So　that　day　there　was　dole　in　Astolat。
  But　when　the　next　sun　brake　from　underground；
  Then；　those　two　brethren　slowly　with　bent　brows
  Accompanying；　the　sad　chariot…bier
  Past　like　a　shadow　through　the　field；　that　shone
  Full…summer；　to　that　stream　whereon　the　barge；
  Palled　all　its　length　in　blackest　samite；　lay。
  There　sat　the　lifelong　creature　of　the　house；
  Loyal；　the　dumb　old　servitor；　on　deck；
  Winking　his　eyes；　and　twisted　all　his　face。
  So　those　two　brethren　from　the　chariot　took
  And　on　the　black　decks　laid　her　in　her　bed；
  Set　in　her　hand　a　lily；　o'er　her　hung
  The　silken　case　with　braided　blazonings；
  And　kissed　her　quiet　brows；　and　saying　to　her
  'Sister；　farewell　for　ever；'　and　again
  'Farewell；　sweet　sister；'　parted　all　in　tears。
  Then　rose　the　dumb　old　servitor；　and　the　dead；
  Oared　by　the　dumb；　went　upward　with　the　flood
  In　her　right　hand　the　lily；　in　her　left
  The　letterall　her　bright　hair　streaming　down
  And　all　the　coverlid　was　cloth　of　gold
  Drawn　to　her　waist；　and　she　herself　in　white
  All　but　her　face；　and　that　clear…featured　face
  Was　lovely；　for　she　did　not　seem　as　dead；
  But　fast　asleep；　and　lay　as　though　she　smiled。
  That　day　Sir　Lancelot　at　the　palace　craved
  Audience　of　Guinevere；　to　give　at　last；
  The　price　of　half　a　realm；　his　costly　gift；
  Hard…won　and　hardly　won　with　bruise　and　blow；
  With　deaths　of　others；　and　almost　his　own；
  The　nine…years…fought…for　diamonds：　　for　he　saw
  One　of　her　house；　and　sent　him　to　the　Queen
  Bearing　his　wish；　whereto　the　Queen　agreed
  With　such　and　so　unmoved　a　majesty
  She　might　have　seemed　her　statue；　but　that　he；
  Low…drooping　till　he　wellnigh　kissed　her　feet
  For　loyal　awe；　saw　with　a　sidelong　eye
  The　shadow　of　some　piece　of　pointed　lace；
  In　the　Queen's　shadow；　vibrate　on　the　walls；
  And　parted；　laughing　in　his　courtly　heart。
  All　in　an　oriel　on　the　summer　side；
  Vine…clad；　of　Arthur's　palace　toward　the　stream；
  They　met；　and　Lancelot　kneeling　uttered；　'Queen；
  Lady；　my　liege；　in　whom　I　have　my　joy；
  Take；　what　I　had　not　won　except　for　you；
  These　jewels；　and　make　me　happy；　making　them
  An　armlet　for　the　roundest　arm　on　earth；
  Or　necklace　for　a　neck　to　which　the　swan's
  Is　tawnier　than　her　cygnet's：　　these　are　words：
  Your　beauty　is　your　beauty；　and　I　sin
  In　speaking；　yet　O　grant　my　worship　of　it
  Words；　as　we　grant　grief　tears。　　Such　sin　in　words
  Perchance；　we　both　can　pardon：　　but；　my　Queen；
  I　hear　of　rumours　flying　through　your　court。
  Our　bond；　as　not　the　bond　of　man　and　wife；
  Should　have　in　it　an　absoluter　trust
  To　make　up　that　defect：　　let　rumours　be：
  When　did　not　rumours　fly？　these；　as　I　trust
  That　you　trust　me　in　your　own　nobleness；
  I　may　not　well　believe　that　you　believe。'
  While　thus　he　spoke；　half　turned　away；　the　Queen
  Brake　from　the　vast　oriel…embowering　vine
  Leaf　after　leaf；　and　tore；　and　cast　them　off；
  Till　all　the　place　whereon　she　stood　was　green；
  Then；　when　he　ceased；　in　one　cold　passive　hand
  Received　at　once　and　laid　aside　the　gems
  There　on　a　table　near　her；　and　replied：
  'It　may　be；　I　am　quicker　of　belief
