Atwistofgoldwasroundherhair；arobeOfsamitewithoutprice，thatmoreexprestThanhidher，clungaboutherlissomelimbs，Incolourlikethesatin-shiningpalmOnsallowsinthewindygleamsofMarch:
　　Andwhileshekiss'dthem，crying，'Trampleme，Dearfeet，thatIhavefollow'dthro'theworld，AndIwillpayyouworship；treadmedownAndIwillkissyouforit'；hewasmute:
　　Sodarkaforethoughtroll'dabouthisbrain，AsonadulldayinanOceancaveTheblindwavefeelingroundhislongsea-hallInsilence。"
　　WethinkoftheblindedCyclopsgropingroundhiscave，like"theblindwavefeelingroundhislongsea-hall。"
　　Therichness，themanyshiningcontrastsandimmortallinesinVivien，seemalmosttoonobleforasubjectnoteasilyredeemed，andthepictureoftheidealCourtlyinginfullcorruption。NexttoElaine，Jowettwrotethathe"admiredVivienthemostthenaughtyone，whichseemstomeaworkofwonderfulpowerandskill。Itismostelegantandfanciful。IamnotsurprisedatyourDelilahbeguilingthewiseman；sheisquiteequaltoit。"ThedramaticversatilityofTennyson'sgenius，hispowerofcreatingthemostvariouscharacters，isnowherebetterdisplayedthaninthecontrastbetweentheVivienandtheElaine。Vivienisatype，heradventureisofanature，whichhehasnotelsewherehandled。Thackeray，whoadmiredtheIdyllssoenthusiastically，mighthaverecognisedinVivienacharacternotunlikesomeofhisown，asdarkasBeckySharp，moreterribleinherselfishnessthanthatBeatrixEsmondwhoisstillaparagon，and，inhercreator'sdespite，aqueenofhearts。
　　InElaine，ontheotherhand，Tennysonhasdrawnagirlsoinnocentlypassionate，andtoldataleoflovethatneverfoundhisearthlyclose，sodelicatelybeautiful，thatwemayperhapsplacethisIdyllthehighestofhispoemsonlove，andreckonitthegemoftheIdylls，thecentraldiamondinthediamondcrown。ReadingElaineoncemore，afteranintervalofyears，oneiscaptivatedbyitsgrace，itspathos，itsnobility。Thepoethadtouchedonsomeunidentifiedformofthestory，longbefore，inTheLadyofShalott。
　　Thatpoemhadthemysteryofromance，but，inhumaninterest，couldnotcompetewithElaine，ifindeedanypoemofTennyson'scanberankedwiththismatchlessIdyll。
　　Themereinvention，and，aswemaysay，charpentage，areofthefirstorder。ThematerialsinMalory，thoughbeautiful，aresimple，andleftafieldforthepoet'sinvention。{16}
　　Arthur，withtheScotsandNorthernknights，meanstoencounterallcomersataWhitsuntidetourney。Guinevereisill，andcannotgotothejousts，whileLancelotmakesexcusethatheisnothealedofawound。"WhereforetheKingwasheavyandpassingwroth，andsohedepartedtowardsWinchester。"TheQueenthenblamedLancelot:
　　peoplewillsaytheydeceiveArthur。"Madame，"saidSirLancelot，"I
　　allowyourwit；itisoflatecomethatyewerewise。"IntheIdyllGuineverespeaksasiftheirearlyloveshadbeenasconspicuousas，accordingtoGeorgeBuchanan，werethoseofQueenMaryandBothwell。
　　Lancelotwillgotothetourney，and，despiteGuinevere'swarning，willtakepartagainstArthurandhisownfierceNorthernkinsmen。
　　HeridestoAstolat——"thatis，Gylford"——whereArthurseeshim。Heborrowstheblankshieldof"SirTorre，"andthecompanyofhisbrotherSirLavaine。Elaine"castsuchaloveuntoSirLancelotthatshewouldneverwithdrawherlove，whereforeshedied。"Atherprayer，andforbetterdisguiseashehadneverwornalady'sfavour，Lancelotcarriedherscarletpearl-embroideredsleeveinhishelmet，andlefthisshieldinElaine'skeeping。Thetourneypassesasinthepoem，GawainrecognisingLancelot，butpuzzledbythefavourhewears。ThewoundedLancelot"thoughttodowhathemightwhilehemightendure。"Whenheisofferedtheprizeheissosorehurtthathe"takesnoforceofnohonour。"Heridesintoawood，whereLavainedrawsforththespear。LavainebringsLancelottothehermit，onceaknight。"Ihaveseentheday，"saysthehermit，"I
