The Story of Queen Guinevere and Sir Lancelot of the Lake, After the Germ. with Other Poems by C. Bruce (Paperback)

This historic book may have numerous typos and missing text. Purchasers can download a free scanned copy of the original book (without typos) from the publisher. Not indexed. Not illustrated. 1865. Excerpt: ... QUEEN GUINEYERE AND SIR LANCELOT OF THE LAKE. i. Peace rests upon King Arthur's land, For every foe is over-manned, And every fiend and monster crushed, The flight of wild adventures hushed. The sultry hours of trial passed, Has Perceval the Graal at last; Long since in haunted Brocelind Left Merlin name and fame behind; Sir Ivain seeks, his madness fled, The lady of the fountain's bed; And Erec leads a listless life Of dalliance by his gentle wife; And Arthur gladly whiles away, With games and pageant pomps, the day. At Camalot, where the vale is green, His summer hall of knights is seen: There, round the aged monarch flies The light of gentle star-bright eyes; There rise, like knotted forest oak, His battle-statured warrior folk. Yet, save the warfare that love wages, Fight now no more their thought engages; For in the hero's thought Love holds its camp and court, And men, whose arms could death-blows deal On giants, woman's chains must feel. For in the storm of battle tossed, Man's heart ne'er yet its freedom lost; But peaceful charms have oft undone The conquest strength hath dearly won; When peace asserts its sacred ban, Then woman lords it over man. Thus glode the happy years away In dalliance and in sportive play, And spring with its serenest blue Was bursting o'er the land anew; When many a hero's limbs were fain To don their ancient arms again, And, heavy still with sleep, essay Their puissance in the knightly fray. Then many a guest did Arthur call To tournament and festival, And at his summons thousands hied To Camalot at Whitsuntide. 'Twas in the golden month of May, Loud rose the murmur of tournay, And sword, and shield, and splintering spear, Rang music on the eager ear. Full many a war-horse there went down, And many a knight was overthrown...