|
|
|
|
(1, 1) 14 |
Keep to the line, lad, let the field be bright |
(1, 1) 15 |
And the device well marked. |
|
|
(1, 1) 17 |
Pure |
(1, 1) 18 |
In line and colour. {To Apprentice 1.} Bring that vambrace here, |
(1, 1) 19 |
Tis not ill done. |
|
|
(1, 1) 21 |
And so it is, but I'm not satisfied |
(1, 1) 22 |
With competence; or I were still a smith |
(1, 1) 23 |
A common craftsman in far Mantua |
(1, 1) 24 |
And not Bernardo, once the armourer |
(1, 1) 25 |
Of Milan's court. See, here the work is rough |
(1, 1) 26 |
And somewhat careless. |
|
|
(1, 1) 28 |
Nay, let it stand till I have time for it. |
(1, 1) 29 |
Look you, my lad, this art of ours is rare |
(1, 1) 30 |
And needs long service. I am old enough |
(1, 1) 31 |
To know that I shall never learn it well. |
|
|
(1, 1) 33 |
And test it well, for I believe it strained. |
|
|
(1, 1) 35 |
Then out with it, my lad. |
(1, 1) 36 |
Death's a lean fellow, and needs little space |
(1, 1) 37 |
To make his entry. Rivet it again. |
(1, 1) 38 |
A life's no stronger than its slightest hour |
(1, 1) 39 |
Nor any armour than its weakest spot. |
|
|
(1, 1) 41 |
Have care of it. I mind in Milan once— |
(1, 1) 42 |
I'll tell you sometime. Now go on with it. |
(1, 1) 43 |
How often, boy, must I repeat my words, |
(1, 1) 44 |
Though hard, a metal's not a rock to hack |
(1, 1) 45 |
As if it were a quarry, but a form |
(1, 1) 46 |
Worth some consideration. Yes, this steel |
(1, 1) 47 |
Has its own texture and its qualities, |
(1, 1) 48 |
And we must watch them. Iron has its use, |
(1, 1) 49 |
Bronze its own nature, steel its services, |
(1, 1) 50 |
All much akin, yet very different, |
(1, 1) 51 |
And I'd as soon take knife to my own flesh |
(1, 1) 52 |
As mangle metal with that tool of yours. |
(1, 1) 53 |
Work with the line and not across the grain |
(1, 1) 54 |
And see your play grows not too hot, for warmth |
(1, 1) 55 |
Draws out the soul of steel. Go on. |
|
|
(1, 1) 57 |
Come, we'll test it then. |
(1, 1) 58 |
Give me a dagger. See, this is a life, |
(1, 1) 59 |
Here is the gorget, here would be the throat, |
(1, 1) 60 |
And I am fate in ambush 'gainst this life. |
(1, 1) 61 |
I strike it thus; the work is sound enough, |
(1, 1) 62 |
Ready for fracture in to-morrow's deeds. |
|
|
(1, 1) 64 |
That such meet work is marred? |
(1, 1) 65 |
It's nature's way. All's made for breaking here |
(1, 1) 66 |
This linked defence and grievous instruments |
(1, 1) 67 |
For its destruction. Yet we make them both. |
(1, 1) 68 |
Either our blades can bite thro' our strong mail, |
(1, 1) 69 |
Or else these links can turn our finest edge. |
(1, 1) 70 |
We dress the balance of the world, my lad, |
(1, 1) 71 |
For all the virtues and the strength of man |
(1, 1) 72 |
Fare ill in life without the armourer. |
|
|
(1, 1) 74 |
Ah, Gyfert! Welcome! |
|
|
(1, 1) 77 |
I think |
(1, 1) 78 |
Eight months. |
|
|
(1, 1) 81 |
Ye have been active then? |
(1, 1) 82 |
Whence are ye come? |
|
|
(1, 1) 86 |
You have need of me? |
|
|
(1, 1) 88 |
Come, let me see them. |
|
|
(1, 1) 90 |
