From the bank and from the river He flash'd into the crystal mirror, "Tirra lirra," by the river Sang Sir Lancelot. She left the web, she left the loom, She saw the helmet and the plume, Out flew the web and floated wide; 108 117 PART IV In the stormy east-wind straining, Over tower'd Camelot; Down she came and found a boat Beneath a willow left afloat, And round about the prow she wrote And down the river's dim expanse With a glassy countenance Did she look to Camelot. 126 And at the closing of the day She loosed the chain, and down she lay; The broad stream bore her far away, The Lady of Shalott. Lying, robed in snowy white That loosely flew to left and right— She floated down to Camelot : And as the boat-head wound along Heard a carol, mournful, holy, Under tower and balcony, By garden-wall and gallery, A gleaming shape she floated by, 135 144 153 Out upon the wharfs they came, Who is this? and what is here? 1833. 1842. 162 171 Lord Tennyson. THE ROMANCE OF THE SWAN'S NEST "So the dreams depart, So the fading phantoms flee, And the sharp reality Now must act its part." WESTWOOD'S Beads from a Rosary. LITTLE Ellie sits alone 'Mid the beeches of a meadow, On her shining hair and face. She has thrown her bonnet by, And her feet she has been dipping In the shallow water's flow: Now she holds them nakedly In her hands, all sleek and dripping, While she rocketh to and fro. Little Ellie sits alone, And the smile she softly uses Fills the silence like a speech, While she thinks what shall be done, And the sweetest pleasure chooses For her future within reach. Little Ellie in her smile Chooses "I will have a lover And to him I will discover "And the steed shall be red-roan, 10 15 20 25 Shall strike ladies into trouble, As his sword strikes men to death. 30 "And the steed it shall be shod All in silver, housed in azure, And the mane shall swim the wind; Shall flash onward and keep measure, Till the shepherds look behind. 35 "But my lover will not prize All the glory that he rides in, Build the shrine my soul abides in, 40 And I kneel here for thy grace!' “Then, ay, then he shall kneel low, With the red-roan steed anear him Which shall seem to understand, 45 Till I answer, 'Rise and go! For the world must love and fear him Whom I gift with heart and hand.' "Then he will arise so pale, I shall feel my own lips tremble With a yes I must not say, Nathless maiden-brave, 'Farewell,' I will utter, and dissemble 'Light to-morrow with to-day!' "Then he 'll ride among the hills To the wide world past the river, And to empty the broad quiver 50 55 60 |