shield of Caithbat near, that they may behold me amidst the arms of my fathers!"

'And is the son of Semo fallen?' said Carril with a sigh. Mournful are Tura's walls. Sorrow dwells at Dunscäi. Thy spouse is left alone in her youth. The song of thy love is alone! He shall come to Bragela and ask her why she weeps? He shall lift his eyes to the wall, and see his father's sword. 'Whose sword is that?' he will say. The soul of his mother is sad. Who is that, like the hart of the desert, in the murmur of his course? His eyes look wildly round in search of his friend. Connal, son of Colgar, where hast thou been, when the mighty fell? Did the seas of Togorma roll around thee? Was the wind of the south in thy sails? The mighty have fallen in battle, and thou wast not there. Let none tell it in Selma, nor in Morven's woody land. Fingal will be sad, and the sons of the desert mourn!

By the dark rolling waves of Lego they raised the hero's tomb. Luath at a distance lies. The song of bards rose over the dead: 'Blest be thy soul, son of Semo!

Thy

Thou wert mighty in battle. strength was like the strength of a stream; thy speed like the eagle's wing. Thy path in battle was terrible; the steps of death were behind thy sword. Blest be thy soul, son of Semo, carborne chief of Dunscäi! Thou hast not fallen by the sword of the mighty, neither was thy blood on the spear of the brave. The arrow came, like the sting of death in a blast; nor did the feeble hand, which drew the bow, perceive it. Peace to thy soul, in thy cave, chief of the isle of mist!'

'The mighty are dispersed at Temora; there is none in Cormac's hall. The king mourns in his youth. He does not behold thy return. The sound of thy shield is ceased, his foes are gathering around. Soft be thy rest in thy cave, chief of Erin's wars! Bragela will not hope for thy return, or see thy sails in ocean's foam. Her steps are not on the shore, nor her ear open to the voice of thy rowers. She sits in the hall of shells. She sees the arms of him that is no more. Thine eyes are full of tears, daughter of car-borne Sorglan! Blest be thy soul in death, O chief of shady Tura!'

20

25

Such wold I find, quoth Lancelot :
For that cause came I hither.
Thou seemst, quoth shee, a knight full good,
And I will bring thee thither.

Wheras a mighty knight doth dwell,

That now is of great fame:

(1) Human creature, man or woman.

Therfore tell me what wight (1) thou art, And what may be thy name.

30

'My name is Lancelot du Lake.'
Quoth she, it likes me than:
Here dwelles a knight who never was
Yet matcht with any man:

Who has in prison threescore knights
And four, that he did wound;

Knights of King Arthurs court they be,
And of his Table Round.

She brought him to a river side,
And also to a tree,

Whereon a copper bason hung,

And many shields to see.

He struck soe hard, the bason broke;
And Tarquin soon he spyed;
Who drove a horse before him fast,
Whereon a knight lay tyed.

Sir knight, then sayd Sir Lancelot,
Bring me that horse-load hither,
And lay him downe, and let him rest;
Weel (1) try our force together:

For, as I understand, thou hast,
Soe far as thou art able,
Done great despite and shame unto
The knights of the Round Table.

If thou be of the Table Round,
Quoth Tarquin speedilye,

Both thee and all thy fellowship

I utterly defye.

That's over much, quoth Lancelot tho,
Defend thee by and by.

They sett their speares unto their steeds,
And eache att other flie.

The ground besprinkled was wyth blood: Tarquin began to yield;

115

For he gave backe for wearinesse,
And lowe did beare his shield.

This soone Sir Lancelot espyde,
He leapt upon him then,
He pull'd him downe upon his knee,
And rushing off his helm,

Forthwith he strucke his necke in two,
And, when he had soe done,

From prison threescore knights and four Delivered everye one.

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25

His wife must lend a shilling,
For every weeke a penny.
Yet bring a pledge, that is double worth,
If that you will have any.

And see, likewise, you keepe your day,
Or else you loose it all;

This was the living of the wife,

Her cow she did it call.

Within that citie dwelt that time

A marchant of great fame,

Which being distressed in his need,
Unto Gernutus came:

Desiring him to stand his friend
For twelve month and a day,

To lend to him an hundred crownes:
And he for it would pay

Whatsoever he would demand of him,
And pledges he should have.

