I56 
THE EARL’S QUEST 
 
A shallop rocked before the sullen breeze. 
Midway, a hermit’s hut stood solitary, 
A dim light set therein.  Near and at ease 
 
A jolly well-lit inn—no phantom airy ! 
Solid and warm, short snatches of light song 
Issuing cheery now and then.  “ Be wary ! ” 
 
Quoth the wise Earl, “ I wander very long 
Far from my quest, assuredly to fall 
Sideways each step towards the House of Wrong, 
 
“ Were but one choice demented.  Choice is small 
Here though.  (A flash of insight in his mind) 
Which of these three gets answer to its call ? 
 
“ Yon shallop ?—leave to Galahad !  Resigned 
Yon hermit to be welcome Lancelot ! 
For me—the inn—what fate am I to find ? 
 
“ Who cares ?  Shall I seek ever—do ye wot ?— 
But in the outré, the obscure, the occult ? 
My Master is of might to lift me what 
 
“ Hangs, veil of glamour, on my ‘ Quisque vult,’ 
The morion’s motto :  to exhaust the cross, 
Bidding it glow with roses—the result 
 
“ What way he will :  may be adventure’s loss 
Is gain to common sense ; whereby I guess 
Wise men have hidden Mount Biagenos