第9章

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\"admiredVivienthemost(thenaughtyone)，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，andforbetterdisguise(ashehadneverwornalady\'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，sonofLancelotandthefirstElaine(whobecameLancelot\'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；butNimue(Vivien)，theLadyoftheLake，restoreshimtohealthandsanity。Hisfevergone，hescornsEttarre，who，byNimue\'senchantment，nowloveshimasmuchasshehadhatedhim。PelleaswedsNimue，andEttarrediesofabrokenheart。Tennyson，ofcourse，couldnotmakeNimue(hisVivien)doanythingbenevolent。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；