{
 "id": "alfred-lord-tennyson/pelleas-and-ettarre",
 "title": "Pelleas and Ettarre",
 "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": 10,
 "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": "pelleas-and-ettarre.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": 606,
  "n_stanzas": 56,
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  "longest_line_chars": 58,
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 "stanzas": [
  [
   {
    "text": "King Arthur made new knights to fill the gap",
    "indent": 0
   },
   {
    "text": "Left by the Holy Quest; and as he sat",
    "indent": 0
   },
   {
    "text": "In hall at old Caerleon, the high doors",
    "indent": 0
   },
   {
    "text": "Were softly sundered, and through these a youth,",
    "indent": 0
   },
   {
    "text": "Pelleas, and the sweet smell of the fields",
    "indent": 0
   },
   {
    "text": "Past, and the sunshine came along with him.",
    "indent": 0
   }
  ],
  [
   {
    "text": "“Make me thy knight, because I know, Sir King,",
    "indent": 0
   },
   {
    "text": "All that belongs to knighthood, and I love.”",
    "indent": 0
   },
   {
    "text": "Such was his cry: for having heard the King",
    "indent": 0
   },
   {
    "text": "Had let proclaim a tournament⁠—the prize",
    "indent": 0
   },
   {
    "text": "A golden circlet and a knightly sword,",
    "indent": 0
   },
   {
    "text": "Full fain had Pelleas for his lady won",
    "indent": 0
   },
   {
    "text": "The golden circlet, for himself the sword:",
    "indent": 0
   },
   {
    "text": "And there were those who knew him near the King,",
    "indent": 0
   },
   {
    "text": "And promised for him: and Arthur made him knight.",
    "indent": 0
   }
  ],
  [
   {
    "text": "And this new knight, Sir Pelleas of the isles⁠—",
    "indent": 0
   },
   {
    "text": "But lately come to his inheritance,",
    "indent": 0
   },
   {
    "text": "And lord of many a barren isle was he⁠—",
    "indent": 0
   },
   {
    "text": "Riding at noon, a day or twain before,",
    "indent": 0
   },
   {
    "text": "Across the forest called of Dean, to find",
    "indent": 0
   },
   {
    "text": "Caerleon and the King, had felt the sun",
    "indent": 0
   },
   {
    "text": "Beat like a strong knight on his helm, and reeled",
    "indent": 0
   },
   {
    "text": "Almost to falling from his horse; but saw",
    "indent": 0
   },
   {
    "text": "Near him a mound of even-sloping side,",
    "indent": 0
   },
   {
    "text": "Whereon a hundred stately beeches grew,",
    "indent": 0
   },
   {
    "text": "And here and there great hollies under them;",
    "indent": 0
   },
   {
    "text": "But for a mile all round was open space,",
    "indent": 0
   },
   {
    "text": "And fern and heath: and slowly Pelleas drew",
    "indent": 0
   },
   {
    "text": "To that dim day, then binding his good horse",
    "indent": 0
   },
   {
    "text": "To a tree, cast himself down; and as he lay",
    "indent": 0
   },
   {
    "text": "At random looking over the brown earth",
    "indent": 0
   },
   {
    "text": "Through that green-glooming twilight of the grove,",
    "indent": 0
   },
   {
    "text": "It seemed to Pelleas that the fern without",
    "indent": 0
   },
   {
    "text": "Burnt as a living fire of emeralds,",
    "indent": 0
   },
   {
    "text": "So that his eyes were dazzled looking at it.",
    "indent": 0
   },
   {
    "text": "Then o’er it crost the dimness of a cloud",
    "indent": 0
   },
   {
    "text": "Floating, and once the shadow of a bird",
    "indent": 0
   },
   {
    "text": "Flying, and then a fawn; and his eyes closed.",
    "indent": 0
   },
   {
    "text": "And since he loved all maidens, but no maid",
    "indent": 0
   },
   {
    "text": "In special, half-awake he whispered, “Where?",
    "indent": 0
   },
   {
    "text": "O where? I love thee, though I know thee not.",
    "indent": 0
   },
   {
    "text": "For fair thou art and pure as Guinevere,",
    "indent": 0
   },
   {
    "text": "And I will make thee with my spear and sword",
    "indent": 0
   },
   {
    "text": "As famous⁠—O my Queen, my Guinevere,",
    "indent": 0
   },
   {
    "text": "For I will be thine Arthur when we meet.”",
    "indent": 0
   }
  ],
  [
   {
    "text": "Suddenly wakened with a sound of talk",
    "indent": 0
   },
   {
    "text": "And laughter at the limit of the wood,",
    "indent": 0
   },
   {
    "text": "And glancing through the hoary boles, he saw,",
    "indent": 0
   },
   {
    "text": "Strange as to some old prophet might have seemed",
    "indent": 0
   },
   {
    "text": "A vision hovering on a sea of fire,",
    "indent": 0
   },
   {
    "text": "Damsels in divers colours like the cloud",
    "indent": 0
   },
   {
    "text": "Of sunset and sunrise, and all of them",
    "indent": 0
   },
   {
    "text": "On horses, and the horses richly trapt",
    "indent": 0
   },
   {
    "text": "Breast-high in that bright line of bracken stood:",
    "indent": 0
   },
   {
    "text": "And all the damsels talked confusedly,",
    "indent": 0
   },
   {
    "text": "And one was pointing this way, and one that,",
    "indent": 0
   },
   {
    "text": "Because the way was lost.",
    "indent": 0
   }
  ],
  [
   {
    "text": "And Pelleas rose,",
    "indent": 0,
    "align": "right"
   },
   {
    "text": "And loosed his horse, and led him to the light.",
    "indent": 0,
    "align": "right"
   },
   {
    "text": "There she that seemed the chief among them said,",
    "indent": 0,
    "align": "right"
   },
   {
    "text": "“In happy time behold our pilot-star!",
    "indent": 0,
    "align": "right"
   },
   {
    "text": "Youth, we are damsels-errant, and we ride,",
    "indent": 0,
    "align": "right"
   },
   {
    "text": "Armed as ye see, to tilt against the knights",
    "indent": 0,
    "align": "right"
   },
   {
    "text": "There at Caerleon, but have lost our way:",
    "indent": 0,
    "align": "right"
   },
   {
    "text": "To right? to left? straight forward? back again?",
    "indent": 0,
    "align": "right"
   },
   {
    "text": "Which? tell us quickly.”",
    "indent": 0,
    "align": "right"
   }
  ],
  [
   {
    "text": "Pelleas gazing thought,",
    "indent": 0,
    "align": "right"
   },
   {
    "text": "“Is Guinevere herself so beautiful?”",
    "indent": 0,
    "align": "right"
   },
   {
    "text": "For large her violet eyes looked, and her bloom",
    "indent": 0,
    "align": "right"
   },
   {
    "text": "A rosy dawn kindled in stainless heavens,",
    "indent": 0,
    "align": "right"
   },
   {
    "text": "And round her limbs, mature in womanhood;",
    "indent": 0,
    "align": "right"
   },
   {
    "text": "And slender was her hand and small her shape;",
