Page images
PDF
EPUB

long! Alas, this wound on your head hath caught over much cold."

Then they rowed him from the land, and Sir Bedivere cried, "Alas, my lord Arthur, what shall become of me?"

"Comfort thyself," said the king, "and do as well as thou mayst. I go into the vale of Avilion to heal me of my grievous wounds. If thou never hear more

of me, pray for my soul."

5

Ever the ladies wept so that it was pity to hear; 10 till the barge vanished from the eyes of Sir Bedivere.

What befell King Arthur thereafter, no man knoweth. Some men say that he is not dead but lives in the happy valley of Avilion, and that he shall come again to do great deeds in England. Some say there is 15 written upon his tomb this verse: "Here lies Arthur, King that was, and King to be."

Adapted from SIR THOMAS MALORY'S Morte Darthur.

HELPS TO STUDY

Read the selection in order to get the story. Read it a second time, using the Glossary.

1. Who is Sir Modred? 2. What is the difference between King Arthur's warning to his army and Sir Modred's to his? 3. How does fighting begin? 4. Give an account of the battle. 5. What advice does Sir Lucan give to the King? 6. Describe the combat between the King and Modred. 7. To what danger

is the King now exposea? 8. Give an account of Sir Bedivere and Excalibur. Perhaps your teacher will tell you why King Arthur wished to give his famous sword to the mysterious hand. 9. Why is Bedivere not a faithful knight when he tells a lie? 10. Why is he unwilling to have Excalibur lost? 11. Who come to the aid of the King, and what are his last words to Sir Bedivere? 12. What is meant by chivalry? 13. Who were the Celts? 14. What knight was "without fear and without reproach"? 15. Do we know more about him than we do about King Arthur? 16. Are we any the better to-day for King Arthur and Bayard? If you cannot give an answer to this question, turn to Longfellow's Psalm of Life," p. 324, and you will find it there. 17. Which ideals of chivalry will help you to make your home happier? 18. Which ones can you practice in school? at play? on the street?

[ocr errors]

For Study with the Glossary. Proper Names: Modred (mō'dred), Lucan (loo'kan), Bedivere (bed'i vēr), Excalibur (eks kǎl'i bûr), Avilion (a vil'yon). Other Words: treaty, grimly, foining, down, ware (aware), brooches, beads, pommel, haft, lapping, brandished.

Phrases: in no wise, in like wise, right soon, full sore, tide me death, betide me life, God speed you, right so.

SIR GALAHAD

One adventure of the knights of the Round Table is the search for the Holy Grail. In the old legends this is the cup used by Christ at the Last Supper. The wine shines through, making it appear rose-red, but it is usually covered with a precious white cloth. It is carried by angels, and only the pure of heart may hope to see it. Whoever touches it will be cured of all his sins and of all illness.

Sir Galahad is the most saintly knight at King Arthur's court. Although he is very young, he has fought valiantly to defend the Church and to punish evildoers. Lord Tennyson's poem entitled "Sir Galahad" describes his adventures while he is seeking the Holy Grail.

My good blade carves the casques of men,
My tough lance thrusteth sure,

My strength is as the strength of ten,
Because my heart is pure.

The shattering trumpet shrilleth high,
The hard brands shiver on the steel,

The splintered spear-shafts crack and fly,
The horse and rider reel :

They reel, they roll in clanging lists,

And when the tide of combat stands,

Perfume and flowers fall in showers,
That lightly rain from ladies' hands.

5

10

5

10

15

20

Sometimes on lonely mountain meres
I find a magic bark;

I leap on board: no helmsman steers:
I float till all is dark.

A gentle sound, an awful light!

Three angels bear the Holy Grail:
With folded feet, in stoles of white,
On sleeping wings they sail.
Ah, blessed vision! blood of God!

My spirit beats her mortal bars,
As down dark tides the glory slides,
And starlike mingles with the stars.

When on my goodly charger borne,
Thro' dreaming towns I go,

The cock crows ere the Christmas morn,
The streets are dumb with snow.

The tempest crackles on the leads

And, ringing, springs from brand and mail; But o'er the dark a glory spreads,

And gilds the driving hail.

I leave the plain, I climb the height;
No branchy thicket shelter yields
But blessed forms in whistling storms

Fly o'er waste fens and windy fields.

5

[blocks in formation]

Such hope, I know not fear;

I yearn to breathe the airs of heaven
That often meet me here.

I muse on joy that will not cease,

Pure spaces clothed in living beams, Pure lilies of eternal peace,

Whose odors haunt my dreams;

And, stricken by an angel's hand,
This mortal armor that I wear,

10

15

This weight and size, this heart and eyes,
Are touched, are turned to finest air.

The clouds are broken in the sky,

And thro' the mountain walls

A rolling organ-harmony

Swells up and shakes and falls.
Then move the trees, the copses nod,
Wings flutter, voices hover clear:
"O just and faithful knight of God!
Ride on the prize is near,'
So pass I hostel, hall, and grange;

By bridge and ford, by park and pale,
All-arm'd I ride, whate'er betide,

Until I find the Holy Grail.

ALFRED TENNYSON.

[blocks in formation]
« PreviousContinue »