When　Guinevere　was　crossing　the　great　hall
  Cast　herself　down；　knelt　to　the　Queen；　and　wailed。
  'Why　kneel　ye　there？　　What　evil　hath　ye　wrought？
  Rise！'　and　the　damsel　bidden　rise　arose
  And　stood　with　folded　hands　and　downward　eyes
  Of　glancing　corner；　and　all　meekly　said；
  'None　wrought；　but　suffered　much；　an　orphan　maid！
  My　father　died　in　battle　for　thy　King；
  My　mother　on　his　corpsein　open　field；
  The　sad　sea…sounding　wastes　of　Lyonnesse
  Poor　wretchno　friend！and　now　by　Mark　the　King
  For　that　small　charm　of　feature　mine；　pursued
  If　any　such　be　mineI　fly　to　thee。
  Save；　save　me　thouWoman　of　womenthine
  The　wreath　of　beauty；　thine　the　crown　of　power；
  Be　thine　the　balm　of　pity；　O　Heaven's　own　white
  Earth…angel；　stainless　bride　of　stainless　King
  Help；　for　he　follows！　take　me　to　thyself！
  O　yield　me　shelter　for　mine　innocency
  Among　thy　maidens！
  Here　her　slow　sweet　eyes
  Fear…tremulous；　but　humbly　hopeful；　rose
  Fixt　on　her　hearer's；　while　the　Queen　who　stood
  All　glittering　like　May　sunshine　on　May　leaves
  In　green　and　gold；　and　plumed　with　green　replied；
  'Peace；　child！　of　overpraise　and　overblame
  We　choose　the　last。　　Our　noble　Arthur；　him
  Ye　scarce　can　overpraise；　will　hear　and　know。
  Naywe　believe　all　evil　of　thy　Mark
  Well；　we　shall　test　thee　farther；　but　this　hour
  We　ride　a…hawking　with　Sir　Lancelot。
  He　hath　given　us　a　fair　falcon　which　he　trained；
  We　go　to　prove　it。　　Bide　ye　here　the　while。'
  She　past；　and　Vivien　murmured　after　'Go！
  I　bide　the　while。'　　Then　through　the　portal…arch
  Peering　askance；　and　muttering　broken…wise；
  As　one　that　labours　with　an　evil　dream；
  Beheld　the　Queen　and　Lancelot　get　to　horse。
  'Is　that　the　Lancelot？　goodlyay；　but　gaunt：
  Courteousamends　for　gauntnesstakes　her　hand
  That　glance　of　theirs；　but　for　the　street；　had　been
  A　clinging　kisshow　hand　lingers　in　hand！
  Let　go　at　last！they　ride　awayto　hawk
  For　waterfowl。　　Royaller　game　is　mine。
  For　such　a　supersensual　sensual　bond
  As　that　gray　cricket　chirpt　of　at　our　hearth
  Touch　flax　with　flamea　glance　will　servethe　liars！
  Ah　little　rat　that　borest　in　the　dyke
  Thy　hole　by　night　to　let　the　boundless　deep
  Down　upon　far…off　cities　while　they　dance
  Or　dreamof　thee　they　dreamed　notnor　of　me
  Theseay；　but　each　of　either：　　ride；　and　dream
  The　mortal　dream　that　never　yet　was　mine
  Ride；　ride　and　dream　until　ye　waketo　me！
  Then；　narrow　court　and　lubber　King；　farewell！
  For　Lancelot　will　be　gracious　to　the　rat；
  And　our　wise　Queen；　if　knowing　that　I　know；
  Will　hate；　loathe；　fearbut　honour　me　the　more。'
  Yet　while　they　rode　together　down　the　plain；
  Their　talk　was　all　of　training；　terms　of　art；
  Diet　and　seeling；　jesses；　leash　and　lure。
  'She　is　too　noble'　he　said　'to　check　at　pies；
  Nor　will　she　rake：　　there　is　no　baseness　in　her。'
  Here　when　the　Queen　demanded　as　by　chance
  'Know　ye　the　stranger　woman？'　　'Let　her　be；'
  Said　Lancelot　and　unhooded　casting　off
  The　goodly　falcon　free；　she　towered；　her　bells；
  Tone　under　tone；　shrilled；　and　they　lifted　up
  Their　eager　faces；　wondering　at　the　strength；
  Boldness　and　royal　knighthood　of　the　bird
