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；