To him replied the bold Sir Bedivere : So saying, from the ruin'd shrine he stepp'd, There drew he forth the brand Excalibur, And o'er him, drawing it, the winter moon, In act to throw but at the last it seem'd Better to leave Excalibur conceal'd There in the many-knotted waterflags, Then spake King Arthur to Sir Bedivere : "Hast thou perform'd my mission which I gave ? What is it thou hast seen? or what hast heard?" And answer made the bold Sir Bedivere : "I heard the ripple washing in the reeds, And the wild water lapping on the crag.” To whom replied King Arthur, faint and pale : "Thou hast betray'd thy nature and thy name, Not rendering true answer, as beseem'd Thy fëalty, nor like a noble knight: For surer sign had follow'd, either hand, Or voice, or else a motion of the meer. This is a shameful thing for men to lie. Yet now, I charge thee, quickly go again As thou art lief and dear, and do the thing I bad thee, watch, and lightly bring me word." Then went Sir Bedivere the second time, Counting the dewy pebbles, fix'd in thought; But when he saw the wonder of the hilt, "And if indeed I cast the brand away, Surely a precious thing, one worthy note, Were it well to obey then, if a king demand The King is sick, and knows not what he does. Upon the hidden bases of the hills.' So might some old man speak in the aftertime To all the people, winning reverence. But now much honour and much fame were lost." So spake he, clouded with his own conceit, And so strode back slow to the wounded King. “I heard the water lapping on the crag, And the long ripple washing in the reeds.” To whom replied King Arthur, much in wrath : "Ah, miserable and unkind, untrue, Unknightly, traitor-hearted! Woe is me! Authority forgets a dying king, Laid widowed of the power in his eye That bowed the will. I see thee what thou art. For thou, the latest-left of all my knights, In whom should meet the offices of all, Thou wouldst betray me for the precious hilt; Either from lust of gold, or like a girl Valuing the giddy pleasure of the eyes. Yet, for a man may fail in duty twice, And the third time may prosper, get thee hence : I will arise and slay thee with my hands." Then quickly rose Sir Bedivere, and ran, And strongly wheel'd and threw it. The great brand, And flashing round and round, and whirled in an arch, Then spoke King Arthur, drawing thicker breath : |