{ "id": "alfred-lord-tennyson/merlin-and-vivien", "title": "Merlin and Vivien", "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": 7, "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": "merlin-and-vivien.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": 974, "n_stanzas": 65, "n_parts": 0, "longest_line_chars": 56, "max_indent": 0 }, "site_ready": true, "parts": [], "stanzas": [ [ { "text": "A storm was coming, but the winds were still,", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "And in the wild woods of Broceliande,", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Before an oak, so hollow, huge and old", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "It looked a tower of ivied masonwork,", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "At Merlin’s feet the wily Vivien lay.", "indent": 0 } ], [ { "text": "For he that always bare in bitter grudge", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "The slights of Arthur and his Table, Mark", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "The Cornish King, had heard a wandering voice,", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "A minstrel of Caerlon by strong storm", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Blown into shelter at Tintagil, say", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "That out of naked knightlike purity", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Sir Lancelot worshipt no unmarried girl", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "But the great Queen herself, fought in her name,", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Sware by her⁠—vows like theirs, that high in heaven", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Love most, but neither marry, nor are given", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "In marriage, angels of our Lord’s report.", "indent": 0 } ], [ { "text": "He ceased, and then⁠—for Vivien sweetly said", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "(She sat beside the banquet nearest Mark),", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "“And is the fair example followed, Sir,", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "In Arthur’s household?”⁠—answered innocently:", "indent": 0 } ], [ { "text": "“Ay, by some few⁠—ay, truly⁠—youths that hold", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "It more beseems the perfect virgin knight", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "To worship woman as true wife beyond", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "All hopes of gaining, than as maiden girl.", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "They place their pride in Lancelot and the Queen.", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "So passionate for an utter purity", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Beyond the limit of their bond, are these,", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "For Arthur bound them not to singleness.", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Brave hearts and clean! and yet⁠—God guide them⁠—young.”", "indent": 0 } ], [ { "text": "Then Mark was half in heart to hurl his cup", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Straight at the speaker, but forbore: he rose", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "To leave the hall, and, Vivien following him,", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Turned to her: “Here are snakes within the grass;", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "And you methinks, O Vivien, save ye fear", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "The monkish manhood, and the mask of pure", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Worn by this court, can stir them till they sting.”", "indent": 0 } ], [ { "text": "And Vivien answered, smiling scornfully,", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "“Why fear? because that fostered at thy court", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "I savour of thy⁠—virtues? fear them? no.", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "As Love, if Love is perfect, casts out fear,", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "So Hate, if Hate is perfect, casts out fear.", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "My father died in battle against the King,", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "My mother on his corpse in open field;", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "She bore me there, for born from death was I", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Among the dead and sown upon the wind⁠—", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "And then on thee! and shown the truth betimes,", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "That old true filth, and bottom of the well", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Where Truth is hidden. Gracious lessons thine", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "And maxims of the mud! ‘This Arthur pure!", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Great Nature through the flesh herself hath made", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Gives him the lie! There is no being pure,", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "My cherub; saith not Holy Writ the same?’⁠—", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "If I were Arthur, I would have thy blood.", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Thy blessing, stainless King! I bring thee back,", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "When I have ferreted out their burrowings,", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "The hearts of all this Order in mine hand⁠—", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Ay⁠—so that fate and craft and folly close,", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Perchance, one curl of Arthur’s golden beard.", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "To me this narrow grizzled fork of thine", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Is cleaner-fashioned⁠—Well, I loved thee first,", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "That warps the wit.”", "indent": 0 } ], [ { "text": "Loud laughed the graceless Mark,", "indent": 0, "align": "right" }, { "text": "But Vivien, into Camelot stealing, lodged", "indent": 0, "align": "right" }, { "text": "Low in the city, and on a festal day", "indent": 0, "align": "right" }, { "text": "When Guinevere was crossing the great hall", "indent": 0, "align": "right" }, { "text": "Cast herself down, knelt to the Queen, and wailed.", "indent": 0, "align": "right" } ], [ { "text": "“Why kneel ye there? What evil hath ye wrought?", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Rise!” and the damsel bidden rise arose", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "And stood with folded hands and downward eyes", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Of glancing corner, and all meekly said,", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "“None wrought, but suffered much, an orphan maid!", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "My father died in battle for thy King,", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "My mother on his corpse⁠—in open field,", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "The sad sea-sounding wastes of Lyonnesse⁠—", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Poor wretch⁠—no friend!⁠—and now by Mark the King", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "For that small charm of feature mine, pursued⁠—", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "If any such be mine⁠—I fly to thee.", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Save, save me thou⁠—Woman of women⁠—thine", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "The wreath of beauty, thine the crown of power,", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Be thine the balm of pity, O Heaven’s own white", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Earth-angel, stainless bride of stainless King⁠—", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Help, for he follows! take me to thyself!", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "O yield me shelter for mine innocency", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Among thy maidens!”", "indent": 0 } ], [ { "text": "Here her slow sweet eyes", "indent": 0, "align": "right" }, { "text": "Fear-tremulous, but humbly hopeful, rose", "indent": 0, "align": "right" }, { "text": "Fixt on her hearer’s, while the Queen who stood", "indent": 0, "align": "right" }, { "text": "All glittering like May sunshine on May leaves", "indent": 0, "align": "right" }, { "text": "In green and gold, and plumed with green replied,", "indent": 0, "align": "right" }, { "text": "“Peace, child! of overpraise and overblame", "indent": 0, "align": "right" }, { "text": "We choose the last. Our noble Arthur, him", "indent": 0, "align": "right" }, { "text": "Ye scarce can overpraise, will hear and know.", "indent": 0, "align": "right" }, { "text": "Nay⁠—we believe all evil of thy Mark⁠—", "indent": 0, "align": "right" }, { "text": "Well, we shall test thee farther; but this hour", "indent": 0, "align": "right" }, { "text": "We ride a-hawking with Sir Lancelot.", "indent": 0, "align": "right" }, { "text": "He hath given us a fair falcon which he trained;", "indent": 0, "align": "right" }, { "text": "We go to prove it. Bide ye here the while.”", "indent": 0, "align": "right" } ], [ { "text": "She past; and Vivien murmured after “Go!", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "I bide the while.” Then through the portal-arch", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Peering askance, and muttering broken-wise,", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "As one that labours with an evil dream,", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Beheld the Queen and Lancelot get to horse.", "indent": 0 } ], [ { "text": "“Is that the Lancelot? goodly⁠—ay, but gaunt:", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Courteous⁠—amends for gauntness⁠—takes her hand⁠—", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "That glance of theirs, but for the street, had been", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "A clinging kiss⁠—how hand lingers in hand!", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Let go at last!