To　that　dim　day；　then　binding　his　good　horse
  To　a　tree；　cast　himself　down；　and　as　he　lay
  At　random　looking　over　the　brown　earth
  Through　that　green…glooming　twilight　of　the　grove；
  It　seemed　to　Pelleas　that　the　fern　without
  Burnt　as　a　living　fire　of　emeralds；
  So　that　his　eyes　were　dazzled　looking　at　it。
  Then　o'er　it　crost　the　dimness　of　a　cloud
  Floating；　and　once　the　shadow　of　a　bird
  Flying；　and　then　a　fawn；　and　his　eyes　closed。
  And　since　he　loved　all　maidens；　but　no　maid
  In　special；　half…awake　he　whispered；　'Where？
  O　where？　I　love　thee；　though　I　know　thee　not。
  For　fair　thou　art　and　pure　as　Guinevere；
  And　I　will　make　thee　with　my　spear　and　sword
  As　famousO　my　Queen；　my　Guinevere；
  For　I　will　be　thine　Arthur　when　we　meet。'
  Suddenly　wakened　with　a　sound　of　talk
  And　laughter　at　the　limit　of　the　wood；
  And　glancing　through　the　hoary　boles；　he　saw；
  Strange　as　to　some　old　prophet　might　have　seemed
  A　vision　hovering　on　a　sea　of　fire；
  Damsels　in　divers　colours　like　the　cloud
  Of　sunset　and　sunrise；　and　all　of　them
  On　horses；　and　the　horses　richly　trapt
  Breast…high　in　that　bright　line　of　bracken　stood：
  And　all　the　damsels　talked　confusedly；
  And　one　was　pointing　this　way；　and　one　that；
  Because　the　way　was　lost。
  And　Pelleas　rose；
  And　loosed　his　horse；　and　led　him　to　the　light。
  There　she　that　seemed　the　chief　among　them　said；
  'In　happy　time　behold　our　pilot…star！
  Youth；　we　are　damsels…errant；　and　we　ride；
  Armed　as　ye　see；　to　tilt　against　the　knights
  There　at　Caerleon；　but　have　lost　our　way：
  To　right？　to　left？　straight　forward？　back　again？
  Which？　tell　us　quickly。'
  Pelleas　gazing　thought；
  'Is　Guinevere　herself　so　beautiful？'
  For　large　her　violet　eyes　looked；　and　her　bloom
  A　rosy　dawn　kindled　in　stainless　heavens；
  And　round　her　limbs；　mature　in　womanhood；
  And　slender　was　her　hand　and　small　her　shape；
  And　but　for　those　large　eyes；　the　haunts　of　scorn；
  She　might　have　seemed　a　toy　to　trifle　with；
  And　pass　and　care　no　more。　　But　while　he　gazed
  The　beauty　of　her　flesh　abashed　the　boy；
  As　though　it　were　the　beauty　of　her　soul：
  For　as　the　base　man；　judging　of　the　good；
  Puts　his　own　baseness　in　him　by　default
  Of　will　and　nature；　so　did　Pelleas　lend
  All　the　young　beauty　of　his　own　soul　to　hers；
  Believing　her；　and　when　she　spake　to　him；
  Stammered；　and　could　not　make　her　a　reply。
  For　out　of　the　waste　islands　had　he　come；
  Where　saving　his　own　sisters　he　had　known
  Scarce　any　but　the　women　of　his　isles；
  Rough　wives；　that　laughed　and　screamed　against　the　gulls；
  Makers　of　nets；　and　living　from　the　sea。
  Then　with　a　slow　smile　turned　the　lady　round
  And　looked　upon　her　people；　and　as　when
  A　stone　is　flung　into　some　sleeping　tarn；
  The　circle　widens　till　it　lip　the　marge；
  Spread　the　slow　smile　through　all　her　company。
  Three　knights　were　thereamong；　and　they　too　smiled；
  Scorning　him；　for　the　lady　was　Ettarre；
  And　she　was　a　great　lady　in　her　land。
  Again　she　said；　'O　wild　and　of　the　woods；
  Knowest　thou　not　the　fashion　of　our　speech？