    "indent": 0,
    "align": "right"
   },
   {
    "text": "And but for those large eyes, the haunts of scorn,",
    "indent": 0,
    "align": "right"
   },
   {
    "text": "She might have seemed a toy to trifle with,",
    "indent": 0,
    "align": "right"
   },
   {
    "text": "And pass and care no more. But while he gazed",
    "indent": 0,
    "align": "right"
   },
   {
    "text": "The beauty of her flesh abashed the boy,",
    "indent": 0,
    "align": "right"
   },
   {
    "text": "As though it were the beauty of her soul:",
    "indent": 0,
    "align": "right"
   },
   {
    "text": "For as the base man, judging of the good,",
    "indent": 0,
    "align": "right"
   },
   {
    "text": "Puts his own baseness in him by default",
    "indent": 0,
    "align": "right"
   },
   {
    "text": "Of will and nature, so did Pelleas lend",
    "indent": 0,
    "align": "right"
   },
   {
    "text": "All the young beauty of his own soul to hers,",
    "indent": 0,
    "align": "right"
   },
   {
    "text": "Believing her; and when she spake to him,",
    "indent": 0,
    "align": "right"
   },
   {
    "text": "Stammered, and could not make her a reply.",
    "indent": 0,
    "align": "right"
   },
   {
    "text": "For out of the waste islands had he come,",
    "indent": 0,
    "align": "right"
   },
   {
    "text": "Where saving his own sisters he had known",
    "indent": 0,
    "align": "right"
   },
   {
    "text": "Scarce any but the women of his isles,",
    "indent": 0,
    "align": "right"
   },
   {
    "text": "Rough wives, that laughed and screamed against the gulls,",
    "indent": 0,
    "align": "right"
   },
   {
    "text": "Makers of nets, and living from the sea.",
    "indent": 0,
    "align": "right"
   }
  ],
  [
   {
    "text": "Then with a slow smile turned the lady round",
    "indent": 0
   },
   {
    "text": "And looked upon her people; and as when",
    "indent": 0
   },
   {
    "text": "A stone is flung into some sleeping tarn,",
    "indent": 0
   },
   {
    "text": "The circle widens till it lip the marge,",
    "indent": 0
   },
   {
    "text": "Spread the slow smile through all her company.",
    "indent": 0
   },
   {
    "text": "Three knights were thereamong; and they too smiled,",
    "indent": 0
   },
   {
    "text": "Scorning him; for the lady was Ettarre,",
    "indent": 0
   },
   {
    "text": "And she was a great lady in her land.",
    "indent": 0
   }
  ],
  [
   {
    "text": "Again she said, “O wild and of the woods,",
    "indent": 0
   },
   {
    "text": "Knowest thou not the fashion of our speech?",
    "indent": 0
   },
   {
    "text": "Or have the Heavens but given thee a fair face,",
    "indent": 0
   },
   {
    "text": "Lacking a tongue?”",
    "indent": 0
   }
  ],
  [
   {
    "text": "“O damsel,” answered he,",
    "indent": 0,
    "align": "right"
   },
   {
    "text": "“I woke from dreams; and coming out of gloom",
    "indent": 0,
    "align": "right"
   },
   {
    "text": "Was dazzled by the sudden light, and crave",
    "indent": 0,
    "align": "right"
   },
   {
    "text": "Pardon: but will ye to Caerleon? I",
    "indent": 0,
    "align": "right"
   },
   {
    "text": "Go likewise: shall I lead you to the King?”",
    "indent": 0,
    "align": "right"
   }
  ],
  [
   {
    "text": "“Lead then,” she said; and through the woods they went.",
    "indent": 0
   },
   {
    "text": "And while they rode, the meaning in his eyes,",
    "indent": 0
   },
   {
    "text": "His tenderness of manner, and chaste awe,",
    "indent": 0
   },
   {
    "text": "His broken utterances and bashfulness,",
    "indent": 0
   },
   {
    "text": "Were all a burthen to her, and in her heart",
    "indent": 0
   },
   {
    "text": "She muttered, “I have lighted on a fool,",
    "indent": 0
   },
   {
    "text": "Raw, yet so stale!” But since her mind was bent",
    "indent": 0
   },
   {
    "text": "On hearing, after trumpet blown, her name",
    "indent": 0
   },
   {
    "text": "And title, “Queen of Beauty,” in the lists",
    "indent": 0
   },
   {
    "text": "Cried⁠—and beholding him so strong, she thought",
    "indent": 0
   },
   {
    "text": "That peradventure he will fight for me,",
    "indent": 0
   },
   {
    "text": "And win the circlet: therefore flattered him,",
    "indent": 0
   },
   {
    "text": "Being so gracious, that he wellnigh deemed",
    "indent": 0
   },
   {
    "text": "His wish by hers was echoed; and her knights",
    "indent": 0
   },
   {
    "text": "And all her damsels too were gracious to him,",
    "indent": 0
   },
   {
    "text": "For she was a great lady.",
    "indent": 0
   }
  ],
  [
   {
    "text": "And when they reached",
    "indent": 0,
    "align": "right"
   },
   {
    "text": "Caerleon, ere they past to lodging, she,",
    "indent": 0,
    "align": "right"
   },
   {
    "text": "Taking his hand, “O the strong hand,” she said,",
    "indent": 0,
    "align": "right"
   },
   {
    "text": "“See! look at mine! but wilt thou fight for me,",
    "indent": 0,
    "align": "right"
   },
   {
    "text": "And win me this fine circlet, Pelleas,",
    "indent": 0,
    "align": "right"
   },
   {
    "text": "That I may love thee?”",
    "indent": 0,
    "align": "right"
   }
  ],
  [
   {
    "text": "Then his helpless heart",
    "indent": 0,
    "align": "right"
   },
   {
    "text": "Leapt, and he cried, “Ay! wilt thou if I win?”",
    "indent": 0,
    "align": "right"
   },
   {
    "text": "“Ay, that will I,” she answered, and she laughed,",
    "indent": 0,
    "align": "right"
   },
   {
    "text": "And straitly nipt the hand, and flung it from her;",
    "indent": 0,
    "align": "right"
   },
   {
    "text": "Then glanced askew at those three knights of hers,",
    "indent": 0,
    "align": "right"
   },
   {
    "text": "Till all her ladies laughed along with her.",
    "indent": 0,
    "align": "right"
   }
  ],
  [
   {
    "text": "“O happy world,” thought Pelleas, “all, meseems,",
    "indent": 0
   },
   {
    "text": "Are happy; I the happiest of them all.”",
    "indent": 0
   },
   {
    "text": "Nor slept that night for pleasure in his blood,",
    "indent": 0
   },
   {
    "text": "And green wood-ways, and eyes among the leaves;",
    "indent": 0
   },
   {
    "text": "Then being on the morrow knighted, sware",
    "indent": 0
   },
   {
    "text": "To love one only. And as he came away,",
    "indent": 0
   },
   {
    "text": "The men who met him rounded on their heels",
    "indent": 0
   },
   {
    "text": "And wondered after him, because his face",
    "indent": 0
   },
   {
    "text": "Shone like the countenance of a priest of old",
    "indent": 0
   },
   {
    "text": "Against the flame about a sacrifice",
    "indent": 0
   },
   {
