{ "id": "alfred-lord-tennyson/geraint-and-enid", "title": "Geraint and Enid", "ordinal": null, "subtitle": null, "poet": "Alfred, Lord Tennyson", "poet_slug": "alfred-lord-tennyson", "language": "en", "book": "Idylls of the King", "book_slug": "idylls-of-the-king", "book_kind": "volume", "sequence": 5, "container": null, "epigraph": null, "first_published": { "year": 1885, "venue": "Idylls of the King (1885)", "note": "First located printing is this volume; an earlier periodical printing has not been established.", "uncertain": false, "sources": [ "https://archive.org/details/idyllsofking00tenn", "https://github.com/standardebooks/alfred-lord-tennyson_idylls-of-the-king", "https://www.gutenberg.org/ebooks/610" ] }, "source": { "kind": "standard-ebooks", "repo": "standardebooks/alfred-lord-tennyson_idylls-of-the-king", "file": "geraint-and-enid.xhtml", "upstream": [ "https://www.gutenberg.org/ebooks/610", "https://archive.org/details/idyllsofking00tenn", "https://catalog.hathitrust.org/Record/101901267" ], "rights": "public domain (SE dedication; underlying text pre-1931)" }, "verification": { "level": "structural-only", "last_checked": "2026-08-20" }, "stats": { "n_lines": 970, "n_stanzas": 62, "n_parts": 0, "longest_line_chars": 55, "max_indent": 0 }, "site_ready": true, "parts": [], "stanzas": [ [ { "text": "O purblind race of miserable men,", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "How many among us at this very hour", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Do forge a life-long trouble for ourselves,", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "By taking true for false, or false for true;", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Here, through the feeble twilight of this world", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Groping, how many, until we pass and reach", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "That other, where we see as we are seen!", "indent": 0 } ], [ { "text": "So fared it with Geraint, who issuing forth", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "That morning, when they both had got to horse,", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Perhaps because he loved her passionately,", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "And felt that tempest brooding round his heart,", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Which, if he spoke at all, would break perforce", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Upon a head so dear in thunder, said:", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "“Not at my side. I charge thee ride before,", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Ever a good way on before; and this", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "I charge thee, on thy duty as a wife,", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Whatever happens, not to speak to me,", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "No, not a word!” and Enid was aghast;", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "And forth they rode, but scarce three paces on,", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "When crying out, “Effeminate as I am,", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "I will not fight my way with gilded arms,", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "All shall be iron;” he loosed a mighty purse,", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Hung at his belt, and hurled it toward the squire.", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "So the last sight that Enid had of home", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Was all the marble threshold flashing, strown", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "With gold and scattered coinage, and the squire", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Chafing his shoulder: then he cried again,", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "“To the wilds!” and Enid leading down the tracks", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Through which he bad her lead him on, they past", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "The marches, and by bandit-haunted holds,", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Gray swamps and pools, waste places of the hern,", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "And wildernesses, perilous paths, they rode:", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Round was their pace at first, but slackened soon:", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "A stranger meeting them had surely thought", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "They rode so slowly and they looked so pale,", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "That each had suffered some exceeding wrong.", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "For he was ever saying to himself,", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "“O I that wasted time to tend upon her,", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "To compass her with sweet observances,", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "To dress her beautifully and keep her true”⁠—", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "And there he broke the sentence in his heart", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Abruptly, as a man upon his tongue", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "May break it, when his passion masters him.", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "And she was ever praying the sweet heavens", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "To save her dear lord whole from any wound.", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "And ever in her mind she cast about", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "For that unnoticed failing in herself,", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Which made him look so cloudy and so cold;", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Till the great plover’s human whistle amazed", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Her heart, and glancing round the waste she feared", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "In ever wavering brake an ambuscade.", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Then thought again, “If there be such in me,", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "I might amend it by the grace of Heaven,", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "If he would only speak and tell me of it.”", "indent": 0 } ], [ { "text": "But when the fourth part of the day was gone,", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Then Enid was aware of three tall knights", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "On horseback, wholly armed, behind a rock", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "In shadow, waiting for them, caitiffs all;", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "And heard one crying to his fellow, “Look,", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Here comes a laggard hanging down his head,", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Who seems no bolder than a beaten hound;", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Come, we will slay him and will have his horse", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "And armour, and his damsel shall be ours.”", "indent": 0 } ], [ { "text": "Then Enid pondered in her heart, and said:", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "“I will go back a little to my lord,", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "And I will tell him all their caitiff talk;", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "For, be he wroth even to slaying me,", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Far liefer by his dear hand had I die,", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Than that my lord should suffer loss or shame.”", "indent": 0 } ], [ { "text": "Then she went back some paces of return,", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Met his full frown timidly firm, and said;", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "“My lord, I saw three bandits by the rock", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Waiting to fall on you, and heard them boast", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "That they would slay you, and possess your horse", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "And armour, and your damsel should be theirs.”", "indent": 0 } ], [ { "text": "He made a wrathful answer: “Did I wish", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Your warning or your silence? one command", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "I laid upon you, not to speak to me,", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "And thus ye keep it! Well then, look⁠—for now,", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Whether ye wish me victory or defeat,", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Long for my life, or hunger for my death,", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Yourself shall see my vigour is not lost.”", "indent": 0 } ], [ { "text": "Then Enid waited pale and sorrowful,", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "And down upon him bare the bandit three.", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "And at the midmost charging, Prince Geraint", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Drave the long spear a cubit through his breast", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "And out beyond; and then against his brace", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Of comrades, each of whom had broken on him", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "A lance that splintered like an icicle,", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Swung from his brand a windy buffet out", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Once, twice, to right, to left, and stunned the twain", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Or slew them, and dismounting like a man", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "That skins the wild beast after slaying him,", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Stript from the three dead wolves of woman born", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "The three gay suits of armour which they wore,", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "And let the bodies lie, but bound the suits", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Of armour on their horses, each on each,", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "And tied the bridle-reins of all the three", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Together, and said to her, “Drive them on", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Before you;” and she drove them through the waste.", "indent": 0 } ], [ { "text": "He followed nearer; ruth began to work", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Against his anger in him, while he watched", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "The being he loved best in all the world,", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "With difficulty in mild obedience", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Driving them on: he fain had spoken to her,", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "And loosed in words of sudden fire the wrath", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "And smouldered wrong that burnt him all within;", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "But evermore it seemed an easier thing", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "At once without remorse to strike her dead,", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Than to cry “Halt,” and to her own bright face", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Accuse her of the least immodesty:", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "And thus tongue-tied, it made him wroth the more", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "That she could speak whom his own ear had heard", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Call herself false: and suffering thus he made", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Minutes an age: but in scarce longer time", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Than at Caerleon the full-tided Usk,", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Before he turn to fall seaward again,", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Pauses, did Enid, keeping watch, behold", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "In the first shallow shade of a deep wood,", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Before a gloom of stubborn-shafted oaks,", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Three other horsemen waiting, wholly armed,", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Whereof one seemed far larger than her lord,", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "And shook her pulses, crying, “Look, a prize!", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Three horses and three goodly suits of arms,", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "And all in charge of whom? a girl: set on.”", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "“Nay,” said the second, “yonder comes a knight.”", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "The third, “A craven; how he hangs his head.”", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "The giant answered merrily, “Yea, but one?", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Wait here, and when he passes fall upon him.”", "indent": 0 } ], [ { "text": "And Enid pondered in her heart and said,", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "“I will abide the coming of my lord,", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "And I will tell him all their villainy.", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "My lord is weary with the fight before,", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "And they will fall upon him unawares.", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "I needs must disobey him for his good;", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "How should I dare obey him to his harm?", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Needs must I speak, and though he kill me for it,", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "I save a life dearer to me than mine.”", "indent": 0 } ], [ { "text": "And she abode his coming, and said to him", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "With timid firmness, “Have I leave to speak?”", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "He said, “Ye take it, speaking,” and she spoke.", "indent": 0 } ], [ { "text": "“There lurk three villains yonder in the wood,", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "And each of them is wholly armed, and one", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Is larger-limbed than you are, and they say", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "That they will fall upon you while ye pass.”", "indent": 0 } ], [ { "text": "To which he flung a wrathful answer back:", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "“And if there were an hundred in the wood,", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "And every man were larger-limbed than I,", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "And all at once should sally out upon me,", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "I swear it would not ruffle me so much", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "As you that not obey me. Stand aside,", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "And if I fall, cleave to the better man.”", "indent": 0 } ], [ { "text": "And Enid stood aside to wait the event,", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Not dare to watch the combat, only breathe", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Short fits of prayer, at every stroke a breath.", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "And he, she dreaded most, bare down upon him.", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Aimed at the helm, his lance erred; but Geraint’s,", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "A little in the late encounter strained,", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Struck through the bulky bandit’s corselet home,", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "And then brake short, and down his enemy rolled,", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "And there lay still; as he that tells the tale", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Saw once a great piece of a promontory,", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "That had a sapling growing on it, slide", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "From the long shore-cliff’s windy walls to the beach,", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "And there lie still, and yet the sapling grew:", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "So lay the man transfixt. His craven pair", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Of comrades making slowlier at the Prince,", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "When now they saw their bulwark fallen, stood;", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "On whom the victor, to confound them more,", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Spurred with his terrible war-cry; for as one,", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "That listens near a torrent mountain-brook,", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "All through the crash of the near cataract hears", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "The drumming thunder of the huger fall", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "At distance, were the soldiers wont to hear", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "His voice in battle, and be kindled by it,", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "And foemen scared, like that false pair who turned", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Flying, but, overtaken, died the death", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Themselves had wrought on many an innocent.", "indent": 0 } ], [ { "text": "Thereon Geraint, dismounting, picked the lance", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "That pleased him best, and drew from those dead wolves", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Their three gay suits of armour, each from each,", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "And bound them on their horses, each on each,", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "And tied the bridle-reins of all the three", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Together, and said to her, “Drive them on", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Before you,” and she drove them through the wood.", "indent": 0 } ], [ { "text": "He followed nearer still: the pain she had", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "To keep them in the wild ways of the wood,", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Two sets of three laden with jingling arms,", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Together, served a little to disedge", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "The sharpness of that pain about her heart:", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "And they themselves, like creatures gently born", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "But into bad hands fallen, and now so long", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "By bandits groomed, pricked their light ears, and felt", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Her low firm voice and tender government.", "indent": 0 } ], [ { "text": "So through the green gloom of the wood they past,", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "And issuing under open heavens beheld", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "A little town with towers, upon a rock,", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "And close beneath, a meadow gemlike chased", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "In the brown wild, and mowers mowing in it:", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "And down a rocky pathway from the place", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "There came a fair-haired youth, that in his hand", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Bare victual for the mowers: and Geraint", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Had ruth again on Enid looking pale:", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Then, moving downward to the meadow ground,", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "He, when the fair-haired youth came by him, said,", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "“Friend, let her eat; the damsel is so faint.”", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "“Yea, willingly,” replied the youth; “and thou,", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "My lord, eat also, though the fare is coarse,", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "And only meet for mowers;” then set down", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "His basket, and dismounting on the sward", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "They let the horses graze, and ate themselves.", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "And Enid took a little delicately,", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Less having stomach for it than desire", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "To close with her lord’s pleasure; but Geraint", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Ate all the mowers’ victual unawares,", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "And when he found all empty, was amazed;", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "And “Boy,” said he, “I have eaten all, but take", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "A horse and arms for guerdon; choose the best.”", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "He, reddening in extremity of delight,", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "“My lord, you overpay me fifty-fold.”", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "“Ye will be all the wealthier,” cried the Prince.", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "“I take it as free gift, then,” said the boy,", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "“Not guerdon; for myself can easily,", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "While your good damsel rests, return, and fetch", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Fresh victual for these mowers of our Earl;", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "For these are his, and all the field is his,", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "And I myself am his; and I will tell him", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "How great a man thou art: he loves to know", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "When men of mark are in his territory:", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "And he will have thee to his palace here,", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "And serve thee costlier than with mowers’ fare.”", "indent": 0 } ], [ { "text": "Then said Geraint, “I