Page:Once a Week Dec 1861 to June 1862.pdf/360

 350 We are the wanton lords and knights, Who lived lewd lives of soft delights, And first brought thoughts unstable Unto the good Round Table." Faster and faster sped the boat,
 * While spicy perfumes filled the sail,

And dumb Sir Tristem lay afloat,
 * Caparison'd in shining mail;

And in his trance he sat afar A twilight like the morning star, Beyond the mirror'd shadows Of cool green hills and meadows. The murmuring waters closed behind,
 * The channel narrow'd on either side,

Making a current swift as wind,
 * To suck him onward. Far and wide

Lay pleasant hills of yellow and green, With shady tales of hills between; And the white light that crowned him Subdued the joy around him. And on the summer hills around
 * Were happy shepherds and their flocks,

And the cool streamlets made a sound
 * As soft as tears down mossy rocks;

And in the broad midmorn on high Stars swung their censers from the sky, Whence, in a pearly wonder, Dews dropp'd and glimmered under. There was a busy hum of bees,
 * And bleating sheep on distant heights;

And underneath the shade of trees
 * Walked snowy dames and arméd knights.

Then good Sir Tristem opened eyes, And heard a whispering voice, "Arise," And patient to his duty, He stood erect in beauty.

Caparison'd from head to heel,
 * He stood erect and found no speech

To utter wonder, till the keel
 * Grazed softly on a silver beech;

And a soft breeze, like the sweet south, Beat balm upon his eyes and mouth, And while his blood flushed brightly, He to the shore leapt lightly. Then, lifting up a mailéd head,
 * Hoary with honours past and gone,

He knelt upon the beach, and said:
 * "Here, surely, is Avilion;

Here, after honourable blows, A worthy knight may find repose, Here the sweet vale makes bridal With heaven, and nought seems idle. "Hither, to shade of quiet leaves,
 * I bring the mind no fortunes flout,

Which half confers and half perceives
 * The peace it sees around about;

Here day and night at last unite To make a very calm delight Of beautiful romances, Cool pulses, and pure fancies. "Here Nature is her own sweet law,
 * Beauty completes her mission here!"

When, rising up his height, he saw
 * A train in white attire draw near!

And in the midst, in peaceful power, He saw of kings, the lily-white flower, Prepared to be the donor Of a white robe of honour. .