Atwistofgoldwasroundherhair;arobeOfsamitewithoutprice,thatmoreexprestThanhidher,clungaboutherlissomelimbs,Incolourlikethesatin-shiningpalmOnsallowsinthewindygleamsofMarch:
Andwhileshekiss\'dthem,crying,\'Trampleme,Dearfeet,thatIhavefollow\'dthro\'theworld,AndIwillpayyouworship;treadmedownAndIwillkissyouforit\';hewasmute:
Sodarkaforethoughtroll\'dabouthisbrain,AsonadulldayinanOceancaveTheblindwavefeelingroundhislongsea-hallInsilence。\"
WethinkoftheblindedCyclopsgropingroundhiscave,like\"theblindwavefeelingroundhislongsea-hall。\"
Therichness,themanyshiningcontrastsandimmortallinesinVivien,seemalmosttoonobleforasubjectnoteasilyredeemed,andthepictureoftheidealCourtlyinginfullcorruption。NexttoElaine,Jowettwrotethathe\"admiredVivienthemostthenaughtyone,whichseemstomeaworkofwonderfulpowerandskill。Itismostelegantandfanciful。IamnotsurprisedatyourDelilahbeguilingthewiseman;sheisquiteequaltoit。\"ThedramaticversatilityofTennyson\'sgenius,hispowerofcreatingthemostvariouscharacters,isnowherebetterdisplayedthaninthecontrastbetweentheVivienandtheElaine。Vivienisatype,heradventureisofanature,whichhehasnotelsewherehandled。Thackeray,whoadmiredtheIdyllssoenthusiastically,mighthaverecognisedinVivienacharacternotunlikesomeofhisown,asdarkasBeckySharp,moreterribleinherselfishnessthanthatBeatrixEsmondwhoisstillaparagon,and,inhercreator\'sdespite,aqueenofhearts。
InElaine,ontheotherhand,Tennysonhasdrawnagirlsoinnocentlypassionate,andtoldataleoflovethatneverfoundhisearthlyclose,sodelicatelybeautiful,thatwemayperhapsplacethisIdyllthehighestofhispoemsonlove,andreckonitthegemoftheIdylls,thecentraldiamondinthediamondcrown。ReadingElaineoncemore,afteranintervalofyears,oneiscaptivatedbyitsgrace,itspathos,itsnobility。Thepoethadtouchedonsomeunidentifiedformofthestory,longbefore,inTheLadyofShalott。
Thatpoemhadthemysteryofromance,but,inhumaninterest,couldnotcompetewithElaine,ifindeedanypoemofTennyson\'scanberankedwiththismatchlessIdyll。
Themereinvention,and,aswemaysay,charpentage,areofthefirstorder。ThematerialsinMalory,thoughbeautiful,aresimple,andleftafieldforthepoet\'sinvention。{16}
Arthur,withtheScotsandNorthernknights,meanstoencounterallcomersataWhitsuntidetourney。Guinevereisill,andcannotgotothejousts,whileLancelotmakesexcusethatheisnothealedofawound。\"WhereforetheKingwasheavyandpassingwroth,andsohedepartedtowardsWinchester。\"TheQueenthenblamedLancelot:
peoplewillsaytheydeceiveArthur。\"Madame,\"saidSirLancelot,\"I
allowyourwit;itisoflatecomethatyewerewise。\"IntheIdyllGuineverespeaksasiftheirearlyloveshadbeenasconspicuousas,accordingtoGeorgeBuchanan,werethoseofQueenMaryandBothwell。
Lancelotwillgotothetourney,and,despiteGuinevere\'swarning,willtakepartagainstArthurandhisownfierceNorthernkinsmen。