Truly they have. I cannot make them good |
(1, 1) 91 |
Before the morrow. |
|
|
(1, 1) 94 |
You do not need them then |
(1, 1) 95 |
To-morrow? |
|
|
(1, 1) 97 |
Tis the last, |
(1, 1) 98 |
The final meeting of our summer court. |
(1, 1) 99 |
To-day is Pentecost! |
|
|
(1, 1) 105 |
The Prince of Devon then |
(1, 1) 106 |
Will break no lance to-morrow. |
|
|
(1, 1) 112 |
Sir Lamorak. |
|
|
(1, 1) 114 |
Gawain. |
|
|
(1, 1) 116 |
His brother Agravaine. |
|
|
(1, 1) 118 |
Aye, he is much advanced |
(1, 1) 119 |
In strength and favour. |
|
|
(1, 1) 122 |
He's a gallant soul. |
|
|
(1, 1) 127 |
Who is |
(1, 1) 128 |
My countryman? |
|
|
(1, 1) 130 |
He is not. |
(1, 1) 131 |
Why, he was bred in wild Armorica, |
(1, 1) 132 |
A land that will not suckle her own seed, |
(1, 1) 133 |
But casts them out to batten on the world. |
|
|
(1, 1) 135 |
There are no better knights |
(1, 1) 136 |
In Christendom. |
|
|
(1, 1) 139 |
True, an Italian lord |
(1, 1) 140 |
Adopted him. But he still bears these arms, |
(1, 1) 141 |
Argent a bend of vert, no heraldry |
(1, 1) 142 |
Of my far country. |
|
|
(1, 1) 145 |
No one; he took no part, |
(1, 1) 146 |
Nor have I seen him for some days. |
|
|
(1, 1) 151 |
In the third ward, I think. |
|
|
(1, 1) 155 |
I'll see to it. |
|
|
(1, 1) 157 |
Come, lad, now let us work. |
(1, 1) 158 |
The hour grows late. Here is Sir Lanval's blade. |
(1, 1) 159 |
This was not used in gentle passages, |
(1, 1) 160 |
But has been bitten by opposing swords. |
(1, 1) 161 |
We must re-edge it. There's good stuff in this. |
(1, 1) 162 |
A proper weapon should lie thus in hand, |
(1, 1) 163 |
Leashed like a hound unto its handler's mind, |
(1, 1) 164 |
Straining and hungering for the sentient force |
(1, 1) 165 |
That shall oppose it. |
|
|
(1, 1) 167 |
None better, lad; they do not know him well, |
(1, 1) 168 |
Whom I have heard speak lightly of his strength. |
(1, 1) 169 |
There are not many in all Arthur's realm |
(1, 1) 170 |
Who can o'ermatch him. |
|
|
(1, 1) 173 |
I remember him |
(1, 1) 174 |
In Mantua when he was young, unknown, |
(1, 1) 175 |
And saw him step from that subservience |
(1, 1) 176 |
To eminence. He often spoke with me, |
(1, 1) 177 |
And talked of arms and manners of defence. |
(1, 1) 178 |
Come, let us work. For in to-morrow's play |
(1, 1) 179 |
Is half war's danger; no man must reproach |
(1, 1) 180 |
The aids we give him. |
|
|
(1, 1) 184 |
We are pressed, my lord. |
|
|
(1, 1) 188 |
We armourers — give me the hammer, boy — |
(1, 1) 189 |
Like to imagine that the case we frame |
(1, 1) 190 |
Outweighs in value all that it shall hold, |
(1, 1) 191 |
And that our work is the best part of nature's, |
(1, 1) 192 |
Seeing that man lies fenceless to the world |
(1, 1) 193 |
Unless we aid him. 'Tis a small conceit. |
|
|
(1, 1) 198 |
In a little space, |
(1, 1) 199 |
We would do justice to so fair a task. |
|
|
(1, 1) 203 |
Not so ill, my lord. |
(1, 1) 204 |
Mark you this boy, his skill shall equal mine |
(1, 1) 205 |
An I be spared to teach him. |
|
|
(1, 1) 207 |
It's true enough; he has the touch, my lord, |