  Or　have　the　Heavens　but　given　thee　a　fair　face；
  Lacking　a　tongue？'
  'O　damsel；'　answered　he；
  'I　woke　from　dreams；　and　coming　out　of　gloom
  Was　dazzled　by　the　sudden　light；　and　crave
  Pardon：　　but　will　ye　to　Caerleon？　　I
  Go　likewise：　　shall　I　lead　you　to　the　King？'
  'Lead　then；'　she　said；　and　through　the　woods　they　went。
  And　while　they　rode；　the　meaning　in　his　eyes；
  His　tenderness　of　manner；　and　chaste　awe；
  His　broken　utterances　and　bashfulness；
  Were　all　a　burthen　to　her；　and　in　her　heart
  She　muttered；　'I　have　lighted　on　a　fool；
  Raw；　yet　so　stale！'　　But　since　her　mind　was　bent
  On　hearing；　after　trumpet　blown；　her　name
  And　title；　'Queen　of　Beauty；'　in　the　lists
  Criedand　beholding　him　so　strong；　she　thought
  That　peradventure　he　will　fight　for　me；
  And　win　the　circlet：　　therefore　flattered　him；
  Being　so　gracious；　that　he　wellnigh　deemed
  His　wish　by　hers　was　echoed；　and　her　knights
  And　all　her　damsels　too　were　gracious　to　him；
  For　she　was　a　great　lady。
  And　when　they　reached
  Caerleon；　ere　they　past　to　lodging；　she；
  Taking　his　hand；　'O　the　strong　hand；'　she　said；
  'See！　look　at　mine！　but　wilt　thou　fight　for　me；
  And　win　me　this　fine　circlet；　Pelleas；
  That　I　may　love　thee？'
  Then　his　helpless　heart
  Leapt；　and　he　cried；　'Ay！　wilt　thou　if　I　win？'
  'Ay；　that　will　I；'　she　answered；　and　she　laughed；
  And　straitly　nipt　the　hand；　and　flung　it　from　her；
  Then　glanced　askew　at　those　three　knights　of　hers；
  Till　all　her　ladies　laughed　along　with　her。
  'O　happy　world；'　thought　Pelleas；　'all；　meseems；
  Are　happy；　I　the　happiest　of　them　all。'
  Nor　slept　that　night　for　pleasure　in　his　blood；
  And　green　wood…ways；　and　eyes　among　the　leaves；
  Then　being　on　the　morrow　knighted；　sware
  To　love　one　only。　　And　as　he　came　away；
  The　men　who　met　him　rounded　on　their　heels
  And　wondered　after　him；　because　his　face
  Shone　like　the　countenance　of　a　priest　of　old
  Against　the　flame　about　a　sacrifice
  Kindled　by　fire　from　heaven：　　so　glad　was　he。
  Then　Arthur　made　vast　banquets；　and　strange　knights
  From　the　four　winds　came　in：　　and　each　one　sat；
  Though　served　with　choice　from　air；　land；　stream；　and　sea；
  Oft　in　mid…banquet　measuring　with　his　eyes
  His　neighbour's　make　and　might：　　and　Pelleas　looked
  Noble　among　the　noble；　for　he　dreamed
  His　lady　loved　him；　and　he　knew　himself
  Loved　of　the　King：　　and　him　his　new…made　knight
  Worshipt；　whose　lightest　whisper　moved　him　more
  Than　all　the　ranged　reasons　of　the　world。
  Then　blushed　and　brake　the　morning　of　the　jousts；
  And　this　was　called　'The　Tournament　of　Youth：'
  For　Arthur；　loving　his　young　knight；　withheld
  His　older　and　his　mightier　from　the　lists；
  That　Pelleas　might　obtain　his　lady's　love；
  According　to　her　promise；　and　remain
  Lord　of　the　tourney。　　And　Arthur　had　the　jousts
  Down　in　the　flat　field　by　the　shore　of　Usk
  Holden：　　the　gilded　parapets　were　crowned
  With　faces；　and　the　great　tower　filled　with　eyes
  Up　to　the　summit；　and　the　trumpets　blew。
  There　all　day　long　Sir　Pelleas　kept　the　field
  With　honour：　　so　by　that　strong　hand　of　his
