Nor　stayed　to　crave　permission　of　the　King；
  But；　mad　for　strange　adventure；　dashed　away。
  He　took　the　selfsame　track　as　Balan；　saw
  The　fountain　where　they　sat　together；　sighed
  'Was　I　not　better　there　with　him？'　and　rode
  The　skyless　woods；　but　under　open　blue
  Came　on　the　hoarhead　woodman　at　a　bough
  Wearily　hewing。　　'Churl；　thine　axe！'　he　cried；
  Descended；　and　disjointed　it　at　a　blow：
  To　whom　the　woodman　uttered　wonderingly
  'Lord；　thou　couldst　lay　the　Devil　of　these　woods
  If　arm　of　flesh　could　lay　him。'　　Balin　cried
  'Him；　or　the　viler　devil　who　plays　his　part；
  To　lay　that　devil　would　lay　the　Devil　in　me。'
  'Nay'　said　the　churl；　'our　devil　is　a　truth；
  I　saw　the　flash　of　him　but　yestereven。
  And　some　do　say　that　our　Sir　Garlon　too
  Hath　learned　black　magic；　and　to　ride　unseen。
  Look　to　the　cave。'　　But　Balin　answered　him
  'Old　fabler；　these　be　fancies　of　the　churl；
  Look　to　thy　woodcraft；'　and　so　leaving　him；
  Now　with　slack　rein　and　careless　of　himself；
  Now　with　dug　spur　and　raving　at　himself；
  Now　with　droopt　brow　down　the　long　glades　he　rode；
  So　marked　not　on　his　right　a　cavern…chasm
  Yawn　over　darkness；　where；　nor　far　within；
  The　whole　day　died；　but；　dying；　gleamed　on　rocks
  Roof…pendent；　sharp；　and　others　from　the　floor；
  Tusklike；　arising；　made　that　mouth　of　night
  Whereout　the　Demon　issued　up　from　Hell。
  He　marked　not　this；　but　blind　and　deaf　to　all
  Save　that　chained　rage；　which　ever　yelpt　within；
  Past　eastward　from　the　falling　sun。　　At　once
  He　felt　the　hollow…beaten　mosses　thud
  And　tremble；　and　then　the　shadow　of　a　spear；
  Shot　from　behind　him；　ran　along　the　ground。
  Sideways　he　started　from　the　path；　and　saw；
  With　pointed　lance　as　if　to　pierce；　a　shape；
  A　light　of　armour　by　him　flash；　and　pass
  And　vanish　in　the　woods；　and　followed　this；
  But　all　so　blind　in　rage　that　unawares
  He　burst　his　lance　against　a　forest　bough；
  Dishorsed　himself；　and　rose　again；　and　fled
  Far；　till　the　castle　of　a　King；　the　hall
  Of　Pellam；　lichen…bearded；　grayly　draped
  With　streaming　grass；　appeared；　low…built　but　strong；
  The　ruinous　donjon　as　a　knoll　of　moss；
  The　battlement　overtopt　with　ivytods；
  A　home　of　bats；　in　every　tower　an　owl。
  Then　spake　the　men　of　Pellam　crying　'Lord；
  Why　wear　ye　this　crown…royal　upon　shield？'
  Said　Balin　'For　the　fairest　and　the　best
  Of　ladies　living　gave　me　this　to　bear。'
  So　stalled　his　horse；　and　strode　across　the　court；
  But　found　the　greetings　both　of　knight　and　King
  Faint　in　the　low　dark　hall　of　banquet：　　leaves
  Laid　their　green　faces　flat　against　the　panes；
  Sprays　grated；　and　the　cankered　boughs　without
  Whined　in　the　wood；　for　all　was　hushed　within；
  Till　when　at　feast　Sir　Garlon　likewise　asked
  'Why　wear　ye　that　crown…royal？'　Balin　said
  'The　Queen　we　worship；　Lancelot；　I；　and　all；
  As　fairest；　best　and　purest；　granted　me
  To　bear　it！'　　Such　a　sound　（for　Arthur's　knights
  Were　hated　strangers　in　the　hall）　as　makes
  The　white　swan…mother；　sitting；　when　she　hears
  A　strange　knee　rustle　through　her　secret　reeds；
  Made　Garlon；　hissing；　then　he　sourly　smiled。
