I　seemleaning　on　these？　grant　me　to　serve
  For　meat　and　drink　among　thy　kitchen…knaves
  A　twelvemonth　and　a　day；　nor　seek　my　name。
  Hereafter　I　will　fight。'
  To　him　the　King；
  'A　goodly　youth　and　worth　a　goodlier　boon！
  But　so　thou　wilt　no　goodlier；　then　must　Kay；
  The　master　of　the　meats　and　drinks；　be　thine。'
  He　rose　and　past；　then　Kay；　a　man　of　mien
  Wan…sallow　as　the　plant　that　feels　itself
  Root…bitten　by　white　lichen；
  'Lo　ye　now！
  This　fellow　hath　broken　from　some　Abbey；　where；
  God　wot；　he　had　not　beef　and　brewis　enow；
  However　that　might　chance！　but　an　he　work；
  Like　any　pigeon　will　I　cram　his　crop；
  And　sleeker　shall　he　shine　than　any　hog。'
  Then　Lancelot　standing　near；　'Sir　Seneschal；
  Sleuth…hound　thou　knowest；　and　gray；　and　all　the　hounds；
  A　horse　thou　knowest；　a　man　thou　dost　not　know：
  Broad　brows　and　fair；　a　fluent　hair　and　fine；
  High　nose；　a　nostril　large　and　fine；　and　hands
  Large；　fair　and　fine！Some　young　lad's　mystery
  But；　or　from　sheepcot　or　king's　hall；　the　boy
  Is　noble…natured。　　Treat　him　with　all　grace；
  Lest　he　should　come　to　shame　thy　judging　of　him。'
  Then　Kay；　'What　murmurest　thou　of　mystery？
  Think　ye　this　fellow　will　poison　the　King's　dish？
  Nay；　for　he　spake　too　fool…like：　　mystery！
  Tut；　an　the　lad　were　noble；　he　had　asked
  For　horse　and　armour：　　fair　and　fine；　forsooth！
  Sir　Fine…face；　Sir　Fair…hands？　but　see　thou　to　it
  That　thine　own　fineness；　Lancelot；　some　fine　day
  Undo　thee　notand　leave　my　man　to　me。'
  So　Gareth　all　for　glory　underwent
  The　sooty　yoke　of　kitchen…vassalage；
  Ate　with　young　lads　his　portion　by　the　door；
  And　couched　at　night　with　grimy　kitchen…knaves。
  And　Lancelot　ever　spake　him　pleasantly；
  But　Kay　the　seneschal；　who　loved　him　not；
  Would　hustle　and　harry　him；　and　labour　him
  Beyond　his　comrade　of　the　hearth；　and　set
  To　turn　the　broach；　draw　water；　or　hew　wood；
  Or　grosser　tasks；　and　Gareth　bowed　himself
  With　all　obedience　to　the　King；　and　wrought
  All　kind　of　service　with　a　noble　ease
  That　graced　the　lowliest　act　in　doing　it。
  And　when　the　thralls　had　talk　among　themselves；
  And　one　would　praise　the　love　that　linkt　the　King
  And　Lancelothow　the　King　had　saved　his　life
  In　battle　twice；　and　Lancelot　once　the　King's
  For　Lancelot　was　the　first　in　Tournament；
  But　Arthur　mightiest　on　the　battle…field
  Gareth　was　glad。　　Or　if　some　other　told；
  How　once　the　wandering　forester　at　dawn；
  Far　over　the　blue　tarns　and　hazy　seas；
  On　Caer…Eryri's　highest　found　the　King；
  A　naked　babe；　of　whom　the　Prophet　spake；
  'He　passes　to　the　Isle　Avilion；
  He　passes　and　is　healed　and　cannot　die'
  Gareth　was　glad。　　But　if　their　talk　were　foul；
  Then　would　he　whistle　rapid　as　any　lark；
  Or　carol　some　old　roundelay；　and　so　loud
  That　first　they　mocked；　but；　after；　reverenced　him。
  Or　Gareth　telling　some　prodigious　tale
  Of　knights；　who　sliced　a　red　life…bubbling　way
  Through　twenty　folds　of　twisted　dragon；　held
  All　in　a　gap…mouthed　circle　his　good　mates
  Lying　or　sitting　round　him；　idle　hands；
  Charmed；　till　Sir　Kay；　the　seneschal；　would　come
