The Hancock Jeffersonian. [volume] (Findlay, Ohio) 1857-1870, 1861-09-06
Launcclot's Vigil.

Launcelot du Lake, that had been braves,
Knight
Launcolot du Lake, whom Guinevere had low.
! Cd
launcelOt du Lake, whom all the world had
praised
For very sorrow threw aside his sword.
And folded DER his slowly breaking heart
monks coarse robe, and In n narrow cell
Forgot the world, and Learned 10 serve his God!
And ththcr came Ia him. to share alike
Penanco and fasting, seven other lords,
Whose armOr rusted in the chapel vaults,
The whilo they prayed together at the shrine!
His old time friends, that in the storied days
Had with each other iousted tested, rode.
And pledged their ladies' names at merry
| feasts,
And lived tlo thoughtlcss life that sears the
! SOUL
Launcelot the monk changed from the gal.
liant sir
That never met his peer in tlold or hall
Slumbered, aud saw a vision as he slept
Saw once again. amid the dreams oi night,
The woman's face that was his earthly fate
Tie Queen's--tut not us she had used to come
Into his sleeping thoughts that brought so Oft
Her tender tones, her clinging kiss, her or es
Looking In his with loves fond. rapturous gaze
But as man whose deep, ropcntant zeal
Has scourged the flesh till passion, pride of
! life.
And all base things are banishcd from the soul
rhat sees, through pain. the glory of he Lord!
Or win the spirit, freed from mortal taint,
With other spirits holds communion strange!
She bent above his worn and pallid check,
That flushed not now To feel her mouth SO near;
And, mid the solemn silence, called his name
And bado him unto Almesbury haste,
To find her dead; from thence to bear her forth
And bury her beside her husband, the great
King,
That would forgive her when sho came once
more
To rest beside h,m on his royal couch,
rtor prayer and penitence had purced hor life
From her youths sin, and she could meet him
now!
So iauncclot rose ere 1t was day, and Went
The seven others with him-went once more
Jonrncying together in the open air.
Feeble aud weak that once were stout aud
strOng
And smiled not as Of yore to see afar
The spires of Camelot glitter in the sun!
And when they entered ut the nun'ry gate,
The ladies told them that the Queen was dead,
And murmured, ere her voice was hustled In
Oeaih,
That Launcclot thither came to read her mass!
And aS they talked. his hot tears fell ad"wn.
And iallring words a,kod If aught else she
srake;
And Geutl, hearts held back unwelcome truth.
lntil he urged the answcr-"Ihat she prayed
TIL her last breath, that ncvermorG her eyes
With living sight might see Sir launcelotS
frrm!"
And l.auucc'nt turned his face toward the wall,
I'll II hose near hv should mark not IN his look
They laid her IN the broad aisle OF the
church.
fore the altar, and lii all the lights
Aud DER the bier. instead of sable pail.
They cast the purple cloak she wore that day
She fed from throne and strife for shelter there
And l.auncelot kept the midnight watch al one:
The last-witli her--wlth Conference.-The dead!
lie sang her drge who erst had whispered
words
Into those willing cars. had thrilled her heart
Tl.,, u.ln Il han al
lcnpcd
In burning bushes when he came ancar,
And stirred ,i,r very velvet that now lay
So still upon the silent shape. the while
lie brcathcd her name, IN such tones
As might have reached her in the deepest
grave,
tie read her mass, and wcpt between the
prayers,
lmrlurins God. for Christs incarnate sake,
20 give her peace. to take her io lliS res,
That 81 when Arthur met her aS she walked.
White r"lod with angels, in the Golden Street,
Il" ,nniEi iGrErt ngr human ~ nns Know
And when his sacred duty TnS all Done
lie rose from knceling meath the host, and
looked
Once more upon her face -.aud thon--and then
Ills iuil heart hr,Nc. lie thought Of all tho
past!
Tie saw her ~ al first. II l,,ir. young bride,
RCgitl, yet SHY uf state, and glad tn no
Apart ir, M cIur, and laughing with her maids;
or riding meath green houghS with looSoncd
hair;
or dancing changing measure with rare grace.
lie felt again the thrill that nrrd his blood
When hrst her S"lt palm, trembling, pressed
his own.
He saw tho dropping lash, the dewy mouth
Waiting his proud caress in other times.
And lived again each hour of passionate joy,
SwcctGr Tor being secret. but HAT now
Each lett upon his soul the weight Of crime!
He bowed tn kiss her lps--tn clasp again
Those marble hands ~ sort at lierce delight
Flashed through his frame to think that his
should he
fhe last warm touch should ever lin.er there
Al no! All nu! he dared nOt-shc had gone
ru be flrgivcn. II was not meet that she
should bear an Eden seal ui former shame
She had O'erlived her luvc-he had 10 right
Even to look upon her with the olden thoughts
Since that was lost had sanctihcd their guilt!
Remuneration " as his Office oath!
II was Gods justice he should suffer tins!
And she slept there, 80 cold. sn pulc. :" still
And hc stood by So shaken with his grici,
Mem ries. rem0rse, AL passions that can war
| In a mans mind and over both the crnSs!--
lie deemed II ho had seen her only once,
Once more before she died, and heard her say
His love was pardnncd, and the III il wrought
, II her last sigh had only PASSED away
/ Upon his breast, he could have borne to Know
/ That he must live without her il the world.
But she had plead t0 see him nevermore!
Was II, pcrchHnCe, because she feared to feel
The old dream wake again in her last haur>!
He quivercd with the hope, and eager sought
To catch upon the stony brow one trace
lOfthe dear look tnat thralled him In his youth
Not there--nut there - she loved her husband
4 now
And in the sight Of God she gaZed on him
With those sweet eyes, all purified by death!
And Launcclot paced the lonely aislcs ant
fought
with his own soul until he tanned his woe,
And went not mad with anguish that long night
Then, Just Mt dawn. he knelt beside tho corps'
, AMI prayed that il so he he yet should win
. A place In Paradise, 1t might be where,
In Christ's wido Heaven, she ne'er could SEE
his face!
For, as he cast such sorrow on her life,
| Ilo would not shadow her immortal bliss
] Even by memries he would cherish still
Through AL eternity apart from har!
= And the next day they laid her In the earth
Beside tho King, and in the open tomb
Sir launcelot SAW Them lying side by side.
= And swuoned to think that he had loved her so
!, And yet should he so far away from her
when at the resurrection morn they two
! To the last judgment would together rise!
!, So, day by day, he came unto the grave,
l. And mourned and faded till his strength NJ
more
u Could bear him from his couch, and then h
q died
: Died with smile upon his lips, like one
4 That takes into his dreams ling ring KISS
And all his seven ireres had sworn 10 MN
, That they would bury him AT Joyous Garde-
y And AS he lay in state in his own land,
!, With the Queens scarf crossed on his shrunf
on breast,
: That he so Oft at tournaments had worn--
Sir EotOr spoke his requiem with tears
"Lie there, Sir Launcelot, head OF Christia
Il Knights!
U That never yet was matched by earthly poe
1.-THE cOurtliest lord that ever bore a shield!