[ { "title": "The Defence of Guenevere", "author": "William Morris", "lines": [ "But, learning now that they would have her speak,", "She threw her wet hair backward from her brow,", "Her hand close to her mouth touching her cheek,", "", "As though she had had there a shameful blow,", "And feeling it shameful to feel ought but shame", "All through her heart, yet felt her cheek burned so,", "", "She must a little touch it; like one lame", "She walked away from Gauwaine, with her head", "Still lifted up; and on her cheek of flame", "", "The tears dried quick; she stopped at last and said:", "\"O knights and lords, it seems but little skill", "To talk of well-known things past now and dead.", "", "\"God wot I ought to say, I have done ill,", "And pray you all forgiveness heartily!", "Because you must be right, such great lords--still", "", "\"Listen, suppose your time were come to die,", "And you were quite alone and very weak;", "Yea, laid a dying while very mightily", "", "\"The wind was ruffling up the narrow streak", "Of river through your broad lands running well:", "Suppose a hush should come, then some one speak:", "", "\" 'One of these cloths is heaven, and one is hell,", "Now choose one cloth for ever; which they be,", "I will not tell you, you must somehow tell", "", "\" 'Of your own strength and mightiness; here, see!'", "Yea, yea, my lord, and you to ope your eyes,", "At foot of your familiar bed to see", "", "\"A great God's angel standing, with such dyes,", "Not known on earth, on his great wings, and hands", "Held at two ways, light from the inner skies", "", "\"Showing him well, and making his commands", "Seem to be God's commands, moreover, too,", "Holding within his hands the cloths on wands;", "", "\"And one of these strange choosing cloths was blue,", "Wavy and long, and one cut short and red;", "No man could tell the better of the two.", "", "\"After a shivering half-hour you said:", "'God help! heaven's colour, the blue;' and he said: 'hell.'", "Perhaps you then would roll upon your bed,", "", "\"And cry to all good men that loved you well,", "'Ah Christ! if only I had known, known, known;'", "Launcelot went away, then I could tell,", "", "\"Like wisest man how all things would be, moan,", "And roll and hurt myself, and long to die,", "And yet fear much to die for what was sown.", "", "\"Nevertheless you, O Sir Gauwaine, lie,", "Whatever may have happened through these years,", "God knows I speak truth, saying that you lie.\"", "", "Her voice was low at first, being full of tears,", "But as it cleared, it grew full loud and shrill,", "Growing a windy shriek in all men's ears,", "", "A ringing in their startled brains, until", "She said that Gauwaine lied, then her voice sunk,", "And her great eyes began again to fill,", "", "Though still she stood right up, and never shrunk,", "But spoke on bravely, glorious lady fair!", "Whatever tears her full lips may have drunk,", "", "She stood, and seemed to think, and wrung her hair,", "Spoke out at last with no more trace of shame,", "With passionate twisting of her body there:", "", "\"It chanced upon a day that Launcelot came", "To dwell at Arthur's court: at Christmas time", "This happened; when the heralds sung his name,", "", "\" 'Son of King Ban of Benwick,' seemed to chime", "Along with all the bells that rang that day,", "O'er the white roofs, with little change of rhyme.", "", "\"Christmas and whitened winter passed away,", "And over me the April sunshine came,", "Made very awful with black hail-clouds, yea", "", "\"And in the Summer I grew white with flame,", "And bowed my head down--Autumn, and the sick", "Sure knowledge things would never be the same,", "", "\"However often Spring might be most thick", "Of blossoms and buds, smote on me, and I grew", "Careless of most things, let the clock tick, tick,", "", "\"To my unhappy pulse, that beat right through", "My eager body; while I laughed out loud,", "And let my lips curl up at false or true,", "", "\"Seemed cold and shallow without any cloud.", "Behold my judges, then the cloths were brought;", "While I was dizzied thus, old thoughts would crowd,", "", "\"Belonging to the time ere I was bought", "By Arthur's great name and his little love;", "Must I give up for ever then, I thought,", "", "\"That which I deemed would ever round me move", "Glorifying all things; for a little word,", "Scarce ever meant at all, must I now prove", "", "\"Stone-cold for ever? Pray you, does the Lord", "Will that all folks should be quite happy and good?", "I love God now a little, if this cord", "", "\"Were broken, once for all what striving could", "Make me love anything in earth or heaven?", "So day by day it grew, as if one should", "", "\"Slip slowly down some path worn smooth and even,", "Down to a cool sea on a summer day;", "Yet still in slipping there was some small leaven", "", "\"Of stretched hands catching small stones by the way,", "Until one surely reached the sea at last,", "And felt strange new joy as the worn head lay", "", "\"Back, with the hair like sea-weed; yea all past", "Sweat of the forehead, dryness of the lips,", "Washed utterly out by the dear waves o'ercast,", "", "\"In the lone sea, far off from any ships!", "Do I not know now of a day in Spring?", "No minute of that wild day ever slips", "", "\"From out my memory; I hear thrushes sing,", "And wheresoever I may be, straightway", "Thoughts of it all come up with most fresh sting:", "", "\"I was half mad with beauty on that day,", "And went without my ladies all alone,", "In a quiet garden walled round every way;", "", "\"I was right joyful of that wall of stone,", "That shut the flowers and trees up with the sky,", "And trebled all the beauty: to the bone,", "", "\"Yea right through to my heart, grown very shy", "With weary thoughts, it pierced, and made me glad;", "Exceedingly glad, and I knew verily,", "", "\"A little thing just then had made me mad;", "I dared not think, as I was wont to do,", "Sometimes, upon my beauty; if I had", "", "\"Held out my long hand up against the blue,", "And, looking on the tenderly darken'd fingers,", "Thought that by rights one ought to see quite through,", "", "\"There, see you, where the soft still light yet lingers,", "Round by the edges; what should I have done,", "If this had joined with yellow spotted singers,", "", "\"And startling green drawn upward by the sun?", "But shouting, loosed out, see now! all my hair,", "And trancedly stood watching the west wind run", "", "\"With faintest half-heard breathing sound--why there", "I lose my head e'en now in doing this;", "But shortly listen--in that garden fair", "", "\"Came Launcelot walking; this is true, the kiss", "Wherewith we kissed in meeting that spring day,", "I scarce dare talk of the remember'd bliss,", "", "\"When both our mouths went wandering in one way,", "And aching sorely, met among the leaves;", "Our hands being left behind strained far away.", "", "\"Never within a yard of my bright sleeves", "Had Launcelot come before--and now, so nigh!", "After that day why is it Guenevere grieves?", "", "\"Nevertheless you, O Sir Gauwaine, lie,", "Whatever happened on through all those years,", "God knows I speak truth, saying that you lie.", "", "\"Being such a lady could I weep these tears", "If this were true? A great queen such as I", "Having sinn'd this way, straight her conscience sears;", "", "\"And afterwards she liveth hatefully,", "Slaying and poisoning, certes never weeps,--", "Gauwaine, be friends now, speak me lovingly.", "", "\"Do I not see how God's dear pity creeps", "All through your frame, and trembles in your mouth?", "Remember in what grave your mother sleeps,", "", "\"Buried in some place far down in the south,", "Men are forgetting as I speak to you;", "By her head sever'd in that awful drouth", "", "\"Of pity that drew Agravaine's fell blow,", "I pray your pity! let me not scream out", "For ever after, when the shrill winds blow", "", "\"Through half your castle-locks! let me not shout", "For ever after in the winter night", "When you ride out alone! in battle-rout", "", "\"Let not my rusting tears make your sword light!", "Ah! God of mercy, how he turns away!", "So, ever must I dress me to the fight;", "", "\"So--let God's justice work! Gauwaine, I say,", "See me hew down your proofs: yea, all men know", "Even as you said how Mellyagraunce one day,", "", "\"One bitter day in la Fausse Garde, for so", "All good knights held it after, saw--", "Yea, sirs, by cursed unknightly outrage; though", "", "\"You, Gauwaine, held his word without a flaw,", "This Mellyagraunce saw blood upon my bed--", "Whose blood then pray you? is there any law", "", "\"To make a queen say why some spots of red", "Lie on her coverlet? or will you say:", "`Your hands are white, lady, as when you wed,", "", "\" `Where did you bleed?' and I must stammer out: 'Nay,", "I blush indeed, fair lord, only to rend", "My sleeve up to my shoulder, where there lay", "", "\" `A knife-point last night:' so must I defend", "The honour of the lady Guenevere?", "Not so, fair lords, even if the world should end", "", "\"This very day, and you were judges here", "Instead of God. Did you see Mellyagraunce", "When Launcelot stood by him? what white fear", "", "\"Curdled his blood, and how his teeth did dance,", "His side sink in? as my knight cried and said:", "'Slayer of unarm'd men, here is a chance!", "", "\" `Setter of traps, I pray you guard your head,", "By God I am so glad to fight with you,", "Stripper of ladies, that my hand feels lead", "", "\" `For driving weight; hurrah now! draw and do,", "For all my wounds are moving in my breast,", "And I am getting mad with waiting so.'", "", "\"He struck his hands together o'er the beast,", "Who fell down flat and grovell'd at his feet,", "And groan'd at being slain so young `at least.'", "", "\"My knight said: `Rise you, sir, who are so fleet", "At catching ladies, half-arm'd will I fight,", "My left side all uncover'd!' then I weet,", "", "\"Up sprang Sir Mellyagraunce with great delight", "Upon his knave's face; not until just then", "Did I quite hate him, as I saw my knight", "", "\"Along the lists look to my stake and pen", "With such a joyous smile, it made me sigh", "From agony beneath my waist-chain, when", "", "\"The fight began, and to me they drew nigh;", "Ever Sir Launcelot kept him on the right,", "And traversed warily, and ever high", "", "\"And fast leapt caitiff's sword, until my knight", "Sudden threw up his sword to his left hand,", "Caught it, and swung it; that was all the fight,", "", "\"Except a spout of blood on the hot land;", "For it was hottest summer; and I know", "I wonder'd how the fire, while I should stand,", "", "\"And burn, against the heat, would quiver so,", "Yards above my head; thus these matters went;", "Which things were only warnings of the woe", "", "\"That fell on me. Yet Mellyagraunce was shent,", "For Mellyagraunce had fought against the Lord;", "Therefore, my lords, take heed lest you be blent", "", "\"With all this wickedness; say no rash word", "Against me, being so beautiful; my eyes,", "Wept all away to grey, may bring some sword", "", "\"To drown you in your blood; see my breast rise,", "Like waves of purple sea, as here I stand;", "And how my arms are moved in wonderful wise,", "", "\"Yea also at my full heart's strong command,", "See through my long throat how the words go up", "In ripples to my mouth; how in my hand", "", "\"The shadow lies like wine within a cup", "Of marvellously colour'd gold; yea now", "This little wind is rising, look you up,", "", "\"And wonder how the light is falling so", "Within my moving tresses: will you dare", "When you have looked a little on my brow,", "", "\"To say this thing is vile? or will you care", "For any plausible lies of cunning woof,", "When you can see my face with no lie there", "", "\"For ever? am I not a gracious proof--", "'But in your chamber Launcelot was found'--", "Is there a good knight then would stand aloof,", "", "\"When a queen says with gentle queenly sound:", "'O true as steel, come now and talk with me,", "I love to see your step upon the ground", "", "\" 'Unwavering, also well I love to see", "That gracious smile light up your face, and hear", "Your wonderful words, that all mean verily", "", "\" 'The thing they seem to mean: good friend, so dear", "To me in everything, come here to-night,", "Or else the hours will pass most dull and drear;", "", "\" 'If you come not, I fear this time I might", "Get thinking over much of times gone by,", "When I was young, and green hope was in sight:", "", "\" 'For no man cares now to know why I sigh;", "And no man comes to sing me pleasant songs,", "Nor any brings me the sweet flowers that lie", "", "\" 'So thick in the gardens; therefore one so longs", "To see you, Launcelot; that we may be", "Like children once again, free from all wrongs", "", "\" 'Just for one night.' Did he not come to me?", "What thing could keep true Launcelot away", "If I said, 'Come?' There was one less than three", "", "\"In my quiet room that night, and we were gay;", "Till sudden I rose up, weak, pale, and sick,", "Because a bawling broke our dream up, yea", "", "\"I looked at Launcelot's face and could not speak,", "For he looked helpless too, for a little while;", "Then I remember how I tried to shriek,", "", "\"And could not, but fell down; from tile to tile", "The stones they threw up rattled o'er my head", "And made me dizzier; till within a while", "", "\"My maids were all about me, and my head", "On Launcelot's breast was being soothed away", "From its white chattering, until Launcelot said--", "", "\"By God! I will not tell you more to-day,", "Judge any way you will--what matters it?", "You know quite well the story of that fray,", "", "\"How Launcelot still'd their bawling, the mad fit", "That caught up Gauwaine--all, all, verily,", "But just that which would save me; these things flit.", "", "\"Nevertheless you, O Sir Gauwaine, lie,", "Whatever may have happen'd these long years,", "God knows I speak truth, saying that you lie!", "", "\"All I have said is truth, by Christ's dear tears.