'


s: Her--over all whose realms to their last isle,


s: Commingled with the gloom of imminent war,


s: The shadow of His loss drew like eclipse,


s: Darkening the world.  We have lost him:  he is gone:


s: How modest, kindly, all-accomplished, wise,


s: With what sublime repression of himself,


s: Not making his high place the lawless perch


s: Of winged ambitions, nor a vantage-ground


s: For pleasure; but through all this tract of years


s: Wearing the white flower of a blameless life,


s: In that fierce light which beats upon a throne,


s: And blackens every blot:  for where is he,


s: A lovelier life, a more unstained, than his?


s: Or how should England dreaming of his sons


s: Hope more for these than some inheritance


s: Of such a life, a heart, a mind as thine,


s: Voice in the rich dawn of an ampler day--


s: To fruitful strifes and rivalries of peace--


s: Sweet nature gilded by the gracious gleam


s: Of letters, dear to Science, dear to Art,


s: Dear to thy land and ours, a Prince indeed,


s: Beyond all titles, and a household name,


s: Hereafter, through all times, Albert the Good.


s: Break not, O woman's-heart, but still endure;


s: Break not, for thou art Royal, but endure,


s: Which shone so close beside Thee that ye made


s: One light together, but has past and leaves


s: His love, unseen but felt, o'ershadow Thee,


s: The love of all Thy sons encompass Thee,


s: The love of all Thy daughters cherish Thee,


s: The love of all Thy people comfort Thee,


s: Till God's love set Thee at his side again!


s: Had one fair daughter, and none other child;


s: And she was the fairest of all flesh on earth,


s: And still from time to time the heathen host


s: Swarmed overseas, and harried what was left.


s: And so there grew great tracts of wilderness,


s: Wherein the beast was ever more and more,


s: But man was less and less, till Arthur came.


s: For first Aurelius lived and fought and died,


s: And after him King Uther fought and died,


s: But either failed to make the kingdom one.


s: And after these King Arthur for a space,


s: And through the puissance of his Table Round,


s: Drew all their petty princedoms under him.


s: Their king and head, and made a realm, and reigned.


s: And thus the land of Cameliard was waste,


s: Thick with wet woods, and many a beast therein,


s: And none or few to scare or chase the beast;


s: So that wild dog, and wolf and boar and bear


s: Came night and day, and rooted in the fields,


s: And wallowed in the gardens of the King.


s: The children and devour, but now and then,


s: Her own brood lost or dead, lent her fierce teat


s: To human sucklings; and the children, housed


s: In her foul den, there at their meat would growl,


s: And mock their foster mother on four feet,


s: Till, straightened, they grew up to wolf-like men,


s: Worse than the wolves.  And King Leodogran


s: Groaned for the Roman legions here again,


s: And Caesar's eagle:  then his brother king,


s: Urien, assailed him:  last a heathen horde,


s: Reddening the sun with smoke and earth with blood,


s: And on the spike that split the mother's heart


s: Spitting the child, brake on him, till, amazed,


s: He knew not whither he should turn for aid.


s: But--for he heard of Arthur newly crowned,


s: Though not without an uproar made by those


s: Who cried, 'He is not Uther's son'--the King


s: Sent to him, saying, 'Arise, and help us thou!


s: For here between the man and beast we die.'


s: And Arthur yet had done no deed of arms,


s: But heard the call, and came:  and Guinevere


s: Stood by the castle walls to watch him pass;


s: But since he neither wore on helm or shield


s: But rode a simple knight among his knights,


s: And many of these in richer arms than he,


s: She saw him not, or marked not, if she saw,


s: One among many, though his face was bare.


s: But Arthur, looking downward as he past,


s: Felt the light of her eyes into his life


s: Smite on the sudden, yet rode on, and pitched


s: His tents beside the forest.  Then he drave


s: The heathen; after, slew the beast, and felled


s: The forest, letting in the sun, and made


s: Broad pathways for the hunter and the knight


s: A doubt that ever smouldered in the hearts


s: Of those great Lords and Barons of his realm


s: Flashed forth and into war:  for most of these,


s: Colleaguing with a score of petty kings,


s: Made head against him, crying, 'Who is he


s: That he should rule us? who hath proven him


s: King Uther's son? for lo! we look at him,


s: And find nor face nor bearing, limbs nor voice,


s: Are like to those of Uther whom we knew.


s: And Arthur, passing thence to battle, felt


s: Travail, and throes and agonies of the life,


s: And thinking as he rode, 'Her father said


s: That there between the man and beast they die.


s: Shall I not lift her from this land of beasts


s: Up to my throne, and side by side with me?


s: Vext with waste dreams? for saving I be joined


s: To her that is the fairest under heaven,


s: And cannot will my will, nor work my work


s: Wholly, nor make myself in mine own realm


s: Victor and lord.  But were I joined with her,


s: Then might we live together as one life,


s: And reigning with one will in everything


s: Have power on this dark land to lighten it,


s: And power on this dead world to make it live.'


s: Thereafter--as he speaks who tells the tale--


s: When Arthur reached a field-of-battle bright


s: With pitched pavilions of his foe, the world


s: The smallest rock far on the faintest hill,


s: So when the King had set his banner broad,


s: At once from either side, with trumpet-blast,


s: And shouts, and clarions shrilling unto blood,


s: The long-lanced battle let their horses run.


s: And now the Barons and the kings prevailed,


s: And now the King, as here and there that war


s: Went swaying; but the Powers who walk the world


s: Made lightnings and great thunders over him,


s: And dazed all eyes, till Arthur by main might,


s: And mightier of his hands with every blow,


s: And leading all his knighthood threw the kings


s: And Lot of Orkney.  Then, before a voice


s: As dreadful as the shout of one who sees


s: To one who sins, and deems himself alone


s: And all the world asleep, they swerved and brake


s: Flying, and Arthur called to stay the brands


s: That hacked among the flyers, 'Ho! they yield!'


s: And in the heart of Arthur joy was lord.


s: He laughed upon his warrior whom he loved


s: And honoured most.  'Thou dost not doubt me King,


s: So well thine arm hath wrought for me today.'


s: 'Sir and my liege,' he cried, 'the fire of God


s: I know thee for my King!'  Whereat the two,


s: For each had warded either in the fight,


s: Sware on the field of death a deathless love.


s: And Arthur said, 'Man's word is God in man:


s: Let chance what will, I trust thee to the death.'


s: Then quickly from the foughten field he sent


s: His new-made knights, to King Leodogran,


s: Saying, 'If I in aught have served thee well,


s: Give me thy daughter Guinevere to wife.'


s: And a king's son?'--lifted his voice, and called


s: He trusted all things, and of him required


s: His counsel:  'Knowest thou aught of Arthur's birth?'


s: Then spake the hoary chamberlain and said,


s: 'Sir King, there be but two old men that know:


s: Is Merlin, the wise man that ever served


s: King Uther through his magic art; and one


s: Is Merlin's master (so they call him) Bleys,


s: Who taught him magic, but the scholar ran


s: Before the master, and so far, that Bleys,


s: Laid magic by, and sat him down, and wrote


s: In one great annal-book, where after-years


s: Will learn the secret of our Arthur's birth.'


s: 'O friend, had I been holpen half as well


s: Then beast and man had had their share of me:


s: Then, when they came before him, the King said,


s: 'I have seen the cuckoo chased by lesser fowl,


s: And reason in the chase:  but wherefore now


s: Do these your lords stir up the heat of war,


s: Others of Anton?  Tell me, ye yourselves,


s: Hold ye this Arthur for King Uther's son?'


s: Then Bedivere, the first of all his knights


s: Knighted by Arthur at his crowning, spake--


s: For bold in heart and act and word was he,


s: Whenever slander breathed against the King--


s: 'Sir, there be many rumours on this head:


s: For there be those who hate him in their hearts,


s: Call him baseborn, and since his ways are sweet,


s: And theirs are bestial, hold him less than man:


s: And there be those who deem him more than man,


s: And dream he dropt from heaven:  but my belief


s: In all this matter--so ye care to learn--


s: Sir, for ye know that in King Uther's time


s: The prince and warrior Gorlois, he that held


s: And daughters had she borne him,--one whereof,


s: Lot's wife, the Queen of Orkney, Bellicent,


s: To Arthur,--but a son she had not borne.


s: So loathed the bright dishonour of his love,


s: That Gorlois and King Uther went to war:


s: Then Uther in his wrath and heat besieged


s: Seeing the mighty swarm about their walls,


s: Left her and fled, and Uther entered in,


s: And there was none to call to but himself.


s: Enforced was she to wed him in her tears,


s: And with a shameful swiftness:  afterward,


s: Not many moons, King Uther died himself,


s: After him, lest the realm should go to wrack.


s: And that same night, the night of the new year,


s: That vext his mother, all before his time


s: Was Arthur born, and all as soon as born


s: Until his hour should come; because the lords


s: Of that fierce day were as the lords of this,


s: Wild beasts, and surely would have torn the child


s: Piecemeal among them, had they known; for each


s: But sought to rule for his own self and hand,


s: Of Gorlois.  Wherefore Merlin took the child,


s: And gave him to Sir Anton, an old knight


s: And ancient friend of Uther; and his wife


s: Nursed the young prince, and reared him with her own;


s: And no man knew.  And ever since the lords


s: Have foughten like wild beasts among themselves,


s: So that the realm has gone to wrack:  but now,


s: This year, when Merlin (for his hour had come)


s: Brought Arthur forth, and set him in the hall,


s: Proclaiming, "Here is Uther's heir, your king,"


s: Or else the child of Anton, and no king,


s: Or else baseborn."  Yet Merlin through his craft,


s: And while the people clamoured for a king,


s: Had Arthur crowned; but after, the great lords


s: Then while the King debated with himself


s: If Arthur were the child of shamefulness,


s: Or born the son of Gorlois, after death,


s: Or Uther's son, and born before his time,


s: Said by these three, there came to Cameliard,


s: With Gawain and young Modred, her two sons,


s: Lot's wife, the Queen of Orkney, Bellicent;


s: Whom as he could, not as he would, the King


s: Made feast for, saying, as they sat at meat,


s: 'A doubtful throne is ice on summer seas.


s: Ye come from Arthur's court.  Victor his men


s: Report him!  Yea, but ye--think ye this king--


s: So many those that hate him, and so strong,


s: So few his knights, however brave they be--


s: Hath body enow to hold his foemen down?'


s: 'O King,' she cried, 'and I will tell thee:  few,


s: Few, but all brave, all of one mind with him;


s: For I was near him when the savage yells


s: Crowned on the dais, and his warriors cried,


s: "Be thou the king, and we will work thy will


s: Who love thee."  Then the King in low deep tones,


s: Bound them by so strait vows to his own self,


s: That when they rose, knighted from kneeling, some


s: Some flushed, and others dazed, as one who wakes


s: 'But when he spake and cheered his Table Round


s: With large, divine, and comfortable words,


s: From eye to eye through all their Order flash


s: And ere it left their faces, through the cross


s: Down from the casement over Arthur, smote


s: Flame-colour, vert and azure, in three rays,


s: One falling upon each of three fair queens,


s: Who stood in silence near his throne, the friends


s: Of Arthur, gazing on him, tall, with bright


s: Sweet faces, who will help him at his need.