HeridestoAstolat——\"thatis,Gylford\"——whereArthurseeshim。Heborrowstheblankshieldof\"SirTorre,\"andthecompanyofhisbrotherSirLavaine。Elaine\"castsuchaloveuntoSirLancelotthatshewouldneverwithdrawherlove,whereforeshedied。\"Atherprayer,andforbetterdisguiseashehadneverwornalady\'sfavour,Lancelotcarriedherscarletpearl-embroideredsleeveinhishelmet,andlefthisshieldinElaine\'skeeping。Thetourneypassesasinthepoem,GawainrecognisingLancelot,butpuzzledbythefavourhewears。ThewoundedLancelot\"thoughttodowhathemightwhilehemightendure。\"Whenheisofferedtheprizeheissosorehurtthathe\"takesnoforceofnohonour。\"Heridesintoawood,whereLavainedrawsforththespear。LavainebringsLancelottothehermit,onceaknight。\"Ihaveseentheday,\"saysthehermit,\"I
wouldhavelovedhimtheworse,becausehewasagainstmylord,KingArthur,forsometime。IwasoneofthefellowshipoftheRoundTable,butIthankGodnowIamotherwisedisposed。\"Gawain,seekingthewoundedknight,comestoAstolat,whereElainedeclares\"heisthemanintheworldthatIfirstloved,andtrulyheisthelastthateverIshalllove。\"Gawain,onseeingtheshield,tellsElainethatthewoundedknightisLancelot,andshegoestoseekhimandLavaine。GawaindoesnotpaycourttoElaine,nordoesArthurrebukehim,asinthepoem。WhenGuinevereheardthatLancelotboreanotherlady\'sfavour,\"shewasnighoutofhermindforwrath,\"andexpressedherangertoSirBors,forGawainhadspokenofthemaidofAstolat。BorstellsthistoLancelot,whoistendedbyElaine。
\"\'ButIwellsee,\'saidSirBors,\'byherdiligenceaboutyouthatshelovethyouentirely。\'\'Thatmerepenteth,\'saidSirLancelot。
SaidSirBors,\'Sir,sheisnotthefirstthathathlostherpainuponyou,andthatisthemorepity。\'\"WhenLancelotrecovers,andreturnstoAstolat,shedeclaresherlovewiththefranknessofladiesinmediaevalromance。\"Havemercyuponmeandsuffermenottodieforthylove。\"Lancelotreplieswiththecourtesyandtheoffersofservicewhichbecamehim。\"Ofallthis,\"saidthemaiden,\"Iwillnone;forbutifyewillwedme,orbemyparamourattheleast,wityouwell,SirLancelot,mygooddaysaredone。\"
Thiswasadifficultpassforthepoet,livinginotherdaysofothermanners。HisartappearsintheturnwhichhegivestoElaine\'sdeclaration:-
\"ButwhenSirLancelot\'sdeadlyhurtwaswhole,ToAstolatreturningrodethethree。
Theremornbymorn,arrayinghersweetselfInthatwhereinshedeem\'dshelook\'dherbest,ShecamebeforeSirLancelot,forshethought\'IfIbeloved,thesearemyfestalrobes,Ifnot,thevictim\'sflowersbeforehefall。\'
AndLanceloteverprestuponthemaidThatsheshouldasksomegoodlygiftofhimForherownselforhers;\'anddonotshunTospeakthewishmostneartoyourtrueheart;
Suchservicehaveyedoneme,thatImakeMywillofyours,andPrinceandLordamI
Inmineownland,andwhatIwillIcan。\'
Thenlikeaghostsheliftedupherface,Butlikeaghostwithoutthepowertospeak。
AndLancelotsawthatshewithheldherwish,AndbodeamongthemyetalittlespaceTillheshouldlearnit;andonemornitchancedHefoundherinamongthegardenyews,Andsaid,\'Delaynolonger,speakyourwish,SeeingIgoto-day\':thenoutshebrake:
\'Going?andweshallneverseeyoumore。
AndImustdieforwantofoneboldword。\'
\'Speak:thatIlivetohear,\'hesaid,\'isyours。\'
Thensuddenlyandpassionatelyshespoke:
\'Ihavegonemad。Iloveyou:letmedie。\'
\'Ah,sister,\'answer\'dLancelot,\'whatisthis?\'
Andinnocentlyextendingherwhitearms,\'Yourlove,\'shesaid,\'yourlove——tobeyourwife。\'
AndLancelotanswer\'d,\'HadIchosentowed,Ihadbeenweddedearlier,sweetElaine:
Butnowthereneverwillbewifeofmine。\'
\'No,no\'shecried,\'Icarenottobewife,Buttobewithyoustill,toseeyourface,Toserveyou,andtofollowyouthro\'theworld。\'
