Her　to　be　loved　no　more？　　Unsay　it；　unswear！
  Flatter　me　rather；　seeing　me　so　weak；
  Broken　with　Mark　and　hate　and　solitude；
  Thy　marriage　and　mine　own；　that　I　should　suck
  Lies　like　sweet　wines：　　lie　to　me：　　I　believe。
  Will　ye　not　lie？　not　swear；　as　there　ye　kneel；
  And　solemnly　as　when　ye　sware　to　him；
  The　man　of　men；　our　KingMy　God；　the　power
  Was　once　in　vows　when　men　believed　the　King！
  They　lied　not　then；　who　sware；　and　through　their　vows
  The　King　prevailing　made　his　realm：I　say；
  Swear　to　me　thou　wilt　love　me　even　when　old；
  Gray…haired；　and　past　desire；　and　in　despair。'
  Then　Tristram；　pacing　moodily　up　and　down；
  'Vows！　did　you　keep　the　vow　you　made　to　Mark
  More　than　I　mine？　　Lied；　say　ye？　　Nay；　but　learnt；
  The　vow　that　binds　too　strictly　snaps　itself
  My　knighthood　taught　me　thisay；　being　snapt
  We　run　more　counter　to　the　soul　thereof
  Than　had　we　never　sworn。　　I　swear　no　more。
  I　swore　to　the　great　King；　and　am　forsworn。
  For　onceeven　to　the　heightI　honoured　him。
  〃Man；　is　he　man　at　all？〃　methought；　when　first
  I　rode　from　our　rough　Lyonnesse；　and　beheld
  That　victor　of　the　Pagan　throned　in　hall
  His　hair；　a　sun　that　rayed　from　off　a　brow
  Like　hillsnow　high　in　heaven；　the　steel…blue　eyes；
  The　golden　beard　that　clothed　his　lips　with　light
  Moreover；　that　weird　legend　of　his　birth；
  With　Merlin's　mystic　babble　about　his　end
  Amazed　me；　then；　his　foot　was　on　a　stool
  Shaped　as　a　dragon；　he　seemed　to　me　no　man；
  But　Michael　trampling　Satan；　so　I　sware；
  Being　amazed：　　but　this　went　by　The　vows！
  O　aythe　wholesome　madness　of　an　hour
  They　served　their　use；　their　time；　for　every　knight
  Believed　himself　a　greater　than　himself；
  And　every　follower　eyed　him　as　a　God；
  Till　he；　being　lifted　up　beyond　himself；
  Did　mightier　deeds　than　elsewise　he　had　done；
  And　so　the　realm　was　made；　but　then　their　vows
  First　mainly　through　that　sullying　of　our　Queen
  Began　to　gall　the　knighthood；　asking　whence
  Had　Arthur　right　to　bind　them　to　himself？
  Dropt　down　from　heaven？　washed　up　from　out　the　deep？
  They　failed　to　trace　him　through　the　flesh　and　blood
  Of　our　old　kings：　　whence　then？　a　doubtful　lord
  To　bind　them　by　inviolable　vows；
  Which　flesh　and　blood　perforce　would　violate：
  For　feel　this　arm　of　minethe　tide　within
  Red　with　free　chase　and　heather…scented　air；
  Pulsing　full　man；　can　Arthur　make　me　pure
  As　any　maiden　child？　lock　up　my　tongue
  From　uttering　freely　what　I　freely　hear？
  Bind　me　to　one？　　The　wide　world　laughs　at　it。
  And　worldling　of　the　world　am　I；　and　know
  The　ptarmigan　that　whitens　ere　his　hour
  Woos　his　own　end；　we　are　not　angels　here
  Nor　shall　be：　　vowsI　am　woodman　of　the　woods；
  And　hear　the　garnet…headed　yaffingale
  Mock　them：　　my　soul；　we　love　but　while　we　may；
  And　therefore　is　my　love　so　large　for　thee；
  Seeing　it　is　not　bounded　save　by　love。'
  Here　ending；　he　moved　toward　her；　and　she　said；
  'Good：　　an　I　turned　away　my　love　for　thee
  To　some　one　thrice　as　courteous　as　thyself
  For　courtesy　wins　woman　all　as　well
  As　valour　may；　but　he　that　closes　both
  Is　perfect；　he　is　Lancelottaller　indeed；
