At　times　he　seemed；　and　sad　with　him　was　I；
  Stern　too　at　times；　and　then　I　loved　him　not；
  But　sweet　again；　and　then　I　loved　him　well。
  And　now　of　late　I　see　him　less　and　less；
  But　those　first　days　had　golden　hours　for　me；
  For　then　I　surely　thought　he　would　be　king。
  'But　let　me　tell　thee　now　another　tale：
  For　Bleys；　our　Merlin's　master；　as　they　say；
  Died　but　of　late；　and　sent　his　cry　to　me；
  To　hear　him　speak　before　he　left　his　life。
  Shrunk　like　a　fairy　changeling　lay　the　mage；
  And　when　I　entered　told　me　that　himself
  And　Merlin　ever　served　about　the　King；
  Uther；　before　he　died；　and　on　the　night
  When　Uther　in　Tintagil　past　away
  Moaning　and　wailing　for　an　heir；　the　two
  Left　the　still　King；　and　passing　forth　to　breathe；
  Then　from　the　castle　gateway　by　the　chasm
  Descending　through　the　dismal　nighta　night
  In　which　the　bounds　of　heaven　and　earth　were　lost
  Beheld；　so　high　upon　the　dreary　deeps
  It　seemed　in　heaven；　a　ship；　the　shape　thereof
  A　dragon　winged；　and　all　from　stern　to　stern
  Bright　with　a　shining　people　on　the　decks；
  And　gone　as　soon　as　seen。　　And　then　the　two
  Dropt　to　the　cove；　and　watched　the　great　sea　fall；
  Wave　after　wave；　each　mightier　than　the　last；
  Till　last；　a　ninth　one；　gathering　half　the　deep
  And　full　of　voices；　slowly　rose　and　plunged
  Roaring；　and　all　the　wave　was　in　a　flame：
  And　down　the　wave　and　in　the　flame　was　borne
  A　naked　babe；　and　rode　to　Merlin's　feet；
  Who　stoopt　and　caught　the　babe；　and　cried　〃The　King！
  Here　is　an　heir　for　Uther！〃　　And　the　fringe
  Of　that　great　breaker；　sweeping　up　the　strand；
  Lashed　at　the　wizard　as　he　spake　the　word；
  And　all　at　once　all　round　him　rose　in　fire；
  So　that　the　child　and　he　were　clothed　in　fire。
  And　presently　thereafter　followed　calm；
  Free　sky　and　stars：　　〃And　this　the　same　child；〃　he　said；
  〃Is　he　who　reigns；　nor　could　I　part　in　peace
  Till　this　were　told。〃　　And　saying　this　the　seer
  Went　through　the　strait　and　dreadful　pass　of　death；
  Not　ever　to　be　questioned　any　more
  Save　on　the　further　side；　but　when　I　met
  Merlin；　and　asked　him　if　these　things　were　truth
  The　shining　dragon　and　the　naked　child
  Descending　in　the　glory　of　the　seas
  He　laughed　as　is　his　wont；　and　answered　me
  In　riddling　triplets　of　old　time；　and　said：
  '〃Rain；　rain；　and　sun！　a　rainbow　in　the　sky！
  A　young　man　will　be　wiser　by　and　by；
  An　old　man's　wit　may　wander　ere　he　die。
  Rain；　rain；　and　sun！　a　rainbow　on　the　lea！
  And　truth　is　this　to　me；　and　that　to　thee；
  And　truth　or　clothed　or　naked　let　it　be。
  Rain；　sun；　and　rain！　and　the　free　blossom　blows：
  Sun；　rain；　and　sun！　and　where　is　he　who　knows？
  From　the　great　deep　to　the　great　deep　he　goes。〃
  'So　Merlin　riddling　angered　me；　but　thou
  Fear　not　to　give　this　King　thy　only　child；
  Guinevere：　　so　great　bards　of　him　will　sing
  Hereafter；　and　dark　sayings　from　of　old
  Ranging　and　ringing　through　the　minds　of　men；
  And　echoed　by　old　folk　beside　their　fires
  For　comfort　after　their　wage…work　is　done；
  Speak　of　the　King；　and　Merlin　in　our　time
  Hath　spoken　also；　not　in　jest；　and　sworn
  Though　men　may　wound　him　that　he　will　not　die；