AndLancelotanswer\'d,\'Nay,theworld,theworld,Allearandeye,withsuchastupidheartTointerpretearandeye,andsuchatongueToblareitsowninterpretation——nay,FullillthenshouldIquityourbrother\'slove,Andyourgoodfather\'skindness。\'Andshesaid,\'Nottobewithyou,nottoseeyourface-
Alasformethen,mygooddaysaredone。\'\"
Soshedies,andisbornedownThamestoLondon,thefairestcorpse,\"andshelayasthoughshehadsmiled。\"Herletterisread。\"Yemighthaveshowedher,\"saidtheQueen,\"somecourtesyandgentlenessthatmighthavepreservedherlife;\"andsothetwoarereconciled。
Such,inbrief,isthetenderoldtaleoftruelove,withtheshiningcourtesyofLavaineandthefatherofthemaid,whospeaknowordofangeragainstLancelot。\"ForsincefirstIsawmylord,SirLancelot,\"saysLavaine,\"Icouldneverdepartfromhim,nornoughtI
will,ifImayfollowhim:shedothasIdo。\"TothesimpleandmovingstoryTennysonadds,bywayofornament,thediamonds,theprizeofthetourney,andthemanneroftheirfinding:-
\"ForArthur,longbeforetheycrown\'dhimKing,RovingthetracklessrealmsofLyonnesse,Hadfoundaglen,grayboulderandblacktarn。
Ahorrorlivedaboutthetarn,andclaveLikeitsownmiststoallthemountainside:
Forheretwobrothers,oneaking,hadmetAndfoughttogether;buttheirnameswerelost;
Andeachhadslainhisbrotheratablow;
Anddowntheyfellandmadetheglenabhorr\'d:
Andtheretheylaytillalltheirboneswerebleach\'d,Andlichen\'dintocolourwiththecrags:
Andhe,thatoncewasking,hadonacrownOfdiamonds,oneinfront,andfouraside。
AndArthurcame,andlabouringupthepass,Allinamistymoonshine,unawaresHadtroddenthatcrown\'dskeleton,andtheskullBrakefromthenape,andfromtheskullthecrownRoll\'dintolight,andturningonitsrimsFledlikeaglitteringrivulettothetarn:
Anddowntheshinglyscaurheplunged,andcaught,Andsetitonhishead,andinhisheartHeardmurmurs,\'Lo,thoulikewiseshaltbeKing。\'\"
ThediamondsreappearinthesceneofGuinevere\'sjealousy:-
\"Allinanorielonthesummerside,Vine-clad,ofArthur\'spalacetowardthestream,Theymet,andLancelotkneelingutter\'d,\'Queen,Lady,myliege,inwhomIhavemyjoy,Take,whatIhadnotwonexceptforyou,Thesejewels,andmakemehappy,makingthemAnarmletfortheroundestarmonearth,Ornecklaceforanecktowhichtheswan\'sIstawnierthanhercygnet\'s:thesearewords:
Yourbeautyisyourbeauty,andIsinInspeaking,yetOgrantmyworshipofitWords,aswegrantgrieftears。Suchsininwords,Perchance,webothcanpardon:but,myQueen,Ihearofrumoursflyingthro\'yourcourt。
Ourbond,asnotthebondofmanandwife,ShouldhaveinitanabsolutertrustTomakeupthatdefect:letrumoursbe:
Whendidnotrumoursfly?these,asItrustThatyoutrustmeinyourownnobleness,Imaynotwellbelievethatyoubelieve。\'
Whilethushespoke,halfturn\'daway,theQueenBrakefromthevastoriel-emboweringvineLeafafterleaf,andtore,andcastthemoff,Tillalltheplacewhereonshestoodwasgreen;
Then,whenheceased,inonecoldpassivehandReceivedatonceandlaidasidethegemsThereonatablenearher,andreplied:
\'Itmaybe,IamquickerofbeliefThanyoubelieveme,LancelotoftheLake。
Ourbondisnotthebondofmanandwife。
Thisgoodisinit,whatsoe\'erofill,Itcanbebrokeneasier。IforyouThismanyayearhavedonedespiteandwrongToonewhomeverinmyheartofheartsIdidacknowledgenobler。Whatarethese?