　　wouldhavelovedhimtheworse，becausehewasagainstmylord，KingArthur，forsometime。IwasoneofthefellowshipoftheRoundTable，butIthankGodnowIamotherwisedisposed。"Gawain，seekingthewoundedknight，comestoAstolat，whereElainedeclares"heisthemanintheworldthatIfirstloved，andtrulyheisthelastthateverIshalllove。"Gawain，onseeingtheshield，tellsElainethatthewoundedknightisLancelot，andshegoestoseekhimandLavaine。GawaindoesnotpaycourttoElaine，nordoesArthurrebukehim，asinthepoem。WhenGuinevereheardthatLancelotboreanotherlady'sfavour，"shewasnighoutofhermindforwrath，"andexpressedherangertoSirBors，forGawainhadspokenofthemaidofAstolat。BorstellsthistoLancelot，whoistendedbyElaine。
　　"'ButIwellsee，'saidSirBors，'byherdiligenceaboutyouthatshelovethyouentirely。''Thatmerepenteth，'saidSirLancelot。
　　SaidSirBors，'Sir，sheisnotthefirstthathathlostherpainuponyou，andthatisthemorepity。'"WhenLancelotrecovers，andreturnstoAstolat，shedeclaresherlovewiththefranknessofladiesinmediaevalromance。"Havemercyuponmeandsuffermenottodieforthylove。"Lancelotreplieswiththecourtesyandtheoffersofservicewhichbecamehim。"Ofallthis，"saidthemaiden，"Iwillnone；forbutifyewillwedme，orbemyparamourattheleast，wityouwell，SirLancelot，mygooddaysaredone。"
　　Thiswasadifficultpassforthepoet，livinginotherdaysofothermanners。HisartappearsintheturnwhichhegivestoElaine'sdeclaration:-
　　"ButwhenSirLancelot'sdeadlyhurtwaswhole，ToAstolatreturningrodethethree。
　　Theremornbymorn，arrayinghersweetselfInthatwhereinshedeem'dshelook'dherbest，ShecamebeforeSirLancelot，forshethought'IfIbeloved，thesearemyfestalrobes，Ifnot，thevictim'sflowersbeforehefall。'
　　AndLanceloteverprestuponthemaidThatsheshouldasksomegoodlygiftofhimForherownselforhers；'anddonotshunTospeakthewishmostneartoyourtrueheart；
　　Suchservicehaveyedoneme，thatImakeMywillofyours，andPrinceandLordamI
　　Inmineownland，andwhatIwillIcan。'
　　Thenlikeaghostsheliftedupherface，Butlikeaghostwithoutthepowertospeak。
　　AndLancelotsawthatshewithheldherwish，AndbodeamongthemyetalittlespaceTillheshouldlearnit；andonemornitchancedHefoundherinamongthegardenyews，Andsaid，'Delaynolonger，speakyourwish，SeeingIgoto-day':thenoutshebrake:
　　'Going？andweshallneverseeyoumore。
　　AndImustdieforwantofoneboldword。'
　　'Speak:thatIlivetohear，'hesaid，'isyours。'
　　Thensuddenlyandpassionatelyshespoke:
　　'Ihavegonemad。Iloveyou:letmedie。'
　　'Ah，sister，'answer'dLancelot，'whatisthis？'
　　Andinnocentlyextendingherwhitearms，'Yourlove，'shesaid，'yourlove——tobeyourwife。'
　　AndLancelotanswer'd，'HadIchosentowed，Ihadbeenweddedearlier，sweetElaine:
　　Butnowthereneverwillbewifeofmine。'
　　'No，no'shecried，'Icarenottobewife，Buttobewithyoustill，toseeyourface，Toserveyou，andtofollowyouthro'theworld。'