\"", "She would not speak another word, but stood", "Turn'd sideways; listening, like a man who hears", "", "His brother's trumpet sounding through the wood", "Of his foes' lances. She lean'd eagerly,", "And gave a slight spring sometimes, as she could", "", "At last hear something really; joyfully", "Her cheek grew crimson, as the headlong speed", "Of the roan charger drew all men to see,", "The knight who came was Launcelot at good need." ], "linecount": "295" }, { "title": "Song VI: Cherish Life that Abideth", "author": "William Morris", "lines": [ "Love is enough: cherish life that abideth,", "Lest ye die ere ye know him, and curse and misname him;", "For who knows in what ruin of all hope he hideth,", "On what wings of the terror of darkness he rideth?", "And what is the joy of man's life that ye blame him", "For his bliss grown a sword, and his rest grown a fire?", "", "Ye who tremble for death, or the death of desire,", "Pass about the cold winter-tide garden and ponder", "On the rose in his glory amidst of June's fire,", "On the languor of noontide that gathered the thunder,", "On the morn and its freshness, the eve and its wonder:", "Ye may make it no more--shall Spring come to awaken?", "", "Live on, for Love liveth, and earth shall be shaken", "By the wind of his wings on the triumphing morning,", "When the dead, and their deeds that die not shall awaken,", "And the world's tale shall sound in your trumpet of warning,", "And the sun smite the banner called Scorn of the Scorning,", "And dead pain ye shall trample, dead fruitless desire,", "As ye wend to pluck out the new world from the fire." ], "linecount": "19" }, { "title": "Song II: Have No Thought for Tomorrow", "author": "William Morris", "lines": [ "Love is enough: have no thought for to-morrow", "If ye lie down this even in rest from your pain,", "Ye who have paid for your bliss with great sorrow:", "For as it was once so it shall be again.", "Ye shall cry out for death as ye stretch forth in vain", "", "Feeble hands to the hands that would help but they may not,", "Cry out to deaf ears that would hear if they could;", "Till again shall the change come, and words your lips say not", "Your hearts make all plain in the best wise they would", "And the world ye thought waning is glorious and good:", "", "And no morning now mocks you and no nightfall is weary,", "The plains are not empty of song and of deed:", "The sea strayeth not, nor the mountains are dreary;", "The wind is not helpless for any man's need,", "Nor falleth the rain but for thistle and weed.", "", "O surely this morning all sorrow is hidden,", "All battle is hushed for this even at least;", "And no one this noontide may hunger, unbidden", "To the flowers and the singing and the joy of your feast", "Where silent ye sit midst the world's tale increased.", "", "Lo, the lovers unloved that draw nigh for your blessing!", "For your tale makes the dreaming whereby yet they live", "The dreams of the day with their hopes of redressing,", "The dreams of the night with the kisses they give,", "The dreams of the dawn wherein death and hope strive.", "", "Ah, what shall we say then, but that earth threatened often", "Shall live on for ever that such things may be,", "That the dry seed shall quicken, the hard earth shall soften,", "And the spring-bearing birds flutter north o'er the sea,", "That earth's garden may bloom round my love's feet and me?" ], "linecount": "30" }, { "title": "Summer", "author": "William Morris", "lines": [ "Summer looked for long am I:", "Much shall change or e'er I die.", "Prithee take it not amiss", "Though I weary thee with bliss." ], "linecount": "4" }, { "title": "Atalanta's Race", "author": "William Morris", "lines": [ "Through thick Arcadian woods a hunter went,", "Following the beasts upon a fresh spring day;", "But since his horn-tipped bow but seldom bent,", "Now at the noontide nought had happed to slay,", "Within a vale he called his hounds away,", "Hearkening the echoes of his lone voice cling", "About the cliffs and through the beech-trees ring.", "", "But when they ended, still awhile he stood,", "And but the sweet familiar thrush could hear,", "And all the day-long noises of the wood,", "And o'er the dry leaves of the vanished year", "His hounds' feet pattering as they drew anear,", "And heavy breathing from their heads low hung,", "To see the mighty corner bow unstrung.", "", "Then smiling did he turn to leave the place,", "But with his first step some new fleeting thought", "A shadow cast across his sun-burnt face;", "I think the golden net that April brought", "From some warm world his wavering soul had caught;", "For, sunk in vague sweet longing, did he go", "Betwixt the trees with doubtful steps and slow.", "", "Yet howsoever slow he went, at last", "The trees grew sparser, and the wood was done;", "Whereon one farewell backward look he cast,", "Then, turning round to see what place was won,", "With shaded eyes looked underneath the sun,", "And o'er green meads and new-turned furrows brown", "Beheld the gleaming of King Schœneus' town.", "", "So thitherward he turned, and on each side", "The folk were busy on the teeming land,", "And man and maid from the brown furrows cried,", "Or midst the newly blossomed vines did stand,", "And as the rustic weapon pressed the hand", "Thought of the nodding of the well-filled ear,", "Or how the knife the heavy bunch should shear.", "", "Merry it was: about him sung the birds,", "The spring flowers bloomed along the firm dry road,", "The sleek-skinned mothers of the sharp-horned herds", "Now for the barefoot milking-maidens lowed;", "While from the freshness of his blue abode,", "Glad his death-bearing arrows to forget,", "The broad sun blazed, nor scattered plagues as yet.", "", "Through such fair things unto the gates he came,", "And found them open, as though peace were there;", "Wherethrough, unquestioned of his race or name,", "He entered, and along the streets 'gan fare,", "Which at the first of folk were well-nigh bare;", "But pressing on, and going more hastily,", "", "Men hurrying too he 'gan at last to see.", "Following the last of these he still pressed on,", "Until an open space he came unto,", "Where wreaths of fame had oft been lost and won,", "For feats of strength folks there were wont to do.", "And now our hunter looked for something new,", "Because the whole wide space was bare, and stilled", "The high seats were, with eager people filled.", "", "There with the others to a seat he gat,", "Whence he beheld a broidered canopy,", "'Neath which in fair array King Schœneus sat", "Upon his throne with councillors thereby;", "And underneath his well-wrought seat and high,", "He saw a golden image of the sun,", "A silver image of the Fleet-foot One.", "", "A brazen altar stood beneath their feet", "Whereon a thin flame flicker'd in the wind;", "Nigh this a herald clad in raiment meet", "Made ready even now his horn to wind,", "By whom a huge man held a sword, entwin'd", "With yellow flowers; these stood a little space", "From off the altar, nigh the starting place.", "", "And there two runners did the sign abide,", "Foot set to foot,--a young man slim and fair,", "Crisp-hair'd, well knit, with firm limbs often tried", "In places where no man his strength may spare:", "Dainty his thin coat was, and on his hair.", "A golden circlet of renown he wore,", "And in his hand an olive garland bore.", "", "But on this day with whom shall he contend?", "A maid stood by him like Diana clad", "When in the woods she lists her bow to bend,", "Too fair for one to look on and be glad,", "Who scarcely yet has thirty summers had,", "If he must still behold her from afar;", "Too fair to let the world live free from war.", "", "She seem'd all earthly matters to forget;", "Of all tormenting lines her face was clear;", "Her wide gray eyes upon the goal were set", "Calm and unmov'd as though no soul were near.", "But her foe trembled as a man in fear,", "Nor from her loveliness one moment turn'd", "His anxious face with fierce desire that burn'd.", "", "Now through the hush there broke the trumpet's clang", "Just as the setting sun made eventide.", "Then from light feet a spurt of dust there sprang,", "And swiftly were they running side by side;", "But silent did the thronging folk abide", "Until the turning-post was reach'd at last,", "And round about it still abreast they passed.", "", "But when the people saw how close they ran,", "When half-way to the starting-point they were,", "A cry of joy broke forth, whereat the man", "Headed the white-foot runner, and drew near", "Unto the very end of all his fear;", "And scarce his straining feet the ground could feel,", "And bliss unhop'd for o'er his heart 'gan steal.", "", "But 'midst the loud victorious shouts he heard", "Her footsteps drawing nearer, and the sound", "Of fluttering raiment, and thereat afeard", "His flush'd and eager face he turn'd around,", "And even then he felt her past him bound", "Fleet as the wind, but scarcely saw her there", "Till on the goal she laid her fingers fair.", "", "There stood she breathing like a little child", "Amid some warlike clamour laid asleep,", "For no victorious joy her red lips smil'd,", "Her cheek its wonted freshness did but keep;", "No glance lit up her clear gray eyes and deep,", "Though some divine thought soften'd all her face", "As once more rang the trumpet through the place.", "", "But her late foe stopp'd short amidst his course,", "One moment gaz'd upon her piteously.", "Then with a groan his lingering feet did force", "To leave the spot whence he her eyes could see;", "And, changed like one who knows his time must be", "But short and bitter, without any word", "He knelt before the bearer of the sword;", "", "Then high rose up the gleaming deadly blade,", "Bar'd of its flowers, and through the crowded place", "Was silence now, and midst of it the maid", "Went by the poor wretch at a gentle pace,", "And he to hers upturn'd his sad white face;", "Nor did his eyes behold another sight", "Ere on his soul there fell eternal light.", "", "So was the pageant ended, and all folk", "Talking of this and that familiar thing", "In little groups from that sad concourse broke,", "For now the shrill bats were upon the wing,", "And soon dark night would slay the evening,", "And in dark gardens sang the nightingale", "Her little-heeded, oft-repeated tale.", "", "And with the last of all the hunter went,", "Who, wondering at the strange sight he had seen,", "Prayed an old man to tell him what it meant,", "Both why the vanquished man so slain had been,", "And if the maiden were an earthly queen,", "Or rather what much more she seemed to be,", "No sharer in this world's mortality.", "", "\"Stranger,\" said he, \"I pray she soon may die", "Whose lovely youth has slain so many an one!", "King Schœneus' daughter is she verily,", "Who when her eyes first looked upon the sun", "Was fain to end her life but new begun,", "For he had vowed to leave but men alone", "Sprung from his loins when he from earth was gone.", "", "\"Therefore he bade one leave her in the wood,", "And let wild things deal with her as they might,", "But this being done, some cruel god thought good", "To save her beauty in the world's despite;", "Folk say that her, so delicate and white", "As now she is, a rough root-grubbing bear", "Amidst her shapeless cubs at first did rear.", "", "\"In course of time the woodfolk slew her nurse,", "And to their rude abode the youngling brought,", "And reared her up to be a kingdom's curse;", "Who grown a woman, of no kingdom thought,", "But armed and swift, 'mid beasts destruction wrought,", "Nor spared two shaggy centaur kings to slay", "To whom her body seemed an easy prey.", "", "\"So to this city, led by fate, she came", "Whom known by signs, whereof I cannot tell,", "King Schœneus for his child at last did claim.", "Nor otherwhere since that day doth she dwell", "Sending too many a noble soul to hell--", "What! shine eyes glisten! what then, thinkest thou", "Her shining head unto the yoke to bow?", "", "\"Listen, my son, and love some other maid", "For she the saffron gown will never wear,", "And on no flower-strewn couch shall she be laid,", "Nor shall her voice make glad a lover's ear:", "Yet if of Death thou hast not any fear,", "Yea, rather, if thou lov'st her utterly,", "Thou still may'st woo her ere thou com'st to die,", "", "\"Like him that on this day thou sawest lie dead;", "For fearing as I deem the sea-born one;", "The maid has vowed e'en such a man to wed", "As in the course her swift feet can outrun,", "But whoso fails herein, his days are done:", "He came the nighest that was slain to-day,", "Although with him I deem she did but play.", "", "\"Behold, such mercy Atalanta gives", "To those that long to win her loveliness;", "Be wise! be sure that many a maid there lives", "Gentler than she, of beauty little less,", "Whose swimming eyes thy loving words shall bless,", "When in some garden, knee set close to knee,", "Thou sing'st the song that love may teach to thee.