Volume Iii Part 10 (1/2)
In the stormy east wind straining, The pale yellow woods were waning, The broad stream in his banks complaining, Heavily the low sky raining Over towered Camelot; Down she came and found a boat Beneath a willow left afloat, And round about the prow she wrote _The Lady of Shalott_.
And down the river's dim expanse-- Like some bold seer in a trance, Seeing all his own mischance-- With a gla.s.sy countenance Did she look to Camelot.
And at the closing of the day She loosed the chain, and down she lay; The broad stream bore her far away, The Lady of Shalott.
Lying, robed in snowy white That loosely flew to left and right-- The leaves upon her falling light-- Thro' the noises of the night She floated down to Camelot: And as the boat head wound along The willowy hills and fields among, They heard her singing her last song, The Lady of Shalott.
Heard a carol, mournful, holy, Chanted loudly, chanted lowly, Till her blood was frozen slowly, And her eyes were darkened wholly, Turned to towered Camelot; For ere she reached upon the tide The first house by the water-side, Singing in her song she died, The Lady of Shalott.
Under tower and balcony, By garden wall and gallery, A gleaming shape she floated by, Dead-pale between the houses high, Silent into Camelot.
Out upon the wharfs they came, Knight and burgher, lord and dame, And round the prow they read her name, _The Lady of Shalott_.
Who is this? and what is here?
And in the lighted palace near Died the sound of royal cheer; And they crossed themselves for fear, All the knights at Camelot: But Lancelot mused a little s.p.a.ce; He said, ”She has a lovely face; G.o.d in his mercy lend her grace, The Lady of Shalott.”
ALFRED TENNYSON.
[Ill.u.s.tration]
ROMANCE OF THE SWAN'S NEST.
Little Ellie sits alone 'Mid the beeches of the meadow, By a stream-side on the gra.s.s; And the trees are showering down Doubles of their leaves in shadow, On her s.h.i.+ning hair and face.
She has thrown her bonnet by; And her feet she has been dipping In the shallow water's flow.
Now she holds them nakedly In her hands, all sleek and dripping, While she rocketh to and fro.
Little Ellie sits alone, And the smile she softly uses, Fills the silence like a speech; While she thinks what shall be done,-- And the sweetest pleasure chooses For her future within reach.
Little Ellie in her smile Chooses, ”I will have a lover, Riding on a steed of steeds!
He shall love me without guile; And to _him_ I will discover That swan's nest among the reeds.
”And the steed shall be red-roan, And the lover shall be n.o.ble, With an eye that takes the breath; And the lute he plays upon, Shall strike ladies into trouble, As his sword strikes men to death!
”And the steed it shall be shod All in silver, housed in azure, And the mane shall swim the wind; And the hoofs, along the sod, Shall flash onward and keep measure, Till the shepherds look behind.
”But my lover will not prize All the glory that he rides in, When he gazes in my face; He will say, 'O Love, thine eyes Build the shrine my soul abides in; And I kneel here for thy grace.'
”Then, ay, then he shall kneel low, With the red-roan steed anear him, Which shall seem to understand-- Till I answer, 'Rise, and go!'
For the world must love and fear him Whom I gift with heart and hand.
”Then he will arise so pale, I shall feel my own lips tremble With a _yes_ I must not say-- Nathless maiden-brave, 'Farewell,'
I will utter and dissemble-- 'Light to-morrow with to-day.'
”Then he'll ride among the hills To the wide world past the river, There to put away all wrong, To make straight distorted wills, And to empty the broad quiver Which the wicked bear along.
”Three times shall a young foot-page Swim the stream and climb the mountain, And kneel down beside my feet-- 'Lo! my master sends this gage, Lady, for thy pity's counting!