　　AndLancelotanswer'd，'Nay，theworld，theworld，Allearandeye，withsuchastupidheartTointerpretearandeye，andsuchatongueToblareitsowninterpretation——nay，FullillthenshouldIquityourbrother'slove，Andyourgoodfather'skindness。'Andshesaid，'Nottobewithyou，nottoseeyourface-
　　Alasformethen，mygooddaysaredone。'"
　　Soshedies，andisbornedownThamestoLondon，thefairestcorpse，"andshelayasthoughshehadsmiled。"Herletterisread。"Yemighthaveshowedher，"saidtheQueen，"somecourtesyandgentlenessthatmighthavepreservedherlife；"andsothetwoarereconciled。
　　Such，inbrief，isthetenderoldtaleoftruelove，withtheshiningcourtesyofLavaineandthefatherofthemaid，whospeaknowordofangeragainstLancelot。"ForsincefirstIsawmylord，SirLancelot，"saysLavaine，"Icouldneverdepartfromhim，nornoughtI
　　will，ifImayfollowhim:shedothasIdo。"TothesimpleandmovingstoryTennysonadds，bywayofornament，thediamonds，theprizeofthetourney，andthemanneroftheirfinding:-
　　"ForArthur，longbeforetheycrown'dhimKing，RovingthetracklessrealmsofLyonnesse，Hadfoundaglen，grayboulderandblacktarn。
　　Ahorrorlivedaboutthetarn，andclaveLikeitsownmiststoallthemountainside:
　　Forheretwobrothers，oneaking，hadmetAndfoughttogether；buttheirnameswerelost；
　　Andeachhadslainhisbrotheratablow；
　　Anddowntheyfellandmadetheglenabhorr'd:
　　Andtheretheylaytillalltheirboneswerebleach'd，Andlichen'dintocolourwiththecrags:
　　Andhe，thatoncewasking，hadonacrownOfdiamonds，oneinfront，andfouraside。
　　AndArthurcame，andlabouringupthepass，Allinamistymoonshine，unawaresHadtroddenthatcrown'dskeleton，andtheskullBrakefromthenape，andfromtheskullthecrownRoll'dintolight，andturningonitsrimsFledlikeaglitteringrivulettothetarn:
　　Anddowntheshinglyscaurheplunged，andcaught，Andsetitonhishead，andinhisheartHeardmurmurs，'Lo，thoulikewiseshaltbeKing。'"
　　ThediamondsreappearinthesceneofGuinevere'sjealousy:-
　　"Allinanorielonthesummerside，Vine-clad，ofArthur'spalacetowardthestream，Theymet，andLancelotkneelingutter'd，'Queen，Lady，myliege，inwhomIhavemyjoy，Take，whatIhadnotwonexceptforyou，Thesejewels，andmakemehappy，makingthemAnarmletfortheroundestarmonearth，Ornecklaceforanecktowhichtheswan'sIstawnierthanhercygnet's:thesearewords:
　　Yourbeautyisyourbeauty，andIsinInspeaking，yetOgrantmyworshipofitWords，aswegrantgrieftears。Suchsininwords，Perchance，webothcanpardon:but，myQueen，Ihearofrumoursflyingthro'yourcourt。
　　Ourbond，asnotthebondofmanandwife，ShouldhaveinitanabsolutertrustTomakeupthatdefect:letrumoursbe:
　　Whendidnotrumoursfly？these，asItrustThatyoutrustmeinyourownnobleness，Imaynotwellbelievethatyoubelieve。'
　　Whilethushespoke，halfturn'daway，theQueenBrakefromthevastoriel-emboweringvineLeafafterleaf，andtore，andcastthemoff，Tillalltheplacewhereonshestoodwasgreen；
　　Then，whenheceased，inonecoldpassivehandReceivedatonceandlaidasidethegemsThereonatablenearher，andreplied:
　　'Itmaybe，IamquickerofbeliefThanyoubelieveme，LancelotoftheLake。
　　Ourbondisnotthebondofmanandwife。
　　Thisgoodisinit，whatsoe'erofill，Itcanbebrokeneasier。IforyouThismanyayearhavedonedespiteandwrongToonewhomeverinmyheartofheartsIdidacknowledgenobler。Whatarethese？
　　Diamondsforme!theyhadbeenthricetheirworthBeingyourgift，hadyounotlostyourown。
　　ToloyalheartsthevalueofallgiftsMustvaryasthegiver's。Notforme!
