She　still　took　note　that　when　the　living　smile
  Died　from　his　lips；　across　him　came　a　cloud
  Of　melancholy　severe；　from　which　again；
  Whenever　in　her　hovering　to　and　fro
  The　lily　maid　had　striven　to　make　him　cheer；
  There　brake　a　sudden…beaming　tenderness
  Of　manners　and　of　nature：　　and　she　thought
  That　all　was　nature；　all；　perchance；　for　her。
  And　all　night　long　his　face　before　her　lived；
  As　when　a　painter；　poring　on　a　face；
  Divinely　through　all　hindrance　finds　the　man
  Behind　it；　and　so　paints　him　that　his　face；
  The　shape　and　colour　of　a　mind　and　life；
  Lives　for　his　children；　ever　at　its　best
  And　fullest；　so　the　face　before　her　lived；
  Dark…splendid；　speaking　in　the　silence；　full
  Of　noble　things；　and　held　her　from　her　sleep。
  Till　rathe　she　rose；　half…cheated　in　the　thought
  She　needs　must　bid　farewell　to　sweet　Lavaine。
  First　in　fear；　step　after　step；　she　stole
  Down　the　long　tower…stairs；　hesitating：
  Anon；　she　heard　Sir　Lancelot　cry　in　the　court；
  'This　shield；　my　friend；　where　is　it？'　and　Lavaine
  Past　inward；　as　she　came　from　out　the　tower。
  There　to　his　proud　horse　Lancelot　turned；　and　smoothed
  The　glossy　shoulder；　humming　to　himself。
  Half…envious　of　the　flattering　hand；　she　drew
  Nearer　and　stood。　　He　looked；　and　more　amazed
  Than　if　seven　men　had　set　upon　him；　saw
  The　maiden　standing　in　the　dewy　light。
  He　had　not　dreamed　she　was　so　beautiful。
  Then　came　on　him　a　sort　of　sacred　fear；
  For　silent；　though　he　greeted　her；　she　stood
  Rapt　on　his　face　as　if　it　were　a　God's。
  Suddenly　flashed　on　her　a　wild　desire；
  That　he　should　wear　her　favour　at　the　tilt。
  She　braved　a　riotous　heart　in　asking　for　it。
  'Fair　lord；　whose　name　I　know　notnoble　it　is；
  I　well　believe；　the　noblestwill　you　wear
  My　favour　at　this　tourney？'　　'Nay；'　said　he；
  'Fair　lady；　since　I　never　yet　have　worn
  Favour　of　any　lady　in　the　lists。
  Such　is　my　wont；　as　those；　who　know　me；　know。'
  'Yea；　so；'　she　answered；　'then　in　wearing　mine
  Needs　must　be　lesser　likelihood；　noble　lord；
  That　those　who　know　should　know　you。'　　And　he　turned
  Her　counsel　up　and　down　within　his　mind；
  And　found　it　true；　and　answered；　'True；　my　child。
  Well；　I　will　wear　it：　　fetch　it　out　to　me：
  What　is　it？'　and　she　told　him　'A　red　sleeve
  Broidered　with　pearls；'　and　brought　it：　　then　he　bound
  Her　token　on　his　helmet；　with　a　smile
  Saying；　'I　never　yet　have　done　so　much
  For　any　maiden　living；'　and　the　blood
  Sprang　to　her　face　and　filled　her　with　delight；
  But　left　her　all　the　paler；　when　Lavaine
  Returning　brought　the　yet…unblazoned　shield；
  His　brother's；　which　he　gave　to　Lancelot；
  Who　parted　with　his　own　to　fair　Elaine：
  'Do　me　this　grace；　my　child；　to　have　my　shield
  In　keeping　till　I　come。'　　'A　grace　to　me；'
  She　answered；　'twice　today。　　I　am　your　squire！'
  Whereat　Lavaine　said；　laughing；　'Lily　maid；
  For　fear　our　people　call　you　lily　maid
  In　earnest；　let　me　bring　your　colour　back；
  Once；　twice；　and　thrice：　　now　get　you　hence　to　bed：'
  So　kissed　her；　and　Sir　Lancelot　his　own　hand；
  And　thus　they　moved　away：　　she　stayed　a　minute；
  Then　made　a　sudden　step　to　the　gate；　and　there