  The　sword　and　golden　circlet　were　achieved。
  Then　rang　the　shout　his　lady　loved：　　the　heat
  Of　pride　and　glory　fired　her　face；　her　eye
  Sparkled；　she　caught　the　circlet　from　his　lance；
  And　there　before　the　people　crowned　herself：
  So　for　the　last　time　she　was　gracious　to　him。
  Then　at　Caerleon　for　a　spaceher　look
  Bright　for　all　others；　cloudier　on　her　knight
  Lingered　Ettarre：　　and　seeing　Pelleas　droop；
  Said　Guinevere；　'We　marvel　at　thee　much；
  O　damsel；　wearing　this　unsunny　face
  To　him　who　won　thee　glory！'　　And　she　said；
  'Had　ye　not　held　your　Lancelot　in　your　bower；
  My　Queen；　he　had　not　won。'　　Whereat　the　Queen；
  As　one　whose　foot　is　bitten　by　an　ant；
  Glanced　down　upon　her；　turned　and　went　her　way。
  But　after；　when　her　damsels；　and　herself；
  And　those　three　knights　all　set　their　faces　home；
  Sir　Pelleas　followed。　　She　that　saw　him　cried；
  'Damselsand　yet　I　should　be　shamed　to　say　it
  I　cannot　bide　Sir　Baby。　　Keep　him　back
  Among　yourselves。　　Would　rather　that　we　had
  Some　rough　old　knight　who　knew　the　worldly　way；
  Albeit　grizzlier　than　a　bear；　to　ride
  And　jest　with：　　take　him　to　you；　keep　him　off；
  And　pamper　him　with　papmeat；　if　ye　will；
  Old　milky　fables　of　the　wolf　and　sheep；
  Such　as　the　wholesome　mothers　tell　their　boys。
  Nay；　should　ye　try　him　with　a　merry　one
  To　find　his　mettle；　good：　　and　if　he　fly　us；
  Small　matter！　let　him。'　　This　her　damsels　heard；
  And　mindful　of　her　small　and　cruel　hand；
  They；　closing　round　him　through　the　journey　home；
  Acted　her　hest；　and　always　from　her　side
  Restrained　him　with　all　manner　of　device；
  So　that　he　could　not　come　to　speech　with　her。
  And　when　she　gained　her　castle；　upsprang　the　bridge；
  Down　rang　the　grate　of　iron　through　the　groove；
  And　he　was　left　alone　in　open　field。
  'These　be　the　ways　of　ladies；'　Pelleas　thought；
  'To　those　who　love　them；　trials　of　our　faith。
  Yea；　let　her　prove　me　to　the　uttermost；
  For　loyal　to　the　uttermost　am　I。'
  So　made　his　moan；　and　darkness　falling；　sought
  A　priory　not　far　off；　there　lodged；　but　rose
  With　morning　every　day；　and；　moist　or　dry；
  Full…armed　upon　his　charger　all　day　long
  Sat　by　the　walls；　and　no　one　opened　to　him。
  And　this　persistence　turned　her　scorn　to　wrath。
  Then　calling　her　three　knights；　she　charged　them；　'Out！
  And　drive　him　from　the　walls。'　　And　out　they　came
  But　Pelleas　overthrew　them　as　they　dashed
  Against　him　one　by　one；　and　these　returned；
  But　still　he　kept　his　watch　beneath　the　wall。
  Thereon　her　wrath　became　a　hate；　and　once；
  A　week　beyond；　while　walking　on　the　walls
  With　her　three　knights；　she　pointed　downward；　'Look；
  He　haunts　meI　cannot　breathebesieges　me；
  Down！　strike　him！　put　my　hate　into　your　strokes；
  And　drive　him　from　my　walls。'　　And　down　they　went；
  And　Pelleas　overthrew　them　one　by　one；
  And　from　the　tower　above　him　cried　Ettarre；
  'Bind　him；　and　bring　him　in。'
  He　heard　her　voice；
  Then　let　the　strong　hand；　which　had　overthrown
  Her　minion…knights；　by　those　he　overthrew
  Be　bounden　straight；　and　so　they　brought　him　in。
  Then　when　he　came　before