(1, 1) 208 |
The quality and feeling for this art, |
(1, 1) 209 |
But wants instruction. For I know full well |
(1, 1) 210 |
The certainty that's needed for this toil |
(1, 1) 211 |
Will halt and tremble. |
|
|
(1, 1) 213 |
But I grow old, for come next Martinmas |
(1, 1) 214 |
'Tis ten full years since I left Italy; |
(1, 1) 215 |
I was not young the time that Mantua |
(1, 1) 216 |
Half worshipped thee. |
|
|
(1, 1) 222 |
I shall die here, my lord. |
|
|
(1, 1) 225 |
A gauntlet for the joust, |
(1, 1) 226 |
Sir Agravaine's. |
|
|
(1, 1) 233 |
They are good pieces all. |
(1, 1) 234 |
We have so much of armour bent and hurt |
(1, 1) 235 |
By bitter onslaughts of the Picts and Scots |
(1, 1) 236 |
That we are 'mazed that from the hundred acts, |
(1, 1) 237 |
The fierce attainments and strange accidents |
(1, 1) 238 |
Of such a war this handiwork comes back — |
(1, 1) 239 |
Worn, it is true, but none the less well fit |
(1, 1) 240 |
For future service. |
|
|
(1, 1) 250 |
Not shamed, my lord; this land is proud and dull, |
(1, 1) 251 |
And harsher in the value which it sets |
(1, 1) 252 |
Upon its servants than all other states. |
(1, 1) 253 |
This people slowly puts suspicion off, |
(1, 1) 254 |
And slower still divests it of belief. |
(1, 1) 255 |
Be patient with them. |
|
|
(1, 1) 264 |
The Duke of Cornwall praised your enterprise, |
(1, 1) 265 |
And swore no knight of Arthur's court could lead |
(1, 1) 266 |
To better purpose. |
|
|
(1, 1) 272 |
In a moment, lord. |
(1, 1) 273 |
For it, as thou, waits on accomplishment. |
(1, 1) 274 |
Sir, I am old, and have watched many knights, |
(1, 1) 275 |
And might make play to hearten discontent. |
(1, 1) 276 |
Have I thy leave? |
|
|
(1, 1) 280 |
My lord, this humour is a youthful mood, |
(1, 1) 281 |
The fretting of a soul untrained, who feels |
(1, 1) 282 |
The bit of fortune curb his stride half way |
(1, 1) 283 |
Adown the lists. There are more courses yet, |
(1, 1) 284 |
And to show sourness is ungenerous. |
|
|
(1, 1) 286 |
To-night? |
|
|
(1, 1) 297 |
My lord, let me provide |
(1, 1) 298 |
Arms for to-morrow. |
|
|
(1, 1) 301 |
For our old friendship's sake, |
(1, 1) 302 |
Let me provide such arms as fit your rank. |
(1, 1) 303 |
Why, in a tournay one can win the wealth |
(1, 1) 304 |
Of a vast province in a single stroke, |
(1, 1) 305 |
Take prisoners, or hold the petty kings |
(1, 1) 306 |
To guard or ransom. |
|
|
(1, 1) 309 |
Geraint? |
|
|
(1, 1) 314 |
But the king is kind. |
|
|
(1, 1) 318 |
But he is just — |
|
|
(1, 1) 321 |
The Queen — |
|
|
(1, 1) 334 |
My lord, this court is not o'erfilled with men, |
(1, 1) 335 |
But its defences are hewn out from it |
(1, 1) 336 |
As flakes of metal from old armour fall. |
(1, 1) 337 |
Saxon and Scot, the Picts and outland men |
(1, 1) 338 |
Lie ever restless on our boundaries. |
(1, 1) 339 |
Each day may bring the messengers of war |
(1, 1) 340 |
And set our standards in the field again, |
(1, 1) 341 |
So do not leave us. |
|
|
(1, 1) 344 |
Go not, my lord. I have none else to speak |
(1, 1) 345 |
