Idylls　of　the　King
  IN　TWELVE　BOOKS
  by　Alfred；　Lord　Tennyson
  Flos　Regum　Arthurus　（Joseph　of　Exeter）
  Contents
  Dedication
  The　Coming　of　Arthur
  THE　ROUND　TABLE
  Gareth　and　Lynette
  The　Marriage　of　Geraint
  Geraint　and　Enid
  Balin　and　Balan
  Merlin　and　Vivien
  Lancelot　and　Elaine
  The　Holy　Grail
  Pelleas　and　Ettarre
  The　Last　Tournament
  Guinevere
  The　Passing　of　Arthur
  To　the　Queen
  Dedication
  These　to　His　Memorysince　he　held　them　dear；
  Perchance　as　finding　there　unconsciously
  Some　image　of　himselfI　dedicate；
  I　dedicate；　I　consecrate　with　tears
  These　Idylls。
  And　indeed　He　seems　to　me
  Scarce　other　than　my　king's　ideal　knight；
  'Who　reverenced　his　conscience　as　his　king；
  Whose　glory　was；　redressing　human　wrong；
  Who　spake　no　slander；　no；　nor　listened　to　it；
  Who　loved　one　only　and　who　clave　to　her'
  Herover　all　whose　realms　to　their　last　isle；
  Commingled　with　the　gloom　of　imminent　war；
  The　shadow　of　His　loss　drew　like　eclipse；
  Darkening　the　world。　　We　have　lost　him：　　he　is　gone：
  We　know　him　now：　　all　narrow　jealousies
  Are　silent；　and　we　see　him　as　he　moved；
  How　modest；　kindly；　all…accomplished；　wise；
  With　what　sublime　repression　of　himself；
  And　in　what　limits；　and　how　tenderly；
  Not　swaying　to　this　faction　or　to　that；
  Not　making　his　high　place　the　lawless　perch
  Of　winged　ambitions；　nor　a　vantage…ground
  For　pleasure；　but　through　all　this　tract　of　years
  Wearing　the　white　flower　of　a　blameless　life；
  Before　a　thousand　peering　littlenesses；
  In　that　fierce　light　which　beats　upon　a　throne；
  And　blackens　every　blot：　　for　where　is　he；
  Who　dares　foreshadow　for　an　only　son
  A　lovelier　life；　a　more　unstained；　than　his？
  Or　how　should　England　dreaming　of　his　sons
  Hope　more　for　these　than　some　inheritance
  Of　such　a　life；　a　heart；　a　mind　as　thine；
  Thou　noble　Father　of　her　Kings　to　be；
  Laborious　for　her　people　and　her　poor
  Voice　in　the　rich　dawn　of　an　ampler　day
  Far…sighted　summoner　of　War　and　Waste
  To　fruitful　strifes　and　rivalries　of　peace
  Sweet　nature　gilded　by　the　gracious　gleam
  Of　letters；　dear　to　Science；　dear　to　Art；
  Dear　to　thy　land　and　ours；　a　Prince　indeed；
  Beyond　all　titles；　and　a　household　name；
  Hereafter；　through　all　times；　Albert　the　Good。
  Break　not；　O　woman's…heart；　but　still　endure；
  Break　not；　for　thou　art　Royal；　but　endure；
  Remembering　all　the　beauty　of　that　star
  Which　shone　so　close　beside　Thee　that　ye　made
  One　light　together；　but　has　past　and　leaves
  The　Crown　a　lonely　splendour。
  May　all　love；
  His　love；　unseen　but　felt；　o'ershadow　Thee；
  The　love　of　all　Thy　sons　encompass　Thee；
  The　love　of　all　Thy　daughters　cherish　Thee；
  The　love　of　all　Thy　people　comfort　Thee；
  Till　God's　love　set　Thee　at　his　side　again！
  The　Coming　of　Arthur
  Leodogran；　the　King　of　Cameliard；
  Had　one　fair　daughter；　and　none　other　child；
  And　she　was　the　fairest　of　all　flesh　on　earth；
  Guinevere；　and　in　her　his　one　delight。
  For　many　a　petty　king　ere　Arthur　came
  Ruled　in　this　isle；　and　ever　waging　war
  Each　upon　other；　wasted　all　the　land；
  And　still　from　time　to　time　the　heathen　host
