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Some read the King's face； some the Queen's； and all
Had marvel what the maid might be； but most
Predoomed her as unworthy。 One old dame
Came suddenly on the Queen with the sharp news。
She； that had heard the noise of it before；
But sorrowing Lancelot should have stooped so low；
Marred her friend's aim with pale tranquillity。
So ran the tale like fire about the court；
Fire in dry stubble a nine…days' wonder flared：
Till even the knights at banquet twice or thrice
Forgot to drink to Lancelot and the Queen；
And pledging Lancelot and the lily maid
Smiled at each other； while the Queen； who sat
With lips severely placid； felt the knot
Climb in her throat； and with her feet unseen
Crushed the wild passion out against the floor
Beneath the banquet； where all the meats became
As wormwood； and she hated all who pledged。
But far away the maid in Astolat；
Her guiltless rival； she that ever kept
The one…day…seen Sir Lancelot in her heart；
Crept to her father； while he mused alone；
Sat on his knee； stroked his gray face and said；
'Father； you call me wilful； and the fault
Is yours who let me have my will； and now；
Sweet father； will you let me lose my wits？'
'Nay；' said he； 'surely。' 'Wherefore； let me hence；'
She answered； 'and find out our dear Lavaine。'
'Ye will not lose your wits for dear Lavaine：
Bide；' answered he： 'we needs must hear anon
Of him； and of that other。' 'Ay；' she said；
'And of that other； for I needs must hence
And find that other； wheresoe'er he be；
And with mine own hand give his diamond to him；
Lest I be found as faithless in the quest
As yon proud Prince who left the quest to me。
Sweet father； I behold him in my dreams
Gaunt as it were the skeleton of himself；
Death…pale； for lack of gentle maiden's aid。
The gentler…born the maiden； the more bound；
My father； to be sweet and serviceable
To noble knights in sickness； as ye know
When these have worn their tokens： let me hence
I pray you。' Then her father nodding said；
'Ay； ay； the diamond： wit ye well； my child；
Right fain were I to learn this knight were whole；
Being our greatest： yea； and you must give it
And sure I think this fruit is hung too high
For any mouth to gape for save a queen's
Nay； I mean nothing： so then； get you gone；
Being so very wilful you must go。'
Lightly； her suit allowed； she slipt away；
And while she made her ready for her ride；
Her father's latest word hummed in her ear；
'Being so very wilful you must go；'
And changed itself and echoed in her heart；
'Being so very wilful you must die。'
But she was happy enough and shook it off；
As we shake off the bee that buzzes at us；
And in her heart she answered it and said；
'What matter； so I help him back to life？'
Then far away with good Sir Torre for guide
Rode o'er the long backs of the bushless downs
To Camelot； and before the city…gates
Came on her brother with a happy face
Making a roan horse caper and curvet
For pleasure all about a field of flowers：
Whom when she saw； 'Lavaine；' she cried； 'Lavaine；
How fares my lord Sir Lancelot？' He amazed；
'Torre and Elaine！ why here？ Sir Lancelot！
How know ye my lord's name is Lancelot？'
But when the maid had told him all her tale；
Then turned Sir Torre； and being in his moods
Left them； and under the strange…statued gate；
Where Arthur's wars were rendered mystically；
Past up the still rich city to his kin；
His own far blood； which dwelt at Camelot；
And her； Lavaine across the poplar grove
Led to the caves： there first she saw the casque
Of Lancelot on the wall： her scarlet sleeve；
Though carved and cut； and half the pearls away；
Streamed from it still； and in her heart she laughed；
Because he had not loosed it from his helm；
But meant once more perchance to tourney in it。
And when they gained the cell wherein he slept；
His battle…writhen arms and mighty hands
Lay naked on the wolfskin； and a dream
Of dragging down his enemy made them move。
Then she that saw him lying unsleek； unshorn；
Gaunt as it were the skeleton of himself；
Uttered a little tender dolorous cry。
The sound not wonted in a place so still
Woke the sick knight； and while he rolled his eyes
Yet blank from sleep； she started to him； saying；
'Your prize the diamond sent you by the King：'
His eyes glistened： she fancied 'Is it for me？'
And when the maid had told him all the tale
Of King and Prince； the diamond sent； the quest
Assigned to her not worthy of it； she knelt
Full lowly by the corners of his bed；
And laid the diamond in his open hand。
Her face was near； and as we kiss the child