\"", "", "So to the hunter spake that ancient man,", "And left him for his own home presently:", "But he turned round, and through the moonlight wan", "Reached the thick wood, and there 'twixt tree and tree", "Distraught he passed the long night feverishly,", "'Twixt sleep and waking, and at dawn arose", "To wage hot war against his speechless foes.", "", "There to the hart's flank seemed his shaft to grow,", "As panting down the broad green glades he flew,", "There by his horn the Dryads well might know", "His thrust against the bear's heart had been true,", "And there Adonis' bane his javelin slew,", "But still in vain through rough and smooth he went,", "For none the more his restlessness was spent.", "", "So wandering, he to Argive cities came,", "And in the lists with valiant men he stood,", "And by great deeds he won him praise and fame,", "And heaps of wealth for little-valued blood;", "But none of all these things, or life, seemed good", "Unto his heart, where still unsatisfied", "A ravenous longing warred with fear and pride.", "", "Therefore it happed when but a month had gone", "Since he had left King Schœneus' city old,", "In hunting-gear again, again alone", "The forest-bordered meads did he behold,", "Where still mid thoughts of August's quivering gold", "Folk hoed the wheat, and clipped the vine in trust", "Of faint October's purple-foaming must.", "", "And once again he passed the peaceful gate,", "While to his beating heart his lips did lie,", "That owning not victorious love and fate,", "Said, half aloud, \"And here too must I try,", "To win of alien men the mastery,", "And gather for my head fresh meed of fame", "And cast new glory on my father's name.\"", "", "In spite of that, how beat his heart, when first", "Folk said to him, \"And art thou come to see", "That which still makes our city's name accurst", "Among all mothers for its cruelty?", "Then know indeed that fate is good to thee", "Because to-morrow a new luckless one", "Against the white-foot maid is pledged to run.\"", "", "So on the morrow with no curious eyes", "As once he did, that piteous sight he saw,", "Nor did that wonder in his heart arise", "As toward the goal the conquering maid 'gan draw,", "Nor did he gaze upon her eyes with awe,", "Too full the pain of longing filled his heart", "For fear or wonder there to have a part.", "", "But O, how long the night was ere it went!", "How long it was before the dawn begun", "Showed to the wakening birds the sun's intent", "That not in darkness should the world be done!", "And then, and then, how long before the sun", "Bade silently the toilers of the earth", "Get forth to fruitless cares or empty mirth!", "", "And long it seemed that in the market-place", "He stood and saw the chaffering folk go by,", "Ere from the ivory throne King Schœneus' face", "Looked down upon the murmur royally,", "But then came trembling that the time was nigh", "When he midst pitying looks his love must claim,", "And jeering voices must salute his name.", "", "But as the throng he pierced to gain the throne,", "His alien face distraught and anxious told", "What hopeless errand he was bound upon,", "And, each to each, folk whispered to behold", "His godlike limbs; nay, and one woman old", "As he went by must pluck him by the sleeve", "And pray him yet that wretched love to leave.", "", "For sidling up she said, \"Canst thou live twice,", "Fair son? canst thou have joyful youth again,", "That thus thou goest to the sacrifice", "Thyself the victim? nay then, all in vain", "Thy mother bore her longing and her pain,", "And one more maiden on the earth must dwell", "Hopeless of joy, nor fearing death and hell.", "", "\"O, fool, thou knowest not the compact then", "That with the three-formed goddess she has made", "To keep her from the loving lips of men,", "And in no saffron gown to be arrayed,", "And therewithal with glory to be paid,", "And love of her the moonlit river sees", "White 'gainst the shadow of the formless trees.", "", "\"Come back, and I myself will pray for thee", "Unto the sea-born framer of delights,", "To give thee her who on the earth may be", "The fairest stirrer up to death and fights,", "To quench with hopeful days and joyous nights", "The flame that doth thy youthful heart consume:", "Come back, nor give thy beauty to the tomb.\"", "", "How should he listen to her earnest speech?", "Words, such as he not once or twice had said", "Unto himself, whose meaning scarce could reach", "The firm abode of that sad hardihead--", "He turned about, and through the marketstead", "Swiftly he passed, until before the throne", "In the cleared space he stood at last alone.", "", "Then said the King, \"Stranger, what dost thou here?", "Have any of my folk done ill to thee?", "Or art thou of the forest men in fear?", "Or art thou of the sad fraternity", "Who still will strive my daughter's mates to be,", "Staking their lives to win an earthly bliss,", "The lonely maid, the friend of Artemis?\"", "", "\"O King,\" he said, \"thou sayest the word indeed;", "Nor will I quit the strife till I have won", "My sweet delight, or death to end my need.", "And know that I am called Milanion,", "Of King Amphidamas the well-loved son:", "So fear not that to thy old name, O King,", "Much loss or shame my victory will bring.\"", "", "\"Nay, Prince,\" said Schœneus, \"welcome to this land", "Thou wert indeed, if thou wert here to try", "Thy strength 'gainst some one mighty of his hand;", "Nor would we grudge thee well-won mastery.", "But now, why wilt thou come to me to die,", "And at my door lay down thy luckless head,", "Swelling the band of the unhappy dead,", "", "\"Whose curses even now my heart doth fear?", "Lo, I am old, and know what life can be,", "And what a bitter thing is death anear.", "O, Son! be wise, and harken unto me,", "And if no other can be dear to thee,", "At least as now, yet is the world full wide,", "And bliss in seeming hopeless hearts may hide:", "", "\"But if thou losest life, then all is lost.\"", "\"Nay, King,\" Milanion said, \"thy words are vain.", "Doubt not that I have counted well the cost.", "But say, on what day wilt thou that I gain", "Fulfilled delight, or death to end my pain.", "Right glad were I if it could be to-day,", "And all my doubts at rest for ever lay.\"", "", "\"Nay,\" said King Schœneus, \"thus it shall not be,", "But rather shalt thou let a month go by,", "And weary with thy prayers for victory", "What god thou know'st the kindest and most nigh.", "So doing, still perchance thou shalt not die:", "And with my goodwill wouldst thou have the maid,", "For of the equal gods I grow afraid.", "", "\"And until then, O Prince, be thou my guest, .", "And all these troublous things awhile forget.\"", "\"Nay,\" said he, \"couldst thou give my soul good rest,", "And on mine head a sleepy garland set,", "Then had I 'scaped the meshes of the net,", "Nor should thou hear from me another word;", "But now, make sharp thy fearful heading-sword.", "", "\"Yet will I do what son of man may do,", "And promise all the gods may most desire,", "That to myself I may at least be true;", "And on that day my heart and limbs so tire,", "With utmost strain and measureless desire,", "That, at the worst, I may but fall asleep", "When in the sunlight round that sword shall sweep. \"", "", "He went therewith, nor anywhere would bide,", "But unto Argos restlessly did wend;", "And there, as one who lays all hope aside,", "Because the leech has said his life must end,", "Silent farewell he bade to foe and friend,", "And took his way unto the restless sea,", "For there he deemed his rest and help might be.", "", "Upon the shore of Argolis there stands", "A temple to the goddess that he sought,", "That, turned unto the lion-bearing lands,", "Fenced from the east, of cold winds hath no thought,", "Though to no homestead there the sheaves are brought,", "No groaning press torments the close-clipped murk,", "Lonely the fane stands, far from all men's work.", "", "Pass through a close, set thick with myrtle-trees,", "Through the brass doors that guard the holy place,", "And entering, hear the washing of the seas", "That twice a-day rise high above the base,", "And with the south-west urging them, embrace", "The marble feet of her that standeth there", "That shrink not, naked though they be and fair.", "", "Small is the fane through which the sea-wind sings", "About Queen Venus' well-wrought image white,", "But hung around are many precious things,", "The gifts of those who, longing for delight,", "Have hung them there within the goddess' sight,", "And in return have taken at her hands", "The living treasures of the Grecian lands.", "", "And thither now has come Milanion,", "And showed unto the priests' wide open eyes", "Gifts fairer than all those that there have shone,", "Silk cloths, inwrought with Indian fantasies,", "And bowls inscribed with sayings of the wise", "Above the deeds of foolish living things;", "And mirrors fit to be the gifts of kings.", "", "And now before the Sea-born One he stands,", "By the sweet veiling smoke made dim and soft,", "And while the incense trickles from his hands,", "And while the odorous smoke-wreaths hang aloft,", "Thus doth he pray to her: \"O Thou, who oft", "Hast holpen man and maid in their distress", "Despise me not for this my wretchedness!", "", "\"O goddess, among us who dwelt below,", "Kings and great men, great for a little while,", "Have pity on the lowly heads that bow,", "Nor hate the hearts that love them without guile;", "Wilt thou be worse than these, and is thy smile", "A vain device of him who set thee here,", "An empty dream of some artificer?", "", "\"O great one, some men love, and are ashamed;", "Some men are weary of the bonds of love;", "Yea, and by some men lightly art thou blamed,", "That from thy toils their lives they cannot move,", "And 'mid the ranks of men their manhood prove.", "Alas! O goddess, if thou slayest me,", "What new immortal can I serve but thee?", "", "\"Think then, will it bring honour to thy head", "If folk say, 'Everything aside he cast", "And to all fame and honour was he dead,", "And to his one hope now is dead at last,", "Since all unholpen he is gone and past;", "Ah, the gods love not man, for certainly,", "He to his helper did not cease to cry.'", "", "\"Nay, but thou wilt help; they who died before", "Not single-hearted as I deem came here,", "Therefore unthanked they laid their gifts before", "Thy stainless feet, still shivering with their fear,", "Lest in their eyes their true thought might appear,", "Who sought to be the lords of that fair town,", "Dreaded of men and winners of renown.", "", "\"O Queen, thou knowest I pray not for this:", "O set us down together in some place", "Where not a voice can break our heaven of bliss,", "Where nought but rocks and I can see her face,", "Softening beneath the marvel of thy grace,", "Where not a foot our vanished steps can track--", "The golden age, the golden age come back!", "", "\"O fairest, hear me now who do thy will,", "Plead for thy rebel that she be not slain,", "But live and love and be thy servant still;", "Ah, give her joy and take away my pain,", "And thus two long-enduring servants gain.", "An easy thing this is to do for me,", "What need of my vain words to weary thee.", "", "\"But none the less, this place will I not leave", "Until I needs must go my death to meet,", "Or at thy hands some happy sign receive", "That in great joy we twain may one day greet", "Thy presence here and kiss thy silver feet,", "Such as we deem thee, fair beyond all words,", "Victorious o'er our servants and our lords.