The supper wine is poured at last,

The lights burn bright and fair; 190 Iscariot washes the Bridegroom's feet, And dries them with his hair.

'(1882)

THE SLAYING OF URGAN

(From Tristram of Lyonesse)

ALGERNON CHARLES SWINBURNE

[This is a passage from "The Last Pilgrimage," one of the nine parts of the story of Tristram in Swinburne's version. Tristram has been summoned to rid Triamour, a Welsh king, of the giant Urgan, who is devastating the land and slaying the people.]

But Tristram by dense hills and deepening vales

Rode through the wild glad wastes of glorious Wales,

High-hearted with desire of happy fight, And strong in soul with merrier sense of might

Than since the fair first years that hailed him knight;

For all his will was toward the war, so long

Had love repressed and wrought his glory wrong,

So far the triumph and so fair the praise Seemed now that kindled all his April days.

And here in bright blown autumn, while his life

Spake all against the spoiler; wherefore still

Wrath waxed with pity, quickening all his will,

In Tristram's heart for every league he rode,

Through the aching land so broad a curse bestrode

With so supreme a shadow; till one dawn, Above the green bloom of a gleaming lawn,

High on the strait2 steep windy bridge that spanned

A glen's deep mouth, he saw that shadow stand

Visible, sword on high and mace in hand, Vast as the mid bulk of a roof-tree's beam. 31

So, sheer above the wild wolf-haunted stream,

Dire as the face disfeatured of a dream, Rose Urgan; and his eyes were night and flame;

But like the fiery dawn were his that

And like the trunk of some grim tree sawn through

Reeled Urgan, as his left hand grasped and drew

A steel by sorcerers tempered; and anew Raged the red wind of fluctuant1 fight, till all

The cliffs were thrilled as by the clangorous call

Of storm's blown trumpets from the core of night,

Charging; and even as with the stormwind's might

On Tristram's helm that sword crashed; and the knight

Fell, and his arms clashed, and a wild cry brake

From those far off that heard it, for his sake

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