What patient confidence was here! While drawing toward the car Sir Gawaine, mail'd And softly touch'd; but to his princely cheer Next, disencumber'd of his harp, Sir Tristram, dear to thousands as a brother, With love too true, a love with pangs too sharp, From hope too distant, not to dread another. ;· Not so Sir Launcelot; - from Heaven's grace When his touch fail'd. - Next came Sir Galahad; For late, as near a murmuring stream Prefigured to his sense th' Egyptian Lady. Now, while his bright-hair'd front he bow'd, And stood, far-kenn'd by mantle furr'd with ermine, Th' enrapt, the beautiful, the young, Belief sank deep into the crowd That he the solemn issue would determine. Nor deem it strange: the Youth had worn The day when he achieved that matchless feat, The marvel of the PERILOUS SEAT, Which whosoe'er approach'd of strength was shorn, Though King or Knight the most renown'd in story. He touch'd with hesitating hand, And, lo! those Birds, far-famed through Love's dominions, 9 That is, drew his beaver down. The beaver was a part of the helmet that covered the face, but hung on hinges at the ears, so that it could at pleasure be set up over the fore head or drawn down over the face.- Vailed is lowered. Both words are often 60 used by Shakespeare. And their necks play, involved in rings, Like sinless snakes in Eden's happy land; [pinions. "Mine is she," cried the Knight;-again they clapp'd their "Mine was she, mine she is, though dead, Of colour dawn'd upon the Damsel's cheek; Deep was the awe, the rapture high, Of love embolden'd, hope with dread entwining, To-lifted eyelids, and a doubtful shining. In silence did King Arthur gaze Then eased his soul at length by praise Of God, and Heaven's pure Queen, the blissful Mary. Then said he, "Take her to thy heart, Sir Galahad! a treasure that God giveth, Through mortal change and immortality; Not long the Nuptials were delay'd; And Angels caroll'd these far-echo'd verses: Who shrinks not from alliance Of evil with good Powers, A Ship to Christ devoted By magic domination,- LOUISA. What fond and wayward thoughts will Into a Lover's head! "If Lucy should be dead!" AFTER ACCOMPANYING HER ON A MOUN-"O mercy!" to myself I cried, [slide [1799. Who would check the happy feeling Yet, at this impressive season, Thrice welcome, darling of the Spring! From the truths of homely reason, No bird, but an invisible thing, A voice, a mystery; Might exalt the loveliest cheek; And, while shades to shades succeeding The same whom in my school-boy days I would urge this moral pleading, I listen'd to; that Cry Which made me look a thousand ways To seek thee did I often rove And I can listen to thee yet; And listen, till I do beget O blessed Bird! the earth we pace An unsubstantial, faery place; THE LONGEST DAY. ADDRESSED TO MY DAUGHTER. LET us quit the leafy arbour, Last forerunner of "Good night!" SUMMER ebbs;-each day that follows Tending to the darksome hollows He who governs the creation, Yet we mark it not; -fruits redden, blown; And the heart is loth to deaden [1801. Hopes that she so long hath known. Be thou wiser, youthful Maiden! Now, even now, ere wrapp'd in slumber, That absorbs time, space, and number; 4 These stanzas are supposed to be ad- Follow thou the flowing river dressed to the author's wife. On whose breast are thither borne |