wish no better fare:", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "I never ate with angrier appetite", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Than when I left your mowers dinnerless.", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "And into no Earl’s palace will I go.", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "I know, God knows, too much of palaces!", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "And if he want me, let him come to me.", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "But hire us some fair chamber for the night,", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "And stalling for the horses, and return", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "With victual for these men, and let us know.”", "indent": 0 } ], [ { "text": "“Yea, my kind lord,” said the glad youth, and went,", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Held his head high, and thought himself a knight,", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "And up the rocky pathway disappeared,", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Leading the horse, and they were left alone.", "indent": 0 } ], [ { "text": "But when the Prince had brought his errant eyes", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Home from the rock, sideways he let them glance", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "At Enid, where she droopt: his own false doom,", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "That shadow of mistrust should never cross", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Betwixt them, came upon him, and he sighed;", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Then with another humorous ruth remarked", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "The lusty mowers labouring dinnerless,", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "And watched the sun blaze on the turning scythe,", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "And after nodded sleepily in the heat.", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "But she, remembering her old ruined hall,", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "And all the windy clamour of the daws", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "About her hollow turret, plucked the grass", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "There growing longest by the meadow’s edge,", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "And into many a listless annulet,", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Now over, now beneath her marriage ring,", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Wove and unwove it, till the boy returned", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "And told them of a chamber, and they went;", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Where, after saying to her, “If ye will,", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Call for the woman of the house,” to which", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "She answered, “Thanks, my lord;” the two remained", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Apart by all the chamber’s width, and mute", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "As two creatures voiceless through the fault of birth,", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Or two wild men supporters of a shield,", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Painted, who stare at open space, nor glance", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "The one at other, parted by the shield.", "indent": 0 } ], [ { "text": "On a sudden, many a voice along the street,", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "And heel against the pavement echoing, burst", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Their drowse; and either started while the door,", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Pushed from without, drave backward to the wall,", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "And midmost of a rout of roisterers,", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Femininely fair and dissolutely pale,", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Her suitor in old years before Geraint,", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Entered, the wild lord of the place, Limours.", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "He moving up with pliant courtliness,", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Greeted Geraint full face, but stealthily,", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "In the mid-warmth of welcome and graspt hand,", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Found Enid with the corner of his eye,", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "And knew her sitting sad and solitary.", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Then cried Geraint for wine and goodly cheer", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "To feed the sudden guest, and sumptuously", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "According to his fashion, bad the host", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Call in what men soever were his friends,", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "And feast with these in honour of their Earl;", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "“And care not for the cost; the cost is mine.”", "indent": 0 } ], [ { "text": "And wine and food were brought, and Earl Limours", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Drank till he jested with all ease, and told", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Free tales, and took the word and played upon it,", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "And made it of two colours; for his talk,", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "When wine and free companions kindled him,", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Was wont to glance and sparkle like a gem", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Of fifty facets; thus he moved the Prince", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "To laughter and his comrades to applause.", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Then, when the Prince was merry, asked Limours,", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "“Your leave, my lord, to cross the room, and speak", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "To your good damsel there who sits apart,", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "And seems so lonely?” “My free leave,” he said;", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "“Get her to speak: she doth not speak to me.”", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Then rose Limours, and looking at his feet,", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Like him who tries the bridge he fears may fail,", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Crost and came near, lifted adoring eyes,", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Bowed at her side and uttered whisperingly:", "indent": 0 } ], [ { "text": "“Enid, the pilot star of my lone life,", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Enid, my early and my only love,", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Enid, the loss of whom hath turned me wild⁠—", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "What chance is this? how is it I see you here?", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Ye are in my power at last, are in my power.", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Yet fear me not: I call mine own self wild,", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "But keep a touch of sweet civility", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Here in the heart of waste and wilderness.", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "I thought, but that your father came between,", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "In former days you saw me favourably.", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "And if it were so do not keep it back:", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Make me a little happier: let me know it:", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Owe you me nothing for a life half-lost?", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Yea, yea, the whole dear debt of all you are.", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "And, Enid, you and he, I see with joy,", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Ye sit apart, you do not speak to him,", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "You come with no attendance, page or maid,", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "To serve you⁠—doth he love you as of old?", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "For, call it lovers’ quarrels, yet I know", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Though men may bicker with the things they love,", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "They would not make them laughable in all eyes,", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Not while they loved them; and your wretched dress,", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "A wretched insult on you, dumbly speaks", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Your story, that this man loves you no more.", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Your beauty is no beauty to him now:", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "A common chance⁠—right well I know it⁠—palled⁠—", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "For I know men: nor will ye win him back,", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "For the man’s love once gone never returns.", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "But here is one who loves you as of old;", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "With more exceeding passion than of old:", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Good, speak the word: my followers ring him round:", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "He sits unarmed; I hold a finger up;", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "They understand: nay; I do not mean blood:", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Nor need ye look so scared at what I say:", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "My malice is no deeper than a moat,", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "No stronger than a wall: there is the keep;", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "He shall not cross us more; speak but the word:", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Or speak it not; but then by Him that made me", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "The one true lover whom you ever owned,", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "I will make use of all the power I have.", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "O pardon me! the madness of that hour,", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "When first I parted from thee, moves me yet.”", "indent": 0 } ], [ { "text": "At this the tender sound of his own voice", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "And sweet self-pity, or the fancy of it,", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Made his eye moist; but Enid feared his eyes,", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Moist as they were, wine-heated from the feast;", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "And answered with such craft as women use,", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Guilty or guiltless, to stave off a chance", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "That breaks upon them perilously, and said:", "indent": 