\"", "", "Then from the altar back a space he drew,", "But from the Queen turned not his face away,", "But 'gainst a pillar leaned, until the blue", "That arched the sky, at ending of the day,", "Was turned to ruddy gold and changing gray,", "And clear, but low, the nigh-ebbed windless sea", "In the still evening murmured ceaselessly.", "", "And there he stood when all the sun was down,", "Nor had he moved, when the dim golden light,", "Like the fair lustre of a godlike town,", "Had left the world to seeming hopeless night,", "Nor would he move the more when wan moonlight", "Streamed through the pillows for a little while,", "And lighted up the white Queen's changeless smile.", "", "Nought noted he the shallow-flowing sea", "As step by step it set the wrack a-swim;", "The yellow torchlight nothing noted he", "Wherein with fluttering gown and half-bared limb", "The temple damsels sung their midnight hymn;", "And nought the doubled stillness of the fane", "When they were gone and all was hushed again.", "", "But when the waves had touched the marble base,", "And steps the fish swim over twice a-day,", "The dawn beheld him sunken in his place", "Upon the floor; and sleeping there he lay,", "Not heeding aught the little jets of spray", "The roughened sea brought nigh, across him cast,", "For as one dead all thought from him had passed.", "", "Yet long before the sun had showed his head,", "Long ere the varied hangings on the wall", "Had gained once more their blue and green and red,", "He rose as one some well-known sign doth call", "When war upon the city's gates doth fall,", "And scarce like one fresh risen out of sleep,", "He 'gan again his broken watch to keep.", "", "Then he turned round; not for the sea-gull's cry", "That wheeled above the temple in his flight,", "Not for the fresh south wind that lovingly", "Breathed on the new-born day and dying night,", "But some strange hope 'twixt fear and great delight", "Drew round his face, now flushed, now pale and wan,", "And still constrained his eyes the sea to scan.", "", "Now a faint light lit up the southern sky,", "Not sun or moon, for all the world was gray,", "But this a bright cloud seemed, that drew anigh,", "Lighting the dull waves that beneath it lay", "As toward the temple still it took its way,", "And still grew greater, till Milanion", "Saw nought for dazzling light that round him shone.", "", "But as he staggered with his arms outspread,", "Delicious unnamed odours breathed around,", "For languid happiness he bowed his head,", "And with wet eyes sank down upon the ground,", "Nor wished for aught, nor any dream he found", "To give him reason for that happiness,", "Or make him ask more knowledge of his bliss.", "", "At last his eyes were cleared, and he could see", "Through happy tears the goddess face to face", "With that faint image of Divinity,", "Whose well-wrought smile and dainty changeless grace", "Until that morn so gladdened all the place;", "Then, he unwitting cried aloud her name", "And covered up his eyes for fear and shame.", "", "But through the stillness he her voice could hear", "Piercing his heart with joy scarce bearable,", "That said, \"Milanion, wherefore dost thou fear,", "I am not hard to those who love me well;", "List to what I a second time will tell,", "And thou mayest hear perchance, and live to save", "The cruel maiden from a loveless grave.", "", "\"See, by my feet three golden apples lie--", "Such fruit among the heavy roses falls,", "Such fruit my watchful damsels carefully", "Store up within the best loved of my walls,", "Ancient Damascus, where the lover calls", "Above my unseen head, and faint and light", "The rose-leaves flutter round me in the night.", "", "\"And note, that these are not alone most fair", "With heavenly gold, but longing strange they bring", "Unto the hearts of men, who will not care", "Beholding these, for any once-loved thing", "Till round the shining sides their fingers cling.", "And thou shalt see thy well-girt swift-foot maid", "By sight of these amidst her glory stayed.", "", "\"For bearing these within a scrip with thee,", "When first she heads thee from the starting-place", "Cast down the first one for her eyes to see,", "And when she turns aside make on apace,", "And if again she heads thee in the race", "Spare not the other two to cast aside", "If she not long enough behind will bide.", "", "\"Farewell, and when has come the happy time", "That she Diana's raiment must unbind", "And all the world seems blessed with Saturn's clime,", "And thou with eager arms about her twined", "Beholdest first her gray eyes growing kind,", "Surely, O trembler, thou shalt scarcely then", "Forget the Helper of unhappy men.\"", "", "Milanion raised his head at this last word", "For now so soft and kind she seemed to be", "No longer of her Godhead was he feared;", "Too late he looked; for nothing could he see", "But the white image glimmering doubtfully", "In the departing twilight cold and gray,", "And those three apples on the step that lay.", "", "These then he caught up quivering with delight,", "Yet fearful lest it all might be a dream;", "And though aweary with the watchful night,", "And sleepless nights of longing, still did deem", "He could not sleep; but yet the first sunbeam", "That smote the fane across the heaving deep", "Shone on him laid in calm, untroubled sleep.", "", "But little ere the noontide did he rise,", "And why he felt so happy scarce could tell", "Until the gleaming apples met his eyes.", "Then leaving the fair place where this befell", "Oft he looked back as one who loved it well,", "Then homeward to the haunts of men, 'gan wend", "To bring all things unto a happy end.", "", "Now has the lingering month at last gone by,", "Again are all folk round the running place,", "Nor other seems the dismal pageantry", "Than heretofore, but that another face", "Looks o'er the smooth course ready for the race,", "For now, beheld of all, Milanion", "Stands on the spot he twice has looked upon.", "", "But yet--what change is this that holds the maid?", "Does she indeed see in his glittering eye", "More than disdain of the sharp shearing blade,", "Some happy hope of help and victory?", "The others seem'd to say, \"We come to die;", "Look down upon us for a little while,", "That, dead, we may bethink us of thy smile.\"", "", "But he--what look of mastery was this", "He cast on her? why were his lips so red;", "Why was his face so flush'd with happiness?", "So looks not one who deems himself but dead,", "E'en if to death he bows a willing head;", "So rather looks a god well pleas'd to find", "Some earthly damsel fashion'd to his mind,", "", "Why must she drop her lids before his gaze,", "And even as she casts adown her eyes", "Redden to note his eager glance of praise,", "And wish that she were clad in other guise?", "Why must the memory to her heart arise", "Of things unnoticed when they first were heard,", "Some lover's song, some answering maiden's word?", "", "What makes these longings, vague--without a name,", "And this vain pity never felt before,", "This sudden languor, this contempt of fame,", "This tender sorrow for the time past o'er,", "These doubts that grow each minute more and more?", "Why does she tremble as the time grows near,", "And weak defeat and woeful victory fear?", "", "But while she seem'd to hear her beating heart,", "Above their heads the trumpet blast rang out", "And forth they sprang, and she must play her part;", "Then flew her white feet, knowing not a doubt,", "Though, slackening once, she turn'd her head about,", "But then she cried aloud and faster fled", "Than e'er before, and all men deemed him dead.", "", "But with no sound he raised aloft his hand,", "And thence what seemed a ray of light there flew", "And past the maid rolled on along the sand;", "Then trembling she her feet together drew", "And in her heart a strong desire there grew", "To have the toy, some god she thought had given", "That gift to her, to make of earth a heaven.", "", "Then from the course with eager steps she ran,", "And in her odorous bosom laid the gold.", "But when she turned again, the great-limbed man,", "Now well ahead she failed not to behold,", "And mindful of her glory waxing cold,", "Sprang up and followed him in hot pursuit,", "Though with one hand she touched the golden fruit.", "", "Note, too, the bow that she was wont to bear", "She laid aside to grasp the glittering prize,", "And o'er her shoulder from the quiver fair", "Three arrows fell and lay before her eyes", "Unnoticed, as amidst the people's cries", "She sprang to head the strong Milanion,", "Who now the turning-post had well-nigh won.", "", "But as he set his mighty hand on it", "White fingers underneath his own were laid,", "And white limbs from his dazzled eyes did flit,", "Then he the second fruit cast by the maid:", "She ran awhile, and then as one afraid", "Wavered and stopped, and turned and made no stay,", "Until the globe with its bright fellow lay.", "", "Then, as a troubled glance she cast around,", "Now far ahead the Argive could she see,", "And in her garment's hem one hand she wound", "To keep the double prize, and strenuously", "Sped o'er the course, and little doubt had she", "To win the day, though now but scanty space", "Was left betwixt him and the winning place.", "", "Short was the way unto such wingèd feet,", "Quickly she gained upon him till at last", "He turned about her eager eyes to meet", "And from his hand the third fair apple cast.", "She wavered not, but turned and ran so fast", "After the prize that should her bliss fulfil,", "That in her hand it lay ere it was still.", "", "Nor did she rest, but turned about to win", "Once more, an unblest woeful victory--", "And yet--and yet--why does her breath begin", "To fail her, and her feet drag heavily?", "Why fails she now to see if far or nigh", "The goal is? why do her gray eyes grow dim?", "Why do these tremors run through every limb?", "", "She spreads her arms abroad some stay to find", "Else must she fall, indeed, and findeth this,", "A strong man's arms about her body twined.", "Nor may she shudder now to feel his kiss,", "So wrapped she is in new unbroken bliss:", "Made happy that the foe the prize hath won,", "She weeps glad tears for all her glory done.", "", "Shatter the trumpet, hew adown the posts!", "Upon the brazen altar break the sword,", "And scatter incense to appease the ghosts", "Of those who died here by their own award.", "Bring forth the image of the mighty Lord,", "And her who unseen o'er the runners hung,", "And did a deed for ever to be sung.", "", "Here are the gathered folk; make no delay,", "Open King Schœneus' well-filled treasury,", "Bring out the gifts long hid from light of day,", "The golden bowls o'erwrought with imagery,", "Gold chains, and unguents brought from over sea,", "The saffron gown the old Phœnician brought,", "Within the temple of the Goddess wrought.", "", "O ye, O damsels, who shall never see", "Her, that Love's servant bringeth now to you,", "Returning from another victory,", "In some cool bower do all that now is due!", "Since she in token of her service new", "Shall give to Venus offerings rich enow,", "Her maiden zone, her arrows and her bow." ], "linecount": "679" }, { "title": "Sir Galahad, a Christmas Mystery", "author": "William Morris", "lines": [ "It is the longest night in all the year,", "Near on the day when the Lord Christ was born;", "Six hours ago I came and sat down here,", "And ponder'd sadly, wearied and forlorn.", "", "The winter wind that pass'd the chapel door,", "Sang out a moody tune, that went right well", "With mine own thoughts: I look'd down on the floor,", "Between my feet, until I heard a bell", "", "Sound a long way off through the forest deep,", "And toll