  Blustering　upon　them；　like　a　sudden　wind
  Among　dead　leaves；　and　drive　them　all　apart。
  Or　when　the　thralls　had　sport　among　themselves；
  So　there　were　any　trial　of　mastery；
  He；　by　two　yards　in　casting　bar　or　stone
  Was　counted　best；　and　if　there　chanced　a　joust；
  So　that　Sir　Kay　nodded　him　leave　to　go；
  Would　hurry　thither；　and　when　he　saw　the　knights
  Clash　like　the　coming　and　retiring　wave；
  And　the　spear　spring；　and　good　horse　reel；　the　boy
  Was　half　beyond　himself　for　ecstasy。
  So　for　a　month　he　wrought　among　the　thralls；
  But　in　the　weeks　that　followed；　the　good　Queen；
  Repentant　of　the　word　she　made　him　swear；
  And　saddening　in　her　childless　castle；　sent；
  Between　the　in…crescent　and　de…crescent　moon；
  Arms　for　her　son；　and　loosed　him　from　his　vow。
  This；　Gareth　hearing　from　a　squire　of　Lot
  With　whom　he　used　to　play　at　tourney　once；
  When　both　were　children；　and　in　lonely　haunts
  Would　scratch　a　ragged　oval　on　the　sand；
  And　each　at　either　dash　from　either　end
  Shame　never　made　girl　redder　than　Gareth　joy。
  He　laughed；　he　sprang。　　'Out　of　the　smoke；　at　once
  I　leap　from　Satan's　foot　to　Peter's　knee
  These　news　be　mine；　none　other'snay；　the　King's
  Descend　into　the　city：'　whereon　he　sought
  The　King　alone；　and　found；　and　told　him　all。
  'I　have　staggered　thy　strong　Gawain　in　a　tilt
  For　pastime；　yea；　he　said　it：　　joust　can　I。
  Make　me　thy　knightin　secret！　let　my　name
  Be　hidden；　and　give　me　the　first　quest；　I　spring
  Like　flame　from　ashes。'
  Here　the　King's　calm　eye
  Fell　on；　and　checked；　and　made　him　flush；　and　bow
  Lowly；　to　kiss　his　hand；　who　answered　him；
  'Son；　the　good　mother　let　me　know　thee　here；
  And　sent　her　wish　that　I　would　yield　thee　thine。
  Make　thee　my　knight？　my　knights　are　sworn　to　vows
  Of　utter　hardihood；　utter　gentleness；
  And；　loving；　utter　faithfulness　in　love；
  And　uttermost　obedience　to　the　King。'
  Then　Gareth；　lightly　springing　from　his　knees；
  'My　King；　for　hardihood　I　can　promise　thee。
  For　uttermost　obedience　make　demand
  Of　whom　ye　gave　me　to；　the　Seneschal；
  No　mellow　master　of　the　meats　and　drinks！
  And　as　for　love；　God　wot；　I　love　not　yet；
  But　love　I　shall；　God　willing。'
  And　the　King
  'Make　thee　my　knight　in　secret？　yea；　but　he；
  Our　noblest　brother；　and　our　truest　man；
  And　one　with　me　in　all；　he　needs　must　know。'
  'Let　Lancelot　know；　my　King；　let　Lancelot　know；
  Thy　noblest　and　thy　truest！'
  And　the　King
  'But　wherefore　would　ye　men　should　wonder　at　you？
  Nay；　rather　for　the　sake　of　me；　their　King；
  And　the　deed's　sake　my　knighthood　do　the　deed；
  Than　to　be　noised　of。'
  Merrily　Gareth　asked；
  'Have　I　not　earned　my　cake　in　baking　of　it？
  Let　be　my　name　until　I　make　my　name！
  My　deeds　will　speak：　　it　is　but　for　a　day。'
  So　with　a　kindly　hand　on　Gareth's　arm
  Smiled　the　great　King；　and　half…unwillingly
  Loving　his　lusty　youthhood　yielded　to　him。
  Then；　after　summoning　Lancelot　privily；
  'I　have　given　him　the　first　quest：　　he　is　not　proven。
  Look　therefore　when　he　calls　for　this　in　hall；
