She took them, and arrayed herself therein, Drest in that dress, and how he loved her in it, Had told her, and their coming to the court. For Arthur on the Whitsuntide before Wet from the woods, with notice of a hart First seen that day: these things he told the king. So with the morning all the court were gone. But Guinevere lay late into the morn, Lost in sweet dreams, and dreaming of her love For Lancelot, and forgetful of the hunt; But rose at last, a single maiden with her, Took horse, and forded Usk, and gained the wood; There, on a little knoll beside it, stayed Waiting to hear the hounds; but heard instead A sudden sound of hoofs, for Prince Geraint, Nor weapon, save a golden-hilted brand, Came quickly flashing through the shallow ford There swung an apple of the purest gold, Swayed round about him, as he galloped up To join them, glancing like a dragon-fly In summer suit and silks of holiday. Of womanhood and queenhood, answered him: Not join it." "Therefore wait with me," she said; "For on this little knoll, if anywhere, There is good chance that we shall hear the hounds: Here often they break covert at our feet." And while they listened for the distant hunt, And chiefly for the baying of Cavall, King Arthur's hound of deepest mouth, there rode Whereof the dwarf lagged latest, and the knight And Guinevere, not mindful of his face In the king's hall, desired his name, and sent And doubling all his master's vice of pride, "Nay, by my faith, thou shalt not," cried the dwarf; But he, from his exceeding manfulness 2* And pure nobility of temperament, Wroth to be wroth at such a worm, refrained "I will avenge this insult, noble Queen, So that I be not fallen in fight. Farewell." "Farewell, fair Prince," answered the stately Queen. "Be prosperous in this journey, as in all; And may you light on all things that you love, But ere you wed with any, bring your bride, Yea, though she were a beggar from the hedge, Will clothe her for her bridals like the sun." And Prince Geraint, now thinking that he heard The noble hart at bay, now the far horn, |