　　Forher!foryournewfancy。OnlythisGrantme，Iprayyou:haveyourjoysapart。
　　Idoubtnotthathoweverchanged，youkeepSomuchofwhatisgraceful:andmyselfWouldshuntobreakthoseboundsofcourtesyInwhichasArthur'sQueenImoveandrule:
　　Socannotspeakmymind。Anendtothis!
　　Astrangeone!yetItakeitwithAmen。
　　Soprayyou，addmydiamondstoherpearls；
　　Deckherwiththese；tellher，sheshinesmedown:
　　AnarmletforanarmtowhichtheQueen'sIshaggard，oranecklaceforaneckOasmuchfairer——asafaithoncefairWasricherthanthesediamonds——hersnotmine-
　　Nay，bythemotherofourLordhimself，Orhersormine，minenowtoworkmywill-
　　Sheshallnothavethem。'
　　Sayingwhichsheseized，And，thro'thecasementstandingwideforheat，Flungthem，anddowntheyflash'd，andsmotethestream。
　　Thenfromthesmittensurfaceflash'd，asitwere，Diamondstomeetthem，andtheypastaway。
　　ThenwhileSirLancelotleant，inhalfdisdainAtlove，life，allthings，onthewindowledge，Closeunderneathhiseyes，andrightacrossWherethesehadfallen，slowlypastthebargeWhereonthelilymaidofAstolatLaysmiling，likeastarinblackestnight。"
　　Thisaffairofthediamondsisthechiefadditiontotheoldtale，inwhichwealreadyseethecurseoflawlesslove，fallenuponthejealousQueenandthelong-enduringLancelot。"Thisisnotthefirsttime，"saidSirLancelot，"thatyehavebeendispleasedwithmecauseless，but，madame，everImustsufferyou，butwhatsorrowI
　　endureItakenoforce"thatis，"Idisregard"。
　　Theromance，andthepoet，inhisowndespite，cannotbutmakeLancelotthemanwelove，notArthuroranother。HumannatureperverselysideswithGuinevereagainsttheBlamelessKing:-
　　"Shebrokeintoalittlescornfullaugh:
　　'Arthur，mylord，Arthur，thefaultlessKing，Thatpassionateperfection，mygoodlord-
　　ButwhocangazeupontheSuninheaven？
　　Heneverspakewordofreproachtome，Heneverhadaglimpseofmineuntruth，Hecaresnotforme:onlyhereto-dayTheregleam'davaguesuspicioninhiseyes:
　　Somemeddlingroguehastamper'dwithhim——elseRaptinthisfancyofhisTableRound，Andswearingmentovowsimpossible，Tomakethemlikehimself:but，friend，tomeHeisallfaultwhohathnofaultatall:
　　Forwholovesmemusthaveatouchofearth；
　　Thelowsunmakesthecolour:Iamyours，NotArthur's，asyeknow，savebythebond。"
　　ItisnotthebeautifulQueenwhowinsus，ourheartsarewith"theinnocenceoflove"inElaine。ButLancelothasthecharmthatcaptivatedLavaine；andTennyson'sArthurremains"Themoralchildwithoutthecrafttorule，Elsehadhenotlostme。"
　　IndeedtheromanceofMalorymakesArthurdeserve"theprettypopularnamesuchmanhoodearns"byhisconductasregardsGuineverewhensheisaccusedbyherenemiesinthelaterchapters。YetMalorydoesnotfinallycondonethesinwhichbafflesLancelot'squestoftheHolyGrail。
　　TennysonatfirstwasindoubtastowritingontheGrail，forcertainrespectsofreverence。Whenhedidapproachthethemeitwasinamethodofextremecondensation。TheromancesontheGrailoutrunthelengthevenofmediaevalpoetryandprose。Theyareexceedinglyconfused，aswasnatural，ifthathypothesiswhichregardsthestoryasaChristianisedformofobscureCelticmythbecorrect。SirPercivale'ssister，intheIdyll，hasthefirstvisionoftheGrail:-