0 } ], [ { "text": "“Earl, if you love me as in former years,", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "And do not practise on me, come with morn,", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "And snatch me from him as by violence;", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Leave me tonight: I am weary to the death.”", "indent": 0 } ], [ { "text": "Low at leave-taking, with his brandished plume", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Brushing his instep, bowed the all-amorous Earl,", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "And the stout Prince bad him a loud goodnight.", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "He moving homeward babbled to his men,", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "How Enid never loved a man but him,", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Nor cared a broken egg-shell for her lord.", "indent": 0 } ], [ { "text": "But Enid left alone with Prince Geraint,", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Debating his command of silence given,", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "And that she now perforce must violate it,", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Held commune with herself, and while she held", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "He fell asleep, and Enid had no heart", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "To wake him, but hung o’er him, wholly pleased", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "To find him yet unwounded after fight,", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "And hear him breathing low and equally.", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Anon she rose, and stepping lightly, heaped", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "The pieces of his armour in one place,", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "All to be there against a sudden need;", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Then dozed awhile herself, but overtoiled", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "By that day’s grief and travel, evermore", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Seemed catching at a rootless thorn, and then", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Went slipping down horrible precipices,", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "And strongly striking out her limbs awoke;", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Then thought she heard the wild Earl at the door,", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "With all his rout of random followers,", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Sound on a dreadful trumpet, summoning her;", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Which was the red cock shouting to the light,", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "As the gray dawn stole o’er the dewy world,", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "And glimmered on his armour in the room.", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "And once again she rose to look at it,", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "But touched it unawares: jangling, the casque", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Fell, and he started up and stared at her.", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Then breaking his command of silence given,", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "She told him all that Earl Limours had said,", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Except the passage that he loved her not;", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Nor left untold the craft herself had used;", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "But ended with apology so sweet,", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Low-spoken, and of so few words, and seemed", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "So justified by that necessity,", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "That though he thought “was it for him she wept", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "In Devon?” he but gave a wrathful groan,", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Saying, “Your sweet faces make good fellows fools", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "And traitors. Call the host and bid him bring", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Charger and palfrey.” So she glided out", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Among the heavy breathings of the house,", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "And like a household Spirit at the walls", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Beat, till she woke the sleepers, and returned:", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Then tending her rough lord, though all unasked,", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "In silence, did him service as a squire;", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Till issuing armed he found the host and cried,", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "“Thy reckoning, friend?” and ere he learnt it, “Take", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Five horses and their armours;” and the host", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Suddenly honest, answered in amaze,", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "“My lord, I scarce have spent the worth of one!”", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "“Ye will be all the wealthier,” said the Prince,", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "And then to Enid, “Forward! and today", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "I charge you, Enid, more especially,", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "What thing soever ye may hear, or see,", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Or fancy (though I count it of small use", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "To charge you) that ye speak not but obey.”", "indent": 0 } ], [ { "text": "And Enid answered, “Yea, my lord, I know", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Your wish, and would obey; but riding first,", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "I hear the violent threats you do not hear,", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "I see the danger which you cannot see:", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Then not to give you warning, that seems hard;", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Almost beyond me: yet I would obey.”", "indent": 0 } ], [ { "text": "“Yea so,” said he, “do it: be not too wise;", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Seeing that ye are wedded to a man,", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Not all mismated with a yawning clown,", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "But one with arms to guard his head and yours,", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "With eyes to find you out however far,", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "And ears to hear you even in his dreams.”", "indent": 0 } ], [ { "text": "With that he turned and looked as keenly at her", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "As careful robins eye the delver’s toil;", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "And that within her, which a wanton fool,", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Or hasty judger would have called her guilt,", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Made her cheek burn and either eyelid fall.", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "And Geraint looked and was not satisfied.", "indent": 0 } ], [ { "text": "Then forward by a way which, beaten broad,", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Led from the territory of false Limours", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "To the waste earldom of another earl,", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Doorm, whom his shaking vassals called the Bull,", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Went Enid with her sullen follower on.", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Once she looked back, and when she saw him ride", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "More near by many a rood than yestermorn,", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "It wellnigh made her cheerful; till Geraint", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Waving an angry hand as who should say", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "“Ye watch me,” saddened all her heart again.", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "But while the sun yet beat a dewy blade,", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "The sound of many a heavily-galloping hoof", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Smote on her ear, and turning round she saw", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Dust, and the points of lances bicker in it.", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Then not to disobey her lord’s behest,", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "And yet to give him warning, for he rode", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "As if he heard not, moving back she held", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Her finger up, and pointed to the dust.", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "At which the warrior in his obstinacy,", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Because she kept the letter of his word,", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Was in a manner pleased, and turning, stood.", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "And in the moment after, wild Limours,", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Borne on a black horse, like a thunder-cloud", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Whose skirts are loosened by the breaking storm,", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Half ridden off with by the thing he rode,", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "And all in passion uttering a dry shriek,", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Dashed down on Geraint, who closed with him, and bore", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Down by the length of lance and arm beyond", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "The crupper, and so left him stunned or dead,", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "And overthrew the next that followed him,", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "And blindly rushed on all the rout behind.", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "But at the flash and motion of the man", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "They vanished panic-stricken, like a shoal", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Of darting fish, that on a summer morn", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Adown the crystal dykes at Camelot", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Come slipping o’er their shadows on the sand,", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "But if a man who stands upon the brink", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "But lift a shining hand against the sun,", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "There is not left the twinkle of a fin", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Betwixt the cressy islets white in flower;", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "So, scared but at the motion of the man,", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Fled all the boon companions of the Earl,", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "And left him lying in the public way;", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "So vanish friendships only made in wine.", "indent": 0 } ], [ { "text": "Then like a stormy sunlight smiled Geraint,", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Who saw the chargers of the two that fell", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Start from their fallen lords, and wildly fly,", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Mixt with the flyers. “Horse and man,” he said,", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "“All of one mind and all right-honest friends!", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Not a hoof left: and I methinks till now", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Was honest⁠—paid with horses and with arms;", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "I cannot steal or plunder, no nor beg:", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "And so what say ye, shall we strip him there", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Your lover? has your palfrey heart enough", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "To bear his armour? shall we fast, or dine?", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "No?