  Swarmed　overseas；　and　harried　what　was　left。
  And　so　there　grew　great　tracts　of　wilderness；
  Wherein　the　beast　was　ever　more　and　more；
  But　man　was　less　and　less；　till　Arthur　came。
  For　first　Aurelius　lived　and　fought　and　died；
  And　after　him　King　Uther　fought　and　died；
  But　either　failed　to　make　the　kingdom　one。
  And　after　these　King　Arthur　for　a　space；
  And　through　the　puissance　of　his　Table　Round；
  Drew　all　their　petty　princedoms　under　him。
  Their　king　and　head；　and　made　a　realm；　and　reigned。
  And　thus　the　land　of　Cameliard　was　waste；
  Thick　with　wet　woods；　and　many　a　beast　therein；
  And　none　or　few　to　scare　or　chase　the　beast；
  So　that　wild　dog；　and　wolf　and　boar　and　bear
  Came　night　and　day；　and　rooted　in　the　fields；
  And　wallowed　in　the　gardens　of　the　King。
  And　ever　and　anon　the　wolf　would　steal
  The　children　and　devour；　but　now　and　then；
  Her　own　brood　lost　or　dead；　lent　her　fierce　teat
  To　human　sucklings；　and　the　children；　housed
  In　her　foul　den；　there　at　their　meat　would　growl；
  And　mock　their　foster　mother　on　four　feet；
  Till；　straightened；　they　grew　up　to　wolf…like　men；
  Worse　than　the　wolves。　　And　King　Leodogran
  Groaned　for　the　Roman　legions　here　again；
  And　Caesar's　eagle：　　then　his　brother　king；
  Urien；　assailed　him：　　last　a　heathen　horde；
  Reddening　the　sun　with　smoke　and　earth　with　blood；
  And　on　the　spike　that　split　the　mother's　heart
  Spitting　the　child；　brake　on　him；　till；　amazed；
  He　knew　not　whither　he　should　turn　for　aid。
  Butfor　he　heard　of　Arthur　newly　crowned；
  Though　not　without　an　uproar　made　by　those
  Who　cried；　'He　is　not　Uther's　son'the　King
  Sent　to　him；　saying；　'Arise；　and　help　us　thou！
  For　here　between　the　man　and　beast　we　die。'
  And　Arthur　yet　had　done　no　deed　of　arms；
  But　heard　the　call；　and　came：　　and　Guinevere
  Stood　by　the　castle　walls　to　watch　him　pass；
  But　since　he　neither　wore　on　helm　or　shield
  The　golden　symbol　of　his　kinglihood；
  But　rode　a　simple　knight　among　his　knights；
  And　many　of　these　in　richer　arms　than　he；
  She　saw　him　not；　or　marked　not；　if　she　saw；
  One　among　many；　though　his　face　was　bare。
  But　Arthur；　looking　downward　as　he　past；
  Felt　the　light　of　her　eyes　into　his　life
  Smite　on　the　sudden；　yet　rode　on；　and　pitched
  His　tents　beside　the　forest。　　Then　he　drave
  The　heathen；　after；　slew　the　beast；　and　felled
  The　forest；　letting　in　the　sun；　and　made
  Broad　pathways　for　the　hunter　and　the　knight
  And　so　returned。
  For　while　he　lingered　there；
  A　doubt　that　ever　smouldered　in　the　hearts
  Of　those　great　Lords　and　Barons　of　his　realm
  Flashed　forth　and　into　war：　　for　most　of　these；
  Colleaguing　with　a　score　of　petty　kings；
  Made　head　against　him；　crying；　'Who　is　he
  That　he　should　rule　us？　who　hath　proven　him
  King　Uther's　son？　for　lo！　we　look　at　him；
  And　find　nor　face　nor　bearing；　limbs　nor　voice；
  Are　like　to　those　of　Uther　whom　we　knew。
  This　is　the　son　of　Gorlois；　not　the　King；
  This　is　the　son　of　Anton；　not　the　King。'
  And　Arthur；　passing　thence　to　battle；　felt
  Travail；　and　throes　and　agonies　of　the　life；