　　"Sweetbrother，IhaveseentheHolyGrail:
　　For，wakedatdeadofnight，IheardasoundAsofasilverhornfromo'erthehillsBlown，andIthought，'ItisnotArthur'suseTohuntbymoonlight'；andtheslendersoundAsfromadistancebeyonddistancegrewCominguponme——Oneverharpnorhorn，Noraughtweblowwithbreath，ortouchwithhand，Waslikethatmusicasitcame；andthenStream'dthro'mycellacoldandsilverbeam，AnddownthelongbeamstoletheHolyGrail，Rose-redwithbeatingsinit，asifalive，TillallthewhitewallsofmycellweredyedWithrosycoloursleapingonthewall；
　　Andthenthemusicfaded，andtheGrailPast，andthebeamdecay'd，andfromthewallsTherosyquiveringsdiedintothenight。
　　SonowtheHolyThingishereagainAmongus，brother，fastthoutooandpray，Andtellthybrotherknightstofastandpray，ThatsoperchancethevisionmaybeseenBytheeandthose，andalltheworldbeheal'd。"
　　Galahad，sonofLancelotandthefirstElainewhobecameLancelot'smistressbyartmagic，thenvowshimselftotheQuest，and，afterthevisioninhallatCamelot，theknights，exceptArthur，followhisexample，toArthur'sgrief。"Yefollowwanderingfires!"Probably，orperhaps，thepoetindicatesdislikeofhastyspiritualenthusiasms，of"seekingforasign，"andofthemysticismwhichbetokenswantoffaith。TheMiddleAges，morethanmanyreadersknow，wereagesofdoubt。MendesiredthewitnessofthesensestothetruthofwhattheChurchtaught，theywishedtoseethatnakedchildoftheromance"smitehimselfinto"thewaferoftheSacrament。
　　TheauthoroftheImitatioChristidiscouragessuchvainandtoocuriousinquiriesashelpedtorendtheChurch，anddividedChristendomintohostilecamps。TheQuestoftheactualGrailwasaknightlyformoftheologicalresearchintotheunsearchable；
　　undertaken，ofteninasecularspiritofadventure，bysinfulmen。
　　Thepoet'sheartisratherwithhumanthings:-
　　"'Obrother，'ask'dAmbrosius，——'forinsoothTheseancientbooks——andtheywouldwinthee——teem，OnlyIfindnottherethisHolyGrail，Withmiraclesandmarvelsliketothese，Notallunlike；whichoftentimeIread，Whoreadbutonmybreviarywithease，Tillmyheadswims；andthengoforthandpassDowntothelittlethorpethatliessoclose，Andalmostplaster'dlikeamartin'snestTotheseoldwalls——andminglewithourfolk；
　　AndknowingeveryhonestfaceoftheirsAswellasevershepherdknewhissheep，Andeveryhomelysecretintheirhearts，Delightmyselfwithgossipandoldwives，Andillsandaches，andteethings，lyings-in，Andmirthfulsayings，childrenoftheplace，Thathavenomeaninghalfaleagueaway:
　　Orlullingrandomsquabbleswhentheyrise，Chafferingsandchatteringsatthemarket-cross，Rejoice，smallman，inthissmallworldofmine，Yea，evenintheirhensandintheireggs。"'
　　ThisappearstobeTennyson'soriginalreadingoftheQuestoftheGrail。Hisownmysticism，whichdidnotstrive，orcry，orseekaftermarvels，thoughmarvelsmightcomeunsought，isexpressedinArthur'swords:-
　　"'"AndspakeInottootruly，Omyknights？
　　WasItoodarkaprophetwhenIsaidTothosewhowentupontheHolyQuest，Thatmostofthemwouldfollowwanderingfires，Lostinthequagmire？——losttomeandgone，Andleftmegazingatabarrenboard，AndaleanOrder——scarcereturn'datithe-
