Worcester daily spy. [volume] (Worcester [Mass.]) 1850-1888, 1860-03-06
Written for the Worcester Spy.
SIR PERCEVAL'S CONFESSION.
BY ALBERT sUTLIFFE.


s9,,,2,m plain to plain of verdurea sweet stream
a. snklng to silence; and one little bird
Like pearls through stillest waters, showered his
notes
From leafy bower. All the rest was still
But, sudden as an earthquake to the world
Thunder of steeds and clank of plated mail
Cleft the white stiffness; down the valley rushed
A score of hauberks like score of suns
Deepening the noontide to a shining blaze
Thou kn0wst, father, went an untried youth
To knightly court, yet with some boyish skill
Thou know'st 1 never blenched in any Just
But bore my lance with honor. So stood
Against the twenty One fell meath his steed,
But seven smote me like single stroke
And felled and would have slain me- when knight.
Earths noblest soul, peerless in tilt of arms
Whose shield the semblance of a red cross bore
Smote all the fray asunder; then he drave
The score before him, as the kingly bird
Doth chase the craven kestrels, and my steed
Fled like the wind, and was left alone
Then did burn to aid that provost knight,
And would have given Viyiane's treasures all,
That light her palace underneath the lake,
Her thousand jewels like thousand stars,
But naught awaited, and was left alone
The glorious sun set on wtless world,
And DER its changing beauties crept the dark;
The hateful dark, that hides the beauteous day,
The friendly dark, that brings the beauteous night,
With balm of silence and deep-healing Speech
With dew drops making infinite the stars
And sweet suggestion moving than words.
Then did sleep as it were chdhood's Sleep
Until sweet voice ringing at my side,
Said, BOLD Sir Perceval, what dost thou here!"
With that saw lady passing fair,
And like another shining star in heaven,
Who softly added, 'Do my will, sir knight
And thou shalt have steed of strength and grace,
And wind-ke motion, which shall carry thee
Der distant oceans lift please thee go.
And did promise like loyal knight
When 10! coal-black steed! Housings of gold,
Like golden runlets, DER his heaying TANKS
Fell earthward, and the terror of his name
Seemed like storm cloud laid along the wind,
Where through his eyes like lurid lightning peered,
While with his foot he Numbered on the ground
That all the opposing hillsides rang again,
With startled echoes walked by sudden fear.
mounted him, and past the flying woods,
And speedy rivers, in one little hour
He bore me three days journey; till great
And boisterous water, rough and sea-like, roared
Before me, and he would have borne me in.
But doubling to o'erpass, thereat signed
My sinful forehead with the sanity cross;
AT which the unholy fend, with goodness charged
Shook me with anger from him cleaving through
The stormy torrent casting flakes of fire,
Crying and raging, like spirit lost.
prayed until the coming of the dawn
Disclosed the place; waste of thankless land
Sadder for sunshine all about the sea-
But gliding toward the land, all silken-sailed,
And swathed with silk from stem to Haunting stern,
A stately ship; therein lady, robed,
And crowned and jeweled like an orient queen,
Who babe me welcome with a courty grace,
Telling tale clouded with grevous wrong,
Asking my aidance a spotless knight.
My father, was it mine to say her nay?
She pitched her tent upon the sloping sand
And babe sit beside her. All her charms
Shone full upon me as the spring-time sun,
Warm and lie-giving faces earth and sea-
To which the loving land responds with bud,
Light-seeking germ, and heavenly tinted flower
And even the sea yearns in its purple caves
She fed my thoughts with smiles and this poor form
With fiery wines, until my warm desires
Dazzled my reason, and l sought her love
Too much OF sense! Father, forgive me this,
The human weakness: / will sin no more.
saw my sword unsheathed along the ground,
Upon the rommel, like living flame,
The perfect cross. Again touched my 'front.'
Again the fend fled yelling through the sea-
The vision vanished and stood alone.
Behind, the desert, and before, the waves,
Lashing the rocks and foamng up the sand
White-crested knights, that storm surly wall,
And still repulsed, still come with rage unspent
After pause. saw upon the deep
Another ship, with same oyerspread,
Fair, foam-white silk; and all about was calm
Thereto passed, and after many hours
The bold Sir BohOrt came to bide with me.
And after space the knight Sir Galahad,
That purest knight vowed to the sacred quest,
AT which we swept away before the wind.
The great rocks fronted us, the shrieking waves
Parted in anger; through the riven rocks,
And whirling waters, still our passage lay,
Until third ship, tairer than the rest,
Stood waiting that all might enter in.
Therein entered, when, behold the end!
The Holy Grail, the dream of many knights,
Upon a silver table, and above,
Cloth of red samite; all about light
Like many suns; balmy eastern air,
Weighty with spice and costly dropping gums
Sweet recompense for grief and lasting toll.
more than worth of many lives of knights!
Many had died not seeing. What was 1,
To be accorded such exceeding grace!
For they had dared waste places, drawing sword
On formless dragon, and on giant men
Patient of storm and hunger and fierce toll
Until their flesh wasted from the bone
And far in Heathenesse alone they fell.
Then we drew toward the land and coming near
A city by the sea, bore forth the prize
A cripple aiding touched and msde whole
To space within the walls; the dwellers there
Rejoicing made Sir Galahad their king
He made golden casket set with gems
To hold the sacred relic. There each day
We bowed in fervent prayer. But twelvemonths
passed,
One early morning when came to pray
We saw Saint Joseph with angel choir
And summons for the pure Sir Gaahad.
So came our chief and kissed us with farewell
And kneeling down before the Holy Grail
Ills sweet soul parted and we saw it borne
In great glory to the gates of Heaven.
moreover came hand and took the cup
Seen never since by any mortal man.
Dut now, good father, all is past and done
think the night is cold; It NAV not he
Yet is there not little floating mist
Between me and those far of stars In heover,
brstwhhe lhey seemed to glitter How SO dim,
And that loved Christ forever on the rood
Seems like picture, and yon picture seems
Not like the Mother but those faint cloud sb0ro,
We think are somewhat. Father, have s;rnaa
Dost surely think my seeing of the Gun
Hath made me pure of all those stains of blooa
That cling to me from many just at arms,
For have loved the din of steel ON steel
As sweetest music, and the sight of blood
Was dearer to me than the love of God,
Frst- pl.-.At A. a.