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An Arthurian Miscellany at sacred-texts.com
BALLAD OF SIR LAUNCELOT
by
JOHN GROSVENOR WILSON
"Riding the quest of the Grail alone,
Guinevere, Guinevere, pity me!
All thro' the day and the night I moan,
Yearning to catch but a glimpse of thee.
Tho' I make halt by the wan west sea,
Seeking a sign in the high God's name,
Lo, as I tremble and bow the knee,
Gleameth thy face with the eyes aflame!
"Me have I scourged till the blood hath flown,
Weeping hot tears of misery;
Still thro' the day and the night I moan,
Yearning to catch but a glimpse of thee. --
Yea, have I striven and sought to flee,
Ever and ever the same -- the same --
Blinding my soul with sweet rarity,
Gleameth thy face with the eyes aflame!
"Sleeping, I dreamed that the Grail was shown,
Marvellous bright with clemency;
Waking, I lay on the chancel-stone --
Ah, but I yearned for the touch of thee! --
Tho' I may bow and make piteous plea
Unto the Christ and our Holy Dame,
Sweeter by far than all visions be,
Gleameth thy face with the eyes aflame."
ENVOY.
Guinevere maketh a day of glee, --
"Who is it cometh to join our game?" --
"Launcelot rideth with bridle free,
Gleameth thy face with the eyes aflame."
Next: Excalibur, by John Grosvenor Wilson [1886]