  Thou　get　to　horse　and　follow　him　far　away。
  Cover　the　lions　on　thy　shield；　and　see
  Far　as　thou　mayest；　he　be　nor　ta'en　nor　slain。'
  Then　that　same　day　there　past　into　the　hall
  A　damsel　of　high　lineage；　and　a　brow
  May…blossom；　and　a　cheek　of　apple…blossom；
  Hawk…eyes；　and　lightly　was　her　slender　nose
  Tip…tilted　like　the　petal　of　a　flower；
  She　into　hall　past　with　her　page　and　cried；
  'O　King；　for　thou　hast　driven　the　foe　without；
  See　to　the　foe　within！　bridge；　ford；　beset
  By　bandits；　everyone　that　owns　a　tower
  The　Lord　for　half　a　league。　　Why　sit　ye　there？
  Rest　would　I　not；　Sir　King；　an　I　were　king；
  Till　even　the　lonest　hold　were　all　as　free
  From　cursed　bloodshed；　as　thine　altar…cloth
  From　that　best　blood　it　is　a　sin　to　spill。'
  'Comfort　thyself；'　said　Arthur。　　'I　nor　mine
  Rest：　　so　my　knighthood　keep　the　vows　they　swore；
  The　wastest　moorland　of　our　realm　shall　be
  Safe；　damsel；　as　the　centre　of　this　hall。
  What　is　thy　name？　thy　need？'
  'My　name？'　she　said
  'Lynette　my　name；　noble；　my　need；　a　knight
  To　combat　for　my　sister；　Lyonors；
  A　lady　of　high　lineage；　of　great　lands；
  And　comely；　yea；　and　comelier　than　myself。
  She　lives　in　Castle　Perilous：　　a　river
  Runs　in　three　loops　about　her　living…place；
  And　o'er　it　are　three　passings；　and　three　knights
  Defend　the　passings；　brethren；　and　a　fourth
  And　of　that　four　the　mightiest；　holds　her　stayed
  In　her　own　castle；　and　so　besieges　her
  To　break　her　will；　and　make　her　wed　with　him：
  And　but　delays　his　purport　till　thou　send
  To　do　the　battle　with　him；　thy　chief　man
  Sir　Lancelot　whom　he　trusts　to　overthrow；
  Then　wed；　with　glory：　　but　she　will　not　wed
  Save　whom　she　loveth；　or　a　holy　life。
  Now　therefore　have　I　come　for　Lancelot。'
  Then　Arthur　mindful　of　Sir　Gareth　asked；
  'Damsel；　ye　know　this　Order　lives　to　crush
  All　wrongers　of　the　Realm。　　But　say；　these　four；
  Who　be　they？　　What　the　fashion　of　the　men？'
  'They　be　of　foolish　fashion；　O　Sir　King；
  The　fashion　of　that　old　knight…errantry
  Who　ride　abroad；　and　do　but　what　they　will；
  Courteous　or　bestial　from　the　moment；　such
  As　have　nor　law　nor　king；　and　three　of　these
  Proud　in　their　fantasy　call　themselves　the　Day；
  Morning…Star；　and　Noon…Sun；　and　Evening…Star；
  Being　strong　fools；　and　never　a　whit　more　wise
  The　fourth；　who　alway　rideth　armed　in　black；
  A　huge　man…beast　of　boundless　savagery。
  He　names　himself　the　Night　and　oftener　Death；
  And　wears　a　helmet　mounted　with　a　skull；
  And　bears　a　skeleton　figured　on　his　arms；
  To　show　that　who　may　slay　or　scape　the　three；
  Slain　by　himself；　shall　enter　endless　night。
  And　all　these　four　be　fools；　but　mighty　men；
  And　therefore　am　I　come　for　Lancelot。'
  Hereat　Sir　Gareth　called　from　where　he　rose；
  A　head　with　kindling　eyes　above　the　throng；
  'A　boon；　Sir　Kingthis　quest！'　thenfor　he　marked
  Kay　near　him　groaning　like　a　wounded　bull
  'Yea；　King；　thou　knowest　thy　kitchen…knave　am　I；
  And　mighty　through　thy　meats　and　drinks　am　I；
  And　I　can　topple　over　a　hundred　such。
  Thy　promise；　King；'　and　Arthur　glancing　at　hi