  Rosier　and　comelier；　thoubut　say　I　loved
  This　knightliest　of　all　knights；　and　cast　thee　back
  Thine　own　small　saw；　〃We　love　but　while　we　may；〃
  Well　then；　what　answer？'
  He　that　while　she　spake；
  Mindful　of　what　he　brought　to　adorn　her　with；
  The　jewels；　had　let　one　finger　lightly　touch
  The　warm　white　apple　of　her　throat；　replied；
  'Press　this　a　little　closer；　sweet；　until
  Come；　I　am　hungered　and　half…angeredmeat；
  Wine；　wineand　I　will　love　thee　to　the　death；
  And　out　beyond　into　the　dream　to　come。'
  So　then；　when　both　were　brought　to　full　accord；
  She　rose；　and　set　before　him　all　he　willed；
  And　after　these　had　comforted　the　blood
  With　meats　and　wines；　and　satiated　their　hearts
  Now　talking　of　their　woodland　paradise；
  The　deer；　the　dews；　the　fern；　the　founts；　the　lawns；
  Now　mocking　at　the　much　ungainliness；
  And　craven　shifts；　and　long　crane　legs　of　Mark
  Then　Tristram　laughing　caught　the　harp；　and　sang：
  'Ay；　ay；　O　aythe　winds　that　bend　the　brier！
  A　star　in　heaven；　a　star　within　the　mere！
  Ay；　ay；　O　aya　star　was　my　desire；
  And　one　was　far　apart；　and　one　was　near：
  Ay；　ay；　O　aythe　winds　that　bow　the　grass！
  And　one　was　water　and　one　star　was　fire；
  And　one　will　ever　shine　and　one　will　pass。
  Ay；　ay；　O　aythe　winds　that　move　the　mere。'
  Then　in　the　light's　last　glimmer　Tristram　showed
  And　swung　the　ruby　carcanet。　　She　cried；
  'The　collar　of　some　Order；　which　our　King
  Hath　newly　founded；　all　for　thee；　my　soul；
  For　thee；　to　yield　thee　grace　beyond　thy　peers。'
  'Not　so；　my　Queen；'　he　said；　'but　the　red　fruit
  Grown　on　a　magic　oak…tree　in　mid…heaven；
  And　won　by　Tristram　as　a　tourney…prize；
  And　hither　brought　by　Tristram　for　his　last
  Love…offering　and　peace…offering　unto　thee。'
  He　spoke；　he　turned；　then；　flinging　round　her　neck；
  Claspt　it；　and　cried；　'Thine　Order；　O　my　Queen！'
  But；　while　he　bowed　to　kiss　the　jewelled　throat；
  Out　of　the　dark；　just　as　the　lips　had　touched；
  Behind　him　rose　a　shadow　and　a　shriek
  'Mark's　way；'　said　Mark；　and　clove　him　through　the　brain。
  That　night　came　Arthur　home；　and　while　he　climbed；
  All　in　a　death…dumb　autumn…dripping　gloom；
  The　stairway　to　the　hall；　and　looked　and　saw
  The　great　Queen's　bower　was　dark；about　his　feet
  A　voice　clung　sobbing　till　he　questioned　it；
  'What　art　thou？'　and　the　voice　about　his　feet
  Sent　up　an　answer；　sobbing；　'I　am　thy　fool；
  And　I　shall　never　make　thee　smile　again。'
  Guinevere
  Queen　Guinevere　had　fled　the　court；　and　sat
  There　in　the　holy　house　at　Almesbury
  Weeping；　none　with　her　save　a　little　maid；
  A　novice：　　one　low　light　betwixt　them　burned
  Blurred　by　the　creeping　mist；　for　all　abroad；
  Beneath　a　moon　unseen　albeit　at　full；
  The　white　mist；　like　a　face…cloth　to　the　face；
  Clung　to　the　dead　earth；　and　the　land　was　still。
  For　hither　had　she　fled；　her　cause　of　flight
  Sir　Modred；　he　that　like　a　subtle　beast
  Lay　couchant　with　his　eyes　upon　the　throne；
  Ready　to　spring；　waiting　a　chance：　　for　this
  He　chilled　the　popular　praises　of　the　King
  With　silent　smiles　of　slow　disparagement；
  And　tampered　with　the　Lords　of　the　White　Horse；