⁠—they ride away⁠—to hawk", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "For waterfowl. Royaller game is mine.", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "For such a supersensual sensual bond", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "As that gray cricket chirpt of at our hearth⁠—", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Touch flax with flame⁠—a glance will serve⁠—the liars!", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Ah little rat that borest in the dyke", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Thy hole by night to let the boundless deep", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Down upon far-off cities while they dance⁠—", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Or dream⁠—of thee they dreamed not⁠—nor of me", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "These⁠—ay, but each of either: ride, and dream", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "The mortal dream that never yet was mine⁠—", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Ride, ride and dream until ye wake⁠—to me!", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Then, narrow court and lubber King, farewell!", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "For Lancelot will be gracious to the rat,", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "And our wise Queen, if knowing that I know,", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Will hate, loathe, fear⁠—but honour me the more.”", "indent": 0 } ], [ { "text": "Yet while they rode together down the plain,", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Their talk was all of training, terms of art,", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Diet and seeling, jesses, leash and lure.", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "“She is too noble,” he said, “to check at pies,", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Nor will she rake: there is no baseness in her.”", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Here when the Queen demanded as by chance", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "“Know ye the stranger woman?” “Let her be,”", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Said Lancelot and unhooded casting off", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "The goodly falcon free; she towered; her bells,", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Tone under tone, shrilled; and they lifted up", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Their eager faces, wondering at the strength,", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Boldness and royal knighthood of the bird", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Who pounced her quarry and slew it. Many a time", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "As once⁠—of old⁠—among the flowers⁠—they rode.", "indent": 0 } ], [ { "text": "But Vivien half-forgotten of the Queen", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Among her damsels broidering sat, heard, watched", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "And whispered: through the peaceful court she crept", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "And whispered: then as Arthur in the highest", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Leavened the world, so Vivien in the lowest,", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Arriving at a time of golden rest,", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "And sowing one ill hint from ear to ear,", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "While all the heathen lay at Arthur’s feet,", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "And no quest came, but all was joust and play,", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Leavened his hall. They heard and let her be.", "indent": 0 } ], [ { "text": "Thereafter as an enemy that has left", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Death in the living waters, and withdrawn,", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "The wily Vivien stole from Arthur’s court.", "indent": 0 } ], [ { "text": "She hated all the knights, and heard in thought", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Their lavish comment when her name was named.", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "For once, when Arthur walking all alone,", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Vext at a rumour issued from herself", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Of some corruption crept among his knights,", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Had met her, Vivien, being greeted fair,", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Would fain have wrought upon his cloudy mood", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "With reverent eyes mock-loyal, shaken voice,", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "And fluttered adoration, and at last", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "With dark sweet hints of some who prized him more", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Than who should prize him most; at which the King", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Had gazed upon her blankly and gone by:", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "But one had watched, and had not held his peace:", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "It made the laughter of an afternoon", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "That Vivien should attempt the blameless King.", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "And after that, she set herself to gain", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Him, the most famous man of all those times,", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Merlin, who knew the range of all their arts,", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Had built the King his havens, ships, and halls,", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Was also Bard, and knew the starry heavens;", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "The people called him Wizard; whom at first", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "She played about with slight and sprightly talk,", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "And vivid smiles, and faintly-venomed points", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Of slander, glancing here and grazing there;", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "And yielding to his kindlier moods, the Seer", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Would watch her at her petulance, and play,", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Even when they seemed unloveable, and laugh", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "As those that watch a kitten; thus he grew", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Tolerant of what he half disdained, and she,", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Perceiving that she was but half disdained,", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Began to break her sports with graver fits,", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Turn red or pale, would often when they met", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Sigh fully, or all-silent gaze upon him", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "With such a fixt devotion, that the old man,", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Though doubtful, felt the flattery, and at times", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Would flatter his own wish in age for love,", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "And half believe her true: for thus at times", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "He wavered; but that other clung to him,", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Fixt in her will, and so the seasons went.", "indent": 0 } ], [ { "text": "Then fell on Merlin a great melancholy;", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "He walked with dreams and darkness, and he found", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "A doom that ever poised itself to fall,", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "An ever-moaning battle in the mist,", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "World-war of dying flesh against the life,", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Death in all life and lying in all love,", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "The meanest having power upon the highest,", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "And the high purpose broken by the worm.", "indent": 0 } ], [ { "text": "So leaving Arthur’s court he gained the beach;", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "There found a little boat, and stept into it;", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "And Vivien followed, but he marked her not.", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "She took the helm and he the sail; the boat", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Drave with a sudden wind across the deeps,", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "And touching Breton sands, they disembarked.", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "And then she followed Merlin all the way,", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Even to the wild woods of Broceliande.", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "For Merlin once had told her of a charm,", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "The which if any wrought on anyone", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "With woven paces and with waving arms,", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "The man so wrought on ever seemed to lie", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Closed in the four walls of a hollow tower,", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "From which was no escape for evermore;", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "And none could find that man for evermore,", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Nor could he see but him who wrought the charm", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Coming and going, and he lay as dead", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "And lost to life and use and name and fame.", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "And Vivien ever sought to work the charm", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Upon the great Enchanter of the Time,", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "As fancying that her glory would be great", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "According to his greatness whom she quenched.", "indent": 0 } ], [ { "text": "There lay she all her length and kissed his feet,", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "As if in deepest reverence and in love.", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "A twist of gold was round her hair; a robe", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Of samite without price, that more exprest", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Than hid her, clung about her lissome limbs,", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "In colour like the satin-shining palm", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "On sallows in the windy gleams of March:", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "And while she kissed them, crying, “Trample me,", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Dear feet, that I have followed through the world,", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "And I will pay you worship; tread me down", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "And I will kiss you for it;” he was mute:", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "So dark a forethought rolled about his brain,", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "As on a dull day in an Ocean cave", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "The blind wave feeling round his long sea-hall", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "In silence: wherefore, when she lifted up", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "A face of sad appeal, and spake and said,", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "“O Merlin, do ye love me?” and again,", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "“O Merlin, do ye love me?” and once more,", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "“Great Master, do ye love me?” he was mute.", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "And lissome Vivien, holding by his heel,", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Writhed toward him, slided up his knee and sat,", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Behind his ankle twined her hollow feet", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Together, curved an arm about his neck,", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Clung like a snake; and letting her left