s: 'And there I saw mage Merlin, whose vast wit


s: And hundred winters are but as the hands


s: Of loyal vassals toiling for their liege.


s: 'And near him stood the Lady of the Lake,


s: Who knows a subtler magic than his own--


s: Clothed in white samite, mystic, wonderful.


s: She gave the King his huge cross-hilted sword,


s: Whereby to drive the heathen out:  a mist


s: Of incense curled about her, and her face


s: Wellnigh was hidden in the minster gloom;


s: But there was heard among the holy hymns


s: A voice as of the waters, for she dwells


s: May shake the world, and when the surface rolls,


s: Hath power to walk the waters like our Lord.


s: Before him at his crowning borne, the sword


s: That rose from out the bosom of the lake,


s: And Arthur rowed across and took it--rich


s: Bewildering heart and eye--the blade so bright


s: That men are blinded by it--on one side,


s: Graven in the oldest tongue of all this world,


s: "Take me," but turn the blade and ye shall see,


s: And written in the speech ye speak yourself,


s: "Cast me away!"  And sad was Arthur's face


s: Taking it, but old Merlin counselled him,


s: "Take thou and strike! the time to cast away


s: Is yet far-off."  So this great brand the king


s: Took, and by this will beat his foemen down.'


s: To sift his doubtings to the last, and asked,


s: Fixing full eyes of question on her face,


s: 'The swallow and the swift are near akin,


s: But thou art closer to this noble prince,


s: Being his own dear sister;' and she said,


s: 'And therefore Arthur's sister?' asked the King.


s: She answered, 'These be secret things,' and signed


s: To those two sons to pass, and let them be.


s: Sprang out, and followed by his flying hair


s: Ran like a colt, and leapt at all he saw:


s: But Modred laid his ear beside the doors,


s: And there half-heard; the same that afterward


s: Struck for the throne, and striking found his doom.


s: And then the Queen made answer, 'What know I?


s: For dark my mother was in eyes and hair,


s: And dark in hair and eyes am I; and dark


s: Was Gorlois, yea and dark was Uther too,


s: Wellnigh to blackness; but this King is fair


s: "O that ye had some brother, pretty one,


s: To guard thee on the rough ways of the world."'


s: 'Ay,' said the King, 'and hear ye such a cry?


s: But when did Arthur chance upon thee first?'


s: 'O King!' she cried, 'and I will tell thee true:


s: He found me first when yet a little maid:


s: And flung myself down on a bank of heath,


s: And hated this fair world and all therein,


s: And wept, and wished that I were dead; and he--


s: Or brought by Merlin, who, they say, can walk


s: And spake sweet words, and comforted my heart,


s: And dried my tears, being a child with me.


s: At times he seemed, and sad with him was I,


s: Stern too at times, and then I loved him not,


s: But sweet again, and then I loved him well.


s: And now of late I see him less and less,


s: But those first days had golden hours for me,


s: For then I surely thought he would be king.


s: For Bleys, our Merlin's master, as they say,


s: Died but of late, and sent his cry to me,


s: To hear him speak before he left his life.


s: Shrunk like a fairy changeling lay the mage;


s: Moaning and wailing for an heir, the two


s: Left the still King, and passing forth to breathe,


s: Then from the castle gateway by the chasm


s: Descending through the dismal night--a night


s: In which the bounds of heaven and earth were lost--


s: It seemed in heaven, a ship, the shape thereof


s: A dragon winged, and all from stern to stern


s: Bright with a shining people on the decks,


s: And gone as soon as seen.  And then the two


s: Dropt to the cove, and watched the great sea fall,


s: Wave after wave, each mightier than the last,


s: Till last, a ninth one, gathering half the deep


s: And full of voices, slowly rose and plunged


s: Roaring, and all the wave was in a flame:


s: And down the wave and in the flame was borne


s: A naked babe, and rode to Merlin's feet,


s: Who stoopt and caught the babe, and cried "The King!


s: Here is an heir for Uther!"  And the fringe


s: Of that great breaker, sweeping up the strand,


s: Lashed at the wizard as he spake the word,


s: And all at once all round him rose in fire,


s: So that the child and he were clothed in fire.


s: Free sky and stars:  "And this the same child," he said,


s: "Is he who reigns; nor could I part in peace


s: Till this were told."  And saying this the seer


s: Went through the strait and dreadful pass of death,


s: Save on the further side; but when I met


s: Merlin, and asked him if these things were truth--


s: He laughed as is his wont, and answered me


s: In riddling triplets of old time, and said:


s: '"Rain, rain, and sun! a rainbow in the sky!


s: Rain, rain, and sun! a rainbow on the lea!


s: And truth is this to me, and that to thee;


s: And truth or clothed or naked let it be.


s: Rain, sun, and rain! and the free blossom blows:


s: Sun, rain, and sun! and where is he who knows?


s: From the great deep to the great deep he goes."


s: 'So Merlin riddling angered me; but thou


s: Fear not to give this King thy only child,


s: Guinevere:  so great bards of him will sing


s: Ranging and ringing through the minds of men,


s: And echoed by old folk beside their fires


s: For comfort after their wage-work is done,


s: Speak of the King; and Merlin in our time


s: Hath spoken also, not in jest, and sworn


s: Though men may wound him that he will not die,


s: But pass, again to come; and then or now


s: Till these and all men hail him for their king.'


s: But musing, 'Shall I answer yea or nay?'


s: Doubted, and drowsed, nodded and slept, and saw,


s: Dreaming, a slope of land that ever grew,


s: Field after field, up to a height, the peak


s: Haze-hidden, and thereon a phantom king,


s: Now looming, and now lost; and on the slope


s: The sword rose, the hind fell, the herd was driven,


s: Fire glimpsed; and all the land from roof and rick,


s: In drifts of smoke before a rolling wind,


s: Streamed to the peak, and mingled with the haze


s: And made it thicker; while the phantom king


s: Sent out at times a voice; and here or there


s: Stood one who pointed toward the voice, the rest


s: Slew on and burnt, crying, 'No king of ours,


s: Till with a wink his dream was changed, the haze


s: As nothing, but the King stood out in heaven,


s: Back to the court of Arthur answering yea.


s: Then Arthur charged his warrior whom he loved


s: And honoured most, Sir Lancelot, to ride forth


s: And bring the Queen;--and watched him from the gates:


s: And Lancelot past away among the flowers,


s: (For then was latter April) and returned


s: Among the flowers, in May, with Guinevere.


s: To whom arrived, by Dubric the high saint,


s: Chief of the church in Britain, and before


s: The stateliest of her altar-shrines, the King


s: That morn was married, while in stainless white,


s: And glorying in their vows and him, his knights


s: Stood around him, and rejoicing in his joy.


s: Far shone the fields of May through open door,


s: The sacred altar blossomed white with May,


s: They gazed on all earth's beauty in their Queen,


s: Rolled incense, and there past along the hymns


s: Sware at the shrine of Christ a deathless love:


s: And Arthur said, 'Behold, thy doom is mine.


s: Let chance what will, I love thee to the death!'


s: To whom the Queen replied with drooping eyes,


s: 'King and my lord, I love thee to the death!'


s: And holy Dubric spread his hands and spake,


s: 'Reign ye, and live and love, and make the world


s: Other, and may thy Queen be one with thee,


s: Fulfil the boundless purpose of their King!'


s: So Dubric said; but when they left the shrine


s: Great Lords from Rome before the portal stood,


s: In scornful stillness gazing as they past;


s: Then while they paced a city all on fire


s: With sun and cloth of gold, the trumpets blew,


s: And Arthur's knighthood sang before the King:--


s: 'Blow, trumpet, for the world is white with May;


s: Blow trumpet, the long night hath rolled away!


s: Blow through the living world--"Let the King reign."


s: 'Shall Rome or Heathen rule in Arthur's realm?


s: Flash brand and lance, fall battleaxe upon helm,


s: Fall battleaxe, and flash brand!  Let the King reign.


s: 'Strike for the King and live! his knights have heard


s: That God hath told the King a secret word.


s: 'Blow trumpet! he will lift us from the dust.


s: Blow trumpet! live the strength and die the lust!


s: Clang battleaxe, and clash brand!  Let the King reign.


s: 'Strike for the King and die! and if thou diest,


s: The King is King, and ever wills the highest.


s: 'Blow, for our Sun is mighty in his May!


s: Blow, for our Sun is mightier day by day!


s: 'The King will follow Christ, and we the King


s: In whom high God hath breathed a secret thing.


s: Fall battleaxe, and flash brand!  Let the King reign.'


s: So sang the knighthood, moving to their hall.


s: There at the banquet those great Lords from Rome,


s: The slowly-fading mistress of the world,


s: Strode in, and claimed their tribute as of yore.


s: But Arthur spake, 'Behold, for these have sworn


s: To wage my wars, and worship me their King;


s: The old order changeth, yielding place to new;


s: And we that fight for our fair father Christ,


s: Seeing that ye be grown too weak and old


s: To drive the heathen from your Roman wall,


s: No tribute will we pay:' so those great lords


s: Drew back in wrath, and Arthur strove with Rome.


s: And Arthur and his knighthood for a space


s: Were all one will, and through that strength the King


s: Fought, and in twelve great battles overcame


s: The heathen hordes, and made a realm and reigned.


s: And tallest, Gareth, in a showerful spring


s: Stared at the spate.  A slender-shafted Pine


s: Lost footing, fell, and so was whirled away.


s: 'How he went down,' said Gareth, 'as a false knight


s: And yet thou art but swollen with cold snows


s: And mine is living blood:  thou dost His will,


s: The Maker's, and not knowest, and I that know,


s: Have strength and wit, in my good mother's hall


s: Prisoned, and kept and coaxed and whistled to--


s: Since the good mother holds me still a child!


s: A worse were better; yet no worse would I.


s: Heaven yield her for it, but in me put force


s: To weary her ears with one continuous prayer,


s: To the great Sun of Glory, and thence swoop


s: Down upon all things base, and dash them dead,


s: A knight of Arthur, working out his will,


s: To cleanse the world.  Why, Gawain, when he came


s: Asked me to tilt with him, the proven knight.


s: Modred for want of worthier was the judge.


s: Then I so shook him in the saddle, he said,


s: "Thou hast half prevailed against me," said so--he--


s: Though Modred biting his thin lips was mute,


s: And Gareth went, and hovering round her chair


s: Asked, 'Mother, though ye count me still the child,


s: Sweet mother, do ye love the child?'  She laughed,


s: 'Thou art but a wild-goose to question it.'


s: 'Then, mother, an ye love the child,' he said,


s: 'Being a goose and rather tame than wild,


s: Hear the child's story.'  'Yea, my well-beloved,


s: An 'twere but of the goose and golden eggs.'


s: And Gareth answered her with kindling eyes,


s: 'Nay, nay, good mother, but this egg of mine


s: As glitters gilded in thy Book of Hours.