  Desiring　to　be　joined　with　Guinevere；
  And　thinking　as　he　rode；　'Her　father　said
  That　there　between　the　man　and　beast　they　die。
  Shall　I　not　lift　her　from　this　land　of　beasts
  Up　to　my　throne；　and　side　by　side　with　me？
  What　happiness　to　reign　a　lonely　king；
  VextO　ye　stars　that　shudder　over　me；
  O　earth　that　soundest　hollow　under　me；
  Vext　with　waste　dreams？　for　saving　I　be　joined
  To　her　that　is　the　fairest　under　heaven；
  I　seem　as　nothing　in　the　mighty　world；
  And　cannot　will　my　will；　nor　work　my　work
  Wholly；　nor　make　myself　in　mine　own　realm
  Victor　and　lord。　　But　were　I　joined　with　her；
  Then　might　we　live　together　as　one　life；
  And　reigning　with　one　will　in　everything
  Have　power　on　this　dark　land　to　lighten　it；
  And　power　on　this　dead　world　to　make　it　live。'
  Thereafteras　he　speaks　who　tells　the　tale
  When　Arthur　reached　a　field…of…battle　bright
  With　pitched　pavilions　of　his　foe；　the　world
  Was　all　so　clear　about　him；　that　he　saw
  The　smallest　rock　far　on　the　faintest　hill；
  And　even　in　high　day　the　morning　star。
  So　when　the　King　had　set　his　banner　broad；
  At　once　from　either　side；　with　trumpet…blast；
  And　shouts；　and　clarions　shrilling　unto　blood；
  The　long…lanced　battle　let　their　horses　run。
  And　now　the　Barons　and　the　kings　prevailed；
  And　now　the　King；　as　here　and　there　that　war
  Went　swaying；　but　the　Powers　who　walk　the　world
  Made　lightnings　and　great　thunders　over　him；
  And　dazed　all　eyes；　till　Arthur　by　main　might；
  And　mightier　of　his　hands　with　every　blow；
  And　leading　all　his　knighthood　threw　the　kings
  Carados；　Urien；　Cradlemont　of　Wales；
  Claudias；　and　Clariance　of　Northumberland；
  The　King　Brandagoras　of　Latangor；
  With　Anguisant　of　Erin；　Morganore；
  And　Lot　of　Orkney。　　Then；　before　a　voice
  As　dreadful　as　the　shout　of　one　who　sees
  To　one　who　sins；　and　deems　himself　alone
  And　all　the　world　asleep；　they　swerved　and　brake
  Flying；　and　Arthur　called　to　stay　the　brands
  That　hacked　among　the　flyers；　'Ho！　they　yield！'
  So　like　a　painted　battle　the　war　stood
  Silenced；　the　living　quiet　as　the　dead；
  And　in　the　heart　of　Arthur　joy　was　lord。
  He　laughed　upon　his　warrior　whom　he　loved
  And　honoured　most。　　'Thou　dost　not　doubt　me　King；
  So　well　thine　arm　hath　wrought　for　me　today。'
  'Sir　and　my　liege；'　he　cried；　'the　fire　of　God
  Descends　upon　thee　in　the　battle…field：
  I　know　thee　for　my　King！'　　Whereat　the　two；
  For　each　had　warded　either　in　the　fight；
  Sware　on　the　field　of　death　a　deathless　love。
  And　Arthur　said；　'Man's　word　is　God　in　man：
  Let　chance　what　will；　I　trust　thee　to　the　death。'
  Then　quickly　from　the　foughten　field　he　sent
  Ulfius；　and　Brastias；　and　Bedivere；
  His　new…made　knights；　to　King　Leodogran；
  Saying；　'If　I　in　aught　have　served　thee　well；
  Give　me　thy　daughter　Guinevere　to　wife。'
  Whom　when　he　heard；　Leodogran　in　heart
  Debating'How　should　I　that　am　a　king；
  However　much　he　holp　me　at　my　need；
  Give　my　one　daughter　saving　to　a　king；
  And　a　king's　son？'lifted　his　voice；　and　called
  A　hoary　man；　his　chamberlain；　to　whom
  He　trusted　all　things；　and　of　him　required
  His　c