THE EGYPTIAN MAID.

Alas! and I have caused this woe;

For, when my prowess from invading Neighbours

Had freed his Realm, he plighted word

That he would turn to Christ our Lord,

And his dear Daughter on a Knight bestow

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Whom I should choose for love and matchless labours.

Her birth was heathen; but a fence

Of holy Angels round her hovered:

A Lady added to my court

So fair, of such divine report

And worship, seemed a recompense
For fifty kingdoms by my sword recovered.

Ask not for whom, O Champions true!
She was reserved by me her life's betrayer;
She who was meant to be a bride

Is now a corse: then put aside

Vain thoughts, and speed ye, with observance due Of Christian rites, in Christian ground to lay her."

"The tomb," said Merlin, " may not close
Upon her yet, earth hide her beauty;

Not froward to thy sovereign will
Esteem me, Liege! if I, whose skill
Wafted her hither, interpose

To check this pious haste of erring duty.

My books command me to lay bare
The secret thou art bent on keeping:
Here must a high attest be given,

What Bridegroom was for her ordained by Heaven :
And in my glass significants there are

Of things that may to gladness turn this weeping.

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THE EGYPTIAN MAID.

For this, approaching One by One,

Thy Knights must touch the cold hand of the Virgin ;
So, for the favoured One, the Flower may bloom

Once more but, if unchangeable her doom,

If life departed be for ever gone,

Some blest assurance, from this cloud emerging,

May teach him to bewail his loss;

Not with a grief that, like a vapour, rises

And melts; but grief devout that shall endure,
And a perpetual growth secure

Of purposes which no false thought shall cross,
A harvest of high hopes and noble enterprises.

"So be it," said the King;-“ anon,

Here, where the Princess lies, begin the trial;
Knights, each in order as ye stand
Step forth."-To touch the pallid hand
Sir Agravaine advanced; no sign he won
From Heaven or earth;-Sir Kaye had like denial.

Abashed, Sir Dinas turned away;

Even for Sir Percival was no disclosure;
Though he, devoutest of all Champions, ere

He reached that ebon car, the bier

Whereon diffused like snow the Damsel lay,
Full thrice had crossed himself in meek composure.

Imagine (but ye Saints! who can ?)
How in still air the balance trembled
The wishes, peradventure the despites

That overcame some not ungenerous Knights;
And all the thoughts that lengthened out a span

Of time to Lords and Ladies thus assembled.

1

THE EGYPTIAN MAID.

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What patient confidence was here!

And there how many bosoms panted!

While drawing toward the car Sir Gawaine, mailed For tournament, his beaver vailed,

And softly touched; but, to his princely cheer And high expectancy, no sign was granted.

Next, disencumbered of his harp,

Sir Tristram, dear to thousands as a brother,
Came to the proof, nor grieved that there ensued
No change; the fair Izonda he had wooed
With love too true, a love with pangs too sharp,
From hope too distant, not to dread another.

Not so Sir Launcelot; from Heaven's grace
A sign he craved, tired slave of vain contrition;
The royal Guinever looked passing glad
When his touch failed.-Next came Sir Galahad;
He paused, and stood entranced by that still face
Whose features he had seen in noontide vision.

For late, as near a murmuring stream.
He rested 'mid an arbour green and shady,
Nina, the good Enchantress, shed

A light around his mossy bed;

And, at her call, a waking dream.

Prefigured to his sense the Egyptian Lady.

Now, while his bright-haired front he bowed,
And stood, far-kenned by mantle furred with ermine,
As o'er the insensate Body hung

The enrapt, the beautiful, the young,

Belief sank deep into the crowd

That he the solemn issue would determine.

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THE EGYPTIAN MAID.

Nor deem it strange; the Youth had worn
That very mantle on a day of glory,

The day when he achieved that matchless feat,

The marvel of the PERILOUS SEAT,

Which whosoe'er approached of strength was shorn, Though King or Knight the most renowned in story.

He touched with hesitating hand—

And lo those Birds, far-famed through Love's dominions,

The Swans, in triumph clap their wings;

And their necks play, involved in rings,

Like sinless snakes in Eden's happy land;

Mine is she," cried the Knight;-again they clapped
their pinions.

"Mine was she-mine she is, though dead,
And to her name my soul shall cleave in sorrow;
Whereat, a tender twilight streak

Of colour dawned upon the Damsel's cheek;
And her lips, quickening with uncertain red,
Seemed from each other a faint warmth to borrow.

Deep was the awe, the rapture high,

Of love emboldened, hope with dread entwining,
When, to the mouth, relenting Death
Allowed a soft and flower-like breath,
Precursor to a timid sigh,

To lifted eyelids, and a doubtful shining.

In silence did King Arthur gaze
Upon the signs that pass away or tarry;
In silence watched the gentle strife
Of Nature leading back to life;

Then eased his soul at length by praise

Of God, and Heaven's pure Queen-the blissful Mary.

THE EGYPTIAN MAID.

Then said he, "Take her to thy heart,
Sir Galahad! a treasure, that God giveth,
Bound by indissoluble ties to thee

Through mortal change and immortality;
Be happy and unenvied, thou who art
A goodly Knight that hath no peer that liveth!"

Not long the Nuptials were delayed;
And sage tradition still rehearses
The pomp, the glory of that hour

When toward the altar from her bower

King Arthur led the Egyptian Maid,

And Angels carolled these far-echoed verses;—

Who shrinks not from alliance

Of evil with good Powers

To God proclaims defiance,

And mocks whom he adores.

A Ship to Christ devoted
From the Land of Nile did go;
Alas! the bright Ship floated,
An Idol at her prow.

By magic domination,
The Heaven-permitted vent
Of purblind mortal passion,
Was wrought her punishment.

The Flower, the Form within it,
What served they in her need?
Her port she could not win it,
Nor from mishap be freed,

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