Of　gracious　pastime；　that　once　more　the　King；
  Before　ye　leave　him　for　this　Quest；　may　count
  The　yet…unbroken　strength　of　all　his　knights；
  Rejoicing　in　that　Order　which　he　made。〃
  'So　when　the　sun　broke　next　from　under　ground；
  All　the　great　table　of　our　Arthur　closed
  And　clashed　in　such　a　tourney　and　so　full；
  So　many　lances　brokennever　yet
  Had　Camelot　seen　the　like；　since　Arthur　came；
  And　I　myself　and　Galahad；　for　a　strength
  Was　in　us　from　this　vision；　overthrew
  So　many　knights　that　all　the　people　cried；
  And　almost　burst　the　barriers　in　their　heat；
  Shouting；　〃Sir　Galahad　and　Sir　Percivale！〃
  'But　when　the　next　day　brake　from　under　ground
  O　brother；　had　you　known　our　Camelot；
  Built　by　old　kings；　age　after　age；　so　old
  The　King　himself　had　fears　that　it　would　fall；
  So　strange；　and　rich；　and　dim；　for　where　the　roofs
  Tottered　toward　each　other　in　the　sky；
  Met　foreheads　all　along　the　street　of　those
  Who　watched　us　pass；　and　lower；　and　where　the　long
  Rich　galleries；　lady…laden；　weighed　the　necks
  Of　dragons　clinging　to　the　crazy　walls；
  Thicker　than　drops　from　thunder；　showers　of　flowers
  Fell　as　we　past；　and　men　and　boys　astride
  On　wyvern；　lion；　dragon；　griffin；　swan；
  At　all　the　corners；　named　us　each　by　name；
  Calling；　〃God　speed！〃　but　in　the　ways　below
  The　knights　and　ladies　wept；　and　rich　and　poor
  Wept；　and　the　King　himself　could　hardly　speak
  For　grief；　and　all　in　middle　street　the　Queen；
  Who　rode　by　Lancelot；　wailed　and　shrieked　aloud；
  〃This　madness　has　come　on　us　for　our　sins。〃
  So　to　the　Gate　of　the　three　Queens　we　came；
  Where　Arthur's　wars　are　rendered　mystically；
  And　thence　departed　every　one　his　way。
  'And　I　was　lifted　up　in　heart；　and　thought
  Of　all　my　late…shown　prowess　in　the　lists；
  How　my　strong　lance　had　beaten　down　the　knights；
  So　many　and　famous　names；　and　never　yet
  Had　heaven　appeared　so　blue；　nor　earth　so　green；
  For　all　my　blood　danced　in　me；　and　I　knew
  That　I　should　light　upon　the　Holy　Grail。
  'Thereafter；　the　dark　warning　of　our　King；
  That　most　of　us　would　follow　wandering　fires；
  Came　like　a　driving　gloom　across　my　mind。
  Then　every　evil　word　I　had　spoken　once；
  And　every　evil　thought　I　had　thought　of　old；
  And　every　evil　deed　I　ever　did；
  Awoke　and　cried；　〃This　Quest　is　not　for　thee。〃
  And　lifting　up　mine　eyes；　I　found　myself
  Alone；　and　in　a　land　of　sand　and　thorns；
  And　I　was　thirsty　even　unto　death；
  And　I；　too；　cried；　〃This　Quest　is　not　for　thee。〃
  'And　on　I　rode；　and　when　I　thought　my　thirst
  Would　slay　me；　saw　deep　lawns；　and　then　a　brook；
  With　one　sharp　rapid；　where　the　crisping　white
  Played　ever　back　upon　the　sloping　wave；
  And　took　both　ear　and　eye；　and　o'er　the　brook
  Were　apple…trees；　and　apples　by　the　brook
  Fallen；　and　on　the　lawns。　　〃I　will　rest　here；〃
  I　said；　〃I　am　not　worthy　of　the　Quest；〃
  But　even　while　I　drank　the　brook；　and　ate
  The　goodly　apples；　all　these　things　at　once
  Fell　into　dust；　and　I　was　left　alone；
  And　thirsting；　in　a　land　of　sand　and　thorns。
  'And　then　behold　a　woman　at　a　door
  Spinning；　and　fair　the　house　whereby　she　sat；
  And　kind　the　woman's　eyes　and　innocent；
