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She still took note that when the living smile
Died from his lips； across him came a cloud
Of melancholy severe； from which again；
Whenever in her hovering to and fro
The lily maid had striven to make him cheer；
There brake a sudden…beaming tenderness
Of manners and of nature： and she thought
That all was nature； all； perchance； for her。
And all night long his face before her lived；
As when a painter； poring on a face；
Divinely through all hindrance finds the man
Behind it； and so paints him that his face；
The shape and colour of a mind and life；
Lives for his children； ever at its best
And fullest； so the face before her lived；
Dark…splendid； speaking in the silence； full
Of noble things； and held her from her sleep。
Till rathe she rose； half…cheated in the thought
She needs must bid farewell to sweet Lavaine。
First in fear； step after step； she stole
Down the long tower…stairs； hesitating：
Anon； she heard Sir Lancelot cry in the court；
'This shield； my friend； where is it？' and Lavaine
Past inward； as she came from out the tower。
There to his proud horse Lancelot turned； and smoothed
The glossy shoulder； humming to himself。
Half…envious of the flattering hand； she drew
Nearer and stood。 He looked； and more amazed
Than if seven men had set upon him； saw
The maiden standing in the dewy light。
He had not dreamed she was so beautiful。
Then came on him a sort of sacred fear；
For silent； though he greeted her； she stood
Rapt on his face as if it were a God's。
Suddenly flashed on her a wild desire；
That he should wear her favour at the tilt。
She braved a riotous heart in asking for it。
'Fair lord； whose name I know notnoble it is；
I well believe； the noblestwill you wear
My favour at this tourney？' 'Nay；' said he；
'Fair lady； since I never yet have worn
Favour of any lady in the lists。
Such is my wont； as those； who know me； know。'
'Yea； so；' she answered； 'then in wearing mine
Needs must be lesser likelihood； noble lord；
That those who know should know you。' And he turned
Her counsel up and down within his mind；
And found it true； and answered； 'True； my child。
Well； I will wear it： fetch it out to me：
What is it？' and she told him 'A red sleeve
Broidered with pearls；' and brought it： then he bound
Her token on his helmet； with a smile
Saying； 'I never yet have done so much
For any maiden living；' and the blood
Sprang to her face and filled her with delight；
But left her all the paler； when Lavaine
Returning brought the yet…unblazoned shield；
His brother's； which he gave to Lancelot；
Who parted with his own to fair Elaine：
'Do me this grace； my child； to have my shield
In keeping till I come。' 'A grace to me；'
She answered； 'twice today。 I am your squire！'
Whereat Lavaine said； laughing； 'Lily maid；
For fear our people call you lily maid
In earnest； let me bring your colour back；
Once； twice； and thrice： now get you hence to bed：'
So kissed her； and Sir Lancelot his own hand；
And thus they moved away： she stayed a minute；
Then made a sudden step to the gate； and there
Her bright hair blown about the serious face
Yet rosy…kindled with her brother's kiss
Paused by the gateway； standing near the shield
In silence； while she watched their arms far…off
Sparkle； until they dipt below the downs。
Then to her tower she climbed； and took the shield；
There kept it； and so lived in fantasy。
Meanwhile the new companions past away
Far o'er the long backs of the bushless downs；
To where Sir Lancelot knew there lived a knight
Not far from Camelot； now for forty years
A hermit； who had prayed； laboured and prayed；
And ever labouring had scooped himself
In the white rock a chapel and a hall
On massive columns； like a shorecliff cave；
And cells and chambers： all were fair and dry；
The green light from the meadows underneath
Struck up and lived along the milky roofs；
And in the meadows tremulous aspen…trees
And poplars made a noise of falling showers。
And thither wending there that night they bode。
But when the next day broke from underground；
And shot red fire and shadows through the cave；
They rose； heard mass； broke fast； and rode away：
Then Lancelot saying； 'Hear； but hold my name
Hidden； you ride with Lancelot of the Lake；'
Abashed young Lavaine； whose instant reverence；
Dearer to true young hearts than their own praise；
But left him leave to stammer； 'Is it indeed？'
And after muttering 'The great Lancelot；
At last he got his breath and answered； 'One；
One have I seenthat other； our liege lord；
The dread Pendragon； Britain's King of kings；
Of whom the people talk mysteriously；
He will be therethen were I stricken blind
That minute； I might say that I had seen。'
So spake Lavaine； and when they reached the lists
By Camelot in the meadow； let his eyes
Run through the peopled gallery which half round
Lay like a rainbow fallen upon the grass；
Until they found the clear…faced King； who sat
Robed in red samite； easily to be known；
Since to his crown the golden dragon clung；
And down his robe the dragon writhed in gold；
And from the carven…work behind him crept
Two dragons gilded； sloping down to make
Arms for his chair； while all the rest of them
Through knots and loops and folds innumerable
Fled ever through the woodwork； till they found
The new design wherein they lost themselves；
Yet with all ease； so tender was the work：
And； in the costly canopy o'er him set；
Blazed the last diamond of the nameless king。
Then Lancelot answered young Lavaine and said；
'Me you call great： mine is the firmer seat；
The truer lance： but there is many a youth
Now crescent； who will come to all I am
And overcome it； and in me there dwells
No greatness； save it be some far…off touch
Of greatness to know well I am not great：
There is the man。' And Lavaine gaped upon him
As on a thing miraculous； and anon
The trumpets blew； and then did either side；
They that assailed； and they that held the lists；
Set lance in rest； strike spur； suddenly move；
Meet in the midst； and there so furiously
Shock； that a man far…off might well perceive；
If any man that day were left afield；
The hard earth shake； and a low thunder of arms。
And Lancelot bode a little； till he saw
Which were the weaker； then he hurled into it
Against the stronger： little need to speak
Of Lancelot in his glory！ King； duke； earl；
Count； baronwhom he smote； he overthrew。
But in the field were Lancelot's kith and kin；
Ranged with the Table Round that held the lists；
Strong men； and wrathful that a stranger knight
Should do and almost overdo the deeds
Of Lancelot； and one said to the other； 'Lo！
What is he？ I do not mean the force alone
The grace and versatility of the man！
Is it not Lancelot？' 'When has Lancelot worn
Favour of any lady in the lists？
Not such his wont； as we； that know him； know。'
'How then？ who then？' a fury seized them all；
A fiery family passion for the name
Of Lancelot； and a glory one with theirs。
They couched their spears and pricked their steeds； and thus；
Their plumes driven backward by the wind they made
In moving； all together down upon him
Bare； as a wild wave in the wide North…sea；
Green…glimmering toward the summit； bears； with all
Its stormy crests that smoke against the skies；
Down on a bark； and overbears the bark；
And him that helms it； so they overbore
Sir Lancelot and his charger； and a spear
Down…glancing lamed the charger； and a spear
Pricked sharply his own cuirass； and the head
Pierced through his side； and there snapt； and remained。
Then Sir Lavaine did well and worshipfully；
He bore a knight of old repute to the earth；
And brought his horse to Lancelot where he lay。
He up the side； sweating with agony； got；
But thought to do while he might yet endure；
And being lustily holpen by the rest；
His party；though it seemed half…miracle
To those he fought with；drave his kith and kin；
And all the Table Round that held the lists；
Back to the barrier； then the trumpets blew
Proclaiming his the prize； who wore the sleeve
Of scarlet； and the pearls； and all the knights；
His party； cried 'Advance and take thy prize
The diamond；' but he answered； 'Diamond me
No diamonds！ for God's love； a little air！
Prize me no prizes； for my prize is death！
Hence will I； and I charge you； follow me not。'
He spoke； and vanished suddenly from the field
With young Lavaine into the poplar grove。
There from his charger down he slid； and sat；
Gasping to Sir Lavaine； 'Draw the lance…head：'
'Ah my sweet lord Sir Lancelot；' said Lavaine；
'I dread me； if I draw it； you will die。'
But he； 'I die already with it： draw
Draw；'and Lavaine drew； and Sir Lancelot gave
A marvellous great shriek and ghastly groan；
And half his blood burst forth； and down he sank
For the pure pain； and wholly swooned away。
Then came the hermit out and bare him in；
There stanched his wound； and there； in daily doubt
Whether to live or die； for many a week
Hid from the wide world's rumour by the grove
Of poplars with their noise of falling showers；
And ever…tremulous aspen…trees； he lay。
But on that day when Lancelot fled the lists；
His party； knights of utmost North and West；
Lords of waste marches；