  Who　pounced　her　quarry　and　slew　it。　　Many　a　time
  As　onceof　oldamong　the　flowersthey　rode。
  But　Vivien　half…forgotten　of　the　Queen
  Among　her　damsels　broidering　sat；　heard；　watched
  And　whispered：　　through　the　peaceful　court　she　crept
  And　whispered：　　then　as　Arthur　in　the　highest
  Leavened　the　world；　so　Vivien　in　the　lowest；
  Arriving　at　a　time　of　golden　rest；
  And　sowing　one　ill　hint　from　ear　to　ear；
  While　all　the　heathen　lay　at　Arthur's　feet；
  And　no　quest　came；　but　all　was　joust　and　play；
  Leavened　his　hall。　　They　heard　and　let　her　be。
  Thereafter　as　an　enemy　that　has　left
  Death　in　the　living　waters；　and　withdrawn；
  The　wily　Vivien　stole　from　Arthur's　court。
  She　hated　all　the　knights；　and　heard　in　thought
  Their　lavish　comment　when　her　name　was　named。
  For　once；　when　Arthur　walking　all　alone；
  Vext　at　a　rumour　issued　from　herself
  Of　some　corruption　crept　among　his　knights；
  Had　met　her；　Vivien；　being　greeted　fair；
  Would　fain　have　wrought　upon　his　cloudy　mood
  With　reverent　eyes　mock…loyal；　shaken　voice；
  And　fluttered　adoration；　and　at　last
  With　dark　sweet　hints　of　some　who　prized　him　more
  Than　who　should　prize　him　most；　at　which　the　King
  Had　gazed　upon　her　blankly　and　gone　by：
  But　one　had　watched；　and　had　not　held　his　peace：
  It　made　the　laughter　of　an　afternoon
  That　Vivien　should　attempt　the　blameless　King。
  And　after　that；　she　set　herself　to　gain
  Him；　the　most　famous　man　of　all　those　times；
  Merlin；　who　knew　the　range　of　all　their　arts；
  Had　built　the　King　his　havens；　ships；　and　halls；
  Was　also　Bard；　and　knew　the　starry　heavens；
  The　people　called　him　Wizard；　whom　at　first
  She　played　about　with　slight　and　sprightly　talk；
  And　vivid　smiles；　and　faintly…venomed　points
  Of　slander；　glancing　here　and　grazing　there；
  And　yielding　to　his　kindlier　moods；　the　Seer
  Would　watch　her　at　her　petulance；　and　play；
  Even　when　they　seemed　unloveable；　and　laugh
  As　those　that　watch　a　kitten；　thus　he　grew
  Tolerant　of　what　he　half　disdained；　and　she；
  Perceiving　that　she　was　but　half　disdained；
  Began　to　break　her　sports　with　graver　fits；
  Turn　red　or　pale；　would　often　when　they　met
  Sigh　fully；　or　all…silent　gaze　upon　him
  With　such　a　fixt　devotion；　that　the　old　man；
  Though　doubtful；　felt　the　flattery；　and　at　times
  Would　flatter　his　own　wish　in　age　for　love；
  And　half　believe　her　true：　　for　thus　at　times
  He　wavered；　but　that　other　clung　to　him；
  Fixt　in　her　will；　and　so　the　seasons　went。
  Then　fell　on　Merlin　a　great　melancholy；
  He　walked　with　dreams　and　darkness；　and　he　found
  A　doom　that　ever　poised　itself　to　fall；
  An　ever…moaning　battle　in　the　mist；
  World…war　of　dying　flesh　against　the　life；
  Death　in　all　life　and　lying　in　all　love；
  The　meanest　having　power　upon　the　highest；
  And　the　high　purpose　broken　by　the　worm。
  So　leaving　Arthur's　court　he　gained　the　beach；
  There　found　a　little　boat；　and　stept　into　it；
  And　Vivien　followed；　but　he　marked　her　not。
  She　took　the　helm　and　he　the　sail；　the　boat
  Drave　with　a　sudden　wind　across　the　deeps；
  And　touching　Breton　sands；　they　disembarked。