⁠—then do thou, being right honest, pray", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "That we may meet the horsemen of Earl Doorm,", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "I too would still be honest.” Thus he said:", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "And sadly gazing on her bridle-reins,", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "And answering not one word, she led the way.", "indent": 0 } ], [ { "text": "But as a man to whom a dreadful loss", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Falls in a far land and he knows it not,", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "But coming back he learns it, and the loss", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "So pains him that he sickens nigh to death;", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "So fared it with Geraint, who being pricked", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "In combat with the follower of Limours,", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Bled underneath his armour secretly,", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "And so rode on, nor told his gentle wife", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "What ailed him, hardly knowing it himself,", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Till his eye darkened and his helmet wagged;", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "And at a sudden swerving of the road,", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Though happily down on a bank of grass,", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "The Prince, without a word, from his horse fell.", "indent": 0 } ], [ { "text": "And Enid heard the clashing of his fall,", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Suddenly came, and at his side all pale", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Dismounting, loosed the fastenings of his arms,", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Nor let her true hand falter, nor blue eye", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Moisten, till she had lighted on his wound,", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "And tearing off her veil of faded silk", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Had bared her forehead to the blistering sun,", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "And swathed the hurt that drained her dear lord’s life.", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Then after all was done that hand could do,", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "She rested, and her desolation came", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Upon her, and she wept beside the way.", "indent": 0 } ], [ { "text": "And many past, but none regarded her,", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "For in that realm of lawless turbulence,", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "A woman weeping for her murdered mate", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Was cared as much for as a summer shower:", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "One took him for a victim of Earl Doorm,", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Nor dared to waste a perilous pity on him:", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Another hurrying past, a man-at-arms,", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Rode on a mission to the bandit Earl;", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Half whistling and half singing a coarse song,", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "He drove the dust against her veilless eyes:", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Another, flying from the wrath of Doorm", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Before an ever-fancied arrow, made", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "The long way smoke beneath him in his fear;", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "At which her palfrey whinnying lifted heel,", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "And scoured into the coppices and was lost,", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "While the great charger stood, grieved like a man.", "indent": 0 } ], [ { "text": "But at the point of noon the huge Earl Doorm,", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Broad-faced with under-fringe of russet beard,", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Bound on a foray, rolling eyes of prey,", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Came riding with a hundred lances up;", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "But ere he came, like one that hails a ship,", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Cried out with a big voice, “What, is he dead?”", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "“No, no, not dead!” she answered in all haste.", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "“Would some of your people take him up,", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "And bear him hence out of this cruel sun?", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Most sure am I, quite sure, he is not dead.”", "indent": 0 } ], [ { "text": "Then said Earl Doorm: “Well, if he be not dead,", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Why wail ye for him thus? ye seem a child.", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "And be he dead, I count you for a fool;", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Your wailing will not quicken him: dead or not,", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Ye mar a comely face with idiot tears.", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Yet, since the face is comely⁠—some of you,", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Here, take him up, and bear him to our hall:", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "An if he live, we will have him of our band;", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "And if he die, why earth has earth enough", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "To hide him. See ye take the charger too,", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "A noble one.”", "indent": 0 } ], [ { "text": "He spake, and past away,", "indent": 0, "align": "right" }, { "text": "But left two brawny spearmen, who advanced,", "indent": 0, "align": "right" }, { "text": "Each growling like a dog, when his good bone", "indent": 0, "align": "right" }, { "text": "Seems to be plucked at by the village boys", "indent": 0, "align": "right" }, { "text": "Who love to vex him eating, and he fears", "indent": 0, "align": "right" }, { "text": "To lose his bone, and lays his foot upon it,", "indent": 0, "align": "right" }, { "text": "Gnawing and growling: so the ruffians growled,", "indent": 0, "align": "right" }, { "text": "Fearing to lose, and all for a dead man,", "indent": 0, "align": "right" }, { "text": "Their chance of booty from the morning’s raid,", "indent": 0, "align": "right" }, { "text": "Yet raised and laid him on a litter-bier,", "indent": 0, "align": "right" }, { "text": "Such as they brought upon their forays out", "indent": 0, "align": "right" }, { "text": "For those that might be wounded; laid him on it", "indent": 0, "align": "right" }, { "text": "All in the hollow of his shield, and took", "indent": 0, "align": "right" }, { "text": "And bore him to the naked hall of Doorm,", "indent": 0, "align": "right" }, { "text": "(His gentle charger following him unled)", "indent": 0, "align": "right" }, { "text": "And cast him and the bier in which he lay", "indent": 0, "align": "right" }, { "text": "Down on an oaken settle in the hall,", "indent": 0, "align": "right" }, { "text": "And then departed, hot in haste to join", "indent": 0, "align": "right" }, { "text": "Their luckier mates, but growling as before,", "indent": 0, "align": "right" }, { "text": "And cursing their lost time, and the dead man,", "indent": 0, "align": "right" }, { "text": "And their own Earl, and their own souls, and her.", "indent": 0, "align": "right" }, { "text": "They might as well have blest her: she was deaf", "indent": 0, "align": "right" }, { "text": "To blessing or to cursing save from one.", "indent": 0, "align": "right" } ], [ { "text": "So for long hours sat Enid by her lord,", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "There in the naked hall, propping his head,", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "And chafing his pale hands, and calling to him.", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Till at the last he wakened from his swoon,", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "And found his own dear bride propping his head,", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "And chafing his faint hands, and calling to him;", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "And felt the warm tears falling on his face;", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "And said to his own heart, “She weeps for me:”", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "And yet lay still, and feigned himself as dead,", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "That he might prove her to the uttermost,", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "And say to his own heart, “She weeps for me.”", "indent": 0 } ], [ { "text": "But in the falling afternoon returned", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "The huge Earl Doorm with plunder to the hall.", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "His lusty spearmen followed him with noise:", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Each hurling down a heap of things that rang", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Against his pavement, cast his lance aside,", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "And doffed his helm: and then there fluttered in,", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Half-bold, half-frighted, with dilated eyes,", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "A tribe of women, dressed in many hues,", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "And mingled with the spearmen: and Earl Doorm", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Struck with a knife’s haft hard against the board,", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "And called for flesh and wine to feed his spears.", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "And men brought in whole hogs and quarter beeves,", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "And all the hall was dim with steam of flesh:", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "And none spake word, but all sat down at once,", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "And ate with tumult in the naked hall,", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Feeding like horses when you hear them feed;", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Till Enid shrank far back into herself,", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "To shun the wild ways of the lawless tribe.", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "But when Earl Doorm had eaten all he would,", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "He rolled his eyes about the hall, and found", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "A damsel drooping in a corner of it.", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Then he remembered her, and how she wept;", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "And out of her there came a power upon him;", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "And rising on the sudden he said, “Eat!", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "I never yet beheld a thing so pale.", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "God’s curse, it makes me mad to see you weep.", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Eat! Look yourself. Good luck had your good man,", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "For were I dead who is it would weep for me?", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Sweet lady, never since I first drew breath", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Have I beheld a lily like yourself.", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "And so there lived some colour in your cheek,", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "There is not one among my gentlewomen", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Were fit to wear your slipper for a glove.", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "But listen to me, and by me be ruled,", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "And I will do the thing I have not done,", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "For ye shall share my earldom with me, girl,", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "And we will live like two birds in one nest,", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "And I will fetch you forage from all fields,", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "For I compel all creatures to my will.”", "indent": 0 } ], [ { "text": "He spoke: the brawny spearman let his cheek", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Bulge with the unswallowed piece, and turning stared;", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "While some, whose souls the old serpent long had drawn", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Down, as the worm draws in the withered leaf", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "And makes it earth, hissed each at other’s ear", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "What shall not be recorded⁠—women they,", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Women, or what had been those gracious things,", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "But now desired the humbling of their best,", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Yea, would have helped him to it: and all at once", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "They hated her, who took no thought of them,", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "But answered in low voice, her meek head yet", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Drooping, “I pray you of your courtesy,", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "He being as he is, to let me be.”", "indent": 0 } ], [ { "text": "She spake so low he hardly heard her speak,", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "But like a mighty patron, satisfied", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "With what himself had done so graciously,", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Assumed that she had thanked him, adding, “Yea,", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Eat and be glad, for I account you mine.”", "indent": 0 } ], [ { "text": "She answered meekly, “How should I be glad", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Henceforth in all the world at anything,", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Until my lord arise and look upon me?”", "indent": 0 } ], [ { "text": "Here the huge Earl cried out upon her talk,", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "As all but empty heart and weariness", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "And sickly nothing; suddenly seized on her,", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "And bare her by main violence to the board,", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "And thrust the dish before her, crying, “Eat.”", "indent": 0 } ], [ { "text": "“No, no,” said Enid, vext, “I will not eat", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Till yonder man upon the bier arise,", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "And eat with me.” “Drink, then,” he answered. “Here!”", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "(And filled a horn with wine and held it to her,)", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "“Lo! I, myself, when flushed with fight, or hot,", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "God’s curse, with anger⁠—often I myself,", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Before I well have drunken, scarce can eat:", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Drink therefore and the wine will change thy will.”", "indent": 0 } ], [ { "text": "“Not so,” she cried, “by Heaven, I will not drink", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Till my dear lord arise and bid me do it,", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "And drink with me; and if he rise no more,", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "I will not look at wine until I die.”", "indent": 0 } ], [ { "text": "At this he turned all red and paced his hall,", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Now gnawed his under, now his upper lip,", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "And coming up close to her, said at last:", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "“Girl, for I see ye scorn my courtesies,", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Take warning: yonder man is surely dead;", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "And I compel all creatures to my will.", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Not eat nor drink? And wherefore wail for one,", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Who put your beauty to this flout and scorn", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "By dressing it in rags? Amazed am I,", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Beholding how ye butt against my wish,", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "That I forbear you thus: cross me no more.", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "At least put off to please me this poor gown,", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "This silken rag, this beggar-woman’s weed:", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "I love that beauty should go beautifully:", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "For see ye not my gentlewomen here,", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "How gay, how suited to the house of one", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Who loves that beauty should go beautifully?", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Rise therefore; robe yourself in this: obey.”", "indent": 0 } ], [ { "text": "He spoke, and one among his gentlewomen", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Displayed a splendid silk of foreign loom,", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Where like a shoaling sea the lovely blue", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Played into green, and thicker down the front", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "With jewels than the sward with drops of dew,", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "When all night long a cloud clings to the hill,", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "And with the dawn ascending lets the day", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Strike where it clung: so thickly shone the gems.", "indent": 0 } ], [ { "text": "But Enid answered, harder to be moved", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Than hardest tyrants in their day of power,", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "With life-long injuries burning unavenged,", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "And now their hour has come; and Enid said:", "indent": 0 } ], [ { "text": "“In this poor gown my dear lord found me first,", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "And loved me serving in my father’s hall:", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "In this poor gown I rode with him to court,", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "And there the Queen arrayed me like the sun:", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "In this poor gown he bad me clothe myself,", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "When now we rode upon this fatal quest", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Of honour, where no honour can be gained:", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "And this poor gown I will not cast aside", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Until himself arise a living man,", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "And bid me cast it. I have griefs enough:", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Pray you be gentle, pray you let me be:", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "I never loved, can never love but him:", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Yea, God, I pray you of your gentleness,", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "He being as he is, to let me be.”", "indent": 0 } ], [ { "text": "Then strode the brute Earl up and down his hall,", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "And took his russet beard between his teeth;", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Last, coming up quite close, and in his mood", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Crying, “I count it of no more avail,", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Dame, to be gentle than ungentle with you;", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Take my salute,” unknightly with flat hand,", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "However lightly, smote her on the cheek.", "indent": 0 } ], [ { "text": "Then Enid, in her utter helplessness,", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "And since she thought, “He had not dared to do it,", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Except he surely knew my lord was dead,”", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Sent forth a sudden sharp and bitter cry,", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "As of a wild thing taken in the trap,", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Which sees the trapper coming through the wood.", "indent": 0 } ], [ { "text": "This heard Geraint, and grasping at his sword,", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "(It lay beside him in the hollow shield),", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Made