I54 
THE EARL’S QUEST 
 
Stood in the sky reversed, and utmost Love 
Entered the sadness of Gethsemane. 
So did the king ; so did the priest above 
 
Place his old hands upon the Earl’s, decree 
The splendid and the solemn accolade 
That he should go forth to the world and be 
 
Knight-errant ; so did then the fairest maid 
Of all that noble company keep hid 
The love that melted her ; she took the blade 
 
Blessed by a mage, who slew the harmless kid 
With solemn rite and water poured athwart 
In stars and sigils,—fire leapt out amid, 
 
And blazed upon the blade ; and stark cold swart 
Demons came hurtling to enforce the spell, 
Until the exorcism duly wrought 
 
Fixed in the living steel so terrible 
A force nor man nor devil might assail, 
Nay—might approach the wary warrior well, 
 
So long as he was clothed in silver mail 
Of purity, and iron-helmeted 
With ignorance of fear :  so through the hail 
 
Of flowers, of cries, of looks, of white and red, 
Fear, hatred, envy, love—nay, self-conceit 
Of girls that preened itself and masqued instead