THE PASSING OF ARTHUR ALFRED TENNYSON So all day long the noise of battle roll'd Sir Bedivere, the last of all his knights, Then spake King Arthur to Sir Bedivere: I perish by this people which I made, Rose up from out the bosom of the lake, To him replied the bold Sir Bedivere: So saying, from the ruin'd shrine he stept, Came on the shining levels of the lake. There drew he forth the brand Excalibur, And o'er him, drawing it, the winter moon, Brightening the skirts of a long cloud, ran forth And sparkled keen with frost against the hilt: For all the haft twinkled with diamond sparks, Myriads of topaz-lights, and jacinth-work Of subtlest jewelry. He gazed so long That both his eyes were dazzled, as he stood, This way and that dividing the swift mind, In act to throw but at the last it seem'd Then spake King Arthur to Sir Bedivere: "Hast thou perform'd my mission which I gave? What is it thou hast seen? or what hast heard?" And answer made the bold Sir Bedivere: "I heard the ripple washing in the reeds, And the wild water lapping on the crag." To whom replied King Arthur, faint and pale: "Thou hast betray'd thy nature and thy name, Not rendering true answer, as beseem'd Thy fealty, nor like a noble knight: For surer sign had follow'd, either hand, Or voice, or else a motion of the mere. This is a shameful thing for men to lie. Yet now I charge thee, quickly go again, As thou art lief and dear, and do the thing I bade thee, watch, and lightly bring me word." Then went Sir Bedivere the second time Across the ridge, and paced beside the mere, Counting the dewy pebbles, fix'd in thought, But when he saw the wonder of the hilt, How curiously and strangely chased, he smote His palms together, and he cried aloud, "And if indeed I cast the brand away, Surely a precious thing, one worthy note, Should thus be lost forever from the earth, Which might have pleased the eyes of many men. Were it well to obey then, if a king demand The King is sick, and knows not what he does. Should be to aftertime, but empty breath So might some old man speak in the aftertime But now much honor and much fame were lost." So spake he, clouded with his own conceit, Then spoke King Arthur, breathing heavily : "What is it thou hast seen? or what hast heard?' And answer made the bold Sir Bedivere : "I heard the water lapping on the crag, And the long ripple washing in the reeds." To whom replied King Arthur, much in wrath : "Ah, miserable and unkind, untrue, Unknightly, traitor-hearted! Woe is me! Laid widow'd of the power in his eye That bow'd the will. I see thee what thou art, In whom should meet the offices of all, Thou wouldst betray me for the precious hilt; Yet, for a man may fail in duty twice, And the third time may prosper, get thee hence: I will arise and slay thee with my hands." Then quickly rose Sir Bedivere, and ran, And, leaping down the ridges lightly, plunged Among the bulrush beds, and clutch'd the sword, And strongly wheel'd and threw it. The great brand Made lightnings in the splendor of the moon, And flashing round and round, and whirl'd in an arch, Seen where the moving isles of winter shock Then spoke King Arthur, drawing thicker breath : "Now see I by thine eyes that this is done. Speak out: what is it thou hast heard, or seen?" And answer made the bold Sir Bedivere: "Sir King, I closed mine eyelids, lest the gems |