And pinnacle, and had made it spire to heaven.

And ever and anon a knight would pass Outward, or inward to the hall: his arms Clash'd; and the sound was good to Gareth's ear.

And out of bower and casement shyly glanced

Eyes of pure women, wholesome stars of love;

And all about a healthful people stept As in the presence of a gracious king.

Then into hall Gareth ascending heard A voice, the voice of Arthur, and beheld Far over heads in that long-vaulted hall The splendour of the presence of the King

Throned, and delivering doom- and look'd no more

But felt his young heart hammering in his ears,

And thought,' For this half-shadow of a lie

The truthful King will doom me when I speak.'

Yet pressing on, tho' all in fear to find Sir Gawain or Sir Modred, saw nor one Nor other, but in all the listening eyes

'More like are we to reave him of his crown

Than make him knight because men call him king.

The kings we found, ye know we stay'd their hands

From war among themselves, but left them kings;

Of whom were any bounteous, merciful, Truth-speaking, brave, good livers, them we enroll'd

Among us, and they sit within our hall. But Mark hath tarnish'd the great name of king,

As Mark would sully the low state of churl:

And, seeing he hath sent us cloth of