Diamondsforme!theyhadbeenthricetheirworthBeingyourgift,hadyounotlostyourown。
ToloyalheartsthevalueofallgiftsMustvaryasthegiver\'s。Notforme!
Forher!foryournewfancy。OnlythisGrantme,Iprayyou:haveyourjoysapart。
Idoubtnotthathoweverchanged,youkeepSomuchofwhatisgraceful:andmyselfWouldshuntobreakthoseboundsofcourtesyInwhichasArthur\'sQueenImoveandrule:
Socannotspeakmymind。Anendtothis!
Astrangeone!yetItakeitwithAmen。
Soprayyou,addmydiamondstoherpearls;
Deckherwiththese;tellher,sheshinesmedown:
AnarmletforanarmtowhichtheQueen\'sIshaggard,oranecklaceforaneckOasmuchfairer——asafaithoncefairWasricherthanthesediamonds——hersnotmine-
Nay,bythemotherofourLordhimself,Orhersormine,minenowtoworkmywill-
Sheshallnothavethem。\'
Sayingwhichsheseized,And,thro\'thecasementstandingwideforheat,Flungthem,anddowntheyflash\'d,andsmotethestream。
Thenfromthesmittensurfaceflash\'d,asitwere,Diamondstomeetthem,andtheypastaway。
ThenwhileSirLancelotleant,inhalfdisdainAtlove,life,allthings,onthewindowledge,Closeunderneathhiseyes,andrightacrossWherethesehadfallen,slowlypastthebargeWhereonthelilymaidofAstolatLaysmiling,likeastarinblackestnight。\"
Thisaffairofthediamondsisthechiefadditiontotheoldtale,inwhichwealreadyseethecurseoflawlesslove,fallenuponthejealousQueenandthelong-enduringLancelot。\"Thisisnotthefirsttime,\"saidSirLancelot,\"thatyehavebeendispleasedwithmecauseless,but,madame,everImustsufferyou,butwhatsorrowI
endureItakenoforce\"thatis,\"Idisregard\"。
Theromance,andthepoet,inhisowndespite,cannotbutmakeLancelotthemanwelove,notArthuroranother。HumannatureperverselysideswithGuinevereagainsttheBlamelessKing:-
\"Shebrokeintoalittlescornfullaugh:
\'Arthur,mylord,Arthur,thefaultlessKing,Thatpassionateperfection,mygoodlord-
ButwhocangazeupontheSuninheaven?