  And　all　her　bearing　gracious；　and　she　rose
  Opening　her　arms　to　meet　me；　as　who　should　say；
  〃Rest　here；〃　but　when　I　touched　her；　lo！　she；　too；
  Fell　into　dust　and　nothing；　and　the　house
  Became　no　better　than　a　broken　shed；
  And　in　it　a　dead　babe；　and　also　this
  Fell　into　dust；　and　I　was　left　alone。
  'And　on　I　rode；　and　greater　was　my　thirst。
  Then　flashed　a　yellow　gleam　across　the　world；
  And　where　it　smote　the　plowshare　in　the　field；
  The　plowman　left　his　plowing；　and　fell　down
  Before　it；　where　it　glittered　on　her　pail；
  The　milkmaid　left　her　milking；　and　fell　down
  Before　it；　and　I　knew　not　why；　but　thought
  〃The　sun　is　rising；〃　though　the　sun　had　risen。
  Then　was　I　ware　of　one　that　on　me　moved
  In　golden　armour　with　a　crown　of　gold
  About　a　casque　all　jewels；　and　his　horse
  In　golden　armour　jewelled　everywhere：
  And　on　the　splendour　came；　flashing　me　blind；
  And　seemed　to　me　the　Lord　of　all　the　world；
  Being　so　huge。　　But　when　I　thought　he　meant
  To　crush　me；　moving　on　me；　lo！　he；　too；
  Opened　his　arms　to　embrace　me　as　he　came；
  And　up　I　went　and　touched　him；　and　he；　too；
  Fell　into　dust；　and　I　was　left　alone
  And　wearying　in　a　land　of　sand　and　thorns。
  'And　I　rode　on　and　found　a　mighty　hill；
  And　on　the　top；　a　city　walled：　　the　spires
  Pricked　with　incredible　pinnacles　into　heaven。
  And　by　the　gateway　stirred　a　crowd；　and　these
  Cried　to　me　climbing；　〃Welcome；　Percivale！
  Thou　mightiest　and　thou　purest　among　men！〃
  And　glad　was　I　and　clomb；　but　found　at　top
  No　man；　nor　any　voice。　　And　thence　I　past
  Far　through　a　ruinous　city；　and　I　saw
  That　man　had　once　dwelt　there；　but　there　I　found
  Only　one　man　of　an　exceeding　age。
  〃Where　is　that　goodly　company；〃　said　I；
  〃That　so　cried　out　upon　me？〃　and　he　had
  Scarce　any　voice　to　answer；　and　yet　gasped；
  〃Whence　and　what　art　thou？〃　and　even　as　he　spoke
  Fell　into　dust；　and　disappeared；　and　I
  Was　left　alone　once　more；　and　cried　in　grief；
  〃Lo；　if　I　find　the　Holy　Grail　itself
  And　touch　it；　it　will　crumble　into　dust。〃
  'And　thence　I　dropt　into　a　lowly　vale；
  Low　as　the　hill　was　high；　and　where　the　vale
  Was　lowest；　found　a　chapel；　and　thereby
  A　holy　hermit　in　a　hermitage；
  To　whom　I　told　my　phantoms；　and　he　said：
  '〃O　son；　thou　hast　not　true　humility；
  The　highest　virtue；　mother　of　them　all；
  For　when　the　Lord　of　all　things　made　Himself
  Naked　of　glory　for　His　mortal　change；
  'Take　thou　my　robe；'　she　said；　'for　all　is　thine；'
  And　all　her　form　shone　forth　with　sudden　light
  So　that　the　angels　were　amazed；　and　she
  Followed　Him　down；　and　like　a　flying　star
  Led　on　the　gray…haired　wisdom　of　the　east；
  But　her　thou　hast　not　known：　　for　what　is　this
  Thou　thoughtest　of　thy　prowess　and　thy　sins？
  Thou　hast　not　lost　thyself　to　save　thyself
  As　Galahad。〃　　When　the　hermit　made　an　end；
  In　silver　armour　suddenly　Galahad　shone
  Before　us；　and　against　the　chapel　door
  Laid　lance；　and　entered；　and　we　knelt　in　prayer。
  And　there　the　hermit　slaked　my　burning　thirst；
  And　at　the　sacring　of　the　mass　I　saw
  The　holy　elements　alone；　but　he；
  〃Saw　ye　no　more？　　I；　Galahad；　saw　the　Grail；