hand", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Droop from his mighty shoulder, as a leaf,", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Made with her right a comb of pearl to part", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "The lists of such a board as youth gone out", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Had left in ashes: then he spoke and said,", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Not looking at her, “Who are wise in love", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Love most, say least,” and Vivien answered quick,", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "“I saw the little elf-god eyeless once", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "In Arthur’s arras hall at Camelot:", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "But neither eyes nor tongue⁠—O stupid child!", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Yet you are wise who say it; let me think", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Silence is wisdom: I am silent then,", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "And ask no kiss;” then adding all at once,", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "“And lo, I clothe myself with wisdom,” drew", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "The vast and shaggy mantle of his beard", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Across her neck and bosom to her knee,", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "And called herself a gilded summer fly", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Caught in a great old tyrant spider’s web,", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Who meant to eat her up in that wild wood", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Without one word. So Vivien called herself,", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "But rather seemed a lovely baleful star", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Veiled in gray vapour; till he sadly smiled:", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "“To what request for what strange boon,” he said,", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "“Are these your pretty tricks and fooleries,", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "O Vivien, the preamble? yet my thanks,", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "For these have broken up my melancholy.”", "indent": 0 } ], [ { "text": "And Vivien answered smiling saucily,", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "“What, O my Master, have ye found your voice?", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "I bid the stranger welcome. Thanks at last!", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "But yesterday you never opened lip,", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Except indeed to drink: no cup had we:", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "In mine own lady palms I culled the spring", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "That gathered trickling dropwise from the cleft,", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "And made a pretty cup of both my hands", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "And offered you it kneeling: then you drank", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "And knew no more, nor gave me one poor word;", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "O no more thanks than might a goat have given", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "With no more sign of reverence than a beard.", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "And when we halted at that other well,", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "And I was faint to swooning, and you lay", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Foot-gilt with all the blossom-dust of those", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Deep meadows we had traversed, did you know", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "That Vivien bathed your feet before her own?", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "And yet no thanks: and all through this wild wood", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "And all this morning when I fondled you:", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Boon, ay, there was a boon, one not so strange⁠—", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "How had I wronged you? surely ye are wise,", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "But such a silence is more wise than kind.”", "indent": 0 } ], [ { "text": "And Merlin locked his hand in hers and said:", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "“O did ye never lie upon the shore,", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "And watch the curled white of the coming wave", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Glassed in the slippery sand before it breaks?", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Even such a wave, but not so pleasurable,", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Dark in the glass of some presageful mood,", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Had I for three days seen, ready to fall.", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "And then I rose and fled from Arthur’s court", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "To break the mood. You followed me unasked;", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "And when I looked, and saw you following me still,", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "My mind involved yourself the nearest thing", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "In that mind-mist: for shall I tell you truth?", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "You seemed that wave about to break upon me", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "And sweep me from my hold upon the world,", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "My use and name and fame. Your pardon, child.", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Your pretty sports have brightened all again.", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "And ask your boon, for boon I owe you thrice,", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Once for wrong done you by confusion, next", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "For thanks it seems till now neglected, last", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "For these your dainty gambols: wherefore ask;", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "And take this boon so strange and not so strange.”", "indent": 0 } ], [ { "text": "And Vivien answered smiling mournfully:", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "“O not so strange as my long asking it,", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Not yet so strange as you yourself are strange,", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Nor half so strange as that dark mood of yours.", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "I ever feared ye were not wholly mine;", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "And see, yourself have owned ye did me wrong.", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "The people call you prophet: let it be:", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "But not of those that can expound themselves.", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Take Vivien for expounder; she will call", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "That three-days-long presageful gloom of yours", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "No presage, but the same mistrustful mood", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "That makes you seem less noble than yourself,", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Whenever I have asked this very boon,", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Now asked again: for see you not, dear love,", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "That such a mood as that, which lately gloomed", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Your fancy when ye saw me following you,", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Must make me fear still more you are not mine,", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Must make me yearn still more to prove you mine,", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "And make me wish still more to learn this charm", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Of woven paces and of waving hands,", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "As proof of trust. O Merlin, teach it me.", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "The charm so taught will charm us both to rest.", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "For, grant me some slight power upon your fate,", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "I, feeling that you felt me worthy trust,", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Should rest and let you rest, knowing you mine.", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "And therefore be as great as ye are named,", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Not muffled round with selfish reticence.", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "How hard you look and how denyingly!", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "O, if you think this wickedness in me,", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "That I should prove it on you unawares,", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "That makes me passing wrathful; then our bond", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Had best be loosed forever: but think or not,", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "By Heaven that hears I tell you the clean truth,", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "As clean as blood of babes, as white as milk:", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "O Merlin, may this earth, if ever I,", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "If these unwitty wandering wits of mine,", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Even in the jumbled rubbish of a dream,", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Have tript on such conjectural treachery⁠—", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "May this hard earth cleave to the Nadir hell", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Down, down, and close again, and nip me flat,", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "If I be such a traitress. Yield my boon,", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Till which I scarce can yield you all I am;", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "And grant my re-reiterated wish,", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "The great proof of your love: because I think,", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "However wise, ye hardly know me yet.”", "indent": 0 } ], [ { "text": "And Merlin loosed his hand from hers and said,", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "“I never was less wise, however wise,", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Too curious Vivien, though you talk of trust,", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Than when I told you first of such a charm.", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Yea, if ye talk of trust I tell you this,", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Too much I trusted when I told you that,", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "And stirred this vice in you which ruined man", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Through woman the first hour; for howsoe’er", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "In children a great curiousness be well,", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Who have to learn themselves and all the world,", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "In you, that are no child, for still I find", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Your face is practised when I spell the lines,", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "I call it⁠—well, I will not call it vice:", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "But since you name yourself the summer fly,", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "I well could wish a cobweb for the gnat,", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "That settles, beaten back, and beaten back", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Settles, till one could yield for weariness:", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "But since I will not yield to give you power", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Upon my life and use and name and fame,", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Why will ye never ask some other boon?", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Yea, by God’s rood, I trusted you too much.”", "indent": 0 } ], [ { "text": "And Vivien, like the tenderest-hearted maid", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "That ever bided tryst at village stile,", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Made answer, either eyelid wet with tears:", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "“Nay, Master, be not wrathful with your maid;", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Caress her: let her feel herself forgiven", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Who feels no heart to ask another boon.", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "I think ye hardly know the tender rhyme", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Of ‘trust me not at all or all in all.’", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "I heard the great Sir Lancelot sing it once,", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "And it shall answer for me. Listen to it.", "indent": 0 } ], [ { "text": "‘In Love, if Love be Love, if Love be ours,", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Faith and unfaith can ne’er be equal powers:", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Unfaith in aught is want of faith in all.", "indent": 0 } ], [ { "text": "‘It is the little rift within the lute,", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "That by and by will make the music mute,", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "And ever widening slowly silence all.", "indent": 0 } ], [ { "text": "‘The little rift within the lover’s lute", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Or little pitted speck in garnered fruit,", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "That rotting inward slowly moulders all.", "indent": 0 } ], [ { "text": "‘It is not worth the keeping: let it go:", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "But shall it? answer, darling, answer, no.", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "And trust me not at all or all in all.’", "indent": 0 } ], [ { "text": "O Master, do ye love my tender rhyme?”", "indent": 0 } ], [ { "text": "And Merlin looked and half believed her true,", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "So tender was her voice, so fair her face,", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "So sweetly gleamed her eyes behind her tears", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Like sunlight on the plain behind a shower:", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "And yet he answered half indignantly:", "indent": 0 } ], [ { "text": "“Far other was the song that once I heard", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "By this huge oak, sung nearly where we sit:", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "For here we met, some ten or twelve of us,", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "To chase a creature that was current then", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "In these wild woods, the hart with golden horns.", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "It was the time when first the question rose", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "About the founding of a Table Round,", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "That was to be, for love of God and men", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "And noble deeds, the flower of all the world.", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "And each incited each to noble deeds.", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "And while we waited, one, the youngest of us,", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "We could not keep him silent, out he flashed,", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "And into such a song, such fire for fame,", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Such trumpet-glowings in it, coming down", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "To such a stern and iron-clashing close,", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "That when he stopt we longed to hurl together,", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "And should have done it; but the beauteous beast", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Scared by the noise upstarted at our feet,", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "And like a silver shadow slipt away", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Through the dim land; and all day long we rode", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Through the dim land against a rushing wind,", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "That glorious roundel echoing in our ears,", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "And chased the flashes of his golden horns", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Till they vanished by the fairy well", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "That laughs at iron⁠—as our warriors did⁠—", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Where children cast their pins and nails, and cry,", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "‘Laugh, little well!’ but touch it with a sword,", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "It buzzes fiercely round the point; and there", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "We lost him: such a noble song was that.", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "But, Vivien, when you sang me that sweet rhyme,", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "I felt as though you knew this cursed charm,", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Were proving it on me, and that I lay", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "And felt them slowly ebbing, name and fame.”", "indent": 0 } ], [ { "text": "And Vivien answered smiling mournfully:", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "“O mine have ebbed away for evermore,", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "And all through following you to this wild wood,", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Because I saw you sad, to comfort you.", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Lo now, what hearts have men! they never mount", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "As high as woman in her selfless mood.", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "And touching fame, howe’er ye scorn my song,", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Take one verse more⁠—the lady speaks it⁠—this:", "indent": 0 } ], [ { "text": "“ ‘My name, once mine, now thine, is closelier mine,", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "For fame, could fame be mine, that fame were thine,", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "And shame, could shame be thine, that shame were mine.", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "So trust me not at all or all in all.’", "indent": 0 } ], [ { "text": "“Says she not well? and there is more⁠—this rhyme", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Is like the fair pearl-necklace of the Queen,", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "That burst in dancing, and the pearls were spilt;", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Some lost, some stolen, some as relics kept.", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "But nevermore the same two sister pearls", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Ran down the silken thread to kiss each other", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "On her white neck⁠—so is it with this rhyme:", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "It lives dispersedly in many hands,", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "And every minstrel sings it differently;", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Yet is there one true line, the pearl of pearls:", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "‘Man dreams of Fame while woman wakes to love.’", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Yea! Love, though Love were of the grossest, carves", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "A portion from the solid present, eats", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "And uses, careless of the rest; but Fame,", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "The Fame that follows death is nothing to us;", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "And what is Fame in life but half-disfame,", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "And counterchanged with darkness? ye yourself", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Know well that Envy calls you Devil’s son,", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "And since ye seem the Master of all Art,", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "They fain would make you Master of all vice.”", "indent": 0 } ], [ { "text": "And Merlin locked his hand in hers and said,", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "“I once was looking for a magic weed,", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "And found a fair young squire who sat alone,", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Had carved himself a knightly shield of wood,", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "And then was painting on it fancied arms,", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Azure, an Eagle rising or, the Sun", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "In dexter chief; the scroll ‘I follow fame.’", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "And speaking not, but leaning over him", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "I took his brush and blotted out the bird,", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "And made a Gardener putting in a graff,", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "With this for motto, ‘Rather use than fame.’", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "You should have seen him blush; but afterwards", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "He made a stalwart knight. O Vivien,", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "For you, methinks you think you love me well;", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "For me, I love you somewhat; rest: and Love", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Should have some rest and pleasure in himself,", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Not ever be too curious for a boon,", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Too