Heneverspakewordofreproachtome,Heneverhadaglimpseofmineuntruth,Hecaresnotforme:onlyhereto-dayTheregleam\'davaguesuspicioninhiseyes:
Somemeddlingroguehastamper\'dwithhim——elseRaptinthisfancyofhisTableRound,Andswearingmentovowsimpossible,Tomakethemlikehimself:but,friend,tomeHeisallfaultwhohathnofaultatall:
Forwholovesmemusthaveatouchofearth;
Thelowsunmakesthecolour:Iamyours,NotArthur\'s,asyeknow,savebythebond。\"
ItisnotthebeautifulQueenwhowinsus,ourheartsarewith\"theinnocenceoflove\"inElaine。ButLancelothasthecharmthatcaptivatedLavaine;andTennyson\'sArthurremains\"Themoralchildwithoutthecrafttorule,Elsehadhenotlostme。\"
IndeedtheromanceofMalorymakesArthurdeserve\"theprettypopularnamesuchmanhoodearns\"byhisconductasregardsGuineverewhensheisaccusedbyherenemiesinthelaterchapters。YetMalorydoesnotfinallycondonethesinwhichbafflesLancelot\'squestoftheHolyGrail。
TennysonatfirstwasindoubtastowritingontheGrail,forcertainrespectsofreverence。Whenhedidapproachthethemeitwasinamethodofextremecondensation。TheromancesontheGrailoutrunthelengthevenofmediaevalpoetryandprose。Theyareexceedinglyconfused,aswasnatural,ifthathypothesiswhichregardsthestoryasaChristianisedformofobscureCelticmythbecorrect。SirPercivale\'ssister,intheIdyll,hasthefirstvisionoftheGrail:-
\"Sweetbrother,IhaveseentheHolyGrail:
For,wakedatdeadofnight,IheardasoundAsofasilverhornfromo\'erthehillsBlown,andIthought,\'ItisnotArthur\'suseTohuntbymoonlight\';andtheslendersoundAsfromadistancebeyonddistancegrewCominguponme——Oneverharpnorhorn,Noraughtweblowwithbreath,ortouchwithhand,Waslikethatmusicasitcame;andthenStream\'dthro\'mycellacoldandsilverbeam,AnddownthelongbeamstoletheHolyGrail,Rose-redwithbeatingsinit,asifalive,TillallthewhitewallsofmycellweredyedWithrosycoloursleapingonthewall;
Andthenthemusicfaded,andtheGrailPast,andthebeamdecay\'d,andfromthewallsTherosyquiveringsdiedintothenight。
SonowtheHolyThingishereagainAmongus,brother,fastthoutooandpray,Andtellthybrotherknightstofastandpray,ThatsoperchancethevisionmaybeseenBytheeandthose,andalltheworldbeheal\'d。\"
Galahad,sonofLancelotandthefirstElainewhobecameLancelot\'smistressbyartmagic,thenvowshimselftotheQuest,and,afterthevisioninhallatCamelot,theknights,exceptArthur,followhisexample,toArthur\'sgrief。\"Yefollowwanderingfires!\"Probably,orperhaps,thepoetindicatesdislikeofhastyspiritualenthusiasms,of\"seekingforasign,\"andofthemysticismwhichbetokenswantoffaith。TheMiddleAges,morethanmanyreadersknow,wereagesofdoubt。MendesiredthewitnessofthesensestothetruthofwhattheChurchtaught,theywishedtoseethatnakedchildoftheromance\"smitehimselfinto\"thewaferoftheSacrament。
TheauthoroftheImitatioChristidiscouragessuchvainandtoocuriousinquiriesashelpedtorendtheChurch,anddividedChristendomintohostilecamps。TheQuestoftheactualGrailwasaknightlyformoftheologicalresearchintotheunsearchable;
undertaken,ofteninasecularspiritofadventure,bysinfulmen。
Thepoet\'sheartisratherwithhumanthings:-
\"\'Obrother,\'ask\'dAmbrosius,——\'forinsoothTheseancientbooks——andtheywouldwinthee——teem,OnlyIfindnottherethisHolyGrail,Withmiraclesandmarvelsliketothese,Notallunlike;whichoftentimeIread,Whoreadbutonmybreviarywithease,Tillmyheadswims;andthengoforthandpassDowntothelittlethorpethatliessoclose,Andalmostplaster\'dlikeamartin\'snestTotheseoldwalls——andminglewithourfolk;
AndknowingeveryhonestfaceoftheirsAswellasevershepherdknewhissheep,Andeveryhomelysecretintheirhearts,Delightmyselfwithgossipandoldwives,Andillsandaches,andteethings,lyings-in,Andmirthfulsayings,childrenoftheplace,Thathavenomeaninghalfaleagueaway:
Orlullingrandomsquabbleswhentheyrise,Chafferingsandchatteringsatthemarket-cross,Rejoice,smallman,inthissmallworldofmine,Yea,evenintheirhensandintheireggs。\"\'
ThisappearstobeTennyson\'soriginalreadingoftheQuestoftheGrail。Hisownmysticism,whichdidnotstrive,orcry,orseekaftermarvels,thoughmarvelsmightcomeunsought,isexpressedinArthur\'swords:-
\"\'\"AndspakeInottootruly,Omyknights?
