And when the knights had laid her comely head

Low in the dust of half-forgotten kings, Then Arthur spake among them: 'Let her tomb

1329

Be costly, and her image thereupon,
And let the shield of Lancelot at her feet
Be carven, and her lily in her hand.
And let the story of her dolorous voyage
For all true hearts be blazon'd on her tomb
In letters gold and azure!' which was
wrought

Thereafter; but when now the lords and dames

And people, from the high door streaming, brake

Disorderly, as homeward each, the Queen, Who mark'd Sir Lancelot where he moved apart,

Drew near, and sigh'd in passing, 'Lancelot,

Forgive me; mine was jealousy in love.' 1340 He answer'd with his eyes upon the ground,

That is love's curse; pass on, my Queen,

forgiven.'

'Free love, so bound, were freest,' said the King. 1369 'Let love be free; free love is for the best. And, after heaven, on our dull side of death,

What should be best, if not so pure a love Clothed in so pure a loveliness? yet thee She fail'd to bind, tho' being, as I think, Unbound as yet, and gentle, as I know.'

And Lancelot answer'd nothing, but he went,

And at the inrunning of a little brook Sat by the river in a cove, and watch'd The high reed wave, and lifted up his eyes And saw the barge that brought her moving down, 1380

Far-off, a blot upon the stream, and said Low in himself: 'Ah, simple heart and sweet,

Ye loved me, damsel, surely with a love Far tenderer than my Queen's. Pray for thy soul? Ay, that will I. last

Farewell too

now at

But spake with such a sadness and so low We heard not half of what he said. What is it?

Nun as she was, the scandal of the Court, Sin against Arthur and the Table Round, And the strange sound of an adulterous

race,

Across the iron grating of her cell

80

more.