  And　then　she　followed　Merlin　all　the　way；
  Even　to　the　wild　woods　of　Broceliande。
  For　Merlin　once　had　told　her　of　a　charm；
  The　which　if　any　wrought　on　anyone
  With　woven　paces　and　with　waving　arms；
  The　man　so　wrought　on　ever　seemed　to　lie
  Closed　in　the　four　walls　of　a　hollow　tower；
  From　which　was　no　escape　for　evermore；
  And　none　could　find　that　man　for　evermore；
  Nor　could　he　see　but　him　who　wrought　the　charm
  Coming　and　going；　and　he　lay　as　dead
  And　lost　to　life　and　use　and　name　and　fame。
  And　Vivien　ever　sought　to　work　the　charm
  Upon　the　great　Enchanter　of　the　Time；
  As　fancying　that　her　glory　would　be　great
  According　to　his　greatness　whom　she　quenched。
  There　lay　she　all　her　length　and　kissed　his　feet；
  As　if　in　deepest　reverence　and　in　love。
  A　twist　of　gold　was　round　her　hair；　a　robe
  Of　samite　without　price；　that　more　exprest
  Than　hid　her；　clung　about　her　lissome　limbs；
  In　colour　like　the　satin…shining　palm
  On　sallows　in　the　windy　gleams　of　March：
  And　while　she　kissed　them；　crying；　'Trample　me；
  Dear　feet；　that　I　have　followed　through　the　world；
  And　I　will　pay　you　worship；　tread　me　down
  And　I　will　kiss　you　for　it；'　he　was　mute：
  So　dark　a　forethought　rolled　about　his　brain；
  As　on　a　dull　day　in　an　Ocean　cave
  The　blind　wave　feeling　round　his　long　sea…hall
  In　silence：　　wherefore；　when　she　lifted　up
  A　face　of　sad　appeal；　and　spake　and　said；
  'O　Merlin；　do　ye　love　me？'　and　again；
  'O　Merlin；　do　ye　love　me？'　and　once　more；
  'Great　Master；　do　ye　love　me？'　he　was　mute。
  And　lissome　Vivien；　holding　by　his　heel；
  Writhed　toward　him；　slided　up　his　knee　and　sat；
  Behind　his　ankle　twined　her　hollow　feet
  Together；　curved　an　arm　about　his　neck；
  Clung　like　a　snake；　and　letting　her　left　hand
  Droop　from　his　mighty　shoulder；　as　a　leaf；
  Made　with　her　right　a　comb　of　pearl　to　part
  The　lists　of　such　a　board　as　youth　gone　out
  Had　left　in　ashes：　　then　he　spoke　and　said；
  Not　looking　at　her；　'Who　are　wise　in　love
  Love　most；　say　least；'　and　Vivien　answered　quick；
  'I　saw　the　little　elf…god　eyeless　once
  In　Arthur's　arras　hall　at　Camelot：
  But　neither　eyes　nor　tongueO　stupid　child！
  Yet　you　are　wise　who　say　it；　let　me　think
  Silence　is　wisdom：　　I　am　silent　then；
  And　ask　no　kiss；'　then　adding　all　at　once；
  'And　lo；　I　clothe　myself　with　wisdom；'　drew
  The　vast　and　shaggy　mantle　of　his　beard
  Across　her　neck　and　bosom　to　her　knee；
  And　called　herself　a　gilded　summer　fly
  Caught　in　a　great　old　tyrant　spider's　web；
  Who　meant　to　eat　her　up　in　that　wild　wood
  Without　one　word。　　So　Vivien　called　herself；
  But　rather　seemed　a　lovely　baleful　star
  Veiled　in　gray　vapour；　till　he　sadly　smiled：
  'To　what　request　for　what　strange　boon；'　he　said；
  'Are　these　your　pretty　tricks　and　fooleries；
  O　Vivien；　the　preamble？　yet　my　thanks；
  For　these　have　broken　up　my　melancholy。'
  And　Vivien　answered　smiling　saucily；
  'What；　O　my　Master；　have　ye　found　your　voice？
  I　bid　the　stranger　welcome。　　Thanks　at　last！
  But　yesterday　you　never　opened　lip；
  Except　indeed　to　drink：　　no　cup　had　we：
  In　mine　own　lady　palms　I　culled　the　spring
  That　gathered　trickling　drop