The Works of Alfred Lord Tennyson, Poet Laureate (Volume 3) (Paperback)

This historic book may have numerous typos, missing text or index. Purchasers can download a free scanned copy of the original book (without typos) from the publisher. 1894. Not illustrated. Excerpt: ... THE ROUND TABLE. GARETH AND LYNETTE. LANCELOT AND ELAINE. THE MARRIAGE OF GERAINT. THE HOLY GRAIL. GERAINT AND ENID. PELLEAS AND ETTARRE. MERLIN AND VIVIEN. THE LAST TOURNAMENT. GUINEVERE. GARETH AND LYNETTE. The last tall son of Lot and Bellicent, And tallest, Gareth, in a showerful spring Stared at the spate. A slender-shafted Pine Lost footing, fell, and so was whirl'd away. 'How he went down, ' said Gareth, 'as a false knight Or evil king before my lance if lance Were mine to use--O senseless cataract, Bearing all down in thy precipitancy-- And yet thou art but swollen with cold snows And mine is living blood: thou dost His will, The Maker's, and not knowest, and I that know, Have strength and wit, in my good mother's hall Linger with vacillating obedience, Prison'd, and kept and coax'd and whistled to-- Since the good mother holds me still a child Good mother is bad mother unto me A worse were better; yet no worse would I. Heaven yield her for it, but in me put force To weary her ears with one continuous prayer, Until she let me fly discaged to sweep In ever-highering eagle-circles up To the great Sun of Glory, and thence swoop Down upon all things base, and dash them dead, A knight of Arthur, working out his will, To cleanse the world. Why, Gawain, when he came With Modred hither in the summertime, Ask'd me to tilt with him, the proven knight. Modred for want of worthier was the judge. Then I so shook him in the saddle, he said, "Thou hast half prevail'd against me," said so-- he-- Tho' Modred biting his thin lips was mute, For he is alway sullen: what care I?' And Gareth went, and hovering round her chair Ask'd, 'Mother, tho' ye count me still the child, Sweet mother, do ye love the child?' She laugh'd, 'Thou art but a wild-goose to question it.' 'Then, ...