As any mother? Ay, but such a one As all day long hath rated at her child, And vext his day, but blesses him asleep Good lord, how sweetly smells the honeysuckle In the hush'd night, as if the world were one Of utter peace, and love, and gentle ness! O Lancelot, Lancelot "—and she clapt her hands “Full merry am I to find my goodly knave Is knight and noble. See now, sworn have I, Else yon black felon had not let me pass, To bring thee back to do the battle with him. Thus an thou goest, he will fight thee first: Who doubts thee victor? so will my knight-knave Miss the full cower of this accomplish ment." Said Lancelot, "Peradventure he ye name, my May know shield. Let Gareth, an he will, Change his for mine, and take my charger, fresh, Not to be spurr'd, loving the battle as well Streams virtue-fire-thro' one that will not shame Even the shadow of Lancelot under shield. Hence: let us go. Silent the silent field They traversed. Arthur's harp tho' summer-wan, In counter motion to the clouds, allured The glance of Gareth dreaming on his liege. A star shot: "Lo," said Gareth, "the foe falls!" An owl whoopt: "Hark the victor pealing there!" Suddenly she that rode upon his left Clung to the shield that Lancelot lent him crying, "Yield, yield him this again: 'tis he must fight: I curse the tongue that all thro' yesterday Reviled thee, and hath wrought on Lancelot now To lend thee horse and shield: wonders ye have done; Miracles ye cannot here is glory enow In having flung the three: I see thee maim'd, Mangled: I swear thou canst not fling the fourth" "And wherefore, damsel? tell me all ye know. Ye cannot scare me; nor rough face, or voice, [ery Brute bulk of limb, or boundless savagAppall me from the quest." "Nay, Prince," she cried, "God wot, I never look'd upon the face, Seeing he never rides abroad by day; But watch'd him have I like a phantom pass Chilling the night: nor have I heard the voice. Always he made his mouthpiece of a page Who came and went, and still reported him Then Gareth, "Here he rules. I know but one To dash against mine enemy and to win. [joust, Yet have I watch'd thee victor in the And seen thy way." "Heaven help thee," sigh'd Lynette. Then for a space, and under cloud that grew To thunder-gloom palling all stars, they rode In converse till she made her palfrey halt, Lifted an arm, and softly whisper'd, "There." And all the three were silent seeing, pitch'd Beside the Castle Perilous on flat field, A huge pavilion like a mountain peak Sunder the glooming crimson on the marge, Black, with black banner, and a long black horn Beside it hanging; which Sir Gareth graspt, And so, before the two could hinder him, Sent all his heart and breath thro' all the horn. Echo'd the walls; a light twinkled; anon Came lights and lights, and once again he blew; Whereon were hollow tramplings up and down [past; And muffled voices heard, and shadows Till high above him, circled with her maids, The Lady Lyonors at a window stood, Beautiful among lights, and waving to him White hands, and courtesy; but when the Prince Three times had blown-after long hush-at last The huge pavilion slowly yielded up, Thro' those black foldings, that which housed therein. High on a nightblack horse, in night black arms, With white breast-bone, and barren ribs of Death, And crown'd with fleshless laughter A bitterness to me !-ye look amazed, Not knowing they were lost as soon as given Slid from my hands, when I was leaning out Above the river-that unhappy child Past in her barge: but rosier luck will go With these rich jewels, seeing that they came Not from the skeleton of a brotherslayer, But the sweet body of a maiden babe. Perchance-who knows?-the purest of thy knights May win them for the purest of my maids." She ended, and the cry of a great jousts With trumpet-blowings ran on all the A hundred goodly ones. -the Red Brake in upon me and drave them to his tower; And when I called upon thy name as |