　　AndoutofthosetowhomthevisioncameMygreatesthardlywillbelievehesaw；
　　Anotherhathbehelditafaroff，Andleavinghumanwrongstorightthemselves，Caresbuttopassintothesilentlife。
　　Andonehathhadthevisionfacetoface，Andnowhischairdesireshimhereinvain，Howevertheymaycrownhimotherwhere。
　　'"Andsomeamongyouheld，thatiftheKingHadseenthesighthewouldhaveswornthevow:
　　Noteasily，seeingthattheKingmustguardThatwhichherules，andisbutasthehindTowhomaspaceoflandisgiventoplowWhomaynotwanderfromtheallottedfieldBeforehisworkbedone；but，beingdone，LetvisionsofthenightorofthedayCome，astheywill；andmanyatimetheycome，Untilthisearthhewalksonseemsnotearth，Thislightthatstrikeshiseyeballisnotlight，ThisairthatsmiteshisforeheadisnotairButvision——yea，hisveryhandandfoot-
　　Inmomentswhenhefeelshecannotdie，Andknowshimselfnovisiontohimself，NorthehighGodavision，northatOneWhoroseagain:yehaveseenwhatyehaveseen。"
　　'SospaketheKing:Iknewnotallhemeant。'"
　　Theclosinglinesdeclare，asfarasthepoetcoulddeclarethem，thesesubjectiveexperiencesofhiswhich，inamannerrarelyparallelled，colouredandformedhisthoughtonthehighestthings。
　　Heintroducesthemevenintothispoemonatopicwhich，becauseofitssacredassociations，heforlongdidnotventuretotouch。
　　InPelleasandEttarre——whichdealswiththesorrowsofoneoftheyoungknightswhofillupthegapsleftattheRoundTablebythemischancesoftheQuest——itwouldbedifficulttotraceaCelticoriginal。ForMalory，notCelticlegend，suppliedTennysonwiththegerminalideaofapoemwhich，intheromance，hasnobearingonthefinalcatastrophe。Pelleas，aKingoftheIsles，lovesthebeautifulEttarre，"agreatlady，"andforherwinsatatourneytheprizeofthegoldencirclet。Butshehatesanddespiseshim，andSirGawainisaspectatorwhen，asinthepoem，thefelonknightsofEttarrebindandinsulttheirconqueror，Pelleas。GawainpromisestowintheloveofEttarreforPelleas，and，asinthepoem，borrowshisarmsandhorse，andpretendstohaveslainhim。ButinplaceofturningEttarre'shearttowardsPelleas，Gawainbecomesherlover，andPelleas，detectingthemasleep，layshisnakedswordontheirnecks。
　　Hethenrideshometodie；butNimueVivien，theLadyoftheLake，restoreshimtohealthandsanity。Hisfevergone，hescornsEttarre，who，byNimue'senchantment，nowloveshimasmuchasshehadhatedhim。PelleaswedsNimue，andEttarrediesofabrokenheart。Tennyson，ofcourse，couldnotmakeNimuehisViviendoanythingbenevolent。HethereforecloseshispoembyarepetitionoftheeffectinthecaseofBalin。PelleasisdrivendesperatebythetreacheryofGawain，thereportedinfidelityofGuinevere，andthegeneralcorruptionoftheideal。AshadowfallsonLancelotandGuinevere，andModredseesthathishourisdrawingnigh。InspiteofbeautifulpassagesthisisnotoneofthefinestoftheIdylls，saveforthestudyofthefierce，hateful，andbeautifulgrandedame，Ettarre。Thenarrativedoeslittletoadvancethegeneralplot。IntheoriginalofMaloryithasnoconnectionwiththeLancelotcycle，exceptasfarasitrevealsthetreacheryofGawain，thegayandfair-spoken"lightoflove，"brotherofthetraitorModred。A