s: And there was ever haunting round the palm


s: The splendour sparkling from aloft, and thought


s: "An I could climb and lay my hand upon it,


s: Then were I wealthier than a leash of kings."


s: But ever when he reached a hand to climb,


s: One, that had loved him from his childhood, caught


s: And stayed him, "Climb not lest thou break thy neck,


s: I charge thee by my love," and so the boy,


s: Sweet mother, neither clomb, nor brake his neck,


s: But brake his very heart in pining for it,


s: 'True love, sweet son, had risked himself and climbed,


s: And handed down the golden treasure to him.'


s: 'Gold?' said I gold?--ay then, why he, or she,


s: Had ventured--had the thing I spake of been


s: Mere gold--but this was all of that true steel,


s: Whereof they forged the brand Excalibur,


s: And lightnings played about it in the storm,


s: And all the little fowl were flurried at it,


s: And there were cries and clashings in the nest,


s: That sent him from his senses:  let me go.'


s: Then Bellicent bemoaned herself and said,


s: Lo, where thy father Lot beside the hearth


s: Lies like a log, and all but smouldered out!


s: He fought against him in the Barons' war,


s: His age hath slowly droopt, and now lies there


s: No more; nor sees, nor hears, nor speaks, nor knows.


s: And both thy brethren are in Arthur's hall,


s: Albeit neither loved with that full love


s: I feel for thee, nor worthy such a love:


s: Stay therefore thou; red berries charm the bird,


s: And thee, mine innocent, the jousts, the wars,


s: Of wrenched or broken limb--an often chance


s: In those brain-stunning shocks, and tourney-falls,


s: Frights to my heart; but stay:  follow the deer


s: By these tall firs and our fast-falling burns;


s: So make thy manhood mightier day by day;


s: Sweet is the chase:  and I will seek thee out


s: Some comfortable bride and fair, to grace


s: Thy climbing life, and cherish my prone year,


s: Stay, my best son! ye are yet more boy than man.'


s: Then Gareth, 'An ye hold me yet for child,


s: Hear yet once more the story of the child.


s: For, mother, there was once a King, like ours.


s: The prince his heir, when tall and marriageable,


s: Asked for a bride; and thereupon the King


s: Set two before him.  One was fair, strong, armed--


s: Desired her; one good lack, no man desired.


s: And these were the conditions of the King:


s: That save he won the first by force, he needs


s: Must wed that other, whom no man desired,


s: A red-faced bride who knew herself so vile,


s: That evermore she longed to hide herself,


s: Yea--some she cleaved to, but they died of her.


s: And one--they called her Fame; and one,--O Mother,


s: How can ye keep me tethered to you--Shame.


s: Follow the deer? follow the Christ, the King,


s: Live pure, speak true, right wrong, follow the King--


s: 'Sweet son, for there be many who deem him not,


s: Or will not deem him, wholly proven King--


s: Albeit in mine own heart I knew him King,


s: When I was frequent with him in my youth,


s: And heard him Kingly speak, and doubted him


s: No more than he, himself; but felt him mine,


s: Of closest kin to me:  yet--wilt thou leave


s: Thine easeful biding here, and risk thine all,


s: Life, limbs, for one that is not proven King?


s: Stay, till the cloud that settles round his birth


s: Hath lifted but a little.  Stay, sweet son.'


s: And Gareth answered quickly, 'Not an hour,


s: So that ye yield me--I will walk through fire,


s: Mother, to gain it--your full leave to go.


s: Not proven, who swept the dust of ruined Rome


s: From off the threshold of the realm, and crushed


s: The Idolaters, and made the people free?


s: Who should be King save him who makes us free?'


s: So when the Queen, who long had sought in vain


s: To break him from the intent to which he grew,


s: She answered craftily, 'Will ye walk through fire?


s: Who walks through fire will hardly heed the smoke.


s: Ay, go then, an ye must:  only one proof,


s: Before thou ask the King to make thee knight,


s: Nay--quick! the proof to prove me to the quick!'


s: But slowly spake the mother looking at him,


s: 'Prince, thou shalt go disguised to Arthur's hall,


s: And hire thyself to serve for meats and drinks


s: Among the scullions and the kitchen-knaves,


s: And those that hand the dish across the bar.


s: And thou shalt serve a twelvemonth and a day.'


s: For so the Queen believed that when her son


s: Low down through villain kitchen-vassalage,


s: Her own true Gareth was too princely-proud


s: To pass thereby; so should he rest with her,


s: Closed in her castle from the sound of arms.


s: 'The thrall in person may be free in soul,


s: And I shall see the jousts.  Thy son am I,


s: And since thou art my mother, must obey.


s: I therefore yield me freely to thy will;


s: For hence will I, disguised, and hire myself


s: To serve with scullions and with kitchen-knaves;


s: Nor tell my name to any--no, not the King.'


s: Gareth awhile lingered.  The mother's eye


s: Full of the wistful fear that he would go,


s: And turning toward him wheresoe'er he turned,


s: Perplext his outward purpose, till an hour,


s: When wakened by the wind which with full voice


s: Swept bellowing through the darkness on to dawn,


s: That still had tended on him from his birth,


s: Before the wakeful mother heard him, went.


s: The three were clad like tillers of the soil.


s: Southward they set their faces.  The birds made


s: Melody on branch, and melody in mid air.


s: The damp hill-slopes were quickened into green,


s: And the live green had kindled into flowers,


s: So, when their feet were planted on the plain


s: That broadened toward the base of Camelot,


s: Rolling her smoke about the Royal mount,


s: That rose between the forest and the field.


s: At times the summit of the high city flashed;


s: At times the spires and turrets half-way down


s: Pricked through the mist; at times the great gate shone


s: Anon, the whole fair city had disappeared.


s: Then those who went with Gareth were amazed,


s: One crying, 'Let us go no further, lord.


s: By fairy Kings.'  The second echoed him,


s: 'Lord, we have heard from our wise man at home


s: To Northward, that this King is not the King,


s: And Merlin's glamour.'  Then the first again,


s: With laughter, swearing he had glamour enow


s: In his own blood, his princedom, youth and hopes,


s: To plunge old Merlin in the Arabian sea;


s: So pushed them all unwilling toward the gate.


s: And there was no gate like it under heaven.


s: For barefoot on the keystone, which was lined


s: The Lady of the Lake stood:  all her dress


s: Wept from her sides as water flowing away;


s: But like the cross her great and goodly arms


s: And drops of water fell from either hand;


s: And down from one a sword was hung, from one


s: A censer, either worn with wind and storm;


s: And o'er her breast floated the sacred fish;


s: And in the space to left of her, and right,


s: Were Arthur's wars in weird devices done,


s: New things and old co-twisted, as if Time


s: High on the top were those three Queens, the friends


s: Of Arthur, who should help him at his need.


s: Then those with Gareth for so long a space


s: Stared at the figures, that at last it seemed


s: The dragon-boughts and elvish emblemings


s: Began to move, seethe, twine and curl:  they called


s: To Gareth, 'Lord, the gateway is alive.'


s: And Gareth likewise on them fixt his eyes


s: So long, that even to him they seemed to move.


s: Out of the city a blast of music pealed.


s: Back from the gate started the three, to whom


s: From out thereunder came an ancient man,


s: Long-bearded, saying, 'Who be ye, my sons?'


s: Then Gareth, 'We be tillers of the soil,


s: The glories of our King:  but these, my men,


s: (Your city moved so weirdly in the mist)


s: Doubt if the King be King at all, or come


s: From Fairyland; and whether this be built


s: By magic, and by fairy Kings and Queens;


s: Hath scared them both, but tell thou these the truth.'


s: Then that old Seer made answer playing on him


s: And saying, 'Son, I have seen the good ship sail


s: Keel upward, and mast downward, in the heavens,


s: And here is truth; but an it please thee not,


s: Take thou the truth as thou hast told it me.


s: And Fairy Queens have built the city, son;


s: They came from out a sacred mountain-cleft


s: Toward the sunrise, each with harp in hand,


s: And built it to the music of their harps.


s: And, as thou sayest, it is enchanted, son,


s: Saving the King; though some there be that hold


s: Yet take thou heed of him, for, so thou pass


s: Beneath this archway, then wilt thou become


s: A thrall to his enchantments, for the King


s: Will bind thee by such vows, as is a shame


s: A man should not be bound by, yet the which


s: No man can keep; but, so thou dread to swear,


s: Pass not beneath this gateway, but abide


s: They are building still, seeing the city is built


s: Angered, 'Old master, reverence thine own beard


s: That looks as white as utter truth, and seems


s: Wellnigh as long as thou art statured tall!


s: Why mockest thou the stranger that hath been


s: 'Know ye not then the Riddling of the Bards?


s: And all that see thee, for thou art not who


s: Thou seemest, but I know thee who thou art.


s: Who cannot brook the shadow of any lie.'


s: Turned to the right, and past along the plain;


s: Whom Gareth looking after said, 'My men,


s: Our one white lie sits like a little ghost


s: Here on the threshold of our enterprise.


s: Let love be blamed for it, not she, nor I:


s: He spake and laughed, then entered with his twain


s: And stately, rich in emblem and the work


s: Of ancient kings who did their days in stone;


s: Which Merlin's hand, the Mage at Arthur's court,


s: Knowing all arts, had touched, and everywhere


s: At Arthur's ordinance, tipt with lessening peak


s: And pinnacle, and had made it spire to heaven.


s: Outward, or inward to the hall:  his arms


s: Clashed; and the sound was good to Gareth's ear.


s: And out of bower and casement shyly glanced


s: Eyes of pure women, wholesome stars of love;


s: A voice, the voice of Arthur, and beheld


s: Far over heads in that long-vaulted hall


s: The splendour of the presence of the King


s: Throned, and delivering doom--and looked no more--


s: But felt his young heart hammering in his ears,


s: And thought, 'For this half-shadow of a lie


s: The truthful King will doom me when I speak.'


s: Yet pressing on, though all in fear to find


s: Nor other, but in all the listening eyes


s: Of those tall knights, that ranged about the throne,


s: Of dawn, and faith in their great King, with pure


s: 'A boon, Sir King!  Thy father, Uther, reft


s: From my dead lord a field with violence:


s: For howsoe'er at first he proffered gold,


s: Yet, for the field was pleasant in our eyes,


s: We yielded not; and then he reft us of it


s: Perforce, and left us neither gold nor field.'


s: Said Arthur, 'Whether would ye? gold or field?'


s: To whom the woman weeping, 'Nay, my lord,


s: The field was pleasant in my husband's eye.'


s: And Arthur, 'Have thy pleasant field again,


s: And thrice the gold for Uther's use thereof,


s: According to the years.  No boon is here,


s: Accursed, who from the wrongs his father did


s: 'A boon, Sir King!  Thine enemy, King, am I.


s: With thine own hand thou slewest my dear lord,


s: When Lot and many another rose and fought


s: Against thee, saying thou wert basely born.


s: I held with these, and loathe to ask thee aught.


