And sought for a shelter from cold and snow O'er the edge of the desert, black and small, 265 He can count the camels in the sun, As over the red hot sands they pass To where, in its slender necklace of grass, The little spring laughed and leapt in the shade, IV "For Christ's sweet sake, I beg an alms;" Thou also hast had the world's buffets and scorns, And to thy life were not denied The wounds in the hands and feet and side; Mild Mary's Son, acknowledge me; Behold, through him, I give to thee!" 270 275 280 285 V Then the soul of the leper stood up in his eyes And looked at Sir Launfal, and straightway he 290 Remembered in what a haughtier guise He had flung an alms to leprosie, When he girt his young life up in gilded mail He broke the ice on the streamlet's brink, 300 Yet with fine wheaten bread was the leper fed, VI As Sir Launfal mused with a downcast face, The leper no longer crouched at his side, 305 But stood before him glorified, Shining and tall and fair and straight As the pillar that stood by the Beautiful Gate,1 Enter the temple of God in Man. 1 The Beautiful Gate, one of the gates of the temple at Jerusalem. VII His words were shed softer than leaves from the pine, 310 In many climes, without avail, Thou hast spent thy life for the Holy Grail; In whatso we share with another's need, Who gives himself with his alms feeds three, 315 320 325 VIII Sir Launfal awoke, as from a swound; 330 IX The castle gate stands open now, 335 And the wanderer is welcome to the hall As the hangbird is to the elm tree bough; No longer scowl the turrets tall, The Summer's long siege at last is o'er; When the first poor outcast went in at the door, 340 She entered with him in disguise, And mastered the fortress by surprise; There is no spot she loves so well on ground, 345 Has hall and bower at his command; And there's no poor man in the North Countree JAMES RUSSELL LOWELL. QUESTIONS FOR STUDY What relation have the first eight lines to the rest of the poem? Explain line 4, line 11, line 12. Note the change in verse at line 9. Why is it made? Is this supposed to be a story of what happened to Sir Launfal, or a dream? Line 20. Do you see the relation between the poet's reference to nature and the moral vigor of the whole poem as contrasted with the visionary character of medieval ideals as shown in the stories of Arthur's knights? Lines 33-79. Memorize ten or more lines. Point out all the figures of speech that you see in this passage. Which one, in your judgment, is best? Do you see that, beginning with nature, the poet's thought is that the service of others is the highest ideal of all? Where in the poem do you first find this? Does Sir Launfal as portrayed in Canto V have the real spirit of Sir Galahad? Where does he first show his real selfishness? Which description do you like the better, that of June or that of winter? Memorize the passage of the latter that you like best. How did Sir Launfal learn his mistake? What is the lesson of the poem as a whole? |