but a single bound, and with a sweep of it", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Shore through the swarthy neck, and like a ball", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "The russet-bearded head rolled on the floor.", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "So died Earl Doorm by him he counted dead.", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "And all the men and women in the hall", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Rose when they saw the dead man rise, and fled", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Yelling as from a spectre, and the two", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Were left alone together, and he said:", "indent": 0 } ], [ { "text": "“Enid, I have used you worse than that dead man;", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Done you more wrong: we both have undergone", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "That trouble which has left me thrice your own:", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Henceforward I will rather die than doubt.", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "And here I lay this penance on myself,", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Not, though mine own ears heard you yestermorn⁠—", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "You thought me sleeping, but I heard you say,", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "I heard you say, that you were no true wife:", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "I swear I will not ask your meaning in it:", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "I do believe yourself against yourself,", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "And will henceforward rather die than doubt.”", "indent": 0 } ], [ { "text": "And Enid could not say one tender word,", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "She felt so blunt and stupid at the heart:", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "She only prayed him, “Fly, they will return", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "And slay you; fly, your charger is without,", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "My palfrey lost.” “Then, Enid, shall you ride", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Behind me.” “Yea,” said Enid, “let us go.”", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "And moving out they found the stately horse,", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Who now no more a vassal to the thief,", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "But free to stretch his limbs in lawful fight,", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Neighed with all gladness as they came, and stooped", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "With a low whinny toward the pair: and she", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Kissed the white star upon his noble front,", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Glad also; then Geraint upon the horse", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Mounted, and reached a hand, and on his foot", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "She set her own and climbed; he turned his face", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "And kissed her climbing, and she cast her arms", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "About him, and at once they rode away.", "indent": 0 } ], [ { "text": "And never yet, since high in Paradise", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "O’er the four rivers the first roses blew,", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Came purer pleasure unto mortal kind", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Than lived through her, who in that perilous hour", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Put hand to hand beneath her husband’s heart,", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "And felt him hers again: she did not weep,", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "But o’er her meek eyes came a happy mist", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Like that which kept the heart of Eden green", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Before the useful trouble of the rain:", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Yet not so misty were her meek blue eyes", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "As not to see before them on the path,", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Right in the gateway of the bandit hold,", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "A knight of Arthur’s court, who laid his lance", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "In rest, and made as if to fall upon him.", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Then, fearing for his hurt and loss of blood,", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "She, with her mind all full of what had chanced,", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Shrieked to the stranger “Slay not a dead man!”", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "“The voice of Enid,” said the knight; but she,", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Beholding it was Edyrn son of Nudd,", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Was moved so much the more, and shrieked again,", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "“O cousin, slay not him who gave you life.”", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "And Edyrn moving frankly forward spake:", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "“My lord Geraint, I greet you with all love;", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "I took you for a bandit knight of Doorm;", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "And fear not, Enid, I should fall upon him,", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Who love you, Prince, with something of the love", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Wherewith we love the Heaven that chastens us.", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "For once, when I was up so high in pride", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "That I was halfway down the slope to Hell,", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "By overthrowing me you threw me higher.", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Now, made a knight of Arthur’s Table Round,", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "And since I knew this Earl, when I myself", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Was half a bandit in my lawless hour,", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "I come the mouthpiece of our King to Doorm", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "(The King is close behind me) bidding him", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Disband himself, and scatter all his powers,", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Submit, and hear the judgment of the King.”", "indent": 0 } ], [ { "text": "“He hears the judgment of the King of kings,”", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Cried the wan Prince; “and lo, the powers of Doorm", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Are scattered,” and he pointed to the field,", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Where, huddled here and there on mound and knoll,", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Were men and women staring and aghast,", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "While some yet fled; and then he plainlier told", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "How the huge Earl lay slain within his hall.", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "But when the knight besought him, “Follow me,", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Prince, to the camp, and in the King’s own ear", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Speak what has chanced; ye surely have endured", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Strange chances here alone;” that other flushed,", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "And hung his head, and halted in reply,", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Fearing the mild face of the blameless King,", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "And after madness acted question asked:", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Till Edyrn crying, “If ye will not go", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "To Arthur, then will Arthur come to you,”", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "“Enough,” he said, “I follow,” and they went.", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "But Enid in their going had two fears,", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "One from the bandit scattered in the field,", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "And one from Edyrn. Every now and then,", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "When Edyrn reined his charger at her side,", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "She shrank a little. In a hollow land,", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "From which old fires have broken, men may fear", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Fresh fire and ruin. He, perceiving, said:", "indent": 0 } ], [ { "text": "“Fair and dear cousin, you that most had cause", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "To fear me, fear no longer, I am changed.", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Yourself were first the blameless cause to make", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "My nature’s prideful sparkle in the blood", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Break into furious flame; being repulsed", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "By Yniol and yourself, I schemed and wrought", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Until I overturned him; then set up", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "(With one main purpose ever at my heart)", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "My haughty jousts, and took a paramour;", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Did her mock-honour as the fairest fair,", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "And, toppling over all antagonism,", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "So waxed in pride, that I believed myself", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Unconquerable, for I was wellnigh mad:", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "And, but for my main purpose in these jousts,", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "I should have slain your father, seized yourself.", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "I lived in hope that sometime you would come", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "To these my lists with him whom best you loved;", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "And there, poor cousin, with your meek blue eyes", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "The truest eyes that ever answered Heaven,", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Behold me overturn and trample on him.", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Then, had you cried, or knelt, or prayed to me,", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "I should not less have killed him. And so you came⁠—", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "But once you came⁠—and with your own true eyes", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Beheld the man you loved (I speak as one", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Speaks of a service