The Defence of Guenevere and Other Poems

nce of G

that they would

et hair backwar

to her mouth to

had had there

shameful to fee

eart, yet felt he

ttle touch it

y from Gauwain

p; and on her

uick; she stopped

ords, it seems

-known things p

ht to say, I

all forgive

be right, such

e your time we

quite alone a

dying while

uffling up the

h your broad la

hould come, then

oths is heaven,

cloth for ever;

l you, you mus

ngth and mightin

ord, and you t

your famili

ngel standing,

th, on his great

ys, light from

ell, and maki

d's commands,

his hands the c

strange choosin

, and one cut

tell the bett

ering half-h

colour, the blue;'

en would roll

good men that

only I had know

t away, then

how all things

urt myself, an

uch to die for

you, O Sir

ve happened thr

ak truth, sayin

w at first, bein

d, it grew full

dy shriek in

their startle

uwaine lied, the

eyes began a

stood right up,

bravely, glor

her full lips

emed to think, an

st with no more

e twisting of

on a day that

hur's court: at

when the herald

n of Benwick,

the bells tha

oofs, with littl

whitened winte

the April su

l with black h

mer I grew whi

ead down: Autu

things would ne

Spring might

buds, smote on

things, let the

pulse, that be

; while I lau

ps curl up at

d shallow with

s, then the clo

ed thus, old thou

the time er

eat name and h

p for ever th

eemed would ev

l things; for

ant at all, mu

ever? Pray yo

ks should be quit

ow a little,

ce for all what

anything in e

it grew, as

some path worn

ool sea on

pping there was

s catching small

ely reached t

e new joy as th

hair like sea-w

orehead, dryne

out by the dear

ea, far off f

w now of a d

that wild d

emory; I hear

ver I may be

ll come up with

d with beauty

hout my ladi

rden walled r

oyful of that

owers and trees

ll the beauty

gh to my heart,

hts, it pierced,

glad, and I

g just then h

hink, as I wa

upon my bea

ng hand up aga

the tenderly d

ghts one ought to

ere the soft still

dges; what sho

ned with yellow

green drawn up

oosed out, see

tood watching t

f-heard breathing

ad e'en now

isten: In tha

walking; this i

ssed in meeting

talk of the re

ouths went wand

rely, met amo

left behind st

a yard of my

come before: a

why is it Gue

you, O Sir

ed on through a

ak truth, sayin

ady could I we

rue? A great q

way, straight her

ds she livet

isoning, certe

iends now, spe

how God's dea

frame, and trembl

at grave your

place far dow

etting as I

ever'd in tha

drew Agravain

ity! let me n

, when the shr

r castle-locks!

ter in the

out alone! i

ing tears make

ercy, how he

t I dress me

justice work!

your proofs: y

id how Mellyag

y in la Fauss

ghts held it

ursed unknightl

held his word

aunce saw blo

en pray you? i

en say why so

overlet? or

white, lady,

eed? and must I

d, fair lord,

o my shoulder,

last night: so

of the Lady

ds, even if the

, and you wer

d. Did you se

stood by him?

od, and how his

n? as my knight

rm'd men, her

s, I pray you

so glad to f

dies, that my

ight; hurrah n

nds are moving

ting mad wit

hands together

lat, and grovel

being slain so

rise you, sir,

dies, half-arm

all uncovered

ellyagraunce wi

's face; not u

ate him, as I

ts look to my

oyous smile,

neath my wais

n, and to me t

celot kept hi

ed warily,

caitiff's sword

p his sword to

wung it; that wa

t of blood on

ottest summe

the fire, while

nst the heat,

head; thus thes

ere only warni

. Yet Mellyagra

ce had fought a

rds, take heed l

wickedness; sa

eing so beaut

to grey, may b

your blood; se

purple sea, as

s are moved in

full heart's

long throat how

o my mouth;

ies like win

sly colour'd

ind is rising

ow the light

ing tresses:

looked a lit

ing is vile? o

ible lies of

ee my face wit

I not a gra

hamber Launce

knight then wo

ays with gentl

l come now and

your step up

also well

ile light up you

words, that a

eem to mean: goo

ything, come

s will pass most

ot, I fear th

over much of

g, and green ho

res now to kn

es to sing me

me the sweet

gardens; there

Launcelot; t

nce again, free

ight. Did he n

uld keep true

? there was one

m that night, a

rose up, weak,

ling broke ou

celot's face and

elpless too, fo

ber how I tr

but fell down;

threw up rattl

izzier; till

all about me

breast was be

hattering, until

l not tell yo

you will: wh

well the stor

ill'd their bawl

Gauwaine: all

ch would save me;

you, O Sir

ave happen'd t

ak truth, sayin

is truth, by Chr

speak another

listening, like

rumpet sounding

lances. She l

t spring sometim

something rea

crimson, as the

harger drew a

came was Launce