prurient for a proof against the grain", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Of him ye say ye love: but Fame with men,", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Being but ampler means to serve mankind,", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Should have small rest or pleasure in herself,", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "But work as vassal to the larger love,", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "That dwarfs the petty love of one to one.", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Use gave me Fame at first, and Fame again", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Increasing gave me use. Lo, there my boon!", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "What other? for men sought to prove me vile,", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Because I fain had given them greater wits:", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "And then did Envy call me Devil’s son:", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "The sick weak beast seeking to help herself", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "By striking at her better, missed, and brought", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Her own claw back, and wounded her own heart.", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Sweet were the days when I was all unknown,", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "But when my name was lifted up, the storm", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Brake on the mountain and I cared not for it.", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Right well know I that Fame is half-disfame,", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Yet needs must work my work. That other fame,", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "To one at least, who hath not children, vague,", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "The cackle of the unborn about the grave,", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "I cared not for it: a single misty star,", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Which is the second in a line of stars", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "That seem a sword beneath a belt of three,", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "I never gazed upon it but I dreamt", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Of some vast charm concluded in that star", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "To make fame nothing. Wherefore, if I fear,", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Giving you power upon me through this charm,", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "That you might play me falsely, having power,", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "However well ye think ye love me now", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "(As sons of kings loving in pupilage", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Have turned to tyrants when they came to power)", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "I rather dread the loss of use than fame;", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "If you⁠—and not so much from wickedness,", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "As some wild turn of anger, or a mood", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Of overstrained affection, it may be,", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "To keep me all to your own self⁠—or else", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "A sudden spurt of woman’s jealousy⁠—", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Should try this charm on whom ye say ye love.”", "indent": 0 } ], [ { "text": "And Vivien answered smiling as in wrath:", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "“Have I not sworn? I am not trusted. Good!", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Well, hide it, hide it; I shall find it out;", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "And being found take heed of Vivien.", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "A woman and not trusted, doubtless I", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Might feel some sudden turn of anger born", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Of your misfaith; and your fine epithet", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Is accurate too, for this full love of mine", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Without the full heart back may merit well", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Your term of overstrained. So used as I,", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "My daily wonder is, I love at all.", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "And as to woman’s jealousy, O why not?", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "O to what end, except a jealous one,", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "And one to make me jealous if I love,", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Was this fair charm invented by yourself?", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "I well believe that all about this world", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Ye cage a buxom captive here and there,", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Closed in the four walls of a hollow tower", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "From which is no escape for evermore.”", "indent": 0 } ], [ { "text": "Then the great Master merrily answered her:", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "“Full many a love in loving youth was mine;", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "I needed then no charm to keep them mine", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "But youth and love; and that full heart of yours", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Whereof ye prattle, may now assure you mine;", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "So live uncharmed. For those who wrought it first,", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "The wrist is parted from the hand that waved,", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "The feet unmortised from their ankle-bones", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Who paced it, ages back: but will ye hear", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "The legend as in guerdon for your rhyme?", "indent": 0 } ], [ { "text": "“There lived a king in the most Eastern East,", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Less old than I, yet older, for my blood", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Hath earnest in it of far springs to be.", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "A tawny pirate anchored in his port,", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Whose bark had plundered twenty nameless isles;", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "And passing one, at the high peep of dawn,", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "He saw two cities in a thousand boats", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "All fighting for a woman on the sea.", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "And pushing his black craft among them all,", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "He lightly scattered theirs and brought her off,", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "With loss of half his people arrow-slain;", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "A maid so smooth, so white, so wonderful,", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "They said a light came from her when she moved:", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "And since the pirate would not yield her up,", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "The King impaled him for his piracy;", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Then made her Queen: but those isle-nurtured eyes", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Waged such unwilling though successful war", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "On all the youth, they sickened; councils thinned,", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "And armies waned, for magnet-like she drew", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "The rustiest iron of old fighters’ hearts;", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "And beasts themselves would worship; camels knelt", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Unbidden, and the brutes of mountain back", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "That carry kings in castles, bowed black knees", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Of homage, ringing with their serpent hands,", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "To make her smile, her golden ankle-bells.", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "What wonder, being jealous, that he sent", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "His horns of proclamation out through all", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "The hundred under-kingdoms that he swayed", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "To find a wizard who might teach the King", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Some charm, which being wrought upon the Queen", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Might keep her all his own: to such a one", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "He promised more than ever king has given,", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "A league of mountain full of golden mines,", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "A province with a hundred miles of coast,", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "A palace and a princess, all for him:", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "But on all those who tried and failed, the King", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Pronounced a dismal sentence, meaning by it", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "To keep the list low and pretenders back,", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Or like a king, not to be trifled with⁠—", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Their heads should moulder on the city gates.", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "And many tried and failed, because the charm", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Of nature in her overbore their own:", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "And many a wizard brow bleached on the walls:", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "And many weeks a troop of carrion crows", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Hung like a cloud above the gateway towers.”", "indent": 0 } ], [ { "text": "And Vivien breaking in upon him, said:", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "“I sit and gather honey; yet, methinks,", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Thy tongue has tript a little: ask thyself.", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "The lady never made unwilling war", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "With those fine eyes: she had her pleasure in it,", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "And made her good man jealous with good cause.", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "And lived there neither dame nor damsel then", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Wroth at a lover’s loss? were all as tame,", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "I mean, as noble, as the Queen was fair?", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Not