30

35

40

No, (quoth the Jew with flearing lookes,)
Sir, aske what you will have.

No penny for the loane of it
For one year you shall pay;

You may doe me as good a turne,
Before my dying day.

But we will have a merry jeast,
For to be talked long:

You shall make me a bond, quoth he,
That shall be large and strong:

And this shall be the forfeyture;
Of your owne fleshe a pound.
If you agree, make you the bond,

45

50

7 55 And here is a hundred crownes,blo vdT With right good will! the marekant says; And so the bond was made. mody OT When twelve month anda darek dh ya:quoq zo

די

That backe it should be Pouvoi tedT

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The marchants ships were all at sda, dji 77 And money came not ingib lian] Which way to take, or what to do

To thinke he doth begin got yd And to Gernotus strait he comesut od With cap and bended khée, Paw 15X

And sayde to him, Of curtesie

I

pray you beare with mee.

My day is come, and I have not
The money for to pay:

And little good the forfeyture
Will doe you, I dare say.

With all my heart, Gernutus sayd,
Commaund it to your minde:

In thinges of bigger waight then this
You shall me ready finde.

He goes his way: the day once past
Gernutus doth not slacke

To get a sergiant presently;

And clapt him on the backe: And layd him into prison strong,

And sued his bond withall;

And when the judgement day was come For judgement he did call.

70

75

80

A pound of fleshe is my demand, T And that shall be my hire v RT Then sayd the judge, Yet, good my friend, Let me of you desired log boot se low 918b 1 alton to'I'

To take the fleshi from such a place, T As yet you let him live won ovil dtofl loan hundred crownes

Do so

To thee his

Will Furon 197992 asifT
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No: no: quoth hegno: judgement here 165
For this it shall be tridep dozivat
For I will have my pound of fleshe

From under his right side, ovo but.
It grieved all the companies of bags bal.
His crueltie to see oz dtonsom JelT 110
For neither friend nor foe could helpe
But he must spoyled bee.

The bloudie Jew now ready is DATA
With whetted blade in hand,
To spoyle the bloud of innocent, od 115
By forfeit of his bond, long di

And as he was about to strike
In him the deadly blow:

For whereas twenty men were wont To wait with bended knee:

She gave allowance but to ten,
And after scarce to three;

Nay, one she thought too much for him; 85
So took she all away,

In hope that in her court, good king,
He would no longer stay.

Am I rewarded thus, quoth he,
In giving all I have

Unto my children, and to beg

For what I lately gave?

I'll go unto my Gonorell:
My second child, I know,

Will be more kind and pitiful,
And will relieve my woe.

Full fast he hies then to her court;
Where when she heard his moan,

Return'd him answer, That she griev'd,
That all his means were gone;

But no way could relieve his wants;
Yet if that he would stay

Within her kitchen, he should have

What scullions gave away.

90

Which made him rend his milk-white locks,
And tresses from his head,

And all with blood bestain his cheeks,
With age and honour spread.

To hills and woods and watry founts
He made his hourly moan,

140

Till hills and woods and senseless things, Did seem to sigh and groan.

Even thus possest with discontents,

He passed o'er to France,

In hopes from fair Cordelia there,
To find some gentler chance;

145

Most virtuous dame! which when she heard

Of this her father's grief,

As duty bound, she quickly sent

95

100

Him comfort and relief:

And by a train of noble peers,

In brave and gallant sort,

150

She gave in charge he should be brought 155 To Aganippus' court;

Whose royal king with noble mind

So freely gave consent,

To muster up his knights at arms,

To fame and courage bent.

And so to England came with speed,
To repossess King Leir,

160

And drive his daughters from their thrones By his Cordelia dear.

Where she, true-hearted noble queen,

165

Was in the battle slain;

110

Yet he good king, in his old days, Possest his crown again.

But when he heard Cordelia's death, Who died indeed for love

170

Where when he came, she gave command To drive him thence away:

When he was well within her court (She said) he would not stay.

115

Then back again to Gonorell

Of her dear father, in whose cause
She did this battle move;
He swooning fell upon her breast,
From whence he never parted: