Imagens da página
PDF
ePub
[blocks in formation]
[blocks in formation]

That all in later, sadder age begins To war against ill uses of a life, But these from all his life arise, and cry, "Thou hast made us lords, and canst not put us down!"

He half despairs; so Gareth seem'd to strike

Vainly, the damsel clamoring all the while,

"Well done, knave-knight, well stricken, O good knight-knaveO knave, as noble as any of all the knights

Shame me not, shame me not. I have prophesied

Strike, thou art worthy of the Table Round

His arms are old, he trusts the harden'd skin

Strike strike the wind will never

--

change again.'

And Gareth hearing ever stronglier smote, And hew'd great pieces of his armor off him,

But lash'd in vain against the harden'd skin,

And could not wholly bring him under,

more

Than loud Southwesterns, rolling ridge on ridge,

[merged small][ocr errors][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][ocr errors][merged small][ocr errors][merged small][merged small][merged small]

For one-delay'd at first | Had sent thee down before a lesser spear
Shamed had I been and sad - O Lancelot
- thou!"

Thro' helping back the dislocated Kay
To Camelot, then by what thereafter

chanced,

[blocks in formation]

Of that skill'd spear, the wonder of the world

Went sliding down so easily, and fell, That when he found the grass within his hands

He laugh'd; the laughter jarr'd upon Lynette:

Harshly she ask'd him, "Shamed and overthrown,

And tumbled back into the kitchenknave,

Why laugh ye? that ye blew your boast in vain ?"

"Nay, noble damsel, but that I, the son Of old King Lot and good Queen Bellicent,

And victor of the bridges and the ford, And knight of Arthur, here lie thrown by whom

I know not, all thro' mere unhappiness
Device and sorcery and unhappiness-
Out, sword; we are thrown! and Lan-

celot answer'd, " Prince,

[blocks in formation]
[blocks in formation]

Thrown have I been, nor once, but many a time.

Victor from vanquish'd issues at the last,

And overthrower from being overthrown. With sword we have not striven; and thy good horse

And thou art weary; yet not less I felt Thy manhood thro' that wearied lance of thine.

Well hast thou done; for all the stream is freed,

And thou hast wreak'd his justice on his

foes,

And when reviled, hast answer'd graciously,

And makest merry, when overthrown. Prince, Knight,

Then Gareth, "Thou- Lancelot ! — Hail, Knight and Prince, and of our

thine the hand

[merged small][merged small][merged small][ocr errors][merged small]

Table Round!"

And then when turning to Lynette he

told

The tale of Gareth, petulantly she said,

[graphic][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small]
[merged small][merged small][ocr errors]

and she clapt | Clung to the shield that Lancelot lent

[blocks in formation]

May know my shield. Let Gareth, an he will,

Change his for mine, and take my charger, fresh,

Not to be spurr'd, loving the battle as well

As he that rides him." "Lancelot-like," she said,

him, crying,

"Yield, yield him this again: 't is he must fight:

I curse the tongue that all thro' yester day

Reviled thee, and hath wrought on Lancelot now

To lend thee horse and shield: wonders ye have done;

Miracles ye cannot here is glory enow In having flung the three: I see thee maim'd,

Mangled I swear thou canst not fling the fourth."

[blocks in formation]

Seeing he never rides abroad by day; "Courteous in this, Lord Lancelot, as But watch'd him have I like a phantom

And

in all."

Gareth,

wakening, fiercely clutch'd the shield; "Ramp, ye lance-splintering lions, on whom all spears

Are rotten sticks! ye seem agape to roar ! Yea, ramp and roar at leaving of your lord!

Care not, good beasts, so well I care for

[blocks in formation]
[blocks in formation]
« AnteriorContinuar »