one to flirt a venom at her eyes,", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Or pinch a murderous dust into her drink,", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Or make her paler with a poisoned rose?", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Well, those were not our days: but did they find", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "A wizard? Tell me, was he like to thee?”", "indent": 0 } ], [ { "text": "She ceased, and made her lithe arm round his neck", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Tighten, and then drew back, and let her eyes", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Speak for her, glowing on him, like a bride’s", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "On her new lord, her own, the first of men.", "indent": 0 } ], [ { "text": "He answered laughing, “Nay, not like to me.", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "At last they found⁠—his foragers for charms⁠—", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "A little glassy-headed hairless man,", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Who lived alone in a great wild on grass;", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Read but one book, and ever reading grew", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "So grated down and filed away with thought,", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "So lean his eyes were monstrous; while the skin", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Clung but to crate and basket, ribs and spine.", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "And since he kept his mind on one sole aim,", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Nor ever touched fierce wine, nor tasted flesh,", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Nor owned a sensual wish, to him the wall", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "That sunders ghosts and shadow-casting men", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Became a crystal, and he saw them through it,", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "And heard their voices talk behind the wall,", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "And learnt their elemental secrets, powers", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "And forces; often o’er the sun’s bright eye", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Drew the vast eyelid of an inky cloud,", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "And lashed it at the base with slanting storm;", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Or in the noon of mist and driving rain,", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "When the lake whitened and the pinewood roared,", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "And the cairned mountain was a shadow, sunned", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "The world to peace again: here was the man.", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "And so by force they dragged him to the King.", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "And then he taught the King to charm the Queen", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "In such-wise, that no man could see her more,", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Nor saw she save the King, who wrought the charm,", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Coming and going, and she lay as dead,", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "And lost all use of life: but when the King", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Made proffer of the league of golden mines,", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "The province with a hundred miles of coast,", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "The palace and the princess, that old man", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Went back to his old wild, and lived on grass,", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "And vanished, and his book came down to me.”", "indent": 0 } ], [ { "text": "And Vivien answered smiling saucily:", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "“Ye have the book: the charm is written in it:", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Good: take my counsel: let me know it at once:", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "For keep it like a puzzle chest in chest,", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "With each chest locked and padlocked thirty-fold,", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "And whelm all this beneath as vast a mound", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "As after furious battle turfs the slain", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "On some wild down above the windy deep,", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "I yet should strike upon a sudden means", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "To dig, pick, open, find and read the charm:", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Then, if I tried it, who should blame me then?”", "indent": 0 } ], [ { "text": "And smiling as a master smiles at one", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "That is not of his school, nor any school", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "But that where blind and naked Ignorance", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Delivers brawling judgments, unashamed,", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "On all things all day long, he answered her:", "indent": 0 } ], [ { "text": "“Thou read the book, my pretty Vivien!", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "O ay, it is but twenty pages long,", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "But every page having an ample marge,", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "And every marge enclosing in the midst", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "A square of text that looks a little blot,", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "The text no larger than the limbs of fleas;", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "And every square of text an awful charm,", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Writ in a language that has long gone by.", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "So long, that mountains have arisen since", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "With cities on their flanks⁠—thou read the book!", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "And ever margin scribbled, crost, and crammed", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "With comment, densest condensation, hard", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "To mind and eye; but the long sleepless nights", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Of my long life have made it easy to me.", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "And none can read the text, not even I;", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "And none can read the comment but myself;", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "And in the comment did I find the charm.", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "O, the results are simple; a mere child", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Might use it to the harm of anyone,", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "And never could undo it: ask no more:", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "For though you should not prove it upon me,", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "But keep that oath ye sware, ye might, perchance,", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Assay it on someone of the Table Round,", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "And all because ye dream they babble of you.”", "indent": 0 } ], [ { "text": "And Vivien, frowning in true anger, said:", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "“What dare the full-fed liars say of me?", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "They ride abroad redressing human wrongs!", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "They sit with knife in meat and wine in horn!", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "They bound to holy vows of chastity!", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Were I not woman, I could tell a tale.", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "But you are man, you well can understand", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "The shame that cannot be explained for shame.", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Not one of all the drove should touch me: swine!”", "indent": 0 } ], [ { "text": "Then answered Merlin careless of her words:", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "“You breathe but accusation vast and vague,", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Spleen-born, I think, and proofless. If ye know,", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Set up the charge ye know, to stand or fall!”", "indent": 0 } ], [ { "text": "And Vivien answered frowning wrathfully:", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "“O ay, what say ye to Sir Valence, him", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Whose kinsman left him watcher o’er his wife", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "And two fair babes, and went to distant lands;", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Was one year gone, and on returning found", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Not two but three? there lay the reckling, one", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "But one hour old! What said the happy sire?", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "A seven-months’ babe had been a truer gift.", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Those twelve sweet moons confused his fatherhood.”", "indent": 0 } ], [ { "text": "Then answered Merlin, “Nay, I know the tale.", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Sir Valence wedded with an outland dame:", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Some cause had kept him sundered from his wife:", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "One child they had: it lived with her: she died:", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "His kinsman travelling on his own affair", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Was charged by Valence to bring home the child.", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "He brought, not found it therefore: take the truth.”", "indent": 0 } ], [ { "text": "“O ay,” said Vivien, “overtrue a tale.", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "What say ye then to sweet Sir Sagramore,", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "That ardent man? ‘to pluck the flower in season,’", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "So says the song, ‘I trow it is no treason.’", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "O Master, shall we call him overquick", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "To crop his own sweet rose before the hour?”", "indent": 0 } ], [ { "text": "And Merlin answered, “Overquick art thou", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "To catch a loathly plume fallen from the wing", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Of that foul bird of rapine whose whole prey", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Is man’s good name: he never wronged his bride.", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "I know the tale. An angry gust of wind", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Puffed out his torch among the