And did her honour as the Prince's bride, And clothed her for her bridals like the sun; For by the hands of Dubric, the high saint, And this was on the last year's Whitsuntide. But Enid ever kept the faded silk, Remembering how first he came on her, Drest in that dress, and how he loved her in it, And all her foolish fears about the dress, And all his journey toward her, as himself Had told her, and their coming to the court. And now this morning when he said to her, 'Put on your worst and meanest dress,' she found And took it, and array'd herself therein. O purblind race of miserable men, How many among us at this very hour Do forge a life-long trouble for ourselves, So fared it with Geraint, who issuing forth. That morning, when they both had got to horse, Perhaps because he loved her passionately, And felt that tempest brooding round his heart, Which, if he spoke at all, would break perforce Upon a head so dear in thunder, said: 'Not at my side! I charge you ride before, I charge you, on your duty as a wife, No, not a word!' and Enid was aghast; I will not fight my way with gilded arms, All shall be iron;' he loosed a mighty purse, Hung at his belt, and hurl'd it toward the squire. So the last sight that Enid had of home Was all the marble threshold flashing, strown 'To the wilds!' and Enid leading down the tracks For he was ever saying to himself 'O I that wasted time to tend upon her, To compass her with sweet observances, To dress her beautifully and keep her true '— Abruptly, as a man upon his tongue For that unnoticed failing in herself, Then thought again if there be such in me, I might amend it by the grace of heaven, If he would only speak and tell me of it.' But when the fourth part of the day was gone, Then Enid was aware of three tall knights Who seems no bolder than a beaten hound; Come, we will slay him and will have his horse Then Enid ponder'd in her heart, and said; I will go back a little to my lord, And I will tell him all their caitiff talk; For, be he wroth even to slaying me, Far liever by his dear hand had I die, Than that my lord should suffer loss or shame.' Then she went back some paces of return, Met his full frown timidly firm, and said : 'My lord, I saw three bandits by the rock Waiting to fall on you, and heard them boast That they would slay you, and possess your horse and your damsel should be theirs.' And armour, He made a wrathful answer. 'Did I wish Your silence or your warning? one command E |