  Her　bright　hair　blown　about　the　serious　face
  Yet　rosy…kindled　with　her　brother's　kiss
  Paused　by　the　gateway；　standing　near　the　shield
  In　silence；　while　she　watched　their　arms　far…off
  Sparkle；　until　they　dipt　below　the　downs。
  Then　to　her　tower　she　climbed；　and　took　the　shield；
  There　kept　it；　and　so　lived　in　fantasy。
  Meanwhile　the　new　companions　past　away
  Far　o'er　the　long　backs　of　the　bushless　downs；
  To　where　Sir　Lancelot　knew　there　lived　a　knight
  Not　far　from　Camelot；　now　for　forty　years
  A　hermit；　who　had　prayed；　laboured　and　prayed；
  And　ever　labouring　had　scooped　himself
  In　the　white　rock　a　chapel　and　a　hall
  On　massive　columns；　like　a　shorecliff　cave；
  And　cells　and　chambers：　　all　were　fair　and　dry；
  The　green　light　from　the　meadows　underneath
  Struck　up　and　lived　along　the　milky　roofs；
  And　in　the　meadows　tremulous　aspen…trees
  And　poplars　made　a　noise　of　falling　showers。
  And　thither　wending　there　that　night　they　bode。
  But　when　the　next　day　broke　from　underground；
  And　shot　red　fire　and　shadows　through　the　cave；
  They　rose；　heard　mass；　broke　fast；　and　rode　away：
  Then　Lancelot　saying；　'Hear；　but　hold　my　name
  Hidden；　you　ride　with　Lancelot　of　the　Lake；'
  Abashed　young　Lavaine；　whose　instant　reverence；
  Dearer　to　true　young　hearts　than　their　own　praise；
  But　left　him　leave　to　stammer；　'Is　it　indeed？'
  And　after　muttering　'The　great　Lancelot；
  At　last　he　got　his　breath　and　answered；　'One；
  One　have　I　seenthat　other；　our　liege　lord；
  The　dread　Pendragon；　Britain's　King　of　kings；
  Of　whom　the　people　talk　mysteriously；
  He　will　be　therethen　were　I　stricken　blind
  That　minute；　I　might　say　that　I　had　seen。'
  So　spake　Lavaine；　and　when　they　reached　the　lists
  By　Camelot　in　the　meadow；　let　his　eyes
  Run　through　the　peopled　gallery　which　half　round
  Lay　like　a　rainbow　fallen　upon　the　grass；
  Until　they　found　the　clear…faced　King；　who　sat
  Robed　in　red　samite；　easily　to　be　known；
  Since　to　his　crown　the　golden　dragon　clung；
  And　down　his　robe　the　dragon　writhed　in　gold；
  And　from　the　carven…work　behind　him　crept
  Two　dragons　gilded；　sloping　down　to　make
  Arms　for　his　chair；　while　all　the　rest　of　them
  Through　knots　and　loops　and　folds　innumerable
  Fled　ever　through　the　woodwork；　till　they　found
  The　new　design　wherein　they　lost　themselves；
  Yet　with　all　ease；　so　tender　was　the　work：
  And；　in　the　costly　canopy　o'er　him　set；
  Blazed　the　last　diamond　of　the　nameless　king。
  Then　Lancelot　answered　young　Lavaine　and　said；
  'Me　you　call　great：　　mine　is　the　firmer　seat；
  The　truer　lance：　　but　there　is　many　a　youth
  Now　crescent；　who　will　come　to　all　I　am
  And　overcome　it；　and　in　me　there　dwells
  No　greatness；　save　it　be　some　far…off　touch
  Of　greatness　to　know　well　I　am　not　great：
  There　is　the　man。'　　And　Lavaine　gaped　upon　him
  As　on　a　thing　miraculous；　and　anon
  The　trumpets　blew；　and　then　did　either　side；
  They　that　assailed；　and　they　that　held　the　lists；
  Set　lance　in　rest；　strike　spur；　suddenly　move；
  Meet　in　the　midst；　and　there　so　furiously
  Shock；　that　a　man　far…off　might　well　perceive；
  If　any　man　that　day　were　left　afield；