    "text": "Kindled by fire from heaven: so glad was he.",
    "indent": 0
   }
  ],
  [
   {
    "text": "Then Arthur made vast banquets, and strange knights",
    "indent": 0
   },
   {
    "text": "From the four winds came in: and each one sat,",
    "indent": 0
   },
   {
    "text": "Though served with choice from air, land, stream, and sea,",
    "indent": 0
   },
   {
    "text": "Oft in mid-banquet measuring with his eyes",
    "indent": 0
   },
   {
    "text": "His neighbour’s make and might: and Pelleas looked",
    "indent": 0
   },
   {
    "text": "Noble among the noble, for he dreamed",
    "indent": 0
   },
   {
    "text": "His lady loved him, and he knew himself",
    "indent": 0
   },
   {
    "text": "Loved of the King: and him his new-made knight",
    "indent": 0
   },
   {
    "text": "Worshipt, whose lightest whisper moved him more",
    "indent": 0
   },
   {
    "text": "Than all the ranged reasons of the world.",
    "indent": 0
   }
  ],
  [
   {
    "text": "Then blushed and brake the morning of the jousts,",
    "indent": 0
   },
   {
    "text": "And this was called “The Tournament of Youth:”",
    "indent": 0
   },
   {
    "text": "For Arthur, loving his young knight, withheld",
    "indent": 0
   },
   {
    "text": "His older and his mightier from the lists,",
    "indent": 0
   },
   {
    "text": "That Pelleas might obtain his lady’s love,",
    "indent": 0
   },
   {
    "text": "According to her promise, and remain",
    "indent": 0
   },
   {
    "text": "Lord of the tourney. And Arthur had the jousts",
    "indent": 0
   },
   {
    "text": "Down in the flat field by the shore of Usk",
    "indent": 0
   },
   {
    "text": "Holden: the gilded parapets were crowned",
    "indent": 0
   },
   {
    "text": "With faces, and the great tower filled with eyes",
    "indent": 0
   },
   {
    "text": "Up to the summit, and the trumpets blew.",
    "indent": 0
   },
   {
    "text": "There all day long Sir Pelleas kept the field",
    "indent": 0
   },
   {
    "text": "With honour: so by that strong hand of his",
    "indent": 0
   },
   {
    "text": "The sword and golden circlet were achieved.",
    "indent": 0
   }
  ],
  [
   {
    "text": "Then rang the shout his lady loved: the heat",
    "indent": 0
   },
   {
    "text": "Of pride and glory fired her face; her eye",
    "indent": 0
   },
   {
    "text": "Sparkled; she caught the circlet from his lance,",
    "indent": 0
   },
   {
    "text": "And there before the people crowned herself:",
    "indent": 0
   },
   {
    "text": "So for the last time she was gracious to him.",
    "indent": 0
   }
  ],
  [
   {
    "text": "Then at Caerleon for a space⁠—her look",
    "indent": 0
   },
   {
    "text": "Bright for all others, cloudier on her knight⁠—",
    "indent": 0
   },
   {
    "text": "Lingered Ettarre: and seeing Pelleas droop,",
    "indent": 0
   },
   {
    "text": "Said Guinevere, “We marvel at thee much,",
    "indent": 0
   },
   {
    "text": "O damsel, wearing this unsunny face",
    "indent": 0
   },
   {
    "text": "To him who won thee glory!” And she said,",
    "indent": 0
   },
   {
    "text": "“Had ye not held your Lancelot in your bower,",
    "indent": 0
   },
   {
    "text": "My Queen, he had not won.” Whereat the Queen,",
    "indent": 0
   },
   {
    "text": "As one whose foot is bitten by an ant,",
    "indent": 0
   },
   {
    "text": "Glanced down upon her, turned and went her way.",
    "indent": 0
   }
  ],
  [
   {
    "text": "But after, when her damsels, and herself,",
    "indent": 0
   },
   {
    "text": "And those three knights all set their faces home,",
    "indent": 0
   },
   {
    "text": "Sir Pelleas followed. She that saw him cried,",
    "indent": 0
   },
   {
    "text": "“Damsels⁠—and yet I should be shamed to say it⁠—",
    "indent": 0
   },
   {
    "text": "I cannot bide Sir Baby. Keep him back",
    "indent": 0
   },
   {
    "text": "Among yourselves. Would rather that we had",
    "indent": 0
   },
   {
    "text": "Some rough old knight who knew the worldly way,",
    "indent": 0
   },
   {
    "text": "Albeit grizzlier than a bear, to ride",
    "indent": 0
   },
   {
    "text": "And jest with: take him to you, keep him off,",
    "indent": 0
   },
   {
    "text": "And pamper him with papmeat, if ye will,",
    "indent": 0
   },
   {
    "text": "Old milky fables of the wolf and sheep,",
    "indent": 0
   },
   {
    "text": "Such as the wholesome mothers tell their boys.",
    "indent": 0
   },
   {
    "text": "Nay, should ye try him with a merry one",
    "indent": 0
   },
   {
    "text": "To find his mettle, good: and if he fly us,",
    "indent": 0
   },
   {
    "text": "Small matter! let him.” This her damsels heard,",
    "indent": 0
   },
   {
    "text": "And mindful of her small and cruel hand,",
    "indent": 0
   },
   {
    "text": "They, closing round him through the journey home,",
    "indent": 0
   },
   {
    "text": "Acted her hest, and always from her side",
    "indent": 0
   },
   {
    "text": "Restrained him with all manner of device,",
    "indent": 0
   },
   {
    "text": "So that he could not come to speech with her.",
    "indent": 0
   },
   {
    "text": "And when she gained her castle, upsprang the bridge,",
    "indent": 0
   },
   {
    "text": "Down rang the grate of iron through the groove,",
    "indent": 0
   },
   {
    "text": "And he was left alone in open field.",
    "indent": 0
   }
  ],
  [
   {
    "text": "“These be the ways of ladies,” Pelleas thought,",
    "indent": 0
   },
   {
    "text": "“To those who love them, trials of our faith.",
    "indent": 0
   },
   {
    "text": "Yea, let her prove me to the uttermost,",
    "indent": 0
   },
   {
    "text": "For loyal to the uttermost am I.”",
    "indent": 0
   },
   {
    "text": "So made his moan; and darkness falling, sought",
    "indent": 0
   },
   {
    "text": "A priory not far off, there lodged, but rose",
    "indent": 0
   },
   {
    "text": "With morning every day, and, moist or dry,",
    "indent": 0
   },
   {
    "text": "Full-armed upon his charger all day long",
    "indent": 0
   },
   {
    "text": "Sat by the walls, and no one opened to him.",
    "indent": 0
   }
  ],
  [
   {
    "text": "And this persistence turned her scorn to wrath.",
    "indent": 0
   },
   {
    "text": "Then calling her three knights, she charged them, “Out!",
    "indent": 0
   },
   {
    "text": "And drive him from the walls.” And out they came",
    "indent": 0
   },
   {
    "text": "But Pelleas overthrew them as they dashed",
    "indent": 0
   },
   {
    "text": "Against him one by one; and these returned,",
    "indent": 0
   },
   {
    "text": "But still he kept his watch beneath the wall.",
    "indent": 0
   }
  ],
  [
   {
