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To that dim day； then binding his good horse
To a tree； cast himself down； and as he lay
At random looking over the brown earth
Through that green…glooming twilight of the grove；
It seemed to Pelleas that the fern without
Burnt as a living fire of emeralds；
So that his eyes were dazzled looking at it。
Then o'er it crost the dimness of a cloud
Floating； and once the shadow of a bird
Flying； and then a fawn； and his eyes closed。
And since he loved all maidens； but no maid
In special； half…awake he whispered； 'Where？
O where？ I love thee； though I know thee not。
For fair thou art and pure as Guinevere；
And I will make thee with my spear and sword
As famousO my Queen； my Guinevere；
For I will be thine Arthur when we meet。'
Suddenly wakened with a sound of talk
And laughter at the limit of the wood；
And glancing through the hoary boles； he saw；
Strange as to some old prophet might have seemed
A vision hovering on a sea of fire；
Damsels in divers colours like the cloud
Of sunset and sunrise； and all of them
On horses； and the horses richly trapt
Breast…high in that bright line of bracken stood：
And all the damsels talked confusedly；
And one was pointing this way； and one that；
Because the way was lost。
And Pelleas rose；
And loosed his horse； and led him to the light。
There she that seemed the chief among them said；
'In happy time behold our pilot…star！
Youth； we are damsels…errant； and we ride；
Armed as ye see； to tilt against the knights
There at Caerleon； but have lost our way：
To right？ to left？ straight forward？ back again？
Which？ tell us quickly。'
Pelleas gazing thought；
'Is Guinevere herself so beautiful？'
For large her violet eyes looked； and her bloom
A rosy dawn kindled in stainless heavens；
And round her limbs； mature in womanhood；
And slender was her hand and small her shape；
And but for those large eyes； the haunts of scorn；
She might have seemed a toy to trifle with；
And pass and care no more。 But while he gazed
The beauty of her flesh abashed the boy；
As though it were the beauty of her soul：
For as the base man； judging of the good；
Puts his own baseness in him by default
Of will and nature； so did Pelleas lend
All the young beauty of his own soul to hers；
Believing her； and when she spake to him；
Stammered； and could not make her a reply。
For out of the waste islands had he come；
Where saving his own sisters he had known
Scarce any but the women of his isles；
Rough wives； that laughed and screamed against the gulls；
Makers of nets； and living from the sea。
Then with a slow smile turned the lady round
And looked upon her people； and as when
A stone is flung into some sleeping tarn；
The circle widens till it lip the marge；
Spread the slow smile through all her company。
Three knights were thereamong； and they too smiled；
Scorning him； for the lady was Ettarre；
And she was a great lady in her land。
Again she said； 'O wild and of the woods；
Knowest thou not the fashion of our speech？
Or have the Heavens but given thee a fair face；
Lacking a tongue？'
'O damsel；' answered he；
'I woke from dreams； and coming out of gloom
Was dazzled by the sudden light； and crave
Pardon： but will ye to Caerleon？ I
Go likewise： shall I lead you to the King？'
'Lead then；' she said； and through the woods they went。
And while they rode； the meaning in his eyes；
His tenderness of manner； and chaste awe；
His broken utterances and bashfulness；
Were all a burthen to her； and in her heart
She muttered； 'I have lighted on a fool；
Raw； yet so stale！' But since her mind was bent
On hearing； after trumpet blown； her name
And title； 'Queen of Beauty；' in the lists
Criedand beholding him so strong； she thought
That peradventure he will fight for me；
And win the circlet： therefore flattered him；
Being so gracious； that he wellnigh deemed
His wish by hers was echoed； and her knights
And all her damsels too were gracious to him；
For she was a great lady。
And when they reached
Caerleon； ere they past to lodging； she；
Taking his hand； 'O the strong hand；' she said；
'See！ look at mine！ but wilt thou fight for me；
And win me this fine circlet； Pelleas；
That I may love thee？'
Then his helpless heart
Leapt； and he cried； 'Ay！ wilt thou if I win？'
'Ay； that will I；' she answered； and she laughed；
And straitly nipt the hand； and flung it from her；
Then glanced askew at those three knights of hers；
Till all her ladies laughed along with her。
