Here her hand Grasped made her vail her eyes. She looked and saw The novice, weeping, suppliant, and said to her, "Yea, little maid, for am I not forgiven?" Then glancing up beheld the holy nuns 660 All round her, weeping; and her heart was loosed Within her, and she wept with these and said: "Ye know me then, that wicked one, who broke The vast design and purpose of the King. O, shut me round with narrowing nunnery-walls, 665 This heard the bold Sir Bedivere and spake: 50 "O me, my King, let pass whatever will, Elves, and the harmless glamor of the field; But in their stead thy name and glory cling To all high places like a golden cloud For ever; but as yet thou shalt not pass. 55 Light was Gawain in life, and light in death Is Gawain, for the ghost is as the man; And care not thou for dreams from him, but rise I hear the steps of Modred in the west, And with him many of thy people, and knights 60 Delight our souls with talk of knightly Shrill, chill, with flakes of foam. He, deeds, Walking about the gardens and the halls again 190 stepping down By zigzag paths and juts of pointed rock, There drew he forth the brand Excalibur, 220 To rule once more but let what will be, And o'er him, drawing it, the winter moon, Brightening the skirts of a long cloud, ran forth be: I am so deeply smitten through the helm 195 Which was my pride; for thou rememberest how In those old days, one summer noon, an What is it thou hast seen? or what hast heard?" Where lay the mighty bones of ancient Thy fealty, nor like a noble knight; men, 215 Old knights, and over them the sea-wind sang For surer sign had followed, either hand, |