WasItoodarkaprophetwhenIsaidTothosewhowentupontheHolyQuest,Thatmostofthemwouldfollowwanderingfires,Lostinthequagmire?——losttomeandgone,Andleftmegazingatabarrenboard,AndaleanOrder——scarcereturn\'datithe-
AndoutofthosetowhomthevisioncameMygreatesthardlywillbelievehesaw;
Anotherhathbehelditafaroff,Andleavinghumanwrongstorightthemselves,Caresbuttopassintothesilentlife。
Andonehathhadthevisionfacetoface,Andnowhischairdesireshimhereinvain,Howevertheymaycrownhimotherwhere。
\'\"Andsomeamongyouheld,thatiftheKingHadseenthesighthewouldhaveswornthevow:
Noteasily,seeingthattheKingmustguardThatwhichherules,andisbutasthehindTowhomaspaceoflandisgiventoplowWhomaynotwanderfromtheallottedfieldBeforehisworkbedone;but,beingdone,LetvisionsofthenightorofthedayCome,astheywill;andmanyatimetheycome,Untilthisearthhewalksonseemsnotearth,Thislightthatstrikeshiseyeballisnotlight,ThisairthatsmiteshisforeheadisnotairButvision——yea,hisveryhandandfoot-
Inmomentswhenhefeelshecannotdie,Andknowshimselfnovisiontohimself,NorthehighGodavision,northatOneWhoroseagain:yehaveseenwhatyehaveseen。\"
\'SospaketheKing:Iknewnotallhemeant。\'\"
Theclosinglinesdeclare,asfarasthepoetcoulddeclarethem,thesesubjectiveexperiencesofhiswhich,inamannerrarelyparallelled,colouredandformedhisthoughtonthehighestthings。
Heintroducesthemevenintothispoemonatopicwhich,becauseofitssacredassociations,heforlongdidnotventuretotouch。
InPelleasandEttarre——whichdealswiththesorrowsofoneoftheyoungknightswhofillupthegapsleftattheRoundTablebythemischancesoftheQuest——itwouldbedifficulttotraceaCelticoriginal。ForMalory,notCelticlegend,suppliedTennysonwiththegerminalideaofapoemwhich,intheromance,hasnobearingonthefinalcatastrophe。Pelleas,aKingoftheIsles,lovesthebeautifulEttarre,\"agreatlady,\"andforherwinsatatourneytheprizeofthegoldencirclet。Butshehatesanddespiseshim,andSirGawainisaspectatorwhen,asinthepoem,thefelonknightsofEttarrebindandinsulttheirconqueror,Pelleas。GawainpromisestowintheloveofEttarreforPelleas,and,asinthepoem,borrowshisarmsandhorse,andpretendstohaveslainhim。ButinplaceofturningEttarre\'shearttowardsPelleas,Gawainbecomesherlover,andPelleas,detectingthemasleep,layshisnakedswordontheirnecks。
Hethenrideshometodie;butNimueVivien,theLadyoftheLake,restoreshimtohealthandsanity。Hisfevergone,hescornsEttarre,who,byNimue\'senchantment,nowloveshimasmuchasshehadhatedhim。PelleaswedsNimue,andEttarrediesofabrokenheart。Tennyson,ofcourse,couldnotmakeNimuehisViviendoanythingbenevolent。HethereforecloseshispoembyarepetitionoftheeffectinthecaseofBalin。PelleasisdrivendesperatebythetreacheryofGawain,thereportedinfidelityofGuinevere,andthegeneralcorruptionoftheideal。AshadowfallsonLancelotandGuinevere,andModredseesthathishourisdrawingnigh。InspiteofbeautifulpassagesthisisnotoneofthefinestoftheIdylls,saveforthestudyofthefierce,hateful,andbeautifulgrandedame,Ettarre。Thenarrativedoeslittletoadvancethegeneralplot。IntheoriginalofMaloryithasnoconnectionwiththeLancelotcycle,exceptasfarasitrevealsthetreacheryofGawain,thegayandfair-spoken\"lightoflove,\"brotherofthetraitorModred。A
