Where shall I hide my forehead an my eyes?

For now I see the true old times ar dead,

When every morning brought a nobl chance,

And every chance brought out a nobl knight.

Such times have been not since the light that led

The holy Elders with the gift of myrrh. But now the whole ROUND TABLE is dissolved

Which was an image of the mighty world;

And I, the last, go forth companionless, And the days darken round me, and the years,

Among new men, strange faces, other minds."

And slowly answered Arthur from barge:

"The older order changeth, yielding place to new,

And God fulfils himself in many ways, Lest one good custom should corrupt the world.

Comfort thyself: what comfort is in me?

I have lived my life, and that which I have done

May He within himself make pure! but thou,

If thou shouldst never see my face again,

Pray for my soul. More things are wrought by prayer

Than this world dreams of. Wherefore, let thy voice

Rise like a fountain for me night and

morn

"Hear how the bushes echo! by my life, These birds have joyful thoughts.

Think you they sing

Like poets, from the vanity of song? Or have they any sense of why they sing?

And would they praise the heavens for what they have?"

And I made answer. "Were there nothing else

For which to praise the heavens but only love,

That only love were cause enough for praise."

Lightly he laugh'd, as one that read my thought,

And on we went; but ere an hour had pass'd,

We reach'd a meadow slanting to the North;

Down which a well-worn pathway courted us

To one green wicket in a privet hedge; This, yielding, gave into a grassy walk

les ambush trimly

Requiring, tho' I knew it was mine ow Yet for the pleasure that I took to hea Requiring at her hand the greatest gif A woman's heart, the heart of her loved;

And in that time and place she an swer'd me,

And in the compass of three littl words,

More musical than ever came in one, The silver fragments of a broken voice Made me most happy, faltering, "I an thine."

Shall I cease here? Is this enough to say

That my desire, like all strongest hopes,

By its own energy-fulfill'd itself, Merged in completion? Would you learn at full

How passion rose thro' circumstantial grades

Beyond all grades develop'd? and indeed

I had not stayed so long to tell you all, But while I mused came Memory with sad eyes,

Holding the folded annals of my youth; And while I mused, Love with knit brows went by,

And with a flying finger swept my lips, And spake, Be wise: not easily for