    "text": "Thereon her wrath became a hate; and once,",
    "indent": 0
   },
   {
    "text": "A week beyond, while walking on the walls",
    "indent": 0
   },
   {
    "text": "With her three knights, she pointed downward, “Look,",
    "indent": 0
   },
   {
    "text": "He haunts me⁠—I cannot breathe⁠—besieges me;",
    "indent": 0
   },
   {
    "text": "Down! strike him! put my hate into your strokes,",
    "indent": 0
   },
   {
    "text": "And drive him from my walls.” And down they went,",
    "indent": 0
   },
   {
    "text": "And Pelleas overthrew them one by one;",
    "indent": 0
   },
   {
    "text": "And from the tower above him cried Ettarre,",
    "indent": 0
   },
   {
    "text": "“Bind him, and bring him in.”",
    "indent": 0
   }
  ],
  [
   {
    "text": "He heard her voice;",
    "indent": 0,
    "align": "right"
   },
   {
    "text": "Then let the strong hand, which had overthrown",
    "indent": 0,
    "align": "right"
   },
   {
    "text": "Her minion-knights, by those he overthrew",
    "indent": 0,
    "align": "right"
   },
   {
    "text": "Be bounden straight, and so they brought him in.",
    "indent": 0,
    "align": "right"
   }
  ],
  [
   {
    "text": "Then when he came before Ettarre, the sight",
    "indent": 0
   },
   {
    "text": "Of her rich beauty made him at one glance",
    "indent": 0
   },
   {
    "text": "More bondsman in his heart than in his bonds.",
    "indent": 0
   },
   {
    "text": "Yet with good cheer he spake, “Behold me, Lady,",
    "indent": 0
   },
   {
    "text": "A prisoner, and the vassal of thy will;",
    "indent": 0
   },
   {
    "text": "And if thou keep me in thy donjon here,",
    "indent": 0
   },
   {
    "text": "Content am I so that I see thy face",
    "indent": 0
   },
   {
    "text": "But once a day: for I have sworn my vows,",
    "indent": 0
   },
   {
    "text": "And thou hast given thy promise, and I know",
    "indent": 0
   },
   {
    "text": "That all these pains are trials of my faith,",
    "indent": 0
   },
   {
    "text": "And that thyself, when thou hast seen me strained",
    "indent": 0
   },
   {
    "text": "And sifted to the utmost, wilt at length",
    "indent": 0
   },
   {
    "text": "Yield me thy love and know me for thy knight.”",
    "indent": 0
   }
  ],
  [
   {
    "text": "Then she began to rail so bitterly,",
    "indent": 0
   },
   {
    "text": "With all her damsels, he was stricken mute;",
    "indent": 0
   },
   {
    "text": "But when she mocked his vows and the great King,",
    "indent": 0
   },
   {
    "text": "Lighted on words: “For pity of thine own self,",
    "indent": 0
   },
   {
    "text": "Peace, Lady, peace: is he not thine and mine?”",
    "indent": 0
   },
   {
    "text": "“Thou fool,” she said, “I never heard his voice",
    "indent": 0
   },
   {
    "text": "But longed to break away. Unbind him now,",
    "indent": 0
   },
   {
    "text": "And thrust him out of doors; for save he be",
    "indent": 0
   },
   {
    "text": "Fool to the midmost marrow of his bones,",
    "indent": 0
   },
   {
    "text": "He will return no more.” And those, her three,",
    "indent": 0
   },
   {
    "text": "Laughed, and unbound, and thrust him from the gate.",
    "indent": 0
   }
  ],
  [
   {
    "text": "And after this, a week beyond, again",
    "indent": 0
   },
   {
    "text": "She called them, saying, “There he watches yet,",
    "indent": 0
   },
   {
    "text": "There like a dog before his master’s door!",
    "indent": 0
   },
   {
    "text": "Kicked, he returns: do ye not hate him, ye?",
    "indent": 0
   },
   {
    "text": "Ye know yourselves: how can ye bide at peace,",
    "indent": 0
   },
   {
    "text": "Affronted with his fulsome innocence?",
    "indent": 0
   },
   {
    "text": "Are ye but creatures of the board and bed,",
    "indent": 0
   },
   {
    "text": "No men to strike? Fall on him all at once,",
    "indent": 0
   },
   {
    "text": "And if ye slay him I reck not: if ye fail,",
    "indent": 0
   },
   {
    "text": "Give ye the slave mine order to be bound,",
    "indent": 0
   },
   {
    "text": "Bind him as heretofore, and bring him in:",
    "indent": 0
   },
   {
    "text": "It may be ye shall slay him in his bonds.”",
    "indent": 0
   }
  ],
  [
   {
    "text": "She spake; and at her will they couched their spears,",
    "indent": 0
   },
   {
    "text": "Three against one: and Gawain passing by,",
    "indent": 0
   },
   {
    "text": "Bound upon solitary adventure, saw",
    "indent": 0
   },
   {
    "text": "Low down beneath the shadow of those towers",
    "indent": 0
   },
   {
    "text": "A villainy, three to one: and through his heart",
    "indent": 0
   },
   {
    "text": "The fire of honour and all noble deeds",
    "indent": 0
   },
   {
    "text": "Flashed, and he called, “I strike upon thy side⁠—",
    "indent": 0
   },
   {
    "text": "The caitiffs!” “Nay,” said Pelleas, “but forbear;",
    "indent": 0
   },
   {
    "text": "He needs no aid who doth his lady’s will.”",
    "indent": 0
   }
  ],
  [
   {
    "text": "So Gawain, looking at the villainy done,",
    "indent": 0
   },
   {
    "text": "Forbore, but in his heat and eagerness",
    "indent": 0
   },
   {
    "text": "Trembled and quivered, as the dog, withheld",
    "indent": 0
   },
   {
    "text": "A moment from the vermin that he sees",
    "indent": 0
   },
   {
    "text": "Before him, shivers, ere he springs and kills.",
    "indent": 0
   }
  ],
  [
   {
    "text": "And Pelleas overthrew them, one to three;",
    "indent": 0
   },
   {
    "text": "And they rose up, and bound, and brought him in.",
    "indent": 0
   },
   {
    "text": "Then first her anger, leaving Pelleas, burned",
    "indent": 0
   },
   {
    "text": "Full on her knights in many an evil name",
    "indent": 0
   },
   {
    "text": "Of craven, weakling, and thrice-beaten hound:",
    "indent": 0
   },
   {
    "text": "“Yet, take him, ye that scarce are fit to touch,",
    "indent": 0
   },
   {
    "text": "Far less to bind, your victor, and thrust him out,",
    "indent": 0
   },
   {
    "text": "And let who will release him from his bonds.",
    "indent": 0
   },
   {
    "text": "And if he comes again”⁠—there she brake short;",
    "indent": 0
   },
   {
    "text": "And Pelleas answered, “Lady, for indeed",
    "indent": 0
   },
   {
    "text": "I loved you and I deemed you beautiful,",
    "indent": 0
   },
   {
    "text": "I cannot brook to see your beauty marred",
    "indent": 0
   },
   {
    "text": "Through evil spite: and if ye love me not,",
    "indent": 0
   },
   {
    "text": "I cannot bear to dream you so forsworn:",
    "indent": 0
   },
   {
    "text": "I had liefer ye were worthy of my love,",
    "indent": 0
   },
   {