'O happy world；' thought Pelleas； 'all； meseems；
Are happy； I the happiest of them all。'
Nor slept that night for pleasure in his blood；
And green wood…ways； and eyes among the leaves；
Then being on the morrow knighted； sware
To love one only。 And as he came away；
The men who met him rounded on their heels
And wondered after him； because his face
Shone like the countenance of a priest of old
Against the flame about a sacrifice
Kindled by fire from heaven： so glad was he。
Then Arthur made vast banquets； and strange knights
From the four winds came in： and each one sat；
Though served with choice from air； land； stream； and sea；
Oft in mid…banquet measuring with his eyes
His neighbour's make and might： and Pelleas looked
Noble among the noble； for he dreamed
His lady loved him； and he knew himself
Loved of the King： and him his new…made knight
Worshipt； whose lightest whisper moved him more
Than all the ranged reasons of the world。
Then blushed and brake the morning of the jousts；
And this was called 'The Tournament of Youth：'
For Arthur； loving his young knight； withheld
His older and his mightier from the lists；
That Pelleas might obtain his lady's love；
According to her promise； and remain
Lord of the tourney。 And Arthur had the jousts
Down in the flat field by the shore of Usk
Holden： the gilded parapets were crowned
With faces； and the great tower filled with eyes
Up to the summit； and the trumpets blew。
There all day long Sir Pelleas kept the field
With honour： so by that strong hand of his
The sword and golden circlet were achieved。
Then rang the shout his lady loved： the heat
Of pride and glory fired her face； her eye
Sparkled； she caught the circlet from his lance；
And there before the people crowned herself：
So for the last time she was gracious to him。
Then at Caerleon for a spaceher look
Bright for all others； cloudier on her knight
Lingered Ettarre： and seeing Pelleas droop；
Said Guinevere； 'We marvel at thee much；
O damsel； wearing this unsunny face
To him who won thee glory！' And she said；
'Had ye not held your Lancelot in your bower；
My Queen； he had not won。' Whereat the Queen；
As one whose foot is bitten by an ant；
Glanced down upon her； turned and went her way。
But after； when her damsels； and herself；
And those three knights all set their faces home；
Sir Pelleas followed。 She that saw him cried；
'Damselsand yet I should be shamed to say it
I cannot bide Sir Baby。 Keep him back
Among yourselves。 Would rather that we had
Some rough old knight who knew the worldly way；
Albeit grizzlier than a bear； to ride
And jest with： take him to you； keep him off；
And pamper him with papmeat； if ye will；
Old milky fables of the wolf and sheep；
Such as the wholesome mothers tell their boys。
Nay； should ye try him with a merry one
To find his mettle； good： and if he fly us；
Small matter！ let him。' This her damsels heard；
And mindful of her small and cruel hand；
They； closing round him through the journey home；
Acted her hest； and always from her side
Restrained him with all manner of device；
So that he could not come to speech with her。
And when she gained her castle； upsprang the bridge；
Down rang the grate of iron through the groove；
And he was left alone in open field。
'These be the ways of ladies；' Pelleas thought；
'To those who love them； trials of our faith。
Yea； let her prove me to the uttermost；
For loyal to the uttermost am I。'
So made his moan； and darkness falling； sought
A priory not far off； there lodged； but rose
With morning every day； and； moist or dry；
Full…armed upon his charger all day long
Sat by the walls； and no one opened to him。
And this persistence turned her scorn to wrath。
Then calling her three knights； she charged them； 'Out！
And drive him from the walls。' And out they came
But Pelleas overthrew them as they dashed
Against him one by one； and these returned；
But still he kept his watch beneath the wall。
Thereon her wrath became a hate； and once；
A week beyond； while walking on the walls
With her three knights； she pointed downward； 'Look；
He haunts meI cannot breathebesieges me；
Down！ strike him！ put my hate into your strokes；
And drive him from my walls。' And down they went；
And Pelleas overthrew them one by one；
And from the tower above him cried Ettarre；
'Bind him； and bring him in。'
He heard her voice；
Then let the strong hand； which had overthrown
Her minion…knights； by those he overthrew
Be bounden straight； and so they brought him in。
Then when he came before