The Yale expositor. (Yale, St. Clair County, Mich.) 1894-current, 1904-06-17

chastity, an obligation resting on It's
Keepers
after the day of darkness when the dead
Went wandering DER Moriah-the GOOD saint
Arlmathea Joseph jouTneying brought
To Glastonbury, where the winter morn
blossoms at Christmas, mindful Of our LORD.
And there awhile II bode; ana II y man
Could touch or see It, he was heald at once
BY faith Of all his Ills. But then the times
Grew to such evil that the holy cup :,
Was caught away to heaven ana dlsappearu a.
From this time on it was sought for
through the whole world by knights
of the round table, until at last 1t was
found by the stainless Galahad.
Lowell has enlarged the circle of
competition to include knights OF a
period subsequent TO that of King Ar
thur and the moral meaning to include
charity and bfotherly love. conditions
for success in the quest.
The poem itself is an inspired I'M
provisatiOn as is suggested by the fig
ure of the musing organlst-
lover the keys the musing organist,
Beginning doubtfully and far away,
First lets his fingers wander as lhey nst, ION
And builds a bridge from Dreamland Tor
Then, as the touch of his loved instrument,
Gives hope and feryor, nearer draws his
First guessed by faint auroral Pushes sent
Along the wayering vista of his dreams
The musician follows wherever chance
leads him, so the poet is drawn aside
by the chance word "June" into that
rapturous contemplation of a summer
landscape.
what is so rare as a day in June?
Then, IL ever come peaceful days.
Then heaven tries earth If 1t be in tune,
And over 1t softly her warm ear lays
Whether we look or whether we listen,
We hear life murmur, or see IL gilsleh.
"The cowslp startles in meadows green,
The buttercup catches the sun In Its chalice,
The little bird sits at his door In the sun,
Atilt like blossom among the leaves,
And lets its illumined being Ger run
With the deluge OF summer II receives.
Awakened Nature is thrilled with a
new conscious life. Und9 these inspir-
ing influences, a noble impulse is wax
ened in the soul Of Sir Launfal and he
remembers the keeping of his vow. In
the pride and confidence of youth, the
knight prepares for the guest
MY golden spurs now bring to me,
And bring TO me my richest mall
For tomorrow go DER land ana sea
In search of the Holy Grail
Shall never "a bed for me be spread,
Nor shall pillow be under my head,
Till begin my vow to Keep;
Here OH the PUSHES will sleep,
And perchance there come vision true
Ere day create the world anew.
Slowly Sir Launfal's eyes grew dim
Slumber fell like a cloud on him.,
And into his soul the vision few.'
As he dashes from the palace gate
glad in shining armor he is aware of a
leper crouched by the wall, who with
extended hands begs an aims. The
sight of such a loathsome creature
shocks his dainty nature.
at seemed as blot on the summer morn,-
SO he tossed him piece of gold in scorn.
The lcper raised not the gold from the dust:
Better to me the poor man crust.
Better the blessing OF the poor,
Though turn me empty from his door;
THAT Is no true aims which the hand can hold:
lie gives nothing hut worthless gold
Who gives from the SENSE OF duty.
In long years Of search Sir Launfal
visits many lands; he becomes old and
worn; his eyes are dim. and he comes
back empty handed, only to find his es
tate and castle seized by others. He
himself stands at the palace gate beg
ging a shelter from the winter storm.
Down swept the chill wind from the noun
tain peak,
ON omen mold and hill top bleak
II had gathered all the cold,
And whirlcd ii Ike slcct on the wanderers
cheek;
sir iamtal hears the merry making
Ni.hiu his castle Tor il is the Christmas
season; he eees the glowing fire place