Page:Tristram of Lyonesse and other poems (IA tristramoflyonesswinrich).pdf/116

 With armistice from sorrow; strange and sweet Ways trodden by forlorn and casual feet Till kindlier chance woke toward them kindly will In happier hearts of lovers, and their ill Found rest, as healing surely might it not, By gift and kingly grace of Launcelot At gracious bidding given of Guenevere. For in the trembling twilight of this year Ere April sprang from hope to certitude Two hearts of friends fast linked had fallen at feud As they rode forth on hawking, by the sign Which gave his new bride's brother Ganhardine To know the truth of Tristram's dealing, how Faith kept of him against his marriage vow Kept virginal his bride-bed night and morn; Whereat, as wroth his blood should suffer scorn, Came Ganhardine to Tristram, saying, 'Behold, We have loved thee, and for love we have shown of old Scorn hast thou shown us: wherefore is thy bride Not thine indeed, a stranger at thy side, Contemned? what evil hath she done, to be Mocked with mouth-marriage and despised of thee, Shamed, set at nought, rejected?' But there came On Tristram's brow and eye the shadow and flame Confused of wrath and wonder, ere he spake, Saying, 'Hath she bid thee for thy sister's sake Plead with me, who believed of her in heart More nobly than to deem such piteous part Should find so fair a player? or whence hast thou Of us this knowledge?' 'Nay,' said he, 'but now,