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With lightning of their swords； till flight
And fear before them flew like flame；
That Arthur's self had never known；
He said； since first his blast was blown；
Such lords of war as these alone
That whence he knew not came。
But while the fire of war waxed hot
The wild king hearkened； hearing not；
Through storm of spears and arrow…shot；
For succour toward him from King Lot
And all his host of sea…born men；
Strong as the strong storm…baffling bird
Whose cry round Orkney's headlands heard
Is as the sea's own sovereign word
That mocks our mortal ken。
For Merlin's craft of prophecy；
Who wist that one of twain must die；
Put might in him to say thereby
Which head should lose its crown； and lie
Stricken； though loth he were to know
That either life should wane and fail；
Yet most might Arthur's love avail；
And still with subtly tempered tale
His wile held fast the foe。
With woven words of magic might
Wherein the subtle shadow and light
Changed hope and fear till fear took flight；
He stayed King Lot's fierce lust of fight
Till all the wild Welsh war was driven
As foam before the wind that wakes
With the all…awakening sun； and breaks
Strong ships that rue the mirth it makes
When grace to slay is given。
And ever hotter lit and higher；
As fire that meets encountering fire；
Waxed in King Lot his keen desire
To bid revenge within him tire
On Arthur's ravaged fame and life：
Across the waves of war between
Floated and flashed； unseen and seen；
The lustrous likeness of the queen
Whom shame had sealed his wife。
But when the woful word was brought
That while he tarried； doubting nought；
The hope was lost whose goal he sought
And all the fight he yearned for fought；
His heart was rent for grief and shame；
And half his hope was set on flight
Till word was given him of a knight
Who said： 〃They are weary and worn with fight；
And we more fresh than flame。〃
And bright and dark as night and day
Ere either find the unopening way
Clear； and forego the unaltering sway；
The sad king's face shone； frowning： 〃Yea；
I would that every knight of mine
Would do his part as I shall do；〃
He said； 〃till death or life anew
Shall judge between us as is due
With wiser doom than thine。〃
Then thundered all the awakening field
With crash of hosts that clashed and reeled；
Banner to banner； shield to shield；
And spear to splintering spear…shaft； steeled
As heart against high heart of man；
As hope against high hope of knight
To pluck the crest and crown of fight
From war's clenched hand by storm's wild light；
For blessing given or ban。
All hearts of hearkening men that heard
The ban twin…born with blessing； stirred
Like springtide waters； knew the word
Whereby the steeds of storm are spurred
With ravenous rapture to destroy；
And laughed for love of battle； pierced
With passion of tempestuous thirst
And hungering hope to assuage it first
With draughts of stormy joy。
But sheer ahead of the iron tide
That rocked and roared from side to side
Rode as the lightning's lord might ride
King Lot； whose heart was set to abide
All peril of the raging hour；
And all his host of warriors born
Where lands by warring seas are worn
Was only by his hands upborne
Who gave them pride and power。
But as the sea's hand smites the shore
And shatters all the strengths that bore
The ravage earth may bear no more；
So smote the hand of Pellinore
Charging； a knight of Arthur's chief；
And clove his strong steed's neck in twain；
And smote him sheer through brow and brain；
Falling： and there King Lot lay slain；
And knew not wrath or grief。
And all the host of Orkney fled；
And many a mother's son lay dead：
But when they raised the stricken head
Whence pride and power and shame were fled
And rage and anguish now cast out；
And bore it toward a kingly tomb；
The wife whose love had wrought his doom
Came thither； fair as morning's bloom
And dark as twilight's doubt。
And there her four strong sons and his；
Gawain and Gareth； Gaherys
And Agravain； whose sword's sharp kiss
With sound of hell's own serpent's hiss
Should one day turn her life to death；
Stood mourning with her： but by these
Seeing Mordred as a seer that sees；
Anguish of terror bent her knees
And caught her shuddering breath。
The splendour of her sovereign eyes
Flashed darkness deeper than the skies
Feel or fear when the sunset dies
On his that felt as midnight rise
Their doom upon them； there undone
By faith in fear ere thought could yield
A shadowy sense of days revealed；
The ravin of the final field；
The terror of their son。
For Arthur's； as they caught the light
That sought and durst not seek his sight；
Darkened； and all his spirit's might
Withered within him even as night
Withers when sunrise thrills the sea。
But Mordred's lightened as with fire
That smote his mother and his sire
With darkling doom and deep desire
That bade its darkness be。
And heavier on their hearts the weight
Sank of the fear that brings forth fate；
The bitter doubt whose womb is great
With all the grief and love and hate
That turn to fire men's days on earth。
And glorious was the funeral made；
And dark the deepening dread that swayed
Their darkening souls whose light grew shade
With sense of death in birth。
VI
In autumn； when the wind and sea
Rejoice to live and laugh to be；
And scarce the blast that curbs the tree
And bids before it quail and flee
The fiery foliage； where its brand
Is radiant as the seal of spring；
Sounds less delight； and waves a wing
Less lustrous； life's loud thanksgiving
Puts life in sea and land。
High hope in Balen's heart alight
Laughed； as from all that clamorous fight
He passed and sought not Arthur's sight；
Who fain had found his kingliest knight
And made amend for Balen's wrong。
But Merlin gave his soul to see
Fate； rising as a shoreward sea；
And all the sorrow that should be
Ere hope or fear thought long。
〃O where are they whose hands upbore
My battle；〃 Arthur said； 〃before
The wild Welsh host's wide rage and roar？
Balen and Balan； Pellinore；
Where are they？〃 Merlin answered him：
〃Balen shall be not long away
From sight of you； but night nor day
Shall bring his brother back to say
If life burn bright or dim。〃
〃Now； by my faith；〃 said Arthur then；
〃Two marvellous knights are they； whose ken
Toward battle makes the twain as ten；
And Balen most of all born men
Passeth of prowess all I know
Or ever found or sought to see：
Would God he would abide with me；
To face the times foretold of thee
And all the latter woe。〃
For there had Merlin shown the king
The doom that songs unborn should sing；
The gifts that time should rise and bring
Of blithe and bitter days to spring
As weeds and flowers against the sun。
And on the king for fear's sake fell
Sickness； and sorrow deep as hell；
Nor even might sleep bid fear farewell
If grace to sleep were won。
Down in a meadow green and still
He bade the folk that wrought his will
Pitch his pavilion； where the chill
Soft night would let not rest fulfil
His heart wherein dark fears lay deep。
And sharp against his hearing cast
Came a sound as of horsehoofs fast
Passing； that ere their sound were past
Aroused him as from sleep。
And forth he looked along the grass
And saw before his portal pass
A knight that wailed aloud； 〃Alas
That life should find this dolorous pass
And find no shield from doom and dole！〃
And hearing all his moan； 〃Abide；
Fair sir；〃 the king arose and cried；
〃And say what sorrow bids you ride
So sorrowful of soul。〃
〃My hurt may no man heal； God wot；
And help of man may speed me not；〃
The sad knight said； 〃nor change my lot。〃
And toward the castle of Melyot
Whose towers arose a league away
He passed forth sorrowing： and anon；
Ere well the woful sight were gone；
Came Balen down the meads that shone；
Strong； bright； and brave as day。
And seeing the king there stand； the knight
Drew rein before his face to alight
In reverence made for love's sake bright
With joy that set his face alight
As theirs who see； alive； above；
The sovereign of their souls； whose name
To them is even as love's own flame
To enkindle hope that heeds not fame
And knows no lord but love。
And Arthur smiled on him； and said；
〃Right welcome be thou： by my head；
I would not wish me better sped。
For even but now there came and fled
Before me like a cloud that flies
A knight that made most heavy cheer；
I know not wherefore； nor may fear
Or pity give my heart to hear
Or lighten on mine eyes。
〃But even for fear's and pity's sake
Fain were I thou shouldst overtake
And fetch again this knight that spake
No word of answering grace to make
Reply to mine that hailed him： thou；
By force or by goodwill； shalt bring
His face before me。〃 〃Yea； my king；〃
Quoth Balen； 〃and a greater thing
Were less than is my vow。
〃I would the task required and heard
Were heavier than your sovereign word
Hath laid on me：〃 and thence he spurred
Elate at heart as youth； and stirred
With hope as blithe as fires a boy：
And many a mile he rode； and found
Far in a forest's glimmering bound
The man he sought afar around
And seeing took fire for joy。
And with him went a maiden； fai