class="i0"> The honour of the lady Guenevere?  Not so, fair lords, even if the world should end   "This very day, and you were judges here  Instead of God. Did you see Mellyagraunce  When Launcelot stood by him? what white fear   "Curdled his blood, and how his teeth did dance,  His side sink in? as my knight cried and said,  'Slayer of unarm'd men, here is a chance!   "'Setter of traps, I pray you guard your head,  By God I am so glad to fight with you,  Stripper of ladies, that my hand feels lead   "'For driving weight; hurrah now! draw and do,  For all my wounds are moving in my breast,  And I am getting mad with waiting so.'   "He struck his hands together o'er the beast,  Who fell down flat, and grovell'd at his feet,  And groan'd at being slain so young—'at least.'   "My knight said, 'Rise you, sir, who are so fleet  At catching ladies, half-arm'd will I fight,  My left side all uncover'd!' then I weet,   "Up sprang Sir Mellyagraunce with great delight  Upon his knave's face; not until just then  Did I quite hate him, as I saw my knight   "Along the lists look to my stake and pen  With such a joyous smile, it made me sigh  From agony beneath my waist-chain, when   "The fight began, and to me they drew nigh;  Ever Sir Launcelot kept him on the right,  And traversed warily, and ever high   "And fast leapt caitiff's sword, until my knight  Sudden threw up his sword to his left hand,  Caught it, and swung it; that was all the fight.   "Except a spout of blood on the hot land;  For it was hottest summer; and I know  I wonder'd how the fire, while I should stand,   "And burn, against the heat, would quiver so,  Yards above my head; thus these matters went:  Which things were only warnings of the woe   "That fell on me. Yet Mellyagraunce was shent,  For Mellyagraunce had fought against the Lord;  Therefore, my lords, take heed lest you be blent   "With all this wickedness; say no rash word  Against me, being so beautiful; my eyes,  Wept all away the grey, may bring some sword   "To drown you in your blood; see my breast rise,  Like waves of purple sea, as here I stand;  And how my arms are moved in wonderful wise,   "Yea also at my full heart's strong command,  See through my long throat how the words go up  In ripples to my mouth; how in my hand   "The shadow lies like wine within a cup  Of marvellously colour'd gold; yea now  This little wind is rising, look you up,   "And wonder how the light is falling so  Within my moving tresses: will you dare  When you have looked a little on my brow,   "To say this thing is vile? or will you care  For any plausible lies of cunning woof,  When you can see my face with no lie there   "For ever? am I not a gracious proof—  'But in your chamber Launcelot was found'—  Is there a good knight then would stand aloof,   "When a queen says with gentle queenly sound:  'O true as steel come now and talk with me,  I love to see your step upon the ground   "'Unwavering, also well I love to see  That gracious smile light up your face, and hear  Your wonderful words, that all mean verily   "'The thing they seem to mean: good friend, so dear  To me in everything, come here to-night,  Or else the hours will pass most dull and drear;   "'If you come not, I fear this time I might  Get thinking over much of times gone by,  When I was young, and green hope was in sight:   "'For no man cares now to know why I sigh;  And no man comes to sing me pleasant songs,  Nor any brings me the sweet flowers that lie   "'So thick in the gardens; therefore one so longs  To see you, Launcelot; that we may be  Like children once again, free from all wrongs   "'Just for one night.' Did he not come to me?  What thing could keep true Launcelot away  If I said 'Come?' there was one less than three   "In my quiet room that night, and we were gay;  Till sudden I rose up, weak, pale, and sick,  Because a bawling broke our dream up, yea   "I looked at Launcelot's face and could not speak,  For he looked helpless too, for a little while;  Then I remember how I tried to shriek,   "And could not, but fell down; from tile to tile  The stones they threw up rattled o'er my head  And made me dizzier; till within a while   "My maids were all about me, and my head  On Launcelot's breast was being soothed away  From its white chattering, until Launcelot said—   "By God! I will not tell you more to-day,  Judge any way you will—what matters it?  You know quite well the story of that fray,   "How Launcelot still'd their bawling, the mad fit  That caught up Gauwaine—all, all, verily,  But just that which would save me; these things flit.   "Nevertheless you, O Sir Gauwaine, lie,  Whatever may have happen'd these long years,  God knows I speak truth, saying that you lie!   "All I have said is truth, by Christ's dear tears."  She would not speak another word, but stood  Turn'd sideways; listening, like a man who hears    His brother's trumpet sounding through the wood  Of his foe's lances. She lean'd eagerly,  And gave a slight spring sometimes, as she could    At last hear something really; joyfully  Her cheek grew crimson, as the headlong speed  Of the roan charger drew all men to see,  The knight who came was Launcelot at good need.

A GOOD KNIGHT IN PRISON.