The Defence of Guenevere and Other Poems Part 5

Indeed that they will say: 'This Galahad If he had lived had been a right good knight; Ah! poor chaste body!' but they will be glad, Not most alone, but all, when in their sight

That very evening in their scarlet sleeves The gay-dress'd minstrels sing; no maid will talk Of sitting on my tomb, until the leaves, Grown big upon the bushes of the walk,

East of the Palace-pleasaunce, make it hard To see the minster therefrom: well-a-day!

Before the trees by autumn were well bared, I saw a damozel with gentle play,

Within that very walk say last farewell To her dear knight, just riding out to find (Why should I choke to say it?) the Sangreal, And their last kisses sunk into my mind,

Yea, for she stood lean'd forward on his breast, Rather, scarce stood; the back of one dear hand, That it might well be kiss'd, she held and press'd Against his lips; long time they stood there, fann'd

By gentle gusts of quiet frosty wind, Till Mador de la porte a-going by, And my own horsehoofs roused them; they untwined, And parted like a dream. In this way I,

With sleepy face bent to the chapel floor, Kept musing half asleep, till suddenly A sharp bell rang from close beside the door, And I leapt up when something pa.s.s'd me by,

Shrill ringing going with it, still half blind I stagger'd after, a great sense of awe At every step kept gathering on my mind, Thereat I have no marvel, for I saw

One sitting on the altar as a throne, Whose face no man could say he did not know, And though the bell still rang, he sat alone, With raiment half blood-red, half white as snow.

Right so I fell upon the floor and knelt, Not as one kneels in church when ma.s.s is said, But in a heap, quite nerveless, for I felt The first time what a thing was perfect dread.

But mightily the gentle voice came down: 'Rise up, and look and listen, Galahad, Good knight of G.o.d, for you will see no frown Upon my face; I come to make you glad.

For that you say that you are all alone, I will be with you always, and fear not You are uncared for, though no maiden moan Above your empty tomb; for Launcelot,

He in good time shall be my servant too, Meantime, take note whose sword first made him knight, And who has loved him alway, yea, and who Still trusts him alway, though in all men's sight,

He is just what you know, O Galahad, This love is happy even as you say, But would you for a little time be glad, To make ME sorry long, day after day?

Her warm arms round his neck half throttle ME, The hot love-tears burn deep like spots of lead, Yea, and the years pa.s.s quick: right dismally Will Launcelot at one time hang his head;

Yea, old and shrivell'd he shall win my love.

Poor Palomydes fretting out his soul!

Not always is he able, son, to move His love, and do it honour: needs must roll

The proudest destrier sometimes in the dust, And then 'tis weary work; he strives beside Seem better than he is, so that his trust Is always on what chances may betide;

And so he wears away, my servant, too, When all these things are gone, and wretchedly He sits and longs to moan for Iseult, who Is no care now to Palomydes: see,

O good son Galahad, upon this day, Now even, all these things are on your side, But these you fight not for; look up, I say, And see how I can love you, for no pride

Closes your eyes, no vain l.u.s.t keeps them down.

See now you have ME always; following That holy vision, Galahad, go on, Until at last you come to ME to sing

In Heaven always, and to walk around The garden where I am.' He ceased, my face And wretched body fell upon the ground; And when I look'd again, the holy place

Was empty; but right so the bell again Came to the chapel-door, there entered Two angels first, in white, without a stain, And scarlet wings, then, after them, a bed

Four ladies bore, and set it down beneath The very altar-step, and while for fear I scarcely dared to move or draw my breath, Those holy ladies gently came a-near,

And quite unarm'd me, saying: 'Galahad, Rest here awhile and sleep, and take no thought Of any other thing than being glad; Hither the Sangreal will be shortly brought,

Yet must you sleep the while it stayeth here.'

Right so they went away, and I, being weary, Slept long and dream'd of Heaven: the bell comes near, I doubt it grows to morning. Miserere!

_Enter Two Angels in white, with scarlet wings; also, Four Ladies in gowns of red and green; also an Angel, bearing in his hands a surcoat of white, with a red cross._

AN ANGEL.

O servant of the high G.o.d, Galahad!

Rise and be arm'd: the Sangreal is gone forth Through the great forest, and you must be had Unto the sea that lieth on the north:

There shall you find the wondrous ship wherein The spindles of King Solomon are laid, And the sword that no man draweth without sin, But if he be most pure: and there is stay'd,

Hard by, Sir Launcelot, whom you will meet In some short s.p.a.ce upon that ship: first, though, Will come here presently that lady sweet, Sister of Percival, whom you well know,

And with her Bors and Percival: stand now, These ladies will to arm you.

FIRST LADY, _putting on the hauberk_.

Galahad, That I may stand so close beneath your brow, I, Margaret of Antioch, am glad.

SECOND LADY, _girding him with the sword_.

That I may stand and touch you with my hand, O Galahad, I, Cecily, am glad.

THIRD LADY, _buckling on the spurs_.

That I may kneel while up above you stand, And gaze at me, O holy Galahad,

I, Lucy, am most glad.

FOURTH LADY, _putting on the basnet_.

O gentle knight, That you bow down to us in reverence, We are most glad, I, Katherine, with delight Must needs fall trembling.

ANGEL, _putting on the crossed surcoat_.

Galahad, we go hence,

For here, amid the straying of the snow, Come Percival's sister, Bors, and Percival.

[_The Four Ladies carry out the bed, and all go but_ Galahad.

GALAHAD.

How still and quiet everything seems now: They come, too, for I hear the horsehoofs fall.

_Enter_ Sir Bors, Sir Percival, _and_ his Sister.