s: Thralled in his castle, and hath starved him dead;


s: Which thou that slewest the sire hast left the son.


s: So though I scarce can ask it thee for hate,


s: Grant me some knight to do the battle for me,


s: Kill the foul thief, and wreak me for my son.'


s: Then strode a good knight forward, crying to him,


s: 'A boon, Sir King!  I am her kinsman, I.


s: Give me to right her wrong, and slay the man.'


s: Then came Sir Kay, the seneschal, and cried,


s: 'A boon, Sir King! even that thou grant her none,


s: This railer, that hath mocked thee in full hall--


s: None; or the wholesome boon of gyve and gag.'


s: But Arthur, 'We sit King, to help the wronged


s: Through all our realm.  The woman loves her lord.


s: Peace to thee, woman, with thy loves and hates!


s: The kings of old had doomed thee to the flames,


s: Aurelius Emrys would have scourged thee dead,


s: And Uther slit thy tongue:  but get thee hence--


s: Lest that rough humour of the kings of old


s: Go likewise; lay him low and slay him not,


s: But bring him here, that I may judge the right,


s: Then, be he guilty, by that deathless King


s: Who lived and died for men, the man shall die.'


s: Then came in hall the messenger of Mark,


s: The Cornish king.  In either hand he bore


s: What dazzled all, and shone far-off as shines


s: Between two showers, a cloth of palest gold,


s: Which down he laid before the throne, and knelt,


s: Delivering, that his lord, the vassal king,


s: For having heard that Arthur of his grace


s: Had made his goodly cousin, Tristram, knight,


s: And, for himself was of the greater state,


s: Would yield him this large honour all the more;


s: So prayed him well to accept this cloth of gold,


s: Then Arthur cried to rend the cloth, to rend


s: In pieces, and so cast it on the hearth.


s: An oak-tree smouldered there.  'The goodly knight!


s: What! shall the shield of Mark stand among these?'


s: For, midway down the side of that long hall


s: A stately pile,--whereof along the front,


s: Some blazoned, some but carven, and some blank,


s: There ran a treble range of stony shields,--


s: Rose, and high-arching overbrowed the hearth.


s: And under every shield a knight was named:


s: For this was Arthur's custom in his hall;


s: When some good knight had done one noble deed,


s: His arms were blazoned also; but if none,


s: The shield was blank and bare without a sign


s: The shield of Gawain blazoned rich and bright,


s: And Modred's blank as death; and Arthur cried


s: To rend the cloth and cast it on the hearth.


s: 'More like are we to reave him of his crown


s: Than make him knight because men call him king.


s: The kings we found, ye know we stayed their hands


s: From war among themselves, but left them kings;


s: Truth-speaking, brave, good livers, them we enrolled


s: But as Mark hath tarnished the great name of king,


s: As Mark would sully the low state of churl:


s: And, seeing he hath sent us cloth of gold,


s: Return, and meet, and hold him from our eyes,


s: Lest we should lap him up in cloth of lead,


s: Silenced for ever--craven--a man of plots,


s: Craft, poisonous counsels, wayside ambushings--


s: No fault of thine:  let Kay the seneschal


s: Look to thy wants, and send thee satisfied--


s: Accursed, who strikes nor lets the hand be seen!'


s: With noise of ravage wrought by beast and man,


s: Down on the shoulders of the twain, his men,


s: Approached between them toward the King, and asked,


s: 'A boon, Sir King (his voice was all ashamed),


s: I seem--leaning on these? grant me to serve


s: For meat and drink among thy kitchen-knaves


s: A twelvemonth and a day, nor seek my name.


s: 'A goodly youth and worth a goodlier boon!


s: But so thou wilt no goodlier, then must Kay,


s: The master of the meats and drinks, be thine.'


s: He rose and past; then Kay, a man of mien


s: Wan-sallow as the plant that feels itself


s: This fellow hath broken from some Abbey, where,


s: God wot, he had not beef and brewis enow,


s: However that might chance! but an he work,


s: And sleeker shall he shine than any hog.'


s: Then Lancelot standing near, 'Sir Seneschal,


s: Sleuth-hound thou knowest, and gray, and all the hounds;


s: A horse thou knowest, a man thou dost not know:


s: Broad brows and fair, a fluent hair and fine,


s: High nose, a nostril large and fine, and hands


s: Large, fair and fine!--Some young lad's mystery--


s: But, or from sheepcot or king's hall, the boy


s: Is noble-natured.  Treat him with all grace,


s: Lest he should come to shame thy judging of him.'


s: Then Kay, 'What murmurest thou of mystery?


s: Think ye this fellow will poison the King's dish?


s: Nay, for he spake too fool-like:  mystery!


s: Tut, an the lad were noble, he had asked


s: For horse and armour:  fair and fine, forsooth!


s: Sir Fine-face, Sir Fair-hands? but see thou to it


s: That thine own fineness, Lancelot, some fine day


s: Ate with young lads his portion by the door,


s: And couched at night with grimy kitchen-knaves.


s: But Kay the seneschal, who loved him not,


s: Would hustle and harry him, and labour him


s: Beyond his comrade of the hearth, and set


s: To turn the broach, draw water, or hew wood,


s: Or grosser tasks; and Gareth bowed himself


s: With all obedience to the King, and wrought


s: That graced the lowliest act in doing it.


s: And when the thralls had talk among themselves,


s: And one would praise the love that linkt the King


s: And Lancelot--how the King had saved his life


s: In battle twice, and Lancelot once the King's--


s: For Lancelot was the first in Tournament,


s: But Arthur mightiest on the battle-field--


s: Gareth was glad.  Or if some other told,


s: How once the wandering forester at dawn,


s: A naked babe, of whom the Prophet spake,


s: He passes and is healed and cannot die'--


s: Gareth was glad.  But if their talk were foul,


s: Then would he whistle rapid as any lark,


s: Or carol some old roundelay, and so loud


s: That first they mocked, but, after, reverenced him.


s: Of knights, who sliced a red life-bubbling way


s: Through twenty folds of twisted dragon, held


s: All in a gap-mouthed circle his good mates


s: Charmed; till Sir Kay, the seneschal, would come


s: Blustering upon them, like a sudden wind


s: Among dead leaves, and drive them all apart.


s: Or when the thralls had sport among themselves,


s: He, by two yards in casting bar or stone


s: Was counted best; and if there chanced a joust,


s: Would hurry thither, and when he saw the knights


s: Clash like the coming and retiring wave,


s: And the spear spring, and good horse reel, the boy


s: So for a month he wrought among the thralls;


s: But in the weeks that followed, the good Queen,


s: Repentant of the word she made him swear,


s: And saddening in her childless castle, sent,


s: Between the in-crescent and de-crescent moon,


s: Arms for her son, and loosed him from his vow.


s: This, Gareth hearing from a squire of Lot


s: With whom he used to play at tourney once,


s: When both were children, and in lonely haunts


s: Would scratch a ragged oval on the sand,


s: And each at either dash from either end--


s: Shame never made girl redder than Gareth joy.


s: He laughed; he sprang.  'Out of the smoke, at once


s: I leap from Satan's foot to Peter's knee--


s: These news be mine, none other's--nay, the King's--


s: Descend into the city:' whereon he sought


s: The King alone, and found, and told him all.


s: 'I have staggered thy strong Gawain in a tilt


s: For pastime; yea, he said it:  joust can I.


s: Make me thy knight--in secret! let my name


s: Be hidden, and give me the first quest, I spring


s: Fell on, and checked, and made him flush, and bow


s: Lowly, to kiss his hand, who answered him,


s: 'Son, the good mother let me know thee here,


s: And sent her wish that I would yield thee thine.


s: Make thee my knight? my knights are sworn to vows


s: And, loving, utter faithfulness in love,


s: Then Gareth, lightly springing from his knees,


s: 'My King, for hardihood I can promise thee.


s: No mellow master of the meats and drinks!


s: And as for love, God wot, I love not yet,


s: 'Make thee my knight in secret? yea, but he,


s: Our noblest brother, and our truest man,


s: And one with me in all, he needs must know.'


s: 'Let Lancelot know, my King, let Lancelot know,


s: 'But wherefore would ye men should wonder at you?


s: Nay, rather for the sake of me, their King,


s: And the deed's sake my knighthood do the deed,


s: 'Have I not earned my cake in baking of it?


s: My deeds will speak:  it is but for a day.'


s: Smiled the great King, and half-unwillingly


s: Loving his lusty youthhood yielded to him.


s: 'I have given him the first quest:  he is not proven.


s: Look therefore when he calls for this in hall,


s: Thou get to horse and follow him far away.


s: Far as thou mayest, he be nor ta'en nor slain.'


s: Then that same day there past into the hall


s: May-blossom, and a cheek of apple-blossom,


s: Hawk-eyes; and lightly was her slender nose


s: She into hall past with her page and cried,


s: 'O King, for thou hast driven the foe without,


s: See to the foe within! bridge, ford, beset


s: The Lord for half a league.  Why sit ye there?


s: Rest would I not, Sir King, an I were king,


s: Till even the lonest hold were all as free


s: From cursed bloodshed, as thine altar-cloth


s: From that best blood it is a sin to spill.'


s: 'Comfort thyself,' said Arthur.  'I nor mine


s: Rest:  so my knighthood keep the vows they swore,


s: The wastest moorland of our realm shall be


s: Safe, damsel, as the centre of this hall.


s: 'Lynette my name; noble; my need, a knight


s: And comely, yea, and comelier than myself.


s: Runs in three loops about her living-place;


s: And o'er it are three passings, and three knights


s: Defend the passings, brethren, and a fourth


s: And of that four the mightiest, holds her stayed


s: To break her will, and make her wed with him:


s: And but delays his purport till thou send


s: To do the battle with him, thy chief man


s: Sir Lancelot whom he trusts to overthrow,


s: Then wed, with glory:  but she will not wed


s: Now therefore have I come for Lancelot.'


s: Then Arthur mindful of Sir Gareth asked,


s: 'Damsel, ye know this Order lives to crush


s: All wrongers of the Realm.  But say, these four,


s: Who be they?  What the fashion of the men?'


s: 'They be of foolish fashion, O Sir King,


s: Who ride abroad, and do but what they will;


s: Courteous or bestial from the moment, such


s: As have nor law nor king; and three of these


s: Proud in their fantasy call themselves the Day,


s: Being strong fools; and never a whit more wise


s: The fourth, who alway rideth armed in black,


s: He names himself the Night and oftener Death,


s: And wears a helmet mounted with a skull,


s: And bears a skeleton figured on his arms,


s: To show that who may slay or scape the three,


s: Slain by himself, shall enter endless night.


s: And all these four be fools, but mighty men,


s: Hereat Sir Gareth called from where he rose,


s: A head with kindling eyes above the throng,


s: 'A boon, Sir King--this quest!' then--for he marked


s: Kay near him groaning like a wounded bull--


s: 'Yea, King, thou knowest thy kitchen-knave am I,


s: And mighty through thy meats and drinks am I,


s: Thy promise, King,' and Arthur glancing at him,


s: Brought down a momentary brow.  'Rough, sudden,


s: Go therefore,' and all hearers were amazed.