    "text": "Than to be loved again of you⁠—farewell;",
    "indent": 0
   },
   {
    "text": "And though ye kill my hope, not yet my love,",
    "indent": 0
   },
   {
    "text": "Vex not yourself: ye will not see me more.”",
    "indent": 0
   }
  ],
  [
   {
    "text": "While thus he spake, she gazed upon the man",
    "indent": 0
   },
   {
    "text": "Of princely bearing, though in bonds, and thought,",
    "indent": 0
   },
   {
    "text": "“Why have I pushed him from me? this man loves,",
    "indent": 0
   },
   {
    "text": "If love there be: yet him I loved not. Why?",
    "indent": 0
   },
   {
    "text": "I deemed him fool? yea, so? or that in him",
    "indent": 0
   },
   {
    "text": "A something⁠—was it nobler than myself?",
    "indent": 0
   },
   {
    "text": "Seemed my reproach? He is not of my kind.",
    "indent": 0
   },
   {
    "text": "He could not love me, did he know me well.",
    "indent": 0
   },
   {
    "text": "Nay, let him go⁠—and quickly.” And her knights",
    "indent": 0
   },
   {
    "text": "Laughed not, but thrust him bounden out of door.",
    "indent": 0
   }
  ],
  [
   {
    "text": "Forth sprang Gawain, and loosed him from his bonds,",
    "indent": 0
   },
   {
    "text": "And flung them o’er the walls; and afterward,",
    "indent": 0
   },
   {
    "text": "Shaking his hands, as from a lazar’s rag,",
    "indent": 0
   },
   {
    "text": "“Faith of my body,” he said, “and art thou not⁠—",
    "indent": 0
   },
   {
    "text": "Yea thou art he, whom late our Arthur made",
    "indent": 0
   },
   {
    "text": "Knight of his table; yea and he that won",
    "indent": 0
   },
   {
    "text": "The circlet? wherefore hast thou so defamed",
    "indent": 0
   },
   {
    "text": "Thy brotherhood in me and all the rest,",
    "indent": 0
   },
   {
    "text": "As let these caitiffs on thee work their will?”",
    "indent": 0
   }
  ],
  [
   {
    "text": "And Pelleas answered, “O, their wills are hers",
    "indent": 0
   },
   {
    "text": "For whom I won the circlet; and mine, hers,",
    "indent": 0
   },
   {
    "text": "Thus to be bounden, so to see her face,",
    "indent": 0
   },
   {
    "text": "Marred though it be with spite and mockery now,",
    "indent": 0
   },
   {
    "text": "Other than when I found her in the woods;",
    "indent": 0
   },
   {
    "text": "And though she hath me bounden but in spite,",
    "indent": 0
   },
   {
    "text": "And all to flout me, when they bring me in,",
    "indent": 0
   },
   {
    "text": "Let me be bounden, I shall see her face;",
    "indent": 0
   },
   {
    "text": "Else must I die through mine unhappiness.”",
    "indent": 0
   }
  ],
  [
   {
    "text": "And Gawain answered kindly though in scorn,",
    "indent": 0
   },
   {
    "text": "“Why, let my lady bind me if she will,",
    "indent": 0
   },
   {
    "text": "And let my lady beat me if she will:",
    "indent": 0
   },
   {
    "text": "But an she send her delegate to thrall",
    "indent": 0
   },
   {
    "text": "These fighting hands of mine⁠—Christ kill me then",
    "indent": 0
   },
   {
    "text": "But I will slice him handless by the wrist,",
    "indent": 0
   },
   {
    "text": "And let my lady sear the stump for him,",
    "indent": 0
   },
   {
    "text": "Howl as he may. But hold me for your friend:",
    "indent": 0
   },
   {
    "text": "Come, ye know nothing: here I pledge my troth,",
    "indent": 0
   },
   {
    "text": "Yea, by the honour of the Table Round,",
    "indent": 0
   },
   {
    "text": "I will be leal to thee and work thy work,",
    "indent": 0
   },
   {
    "text": "And tame thy jailing princess to thine hand.",
    "indent": 0
   },
   {
    "text": "Lend me thine horse and arms, and I will say",
    "indent": 0
   },
   {
    "text": "That I have slain thee. She will let me in",
    "indent": 0
   },
   {
    "text": "To hear the manner of thy fight and fall;",
    "indent": 0
   },
   {
    "text": "Then, when I come within her counsels, then",
    "indent": 0
   },
   {
    "text": "From prime to vespers will I chant thy praise",
    "indent": 0
   },
   {
    "text": "As prowest knight and truest lover, more",
    "indent": 0
   },
   {
    "text": "Than any have sung thee living, till she long",
    "indent": 0
   },
   {
    "text": "To have thee back in lusty life again,",
    "indent": 0
   },
   {
    "text": "Not to be bound, save by white bonds and warm,",
    "indent": 0
   },
   {
    "text": "Dearer than freedom. Wherefore now thy horse",
    "indent": 0
   },
   {
    "text": "And armour: let me go: be comforted:",
    "indent": 0
   },
   {
    "text": "Give me three days to melt her fancy, and hope",
    "indent": 0
   },
   {
    "text": "The third night hence will bring thee news of gold.”",
    "indent": 0
   }
  ],
  [
   {
    "text": "Then Pelleas lent his horse and all his arms,",
    "indent": 0
   },
   {
    "text": "Saving the goodly sword, his prize, and took",
    "indent": 0
   },
   {
    "text": "Gawain’s, and said, “Betray me not, but help⁠—",
    "indent": 0
   },
   {
    "text": "Art thou not he whom men call light-of-love?”",
    "indent": 0
   }
  ],
  [
   {
    "text": "“Ay,” said Gawain, “for women be so light.”",
    "indent": 0
   },
   {
    "text": "Then bounded forward to the castle walls,",
    "indent": 0
   },
   {
    "text": "And raised a bugle hanging from his neck,",
    "indent": 0
   },
   {
    "text": "And winded it, and that so musically",
    "indent": 0
   },
   {
    "text": "That all the old echoes hidden in the wall",
    "indent": 0
   },
   {
    "text": "Rang out like hollow woods at hunting-tide.",
    "indent": 0
   }
  ],
  [
   {
    "text": "Up ran a score of damsels to the tower;",
    "indent": 0
   },
   {
    "text": "“Avaunt,” they cried, “our lady loves thee not.”",
    "indent": 0
   },
   {
    "text": "But Gawain lifting up his visor said,",
    "indent": 0
   },
   {
    "text": "“Gawain am I, Gawain of Arthur’s court,",
    "indent": 0
   },
   {
    "text": "And I have slain this Pelleas whom ye hate:",
    "indent": 0
   },
   {
    "text": "Behold his horse and armour. Open gates,",
    "indent": 0
   },
   {
    "text": "And I will make you merry.”",
    "indent": 0
   }
  ],
  [
   {
    "text": "And down they ran,",
    "indent": 0,
    "align": "right"
   },
   {
    "text": "Her damsels, crying to their lady, “Lo!",
    "indent": 0,
    "align": "right"
   },
   {
    "text": "Pelleas is dead⁠—he told us⁠—he that hath",
    "indent": 0,
    "align": "right"
   },
   {
    "text": "His horse and armour: will ye let him in?",
    "indent": 0,
    "align": "right"
   },
   {
    "text": "He slew him! Gawain, Gawain of the court,",
    "indent": 0,
    "align": "right"
   },
   {