on steadily; a drowsiness", "Came on me, so that I fell half asleep,", "As I sat there not moving: less and less", "", "I saw the melted snow that hung in beads", "Upon my steel-shoes; less and less I saw", "Between the tiles the bunches of small weeds:", "Heartless and stupid, with no touch of awe", "", "Upon me, half-shut eyes upon the ground,", "I thought: O Galahad! the days go by,", "Stop and cast up now that which you have found,", "So sorely you have wrought and painfully.", "", "Night after night your horse treads down alone", "The sere damp fern, night after night you sit", "Holding the bridle like a man of stone,", "Dismal, unfriended: what thing comes of it?", "", "And what if Palomydes also ride,", "And over many a mountain and bare heath", "Follow the questing beast with none beside?", "Is he not able still to hold his breath", "", "With thoughts of Iseult? doth he not grow pale", "With weary striving, to seem best of all", "To her, \"as she is best,\" he saith? to fail", "Is nothing to him, he can never fall.", "", "For unto such a man love-sorrow is", "So dear a thing unto his constant heart,", "That even if he never win one kiss,", "Or touch from Iseult, it will never part.", "", "And he will never know her to be worse", "Than in his happiest dreams he thinks she is:", "Good knight, and faithful, you have 'scaped the curse", "In wonderful-wise; you have great store of bliss.", "", "Yea, what if Father Launcelot ride out,", "Can he not think of Guenevere's arms, round", "Warm and lithe, about his neck, and shout", "Till all the place grows joyful with the sound?", "", "And when he lists can often see her face,", "And think, \"Next month I kiss you, or next week,", "And still you think of me\": therefore the place", "Grows very pleasant, whatsoever he seek.", "", "But me, who ride alone, some carle shall find", "Dead in my arms in the half-melted snow,", "When all unkindly with the shifting wind,", "The thaw comes on at Candlemas: I know", "", "Indeed that they will say: \"This Galahad", "If he had lived had been a right good knight;", "Ah! poor chaste body!\" but they will be glad,", "Not most alone, but all, when in their sight", "", "That very evening in their scarlet sleeves", "The gay-dress'd minstrels sing; no maid will talk", "Of sitting on my tomb, until the leaves,", "Grown big upon the bushes of the walk,", "", "East of the Palace-pleasaunce, make it hard", "To see the minster therefrom: well-a-day!", "Before the trees by autumn were well bared,", "I saw a damozel with gentle play,", "", "Within that very walk say last farewell", "To her dear knight, just riding out to find", "(Why should I choke to say it?) the Sangreal,", "And their last kisses sunk into my mind,", "", "Yea, for she stood lean'd forward on his breast,", "Rather, scarce stood; the back of one dear hand,", "That it might well be kiss'd, she held and press'd", "Against his lips; long time they stood there, fann'd", "", "By gentle gusts of quiet frosty wind,", "Till Mador de la porte a-going by,", "And my own horsehoofs roused them; they untwined,", "And parted like a dream. In this way I,", "", "With sleepy face bent to the chapel floor,", "Kept musing half asleep, till suddenly", "A sharp bell rang from close beside the door,", "And I leapt up when something pass'd me by,", "", "Shrill ringing going with it, still half blind", "I stagger'd after, a great sense of awe", "At every step kept gathering on my mind,", "Thereat I have no marvel, for I saw", "", "One sitting on the altar as a throne,", "Whose face no man could say he did not know,", "And though the bell still rang, he sat alone,", "With raiment half blood-red, half white as snow.", "", "Right so I fell upon the floor and knelt,", "Not as one kneels in church when mass is said,", "But in a heap, quite nerveless, for I felt", "The first time what a thing was perfect dread.", "", "But mightily the gentle voice came down:", "\"Rise up, and look and listen, Galahad,", "Good knight of God, for you will see no frown", "Upon my face; I come to make you glad.", "", "\"For that you say that you are all alone,", "I will be with you always, and fear not", "You are uncared for, though no maiden moan", "Above your empty tomb; for Launcelot,", "", "\"He in good time shall be my servant too,", "Meantime, take note whose sword first made him knight,", "And who has loved him alway, yea, and who", "Still trusts him alway, though in all men's sight,", "", "\"He is just what you know, O Galahad,", "This love is happy even as you say,", "But would you for a little time be glad,", "To make ME sorry long, day after day?", "", "\"Her warm arms round his neck half throttle ME,", "The hot love-tears burn deep like spots of lead,", "Yea, and the years pass quick: right dismally", "Will Launcelot at one time hang his head;", "", "\"Yea, old and shrivell'd he shall win my love.", "Poor Palomydes fretting out his soul!", "Not always is he able, son, to move", "His love, and do it honour: needs must roll", "", "\"The proudest destrier sometimes in the dust,", "And then 'tis weary work; he strives beside", "Seem better than he is, so that his trust", "Is always on what chances may betide;", "", "\"And so he wears away, my servant, too,", "When all these things are gone, and wretchedly", "He sits and longs to moan for Iseult, who", "Is no care now to Palomydes: see,", "", "\"O good son, Galahad, upon this day,", "Now even, all these things are on your side,", "But these you fight not for; look up, I say,", "And see how I can love you, for no pride", "", "\"Closes your eyes, no vain lust keeps them down.", "See now you have ME always; following", "That holy vision, Galahad, go on,", "Until at last you come to ME to sing", "", "\"In Heaven always, and to walk around", "The garden where I am.\" He ceased, my face", "And wretched body fell upon the ground;", "And when I look'd again, the holy place", "", "Was empty; but right so the bell again", "Came to the chapel-door, there entered", "Two angels first, in white, without a stain,", "And scarlet wings, then, after them, a bed", "", "Four ladies bore, and set it down beneath", "The very altar-step, and while for fear", "I scarcely dared to move or draw my breath,", "Those holy ladies gently came a-near,", "", "And quite unarm'd me, saying: \"Galahad,", "Rest here awhile and sleep, and take no thought", "Of any other thing than being glad;", "Hither the Sangreal will be shortly brought,", "", "\"Yet must you sleep the while it stayeth here.\"", "Right so they went away, and I, being weary,", "Slept long and dream'd of Heaven: the bell comes near,", "I doubt it grows to morning. Miserere!", "", "", "[Enter Two Angels in white, with scarlet wings; also, Four Ladies in gowns of red and green; also an Angel, bearing in his hands a surcoat of white, with a red cross.]", "", "", "AN ANGEL", "", "O servant of the high God, Galahad!", "Rise and be arm'd: the Sangreal is gone forth", "Through the great forest, and you must be had", "Unto the sea that lieth on the north:", "", "There shall you find the wondrous ship wherein", "The spindles of King Solomon are laid,", "And the sword that no man draweth without sin,", "But if he be most pure: and there is stay'd,", "", "Hard by, Sir Launcelot, whom you will meet", "In some short space upon that ship: first, though,", "Will come here presently that lady sweet,", "Sister of Percival, whom you well know,", "", "And with her Bors and Percival: stand now,", "These ladies will to arm you.", "", "", "[FIRST LADY, putting on the hauberk]", "", "Galahad,", "That I may stand so close beneath your brow,", "Margaret of Antioch, am glad.", "", "", "[SECOND LADY, girding him with the sword.]", "", "That I may stand and touch you with my hand,", "O Galahad, I, Cecily, am glad.", "", "", "[THIRD LADY, buckling on the spurs.]", "", "That I may kneel while up above you stand,", "And gaze at me, O holy Galahad,", "I, Lucy, am most glad.", "", "", "[FOURTH LADY, putting on the basnet.]", "", "O gentle knight,", "That you bow down to us in reverence,", "We are most glad, I, Katherine, with delight", "Must needs fall trembling.", "", "", "[ANGEL, putting on the crossed surcoat.]", "", "Galahad, we go hence,", "", "For here, amid the straying of the snow,", "Come Percival's sister, Bors, and Percival.", "", "[The Four Ladies carry out the bed, and all go but Galahad.]", "", "", "GALAHAD.", "", "How still and quiet everything seems now:", "They come, too, for I hear the horsehoofs fall.", "", "[Enter Sir Bors, Sir Percival and his Sister.]", "", "", "Fair friends and gentle lady, God you save!", "A many marvels have been here to-night;", "Tell me what news of Launcelot you have,", "And has God's body ever been in sight?", "", "SIR BORS.", "", "Why, as for seeing that same holy thing,", "As we were riding slowly side by side,", "An hour ago, we heard a sweet voice sing,", "And through the bare twigs saw a great light glide,", "", "With many-colour'd raiment, but far off;", "And so pass'd quickly: from the court nought good;", "Poor merry Dinadan, that with jape and scoff", "Kept us all merry, in a little wood", "", "Was found all hack'd and dead: Sir Lionel", "And Gauwaine have come back from the great quest,", "Just merely shamed; and Lauvaine, who loved well", "Your father Launcelot, at the king's behest", "", "Went out to seek him, but was almost slain,", "Perhaps is dead now; everywhere", "The knights come foil'd from the great quest, in vain;", "In vain they struggle for the vision fair." ], "linecount": "214" }, { "title": "King Arthur's Tomb", "author": "William Morris", "lines": [ "Hot August noon: already on that day", "Since sunrise through the Wiltshire downs, most sad", "Of mouth and eye, he had gone leagues of way;", "Ay and by night, till whether good or bad", "", "He was, he knew not, though he knew perchance", "That he was Launcelot, the bravest knight", "Of all who since the world was, have borne lance,", "Or swung their swords in wrong cause or in right.", "", "Nay, he knew nothing now, except that where", "The Glastonbury gilded towers shine,", "A lady dwelt, whose name was Guenevere;", "This he knew also; that some fingers twine,", "", "Not only in a man's hair, even his heart,", "(Making him good or bad I mean,) but in his life,", "Skies, earth, men's looks and deeds, all that has part,", "Not being ourselves, in that half-sleep, half-strife,", "", "(Strange sleep, strange strife,) that men call living; so", "Was Launcelot most glad when the moon rose,", "Because it brought new memories of her. \"Lo,", "Between the trees a large moon, the wind lows", "", "\"Not loud, but as a cow begins to low,", "Wishing for strength to make the herdsman hear:", "The ripe corn gathereth dew; yea, long ago,", "In the old garden life, my Guenevere", "", "\"Loved to sit still among the flowers, till night", "Had quite come on, hair loosen'd, for she said,", "Smiling like heaven, that its fairness might", "Draw up the wind sooner to cool her head.", "", "\"Now while I ride how quick the moon gets small,", "As it did then: I tell myself a tale", "That will not last beyond the whitewashed wall,", "Thoughts of some joust must help me through the vale,", "", "\"Keep this till after: How Sir Gareth ran", "A good course that day under my Queen's eyes,", "And how she sway'd laughing at Dinadan.", "No. Back again, the other thoughts will rise,", "", "\"And yet I think so fast 'twill end right soon:", "Verily then I think, that Guenevere,", "Made sad by dew and wind, and tree-barred moon,", "Did love me more than ever, was more dear", "", "\"To me than ever, she would let me lie", "And kiss her feet, or, if I sat behind,", "Would drop her hand and arm most tenderly,", "And touch my mouth. And she would let me wind", "", "\"Her hair around my neck, so that it fell", "Upon my red robe, strange in the twilight", "With many unnamed colours, till the bell", "Of her mouth on my cheek sent a delight", "", "\"Through all my ways of being; like the stroke", "Wherewith God threw all men upon the face", "When he took Enoch, and when Enoch woke", "With a changed body in the happy place.", "", "\"Once, I remember, as I sat beside,", "She turn'd a little, and laid back her head,", "And slept upon my breast; I almost died", "In those night-watches with my love and dread.", "", "\"There lily-like she bow'd her head and slept,", "And I breathed low, and did not dare to move,", "But sat and quiver'd inwardly, thoughts crept,", "And frighten'd me with pulses of my Love.", "", "\"The stars shone out above the doubtful green", "Of her bodice, in the green sky overhead;", "Pale in the green sky were the stars I ween,", "Because the moon shone like a star she shed", "", "\"When she dwelt up in heaven a while ago,", "And ruled all things but God: the night went on,", "The wind grew cold, and the white moon grew low,", "One hand had fallen down, and now lay on", "", "\"My cold stiff palm; there were no colours then", "For near an hour, and I fell asleep", "In spite of all my striving, even when", "I held her whose name-letters make me leap.", "", "\"I did not sleep long, feeling that in sleep", "I did some loved one wrong, so that the sun", "Had only just arisen from the deep", "Still land of colours, when before me one", "", "\"Stood whom I knew, but scarcely dared to touch,", "She seemed to have changed so in the night;", "Moreover she held scarlet lilies, such", "As Maiden Margaret bears upon the light", "", "\"Of the great church walls, natheless did I walk", "Through the fresh wet woods, and the wheat that morn,", "Touching her hair and hand and mouth, and talk", "Of love we held, nigh hid among the corn.", "", "\"Back to the palace, ere the sun grew high,", "We went, and in a cool green room all day", "I gazed upon the arras giddily,", "Where the wind set the silken kings a-sway.", "", "\"I could not hold her hand, or see her face;", "For which may God forgive me! but I think,", "Howsoever, that she was not in that place.\"", "These memories Launcelot was quick to drink;", "", "And when these fell, some paces past the wall,", "There rose yet others, but they wearied more,", "And tasted not so sweet; they did not fall", "So soon, but vaguely wrenched his strained heart sore", "", "In shadowy slipping from his grasp: these gone,", "A longing followed; if he might but touch", "That Guenevere at once! Still night, the lone", "Grey horse's head before him vex'd him much,", "", "In steady nodding over the grey road:", "Still night, and night, and night, and emptied heart", "Of any stories; what a dismal load", "Time grew at last, yea, when the night did part,", "", "And let the sun flame over all, still there", "The horse's grey ears turn'd this way and that,", "And still he watch'd them twitching in the glare", "Of the morning sun, behind them still he sat,", "", "Quite wearied out with all the wretched night,", "Until about the dustiest of the day,", "On the last down's brow he drew his rein in sight", "Of the Glastonbury roofs that choke the way.", "", "And he was now quite giddy as before,", "When she slept by him, tired out, and her hair", "Was mingled with the rushes on the floor,", "And he, being tired too, was scarce aware", "", "Of her presence; yet as he sat and gazed,", "A shiver ran throughout him, and his breath", "Came slower, he seem'd suddenly amazed,", "As though he had not heard of Arthur's death.", "", "This for a moment only, presently", "He rode on giddy still, until he reach'd", "A place of apple-trees, by the thorn-tree", "Wherefrom St. Joseph in the days past preached.", "", "Dazed there he laid his head upon a tomb,", "Not knowing it was Arthur's, at which sight", "One of her maidens told her, \"He is come,\"", "And she went forth to meet him; yet a blight", "", "Had settled on her, all her robes were black,", "With a long white veil only; she went slow,", "As one walks to be slain, her eyes did lack", "Half her old glory, yea, alas! the glow", "", "Had left her face and hands; this was because", "As she lay last night on her purple bed,", "Wishing for morning, grudging every pause", "Of the palace clocks, until that Launcelot's head", "", "Should lie on her breast, with all her golden hair", "Each side: when suddenly the thing grew drear,", "In morning twilight, when the grey downs bare", "Grew into lumps of sin to Guenevere.", "", "At first she said no word, but lay quite still,", "Only her mouth was open, and her eyes", "Gazed wretchedly about from hill to hill;", "As though she asked, not with so much surprise", "", "As tired disgust, what made them stand up there", "So cold and grey. After, a spasm took", "Her face, and all her frame, she caught her hair,", "All her hair, in both hands, terribly she shook,", "", "And rose till she was sitting in the bed,", "Set her teeth hard, and shut her eyes and seem'd", "As though she would have torn it from her head,", "Natheless she dropp'd it, lay down, as she deem'd", "", "It matter'd not whatever she might do:", "O Lord Christ! pity on her ghastly face!", "Those dismal hours while the cloudless blue", "Drew the sun higher: He did give her grace;", "", "Because at last she rose up from her bed,", "And put her raiment on, and knelt before", "The blessed rood, and with her dry lips said,", "Muttering the words against the marble floor:", "", "\"Unless you pardon, what shall I do, Lord,", "But go to hell? and there see day by day", "Foul deed on deed, hear foulest word on word,", "For ever and ever, such as on the way", "", "\"To Camelot I heard once from a churl,", "That curled me up upon my jennet's neck", "With bitter shame; how then, Lord, should I curl", "For ages and for ages? dost thou reck", "", "\"That I am beautiful, Lord, even as you", "And your dear mother? why did I forget", "You were so beautiful, and good, and true,", "That you loved me so, Guenevere? O yet", "", "\"If even I go to hell, I cannot choose", "But love you, Christ, yea, though I cannot keep", "From loving Launcelot; O Christ! must I lose", "My own heart's love? see, though I cannot weep,", "", "\"Yet am I very sorry for my sin;", "Moreover, Christ, I cannot bear that hell,", "I am most fain to love you, and to win", "A place in heaven some time: I cannot tell:", "", "\"Speak to me, Christ! I kiss, kiss, kiss your feet;", "Ah! now I weep!\" The maid said, \"By the tomb", "He waiteth for you, lady,\" coming fleet,", "Not knowing what woe filled up all the room.", "", "So Guenevere rose and went to meet him there,", "He did not hear her coming, as he lay", "On Arthur's head, till some of her long hair", "Brush'd on the new-cut stone: \"Well done! to pray", "", "\"For Arthur, my dear Lord, the greatest king", "That ever lived.\" \"Guenevere! Guenevere!", "Do you not know me, are you gone mad? fling", "Your arms and hair about me, lest I fear", "", "\"You are not Guenevere, but some other thing.\"", "\"Pray you forgive me, fair lord Launcelot!", "I am not mad, but I am sick; they cling,", "God's curses, unto such as I am; not", "", "\"Ever again shall we twine arms and lips.\"", "\"Yea, she is mad: thy heavy law, O Lord,", "Is very tight about her now, and grips", "Her poor heart, so that no right word", "", "\"Can reach her mouth; so, Lord, forgive her now,", "That she not knowing what she does, being mad,", "Kills me in this way: Guenevere, bend low", "And kiss me once! for God's love kiss me! sad", "", "\"Though your face is, you look much kinder now;", "Yea once, once for the last time kiss me, lest I die.\"", "\"Christ! my hot lips are very near his brow,", "Help me to save his soul! Yea, verily,", "", "\"Across my husband's head, fair Launcelot!", "Fair serpent mark'd with V upon the head!", "This thing we did while yet he was alive,", "Why not, O twisting knight, now he is dead?", "", "\"Yea, shake! shake now and shiver! if you can", "Remember anything for agony,", "Pray you remember how when the wind ran", "One cool spring evening through fair aspen-tree,", "", "\"And elm and oak about the palace there", "The king came back from battle, and I stood", "To meet him, with my ladies, on the stair,", "My face made beautiful with my young blood.\"", "", "\"Will she lie now, Lord God?\" \"Remember too,", "Wrung heart, how first before the knights there came", "A royal bier, hung round with green and blue,", "About it shone great tapers with sick flame.", "", "\"And thereupon Lucius, the Emperor,", "Lay royal-robed, but stone-cold now and dead,", "Not able to hold sword or sceptre more,", "But not quite grim; because his cloven head", "", "\"Bore no marks now of Launcelot's bitter sword,", "Being by embalmers deftly solder'd up;", "So still it seem'd the face of a great lord,", "Being mended as a craftsman mends a cup.", "", "\"Also the heralds sung rejoicingly", "To their long trumpets; 'Fallen under shield,", "Here lieth Lucius, King of Italy,", "Slain by Lord Launcelot in open field.'", "", "\"Thereat the people shouted: 'Launcelot!'", "And through the spears I saw you drawing nigh,", "You and Lord Arthur: nay, I saw you not,", "But rather Arthur, God would not let die,", "", "\"I hoped, these many years; he should grow great,", "And in his great arms still encircle me,", "Kissing my face, half blinded with the heat", "Of king's love for the queen I used to be.", "", "\"Launcelot, Launcelot, why did he take your hand,", "When he had kissed me in his kingly way?", "Saying: 'This is the knight whom all the land", "Calls Arthur's banner, sword, and shield to-day;", "", "\"'Cherish him, love.' Why did your long lips cleave", "In such strange way unto my fingers then?", "So eagerly glad to kiss, so loath to leave", "When you rose up? Why among helmed men", "", "\"Could I always tell you by your long strong arms,", "And sway like an angel's in your saddle there?", "Why sicken'd I so often with alarms", "Over the tilt-yard? Why were you more fair", "", "\"Than aspens in the autumn at their best?", "Why did you fill all lands with your great fame,", "So that Breuse even, as he rode, fear'd lest", "At turning of the way your shield should flame?", "", "\"Was it nought then, my agony and strife?", "When as day passed by day, year after year,", "I found I could not live a righteous life!", "Didst ever think queens held their truth for dear?", "", "\"O, but your lips say: 'Yea, but she was cold", "Sometimes, always uncertain as the spring;", "When I was sad she would be overbold,", "Longing for kisses. When war-bells did ring,", "", "\"'The back-toll'd bells of noisy Camelot.'\"", "\"Now, Lord God, listen! listen, Guenevere,", "Though I am weak just now, I think there's not", "A man who dares to say: 'You hated her,", "", "\"'And left her moaning while you fought your fill", "In the daisied meadows!' lo you her thin hand,", "That on the carven stone can not keep still,", "Because she loves me against God's command,", "", "\"Has often been quite wet with tear on tear,", "Tears Launcelot keeps somewhere, surely not", "In his own heart, perhaps in Heaven, where", "He will not be these ages.\" \"Launcelot!", "", "\"Loud lips, wrung heart! I say when the bells rang,", "The noisy back-toll'd bells of Camelot,", "There were two spots on earth, the thrushes sang", "In the lonely gardens where my love was not,", "", "\"Where I was almost weeping; I dared not", "Weep quite in those days, lest one maid should say,", "In tittering whispers: 'Where is Launcelot", "To wipe with some kerchief those tears away?'", "", "\"Another answer sharply with brows knit,", "And warning hand up, scarcely lower though:", "'You speak too loud, see you, she heareth it,", "This tigress fair has claws, as I well know,", "", "\"'As Launcelot knows too, the poor knight! well-a-day!", "Why met he not with Iseult from the West,", "Or better still, Iseult of Brittany?", "Perchance indeed quite ladyless were best.'", "", "\"Alas, my maids, you loved not overmuch", "Queen Guenevere, uncertain as sunshine", "In March; forgive me! for my sin being such,", "About my whole life, all my deeds did twine,", "", "\"Made me quite wicked; as I found out then,", "I think; in the lonely palace where each morn", "We went, my maids and I, to say prayers when", "They sang mass in the chapel on the lawn.", "", "\"And every morn I scarce could pray at all,", "For Launcelot's red-golden hair would play,", "Instead of sunlight, on the painted wall,", "Mingled with dreams of what the priest did say;", "", "\"Grim curses out of Peter and of Paul;", "Judging of strange sins in Leviticus;", "Another sort of writing on the wall,", "Scored deep across the painted heads of us.", "", "\"Christ sitting with the woman at the well,", "And Mary Magdalen repenting there,", "Her dimmed eyes scorch'd and red at sight of hell", "So hardly 'scaped, no gold light on her hair.", "", "\"And if the priest said anything that seemed", "To touch upon the sin they said we did,", "(This in their teeth) they looked as if they deem'd", "That I was spying what thoughts might be hid", "", "\"Under green-cover'd bosoms, heaving quick", "Beneath quick thoughts; while they grew red with shame,", "And gazed down at their feet: while I felt sick,", "And almost shriek'd if one should call my name.", "", "\"The thrushes sang in the lone garden there:", "But where you were the birds were scared I trow:", "Clanging of arms about pavilions fair,", "Mixed with the knights' laughs; there, as I well know,", "", "\"Rode Launcelot, the king of all the band,", "And scowling Gauwaine, like the night in day,", "And handsome Gareth, with his great white hand", "Curl'd round the helm-crest, ere he join'd the fray;", "", "\"And merry Dinadan with sharp dark face,", "All true knights loved to see; and in the fight", "Great Tristram, and though helmed you could trace", "In all his bearing the frank noble knight;", "", "\"And by him Palomydes, helmet off,", "He fought, his face brush'd by his hair,", "Red heavy swinging hair; he fear'd a scoff", "So overmuch, though what true knight would dare", "", "\"To mock that face, fretted with useless care,", "And bitter useless striving after love?", "O Palomydes, with much honour bear", "Beast Glatysaunt upon your shield, above", "", "\"Your helm that hides the swinging of your hair,", "And think of Iseult, as your sword drives through", "Much mail and plate: O God, let me be there", "A little time, as I was long ago!", "", "\"Because stout Gareth lets his spear fall low,", "Gauwaine and Launcelot, and Dinadan", "Are helm'd and waiting; let the trumpets go!", "Bend over, ladies, to see all you can!", "", "\"Clench teeth, dames, yea, clasp hands, for Gareth's spear", "Throws Kay from out his saddle, like a stone", "From a castle-window when the foe draws near:", "'Iseult!' Sir Dinadan rolleth overthrown.", "", "\"'Iseult!' again: the pieces of each spear", "Fly fathoms up, and both the great steeds reel;", "'Tristram for Iseult!' 