Till　each　would　clash　the　shield；　and　blow　the　horn。
  But　Arthur　waved　them　back。　　Alone　he　rode。
  Then　at　the　dry　harsh　roar　of　the　great　horn；
  That　sent　the　face　of　all　the　marsh　aloft
  An　ever　upward…rushing　storm　and　cloud
  Of　shriek　and　plume；　the　Red　Knight　heard；　and　all；
  Even　to　tipmost　lance　and　topmost　helm；
  In　blood…red　armour　sallying；　howled　to　the　King；
  'The　teeth　of　Hell　flay　bare　and　gnash　thee　flat！
  Lo！　art　thou　not　that　eunuch…hearted　King
  Who　fain　had　clipt　free　manhood　from　the　world
  The　woman…worshipper？　　Yea；　God's　curse；　and　I！
  Slain　was　the　brother　of　my　paramour
  By　a　knight　of　thine；　and　I　that　heard　her　whine
  And　snivel；　being　eunuch…hearted　too；
  Sware　by　the　scorpion…worm　that　twists　in　hell；
  And　stings　itself　to　everlasting　death；
  To　hang　whatever　knight　of　thine　I　fought
  And　tumbled。　　Art　thou　King？　Look　to　thy　life！'
  He　ended：　　Arthur　knew　the　voice；　the　face
  Wellnigh　was　helmet…hidden；　and　the　name
  Went　wandering　somewhere　darkling　in　his　mind。
  And　Arthur　deigned　not　use　of　word　or　sword；
  But　let　the　drunkard；　as　he　stretched　from　horse
  To　strike　him；　overbalancing　his　bulk；
  Down　from　the　causeway　heavily　to　the　swamp
  Fall；　as　the　crest　of　some　slow…arching　wave；
  Heard　in　dead　night　along　that　table…shore；
  Drops　flat；　and　after　the　great　waters　break
  Whitening　for　half　a　league；　and　thin　themselves；
  Far　over　sands　marbled　with　moon　and　cloud；
  From　less　and　less　to　nothing；　thus　he　fell
  Head…heavy；　then　the　knights；　who　watched　him；　roared
  And　shouted　and　leapt　down　upon　the　fallen；
  There　trampled　out　his　face　from　being　known；
  And　sank　his　head　in　mire；　and　slimed　themselves：
  Nor　heard　the　King　for　their　own　cries；　but　sprang
  Through　open　doors；　and　swording　right　and　left
  Men；　women；　on　their　sodden　faces；　hurled
  The　tables　over　and　the　wines；　and　slew
  Till　all　the　rafters　rang　with　woman…yells；
  And　all　the　pavement　streamed　with　massacre：
  Then；　echoing　yell　with　yell；　they　fired　the　tower；
  Which　half　that　autumn　night；　like　the　live　North；
  Red…pulsing　up　through　Alioth　and　Alcor；
  Made　all　above　it；　and　a　hundred　meres
  About　it；　as　the　water　Moab　saw
  Came　round　by　the　East；　and　out　beyond　them　flushed
  The　long　low　dune；　and　lazy…plunging　sea。
  So　all　the　ways　were　safe　from　shore　to　shore；
  But　in　the　heart　of　Arthur　pain　was　lord。
  Then；　out　of　Tristram　waking；　the　red　dream
  Fled　with　a　shout；　and　that　low　lodge　returned；
  Mid…forest；　and　the　wind　among　the　boughs。
  He　whistled　his　good　warhorse　left　to　graze
  Among　the　forest　greens；　vaulted　upon　him；
  And　rode　beneath　an　ever…showering　leaf；
  Till　one　lone　woman；　weeping　near　a　cross；
  Stayed　him。　　'Why　weep　ye？'　　'Lord；'　she　said；　'my　man
  Hath　left　me　or　is　dead；'　whereon　he　thought
  'What；　if　she　hate　me　now？　I　would　not　this。
  What；　if　she　love　me　still？　I　would　not　that。
  I　know　not　what　I　would'but　said　to　her；
  'Yet　weep　not　thou；　lest；　if　thy　mate　return；
  He　find　thy　favour　changed　and　love　thee　not'
  Then　pressing　day　by　day　through　Lyonnesse
  Last　in　a　roky　hollow；　belling；　heard