    "text": "Sir Gawain⁠—there he waits below the wall,",
    "indent": 0,
    "align": "right"
   },
   {
    "text": "Blowing his bugle as who should say him nay.”",
    "indent": 0,
    "align": "right"
   }
  ],
  [
   {
    "text": "And so, leave given, straight on through open door",
    "indent": 0
   },
   {
    "text": "Rode Gawain, whom she greeted courteously.",
    "indent": 0
   },
   {
    "text": "“Dead, is it so?” she asked. “Ay, ay,” said he,",
    "indent": 0
   },
   {
    "text": "“And oft in dying cried upon your name.”",
    "indent": 0
   },
   {
    "text": "“Pity on him,” she answered, “a good knight,",
    "indent": 0
   },
   {
    "text": "But never let me bide one hour at peace.”",
    "indent": 0
   },
   {
    "text": "“Ay,” thought Gawain, “and you be fair enow:",
    "indent": 0
   },
   {
    "text": "But I to your dead man have given my troth,",
    "indent": 0
   },
   {
    "text": "That whom ye loathe, him will I make you love.”",
    "indent": 0
   }
  ],
  [
   {
    "text": "So those three days, aimless about the land,",
    "indent": 0
   },
   {
    "text": "Lost in a doubt, Pelleas wandering",
    "indent": 0
   },
   {
    "text": "Waited, until the third night brought a moon",
    "indent": 0
   },
   {
    "text": "With promise of large light on woods and ways.",
    "indent": 0
   }
  ],
  [
   {
    "text": "Hot was the night and silent; but a sound",
    "indent": 0
   },
   {
    "text": "Of Gawain ever coming, and this lay⁠—",
    "indent": 0
   },
   {
    "text": "Which Pelleas had heard sung before the Queen,",
    "indent": 0
   },
   {
    "text": "And seen her sadden listening⁠—vext his heart,",
    "indent": 0
   },
   {
    "text": "And marred his rest⁠—“A worm within the rose.”",
    "indent": 0
   }
  ],
  [
   {
    "text": "“A rose, but one, none other rose had I,",
    "indent": 0
   },
   {
    "text": "A rose, one rose, and this was wondrous fair,",
    "indent": 0
   },
   {
    "text": "One rose, a rose that gladdened earth and sky,",
    "indent": 0
   },
   {
    "text": "One rose, my rose, that sweetened all mine air⁠—",
    "indent": 0
   },
   {
    "text": "I cared not for the thorns; the thorns were there.",
    "indent": 0
   }
  ],
  [
   {
    "text": "“One rose, a rose to gather by and by,",
    "indent": 0
   },
   {
    "text": "One rose, a rose, to gather and to wear,",
    "indent": 0
   },
   {
    "text": "No rose but one⁠—what other rose had I?",
    "indent": 0
   },
   {
    "text": "One rose, my rose; a rose that will not die⁠—",
    "indent": 0
   },
   {
    "text": "He dies who loves it⁠—if the worm be there.”",
    "indent": 0
   }
  ],
  [
   {
    "text": "This tender rhyme, and evermore the doubt,",
    "indent": 0
   },
   {
    "text": "“Why lingers Gawain with his golden news?”",
    "indent": 0
   },
   {
    "text": "So shook him that he could not rest, but rode",
    "indent": 0
   },
   {
    "text": "Ere midnight to her walls, and bound his horse",
    "indent": 0
   },
   {
    "text": "Hard by the gates. Wide open were the gates,",
    "indent": 0
   },
   {
    "text": "And no watch kept; and in through these he past,",
    "indent": 0
   },
   {
    "text": "And heard but his own steps, and his own heart",
    "indent": 0
   },
   {
    "text": "Beating, for nothing moved but his own self,",
    "indent": 0
   },
   {
    "text": "And his own shadow. Then he crost the court,",
    "indent": 0
   },
   {
    "text": "And spied not any light in hall or bower,",
    "indent": 0
   },
   {
    "text": "But saw the postern portal also wide",
    "indent": 0
   },
   {
    "text": "Yawning; and up a slope of garden, all",
    "indent": 0
   },
   {
    "text": "Of roses white and red, and brambles mixt",
    "indent": 0
   },
   {
    "text": "And overgrowing them, went on, and found,",
    "indent": 0
   },
   {
    "text": "Here too, all hushed below the mellow moon,",
    "indent": 0
   },
   {
    "text": "Save that one rivulet from a tiny cave",
    "indent": 0
   },
   {
    "text": "Came lightening downward, and so spilt itself",
    "indent": 0
   },
   {
    "text": "Among the roses, and was lost again.",
    "indent": 0
   }
  ],
  [
   {
    "text": "Then was he ware of three pavilions reared",
    "indent": 0
   },
   {
    "text": "Above the bushes, gilden-peakt: in one,",
    "indent": 0
   },
   {
    "text": "Red after revel, droned her lurdane knights",
    "indent": 0
   },
   {
    "text": "Slumbering, and their three squires across their feet:",
    "indent": 0
   },
   {
    "text": "In one, their malice on the placid lip",
    "indent": 0
   },
   {
    "text": "Frozen by sweet sleep, four of her damsels lay:",
    "indent": 0
   },
   {
    "text": "And in the third, the circlet of the jousts",
    "indent": 0
   },
   {
    "text": "Bound on her brow, were Gawain and Ettarre.",
    "indent": 0
   }
  ],
  [
   {
    "text": "Back, as a hand that pushes through the leaf",
    "indent": 0
   },
   {
    "text": "To find a nest and feels a snake, he drew:",
    "indent": 0
   },
   {
    "text": "Back, as a coward slinks from what he fears",
    "indent": 0
   },
   {
    "text": "To cope with, or a traitor proven, or hound",
    "indent": 0
   },
   {
    "text": "Beaten, did Pelleas in an utter shame",
    "indent": 0
   },
   {
    "text": "Creep with his shadow through the court again,",
    "indent": 0
   },
   {
    "text": "Fingering at his sword-handle until he stood",
    "indent": 0
   },
   {
    "text": "There on the castle-bridge once more, and thought,",
    "indent": 0
   },
   {
    "text": "“I will go back, and slay them where they lie.”",
    "indent": 0
   }
  ],
  [
   {
    "text": "And so went back, and seeing them yet in sleep",
    "indent": 0
   },
   {
    "text": "Said, “Ye, that so dishallow the holy sleep,",
    "indent": 0
   },
   {
    "text": "Your sleep is death,” and drew the sword, and thought,",
    "indent": 0
   },
   {
    "text": "“What! slay a sleeping knight? the King hath bound",
    "indent": 0
   },
   {
    "text": "And sworn me to this brotherhood;” again,",
    "indent": 0
   },
   {
    "text": "“Alas that ever a knight should be so false.”",
    "indent": 0
   },
   {
    "text": "Then turned, and so returned, and groaning laid",
    "indent": 0
   },
   {
    "text": "The naked sword athwart their naked throats,",
    "indent": 0
   },
   {
    "text": "There left it, and them sleeping; and she lay,",
    "indent": 0
   },
   {
    "text": "The circlet of her tourney round her brows,",
    "indent": 0
   },
   {
    "text": "And the sword of the tourney across her throat.",
    "indent": 0
   }
  ],
  [
   {
    "text": "And forth he past, and mounting on his horse",
    "indent": 0
   },
   {
    "text": "Stared at her towers that, larger than themselves",
    "indent": 0
   },
   {
    "text": "In their own darkness, thronged into the moon.",
    "indent": 0
   },
   {
    "text": "Then crushed the saddle with his thighs, and clenched",
    "indent": 0
   },
   {
    "text": "His hands, and maddened with himself and moaned:",
    "indent": 0
   }
  ],
  [
   {
    "text": "“Would they have risen against me in their blood",
    "indent": 0
   },
   {
    "text": "At the last day? I might have answered them",
    "indent": 0
   },
   {
    "text": "Even before high God. O towers so strong,",
    "indent": 0
   },
   {
    "text": "Huge, solid, would that even while I gaze",
    "indent": 0
   },
   {
    "text": "The crack of earthquake shivering to your base",
    "indent": 0
   },
   {
    "text": "Split you, and Hell burst up your harlot roofs",
    "indent": 0
   },
   {
    "text": "Bellowing, and charred you through and through within,",
    "indent": 0
   },
   {
    "text": "Black as the harlot’s heart⁠—hollow as a skull!",
    "indent": 0
   },
   {
    "text": "Let the fierce east scream through your eyelet-holes,",
    "indent": 0
   },
   {
    "text": "And whirl the dust of harlots round and round",
    "indent": 0
   },
   {
    "text": "In dung and nettles! hiss, snake⁠—I saw him there⁠—",
    "indent": 0
   },
   {
    "text": "Let the fox bark, let the wolf yell. Who yells",
    "indent": 0
   },
   {
    "text": "Here in the still sweet summer night, but I⁠—",
    "indent": 0
   },
   {
    "text": "I, the poor Pelleas whom she called her fool?",
    "indent": 0
   },
   {
    "text": "Fool, beast⁠—he, she, or I? myself most fool;",
    "indent": 0
   },
   {
    "text": "Beast too, as lacking human wit⁠—disgraced,",
    "indent": 0
   },
   {
    "text": "Dishonoured all for trial of true love⁠—",
    "indent": 0
   },
   {
    "text": "Love?⁠—we be all alike: only the King",
    "indent": 0
   },
   {
    "text": "Hath made us fools and liars. O noble vows!",
    "indent": 0
   },
   {
    "text": "O great and sane and simple race of brutes",
    "indent": 0
   },
   {
    "text": "That own no lust because they have no law!",
    "indent": 0
   },
   {
    "text": "For why should I have loved her to my shame?",
    "indent": 0
   },
   {
    "text": "I loathe her, as I loved her to my shame.",
    "indent": 0
   },
   {
    "text": "I never loved her, I but lusted for her⁠—",
    "indent": 0
   },
   {
    "text": "Away⁠—”",
    "indent": 0
   }
  ],
  [
   {
    "text": "He dashed the rowel into his horse,",
    "indent": 0,
    "align": "right"
   },
   {
    "text": "And bounded forth and vanished through the night.",
    "indent": 0,
    "align": "right"
   }
  ],
  [
   {
    "text": "Then she, that felt the cold touch on her throat,",
    "indent": 0
   },
   {
    "text": "Awaking knew the sword, and turned herself",
    "indent": 0
   },
   {
    "text": "To Gawain: “Liar, for thou hast not slain",
    "indent": 0
   },
   {
    "text": "This Pelleas! here he stood, and might have slain",
    "indent": 0
   },
   {
    "text": "Me and thyself.” And he that tells the tale",
    "indent": 0
   },
   {
    "text": "Says that her ever-veering fancy turned",
    "indent": 0
   },
   {
    "text": "To Pelleas, as the one true knight on earth,",
    "indent": 0
   },
   {
    "text": "And only lover; and through her love her life",
    "indent": 0
   },
   {
    "text": "Wasted and pined, desiring him in vain.",
    "indent": 0
   }
  ],
  [
   {
    "text": "But he by wild and way, for half the night,",
    "indent": 0
   },
   {
    "text": "And over hard and soft, striking the sod",
    "indent": 0
   },
   {
    "text": "From out the soft, the spark from off the hard,",
    "indent": 0
   },
   {
    "text": "Rode till the star above the wakening sun,",
    "indent": 0
   },
   {
    "text": "Beside that tower where Percivale was cowled,",
    "indent": 0
   },
   {
    "text": "Glanced from the rosy forehead of the dawn.",
    "indent": 0
   },
   {
    "text": "For so the words were flashed into his heart",
    "indent": 0
   },
   {
    "text": "He knew not whence or wherefore: “O sweet star,",
    "indent": 0
   },
   {
    "text": "Pure on the virgin forehead of the dawn!”",
    "indent": 0
   },
   {
    "text": "And there he would have wept, but felt his eyes",
    "indent": 0
   },
   {
    "text": "Harder and drier than a fountain bed",
    "indent": 0
   },
   {
    "text": "In summer: thither came the village girls",
    "indent": 0
   },
   {
    "text": "And lingered talking, and they come no more",
    "indent": 0
   },
   {
    "text": "Till the sweet heavens have filled it from the heights",
    "indent": 0
   },
   {
    "text": "Again with living waters in the change",
    "indent": 0
   },
   {
    "text": "Of seasons: hard his eyes; harder his heart",
    "indent": 0
   },
   {
    "text": "Seemed; but so weary were his limbs, that he,",
    "indent": 0
   },
   {
    "text": "Gasping, “Of Arthur’s hall am I, but here,",
    "indent": 0
   },
   {
    "text": "Here let me rest and die,” cast himself down,",
    "indent": 0
   },
   {
    "text": "And gulfed his griefs in inmost sleep; so lay,",
    "indent": 0
   },
   {
    "text": "Till shaken by a dream, that Gawain fired",
    "indent": 0
   },
   {
    "text": "The hall of Merlin, and the morning star",
    "indent": 0
   },
   {
    "text": "Reeled in the smoke, brake into flame, and fell.",
    "indent": 0
   }
  ],
  [
   {
    "text": "He woke, and being ware of someone nigh,",
    "indent": 0
   },
   {
    "text": "Sent hands upon him, as to tear him, crying,",
    "indent": 0
   },
   {
    "text": "“False! and I held thee pure as Guinevere.”",
    "indent": 0
   }
  ],
  [
   {
    "text": "But Percivale stood near him and replied,",
    "indent": 0
   },
   {
    "text": "“Am I but false as Guinevere is pure?",
    "indent": 0
   },
   {
    "text": "Or art thou mazed with dreams? or being one",
    "indent": 0
   },
   {
    "text": "Of our free-spoken Table hast not heard",
    "indent": 0
   },
   {
    "text": "That Lancelot”⁠—there he checked himself and paused.",
    "indent": 0
   }
  ],
  [
   {
    "text": "Then fared it with Sir Pelleas as with one",
    "indent": 0
   },
   {
    "text": "Who gets a wound in battle, and the sword",
    "indent": 0
   },
   {
    "text": "That made it plunges through the wound again,",
    "indent": 0
   },
   {
    "text": "And pricks it deeper: and he shrank and wailed,",
    "indent": 0
   },
   {
    "text": "“Is the Queen false?” and Percivale was mute.",
    "indent": 0
   },
   {
    "text": "“Have any of our Round Table held their vows?”",
    "indent": 0
   },
   {
    "text": "And Percivale made answer not a word.",
    "indent": 0
   },
   {
    "text": "“Is the King true?” “The King!” said Percivale.",
