Page:Tristram of Lyonesse and other poems (IA tristramoflyonesswinrich).pdf/67

 And in the stormy starlight clouds were thinned And thickened by short gusts of changing wind That panted like a sick man's fitful breath: And like a moan of lions hurt to death Came the sea's hollow noise along the night. But ere its gloom from aught but foam had light They halted, being aweary: and the knight As reverently forbore her where she lay As one that watched his sister's sleep till day. Nor durst he kiss or touch her hand or hair For love and shamefast pity, seeing how fair She slept, and fenceless from the fitful air. And shame at heart stung nigh to death desire, But grief at heart burned in him like a fire For hers and his own sorrowing sake, that had Such grace for guerdon as makes glad men sad, To have their will and want it. And the day Sprang: and afar along the wild waste way They heard the pulse and press of hurrying horse-hoofs play: And like the rushing of a ravenous flame Whose wings make tempest of the darkness, came Upon them headlong as in thunder borne Forth of the darkness of the labouring morn Tristram: and up forthright upon his steed Leapt, as one blithe of battle, Palamede, And mightily with shock of horse and man They lashed together: and fair that fight began As fair came up that sunrise: to and fro, With knees nigh staggered and stout heads bent low