  The　hounds　of　Mark；　and　felt　the　goodly　hounds
  Yelp　at　his　heart；　but　turning；　past　and　gained
  Tintagil；　half　in　sea；　and　high　on　land；
  A　crown　of　towers。
  Down　in　a　casement　sat；
  A　low　sea…sunset　glorying　round　her　hair
  And　glossy…throated　grace；　Isolt　the　Queen。
  And　when　she　heard　the　feet　of　Tristram　grind
  The　spiring　stone　that　scaled　about　her　tower；
  Flushed；　started；　met　him　at　the　doors；　and　there
  Belted　his　body　with　her　white　embrace；
  Crying　aloud；　'Not　Marknot　Mark；　my　soul！
  The　footstep　fluttered　me　at　first：　　not　he：
  Catlike　through　his　own　castle　steals　my　Mark；
  But　warrior…wise　thou　stridest　through　his　halls
  Who　hates　thee；　as　I　himeven　to　the　death。
  My　soul；　I　felt　my　hatred　for　my　Mark
  Quicken　within　me；　and　knew　that　thou　wert　nigh。'
  To　whom　Sir　Tristram　smiling；　'I　am　here。
  Let　be　thy　Mark；　seeing　he　is　not　thine。'
  And　drawing　somewhat　backward　she　replied；
  'Can　he　be　wronged　who　is　not　even　his　own；
  But　save　for　dread　of　thee　had　beaten　me；
  Scratched；　bitten；　blinded；　marred　me　somehowMark？
  What　rights　are　his　that　dare　not　strike　for　them？
  Not　lift　a　handnot；　though　he　found　me　thus！
  But　harken！　have　ye　met　him？　hence　he　went
  Today　for　three　days'　huntingas　he　said
  And　so　returns　belike　within　an　hour。
  Mark's　way；　my　soul！but　eat　not　thou　with　Mark；
  Because　he　hates　thee　even　more　than　fears；
  Nor　drink：　　and　when　thou　passest　any　wood
  Close　vizor；　lest　an　arrow　from　the　bush
  Should　leave　me　all　alone　with　Mark　and　hell。
  My　God；　the　measure　of　my　hate　for　Mark
  Is　as　the　measure　of　my　love　for　thee。'
  So；　plucked　one　way　by　hate　and　one　by　love；
  Drained　of　her　force；　again　she　sat；　and　spake
  To　Tristram；　as　he　knelt　before　her；　saying；
  'O　hunter；　and　O　blower　of　the　horn；
  Harper；　and　thou　hast　been　a　rover　too；
  For；　ere　I　mated　with　my　shambling　king；
  Ye　twain　had　fallen　out　about　the　bride
  Of　onehis　name　is　out　of　methe　prize；
  If　prize　she　were（what　marvelshe　could　see）
  Thine；　friend；　and　ever　since　my　craven　seeks
  To　wreck　thee　villainously：　　but；　O　Sir　Knight；
  What　dame　or　damsel　have　ye　kneeled　to　last？'
  And　Tristram；　'Last　to　my　Queen　Paramount；
  Here　now　to　my　Queen　Paramount　of　love
  And　lovelinessay；　lovelier　than　when　first
  Her　light　feet　fell　on　our　rough　Lyonnesse；
  Sailing　from　Ireland。'
  Softly　laughed　Isolt；
  'Flatter　me　not；　for　hath　not　our　great　Queen
  My　dole　of　beauty　trebled？'　and　he　said；
  'Her　beauty　is　her　beauty；　and　thine　thine；
  And　thine　is　more　to　mesoft；　gracious；　kind
  Save　when　thy　Mark　is　kindled　on　thy　lips
  Most　gracious；　but　she；　haughty；　even　to　him；
  Lancelot；　for　I　have　seen　him　wan　enow
  To　make　one　doubt　if　ever　the　great　Queen
  Have　yielded　him　her　love。'
  To　whom　Isolt；
  'Ah　then；　false　hunter　and　false　harper；　thou
  Who　brakest　through　the　scruple　of　my　bond；
  Calling　me　thy　white　hind；　and　saying　to　me
  That　Guinevere　had　sinned　against　the　highest；
  And　Imisyoked　with　such　a　want　of　man
  That　I　could　hardly　sin　against　the　lowest。'
  He　answered；　'O　my　soul；　be　comforted！
  If　this　be　sweet；　to　sin　in　leading…strings；
  If　here　be　comfort；　and　if　ours　be　sin；
  Crowned　warrant　had　we　for　the　crowning　sin
  That　made　us　happy：　　but　how　ye　greet　mefear
  And　fault　and　doubtno　word　of　that　fond　tale
  Thy　deep　heart…yearnings；　thy　sweet　memories
  Of　Tristram　in　that　year　he　was　away。'
  And；　saddening　on　the　sudden；　spake　Isolt；
  'I　had　forgotten　all　in　my　strong　joy
  To　see　theeyearnings？ay！　for；　hour　by　hour；
  Here　in　the　never…ended　afternoon；
  O　sweeter　than　all　memories　of　thee；
  Deeper　than　any　yearnings　after　thee
  Seemed　those　far…rolling；　westward…smiling　seas；
  Watched　from　this　tower。　　Isolt　of　Britain　dashed
  Before　Isolt　of　Brittany　on　the　strand；
  Would　that　have　chilled　her　bride…kiss？　　Wedded　her？
  Fought　in　her　father's　battles？　wounded　there？
  The　King　was　all　fulfilled　with　gratefulness；
  And　she；　my　namesake　of　the　hands；　that　healed
  Thy　hurt　and　heart　with　unguent　and　caress
  Wellcan　I　wish　her　any　huger　wrong
  Than　having　known　thee？　her　too　hast　thou　left
  To　pine　and　waste　in　those　sweet　memories。
  O　were　I　not　my　Mark's；　by　whom　all　men
  Are　noble；　I　should　hate　thee　more　than　love。'
  And　Tristram；　fondling　her　light　hands；　replied；
  'Grace；　Queen；　for　being　loved：　　she　loved　me　well。
  Did　I　love　her？　the　name　at　least　I　loved。
  Isolt？I　fought　his　battles；　for　Isolt！
  The　night　was　dark；　the　true　star　set。　　Isolt！
  The　name　was　ruler　of　the　darkIsolt？
  Care　not　for　her！　patient；　and　prayerful；　meek；
  Pale…blooded；　she　will　yield　herself　to　God。'
  And　Isolt　answered；　'Yea；　and　why　not　I？
  Mine　is　the　larger　need；　who　am　not　meek；
  Pale…blooded；　prayerful。　　Let　me　tell　thee　now。
  Here　one　black；　mute　midsummer　night　I　sat；
  Lonely；　but　musing　on　thee；　wondering　where；
  Murmuring　a　light　song　I　had　heard　thee　sing；
  And　once　or　twice　I　spake　thy　name　aloud。
  Then　flashed　a　levin…brand；　and　near　me　stood；
  In　fuming　sulphur　blue　and　green；　a　fiend
  Mark's　way　to　steal　behind　one　in　the　dark
  For　there　was　Mark：　　〃He　has　wedded　her；〃　he　said；
  Not　said；　but　hissed　it：　　then　this　crown　of　towers
  So　shook　to　such　a　roar　of　all　the　sky；
  That　here　in　utter　dark　I　swooned　away；
  And　woke　again　in　utter　dark；　and　cried；
  〃I　will　flee　hence　and　give　myself　to　God〃
  And　thou　wert　lying　in　thy　new　leman's　arms。'
  Then　Tristram；　ever　dallying　with　her　hand；
  'May　God　be　with　thee；　sweet；　when　old　and　gray；
  And　past　desire！'　a　saying　that　angered　her。
  '〃May　God　be　with　thee；　sweet；　when　thou　art　old；
  And　sweet　no　more　to　me！〃　　I　need　Him　now。
  For　when　had　Lancelot　uttered　aught　so　gross
  Even　to　the　swineherd's　malkin　in　the　mast？
  The　greater　man；　the　greater　courtesy。
  Far　other　was　the　Tristram；　Arthur's　knight！
  But　thou；　through　ever　harrying　thy　wild　beasts
  Save　that　to　touch　a　harp；　tilt　with　a　lance
  Becomes　thee　wellart　grown　wild　beast　thyself。
  How　darest　thou；　if　lover；　push　me　even
  In　fancy　from　thy　side；　and　set　me　far
  In　the　gray　distance；　half　a　life　away；
  Her　to　be　loved　no　more？　　Unsay　it；　unswear！
  Flatter　me　rather；　seeing　me　so　weak；
  Broken　with　Mark　an