  Heathen；　the　brood　by　Hengist　left；　and　sought
  To　make　disruption　in　the　Table　Round
  Of　Arthur；　and　to　splinter　it　into　feuds
  Serving　his　traitorous　end；　and　all　his　aims
  Were　sharpened　by　strong　hate　for　Lancelot。
  For　thus　it　chanced　one　morn　when　all　the　court；
  Green…suited；　but　with　plumes　that　mocked　the　may；
  Had　been；　their　wont；　a…maying　and　returned；
  That　Modred　still　in　green；　all　ear　and　eye；
  Climbed　to　the　high　top　of　the　garden…wall
  To　spy　some　secret　scandal　if　he　might；
  And　saw　the　Queen　who　sat　betwixt　her　best
  Enid；　and　lissome　Vivien；　of　her　court
  The　wiliest　and　the　worst；　and　more　than　this
  He　saw　not；　for　Sir　Lancelot　passing　by
  Spied　where　he　couched；　and　as　the　gardener's　hand
  Picks　from　the　colewort　a　green　caterpillar；
  So　from　the　high　wall　and　the　flowering　grove
  Of　grasses　Lancelot　plucked　him　by　the　heel；
  And　cast　him　as　a　worm　upon　the　way；
  But　when　he　knew　the　Prince　though　marred　with　dust；
  He；　reverencing　king's　blood　in　a　bad　man；
  Made　such　excuses　as　he　might；　and　these
  Full　knightly　without　scorn；　for　in　those　days
  No　knight　of　Arthur's　noblest　dealt　in　scorn；
  But；　if　a　man　were　halt　or　hunched；　in　him
  By　those　whom　God　had　made　full…limbed　and　tall；
  Scorn　was　allowed　as　part　of　his　defect；
  And　he　was　answered　softly　by　the　King
  And　all　his　Table。　　So　Sir　Lancelot　holp
  To　raise　the　Prince；　who　rising　twice　or　thrice
  Full　sharply　smote　his　knees；　and　smiled；　and　went：
  But；　ever　after；　the　small　violence　done
  Rankled　in　him　and　ruffled　all　his　heart；
  As　the　sharp　wind　that　ruffles　all　day　long
  A　little　bitter　pool　about　a　stone
  On　the　bare　coast。
  But　when　Sir　Lancelot　told
  This　matter　to　the　Queen；　at　first　she　laughed
  Lightly；　to　think　of　Modred's　dusty　fall；
  Then　shuddered；　as　the　village　wife　who　cries
  'I　shudder；　some　one　steps　across　my　grave；'
  Then　laughed　again；　but　faintlier；　for　indeed
  She　half…foresaw　that　he；　the　subtle　beast；
  Would　track　her　guilt　until　he　found；　and　hers
  Would　be　for　evermore　a　name　of　scorn。
  Henceforward　rarely　could　she　front　in　hall；
  Or　elsewhere；　Modred's　narrow　foxy　face；
  Heart…hiding　smile；　and　gray　persistent　eye：
  Henceforward　too；　the　Powers　that　tend　the　soul；
  To　help　it　from　the　death　that　cannot　die；
  And　save　it　even　in　extremes；　began
  To　vex　and　plague　her。　　Many　a　time　for　hours；
  Beside　the　placid　breathings　of　the　King；
  In　the　dead　night；　grim　faces　came　and　went
  Before　her；　or　a　vague　spiritual　fear
  Like　to　some　doubtful　noise　of　creaking　doors；
  Heard　by　the　watcher　in　a　haunted　house；
  That　keeps　the　rust　of　murder　on　the　walls
  Held　her　awake：　　or　if　she　slept；　she　dreamed
  An　awful　dream；　for　then　she　seemed　to　stand
  On　some　vast　plain　before　a　setting　sun；
  And　from　the　sun　there　swiftly　made　at　her
  A　ghastly　something；　and　its　shadow　flew
  Before　it；　till　it　touched　her；　and　she　turned
  When　lo！　her　own；　that　broadening　from　her　feet；
  And　blackening；　swallowed　all　the　land；　and　in　it
  Far　cities　burnt；　and　with　a　cry　she　woke。
  And　all　this　trouble　did　not　pass　bu