  But　pass；　again　to　come；　and　then　or　now
  Utterly　smite　the　heathen　underfoot；
  Till　these　and　all　men　hail　him　for　their　king。'
  She　spake　and　King　Leodogran　rejoiced；
  But　musing；　'Shall　I　answer　yea　or　nay？'
  Doubted；　and　drowsed；　nodded　and　slept；　and　saw；
  Dreaming；　a　slope　of　land　that　ever　grew；
  Field　after　field；　up　to　a　height；　the　peak
  Haze…hidden；　and　thereon　a　phantom　king；
  Now　looming；　and　now　lost；　and　on　the　slope
  The　sword　rose；　the　hind　fell；　the　herd　was　driven；
  Fire　glimpsed；　and　all　the　land　from　roof　and　rick；
  In　drifts　of　smoke　before　a　rolling　wind；
  Streamed　to　the　peak；　and　mingled　with　the　haze
  And　made　it　thicker；　while　the　phantom　king
  Sent　out　at　times　a　voice；　and　here　or　there
  Stood　one　who　pointed　toward　the　voice；　the　rest
  Slew　on　and　burnt；　crying；　'No　king　of　ours；
  No　son　of　Uther；　and　no　king　of　ours；'
  Till　with　a　wink　his　dream　was　changed；　the　haze
  Descended；　and　the　solid　earth　became
  As　nothing；　but　the　King　stood　out　in　heaven；
  Crowned。　　And　Leodogran　awoke；　and　sent
  Ulfius；　and　Brastias　and　Bedivere；
  Back　to　the　court　of　Arthur　answering　yea。
  Then　Arthur　charged　his　warrior　whom　he　loved
  And　honoured　most；　Sir　Lancelot；　to　ride　forth
  And　bring　the　Queen；and　watched　him　from　the　gates：
  And　Lancelot　past　away　among　the　flowers；
  （For　then　was　latter　April）　and　returned
  Among　the　flowers；　in　May；　with　Guinevere。
  To　whom　arrived；　by　Dubric　the　high　saint；
  Chief　of　the　church　in　Britain；　and　before
  The　stateliest　of　her　altar…shrines；　the　King
  That　morn　was　married；　while　in　stainless　white；
  The　fair　beginners　of　a　nobler　time；
  And　glorying　in　their　vows　and　him；　his　knights
  Stood　around　him；　and　rejoicing　in　his　joy。
  Far　shone　the　fields　of　May　through　open　door；
  The　sacred　altar　blossomed　white　with　May；
  The　Sun　of　May　descended　on　their　King；
  They　gazed　on　all　earth's　beauty　in　their　Queen；
  Rolled　incense；　and　there　past　along　the　hymns
  A　voice　as　of　the　waters；　while　the　two
  Sware　at　the　shrine　of　Christ　a　deathless　love：
  And　Arthur　said；　'Behold；　thy　doom　is　mine。
  Let　chance　what　will；　I　love　thee　to　the　death！'
  To　whom　the　Queen　replied　with　drooping　eyes；
  'King　and　my　lord；　I　love　thee　to　the　death！'
  And　holy　Dubric　spread　his　hands　and　spake；
  'Reign　ye；　and　live　and　love；　and　make　the　world
  Other；　and　may　thy　Queen　be　one　with　thee；
  And　all　this　Order　of　thy　Table　Round
  Fulfil　the　boundless　purpose　of　their　King！'
  So　Dubric　said；　but　when　they　left　the　shrine
  Great　Lords　from　Rome　before　the　portal　stood；
  In　scornful　stillness　gazing　as　they　past；
  Then　while　they　paced　a　city　all　on　fire
  With　sun　and　cloth　of　gold；　the　trumpets　blew；
  And　Arthur's　knighthood　sang　before　the　King：
  'Blow；　trumpet；　for　the　world　is　white　with　May；
  Blow　trumpet；　the　long　night　hath　rolled　away！
  Blow　through　the　living　world〃Let　the　King　reign。〃
  'Shall　Rome　or　Heathen　rule　in　Arthur's　realm？
  Flash　brand　and　lance；　fall　battleaxe　upon　helm；
  Fall　battleaxe；　and　flash　brand！　　Let　the　King　reign。
  'Strike　for　the　King　and　live！　his　knights　have　heard
