A Selection From The Poems Of William Morris Part 2

"Yea right through to my heart, grown very shy With weary thoughts, it pierced, and made me glad; Exceedingly glad, and I knew verily,

"A little thing just then had made me mad; I dared not think, as I was wont to do, Sometimes, upon my beauty; If I had

"Held out my long hand up against the blue, And, looking on the tenderly darken'd fingers, Thought that by rights one ought to see quite through,

"There, see you, where the soft still light yet lingers, Round by the edges; what should I have done, If this had joined with yellow spotted singers,

"And startling green drawn upward by the sun?

But shouting, loosed out, see now! all my hair, And trancedly stood watching the west wind run

"With faintest half-heard breathing sound--why there I lose my head e'en now in doing this; But shortly listen--In that garden fair

"Came Launcelot walking; this is true, the kiss Wherewith we kissed in meeting that spring day, I scarce dare talk of the remember'd bliss,

"When both our mouths went wandering in one way, And aching sorely, met among the leaves; Our hands being left behind strained far away.

"Never within a yard of my bright sleeves Had Launcelot come before--and now, so nigh!

After that day why is it Guenevere grieves?

"Nevertheless you, O Sir Gauwaine, lie, Whatever happened on through all those years, G.o.d knows I speak truth, saying that you lie.

"Being such a lady could I weep these tears If this were true? A great queen such as I Having sinn'd this way, straight her conscience sears;

"And afterwards she liveth hatefully, Slaying and poisoning, certes never weeps,-- Gauwaine be friends now, speak me lovingly.

"Do I not see how G.o.d's dear pity creeps All through your frame, and trembles in your mouth?

Remember in what grave your mother sleeps,

"Buried in some place far down in the south, Men are forgetting as I speak to you; By her head sever'd in that awful drouth

"Of pity that drew Agravaine's fell blow, I pray your pity! let me not scream out For ever after, when the shrill winds blow

"Through half your castle-locks! let me not shout For ever after in the winter night When you ride out alone! in battle-rout

"Let not my rusting tears make your sword light!

Ah! G.o.d of mercy how he turns away!

So, ever must I dress me to the fight,

"So--let G.o.d's justice work! Gauwaine, I say, See me hew down your proofs: yea all men know Even as you said how Mellyagraunce one day,

"One bitter day in _la Fausse Garde_, for so All good knights held it after, saw-- Yea, sirs, by cursed unknightly outrage; though

"You, Gauwaine, held his word without a flaw, This Mellyagraunce saw blood upon my bed-- Whose blood then pray you? is there any law

"To make a queen say why some spots of red Lie on her coverlet? or will you say, 'Your hands are white, lady, as when you wed,

"'Where did you bleed?' and must I stammer out--'Nay', I blush indeed, fair lord, only to rend My sleeve up to my shoulder, where there lay

"'A knife-point last night:' so must I defend The honour of the lady Guenevere?

Not so, fair lords, even if the world should end

"This very day, and you were judges here Instead of G.o.d. Did you see Mellyagraunce When Launcelot stood by him? what white fear

"Curdled his blood, and how his teeth did dance, His side sink in? as my knight cried and said, 'Slayer of unarm'd men, here is a chance!

"'Setter of traps, I pray you guard your head, By G.o.d I am so glad to fight with you, Stripper of ladies, that my hand feels lead

"'For driving weight; hurrah now! draw and do, For all my wounds are moving in my breast, And I am getting mad with waiting so.'

"He struck his hands together o'er the beast, Who fell down flat, and grovell'd at his feet, And groan'd at being slain so young--'at least.'

"My knight said, 'Rise you, sir, who are so fleet At catching ladies, half-arm'd will I fight, My left side all uncover'd!' then I weet,

"Up sprang Sir Mellyagraunce with great delight Upon his knave's face; not until just then Did I quite hate him, as I saw my knight

"Along the lists look to my stake and pen With such a joyous smile, it made me sigh From agony beneath my waist-chain, when

"The fight began, and to me they drew nigh; Ever Sir Launcelot kept him on the right, And traversed warily, and ever high

"And fast leapt caitiff's sword, until my knight Sudden threw up his sword to his left hand, Caught it, and swung it; that was all the fight.

"Except a spout of blood on the hot land; For it was hottest summer; and I know I wonder'd how the fire, while I should stand,

"And burn, against the heat, would quiver so, Yards above my head; thus these matters went: Which things were only warnings of the woe

"That fell on me. Yet Mellyagraunce was shent, For Mellyagraunce had fought against the Lord; Therefore, my lords, take heed lest you be blent

"With all this wickedness; say no rash word Against me, being so beautiful; my eyes, Wept all away the grey, may bring some sword

"To drown you in your blood; see my breast rise, Like waves of purple sea, as here I stand; And how my arms are moved in wonderful wise,

"Yea also at my full heart's strong command, See through my long throat how the words go up In ripples to my mouth; how in my hand

"The shadow lies like wine within a cup Of marvellously colour'd gold; yea now This little wind is rising, look you up,

"And wonder how the light is falling so Within my moving tresses: will you dare When you have looked a little on my brow,

"To say this thing is vile? or will you care For any plausible lies of cunning woof, When you can see my face with no lie there

"For ever? am I not a gracious proof-- 'But in your chamber Launcelot was found'-- Is there a good knight then would stand aloof,

"When a queen says with gentle queenly sound: 'O true as steel come now and talk with me, I love to see your step upon the ground

"'Unwavering, also well I love to see That gracious smile light up your face, and hear Your wonderful words, that all mean verily

"'The thing they seem to mean: good friend, so dear To me in everything, come here to-night, Or else the hours will pa.s.s most dull and drear;

"'If you come not, I fear this time I might Get thinking over much of times gone by, When I was young, and green hope was in sight: