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Page 1 of 11912 · PDF PAGE 96
go XXXV “Yea!” quoth the knight, “TI rede the spell. This Beast is the Unknowable. I seek in Heaven, I seek in Hell; Ever he mocks me. Yet, methinks, I have the riddle of the Sphinx. For were I keener than the lynx I should not see within my mind One thought that is not in its kind In sooth That Beast that lurks behind : And in my quest his questing seems The authentic echo of my dreams, The proper thesis of my themes! Iknow him? Still he answers: No! I know him not? Maybe—and lo! He is the one sole thing I know! Nay! who knows not is different…
1912 · PDF PAGE 51
…ard,” quoth he, “ And by thy venerable age I charge thee this my riddle ree.” Then said that gentle eremite: “This task is easy unto me! Know then the Questing Beast aright! One is the Beast, the Questing one: And one with one is two, Sir Knight! Yet these are one in two, and none Disjoins their substance (mark me well !), Confounds their persons. Rightly run Their attributes: immeasurable, Incomprehensibundable, Unspeakable, inaudible, 45
1912 · PDF PAGE 31
VIII Know ye where Druid dolmens rise In Wessex on the widow plain? Thither Sir Palamedes plies The spur, and shakes the rattling rein. He questions all men of the Beast. None answer. Is the quest in vain? With oaken crown there comes a priest In samite robes, with hazel wand, And worships at the gilded East. Ay! thither ride! The dawn beyond Must run the quarry of his quest. He rode as he were wood or fond, Until at night behoves him rest. —He saw the gilding far behind Out on the hills toward the West! With aimless fury hot and blind He flung…
1912 · PDF PAGE 33
…d eager of the quest. “Ay! Ay!” their cunning sages grinned : “Tt shines! It shines! Guess thou the rest! For naught but this our Rishis know.” Sir Palamede his way addressed Unto the woods: they blaze and glow; His lance stabs many a shining blade,’ His sword lays many a flower low That glittering gladdened in the glade. He wrote himself a wanton ass, And to the sea his traces laid, Where many a wavelet on the glass His prowess knows. But deep and deep His futile feet in fury pass, 27
1912 · PDF PAGE 99
…t to scan Some feature, though he listened long, No shape of God or fiend or man, No whisper, groan, shriek, scream, or song Gave him to know it. Now it chanced One day Sir Palamedes rode Through a great wood whose leafage danced In the thin sunlight as it flowed From heaven. He halted in a glade, Bade his horse crop the tender grass; Put off his armour, softly laid Himself to sleep till noon should pass. 93
1912 · PDF PAGE 44
… A red-robed robber in a Hat. “Whither away, Sir Knight, so fey?” “Priest, for the dove on Ararat T could not, nor I will not, stay!” “T know thy quest. Seek on in vain A golden hart with silver horns! Life springeth out of divers pains. What crown the King of Kings adorns? A crown of gems? A crown of thorns! The Questing Beast is like a king In face, and hath a pigeon’s wing And claw; its body is one fleece Of bloody white, a lamb’s in spring. Enough. Sir Knight, I give thee peace.”
1912 · PDF PAGE 60
…eir clattering coppers in his poke. So day and night they come and go, But never comes the Questing Beast, Nor doth that laughing people know
1912 · PDF PAGE 103
…d strength, hath wasted youth— He was the Beast; the Beast was he! He rises from the cave of death, Runs to the sea with shining face To know at last the Bounteous Breath, To taste the Goodly Gift of Grace. Ah! Palamede, thou hast mistook! Thou art the butt of all confusion! Not to be written in my book Is this most drastic disillusion! So weak and ill was he, I doubt If he might hear the royal feast Of laughter that came rolling out Afar from that elusive Beast. G 97
1912 · PDF PAGE 25
Quod he: “ By Goddes holy spell, So high a venture was not known, Nor so divine a miracle. A certain beast there runs alone, That ever in his belly sounds A hugeous cry, a monster moan, As if a thirty couple hounds Quested within him. Now God saith (I swear it by His holy wounds And by His lamentable death, And by His holy Mother’s face !) That he shall know the Beauteous Breath And taste the Goodly Gift of Grace Who shall achieve this marvel quest.” Then Arthur sterte up from his place, And sterte up boldly all the rest, And sware to seek this…
1912 · PDF PAGE 83
…on my soul’s poor fort assailed By all the hosts of devilry ! Is there no medicine but death That shall avail me in my place, That I may know the Beauteous Breath And taste the Goodly Gift of Grace? Keep Thou yet firm this trembling leaf My soul, dear God Who died for men; Yea! for that sinner-soul the chief, Sir Palamede the Saracen!” 77
1912 · PDF PAGE 100
…seen the Beast? The quest that wins The loftiest prize of chivalry >?” Sir Knight,” he answers, “hast thou seen Aught of that Beast? How knowest thou, then, That it is ever or hath been, Sir Palamede the Saracen?” Sir Palamede was well awake. “Nay! I deliberate deep and long, Yet find no answer fit to make To thee. The weak beats down the strong; The fool’s cap shames the helm. But thou! I know thee for the shade that haunts My way, sets shame upon my brow, My purpose dims, my courage daunts. Then, since the thinker must be dumb, At least the k…
1912 · PDF PAGE 116
…tore down the tapestry That hid the door. All ashen-hued The knights laid hand to sword. But he (Sir Palamedes) in the gap Was found—God knoweth—bitterly Weeping. Cried Arthur: “Strange the hap! My knight, my dearest knight, my friend ! What gift had Fortune in her lap Like thee? Embrace me!” “ Rather rend Your garments, if you love me, sire!” (Quod he). “Iam come unto the end. All mine intent and my desire, My quest, mine oath—all, all is done. Burn them with me in fatal fire! For I have failed. All ways, each one I strove in, mocked me. If I …
1912 · PDF PAGE 118
…ng than death: For all the roots of sin and sadness Were plucked. As a flower perisheth, So all sin died. And in that place All they did know the Beauteous Breath And taste the Goodly Gift of Grace. Then fell the night. Above the baying Of the great Beast, that was the bass To all the harps of Heaven a-playing, There came a solemn voice (not one But was upon his knees in praying And glorifying God). The Son Of God Himself—men thought—spoke then. “ Arise! brave soldier, thou hast won The quest not given to mortal men. Arise! Sir Palamede Adept, …