  That　God　hath　told　the　King　a　secret　word。
  Fall　battleaxe；　and　flash　brand！　　Let　the　King　reign。
  'Blow　trumpet！　he　will　lift　us　from　the　dust。
  Blow　trumpet！　live　the　strength　and　die　the　lust！
  Clang　battleaxe；　and　clash　brand！　　Let　the　King　reign。
  'Strike　for　the　King　and　die！　and　if　thou　diest；
  The　King　is　King；　and　ever　wills　the　highest。
  Clang　battleaxe；　and　clash　brand！　　Let　the　King　reign。
  'Blow；　for　our　Sun　is　mighty　in　his　May！
  Blow；　for　our　Sun　is　mightier　day　by　day！
  Clang　battleaxe；　and　clash　brand！　　Let　the　King　reign。
  'The　King　will　follow　Christ；　and　we　the　King
  In　whom　high　God　hath　breathed　a　secret　thing。
  Fall　battleaxe；　and　flash　brand！　　Let　the　King　reign。'
  So　sang　the　knighthood；　moving　to　their　hall。
  There　at　the　banquet　those　great　Lords　from　Rome；
  The　slowly…fading　mistress　of　the　world；
  Strode　in；　and　claimed　their　tribute　as　of　yore。
  But　Arthur　spake；　'Behold；　for　these　have　sworn
  To　wage　my　wars；　and　worship　me　their　King；
  The　old　order　changeth；　yielding　place　to　new；
  And　we　that　fight　for　our　fair　father　Christ；
  Seeing　that　ye　be　grown　too　weak　and　old
  To　drive　the　heathen　from　your　Roman　wall；
  No　tribute　will　we　pay：'　so　those　great　lords
  Drew　back　in　wrath；　and　Arthur　strove　with　Rome。
  And　Arthur　and　his　knighthood　for　a　space
  Were　all　one　will；　and　through　that　strength　the　King
  Drew　in　the　petty　princedoms　under　him；
  Fought；　and　in　twelve　great　battles　overcame
  The　heathen　hordes；　and　made　a　realm　and　reigned。
  Gareth　and　Lynette
  The　last　tall　son　of　Lot　and　Bellicent；
  And　tallest；　Gareth；　in　a　showerful　spring
  Stared　at　the　spate。　　A　slender…shafted　Pine
  Lost　footing；　fell；　and　so　was　whirled　away。
  'How　he　went　down；'　said　Gareth；　'as　a　false　knight
  Or　evil　king　before　my　lance　if　lance
  Were　mine　to　useO　senseless　cataract；
  Bearing　all　down　in　thy　precipitancy
  And　yet　thou　art　but　swollen　with　cold　snows
  And　mine　is　living　blood：　　thou　dost　His　will；
  The　Maker's；　and　not　knowest；　and　I　that　know；
  Have　strength　and　wit；　in　my　good　mother's　hall
  Linger　with　vacillating　obedience；
  Prisoned；　and　kept　and　coaxed　and　whistled　to
  Since　the　good　mother　holds　me　still　a　child！
  Good　mother　is　bad　mother　unto　me！
  A　worse　were　better；　yet　no　worse　would　I。
  Heaven　yield　her　for　it；　but　in　me　put　force
  To　weary　her　ears　with　one　continuous　prayer；
  Until　she　let　me　fly　discaged　to　sweep
  In　ever…highering　eagle…circles　up
  To　the　great　Sun　of　Glory；　and　thence　swoop
  Down　upon　all　things　base；　and　dash　them　dead；
  A　knight　of　Arthur；　working　out　his　will；
  To　cleanse　the　world。　　Why；　Gawain；　when　he　came
  With　Modred　hither　in　the　summertime；
  Asked　me　to　tilt　with　him；　the　proven　knight。
  Modred　for　want　of　worthier　was　the　judge。
  Then　I　so　shook　him　in　the　saddle；　he　said；
  〃Thou　hast　half　prevailed　against　me；〃　said　sohe
  Though　Modred　biting　his　thin　lips　was　mute；
  For　he　is　alway　sullen：　　what　care　I？'
  And　Gareth　went；　and　hovering　round　her　chair
  Asked；　'Mother；　though　ye　count　me　still　the　child；
  Sweet　mother；　d