  'Fairest　I　grant　her：　　I　have　seen；　but　best；
  Best；　purest？　thou　from　Arthur's　hall；　and　yet
  So　simple！　hast　thou　eyes；　or　if；　are　these
  So　far　besotted　that　they　fail　to　see
  This　fair　wife…worship　cloaks　a　secret　shame？
  Truly；　ye　men　of　Arthur　be　but　babes。'
  A　goblet　on　the　board　by　Balin；　bossed
  With　holy　Joseph's　legend；　on　his　right
  Stood；　all　of　massiest　bronze：　　one　side　had　sea
  And　ship　and　sail　and　angels　blowing　on　it：
  And　one　was　rough　with　wattling；　and　the　walls
  Of　that　low　church　he　built　at　Glastonbury。
  This　Balin　graspt；　but　while　in　act　to　hurl；
  Through　memory　of　that　token　on　the　shield
  Relaxed　his　hold：　　'I　will　be　gentle'　he　thought
  'And　passing　gentle'　caught　his　hand　away；
  Then　fiercely　to　Sir　Garlon　'Eyes　have　I
  That　saw　today　the　shadow　of　a　spear；
  Shot　from　behind　me；　run　along　the　ground；
  Eyes　too　that　long　have　watched　how　Lancelot　draws
  From　homage　to　the　best　and　purest；　might；
  Name；　manhood；　and　a　grace；　but　scantly　thine；
  Who；　sitting　in　thine　own　hall；　canst　endure
  To　mouth　so　huge　a　foulnessto　thy　guest；
  Me；　me　of　Arthur's　Table。　　Felon　talk！
  Let　be！　no　more！'
  But　not　the　less　by　night
  The　scorn　of　Garlon；　poisoning　all　his　rest；
  Stung　him　in　dreams。　　At　length；　and　dim　through　leaves
  Blinkt　the　white　morn；　sprays　grated；　and　old　boughs
  Whined　in　the　wood。　　He　rose；　descended；　met
  The　scorner　in　the　castle　court；　and　fain；
  For　hate　and　loathing；　would　have　past　him　by；
  But　when　Sir　Garlon　uttered　mocking…wise；
  'What；　wear　ye　still　that　same　crown…scandalous？'
  His　countenance　blackened；　and　his　forehead　veins
  Bloated；　and　branched；　and　tearing　out　of　sheath
  The　brand；　Sir　Balin　with　a　fiery　'Ha！
  So　thou　be　shadow；　here　I　make　thee　ghost；'
  Hard　upon　helm　smote　him；　and　the　blade　flew
  Splintering　in　six；　and　clinkt　upon　the　stones。
  Then　Garlon；　reeling　slowly　backward；　fell；
  And　Balin　by　the　banneret　of　his　helm
  Dragged　him；　and　struck；　but　from　the　castle　a　cry
  Sounded　across　the　court；　andmen…at…arms；
  A　score　with　pointed　lances；　making　at　him
  He　dashed　the　pummel　at　the　foremost　face；
  Beneath　a　low　door　dipt；　and　made　his　feet
  Wings　through　a　glimmering　gallery；　till　he　marked
  The　portal　of　King　Pellam's　chapel　wide
  And　inward　to　the　wall；　he　stept　behind；
  Thence　in　a　moment　heard　them　pass　like　wolves
  Howling；　but　while　he　stared　about　the　shrine；
  In　which　he　scarce　could　spy　the　Christ　for　Saints；
  Beheld　before　a　golden　altar　lie
  The　longest　lance　his　eyes　had　ever　seen；
  Point…painted　red；　and　seizing　thereupon
  Pushed　through　an　open　casement　down；　leaned　on　it；
  Leapt　in　a　semicircle；　and　lit　on　earth；
  Then　hand　at　ear；　and　harkening　from　what　side
  The　blindfold　rummage　buried　in　the　walls
  Might　echo；　ran　the　counter　path；　and　found
  His　charger；　mounted　on　him　and　away。
  An　arrow　whizzed　to　the　right；　one　to　the　left；
  One　overhead；　and　Pellam's　feeble　cry
  'Stay；　stay　him！　he　defileth　heavenly　things
  With　earthly　uses'made　him　quickly　dive
  Beneath　the　boughs；　and　race　through　many　a　mile
  Of　dense　and　open；　till　his　goodly　horse；