s: But on the damsel's forehead shame, pride, wrath


s: Slew the May-white:  she lifted either arm,


s: 'Fie on thee, King! I asked for thy chief knight,


s: And thou hast given me but a kitchen-knave.'


s: Then ere a man in hall could stay her, turned,


s: Fled down the lane of access to the King,


s: Took horse, descended the slope street, and past


s: The weird white gate, and paused without, beside


s: The field of tourney, murmuring 'kitchen-knave.'


s: Now two great entries opened from the hall,


s: Of level pavement where the King would pace


s: And down from this a lordly stairway sloped


s: Till lost in blowing trees and tops of towers;


s: And out by this main doorway past the King.


s: But one was counter to the hearth, and rose


s: High that the highest-crested helm could ride


s: Therethrough nor graze:  and by this entry fled


s: Sir Gareth strode, and saw without the door


s: King Arthur's gift, the worth of half a town,


s: A warhorse of the best, and near it stood


s: The two that out of north had followed him:


s: This bare a maiden shield, a casque; that held


s: The horse, the spear; whereat Sir Gareth loosed


s: A cloak that dropt from collar-bone to heel,


s: A cloth of roughest web, and cast it down,


s: That lookt half-dead, brake bright, and flashed as those


s: Dull-coated things, that making slide apart


s: Their dusk wing-cases, all beneath there burns


s: So Gareth ere he parted flashed in arms.


s: Then as he donned the helm, and took the shield


s: And mounted horse and graspt a spear, of grain


s: Storm-strengthened on a windy site, and tipt


s: With trenchant steel, around him slowly prest


s: The people, while from out of kitchen came


s: The thralls in throng, and seeing who had worked


s: Lustier than any, and whom they could but love,


s: Mounted in arms, threw up their caps and cried,


s: 'God bless the King, and all his fellowship!'


s: And on through lanes of shouting Gareth rode


s: Down the slope street, and past without the gate.


s: Pluckt from the cur he fights with, ere his cause


s: Be cooled by fighting, follows, being named,


s: His owner, but remembers all, and growls


s: Muttered in scorn of Gareth whom he used


s: With horse and arms--the King hath past his time--


s: My scullion knave!  Thralls to your work again,


s: Will there be dawn in West and eve in East?


s: Begone!--my knave!--belike and like enow


s: Some old head-blow not heeded in his youth


s: So shook his wits they wander in his prime--


s: Crazed!  How the villain lifted up his voice,


s: Nor shamed to bawl himself a kitchen-knave.


s: Tut:  he was tame and meek enow with me,


s: Till peacocked up with Lancelot's noticing.


s: Well--I will after my loud knave, and learn


s: Out of the smoke he came, and so my lance


s: Hold, by God's grace, he shall into the mire--


s: Thence, if the King awaken from his craze,


s: 'Kay, wherefore wilt thou go against the King,


s: But ever meekly served the King in thee?


s: Abide:  take counsel; for this lad is great


s: And lusty, and knowing both of lance and sword.'


s: 'Tut, tell not me,' said Kay, 'ye are overfine


s: To mar stout knaves with foolish courtesies:'


s: Then mounted, on through silent faces rode


s: Down the slope city, and out beyond the gate.


s: But by the field of tourney lingering yet


s: Muttered the damsel, 'Wherefore did the King


s: Scorn me? for, were Sir Lancelot lackt, at least


s: He might have yielded to me one of those


s: Who tilt for lady's love and glory here,


s: Rather than--O sweet heaven!  O fie upon him--


s: (And there were none but few goodlier than he)


s: Shining in arms, 'Damsel, the quest is mine.


s: Lead, and I follow.'  She thereat, as one


s: That smells a foul-fleshed agaric in the holt,


s: And deems it carrion of some woodland thing,


s: Or shrew, or weasel, nipt her slender nose


s: With petulant thumb and finger, shrilling, 'Hence!


s: Avoid, thou smellest all of kitchen-grease.


s: And look who comes behind,' for there was Kay.


s: 'Knowest thou not me? thy master? I am Kay.


s: 'Master no more! too well I know thee, ay--


s: The most ungentle knight in Arthur's hall.'


s: 'Have at thee then,' said Kay:  they shocked, and Kay


s: Fell shoulder-slipt, and Gareth cried again,


s: 'Lead, and I follow,' and fast away she fled.


s: Behind her, and the heart of her good horse


s: Was nigh to burst with violence of the beat,


s: Perforce she stayed, and overtaken spoke.


s: 'What doest thou, scullion, in my fellowship?


s: Deem'st thou that I accept thee aught the more


s: Or love thee better, that by some device


s: Thou hast overthrown and slain thy master--thou!--


s: Dish-washer and broach-turner, loon!--to me


s: Thou smellest all of kitchen as before.'


s: 'Damsel,' Sir Gareth answered gently, 'say


s: Whate'er ye will, but whatsoe'er ye say,


s: I leave not till I finish this fair quest,


s: Sweet lord, how like a noble knight he talks!


s: The listening rogue hath caught the manner of it.


s: But, knave, anon thou shalt be met with, knave,


s: And then by such a one that thou for all


s: Shalt not once dare to look him in the face.'


s: 'I shall assay,' said Gareth with a smile


s: That maddened her, and away she flashed again


s: Down the long avenues of a boundless wood,


s: And Gareth following was again beknaved.


s: 'Sir Kitchen-knave, I have missed the only way


s: Where Arthur's men are set along the wood;


s: The wood is nigh as full of thieves as leaves:


s: If both be slain, I am rid of thee; but yet,


s: Sir Scullion, canst thou use that spit of thine?


s: Fight, an thou canst:  I have missed the only way.'


s: Then after one long slope was mounted, saw,


s: Bowl-shaped, through tops of many thousand pines


s: To westward--in the deeps whereof a mere,


s: Under the half-dead sunset glared; and shouts


s: Flying from out of the black wood, and crying,


s: 'They have bound my lord to cast him in the mere.'


s: Then Gareth, 'Bound am I to right the wronged,


s: But straitlier bound am I to bide with thee.'


s: And when the damsel spake contemptuously,


s: 'Lead, and I follow,' Gareth cried again,


s: 'Follow, I lead!' so down among the pines


s: He plunged; and there, blackshadowed nigh the mere,


s: And mid-thigh-deep in bulrushes and reed,


s: Saw six tall men haling a seventh along,


s: A stone about his neck to drown him in it.


s: Three with good blows he quieted, but three


s: Fled through the pines; and Gareth loosed the stone


s: From off his neck, then in the mere beside


s: Last, Gareth loosed his bonds and on free feet


s: Set him, a stalwart Baron, Arthur's friend.


s: 'Well that ye came, or else these caitiff rogues


s: Had wreaked themselves on me; good cause is theirs


s: To catch my thief, and then like vermin here


s: Drown him, and with a stone about his neck;


s: Lie rotting, but at night let go the stone,


s: And rise, and flickering in a grimly light


s: Dance on the mere.  Good now, ye have saved a life


s: Worth somewhat as the cleanser of this wood.


s: And fain would I reward thee worshipfully.


s: 'None! for the deed's sake have I done the deed,


s: But wilt thou yield this damsel harbourage?'


s: Whereat the Baron saying, 'I well believe


s: You be of Arthur's Table,' a light laugh


s: Broke from Lynette, 'Ay, truly of a truth,


s: And in a sort, being Arthur's kitchen-knave!--


s: But deem not I accept thee aught the more,


s: Scullion, for running sharply with thy spit


s: A thresher with his flail had scattered them.


s: Nay--for thou smellest of the kitchen still.


s: But an this lord will yield us harbourage,


s: So she spake.  A league beyond the wood,


s: His towers where that day a feast had been


s: Held in high hall, and many a viand left,


s: And many a costly cate, received the three.


s: And there they placed a peacock in his pride


s: Gareth beside her, but at once she rose.


s: 'Meseems, that here is much discourtesy,


s: Setting this knave, Lord Baron, at my side.


s: Hear me--this morn I stood in Arthur's hall,


s: And prayed the King would grant me Lancelot


s: To fight the brotherhood of Day and Night--


s: Suddenly bawls this frontless kitchen-knave,


s: "The quest is mine; thy kitchen-knave am I,


s: And mighty through thy meats and drinks am I."


s: Then Arthur all at once gone mad replies,


s: "Go therefore," and so gives the quest to him--


s: Him--here--a villain fitter to stick swine


s: Than ride abroad redressing women's wrong,


s: Then half-ashamed and part-amazed, the lord


s: Now looked at one and now at other, left


s: Sat down beside him, ate and then began.


s: 'Friend, whether thou be kitchen-knave, or not,


s: And whether she be mad, or else the King,


s: I ask not:  but thou strikest a strong stroke,


s: For strong thou art and goodly therewithal,


s: And saver of my life; and therefore now,


s: For here be mighty men to joust with, weigh


s: Whether thou wilt not with thy damsel back


s: To crave again Sir Lancelot of the King.


s: Thy pardon; I but speak for thine avail,


s: 'Full pardon, but I follow up the quest,


s: So when, next morn, the lord whose life he saved


s: Had, some brief space, conveyed them on their way


s: And left them with God-speed, Sir Gareth spake,


s: 'Lead, and I follow.'  Haughtily she replied.


s: 'I fly no more:  I allow thee for an hour.


s: Lion and stout have isled together, knave,


s: In time of flood.  Nay, furthermore, methinks


s: Some ruth is mine for thee.  Back wilt thou, fool?


s: And slay thee:  then will I to court again,


s: My champion from the ashes of his hearth.'


s: To whom Sir Gareth answered courteously,


s: 'Say thou thy say, and I will do my deed.


s: Allow me for mine hour, and thou wilt find


s: Among the ashes and wedded the King's son.'


s: Then to the shore of one of those long loops


s: Wherethrough the serpent river coiled, they came.


s: Rough-thicketed were the banks and steep; the stream


s: Full, narrow; this a bridge of single arc


s: In streaks and rays, and all Lent-lily in hue,


s: Save that the dome was purple, and above,


s: And therebefore the lawless warrior paced


s: Unarmed, and calling, 'Damsel, is this he,


s: The champion thou hast brought from Arthur's hall?


s: For whom we let thee pass.'  'Nay, nay,' she said,


s: 'Sir Morning-Star.  The King in utter scorn


s: Of thee and thy much folly hath sent thee here


s: His kitchen-knave:  and look thou to thyself:


s: And slay thee unarmed:  he is not knight but knave.'


s: Then at his call, 'O daughters of the Dawn,


s: And servants of the Morning-Star, approach,


s: Arm me,' from out the silken curtain-folds


s: Bare-footed and bare-headed three fair girls


s: In gilt and rosy raiment came:  their feet


s: All over glanced with dewdrop or with gem


s: These armed him in blue arms, and gave a shield


s: Blue also, and thereon the morning star.


s: And Gareth silent gazed upon the knight,


s: Who stood a moment, ere his horse was brought,


s: Glorying; and in the stream beneath him, shone


s: Immingled with Heaven's azure waveringly,


s: His arms, the rosy raiment, and the star.


s: Then she that watched him, 'Wherefore stare ye so?


s: Thou shakest in thy fear:  there yet is time:


s: Flee down the valley before he get to horse.


s: Who will cry shame?  Thou art not knight but knave.'


s: Said Gareth, 'Damsel, whether knave or knight,


s: Fair words were best for him who fights for thee;


s: But truly foul are better, for they send


s: That strength of anger through mine arms, I know


s: The star, when mounted, cried from o'er the bridge,


s: 'A kitchen-knave, and sent in scorn of me!


s: Such fight not I, but answer scorn with scorn.


s: For this were shame to do him further wrong


s: Than set him on his feet, and take his horse


s: And arms, and so return him to the King.


s: Come, therefore, leave thy lady lightly, knave.


s: I spring from loftier lineage than thine own.'


s: He spake; and all at fiery speed the two


s: Shocked on the central bridge, and either spear


s: Bent but not brake, and either knight at once,


s: Hurled as a stone from out of a catapult


s: Beyond his horse's crupper and the bridge,


s: Fell, as if dead; but quickly rose and drew,


s: And Gareth lashed so fiercely with his brand


s: He drave his enemy backward down the bridge,


s: The damsel crying, 'Well-stricken, kitchen-knave!'


s: Till Gareth's shield was cloven; but one stroke


s: Laid him that clove it grovelling on the ground.


s: Then cried the fallen, 'Take not my life:  I yield.'


s: And Gareth, 'So this damsel ask it of me


s: She reddening, 'Insolent scullion:  I of thee?


s: 'Then he shall die.'  And Gareth there unlaced


s: His helmet as to slay him, but she shrieked,


s: One nobler than thyself.'  'Damsel, thy charge


s: Is an abounding pleasure to me.  Knight,


s: Thy life is thine at her command.  Arise


s: And quickly pass to Arthur's hall, and say


s: His kitchen-knave hath sent thee.  See thou crave


s: His pardon for thy breaking of his laws.


s: Myself, when I return, will plead for thee.


s: Thy shield is mine--farewell; and, damsel, thou,


s: Then when he came upon her, spake, 'Methought,


s: Knave, when I watched thee striking on the bridge


s: A little faintlier:  but the wind hath changed:


s: I scent it twenty-fold.'  And then she sang,


s: '"O morning star" (not that tall felon there


s: Or some device, hast foully overthrown),


s: "O morning star that smilest in the blue,


s: O star, my morning dream hath proven true,


s: Smile sweetly, thou! my love hath smiled on me."


s: 'But thou begone, take counsel, and away,


s: For hard by here is one that guards a ford--


s: The second brother in their fool's parable--


s: Will pay thee all thy wages, and to boot.


s: Care not for shame:  thou art not knight but knave.'


s: To whom Sir Gareth answered, laughingly,


s: 'Parables?  Hear a parable of the knave.


s: Fierce was the hearth, and one of my co-mates


s: Owned a rough dog, to whom he cast his coat,


s: "Guard it," and there was none to meddle with it.


s: And such a coat art thou, and thee the King


s: To worry, and not to flee--and--knight or knave--


s: The knave that doth thee service as full knight


s: Ay, knave, because thou strikest as a knight,


s: Being but knave, I hate thee all the more.'


s: 'Fair damsel, you should worship me the more,


s: That, being but knave, I throw thine enemies.'


s: 'Ay, ay,' she said, 'but thou shalt meet thy match.'


s: So when they touched the second river-loop,


s: Huge on a huge red horse, and all in mail


s: Burnished to blinding, shone the Noonday Sun


s: Beyond a raging shallow.  As if the flower,


s: Ten thousand-fold had grown, flashed the fierce shield,


s: All sun; and Gareth's eyes had flying blots


s: Before them when he turned from watching him.


s: He from beyond the roaring shallow roared,


s: 'What doest thou, brother, in my marches here?'


s: And she athwart the shallow shrilled again,


s: 'Here is a kitchen-knave from Arthur's hall


s: Hath overthrown thy brother, and hath his arms.'


s: 'Ugh!' cried the Sun, and vizoring up a red


s: Pushed horse across the foamings of the ford,


s: Whom Gareth met midstream:  no room was there


s: For lance or tourney-skill:  four strokes they struck


s: With sword, and these were mighty; the new knight


s: Had fear he might be shamed; but as the Sun


s: Heaved up a ponderous arm to strike the fifth,


s: The hoof of his horse slipt in the stream, the stream


s: Then Gareth laid his lance athwart the ford;


s: So drew him home; but he that fought no more,


s: Yielded; and Gareth sent him to the King,


s: 'Myself when I return will plead for thee.'


s: 'Hath not the good wind, damsel, changed again?'


s: 'Nay, not a point:  nor art thou victor here.


s: There lies a ridge of slate across the ford;


s: His horse thereon stumbled--ay, for I saw it.


s: '"O Sun" (not this strong fool whom thou, Sir Knave,


s: Hast overthrown through mere unhappiness),


s: "O Sun, that wakenest all to bliss or pain,


s: Shine sweetly:  twice my love hath smiled on me."


s: What knowest thou of lovesong or of love?


s: Nay, nay, God wot, so thou wert nobly born,


s: Thou hast a pleasant presence.  Yea, perchance,--


s: O dewy flowers that close when day is done,


s: Blow sweetly:  twice my love hath smiled on me."


s: 'What knowest thou of flowers, except, belike,


s: To garnish meats with? hath not our good King


s: Who lent me thee, the flower of kitchendom,


s: A foolish love for flowers? what stick ye round


s: The pasty? wherewithal deck the boar's head?


s: Flowers? nay, the boar hath rosemaries and bay.


s: '"O birds, that warble to the morning sky,


s: Sing sweetly:  twice my love hath smiled on me."


s: 'What knowest thou of birds, lark, mavis, merle,


s: Linnet? what dream ye when they utter forth


s: May-music growing with the growing light,


s: Their sweet sun-worship? these be for the snare


s: (So runs thy fancy) these be for the spit,


s: Larding and basting.  See thou have not now


s: Larded thy last, except thou turn and fly.


s: There stands the third fool of their allegory.'


s: For there beyond a bridge of treble bow,


s: All in a rose-red from the west, and all


s: Naked it seemed, and glowing in the broad


s: Deep-dimpled current underneath, the knight,


s: That named himself the Star of Evening, stood.


s: And Gareth, 'Wherefore waits the madman there


s: Naked in open dayshine?'  'Nay,' she cried,


s: 'Not naked, only wrapt in hardened skins


s: That fit him like his own; and so ye cleave


s: His armour off him, these will turn the blade.'


s: Then the third brother shouted o'er the bridge,


s: 'O brother-star, why shine ye here so low?


s: Thy ward is higher up:  but have ye slain


s: The damsel's champion?' and the damsel cried,


s: 'No star of thine, but shot from Arthur's heaven


s: For both thy younger brethren have gone down


s: Before this youth; and so wilt thou, Sir Star;


s: Old, with the might and breath of twenty boys.'


s: Said Gareth, 'Old, and over-bold in brag!


s: But that same strength which threw the Morning Star


s: 'Approach and arm me!'  With slow steps from out


s: An old storm-beaten, russet, many-stained


s: And armed him in old arms, and brought a helm


s: And gave a shield whereon the Star of Even


s: Half-tarnished and half-bright, his emblem, shone.


s: But when it glittered o'er the saddle-bow,


s: They madly hurled together on the bridge;


s: And Gareth overthrew him, lighted, drew,


s: There met him drawn, and overthrew him again,


s: But up like fire he started:  and as oft


s: As Gareth brought him grovelling on his knees,


s: Till Gareth panted hard, and his great heart,


s: Foredooming all his trouble was in vain,


s: Laboured within him, for he seemed as one


s: But these from all his life arise, and cry,


s: 'Thou hast made us lords, and canst not put us down!'


s: He half despairs; so Gareth seemed to strike


s: Vainly, the damsel clamouring all the while,


s: 'Well done, knave-knight, well-stricken, O good knight-knave--


s: O knave, as noble as any of all the knights--


s: Shame me not, shame me not.  I have prophesied--


s: Strike, thou art worthy of the Table Round--


s: His arms are old, he trusts the hardened skin--


s: Strike--strike--the wind will never change again.'


s: And Gareth hearing ever stronglier smote,


s: And hewed great pieces of his armour off him,


s: But lashed in vain against the hardened skin,


s: And could not wholly bring him under, more


s: Than loud Southwesterns, rolling ridge on ridge,


s: The buoy that rides at sea, and dips and springs


s: For ever; till at length Sir Gareth's brand


s: Clashed his, and brake it utterly to the hilt.


s: 'I have thee now;' but forth that other sprang,


s: And, all unknightlike, writhed his wiry arms


s: Around him, till he felt, despite his mail,


s: Strangled, but straining even his uttermost


s: Cast, and so hurled him headlong o'er the bridge


s: Down to the river, sink or swim, and cried,


s: 'I lead no longer; ride thou at my side;


s: Thou art the kingliest of all kitchen-knaves.


s: '"O trefoil, sparkling on the rainy plain,


s: O rainbow with three colours after rain,


s: Shine sweetly:  thrice my love hath smiled on me."


s: 'Sir,--and, good faith, I fain had added--Knight,


s: But that I heard thee call thyself a knave,--


s: Missaid thee; noble I am; and thought the King


s: Scorned me and mine; and now thy pardon, friend,


s: For thou hast ever answered courteously,


s: And wholly bold thou art, and meek withal


s: As any of Arthur's best, but, being knave,


s: Hast mazed my wit:  I marvel what thou art.'


s: 'Damsel,' he said, 'you be not all to blame,


s: Saving that you mistrusted our good King


s: Would handle scorn, or yield you, asking, one


s: Not fit to cope your quest.  You said your say;


s: Mine answer was my deed.  Good sooth!  I hold


s: He scarce is knight, yea but half-man, nor meet


s: To fight for gentle damsel, he, who lets


s: His heart be stirred with any foolish heat


s: Shamed? care not! thy foul sayings fought for me:


s: And seeing now thy words are fair, methinks


s: There rides no knight, not Lancelot, his great self,


s: When the lone hern forgets his melancholy,


s: Lets down his other leg, and stretching, dreams


s: Then turned the noble damsel smiling at him,


s: Where bread and baken meats and good red wine


s: Had sent her coming champion, waited him.


s: Where slabs of rock with figures, knights on horse


s: Sculptured, and deckt in slowly-waning hues.


s: 'Sir Knave, my knight, a hermit once was here,


s: Whose holy hand hath fashioned on the rock


s: The war of Time against the soul of man.


s: And yon four fools have sucked their allegory


s: From these damp walls, and taken but the form.


s: Know ye not these?' and Gareth lookt and read--


s: Hath left crag-carven o'er the streaming Gelt--


s: 'NOX'--'MORS,' beneath five figures, armed men,


s: Slab after slab, their faces forward all,


s: And running down the Soul, a Shape that fled


s: With broken wings, torn raiment and loose hair,


s: For help and shelter to the hermit's cave.