myriad-roomed", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "And many-corridored complexities", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Of Arthur’s palace: then he found a door,", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "And darkling felt the sculptured ornament", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "That wreathen round it made it seem his own;", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "And wearied out made for the couch and slept,", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "A stainless man beside a stainless maid;", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "And either slept, nor knew of other there;", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Till the high dawn piercing the royal rose", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "In Arthur’s casement glimmered chastely down,", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Blushing upon them blushing, and at once", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "He rose without a word and parted from her:", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "But when the thing was blazed about the court,", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "The brute world howling forced them into bonds,", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "And as it chanced they are happy, being pure.”", "indent": 0 } ], [ { "text": "“O ay,” said Vivien, “that were likely too.", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "What say ye then to fair Sir Percivale", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "And of the horrid foulness that he wrought,", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "The saintly youth, the spotless lamb of Christ,", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Or some black wether of St. Satan’s fold.", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "What, in the precincts of the chapel-yard,", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Among the knightly brasses of the graves,", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "And by the cold Hic Jacets of the dead!”", "indent": 0 } ], [ { "text": "And Merlin answered careless of her charge,", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "“A sober man is Percivale and pure;", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "But once in life was flustered with new wine,", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Then paced for coolness in the chapel-yard;", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Where one of Satan’s shepherdesses caught", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "And meant to stamp him with her master’s mark;", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "And that he sinned is not believable;", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "For, look upon his face!⁠—but if he sinned,", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "The sin that practice burns into the blood,", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "And not the one dark hour which brings remorse,", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Will brand us, after, of whose fold we be:", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Or else were he, the holy king, whose hymns", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Are chanted in the minster, worse than all.", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "But is your spleen frothed out, or have ye more?”", "indent": 0 } ], [ { "text": "And Vivien answered frowning yet in wrath:", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "“O ay; what say ye to Sir Lancelot, friend", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Traitor or true? that commerce with the Queen,", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "I ask you, is it clamoured by the child,", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Or whispered in the corner? do ye know it?”", "indent": 0 } ], [ { "text": "To which he answered sadly, “Yea, I know it.", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Sir Lancelot went ambassador, at first,", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "To fetch her, and she watched him from her walls.", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "A rumour runs, she took him for the King,", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "So fixt her fancy on him: let them be.", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "But have ye no one word of loyal praise", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "For Arthur, blameless King and stainless man?”", "indent": 0 } ], [ { "text": "She answered with a low and chuckling laugh:", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "“Man! is he man at all, who knows and winks?", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Sees what his fair bride is and does, and winks?", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "By which the good King means to blind himself,", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "And blinds himself and all the Table Round", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "To all the foulness that they work. Myself", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Could call him (were it not for womanhood)", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "The pretty, popular cause such manhood earns,", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Could call him the main cause of all their crime;", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Yea, were he not crowned King, coward, and fool.”", "indent": 0 } ], [ { "text": "Then Merlin to his own heart, loathing, said:", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "“O true and tender! O my liege and King!", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "O selfless man and stainless gentleman,", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Who wouldst against thine own eye-witness fain", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Have all men true and leal, all women pure;", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "How, in the mouths of base interpreters,", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "From over-fineness not intelligible", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "To things with every sense as false and foul", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "As the poached filth that floods the middle street,", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Is thy white blamelessness accounted blame!”", "indent": 0 } ], [ { "text": "But Vivien, deeming Merlin overborne", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "By instance, recommenced, and let her tongue", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Rage like a fire among the noblest names,", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Polluting, and imputing her whole self,", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Defaming and defacing, till she left", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Not even Lancelot brave, nor Galahad clean.", "indent": 0 } ], [ { "text": "Her words had issue other than she willed.", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "He dragged his eyebrow bushes down, and made", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "A snowy penthouse for his hollow eyes,", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "And muttered in himself, “Tell her the charm!", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "So, if she had it, would she rail on me", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "To snare the next, and if she have it not", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "So will she rail. What did the wanton say?", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "‘Not mount as high;’ we scarce can sink as low:", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "For men at most differ as Heaven and earth,", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "But women, worst and best, as Heaven and Hell.", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "I know the Table Round, my friends of old;", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "All brave, and many generous, and some chaste.", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "She cloaks the scar of some repulse with lies;", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "I well believe she tempted them and failed,", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Being so bitter: for fine plots may fail,", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Though harlots paint their talk as well as face", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "With colours of the heart that are not theirs.", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "I will not let her know: nine tithes of times", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Face-flatterer and backbiter are the same.", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "And they, sweet soul, that most impute a crime", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Are pronest to it, and impute themselves,", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Wanting the mental range; or low desire", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Not to feel lowest makes them level all;", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Yea, they would pare the mountain to the plain,", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "To leave an equal baseness; and in this", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Are harlots like the crowd, that if they find", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Some stain or blemish in a name of note,", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Not grieving that their greatest are so small,", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Inflate themselves with some insane delight,", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "And judge all nature from her feet of clay,", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Without the will to lift their eyes, and see", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Her godlike head crowned with spiritual fire,", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "And touching other worlds. I am weary of her.”", "indent": 0 } ], [ { "text": "He spoke in words part heard, in whispers part,", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Half-suffocated in the hoary fell", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "And many-wintered fleece of throat and chin.", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "But Vivien, gathering somewhat of his mood,", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "And hearing “harlot” muttered twice or thrice,", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Leapt from her session on his lap, and stood", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Stiff as a viper frozen; loathsome sight,", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "How from the rosy lips of life and love,", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Flashed the bare-grinning skeleton of death!", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "White was her cheek; sharp breaths of anger puffed", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Her fairy nostril out; her hand half-clenched", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Went faltering sideways downward to her belt,", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "And feeling; had she found a dagger there", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "(For in a wink the false love turns to hate)", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "She would have