That does the task assigned； he kissed her face。
At once she slipt like water to the floor。
'Alas；' he said； 'your ride hath wearied you。
Rest must you have。' 'No rest for me；' she said；
'Nay； for near you； fair lord； I am at rest。'
What might she mean by that？ his large black eyes；
Yet larger through his leanness； dwelt upon her；
Till all her heart's sad secret blazed itself
In the heart's colours on her simple face；
And Lancelot looked and was perplext in mind；
And being weak in body said no more；
But did not love the colour； woman's love；
Save one； he not regarded； and so turned
Sighing； and feigned a sleep until he slept。
Then rose Elaine and glided through the fields；
And past beneath the weirdly…sculptured gates
Far up the dim rich city to her kin；
There bode the night： but woke with dawn； and past
Down through the dim rich city to the fields；
Thence to the cave： so day by day she past
In either twilight ghost…like to and fro
Gliding； and every day she tended him；
And likewise many a night： and Lancelot
Would； though he called his wound a little hurt
Whereof he should be quickly whole； at times
Brain…feverous in his heat and agony； seem
Uncourteous； even he： but the meek maid
Sweetly forbore him ever； being to him
Meeker than any child to a rough nurse；
Milder than any mother to a sick child；
And never woman yet； since man's first fall；
Did kindlier unto man； but her deep love
Upbore her； till the hermit； skilled in all
The simples and the science of that time；
Told him that her fine care had saved his life。
And the sick man forgot her simple blush；
Would call her friend and sister； sweet Elaine；
Would listen for her coming and regret
Her parting step； and held her tenderly；
And loved her with all love except the love
Of man and woman when they love their best；
Closest and sweetest； and had died the death
In any knightly fashion for her sake。
And peradventure had he seen her first
She might have made this and that other world
Another world for the sick man； but now
The shackles of an old love straitened him；
His honour rooted in dishonour stood；
And faith unfaithful kept him falsely true。
Yet the great knight in his mid…sickness made
Full many a holy vow and pure resolve。
These； as but born of sickness； could not live：
For when the blood ran lustier in him again；
Full often the bright image of one face；
Making a treacherous quiet in his heart；
Dispersed his resolution like a cloud。
Then if the maiden； while that ghostly grace
Beamed on his fancy； spoke； he answered not；
Or short and coldly； and she knew right well
What the rough sickness meant； but what this meant
She knew not； and the sorrow dimmed her sight；
And drave her ere her time across the fields
Far into the rich city； where alone
She murmured； 'Vain； in vain： it cannot be。
He will not love me： how then？ must I die？'
Then as a little helpless innocent bird；
That has but one plain passage of few notes；
Will sing the simple passage o'er and o'er
For all an April morning； till the ear
Wearies to hear it； so the simple maid
Went half the night repeating； 'Must I die？'
And now to right she turned； and now to left；
And found no ease in turning or in rest；
And 'Him or death；' she muttered； 'death or him；'
Again and like a burthen； 'Him or death。'
But when Sir Lancelot's deadly hurt was whole；
To Astolat returning rode the three。
There morn by morn； arraying her sweet self
In that wherein she deemed she looked her best；
She came before Sir Lancelot； for she thought
'If I be loved； these are my festal robes；
If not； the victim's flowers before he fall。'
And Lancelot ever prest upon the maid
That she should ask some goodly gift of him
For her own self or hers； 'and do not shun
To speak the wish most near to your true heart；
Such service have ye done me； that I make
My will of yours； and Prince and Lord am I
In mine own land； and what I will I can。'
Then like a ghost she lifted up her face；
But like a ghost without the power to speak。
And Lancelot saw that she withheld her wish；
And bode among them yet a little space
Till he should learn it； and one morn it chanced
He found her in among the garden yews；
And said； 'Delay no longer； speak your wish；
Seeing I go today：' then out she brake：
'Going？ and we shall never see you more。
And I must die for want of one bold word。'
'Speak： that I live to hear；' he said； 'is yours。'
Then suddenly and passionately she spoke：
'I have gone mad。 I love you： let me die。'
'Ah； sister；' answered Lancelot； 'what is this？'
And innocently extending her white arms；
'Your love；' she said； 'your lo