  The　Holy　Grail；　descend　upon　the　shrine：
  I　saw　the　fiery　face　as　of　a　child
  That　smote　itself　into　the　bread；　and　went；
  And　hither　am　I　come；　and　never　yet
  Hath　what　thy　sister　taught　me　first　to　see；
  This　Holy　Thing；　failed　from　my　side；　nor　come
  Covered；　but　moving　with　me　night　and　day；
  Fainter　by　day；　but　always　in　the　night
  Blood…red；　and　sliding　down　the　blackened　marsh
  Blood…red；　and　on　the　naked　mountain　top
  Blood…red；　and　in　the　sleeping　mere　below
  Blood…red。　　And　in　the　strength　of　this　I　rode；
  Shattering　all　evil　customs　everywhere；
  And　past　through　Pagan　realms；　and　made　them　mine；
  And　clashed　with　Pagan　hordes；　and　bore　them　down；
  And　broke　through　all；　and　in　the　strength　of　this
  Come　victor。　　But　my　time　is　hard　at　hand；
  And　hence　I　go；　and　one　will　crown　me　king
  Far　in　the　spiritual　city；　and　come　thou；　too；
  For　thou　shalt　see　the　vision　when　I　go。〃
  'While　thus　he　spake；　his　eye；　dwelling　on　mine；
  Drew　me；　with　power　upon　me；　till　I　grew
  One　with　him；　to　believe　as　he　believed。
  Then；　when　the　day　began　to　wane；　we　went。
  'There　rose　a　hill　that　none　but　man　could　climb；
  Scarred　with　a　hundred　wintry　water…courses
  Storm　at　the　top；　and　when　we　gained　it；　storm
  Round　us　and　death；　for　every　moment　glanced
  His　silver　arms　and　gloomed：　　so　quick　and　thick
  The　lightnings　here　and　there　to　left　and　right
  Struck；　till　the　dry　old　trunks　about　us；　dead；
  Yea；　rotten　with　a　hundred　years　of　death；
  Sprang　into　fire：　　and　at　the　base　we　found
  On　either　hand；　as　far　as　eye　could　see；
  A　great　black　swamp　and　of　an　evil　smell；
  Part　black；　part　whitened　with　the　bones　of　men；
  Not　to　be　crost；　save　that　some　ancient　king
  Had　built　a　way；　where；　linked　with　many　a　bridge；
  A　thousand　piers　ran　into　the　great　Sea。
  And　Galahad　fled　along　them　bridge　by　bridge；
  And　every　bridge　as　quickly　as　he　crost
  Sprang　into　fire　and　vanished；　though　I　yearned
  To　follow；　and　thrice　above　him　all　the　heavens
  Opened　and　blazed　with　thunder　such　as　seemed
  Shoutings　of　all　the　sons　of　God：　　and　first
  At　once　I　saw　him　far　on　the　great　Sea；
  In　silver…shining　armour　starry…clear；
  And　o'er　his　head　the　Holy　Vessel　hung
  Clothed　in　white　samite　or　a　luminous　cloud。
  And　with　exceeding　swiftness　ran　the　boat；
  If　boat　it　wereI　saw　not　whence　it　came。
  And　when　the　heavens　opened　and　blazed　again
  Roaring；　I　saw　him　like　a　silver　star
  And　had　he　set　the　sail；　or　had　the　boat
  Become　a　living　creature　clad　with　wings？
  And　o'er　his　head　the　Holy　Vessel　hung
  Redder　than　any　rose；　a　joy　to　me；
  For　now　I　knew　the　veil　had　been　withdrawn。
  Then　in　a　moment　when　they　blazed　again
  Opening；　I　saw　the　least　of　little　stars
  Down　on　the　waste；　and　straight　beyond　the　star
  I　saw　the　spiritual　city　and　all　her　spires
  And　gateways　in　a　glory　like　one　pearl
  No　larger；　though　the　goal　of　all　the　saints
  Strike　from　the　sea；　and　from　the　star　there　shot
  A　rose…red　sparkle　to　the　city；　and　there
  Dwelt；　and　I　knew　it　was　the　Holy　Grail；
  Which　never　eyes　on　earth　again　shall　see。
  Then　fell　the　floods　of　heaven