  The　hard　earth　shake；　and　a　low　thunder　of　arms。
  And　Lancelot　bode　a　little；　till　he　saw
  Which　were　the　weaker；　then　he　hurled　into　it
  Against　the　stronger：　　little　need　to　speak
  Of　Lancelot　in　his　glory！　　King；　duke；　earl；
  Count；　baronwhom　he　smote；　he　overthrew。
  But　in　the　field　were　Lancelot's　kith　and　kin；
  Ranged　with　the　Table　Round　that　held　the　lists；
  Strong　men；　and　wrathful　that　a　stranger　knight
  Should　do　and　almost　overdo　the　deeds
  Of　Lancelot；　and　one　said　to　the　other；　'Lo！
  What　is　he？　　I　do　not　mean　the　force　alone
  The　grace　and　versatility　of　the　man！
  Is　it　not　Lancelot？'　　'When　has　Lancelot　worn
  Favour　of　any　lady　in　the　lists？
  Not　such　his　wont；　as　we；　that　know　him；　know。'
  'How　then？　who　then？'　a　fury　seized　them　all；
  A　fiery　family　passion　for　the　name
  Of　Lancelot；　and　a　glory　one　with　theirs。
  They　couched　their　spears　and　pricked　their　steeds；　and　thus；
  Their　plumes　driven　backward　by　the　wind　they　made
  In　moving；　all　together　down　upon　him
  Bare；　as　a　wild　wave　in　the　wide　North…sea；
  Green…glimmering　toward　the　summit；　bears；　with　all
  Its　stormy　crests　that　smoke　against　the　skies；
  Down　on　a　bark；　and　overbears　the　bark；
  And　him　that　helms　it；　so　they　overbore
  Sir　Lancelot　and　his　charger；　and　a　spear
  Down…glancing　lamed　the　charger；　and　a　spear
  Pricked　sharply　his　own　cuirass；　and　the　head
  Pierced　through　his　side；　and　there　snapt；　and　remained。
  Then　Sir　Lavaine　did　well　and　worshipfully；
  He　bore　a　knight　of　old　repute　to　the　earth；
  And　brought　his　horse　to　Lancelot　where　he　lay。
  He　up　the　side；　sweating　with　agony；　got；
  But　thought　to　do　while　he　might　yet　endure；
  And　being　lustily　holpen　by　the　rest；
  His　party；though　it　seemed　half…miracle
  To　those　he　fought　with；drave　his　kith　and　kin；
  And　all　the　Table　Round　that　held　the　lists；
  Back　to　the　barrier；　then　the　trumpets　blew
  Proclaiming　his　the　prize；　who　wore　the　sleeve
  Of　scarlet；　and　the　pearls；　and　all　the　knights；
  His　party；　cried　'Advance　and　take　thy　prize
  The　diamond；'　but　he　answered；　'Diamond　me
  No　diamonds！　for　God's　love；　a　little　air！
  Prize　me　no　prizes；　for　my　prize　is　death！
  Hence　will　I；　and　I　charge　you；　follow　me　not。'
  He　spoke；　and　vanished　suddenly　from　the　field
  With　young　Lavaine　into　the　poplar　grove。
  There　from　his　charger　down　he　slid；　and　sat；
  Gasping　to　Sir　Lavaine；　'Draw　the　lance…head：'
  'Ah　my　sweet　lord　Sir　Lancelot；'　said　Lavaine；
  'I　dread　me；　if　I　draw　it；　you　will　die。'
  But　he；　'I　die　already　with　it：　　draw
  Draw；'and　Lavaine　drew；　and　Sir　Lancelot　gave
  A　marvellous　great　shriek　and　ghastly　groan；
  And　half　his　blood　burst　forth；　and　down　he　sank
  For　the　pure　pain；　and　wholly　swooned　away。
  Then　came　the　hermit　out　and　bare　him　in；
  There　stanched　his　wound；　and　there；　in　daily　doubt
  Whether　to　live　or　die；　for　many　a　week
  Hid　from　the　wide　world's　rumour　by　the　grove
  Of　poplars　with　their　noise　of　falling　showers；
  And　ever…tremulous　aspen…trees；　he　lay。
  But　on　that　day　when　Lancelot　fled　the　lists；
  His　party；　knights　of　utmost　North　and　West；
  Lords　of　waste　marches；