Alfred Tennyson

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;

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