stabbed him; but she found it not:", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "His eye was calm, and suddenly she took", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "To bitter weeping like a beaten child,", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "A long, long weeping, not consolable.", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Then her false voice made way, broken with sobs:", "indent": 0 } ], [ { "text": "“O crueller than was ever told in tale,", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Or sung in song! O vainly lavished love!", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "O cruel, there was nothing wild or strange,", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Or seeming shameful⁠—for what shame in love,", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "So love be true, and not as yours is⁠—nothing", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Poor Vivien had not done to win his trust", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Who called her what he called her⁠—all her crime,", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "All⁠—all⁠—the wish to prove him wholly hers.”", "indent": 0 } ], [ { "text": "She mused a little, and then clapt her hands", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Together with a wailing shriek, and said:", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "“Stabbed through the heart’s affections to the heart!", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Seethed like the kid in its own mother’s milk!", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Killed with a word worse than a life of blows!", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "I thought that he was gentle, being great:", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "O God, that I had loved a smaller man!", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "I should have found in him a greater heart.", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "O, I, that flattering my true passion, saw", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "The knights, the court, the King, dark in your light,", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Who loved to make men darker than they are,", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Because of that high pleasure which I had", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "To seat you sole upon my pedestal", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Of worship⁠—I am answered, and henceforth", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "The course of life that seemed so flowery to me", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "With you for guide and master, only you,", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Becomes the sea-cliff pathway broken short,", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "And ending in a ruin⁠—nothing left,", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "But into some low cave to crawl, and there,", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "If the wolf spare me, weep my life away,", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Killed with inutterable unkindliness.”", "indent": 0 } ], [ { "text": "She paused, she turned away, she hung her head,", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "The snake of gold slid from her hair, the braid", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Slipt and uncoiled itself, she wept afresh,", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "And the dark wood grew darker toward the storm", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "In silence, while his anger slowly died", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Within him, till he let his wisdom go", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "For ease of heart, and half believed her true:", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Called her to shelter in the hollow oak,", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "“Come from the storm,” and having no reply,", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Gazed at the heaving shoulder, and the face", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Hand-hidden, as for utmost grief or shame;", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Then thrice essayed, by tenderest-touching terms,", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "To sleek her ruffled peace of mind, in vain.", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "At last she let herself be conquered by him,", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "And as the cageling newly flown returns,", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "The seeming-injured simple-hearted thing", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Came to her old perch back, and settled there.", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "There while she sat, half-falling from his knees,", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Half-nestled at his heart, and since he saw", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "The slow tear creep from her closed eyelid yet,", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "About her, more in kindness than in love,", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "The gentle wizard cast a shielding arm.", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "But she dislinked herself at once and rose,", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Her arms upon her breast across, and stood,", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "A virtuous gentlewoman deeply wronged,", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Upright and flushed before him: then she said:", "indent": 0 } ], [ { "text": "“There must now be no passages of love", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Betwixt us twain henceforward evermore;", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Since, if I be what I am grossly called,", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "What should be granted which your own gross heart", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Would reckon worth the taking? I will go.", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "In truth, but one thing now⁠—better have died", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Thrice than have asked it once⁠—could make me stay⁠—", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "That proof of trust⁠—so often asked in vain!", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "How justly, after that vile term of yours,", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "I find with grief! I might believe you then,", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Who knows? once more. Lo! what was once to me", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Mere matter of the fancy, now hath grown", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "The vast necessity of heart and life.", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Farewell; think gently of me, for I fear", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "My fate or folly, passing gayer youth", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "For one so old, must be to love thee still.", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "But ere I leave thee let me swear once more", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "That if I schemed against thy peace in this,", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "May yon just heaven, that darkens o’er me, send", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "One flash, that, missing all things else, may make", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "My scheming brain a cinder, if I lie.”", "indent": 0 } ], [ { "text": "Scarce had she ceased, when out of heaven a bolt", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "(For now the storm was close above them) struck,", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Furrowing a giant oak, and javelining", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "With darted spikes and splinters of the wood", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "The dark earth round. He raised his eyes and saw", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "The tree that shone white-listed through the gloom.", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "But Vivien, fearing heaven had heard her oath,", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "And dazzled by the livid-flickering fork,", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "And deafened with the stammering cracks and claps", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "That followed, flying back and crying out,", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "“O Merlin, though you do not love me, save,", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Yet save me!” clung to him and hugged him close;", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "And called him dear protector in her fright,", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Nor yet forgot her practice in her fright,", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "But wrought upon his mood and hugged him close.", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "The pale blood of the wizard at her touch", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Took gayer colours, like an opal warmed.", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "She blamed herself for telling hearsay tales:", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "She shook from fear, and for her fault she wept", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Of petulancy; she called him lord and liege,", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Her seer, her bard, her silver star of eve,", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Her God, her Merlin, the one passionate love", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Of her whole life; and ever overhead", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Bellowed the tempest, and the rotten branch", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Snapt in the rushing of the river-rain", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Above them; and in change of glare and gloom", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Her eyes and neck glittering went and came;", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Till now the storm, its burst of passion spent,", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Moaning and calling out of other lands,", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Had left the ravaged woodland yet once more", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "To peace; and what should not have been had been,", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "For Merlin, overtalked and overworn,", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Had yielded, told her all the charm, and slept.", "indent": 0 } ], [ { "text": "Then, in one moment, she put forth the charm", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Of woven paces and of waving hands,", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "And in the hollow oak he lay as dead,", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "And lost to life and use and name and fame.", "indent": 0 } ], [ { "text": "Then crying “I have made his glory mine,”", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "And shrieking out “O fool!” the harlot leapt", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Adown the forest, and the thicket closed", "indent": 0 }, { "text": "Behind her, and the forest echoed “fool.”", "indent": 0 } ] ] }