The southern tongue, or raise remembrances |
(1, 1) 346 |
Of Italy. |
|
|
(1, 1) 348 |
I am too old, and must endure my days |
(1, 1) 349 |
In these grey places. Death were easier there, |
(1, 1) 350 |
For he comes laughing with the sun and dust. |
(1, 1) 351 |
I wish I could. |
|
|
(1, 1) 362 |
Farewell, |
(1, 1) 363 |
My lord and friend. I would that I could go. |
(1, 1) 364 |
At least I'll speed thee. |
|
|
(1, 1) 519 |
For the tournay, lord. |
|
|
(1, 1) 521 |
Why so, my lord? |
|
|
(1, 1) 593 |
Sir Lanval is gone hence. |
|
|
(1, 1) 595 |
He said he longed for Italy. |
|
|
(1, 1) 597 |
I know not. |
|
|
(3, 1) 1754 |
Prince, had I a son to quip |
(3, 1) 1755 |
For such engagement, I could furnish him |
(3, 1) 1756 |
No better. |
|
|
(4, 2) 3423 |
Just to this ridge! I dare not go beyond. |
(4, 2) 3424 |
If he have passed it, there's an end of all. |
(4, 2) 3425 |
Why, what are ye? |
|
|
(4, 2) 3427 |
Stand away: |
(4, 2) 3428 |
If old, I'm not unhandy. Of what race |
(4, 2) 3429 |
Are ye? |
|
|
(4, 2) 3431 |
Of what possession are you? |
|
|
(4, 2) 3433 |
What's that? |
|
|
(4, 2) 3437 |
You know this country? |
|
|
(4, 2) 3439 |
Have you |
(4, 2) 3440 |
Or your companions seen a wandering knight? |
|
|
(4, 2) 3444 |
It might be so. |
|
|
(4, 2) 3446 |
There is no need. |
|
|
(4, 2) 3448 |
Sir Lanval! Good, my lord |
(4, 2) 3449 |
Will you not answer? |
|
|
(4, 2) 3454 |
Sir, I have known you long |
(4, 2) 3455 |
And merit not such usage. |
|
|
(4, 2) 3459 |
My lord, |
(4, 2) 3460 |
I heartened you some years ago, when dull |
(4, 2) 3461 |
And discontented you abjured this land, |
(4, 2) 3462 |
So hear me now. |
|
|
(4, 2) 3466 |
Is this the man that faced all Mantua, |
(4, 2) 3467 |
And held his honour up against the world? |
|
|
(4, 2) 3470 |
My lord, I knew you well |
(4, 2) 3471 |
When I was active. But the bitter clime, |
(4, 2) 3472 |
The raw fierce action of this troubled state |
(4, 2) 3473 |
Has wrinkled us together. And we yearn alike |
(4, 2) 3474 |
For the fair spaces of the southern coasts. |
|
|
(4, 2) 3477 |
My lord, in Italy — |
|
|
(4, 2) 3481 |
Nay, my lord, I know |
(4, 2) 3482 |
It is not just. |
|
|
(4, 2) 3485 |
O my lord, |
(4, 2) 3486 |
Come hence with me. |
|
|
(4, 2) 3488 |
There's room |
(4, 2) 3489 |
For honour yet abroad. |
|
|
(4, 2) 3501 |
But my lord — |
|
|
(4, 2) 3513 |
Your wrath is just, but bear a little while |
(4, 2) 3514 |
With the sour treatment of the world. And then |
(4, 2) 3515 |
We'll toss the past, its broken shafts and shields |
(4, 2) 3516 |
Into a corner. |
|
|
(4, 2) 3519 |
I do. |
|
|
(4, 2) 3527 |
But, my lord, our foes — |
(4, 2) 3528 |
The white-shield Angles lie beyond this vale, |
(4, 2) 3529 |
Lovers of blood who spare no living thing. |
|
|
(4, 2) 3537 |
Hark, my lord, |
(4, 2) 3538 |
I hear men's movement in the valley, feet |
(4, 2) 3539 |
That crush the bracken. Come away, my lord. |
|
|
(4, 2) 3549 |
Nay, my lord, I stay, |
(4, 2) 3550 |
At least stand here in shadow. They may pass. |
|
|
(4, 2) 3726 |
Prince. |
|
|
(4, 2) 3728 |
Not far, my lord. |