The Defence of Guenevere and Other Poems | Page 3

in what grave your mother sleeps,
Buried in some place far down in the south, Men are forgetting as I
speak to you; By her head sever'd in that awful drouth
Of pity that drew Agravaine's fell blow, I pray your pity! let me not
scream out For ever after, when the shrill winds blow
Through half your castle-locks! let me not shout For ever after in the
winter night When you ride out alone! in battle-rout
Let not my rusting tears make your sword light! Ah! God of mercy,
how he turns away! So, ever must I dress me to the fight,
So: let God's justice work! Gauwaine, I say, See me hew down your
proofs: yea all men know Even as you said how Mellyagraunce one
day,
One bitter day in la Fausse Garde, for so All good knights held it after,
saw: Yea, sirs, by cursed unknightly outrage; though
You, Gauwaine, held his word without a flaw, This Mellyagraunce saw
blood upon my bed: Whose blood then pray you? is there any law
To make a queen say why some spots of red Lie on her coverlet? or
will you say: Your hands are white, lady, as when you wed,
Where did you bleed? and must I stammer out, Nay, I blush indeed, fair
lord, only to rend My sleeve up to my shoulder, where there lay

A knife-point last night: so must I defend The honour of the Lady
Guenevere? Not so, fair lords, even if the world should end
This very day, and you were judges here Instead of God. Did you see
Mellyagraunce When Launcelot stood by him? what white fear
Curdled his blood, and how his teeth did dance, His side sink in? as my
knight cried and said: Slayer of unarm'd men, here is a chance!
Setter of traps, I pray you guard your head, By God I am so glad to
fight with you, Stripper of ladies, that my hand feels lead
For driving weight; hurrah now! draw and do, For all my wounds are
moving in my breast, And I am getting mad with waiting so.
He struck his hands together o'er the beast, Who fell down flat, and
grovell'd at his feet, And groan'd at being slain so young: At least,
My knight said, rise you, sir, who are so fleet At catching ladies,
half-arm'd will I fight, My left side all uncovered! then I weet,
Up sprang Sir Mellyagraunce with great delight Upon his knave's face;
not until just then Did I quite hate him, as I saw my knight
Along the lists look to my stake and pen With such a joyous smile, it
made me sigh From agony beneath my waist-chain, when
The fight began, and to me they drew nigh; Ever Sir Launcelot kept
him on the right, And traversed warily, and ever high
And fast leapt caitiff's sword, until my knight Sudden threw up his
sword to his left hand, Caught it, and swung it; that was all the fight,
Except a spout of blood on the hot land; For it was hottest summer; and
I know I wonder'd how the fire, while I should stand,
And burn, against the heat, would quiver so, Yards above my head;
thus these matters went; Which things were only warnings of the woe

That fell on me. Yet Mellyagraunce was shent, For Mellyagraunce had
fought against the Lord; Therefore, my lords, take heed lest you be
blent
With all this wickedness; say no rash word Against me, being so
beautiful; my eyes, Wept all away to grey, may bring some sword
To drown you in your blood; see my breast rise, Like waves of purple
sea, as here I stand; And how my arms are moved in wonderful wise,
Yea also at my full heart's strong command, See through my long
throat how the words go up In ripples to my mouth; how in my hand
The shadow lies like wine within a cup Of marvellously colour'd gold;
yea now This little wind is rising, look you up,
And wonder how the light is falling so Within my moving tresses: will
you dare, When you have looked a little on my brow,
To say this thing is vile? or will you care For any plausible lies of
cunning woof, When you can see my face with no lie there
For ever? am I not a gracious proof: But in your chamber Launcelot
was found: Is there a good knight then would stand aloof,
When a queen says with gentle queenly sound: O true as steel come
now and talk with me, I love to see your step upon the ground
Unwavering, also well I love to see That gracious smile light up your
face, and hear Your wonderful words,