They couch'd their spears and prick'd their steeds and thus, Their plumes driv'n backward by the wind they made In moving, all together down upon him Bare, as a wild wave in the wide North-sea, Green-glimmering toward the summit, bears, with all Its stormy crests that smoke against the skies, Down on a bark, and overbears the bark, And him that helms it, so they overbore Sir Lancelot and his charger, and a spear Down-glancing, lamed the charger, and a spear Prick'd sharply his own cuirass, and the head Pierced thro' his side, and there snapt, and remain'd. Then Sir Lavaine did well and worshipfully; He bore a knight of old repute to the earth, And brought his horse to Lancelot where he lay. He up the side, sweating with agony, got, But thought to do while he might yet endure, And being lustily holpen by the rest, His party, tho' it seemed half-miracle To those he fought with drave his kith and kin, And all the Table Round that held the lists, Back to the barrier; then the heralds blew Proclaiming his the prize, who wore the sleeve Of scarlet, and the pearls; and all the knights, His party, cried "Advance, and take your prize The diamond"; but he answer'd, "diamond me What is he? I do not mean the force No diamonds! for God's love, a little air! "Ah my sweet lord Sir Lancelot," said | Ourselves will send it after. Rise and Lavaine, "I dread me, if I draw it, ye will die." But he "I die already with it: draw Draw, and Lavaine drew, and that other gave A marvellous great shriek and ghastly groan, And half his blood burst forth, and down he sank For the pure pain, and wholly swoon'd away. Then came the hermit out and bare him in, There stanch'd his wound; and there, in daily doubt Whether to live or die, for many a week Hid from the wide world's rumor by the grove Of poplars with their noise of falling showers, And ever-tremulous aspen-trees, he lay. But on that day when Lancelot fled the lists, His party, knights of utmost North and West, Lords of waste marches, kings of desolate isles, Came round their great Pendragon, saying to him "Lo, Sire, our knight thro' whom we won the day Hath gone sore wounded, and hath left his prize Untaken, crying that his prize is death." | "Heaven hinder," said the King, "that such an one, So great a knight as we have seen today He seem'd to me another Lancelot Yea, twenty times I thought him Lancelot He must not pass uncared for. Wherefore rise, O Gawain, and ride forth and find the knight. Wounded and wearied needs must he be near. I charge you that you get at once to horse. And, knights and kings, there breathes not one of you Will deem this prize of ours is rashly given : His prowess was too wondrous. We will do him No customary honor: since the knight Came not to us, of us to claim the prize, take This diamond, and deliver it, and return, And bring us where he is and how he fares, And cease not from your quest, until you find." So saying from the carven flower above, To which it made a restless heart, he took, And gave, the diamond: then from where he sat At Arthur's right, with smilin face arose, With smiling face and frowning heart, a Prince In the mid might and flourish of his May, Gawain, surnamed The Courteous, fair and strong, And after Lancelot, Tristram, and Geraint And Lamorack, a good knight, but therewithal Sir Modred's brother, of a crafty house, Nor often loyal to his word, and now Wroth that the king's command to sally forth In quest of whom he knew not, made him leave The banquet, and concourse of knights and kings. So all in wrath he got to horse and went; While Arthur to the banquet, dark in mood, Past, thinking "is it Lancelot who has But knowing he was Lancelot; his great name Conquer'd; and therefore would he hide his name From all men, ev'n the king, and to this end Had made the pretext of a hindering wound, That he might joust unknown of all, and learn If his old prowess were in aught decay'd: Then replied the King: "Farlovelier in our Lancelot had it been, In lieu of idly dallying with the truth, To have trusted me as he has trusted you. Surely his king and most familiar friend Might well have kept his secret. True, indeed, Albeit I know my knights fantastical, But little cause for laughter: his own kin Ill news, my Queen, for all who love him, these! His kith and kin, not knowing, set upon him; So that he went sore wounded from the field: Yet good news too: for goodly hopes are mine That Lancelot is no more a lonely heart. He wore, against his wont, upon his helm A sleeve of scarlet, broidered with great pearls, Some gentle maiden's gift." "Yea, lord," she said, "Your hopes are mine," and saying that she choked, And sharply turn'd about to hide her face, Past to her chamber, and there flung herself Down on the great King's couch, and writhed upon it, And clench'd her fingers till they bit the palm, And shriek'd out "traitor to the unhearing wall, Then flash'd into wild tears, and rose again, And moved about her palace, proud and pale. Gawain the while thro' all the region round Rode with his diamond, wearied of the quest, Touch'd at all points, except the poplar grove, And came at last, tho' late, to Astolat: Whom glittering in enamell'd arms the maid Glanced at, and cried "What news from Camelot, lord? What of the knight with the red sleeve?" "He won. "But parted "I knew it," she said. from the jousts Hurt in the side," whereat she caught her breath; Thro' her own side she felt the sharp lance go; Thereon she smote her hand wellnigh she swoon'd: And, while he gazed wonderingly at her, came The lord of Astolat out, to whom the Prince Reported who he was, and on what quest Sent, that he bore the prize and could not find The victor, but had ridden wildly round To seek him, and was wearied of the search. To whom the lord of Astolat "Bide with us, And ride no longer wildly, noble Prince Here was the knight, and here he left a shield; This will he send or come for: further more Our son is with him; we shall hear anon, Needs must we hear." To this the cour teous Prince Accorded with his wonted courtesy, Courtesy with a touch of traitor in it, And stay'd; and cast his eyes on fair Elaine : Where could be found face daintier! then her shape From forehead down to foot perfectagain From foot to forehead exquisitely turn'd : "Well if I bide, lo! this wild flower for me!" And oft they met among the garden yews, And there he set himself to play upon her With sallying wit, free flashes from a height Above her, graces of the court, and songs, Sighs, and slow smiles, and golden elo- | One golden minute's grace: he wore your "Nay, by mine To all the winds?" head," said he, "I lose it, as we lose the lark in heaven, O damsel, in the light of your blue eyes: But an ye will it let me see the shield.' And when the shield was brought, and Gawain saw Sir Lancelot's azure lions, crown'd with gold, Ramp in the field, he smote his thigh, and mock'd; "Right was the King! our Lancelot ! that true man!" "And right was I," she answer'd mer To cross our mighty Lancelot in his loves! And, damsel, for I deem you know full well Where your great knight is hidden, let me leave My quest with you; the diamond also: here! For if you love, it will be sweet to give it ; And if he love, it will be sweet to have it From your own hand; and whether he love or not, A diamond is a diamond. Fare you well A thousand times! --a thousand times farewell! Yet, if he love, and his love hold, we two May meet at court hereafter there, I think, So you will learn the courtesies of the court, We two shall know each other." And lifted her fair face and moved away: On quest of mine, seeing that ye forget But he pursued her calling "Stay a little! | Obedience is the courtesy due to kings." |