'Iseult!' and 'Guenevere!'", "The ladies' names bite verily like steel.", "", "\"They bite: bite me, Lord God! I shall go mad,", "Or else die kissing him, he is so pale,", "He thinks me mad already, O bad! bad!", "Let me lie down a little while and wail.\"", "", "\"No longer so, rise up, I pray you, love,", "And slay me really, then we shall be heal'd,", "Perchance, in the aftertime by God above.\"", "\"Banner of Arthur, with black-bended shield", "", "\"Sinister-wise across the fair gold ground!", "Here let me tell you what a knight you are,", "O sword and shield of Arthur! you are found", "A crooked sword, I think, that leaves a scar", "", "\"On the bearer's arm, so be he thinks it straight,", "Twisted Malay's crease beautiful blue-grey,", "Poison'd with sweet fruit; as he found too late,", "My husband Arthur, on some bitter day!", "", "\"O sickle cutting hemlock the day long!", "That the husbandman across his shoulder hangs,", "And, going homeward about evensong,", "Dies the next morning, struck through by the fangs!", "", "\"Banner, and sword, and shield, you dare not die,", "Lest you meet Arthur in the other world,", "And, knowing who you are, he pass you by,", "Taking short turns that he may watch you curl'd,", "", "\"Body and face and limbs in agony,", "Lest he weep presently and go away,", "Saying: 'I loved him once,' with a sad sigh,", "Now I have slain him, Lord, let me go too, I pray.", "", "[Launcelot falls.]", "", "\"Alas! alas! I know not what to do,", "If I run fast it is perchance that I", "May fall and stun myself, much better so,", "Never, never again! not even when I die.\"", "", "[LAUNCELOT, on awaking.]", "", "\"I stretch'd my hands towards her and fell down,", "How long I lay in swoon I cannot tell:", "My head and hands were bleeding from the stone,", "When I rose up, also I heard a bell.\"" ], "linecount": "398" }, { "title": "Summer Dawn", "author": "William Morris", "lines": [ "Pray but one prayer for me 'twixt thy closed lips,", "Think but one thought of me up in the stars.", "The summer night waneth, the morning light slips,", "Faint and grey 'twixt the leaves of the aspen, betwixt the cloud-bars", "That are patiently waiting there for the dawn:", "Patient and colourless, though Heaven's gold", "Waits to float through them along with the sun.", "Far out in the meadows, above the young corn,", "The heavy elms wait, and restless and cold", "The uneasy wind rises; the roses are dun;", "Through the long twilight they pray for the dawn,", "Round the lone house in the midst of the corn,", "Speak but one word to me over the corn,", "Over the tender, bow'd locks of the corn." ], "linecount": "14" }, { "title": "The Story of Sigurd the Volsung (excerpt)", "author": "William Morris", "lines": [ "But therewith the sun rose upward and lightened all the earth,", "And the light flashed up to the heavens from the rims of the glorious girth;", "But they twain arose together, and with both her palms outspread,", "And bathed in the light returning, she cried aloud and said:", "\"All hail, O Day and thy Sons, and thy kin of the coloured things!", "Hail, following Night, and thy Daughter that leadeth thy wavering wings!", "Look down With unangry eyes on us today alive,", "And give us the hearts victorious, and the gain for which we strive!", "All hail, ye Lords of God-home, and ye Queens of the House of Gold!", "Hail, thou dear Earth that bearest, and thou Wealth of field and fold!", "Give us, your noble children, the glory of wisdom and speech,", "And the hearts and the hands of healing, and the mouths and hands that teach!\"", "", "Then they turned and were knit together; and oft and o'er again", "They craved, and kissed rejoicing, and their hearts were full and fain.", "Then Sigurd looketh upon her, and the words from his heart arise:", "\"Thou art the fairest of earth, and the wisest of the wise;", "O who art thou that lovest? I am Sigurd, e'en as I told;", "I have slain the Foe of the Gods, and gotten the Ancient Gold;", "And great were the gain of thy love, and the gift of mine earthly days,", "If we twain should never sunder as we wend on the changing ways.", "O who art thou that lovest, thou fairest of all things born?", "And what meanest thy sleep and thy slumber in the wilderness forlorn?\"", "", "She said: \"I am one that loveth: I was born of the earthly folk,", "But of old Allfather took me from the Kings and their wedding yoke:", "And he called me the Victory-Wafter, and I went and came as he would,", "And I chose the slain for his war-host, and the days were glorious and good,", "Till the thoughts of my heart overcame me, and the pride of my wisdom and speech,", "And I scorned the earth-folk's Framer and the Lord of the world I must teach:", "For the death-doomed I caught from the sword, and the fated life I slew,", "And I deemed that my deeds were goodly, and that long I should do and undo.", "But Allfather came against me and the God in his wrath arose;", "And he cried: `Thou hast thought in thy folly that the Gods have friends and foes,", "That they wake, and the world wends onward, that they sleep, and the world slips back,", "That they laugh, and the world's weal waxeth, that they frown and fashion the the wrack:", "Thou hast cast up the curse against me; it shall fall aback on thine head;", "Go back to the sons of repentance, with the children of sorrow wed!", "For the Gods are great unholpen, and their grief is seldom seen,", "And the wrong that they will and must be is soon as it had not been.'", "", "\"Yet I thought: `Shall I wed in the world,shall I gather grief on the earth?", "Then the fearless heart shall I wed, and bring the best to birth,", "And fashion such tales for the telling, that Earth shall be holpen at least,", "If the Gods think scorn of its fairness, as they sit at the changeless feast.'", "\"Then somewhat smiled Allfather; and he spake: 'So let it be!", "The doom thereof abideth; the doom of me and thee.", "Yet long shall the time pass over ere thy waking day be born:", "Fare forth, and forget and be weary 'neath the Sting of the Sleepful Thorn!'", "", "'So I came to the head of Hindfell and the ruddy shields and white,", "And the wall of the wildfire wavering around the isle of night;", "And there the Sleep-thorn pierced me, and the slumber on me fell,", "And the night of nameless sorrows that hath no tale to tell.", "Now I am she that loveth; and the day is nigh at hand", "When I, who have ridden the sea-realm and the regions of the land,", "And dwelt in the measureless mountains and the forge of stormy days,", "Shall dwell in the house of my fathers and the land of the people's praise;", "And there shall hand meet hand, and heart by heart shall beat,", "And the lying-down shall be joyous, and the morn's uprising sweet.", "Lo now, I look on thine heart and behold of thine inmost will,", "That thou of the days wouldst hearken that our portion shall fulfil;", "But O, be wise of man-folk, and the hope of thine heart refrain!", "As oft in the battle's beginning ye vex the steed with the rein,", "Lest at last in the latter ending, when the sword hath hushed the horn,", "His limbs should be weary and fail, and his might be over-worn.", "O be wise, lest thy love constrain me, and my vision wax o'er-clear,", "And thou ask of the thing that thou shouldst not, and the thing that thou wouldst not hear.", "", "Know thou, most mighty of men, that the Norns shall order all,", "And yet without thine helping shall no whit of their will befall;", "Be wise! 'tis a marvel of words, and a mock for the fool and the blind;", "But I saw it writ in the heavens, and its fashioning there did I find:", "And the night of the Norns and their slumber, and the tide when the world runs back,", "And the way of the sun is tangled, it is wrought of the dastard's lack.", "But the day when the fair earth blossoms, and the sun is bright above,", "Of the daring deeds is it fashioned and the eager hearts of love.", "", "\"Be wise, and cherish thine hope in the freshness of the days,", "And scatter its seed from thine hand in the field of the people's praise;", "Then fair shall it fall in the furrow, and some the earth shall speed,", "And the sons of men shall marvel at the blossom of the deed:", "But some the earth shall speed not: nay rather, the wind of the heaven", "Shall waft it away from thy longing--and a gift to the Gods hast thou given,", "And a tree for the roof and the wall in the house of the hope that shall be,", "Though it seemeth our very sorrow, and the grief of thee and me.", "", "\"Strive not with the fools of man-folk: for belike thou shalt overcome;", "And what then is the gain of thine hunting when thou bearest the quarry home?", "Or else shall the fool overcome thee, and what deed thereof shall grow?", "Nay, strive with the wise man rather, and increase thy woe and his woe;", "Yet thereof a gain hast thou gotten; and the half of thine heart hast thou won", "If thou mayst prevail against him, and his deeds are the deeds thou hast done;", "Yea, and if thou fall before him, in him shalt thou live again,", "And thy deeds in his hand shall blossom, and his heart of thine heart shall be fain.", "", "\"When thou hearest the fool rejoicing, and he saith, 'It is over and past,", "And the wrong was better than right, and hate turns into love at the last,", "And we strove for nothing at all, and the Gods are fallen asleep;", "For so good is the world a-growing that the evil good shall reap:'", "Then loosen thy sword in the scabbard and settle the helm on thine head,", "For men betrayed are mighty, and great are the wrongfully dead.", "", "\"Wilt thou do the deed and repent it? thou hadst better never been born:", "Wilt thou do the deed and exalt it? then thy fame shall be outworn:", "Thou shalt do the deed and abide it, and sit on thy throne on high,", "And look on today and tomorrow as those that never die.", "", "\"Love thou the Gods--and withstand them, lest thy fame should fail in the end,", "And thou be but their thrall and their bondsman, who wert born for their very friend:", "For few things from the Gods are hidden, and the hearts of men they know,", "And how that none rejoiceth to quail and crouch alow.", "", "\"I have spoken the words, belov{`e}d, to thy matchless glory and worth;", "But thy heart to my heart hath been speaking, though my tongue hath set it forth:", "For I am she that loveth, and I know what thou wouldst teach", "From the heart of thine unlearned wisdom, and I needs must speak thy speech.\"", "", "Then words were weary and silent, but oft and o'er again", "They craved and kissed rejoicing, and their hearts were full and fain.", "", "Then spake the Son of Sigmund: \"Fairest, and most of worth,", "Hast thou seen the ways of man-folk and the regions of the earth?", "Then speak yet more of wisdom; for most meet meseems it is", "That my soul to thy soul be shapen, and that I should know thy bliss.