Page:Early poems of William Morris.djvu/37



"And afterwards she liveth hatefully, Slaying and poisoning, certes never weeps,— Gauwaine be friends now, speak me lovingly.

"Do I not see how God's dear pity creeps All through your frame, and trembles in your mouth? Remember in what grave your mother sleeps,

"Buried in some place far down in the south, Men are forgetting as I speak to you; By her head sever'd in that awful drouth

"Of pity that drew Agravaine's fell blow, I pray your pity! let me not scream out For ever after, when the shrill winds blow

"Through half your castle-locks! let me not shout For ever after in the winter night When you ride out alone! in battle-rout

"Let not my rusting tears make your sword light! Ah! God of mercy how he turns away! So, ever must I dress me to the fight,

"So—let God's justice work! Gauwaine, I say, See me hew down your proofs: yea all men know Even as you said how Mellyagraunce one day,

"One bitter day in la Fausse Garde, for so All good knights held it after, saw— Yea, sirs, by cursed unknightly outrage; though

"You, Gauwaine, held his word without a flaw, This Mellyagraunce saw blood upon my bed— Whose blood then pray you? is there any law