    "indent": 0
   },
   {
    "text": "“Why then let men couple at once with wolves.",
    "indent": 0
   },
   {
    "text": "What! art thou mad?”",
    "indent": 0
   }
  ],
  [
   {
    "text": "But Pelleas, leaping up,",
    "indent": 0,
    "align": "right"
   },
   {
    "text": "Ran through the doors and vaulted on his horse",
    "indent": 0,
    "align": "right"
   },
   {
    "text": "And fled: small pity upon his horse had he,",
    "indent": 0,
    "align": "right"
   },
   {
    "text": "Or on himself, or any, and when he met",
    "indent": 0,
    "align": "right"
   },
   {
    "text": "A cripple, one that held a hand for alms⁠—",
    "indent": 0,
    "align": "right"
   },
   {
    "text": "Hunched as he was, and like an old dwarf-elm",
    "indent": 0,
    "align": "right"
   },
   {
    "text": "That turns its back upon the salt blast, the boy",
    "indent": 0,
    "align": "right"
   },
   {
    "text": "Paused not, but overrode him, shouting, “False,",
    "indent": 0,
    "align": "right"
   },
   {
    "text": "And false with Gawain!” and so left him bruised",
    "indent": 0,
    "align": "right"
   },
   {
    "text": "And battered, and fled on, and hill and wood",
    "indent": 0,
    "align": "right"
   },
   {
    "text": "Went ever streaming by him till the gloom,",
    "indent": 0,
    "align": "right"
   },
   {
    "text": "That follows on the turning of the world,",
    "indent": 0,
    "align": "right"
   },
   {
    "text": "Darkened the common path: he twitched the reins,",
    "indent": 0,
    "align": "right"
   },
   {
    "text": "And made his beast that better knew it, swerve",
    "indent": 0,
    "align": "right"
   },
   {
    "text": "Now off it and now on; but when he saw",
    "indent": 0,
    "align": "right"
   },
   {
    "text": "High up in heaven the hall that Merlin built,",
    "indent": 0,
    "align": "right"
   },
   {
    "text": "Blackening against the dead-green stripes of even,",
    "indent": 0,
    "align": "right"
   },
   {
    "text": "“Black nest of rats,” he groaned, “ye build too high.”",
    "indent": 0,
    "align": "right"
   }
  ],
  [
   {
    "text": "Not long thereafter from the city gates",
    "indent": 0
   },
   {
    "text": "Issued Sir Lancelot riding airily,",
    "indent": 0
   },
   {
    "text": "Warm with a gracious parting from the Queen,",
    "indent": 0
   },
   {
    "text": "Peace at his heart, and gazing at a star",
    "indent": 0
   },
   {
    "text": "And marvelling what it was: on whom the boy,",
    "indent": 0
   },
   {
    "text": "Across the silent seeded meadow-grass",
    "indent": 0
   },
   {
    "text": "Borne, clashed: and Lancelot, saying, “What name hast thou",
    "indent": 0
   },
   {
    "text": "That ridest here so blindly and so hard?”",
    "indent": 0
   },
   {
    "text": "“No name, no name,” he shouted, “a scourge am I",
    "indent": 0
   },
   {
    "text": "To lash the treasons of the Table Round.”",
    "indent": 0
   },
   {
    "text": "“Yea, but thy name?” “I have many names,” he cried:",
    "indent": 0
   },
   {
    "text": "“I am wrath and shame and hate and evil fame,",
    "indent": 0
   },
   {
    "text": "And like a poisonous wind I pass to blast",
    "indent": 0
   },
   {
    "text": "And blaze the crime of Lancelot and the Queen.”",
    "indent": 0
   },
   {
    "text": "“First over me,” said Lancelot, “shalt thou pass.”",
    "indent": 0
   },
   {
    "text": "“Fight therefore,” yelled the youth, and either knight",
    "indent": 0
   },
   {
    "text": "Drew back a space, and when they closed, at once",
    "indent": 0
   },
   {
    "text": "The weary steed of Pelleas floundering flung",
    "indent": 0
   },
   {
    "text": "His rider, who called out from the dark field,",
    "indent": 0
   },
   {
    "text": "“Thou art as false as Hell: slay me: I have no sword.”",
    "indent": 0
   },
   {
    "text": "Then Lancelot, “Yea, between thy lips⁠—and sharp;",
    "indent": 0
   },
   {
    "text": "But here I will disedge it by thy death.”",
    "indent": 0
   },
   {
    "text": "“Slay then,” he shrieked, “my will is to be slain,”",
    "indent": 0
   },
   {
    "text": "And Lancelot, with his heel upon the fallen,",
    "indent": 0
   },
   {
    "text": "Rolling his eyes, a moment stood, then spake:",
    "indent": 0
   },
   {
    "text": "“Rise, weakling; I am Lancelot; say thy say.”",
    "indent": 0
   }
  ],
  [
   {
    "text": "And Lancelot slowly rode his warhorse back",
    "indent": 0
   },
   {
    "text": "To Camelot, and Sir Pelleas in brief while",
    "indent": 0
   },
   {
    "text": "Caught his unbroken limbs from the dark field,",
    "indent": 0
   },
   {
    "text": "And followed to the city. It chanced that both",
    "indent": 0
   },
   {
    "text": "Brake into hall together, worn and pale.",
    "indent": 0
   },
   {
    "text": "There with her knights and dames was Guinevere.",
    "indent": 0
   },
   {
    "text": "Full wonderingly she gazed on Lancelot",
    "indent": 0
   },
   {
    "text": "So soon returned, and then on Pelleas, him",
    "indent": 0
   },
   {
    "text": "Who had not greeted her, but cast himself",
    "indent": 0
   },
   {
    "text": "Down on a bench, hard-breathing. “Have ye fought?”",
    "indent": 0
   },
   {
    "text": "She asked of Lancelot. “Ay, my Queen,” he said.",
    "indent": 0
   },
   {
    "text": "“And hast thou overthrown him?” “Ay, my Queen.”",
    "indent": 0
   },
   {
    "text": "Then she, turning to Pelleas, “O young knight,",
    "indent": 0
   },
   {
    "text": "Hath the great heart of knighthood in thee failed",
    "indent": 0
   },
   {
    "text": "So far thou canst not bide, unfrowardly,",
    "indent": 0
   },
   {
    "text": "A fall from him?” Then, for he answered not,",
    "indent": 0
   },
   {
    "text": "“Or hast thou other griefs? If I, the Queen,",
    "indent": 0
   },
   {
    "text": "May help them, loose thy tongue, and let me know.”",
    "indent": 0
   },
   {
    "text": "But Pelleas lifted up an eye so fierce",
    "indent": 0
   },
   {
    "text": "She quailed; and he, hissing “I have no sword,”",
    "indent": 0
   },
   {
    "text": "Sprang from the door into the dark. The Queen",
    "indent": 0
   },
   {
    "text": "Looked hard upon her lover, he on her;",
    "indent": 0
   },
   {
    "text": "And each foresaw the dolorous day to be:",
    "indent": 0
   },
   {
    "text": "And all talk died, as in a grove all song",
    "indent": 0
   },
   {
    "text": "Beneath the shadow of some bird of prey;",
    "indent": 0
   },
   {
    "text": "Then a long silence came upon the hall,",
    "indent": 0
   },
   {
    "text": "And Modred thought, “The time is hard at hand.”",
    "indent": 0
   }
  ]
 ]
}