s: 'Follow the faces, and we find it.  Look,


s: To Camelot, then by what thereafter chanced,


s: The damsel's headlong error through the wood--


s: Sir Lancelot, having swum the river-loops--


s: His blue shield-lions covered--softly drew


s: Behind the twain, and when he saw the star


s: Gleam, on Sir Gareth's turning to him, cried,


s: 'Stay, felon knight, I avenge me for my friend.'


s: And Gareth crying pricked against the cry;


s: But when they closed--in a moment--at one touch


s: Of that skilled spear, the wonder of the world--


s: That when he found the grass within his hands


s: He laughed; the laughter jarred upon Lynette:


s: Harshly she asked him, 'Shamed and overthrown,


s: And tumbled back into the kitchen-knave,


s: Why laugh ye? that ye blew your boast in vain?'


s: Of old King Lot and good Queen Bellicent,


s: And knight of Arthur, here lie thrown by whom


s: I know not, all through mere unhappiness--


s: Out, sword; we are thrown!'  And Lancelot answered, 'Prince,


s: Of one who came to help thee, not to harm,


s: Lancelot, and all as glad to find thee whole,


s: As on the day when Arthur knighted him.'


s: Then Gareth, 'Thou--Lancelot!--thine the hand


s: That threw me?  An some chance to mar the boast


s: Thy brethren of thee make--which could not chance--


s: Had sent thee down before a lesser spear,


s: Shamed had I been, and sad--O Lancelot--thou!'


s: Whereat the maiden, petulant, 'Lancelot,


s: Why came ye not, when called? and wherefore now


s: Come ye, not called?  I gloried in my knave,


s: Who being still rebuked, would answer still


s: Courteous as any knight--but now, if knight,


s: The marvel dies, and leaves me fooled and tricked,


s: And only wondering wherefore played upon:


s: And doubtful whether I and mine be scorned.


s: Where should be truth if not in Arthur's hall,


s: In Arthur's presence?  Knight, knave, prince and fool,


s: 'Blessed be thou, Sir Gareth! knight art thou


s: To the King's best wish.  O damsel, be you wise


s: To call him shamed, who is but overthrown?


s: Thrown have I been, nor once, but many a time.


s: Victor from vanquished issues at the last,


s: With sword we have not striven; and thy good horse


s: Thy manhood through that wearied lance of thine.


s: Well hast thou done; for all the stream is freed,


s: And thou hast wreaked his justice on his foes,


s: And when reviled, hast answered graciously,


s: And makest merry when overthrown.  Prince, Knight


s: And then when turning to Lynette he told


s: The tale of Gareth, petulantly she said,


s: 'Ay well--ay well--for worse than being fooled


s: Of others, is to fool one's self.  A cave,


s: Sir Lancelot, is hard by, with meats and drinks


s: And forage for the horse, and flint for fire.


s: Seek, till we find.'  And when they sought and found,


s: Sir Gareth drank and ate, and all his life


s: Past into sleep; on whom the maiden gazed.


s: 'Sound sleep be thine! sound cause to sleep hast thou.


s: Wake lusty!  Seem I not as tender to him


s: As all day long hath rated at her child,


s: And vext his day, but blesses him asleep--


s: Good lord, how sweetly smells the honeysuckle


s: In the hushed night, as if the world were one


s: Of utter peace, and love, and gentleness!


s: O Lancelot, Lancelot'--and she clapt her hands--


s: 'Full merry am I to find my goodly knave


s: Is knight and noble.  See now, sworn have I,


s: Else yon black felon had not let me pass,


s: To bring thee back to do the battle with him.


s: Thus an thou goest, he will fight thee first;


s: Who doubts thee victor? so will my knight-knave


s: Miss the full flower of this accomplishment.'


s: Said Lancelot, 'Peradventure he, you name,


s: May know my shield.  Let Gareth, an he will,


s: Change his for mine, and take my charger, fresh,


s: Not to be spurred, loving the battle as well


s: As he that rides him.'  'Lancelot-like,' she said,


s: 'Courteous in this, Lord Lancelot, as in all.'


s: And Gareth, wakening, fiercely clutched the shield;


s: 'Ramp ye lance-splintering lions, on whom all spears


s: Are rotten sticks! ye seem agape to roar!


s: Yea, ramp and roar at leaving of your lord!--


s: Care not, good beasts, so well I care for you.


s: Streams virtue--fire--through one that will not shame


s: Even the shadow of Lancelot under shield.


s: They traversed.  Arthur's harp though summer-wan,


s: In counter motion to the clouds, allured


s: The glance of Gareth dreaming on his liege.


s: A star shot:  'Lo,' said Gareth, 'the foe falls!'


s: An owl whoopt:  'Hark the victor pealing there!'


s: Clung to the shield that Lancelot lent him, crying,


s: 'Yield, yield him this again:  'tis he must fight:


s: I curse the tongue that all through yesterday


s: Reviled thee, and hath wrought on Lancelot now


s: To lend thee horse and shield:  wonders ye have done;


s: In having flung the three:  I see thee maimed,


s: Mangled:  I swear thou canst not fling the fourth.'


s: 'And wherefore, damsel? tell me all ye know.


s: You cannot scare me; nor rough face, or voice,


s: Brute bulk of limb, or boundless savagery


s: But watched him have I like a phantom pass


s: Chilling the night:  nor have I heard the voice.


s: Who came and went, and still reported him


s: As closing in himself the strength of ten,


s: Man, woman, lad and girl--yea, the soft babe!


s: Some hold that he hath swallowed infant flesh,


s: Monster!  O Prince, I went for Lancelot first,


s: The quest is Lancelot's:  give him back the shield.'


s: Said Gareth laughing, 'An he fight for this,


s: When one might meet a mightier than himself;


s: How best to manage horse, lance, sword and shield,


s: And so fill up the gap where force might fail


s: With skill and fineness.  Instant were his words.


s: Then Gareth, 'Here be rules.  I know but one--


s: Yet have I seen thee victor in the joust,


s: And seen thy way.'  'Heaven help thee,' sighed Lynette.


s: Then for a space, and under cloud that grew


s: To thunder-gloom palling all stars, they rode


s: In converse till she made her palfrey halt,


s: Lifted an arm, and softly whispered, 'There.'


s: And all the three were silent seeing, pitched


s: Beside the Castle Perilous on flat field,


s: Sunder the glooming crimson on the marge,


s: Black, with black banner, and a long black horn


s: Beside it hanging; which Sir Gareth graspt,


s: And so, before the two could hinder him,


s: Sent all his heart and breath through all the horn.


s: Echoed the walls; a light twinkled; anon


s: Came lights and lights, and once again he blew;


s: Whereon were hollow tramplings up and down


s: And muffled voices heard, and shadows past;


s: Till high above him, circled with her maids,


s: Beautiful among lights, and waving to him


s: White hands, and courtesy; but when the Prince


s: Three times had blown--after long hush--at last--


s: Through those black foldings, that which housed therein.


s: High on a nightblack horse, in nightblack arms,


s: With white breast-bone, and barren ribs of Death,


s: And crowned with fleshless laughter--some ten steps--


s: In the half-light--through the dim dawn--advanced


s: The monster, and then paused, and spake no word.


s: 'Fool, for thou hast, men say, the strength of ten,


s: Canst thou not trust the limbs thy God hath given,


s: But must, to make the terror of thee more,


s: Of that which Life hath done with, and the clod,


s: Less dull than thou, will hide with mantling flowers


s: Which set the horror higher:  a maiden swooned;


s: The Lady Lyonors wrung her hands and wept,


s: As doomed to be the bride of Night and Death;


s: Sir Gareth's head prickled beneath his helm;


s: And even Sir Lancelot through his warm blood felt


s: Ice strike, and all that marked him were aghast.


s: At once Sir Lancelot's charger fiercely neighed,


s: And Death's dark war-horse bounded forward with him.


s: Then those that did not blink the terror, saw


s: That Death was cast to ground, and slowly rose.


s: But with one stroke Sir Gareth split the skull.


s: Half fell to right and half to left and lay.


s: Then with a stronger buffet he clove the helm


s: As throughly as the skull; and out from this


s: Issued the bright face of a blooming boy


s: Fresh as a flower new-born, and crying, 'Knight,


s: Slay me not:  my three brethren bad me do it,


s: They never dreamed the passes would be past.'


s: Not many a moon his younger, 'My fair child,


s: What madness made thee challenge the chief knight


s: Of Arthur's hall?'  'Fair Sir, they bad me do it.


s: They hate the King, and Lancelot, the King's friend,


s: They hoped to slay him somewhere on the stream,


s: They never dreamed the passes could be past.'


s: Then sprang the happier day from underground;


s: And Lady Lyonors and her house, with dance


s: And revel and song, made merry over Death,


s: So large mirth lived and Gareth won the quest.


s: And he that told the tale in older times


s: But he, that told it later, says Lynette.


s: The brave Geraint, a knight of Arthur's court,


s: And loved her, as he loved the light of Heaven.


s: With moon and trembling stars, so loved Geraint


s: And Enid, but to please her husband's eye,


s: Who first had found and loved her in a state


s: In some fresh splendour; and the Queen herself,


s: Grateful to Prince Geraint for service done,


s: Loved her, and often with her own white hands


s: Arrayed and decked her, as the loveliest,


s: Next after her own self, in all the court.


s: And Enid loved the Queen, and with true heart


s: Adored her, as the stateliest and the best


s: Long in their common love rejoiced Geraint.


s: Though yet there lived no proof, nor yet was heard


s: The world's loud whisper breaking into storm,


s: Not less Geraint believed it; and there fell


s: Through that great tenderness for Guinevere,


s: Had suffered, or should suffer any taint


s: In nature:  wherefore going to the King,


s: He made this pretext, that his princedom lay


s: Wherein were bandit earls, and caitiff knights,


s: And therefore, till the King himself should please


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


s: And there defend his marches; and the King


s: Mused for a little on his plea, but, last,


s: And fifty knights rode with them, to the shores


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


s: Where, thinking, that if ever yet was wife


s: True to her lord, mine shall be so to me,


s: And worship, never leaving her, and grew


s: Forgetful of his princedom and its cares.


s: And this forgetfulness was hateful to her.


s: In twos and threes, or fuller companies,


s: Began to scoff and jeer and babble of him


s: As of a prince whose manhood was all gone,


s: And this she gathered from the people's eyes:


s: This too the women who attired her head,


s: To please her, dwelling on his boundless love,


s: Told Enid, and they saddened her the more:


s: And day by day she thought to tell Geraint,


s: While he that watched her sadden, was the more


s: At last, it chanced that on a summer morn


s: (They sleeping each by either) the new sun


s: Beat through the blindless casement of the room,


s: And heated the strong warrior in his dreams;


s: And bared the knotted column of his throat,


s: The massive square of his heroic breast,


s: And arms on which the standing muscle sloped,


s: As slopes a wild brook o'er a little stone,


s: Running too vehemently to break upon it.


