Worse than the wolves: and King Leodogran
Groan'd for the Roman legions here again,
And Cæsar's eagle: then his brother king,
Rience, assail'd him: last a heathen horde,
Reddening the sun with smoke and earth with blood,
And on the spike that split the mother's heart
Spitting the child, brake on him, till, amazed,
He knew not whither he should turn for aid.

But

for he heard of Arthur newly crown'd,

Tho' not without an uproar made by those

the king

Who cried, "He is not Uther's son"
Sent to him, saying, "Arise, and help us thou!

For here between the man and beast we die."

And Arthur yet had done no deed of arms, But heard the call, and came: and Guinevere Stood by the castle walls to watch him pass; But since he neither wore on helm or shield The golden symbol of his kinglihood,

But rode a simple knight among his knights,

And many of these in richer arms than he,
She saw him not, or mark'd not, if she saw,
One among many, tho' his face was bare.
But Arthur, looking downward as he past,
Felt the light of her eyes into his life
Smite on the sudden, yet rode on, and pitch'd

His tents beside the forest: and he drave

The heathen, and he slew the beast, and fell'd

The forest, and let in the sun, and made

Broad pathways for the hunter and the knight, And so return'd.

For while he linger'd there,

A doubt that ever smoulder'd in the hearts
Of those great Lords and Barons of his realm
Flash'd forth and into war: for most of these
Made head against him, crying, "Who is he
That he should rule us? who hath proven him
King Uther's son? for lo! we look at him,

And find nor face nor bearing, limbs nor voice,

Are like to those of Uther whom we knew.

This is the son of Gorloïs, not the king.

This is the son of Anton, not the king."

And Arthur, passing thence to battle, felt

Travail, and throes and agonies of the life,
Desiring to be join'd with Guinevere;
And thinking as he rode, "Her father said
That there between the man and beast they die.
Shall I not lift her from this land of beasts
Up to my throne, and side by side with me?
What happiness to reign a lonely king,
Vext - O ye stars that shudder over me,
O earth, that soundest hollow under me,
Vext with waste dreams? for saving I be join'd
To her that is the fairest under heaven,
I seem as nothing in the mighty world,
And cannot will my will, nor work my work
Wholly, nor make myself in mine own realm

Victor and lord; but were I join'd with her,

Then might we live together as one life,

And reigning with one will in everything
Have power on this dark land to lighten it,
And power on this dead world to make it live."

And Arthur from the field of battle sent
Ulfius, and Brastias, and Bedivere,
His new-made knights, to King Leodogran,
Saying, "If I in aught have served thee well,
Give me thy daughter Guinevere to wife."

Whom when he heard, Leodogran in heart Debating - "How should I that am a king, However much he holp me at my need,

Give my one daughter saving to a king,

And a king's son " - lifted his voice, and call'd

A hoary man, his chamberlain, to whom

He trusted all things, and of him required

His counsel: "Knowest thou aught of Arthur's birth?" Then spake the hoary chamberlain and said, "Sir king, there be but two old men that know: And each is twice as old as I; and one Is Merlin, the wise man that ever served King Uther thro' his magic art; and one Is Merlin's master (so they call him) Bleys, Who taught him magic; but the scholar ran Before the master, and so far, that Bleys Laid magie by, and sat him down, and wrote All things and whatsoever Merlin did In one great annal-book, where after years Will learn the secret of our Arthur's birth."

To whom the King Leodogran replied, "O friend, had I been holpen half as well By this King Arthur as by thee to-day,

Then beast and man had had their share of me:

But summon here before us yet once more

Ulfius, and Brastias, and Bedivere."

B