  Than　you　believe　me；　Lancelot　of　the　Lake。
  Our　bond　is　not　the　bond　of　man　and　wife。
  This　good　is　in　it；　whatsoe'er　of　ill；
  It　can　be　broken　easier。　　I　for　you
  This　many　a　year　have　done　despite　and　wrong
  To　one　whom　ever　in　my　heart　of　hearts
  I　did　acknowledge　nobler。　　What　are　these？
  Diamonds　for　me！　they　had　been　thrice　their　worth
  Being　your　gift；　had　you　not　lost　your　own。
  To　loyal　hearts　the　value　of　all　gifts
  Must　vary　as　the　giver's。　　Not　for　me！
  For　her！　for　your　new　fancy。　　Only　this
  Grant　me；　I　pray　you：　　have　your　joys　apart。
  I　doubt　not　that　however　changed；　you　keep
  So　much　of　what　is　graceful：　　and　myself
  Would　shun　to　break　those　bounds　of　courtesy
  In　which　as　Arthur's　Queen　I　move　and　rule：
  So　cannot　speak　my　mind。　　An　end　to　this！
  A　strange　one！　yet　I　take　it　with　Amen。
  So　pray　you；　add　my　diamonds　to　her　pearls；
  Deck　her　with　these；　tell　her；　she　shines　me　down：
  An　armlet　for　an　arm　to　which　the　Queen's
  Is　haggard；　or　a　necklace　for　a　neck
  O　as　much　faireras　a　faith　once　fair
  Was　richer　than　these　diamondshers　not　mine
  Nay；　by　the　mother　of　our　Lord　himself；
  Or　hers　or　mine；　mine　now　to　work　my　will
  She　shall　not　have　them。'
  Saying　which　she　seized；
  And；　through　the　casement　standing　wide　for　heat；
  Flung　them；　and　down　they　flashed；　and　smote　the　stream。
  Then　from　the　smitten　surface　flashed；　as　it　were；
  Diamonds　to　meet　them；　and　they　past　away。
  Then　while　Sir　Lancelot　leant；　in　half　disdain
  At　love；　life；　all　things；　on　the　window　ledge；
  Close　underneath　his　eyes；　and　right　across
  Where　these　had　fallen；　slowly　past　the　barge。
  Whereon　the　lily　maid　of　Astolat
  Lay　smiling；　like　a　star　in　blackest　night。
  But　the　wild　Queen；　who　saw　not；　burst　away
  To　weep　and　wail　in　secret；　and　the　barge；
  On　to　the　palace…doorway　sliding；　paused。
  There　two　stood　armed；　and　kept　the　door；　to　whom；
  All　up　the　marble　stair；　tier　over　tier；
  Were　added　mouths　that　gaped；　and　eyes　that　asked
  'What　is　it？'　but　that　oarsman's　haggard　face；
  As　hard　and　still　as　is　the　face　that　men
  Shape　to　their　fancy's　eye　from　broken　rocks
  On　some　cliff…side；　appalled　them；　and　they　said
  'He　is　enchanted；　cannot　speakand　she；
  Look　how　she　sleepsthe　Fairy　Queen；　so　fair！
  Yea；　but　how　pale！　what　are　they？　flesh　and　blood？
  Or　come　to　take　the　King　to　Fairyland？
  For　some　do　hold　our　Arthur　cannot　die；
  But　that　he　passes　into　Fairyland。'
  While　thus　they　babbled　of　the　King；　the　King
  Came　girt　with　knights：　　then　turned　the　tongueless　man
  From　the　half…face　to　the　full　eye；　and　rose
  And　pointed　to　the　damsel；　and　the　doors。
  So　Arthur　bad　the　meek　Sir　Percivale
  And　pure　Sir　Galahad　to　uplift　the　maid；
  And　reverently　they　bore　her　into　hall。
  Then　came　the　fine　Gawain　and　wondered　at　her；
  And　Lancelot　later　came　and　mused　at　her；
  And　last　the　Queen　herself；　and　pitied　her：
  But　Arthur　spied　the　letter　in　her　hand；
  Stoopt；　took；　brake　seal；　and　read　it；　this　was　all：
  'Most　noble　lord；　Sir　Lancelot　of　the　Lake；
  I；　sometime　called　the　maid　of　Astolat；
  Come；　for　you　left　me　taking　no　farewell；
  Hither；　to　take　my　last　farewell　of　you。
  I　loved　you；　and　my　love　had　no　return；
  And　therefore　my　true　love　has　been　my　death。
  And　therefore　to　our　Lady　Guinevere；
  And　to　all　other　ladies；　I　make　moan：
  Pray　for　my　soul；　and　yield　me　burial。
  Pray　for　my　soul　thou　too；　Sir　Lancelot；
  As　thou　art　a　knight　peerless。'
  Thus　he　read；
  And　ever　in　the　reading；　lords　and　dames
  Wept；　looking　often　from　his　face　who　read
  To　hers　which　lay　so　silent；　and　at　times；
  So　touched　were　they；　half…thinking　that　her　lips；
  Who　had　devised　the　letter；　moved　again。
  Then　freely　spoke　Sir　Lancelot　to　them　all：
  'My　lord　liege　Arthur；　and　all　ye　that　hear；
  Know　that　for　this　most　gentle　maiden's　death
  Right　heavy　am　I；　for　good　she　was　and　true；
  But　loved　me　with　a　love　beyond　all　love
  In　women；　whomsoever　I　have　known。
  Yet　to　be　loved　makes　not　to　love　again；
  Not　at　my　years；　however　it　hold　in　youth。
  I　swear　by　truth　and　knighthood　that　I　gave
  No　cause；　not　willingly；　for　such　a　love：
  To　this　I　call　my　friends　in　testimony；
  Her　brethren；　and　her　father；　who　himself
  Besought　me　to　be　plain　and　blunt；　and　use；
  To　break　her　passion；　some　discourtesy
  Against　my　nature：　　what　I　could；　I　did。
  I　left　her　and　I　bad　her　no　farewell；
  Though；　had　I　dreamt　the　damsel　would　have　died；
  I　might　have　put　my　wits　to　some　rough　use；
  And　helped　her　from　herself。'
  Then　said　the　Queen
  （Sea　was　her　wrath；　yet　working　after　storm）
  'Ye　might　at　least　have　done　her　so　much　grace；
  Fair　lord；　as　would　have　helped　her　from　her　death。'
  He　raised　his　head；　their　eyes　met　and　hers　fell；
  He　adding；
  'Queen；　she　would　not　be　content
  Save　that　I　wedded　her；　which　could　not　be。
  Then　might　she　follow　me　through　the　world；　she　asked；
  It　could　not　be。　　I　told　her　that　her　love
  Was　but　the　flash　of　youth；　would　darken　down
  To　rise　hereafter　in　a　stiller　flame
  Toward　one　more　worthy　of　herthen　would　I；
  More　specially　were　he；　she　wedded；　poor；
  Estate　them　with　large　land　and　territory
  In　mine　own　realm　beyond　the　narrow　seas；
  To　keep　them　in　all　joyance：　　more　than　this
  I　could　not；　this　she　would　not；　and　she　died。'
  He　pausing；　Arthur　answered；　'O　my　knight；
  It　will　be　to　thy　worship；　as　my　knight；
  And　mine；　as　head　of　all　our　Table　Round；
  To　see　that　she　be　buried　worshipfully。'
  So　toward　that　shrine　which　then　in　all　the　realm
  Was　richest；　Arthur　leading；　slowly　went
  The　marshalled　Order　of　their　Table　Round；
  And　Lancelot　sad　beyond　his　wont；　to　see
  The　maiden　buried；　not　as　one　unknown；
  Nor　meanly；　but　with　gorgeous　obsequies；
  And　mass；　and　rolling　music；　like　a　queen。
  And　when　the　knights　had　laid　her　comely　head
  Low　in　the　dust　of　half…forgotten　kings；
  Then　Arthur　spake　among　them；　'Let　her　tomb
  Be　costly；　and　her　image　thereupon；
  And　let　the　shield　of　Lancelot　at　her　feet
  Be　carven；　and　her　lily　in　her　hand。
  And　let　the　story　of　her　dolorous　voyage
  For　all　true　hearts　be　blazoned　on　her　tomb
  In　letters　gold　and　azure！'　which　was　wrought
  Thereafter