  Arising　wearily　at　a　fallen　oak；
  Stumbled　headlong；　and　cast　him　face　to　ground。
  Half…wroth　he　had　not　ended；　but　all　glad；
  Knightlike；　to　find　his　charger　yet　unlamed；
  Sir　Balin　drew　the　shield　from　off　his　neck；
  Stared　at　the　priceless　cognizance；　and　thought
  'I　have　shamed　thee　so　that　now　thou　shamest　me；
  Thee　will　I　bear　no　more；'　high　on　a　branch
  Hung　it；　and　turned　aside　into　the　woods；
  And　there　in　gloom　cast　himself　all　along；
  Moaning　'My　violences；　my　violences！'
  But　now　the　wholesome　music　of　the　wood
  Was　dumbed　by　one　from　out　the　hall　of　Mark；
  A　damsel…errant；　warbling；　as　she　rode
  The　woodland　alleys；　Vivien；　with　her　Squire。
  'The　fire　of　Heaven　has　killed　the　barren　cold；
  And　kindled　all　the　plain　and　all　the　wold。
  The　new　leaf　ever　pushes　off　the　old。
  The　fire　of　Heaven　is　not　the　flame　of　Hell。
  'Old　priest；　who　mumble　worship　in　your　quire
  Old　monk　and　nun；　ye　scorn　the　world's　desire；
  Yet　in　your　frosty　cells　ye　feel　the　fire！
  The　fire　of　Heaven　is　not　the　flame　of　Hell。
  'The　fire　of　Heaven　is　on　the　dusty　ways。
  The　wayside　blossoms　open　to　the　blaze。
  The　whole　wood…world　is　one　full　peal　of　praise。
  The　fire　of　Heaven　is　not　the　flame　of　Hell。
  'The　fire　of　Heaven　is　lord　of　all　things　good；
  And　starve　not　thou　this　fire　within　thy　blood；
  But　follow　Vivien　through　the　fiery　flood！
  The　fire　of　Heaven　is　not　the　flame　of　Hell！'
  Then　turning　to　her　Squire　'This　fire　of　Heaven；
  This　old　sun…worship；　boy；　will　rise　again；
  And　beat　the　cross　to　earth；　and　break　the　King
  And　all　his　Table。'
  Then　they　reached　a　glade；
  Where　under　one　long　lane　of　cloudless　air
  Before　another　wood；　the　royal　crown
  Sparkled；　and　swaying　upon　a　restless　elm
  Drew　the　vague　glance　of　Vivien；　and　her　Squire；
  Amazed　were　these；　'Lo　there'　she　cried'a　crown
  Borne　by　some　high　lord…prince　of　Arthur's　hall；
  And　there　a　horse！　the　rider？　where　is　he？
  See；　yonder　lies　one　dead　within　the　wood。
  Not　dead；　he　stirs！but　sleeping。　　I　will　speak。
  Hail；　royal　knight；　we　break　on　thy　sweet　rest；
  Not；　doubtless；　all　unearned　by　noble　deeds。
  But　bounden　art　thou；　if　from　Arthur's　hall；
  To　help　the　weak。　　Behold；　I　fly　from　shame；
  A　lustful　King；　who　sought　to　win　my　love
  Through　evil　ways：　　the　knight；　with　whom　I　rode；
  Hath　suffered　misadventure；　and　my　squire
  Hath　in　him　small　defence；　but　thou；　Sir　Prince；
  Wilt　surely　guide　me　to　the　warrior　King；
  Arthur　the　blameless；　pure　as　any　maid；
  To　get　me　shelter　for　my　maidenhood。
  I　charge　thee　by　that　crown　upon　thy　shield；
  And　by　the　great　Queen's　name；　arise　and　hence。'
  And　Balin　rose；　'Thither　no　more！　nor　Prince
  Nor　knight　am　I；　but　one　that　hath　defamed
  The　cognizance　she　gave　me：　　here　I　dwell
  Savage　among　the　savage　woods；　here　die
  Die：　　let　the　wolves'　black　maws　ensepulchre
  Their　brother　beast；　whose　anger　was　his　lord。
  O　me；　that　such　a　name　as　Guinevere's；
  Which　our　high　Lancelot　hath　so　lifted　up；
  And　been　thereby　uplifted；　should　through　me；
  My　violence；　and　my　villainy；　come　to　shame。'
  Thereat　she　suddenly　laughed　and　shrill；