done him) overthrow", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "My proud self, and my purpose three years old,", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "And set his foot upon me, and give me life.", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "There was I broken down; there was I saved:", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Though thence I rode all-shamed, hating the life", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "He gave me, meaning to be rid of it.", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "And all the penance the Queen laid upon me", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Was but to rest awhile within her court;", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Where first as sullen as a beast new-caged,", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "And waiting to be treated like a wolf,", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Because I knew my deeds were known, I found,", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Instead of scornful pity or pure scorn,", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Such fine reserve and noble reticence,", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Manners so kind, yet stately, such a grace", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Of tenderest courtesy, that I began", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "To glance behind me at my former life,", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "And find that it had been the wolf’s indeed:", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "And oft I talked with Dubric, the high saint,", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Who, with mild heat of holy oratory,", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Subdued me somewhat to that gentleness,", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Which, when it weds with manhood, makes a man.", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "And you were often there about the Queen,", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "But saw me not, or marked not if you saw;", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Nor did I care or dare to speak with you,", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "But kept myself aloof till I was changed;", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "And fear not, cousin; I am changed indeed.”", "indent": 0 } ], [ { "text": "He spoke, and Enid easily believed,", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Like simple noble natures, credulous", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Of what they long for, good in friend or foe,", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "There most in those who most have done them ill.", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "And when they reached the camp the King himself", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Advanced to greet them, and beholding her", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Though pale, yet happy, asked her not a word,", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "But went apart with Edyrn, whom he held", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "In converse for a little, and returned,", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "And, gravely smiling, lifted her from horse,", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "And kissed her with all pureness, brother-like,", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "And showed an empty tent allotted her,", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "And glancing for a minute, till he saw her", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Pass into it, turned to the Prince, and said:", "indent": 0 } ], [ { "text": "“Prince, when of late ye prayed me for my leave", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "To move to your own land, and there defend", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Your marches, I was pricked with some reproof,", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "As one that let foul wrong stagnate and be,", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "By having looked too much through alien eyes,", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "And wrought too long with delegated hands,", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Not used mine own: but now behold me come", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "To cleanse this common sewer of all my realm,", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "With Edyrn and with others: have ye looked", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "At Edyrn? have ye seen how nobly changed?", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "This work of his is great and wonderful.", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "His very face with change of heart is changed.", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "The world will not believe a man repents:", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "And this wise world of ours is mainly right.", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Full seldom doth a man repent, or use", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Both grace and will to pick the vicious quitch", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Of blood and custom wholly out of him,", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "And make all clean, and plant himself afresh.", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Edyrn has done it, weeding all his heart", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "As I will weed this land before I go.", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "I, therefore, made him of our Table Round,", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Not rashly, but have proved him everyway", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "One of our noblest, our most valorous,", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Sanest and most obedient: and indeed", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "This work of Edyrn wrought upon himself", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "After a life of violence, seems to me", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "A thousand-fold more great and wonderful", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Than if some knight of mine, risking his life,", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "My subject with my subjects under him,", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Should make an onslaught single on a realm", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Of robbers, though he slew them one by one,", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "And were himself nigh wounded to the death.”", "indent": 0 } ], [ { "text": "So spake the King; low bowed the Prince, and felt", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "His work was neither great nor wonderful,", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "And past to Enid’s tent; and thither came", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "The King’s own leech to look into his hurt;", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "And Enid tended on him there; and there", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Her constant motion round him, and the breath", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Of her sweet tendance hovering over him,", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Filled all the genial courses of his blood", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "With deeper and with ever deeper love,", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "As the south-west that blowing Bala lake", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Fills all the sacred Dee. So past the days.", "indent": 0 } ], [ { "text": "But while Geraint lay healing of his hurt,", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "The blameless King went forth and cast his eyes", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "On each of all whom Uther left in charge", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Long since, to guard the justice of the King:", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "He looked and found them wanting; and as now", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Men weed the white horse on the Berkshire hills", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "To keep him bright and clean as heretofore,", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "He rooted out the slothful officer", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Or guilty, which for bribe had winked at wrong,", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "And in their chairs set up a stronger race", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "With hearts and hands, and sent a thousand men", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "To till the wastes, and moving everywhere", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Cleared the dark places and let in the law,", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "And broke the bandit holds and cleansed the land.", "indent": 0 } ], [ { "text": "Then, when Geraint was whole again, they past", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "With Arthur to Caerleon upon Usk.", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "There the great Queen once more embraced her friend,", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "And clothed her in apparel like the day.", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "And though Geraint could never take again", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "That comfort from their converse which he took", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Before the Queen’s fair name was breathed upon,", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "He rested well content that all was well.", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Thence after tarrying for a space they rode,", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "And fifty knights rode with them to the shores", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Of Severn, and they past to their own land.", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "And there he kept the justice of the King", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "So vigorously yet mildly, that all hearts", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Applauded, and the spiteful whisper died:", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "And being ever foremost in the chase,", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "And victor at the tilt and tournament,", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "They called him the great Prince and man of men.", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "But Enid, whom her ladies loved to call", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Enid the Fair, a grateful people named", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Enid the Good; and in their halls arose", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "The cry of children, Enids and Geraints", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Of times to be; nor did he doubt her more,", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "But rested in her fealty, till he crowned", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "A happy life with a fair death, and fell", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Against the heathen of the Northern Sea", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "In battle, fighting for the blameless King.", "indent": 0 } ] ] }