s: Admiring him, and thought within herself,


s: Then, like a shadow, past the people's talk


s: Low to her own heart piteously she said:


s: Am I the cause, I the poor cause that men


s: Reproach you, saying all your force is gone?


s: I am the cause, because I dare not speak


s: And tell him what I think and what they say.


s: And yet I hate that he should linger here;


s: Far liefer had I gird his harness on him,


s: And ride with him to battle and stand by,


s: And watch his mightful hand striking great blows


s: At caitiffs and at wrongers of the world.


s: Far better were I laid in the dark earth,


s: Not to be folded more in these dear arms,


s: And darkened from the high light in his eyes,


s: Than that my lord through me should suffer shame.


s: And see my dear lord wounded in the strife,


s: And maybe pierced to death before mine eyes,


s: And yet not dare to tell him what I think,


s: And how men slur him, saying all his force


s: And the strong passion in her made her weep


s: True tears upon his broad and naked breast,


s: And these awoke him, and by great mischance


s: He heard but fragments of her later words,


s: And that she feared she was not a true wife.


s: And then he thought, 'In spite of all my care,


s: For all my pains, poor man, for all my pains,


s: She is not faithful to me, and I see her


s: Weeping for some gay knight in Arthur's hall.'


s: Then though he loved and reverenced her too much


s: To dream she could be guilty of foul act,


s: Right through his manful breast darted the pang


s: That makes a man, in the sweet face of her


s: Whom he loves most, lonely and miserable.


s: At this he hurled his huge limbs out of bed,


s: And shook his drowsy squire awake and cried,


s: 'My charger and her palfrey;' then to her,


s: For though it seems my spurs are yet to win,


s: I have not fallen so low as some would wish.


s: And thou, put on thy worst and meanest dress


s: And ride with me.'  And Enid asked, amazed,


s: 'If Enid errs, let Enid learn her fault.'


s: But he, 'I charge thee, ask not, but obey.'


s: With sprigs of summer laid between the folds,


s: She took them, and arrayed herself therein,


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


s: And all her foolish fears about the dress,


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


s: There on a day, he sitting high in hall,


s: Wet from the woods, with notice of a hart


s: Taller than all his fellows, milky-white,


s: First seen that day:  these things he told the King.


s: Then the good King gave order to let blow


s: His horns for hunting on the morrow morn.


s: And when the King petitioned for his leave


s: So with the morning all the court were gone.


s: Lost in sweet dreams, and dreaming of her love


s: For Lancelot, and forgetful of the hunt;


s: But rose at last, a single maiden with her,


s: Took horse, and forded Usk, and gained the wood;


s: There, on a little knoll beside it, stayed


s: Waiting to hear the hounds; but heard instead


s: A sudden sound of hoofs, for Prince Geraint,


s: Late also, wearing neither hunting-dress


s: Came quickly flashing through the shallow ford


s: Behind them, and so galloped up the knoll.


s: There swung an apple of the purest gold,


s: Swayed round about him, as he galloped up


s: To join them, glancing like a dragon-fly


s: Low bowed the tributary Prince, and she,


s: Of womanhood and queenhood, answered him:


s: 'Late, late, Sir Prince,' she said, 'later than we!'


s: 'Yea, noble Queen,' he answered, 'and so late


s: That I but come like you to see the hunt,


s: Not join it.'  'Therefore wait with me,' she said;


s: There is good chance that we shall hear the hounds:


s: Here often they break covert at our feet.'


s: And while they listened for the distant hunt,


s: King Arthur's hound of deepest mouth, there rode


s: Full slowly by a knight, lady, and dwarf;


s: Whereof the dwarf lagged latest, and the knight


s: Had vizor up, and showed a youthful face,


s: Imperious, and of haughtiest lineaments.


s: In the King's hall, desired his name, and sent


s: And doubling all his master's vice of pride,


s: Made answer sharply that she should not know.


s: 'Then will I ask it of himself,' she said.


s: 'Nay, by my faith, thou shalt not,' cried the dwarf;


s: 'Thou art not worthy even to speak of him;'


s: And when she put her horse toward the knight,


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


s: Exclaiming, 'Surely I will learn the name,'


s: Made sharply to the dwarf, and asked it of him,


s: Who answered as before; and when the Prince


s: Had put his horse in motion toward the knight,


s: Struck at him with his whip, and cut his cheek.


s: The Prince's blood spirted upon the scarf,


s: Dyeing it; and his quick, instinctive hand


s: Wroth to be wroth at such a worm, refrained


s: From even a word, and so returning said:


s: 'I will avenge this insult, noble Queen,


s: Done in your maiden's person to yourself:


s: And I will track this vermin to their earths:


s: For though I ride unarmed, I do not doubt


s: To find, at some place I shall come at, arms


s: On loan, or else for pledge; and, being found,


s: Then will I fight him, and will break his pride,


s: And on the third day will again be here,


s: So that I be not fallen in fight.  Farewell.'


s: 'Farewell, fair Prince,' answered the stately Queen.


s: 'Be prosperous in this journey, as in all;


s: And may you light on all things that you love,


s: And live to wed with her whom first you love:


s: But ere you wed with any, bring your bride,


s: Yea, though she were a beggar from the hedge,


s: Will clothe her for her bridals like the sun.'


s: And Prince Geraint, now thinking that he heard


s: The noble hart at bay, now the far horn,


s: By ups and downs, through many a grassy glade


s: And valley, with fixt eye following the three.


s: At last they issued from the world of wood,


s: And showed themselves against the sky, and sank.


s: And thither there came Geraint, and underneath


s: White from the mason's hand, a fortress rose;


s: Beyond a bridge that spanned a dry ravine:


s: Brawling, or like a clamour of the rooks


s: At distance, ere they settle for the night.


s: And onward to the fortress rode the three,


s: And entered, and were lost behind the walls.


s: 'So,' thought Geraint, 'I have tracked him to his earth.'


s: And down the long street riding wearily,


s: Was hammer laid to hoof, and the hot hiss


s: And bustling whistle of the youth who scoured


s: He asked, 'What means the tumult in the town?'


s: Who told him, scouring still, 'The sparrow-hawk!'


s: Then riding close behind an ancient churl,


s: Went sweating underneath a sack of corn,


s: Asked yet once more what meant the hubbub here?


s: Who answered gruffly, 'Ugh! the sparrow-hawk.'


s: Who, with back turned, and bowed above his work,


s: Not turning round, nor looking at him, said:


s: 'Friend, he that labours for the sparrow-hawk


s: Whereat Geraint flashed into sudden spleen:


s: 'A thousand pips eat up your sparrow-hawk!


s: Ye think the rustic cackle of your bourg


s: The murmur of the world!  What is it to me?


s: O wretched set of sparrows, one and all,


s: Who pipe of nothing but of sparrow-hawks!


s: Speak, if ye be not like the rest, hawk-mad,


s: Where can I get me harbourage for the night?


s: And arms, arms, arms to fight my enemy?  Speak!'


s: Came forward with the helmet yet in hand


s: And answered, 'Pardon me, O stranger knight;


s: And there is scantly time for half the work.


s: Arms? truth! I know not:  all are wanted here.


s: Harbourage? truth, good truth, I know not, save,


s: It may be, at Earl Yniol's, o'er the bridge


s: Yonder.'  He spoke and fell to work again.


s: Then rode Geraint, a little spleenful yet,


s: Across the bridge that spanned the dry ravine.


s: (His dress a suit of frayed magnificence,


s: Once fit for feasts of ceremony) and said:


s: 'Whither, fair son?' to whom Geraint replied,


s: 'O friend, I seek a harbourage for the night.'


s: Then Yniol, 'Enter therefore and partake


s: Once rich, now poor, but ever open-doored.'


s: 'Thanks, venerable friend,' replied Geraint;


s: 'So that ye do not serve me sparrow-hawks


s: With all the passion of a twelve hours' fast.'


s: Then sighed and smiled the hoary-headed Earl,


s: And answered, 'Graver cause than yours is mine


s: To curse this hedgerow thief, the sparrow-hawk:


s: But in, go in; for save yourself desire it,


s: We will not touch upon him even in jest.'


s: Then rode Geraint into the castle court,


s: His charger trampling many a prickly star


s: Of sprouted thistle on the broken stones.


s: Here stood a shattered archway plumed with fern;


s: And here had fallen a great part of a tower,


s: Whole, like a crag that tumbles from the cliff,


s: And like a crag was gay with wilding flowers:


s: Worn by the feet that now were silent, wound


s: Bare to the sun, and monstrous ivy-stems


s: Claspt the gray walls with hairy-fibred arms,


s: And sucked the joining of the stones, and looked


s: A knot, beneath, of snakes, aloft, a grove.


s: And while he waited in the castle court,


s: The voice of Enid, Yniol's daughter, rang


s: Clear through the open casement of the hall,


s: Singing; and as the sweet voice of a bird,


s: Moves him to think what kind of bird it is


s: That sings so delicately clear, and make


s: So the sweet voice of Enid moved Geraint;


s: When first the liquid note beloved of men


s: Breaks from a coppice gemmed with green and red,


s: And he suspends his converse with a friend,


s: To think or say, 'There is the nightingale;'


s: So fared it with Geraint, who thought and said,


s: 'Here, by God's grace, is the one voice for me.'


s: It chanced the song that Enid sang was one


s: Of Fortune and her wheel, and Enid sang:


s: 'Turn, Fortune, turn thy wheel and lower the proud;


s: Turn thy wild wheel through sunshine, storm, and cloud;


s: Thy wheel and thee we neither love nor hate.


s: 'Turn, Fortune, turn thy wheel with smile or frown;


s: With that wild wheel we go not up or down;


s: Our hoard is little, but our hearts are great.


s: 'Smile and we smile, the lords of many lands;


s: Frown and we smile, the lords of our own hands;


s: 'Turn, turn thy wheel above the staring crowd;


s: Thy wheel and thou are shadows in the cloud;


s: Thy wheel and thee we neither love nor hate.'


s: 'Hark, by the bird's song ye may learn the nest,'


s: Said Yniol; 'enter quickly.'  Entering then,


s: Right o'er a mount of newly-fallen stones,


s: He found an ancient dame in dim brocade;


s: And near her, like a blossom vermeil-white,


s: That lightly breaks a faded flower-sheath,


s: Her daughter.  In a moment thought Geraint,


s: 'Here by God's rood is the one maid for me.'


s: But none spake word except the hoary Earl:


s: 'Enid, the good knight's horse stands in the court;


s: Take him to stall, and give him corn, and then


s: Go to the town and buy us flesh and wine;


s: Our hoard is little, but our hearts are great.'


s: He spake:  the Prince, as Enid past him, fain


s: To follow, strode a stride, but Yniol caught


s: His purple scarf, and held, and said, 'Forbear!


s: Rest! the good house, though ruined, O my son,


s: Endures not that her guest should serve himself.'


s: And after went her way across the bridge,


s: And reached the town, and while the Prince and Earl


s: Yet spoke together, came again with one,