But shortly listen?In that garden fair 'Came Launcelot walking; this is true, the kiss
Wherewith we kissed in meeting that spring day,
135 I scarce dare talk of the remembered bliss, 'When both our mouths went wandering in one way,
And aching sorely, met among the leaves;
Our hands being left behind strained far away. 'Never within a yard of my bright sleeves
140 Had Launcelot come before?and now, so nigh!
After that day why is it Guenevere grieves? 'Nevertheless you, O Sir Gauwaine, lie,
Whatever happened on through all those years,
God knows I speak truth, saying that you lie. 145 'Being such a lady could I weep these tears
If this were true? A great queen such as I
Having sinned this way, straight her conscience sears;
'And afterwards she liveth hatefully, Slaying and poisoning, certes0 never weeps? certainly150 Gauwaine, be friends now, speak me lovingly.
'Do I not see how God's dear pity creeps
All through your frame, and trembles in your mouth?
Remember in what grave your mother sleeps, 'Buried in some place far down in the south,
155 Men are forgetting as I speak to you;
By her head severed in that awful drouth 'Of pity that drew Agravaine's fell blow,4
I pray your pity! let me not scream out
Forever after, when the shrill winds blow 160 'Through half your castle-locks! let me not shout
Forever after in the winter night
When you ride out alone! in battle rout
'Let not my rusting tears make your sword light!0 weak Ah! God of mercy how he turns away!
165 So, ever must I dress me to the fight,
4. In Morris's version Gauwaine's brother, Agra-another brother, Gaheris, kills her (book 10, chap. vaine, beheads their mother, Morgan Le Fay, after 24). 'Fell': cruel. she is accused of adultery. In Malory's narrative
.
1488 / WILLIAM MORRIS
'So?let God's justice work! Gauwaine, I say,
See me hew down your proofs: yea all men know
Even as you said how Mellyagraunce one day,
'One bitter day in la Fausse Garde,5 for so 170 All good knights held it after, saw?
Yea, sirs, by cursed unknightly outrage; though 'You, Gauwaine, held his word without a flaw,
This Mellyagraunce saw blood upon my bed6?
Whose blood then pray you? is there any law 175 'To make a queen say why some spots of red
Lie on her coverlet? or will you say,
'Your hands are white, lady, as when you wed, ' 'Where did you bleed?' and must I stammer out?'Nay,
I blush indeed, fair lord, only to rend
180 My sleeve up to my shoulder, where there lay ' 'A knife-point last night': so must I defend
The honor of the lady Guenevere?
Not so, fair lords, even if the world should end 'This very day, and you were judges here
185 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 unarmed men, here is a chance! 190 ' 'Setter of traps, I pray you guard your head,
By God I am so glad to fight with you,
Stripper of ladies,7 that my hand feels lead ' 'For driving weight; hurrah now! draw and do,
For all my wounds are moving in my breast,
195 And I am getting mad with waiting so.' 'He struck his hands together o'er the beast,
Who fell down flat, and groveled at his feet,
