"Alas! and I have caused this woe;

For, when my prowess from invading Neighbours

Had freed his Realm, he plighted word

That he would turn to Christ our Lord,

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And his dear Daughter on a Knight bestow Whom I should choose for love and matchless labours.

"Her birth was heathen; but a fence
Of holy Angels round her hovered:
A Lady added to my court

So fair, of such divine report

And worship, seemed a recompense

For fifty kingdoms by my sword recovered.

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"Ask not for whom, O Champions true! 235 She was reserved by me her life's betrayer; She who was meant to be a bride

Is now a corse: then put aside

Vain thoughts, and speed ye, with observance due

Of Christian rites, in Christian ground to lay

her."

"The tomb," said Merlin, "may not close
Upon her yet, earth hide her beauty;
Not froward to thy sovereign will
Esteem me, Liege! if I, whose skill
Wafted her hither, interpose

To check this pious haste of erring duty.

My books command me to lay bare

The secret thou art bent on keeping:
Here must a high attest be given,

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What Bridegroom was for her ordained by

Heaven:

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And in my glass significants there are Of things that may to gladness turn this weeping.

"For this, approaching, One by One,

Thy Knights must touch the cold hand of the Virgin;

So, for the favoured One, the Flower may

bloom

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Once more: but, if unchangeable her doom, If life departed be for ever gone,

Some blest assurance, from this cloud emerging,

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May teach him to bewail his loss; Not with a grief that, like a vapour, rises And melts; but grief devout that shall endure, And a perpetual growth secure

Of purposes which no false thought shall

cross,

A harvest of high hopes and noble enterprises."

"So be it," said the King;

66 anon,

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Here, where the Princess lies, begin the trial;
Knights each in order as ye stand

Step forth."-To touch the pallid hand
Sir Agravaine advanced; no sign he won

From Heaven or earth;-Sir Kaye had like denial.

Abashed, Sir Dinas turned away;

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Even for Sir Percival was no disclosure; Though he, devoutest of all Champions, ere He reached that ebon car, the bier

Whereon diffused like snow the Damsel lay, Full thrice had crossed himself in meek com

posure.

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Imagine (but ye Saints! who can ?)
How in still air the balance trembled—
The wishes, peradventure the despites

That overcame some not ungenerous Knights;
And all the thoughts that lengthened out a

span

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Of time to Lords and Ladies thus assembled.

What patient confidence was here!
And there how many bosoms panted!
While drawing toward the car Sir Gawaine,
mailed

For tournament, his beaver vailed,

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And softly touched; but, to his princely

cheer

And high expectancy, no sign was granted.

Next, disencumbered of his harp,

Sir Tristram, dear to thousands as a brother, Came to the proof, nor grieved that there ensued

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No change;-the fair Izonda he had wooed With love too true, a love with pangs too

sharp,

From hope too distant, not to dread another.

Not so Sir Launcelot ;-from Heaven's grace A sign he craved, tired slave of vain contrition; The royal Guinever looked passing glad 297 When his touch failed.-Next came Sir Galahad;

He paused, and stood entranced by that still

face

Whose features he had seen in noontide vision.

For late, as near a murmuring stream
He rested 'mid an arbour green and shady,
Nina, the good Enchantress, shed

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A light around his mossy bed;
And, at her call, a waking dream
Prefigured to his sense the Egyptian Lady.

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Now, while his bright-haired front he bowed, And stood, far-kenned by mantle furred with ermine,

As o'er the insensate Body hung

The enrapt, the beautiful, the young,
Belief sank deep into the crowd
That he the solemn issue would determine.

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Nor deem it strange; the Youth had worn
That very mantle on a day of glory,
The day when he achieved that matchless feat,
The marvel of the PERILOUS SEAT,
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Which whosoe'er approached of strength was

shorn,

Though King or Knight the most renowned in story.

He touched with hesitating hand

And lo! those Birds, far-famed through Love's dominions,

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The Swans, in triumph clap their wings; And their necks play, involved in rings, Like sinless snakes in Eden's happy land;"Mine is she," cried the Knight;-again they clapped their pinions.

"Mine was she-mine she is, though dead, And to her name my soul shall cleave in

Of colour dawned upon the Damsel's cheek; And her lips, quickening with uncertain red, Seemed from each other a faint warmth to

borrow.

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Deep was the awe, the rapture high,

Of love emboldened, hope with dread en

twining,

When, to the mouth, relenting Death
Allowed a soft and flower-like breath,
Precursor to a timid sigh,

To lifted eyelids, and a doubtful shining.

In silence did King Arthur gaze
Upon the signs that pass away or tarry;
In silence watched the gentle strife
Of Nature leading back to life;

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Then eased his soul at length by praise Of God, and Heaven's pure Queen-the blissful Mary.

Then said he, "Take her to thy heart,
Sir Galahad! a treasure, that God giveth,
Bound by indissoluble ties to thee
Through mortal change and immortality;
Be happy and unenvied, thou who art

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A goodly Knight that hath no peer that liveth!"

Not long the Nuptials were delayed;
And sage tradition still rehearses
The pomp, the glory of that hour
When toward the altar from her bower

King Arthur led the Egyptian Maid,

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And Angels carolled these far-echoed verses;—

Who shrinks not from alliance

Of evil with good Powers
To God proclaims defiance,
And mocks whom he adores.

A Ship to Christ devoted

From the Land of Nile did go;
Alas! the bright Ship floated,

An Idol at her prow.

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