simplertreatmentofthethememaybereadinMrSwinburne\'sbeautifulpoem,TheTaleofBalen。
ItisinTheLastTournamentthatModredfindsthebeginningofhisopportunity。ThebrieflifeoftheIdealhasburneditselfout,astheyear,initsvernalbeautywhenArthurcame,isburningoutinautumn。Thepoemispurposelyautumnal,withtheautumn,notofmellowfruitfulness,butofthe\"flyinggoldoftheruinedwoodlands\"
andthedankodoursofdecay。InthatmiserableseasonisheldtheTourneyoftheDeadInnocence,withtheblood-redprizeofrubies。
WithawisetouchTennysonhasrepresentedtheCourtasfallennotintoviceonlyandcrime,butintopositivevulgarityandbadtaste。
TheTournamentisacarnivalofthe\"smart\"andthethird-rate。
Courtesyisdead,evenTristramisbrutal,andinIseulthatredofherhusbandisaspowerfulasloveofherlover。ThesatirestrikesatEngland,wheretheworldhasneverbeencorruptwithagoodgrace。
ItisapassageofarmsneithergentlenorjoyousthatLancelotpresidesover:-
\"ThesuddentrumpetsoundedasinadreamToearsbuthalf-awaked,thenonelowrollOfAutumnthunder,andthejoustsbegan:
Andeverthewindblew,andyellowingleafAndgloomandgleam,andshowerandshornplumeWentdownit。Sighingweariedly,asoneWhositsandgazesonafadedfire,Whenallthegoodlierguestsarepastaway,Sattheirgreatumpire,lookingo\'erthelists。
HesawthelawsthatruledthetournamentBroken,butspakenot;once,aknightcastdownBeforehisthroneofarbitrationcursedThedeadbabeandthefolliesoftheKing;
Andoncethelacesofahelmetcrack\'d,Andshow\'dhim,likeavermininitshole,Modred,anarrowface:anonheheardThevoicethatbillow\'droundthebarriersroarAnocean-soundingwelcometooneknight,Butnewly-enter\'d,tallerthantherest,Andarmour\'dallinforestgreen,whereonTheretriptahundredtinysilverdeer,Andwearingbutaholly-sprayforcrest,Withever-scatteringberries,andonshieldAspear,aharp,abugle——Tristram——lateFromoverseasinBrittanyreturn\'d,Andmarriagewithaprincessofthatrealm,IsolttheWhite——SirTristramoftheWoods-
WhomLancelotknew,hadheldsometimewithpainHisownagainsthim,andnowyearn\'dtoshakeTheburthenoffhisheartinonefullshockWithTristramev\'ntodeath:hisstronghandsgriptAnddintedthegiltdragonsrightandleft,Untilhegroan\'dforwrath——somanyofthose,Thatwaretheirladies\'coloursonthecasque,DrewfrombeforeSirTristramtothebounds,AndtherewithgibesandflickeringmockeriesStood,whilehemutter\'d,\'Cravencrests!Oshame!
Whatfaithhavetheseinwhomtheyswaretolove?
ThegloryofourRoundTableisnomore。\'
SoTristramwon,andLancelotgave,thegems,Notspeakingotherwordthan\'Hastthouwon?
Artthouthepurest,brother?See,thehandWherewiththoutakestthis,isred!\'towhomTristram,halfplaguedbyLancelot\'slanguorousmood,Madeanswer,\'Ay,butwhereforetossmethisLikeadrybonecasttosomehungryhound?
LetbethyfairQueen\'sfantasy。StrengthofheartAndmightoflimb,butmainlyuseandskill,ArewinnersinthispastimeofourKing。
Myhand——belikethelancehathdriptuponit-
Nobloodofmine,Itrow;butOchiefknight,RightarmofArthurinthebattlefield,Greatbrother,thounorIhavemadetheworld;