　　simplertreatmentofthethememaybereadinMrSwinburne'sbeautifulpoem，TheTaleofBalen。
　　ItisinTheLastTournamentthatModredfindsthebeginningofhisopportunity。ThebrieflifeoftheIdealhasburneditselfout，astheyear，initsvernalbeautywhenArthurcame，isburningoutinautumn。Thepoemispurposelyautumnal，withtheautumn，notofmellowfruitfulness，butofthe"flyinggoldoftheruinedwoodlands"
　　andthedankodoursofdecay。InthatmiserableseasonisheldtheTourneyoftheDeadInnocence，withtheblood-redprizeofrubies。
　　WithawisetouchTennysonhasrepresentedtheCourtasfallennotintoviceonlyandcrime，butintopositivevulgarityandbadtaste。
　　TheTournamentisacarnivalofthe"smart"andthethird-rate。
　　Courtesyisdead，evenTristramisbrutal，andinIseulthatredofherhusbandisaspowerfulasloveofherlover。ThesatirestrikesatEngland，wheretheworldhasneverbeencorruptwithagoodgrace。
　　ItisapassageofarmsneithergentlenorjoyousthatLancelotpresidesover:-
　　"ThesuddentrumpetsoundedasinadreamToearsbuthalf-awaked，thenonelowrollOfAutumnthunder，andthejoustsbegan:
　　Andeverthewindblew，andyellowingleafAndgloomandgleam，andshowerandshornplumeWentdownit。Sighingweariedly，asoneWhositsandgazesonafadedfire，Whenallthegoodlierguestsarepastaway，Sattheirgreatumpire，lookingo'erthelists。
　　HesawthelawsthatruledthetournamentBroken，butspakenot；once，aknightcastdownBeforehisthroneofarbitrationcursedThedeadbabeandthefolliesoftheKing；
　　Andoncethelacesofahelmetcrack'd，Andshow'dhim，likeavermininitshole，Modred，anarrowface:anonheheardThevoicethatbillow'droundthebarriersroarAnocean-soundingwelcometooneknight，Butnewly-enter'd，tallerthantherest，Andarmour'dallinforestgreen，whereonTheretriptahundredtinysilverdeer，Andwearingbutaholly-sprayforcrest，Withever-scatteringberries，andonshieldAspear，aharp，abugle——Tristram——lateFromoverseasinBrittanyreturn'd，Andmarriagewithaprincessofthatrealm，IsolttheWhite——SirTristramoftheWoods-
　　WhomLancelotknew，hadheldsometimewithpainHisownagainsthim，andnowyearn'dtoshakeTheburthenoffhisheartinonefullshockWithTristramev'ntodeath:hisstronghandsgriptAnddintedthegiltdragonsrightandleft，Untilhegroan'dforwrath——somanyofthose，Thatwaretheirladies'coloursonthecasque，DrewfrombeforeSirTristramtothebounds，AndtherewithgibesandflickeringmockeriesStood，whilehemutter'd，'Cravencrests!Oshame!
　　Whatfaithhavetheseinwhomtheyswaretolove？
　　ThegloryofourRoundTableisnomore。'
　　SoTristramwon，andLancelotgave，thegems，Notspeakingotherwordthan'Hastthouwon？
　　Artthouthepurest，brother？See，thehandWherewiththoutakestthis，isred!'towhomTristram，halfplaguedbyLancelot'slanguorousmood，Madeanswer，'Ay，butwhereforetossmethisLikeadrybonecasttosomehungryhound？
　　LetbethyfairQueen'sfantasy。StrengthofheartAndmightoflimb，butmainlyuseandskill，ArewinnersinthispastimeofourKing。
　　Myhand——belikethelancehathdriptuponit-
　　Nobloodofmine，Itrow；butOchiefknight，RightarmofArthurinthebattlefield，Greatbrother，thounorIhavemadetheworld；