The Death Of Sir Launcelot

Sir Launcelot had fled to France         For the peace of Guinevere,         And many a noble knight was slain,         And Arthur lay on his bier.         Sir Launcelot took ship from France         And sailed across the sea.         He rode seven days through fair England         Till he came to Almesbury.         Then spake Sir Bors to Launcelot:         The old time is at end;         You have no more in England's realm         In east nor west a friend.         You have no friend in all England         Sith Mordred's war hath been,         And Queen Guinevere became a nun         To heal her soul of sin.         Sir Launcelot answered never a word         But rode to the west countree         Until through the forest he saw a light         That shone from a nunnery.         Sir Launcelot entered the cloister,         And the queen fell down in a swoon.         Oh blessed Jesu, saith the queen,         For thy mother's love, a boon.         Go hence, Sir Launcelot, saith the queen,         And let me win God's grace.         My heavy heart serves me no more         To look upon thy face.         Through you was wrought King Arthur's death,         Through you great war and wrake.         Leave me alone, let me bleed,         Pass by for Jesu's sake.         Then fare you well, saith Launcelot,         Sweet Madam, fare you well.         And sythen you have left the world         No more in the world I dwell.         Then up rose sad Sir Launcelot         And rode by wold and mere         Until he came to a hermitage         Where bode Sir Bedivere.         And there he put a habit on         And there did pray and fast.         And when Sir Bedivere told him all         His heart for sorrow brast.         How that Sir Mordred, traitorous knight         Betrayed his King and sire;         And how King Arthur wounded, died         Broken in heart's desire.         And so Sir Launcelot penance made,         And worked at servile toil;         And prayed the Bishop of Canterbury         His sins for to assoil.         His shield went clattering on the wall         To a dolorous wail of wind;         His casque was rust, his mantle dust         With spider webs entwined.         His listless horses left alone         Went cropping where they would,         To see the noblest knight of the world         Upon his sorrow brood.         Anon a Vision came in his sleep,         And thrice the Vision saith:         Go thou to Almesbury for thy sin,         Where lieth the queen in death.         Sir Launcelot cometh to Almesbury         And knelt by the dead queen's bier;         Oh none may know, moaned Launcelot,         What sorrow lieth here.         What love, what honor, what defeat         What hope of the Holy Grail.         The moon looked through the latticed glass         On the queen's face cold and pale.         Sir Launcelot kissed the cerd cloth,         And none could stay his woe,         Her hair lay back from the oval brow,         And her nose was clear as snow.         They wrapped her body in cloth of Raines,         They put her in webs of lead.         They coffined her in white marble,         And sang a mass for the dead.         Sir Launcelot and seven knights         Bore torches around the bier.         They scattered myrrh and frankincense         On the corpse of Guinevere.         They put her in earth by King Arthur         To the chant of a doleful tune.         They heaped the earth on Guinevere         And Launcelot fell in a swoon.         Sir Launcelot went to the hermitage         Some Grace of God to find;         But never he ate, and never he drank         And there he sickened and dwined.         Sir Launcelot lay in a painful bed,         And spake with a dreary steven;         Sir Bishop, I pray you shrive my soul         And make it clean for heaven.         The Bishop houseled Sir Launcelot,         The Bishop kept watch and ward.         Bury me, saith Sir Launcelot,         In the earth of Joyous Guard.         Three candles burned the whole night through         Till the red dawn looked in the room.         And the white, white soul of Launcelot         Strove with a black, black doom.         I see the old witch Dame Brisen,         And Elaine so straight and tall -         Nay, saith the Bishop of Canterbury,         The shadows dance on the wall.         I see long hands of dead women,         They clutch for my soul eftsoon;         Nay, saith the Bishop of Canterbury,         'Tis the drifting light of the moon.         I see three angels, saith he,         Before a silver urn.         Nay, saith the Bishop of Canterbury,         The candles do but burn.         I see a cloth of red samite         O'er the holy vessels spread.         Nay, saith the Bishop of Canterbury,         The great dawn groweth red.         I see all the torches of the world         Shine in the room so clear.         Nay, saith the Bishop of Canterbury,         The white dawn draweth near.         Sweet lady, I behold the face         Of thy dear son, our Lord,         Nay, saith the Bishop of Canterbury,         The sun shines on your sword.         Sir Galahad outstretcheth hands         And taketh me ere I fail -         Sir Launcelot's body lay in death         As his soul found the Holy Grail.         They laid his body in the quire         Upon a purple pall.         He was the meekest, gentlest knight         That ever ate in hall.         He was the kingliest, goodliest knight         That ever England roved,         The truest lover of sinful man         That ever woman loved.         I pray you all, fair gentlemen,         Pray for his soul and mine.         He lived to lose the heart he loved         And drink but bitter wine.         He wrought a woe he knew not of,         He failed his fondest quest,         Now sing a psalter, read a prayer         May all souls find their rest.             Amen.