\"", "", "So she took his right hand meekly, nor any word would say,", "Not e'en of love or praising, his longing to delay;", "And they sat on the side of Hindfell, and their fain eyes looked and loved,", "As she told of the hidden matters whereby the world is moved:", "And she told of the framing of all things, and the houses of the heaven;", "And she told of the star-worlds' courses, and how the winds be driven;", "And she told of the Norns and their names, and the fate that abideth the earth;", "And she told of the ways of the King-folk in their anger and their mirth;", "And she spoke of the love of women, and told of the flame that burns,", "And the fall of mighty houses, and the friend that falters and turns,", "And the lurking blinded vengeance, and the wrong that amendeth wrong,", "And the hand that repenteth its stroke, and the grief that endureth for long:", "And how man shall bear and forbear, and be master of all that is;", "And how man shall measure it all, the wrath, and the grief, and the bliss.", "\"I saw the body of Wisdom, and of shifting guise was she wrought,", "And I stretched out my hands to hold her, and a mote of the dust they caught;", "And I prayed her to come for my teaching, and she came in the midnight dream--", "And I woke and might not remember, nor betwixt her tangle deem:", "She spake, and how might I hearken; I heard, and how might I know;", "I knew, and how might I fashion, or her hidden glory show?", "All things I have told thee of Wisdom are but fleeting images", "Of her hosts that abide in the heavens, and her light that Allfather sees:", "Yet wise is the sower that sows, and wise is the reaper that reaps,", "And wise is the smith in his smiting, and wise is the warder that keeps:", "And wise shalt thou be to deliver, and I shall be wise to desire;", "--And lo, the tale that is told, and the sword and the wakening fire!", "Lo now, I am she that loveth, and hark how Greyfell neighs,", "And Fafnir's Bed is gleaming, and green go the downward ways,", "The road to the children of men and the deeds that thou shalt do", "In the joy of thy life-days' morning, when thine hope is fashioned anew.", "Come now, O Bane of the Serpent, for now is the high-noon come,", "And the sun hangeth over Hindfell and looks on the earth-folk's home;", "But the soul is so great within thee, and so glorious are thine eyes,", "And me so love constraineth, and mine heart that was called the wise,", "That we twain may see men's dwellings and the house where we shall dwell,", "And the place of our life's beginning, where the tale shall be to tell.\"", "", "So they climb the burg of Hindfell, and hand in hand they fare,", "Till all about and above them is nought but the sunlit air,", "And there close they cling together rejoicing in their mirth;", "For far away beneath them lie the kingdoms of the earth,", "And the garths of men-folk's dwellings and the streams that water them,", "And the rich and plenteous acres, and the silver ocean's hem,", "And the woodland wastes and the mountains, and all that holdeth all;", "The house and the ship and the island, the loom and the mine and the stall,", "The beds of bane and healing, the crafts that slay and save,", "The temple of God and the Doom-ring, the cradle and the grave.", "", "Then spake the Victory-Wafter: \"O King of the Earthly Age,", "As a God thou beholdest the treasure and the joy of thine heritage,", "And where on the wings of his hope is the spirit of Sigurd borne?", "Yet I bid thee hover awhile as a lark alow on the corn;", "Yet I bid thee look on the land 'twixt the wood and the silver sea", "In the bight of the swirling river, and the house that cherished me!", "There dwelleth mine earthly sister and the king that she hath wed;", "There morn by morn aforetime I woke on the golden bed;", "There eve by eve I tarried mid the speech and the lays of kings;", "There noon by noon I wandered and plucked the blossoming things;", "The little land of Lymdale by the swirling river's side,", "Where Brynhild once was I called in the days ere my father died;", "The little land of Lymdale 'twixt the woodland and the sea,", "Where on thee mine eyes shall brighten and thine eyes shall beam on me.\"", "\"I shall seek thee there,\" said Sigurd, \"when the day-spring is begun,", "Ere we wend the world together in the season of the sun.\"", "", "\"I shall bide thee there,\" said Brynhild, \"till the fulness of the days,", "And the time for the glory appointed, and the springing-tide of praise.\"", "From his hand then draweth Sigurd Andvari's ancient Gold;", "There is nought but the sky above them as the ring together they hold,", "The shapen ancient token, that hath no change nor end,", "No change, and no beginning, no flaw for God to mend:", "Then Sigurd cries: \"O Brynhild, now hearken while I swear,", "That the sun shall die in the heavens and the day no more be fair,", "If I seek not love in Lymdale and the house that fostered thee,", "And the land where thou awakedst 'twixt the woodland and the sea!\"", "", "And she cried: \"O Sigurd, Sigurd, now hearken while I swear", "That the day shall die for ever and the sun to blackness wear,", "Ere I forget thee, Sigurd, as I lie 'twixt wood and sea", "In the little land of Lymdale and the house that fostered me!\"", "", "Then he set the ring on her finger and once, if ne'er again,", "They kissed and clung together, and their hearts were full and fain.", "", "So the day grew old about them and the joy of their desire,", "And eve and the sunset came, and faint grew the sunset fire,", "And the shadowless death of the day was sweet in the golden tide;", "But the stars shone forth on the world, and the twilight changed and died;", "And sure if the first of man-folk had been born to that starry night,", "And had heard no tale of the sunrise, he had never longed for the light:", "But Earth longed amidst her slumber, as 'neath the night she lay,", "And fresh and all abundant abode the deeds of Day." ], "linecount": "198" }, { "title": "Autumn", "author": "William Morris", "lines": [ "Laden Autumn here I stand", "Worn of heart, and weak of hand:", "Nought but rest seems good to me,", "Speak the word that sets me free." ], "linecount": "4" }, { "title": "Spring", "author": "William Morris", "lines": [ "Spring am I, too soft of heart", "Much to speak ere I depart:", "Ask the Summer-tide to prove", "The abundance of my love." ], "linecount": "4" }, { "title": "The Haystack in the Floods", "author": "William Morris", "lines": [ "Had she come all the way for this,", "To part at last without a kiss?", "Yea, had she borne the dirt and rain", "That her own eyes might see him slain", "Beside the haystack in the floods?", "", "Along the dripping leafless woods,", "The stirrup touching either shoe,", "She rode astride as troopers do;", "With kirtle kilted to her knee,", "To which the mud splash'd wretchedly;", "And the wet dripp'd from every tree", "Upon her head and heavy hair,", "And on her eyelids broad and fair;", "The tears and rain ran down her face.", "By fits and starts they rode apace,", "And very often was his place", "Far off from her; he had to ride", "Ahead, to see what might betide", "When the roads cross'd; and sometimes, when", "There rose a murmuring from his men", "Had to turn back with promises;", "Ah me! she had but little ease;", "And often for pure doubt and dread", "She sobb'd, made giddy in the head", "By the swift riding; while, for cold,", "Her slender fingers scarce could hold", "The wet reins; yea, and scarcely, too,", "She felt the foot within her shoe", "Against the stirrup: all for this,", "To part at last without a kiss", "Beside the haystack in the floods.", "", "For when they near'd that old soak'd hay,", "They saw across the only way", "That Judas, Godmar, and the three", "Red running lions dismally", "Grinn'd from his pennon, under which", "In one straight line along the ditch,", "They counted thirty heads.", "", "So then", "While Robert turn'd round to his men", "She saw at once the wretched end,", "And, stooping down, tried hard to rend", "Her coif the wrong way from her head,", "And hid her eyes; while Robert said:", "\"Nay, love, 'tis scarcely two to one,", "At Poictiers where we made them run", "So fast--why, sweet my love, good cheer,", "The Gascon frontier is so near.", "Naught after this.\"", "", "But, \"Oh!\" she said,", "\"My God! my God! I have to tread", "The long way back without you; then", "The court at Paris; those six men;", "The gratings of the Chatelet;", "The swift Seine on some rainy day", "Like this, and people standing by", "And laughing, while my weak hands try", "To recollect how strong men swim.", "All this, or else a life with him,", "For which I should be damned at last.", "Would God that this next hour were past!\"", "", "He answer'd not, but cried his cry,", "\"St. George for Marny!\" cheerily;", "And laid his hand upon her rein.", "Alas! no man of all his train", "Gave back that cheery cry again;", "And, while for rage his thumb beat fast", "Upon his sword-hilts, some one cast", "About his neck a kerchief long,", "And bound him.", "", "Then they went along", "To Godmar; who said: \"Now, Jehane,", "Your lover's life is on the wane", "So fast, that, if this very hour", "You yield not as my paramour,", "He will not see the rain leave off--", "Nay, keep your tongue from gibe or scoff,", "Sir Robert, or I slay you now.\"", "", "She laid her hand upon her brow,", "Then gazed upon the palm, as though", "She thought her forehead bled, and--\"No!\"", "She said, and turn'd her head away,", "As there were nothing else to say,", "And everything were settled: red", "Grew Godmar's face from chin to head:", "\"Jehane, on yonder hill there stands", "My castle, guarding well my lands:", "What hinders me from taking you,", "And doing that I list to do", "To your fair wilful body, while", "Your knight lies dead?\"", "", "A wicked smile", "Wrinkled her face, her lips grew thin,", "A long way out she thrust her chin:", "\"You know that I would strangle you", "While you were sleeping; or bite through", "Your throat, by God's help--ah!\" she said,", "\"Lord Jesus, pity your poor maid!", "For in such wise they hem me in,", "I cannot choose but sin and sin,", "Whatever happens: yet I think", "They could not make me eat or drink,", "And so should I just reach my rest.\"", "\"Nay, if you do not my behest,", "O Jehane! though I love you well,\"", "Said Godmar, \"would I fail to tell", "All that I know?\" \"Foul lies,\" she said.", "\"Eh? lies, my Jehane? by God's head,", "At Paris folks would deem them true!", "Do you know, Jehane, they cry for you:", "'Jehane the brown! Jehane the brown!", "Give us Jehane to burn or drown!'--", "Eh--gag me Robert!--sweet my friend,", "This were indeed a piteous end", "For those long fingers, and long feet,", "And long neck, and smooth shoulders sweet;", "An end that few men would forget", "That saw it--So, an hour yet:", "Consider, Jehane, which to take", "Of life or death!\"", "", "So, scarce awake,", "Dismounting, did she leave that place,", "And totter some yards: with her face", "Turn'd upward to the sky she lay,", "Her head on a wet heap of hay,", "And fell asleep: and while she slept,", "And did not dream, the minutes crept", "Round to the twelve again; but she,", "Being waked at last, sigh'd quietly,", "And strangely childlike came, and said:", "\"I will not.\" Straightway Godmar's head,", "As though it hung on strong wires, turn'd", "Most sharply round, and his face burn'd.", "", "For Robert--both his eyes were dry,", "He could not weep, but gloomily", "He seem'd to watch the rain; yea, too,", "His lips were firm; he tried once more", "To touch her lips; she reach'd out, sore", "And vain desire so tortured them,", "The poor grey lips, and now the hem", "Of his sleeve brush'd them.", "", "With a start", "Up Godmar rose, thrust them apart;", "From Robert's throat he loosed the bands", "Of silk and mail; with empty hands", "Held out, she stood and gazed, and saw", "The long bright blade without a flaw", "Glide out from Godmar's sheath, his hand", "In Robert's hair, she saw him bend", "Back Robert's head; she saw him send", "The thin steel down; the blow told well,", "Right backward the knight Robert fell,", "And moaned as dogs do, being half dead,", "Unwitting, as I deem: so then", "Godmar turn'd grinning to his men,", "Who ran, some five or six, and beat", "His head to pieces at their feet.", "", "Then Godmar turn'd again and said:", "\"So, Jehane, the first fitte is read!", "Take note, my lady, that your way", "Lies backward to the Chatelet!\"", "She shook her head and gazed awhile", "At her cold hands with a rueful smile,", "As though this thing had made her mad.", "", "This was the parting that they had", "Beside the haystack in the floods." ], "linecount": "166" } ]