INTRODUCTION TO CANTO SECOND.
I
In Arthur's age, when, Chivalry! thy flame
Impetuous ran from warrior-breast to breast
When love, inspiring each adventurous aim,
Polish'd the heroic lance, and plum'd the crest;
When high carousals gave the knightly guest
To blazon many a deed to valour dear;
'Twas then, on every action was imprest
Some stamp of more than mortal hope or fear;
And wild the wizard danc'd, or scowl'd the muttering seer.
II
If he, whose blade mow'd down the embattled field,
Thro' heaps of carnage urg'd the foeman's flight;
'Twas magic temper'd his effulgent shield—
The enchanter's car hung glorious o'er the fight!
Weak from his wounds if sank the vanquish'd knight,
Delicious dews his fainting sense restor'd,
And airy curtains veil'd his slumbers light!
Transfix'd, if he fell breathless, his dread sword
Was caught into mid Heaven, rocks echoed, ocean roar'd!
III
If in a waste of sighs the enamour'd chief
Told his fond passion to the unpitying maid;
From viewless beings lo! he sought relief,
Some kind elf whispering thro' the charmed shade!
Whilst for her raven hair a roseate braid
Mid the soft gloom aerial fingers wove!
If beauty's melting blush his vows repaid,
Ah! borne away on wings that scorch'd the grove,
And clos'd in chamber drear, he rued his ravish'd love!
IV
'Twas then its surge the north's dark ocean flung,
O'er rough Tintagel's ramparts, yet unscal'd
By any mortal wight, and wildly rung
Thro' all its island caverns; nor avail'd
The arrowy flights where Merlin proudly sail'd,
And tower'd along the cliff the unearthly mien!
And other Uthers still their Merlin hail'd,
To other fair Igernes, all unseen,
Gliding in secret guise where smil'd their elfin queen.
V
'Twas then if revel'd earl or Cornish prince
Where Trematoun, deep-moated, rose sublime,
The enchanter's horn, some fair one's faith to evince,
Or sudden to detect her covert crime—
That horn went round, the sport of bardic rhyme!
'Twas then where frown'd Dunheved's mighty keep,
(Vast massy pile to mock the power of time)
Some giant grim lay lock'd in witched sleep,
And hissing dragons watch'd the immeasurable sweep.
VI
Amid such scenes, that all in hues array'd,
By fond credulity delusive glow'd,
The haunted tower, the faery-featur'd glade;
Lo, terror saw the necromancer's rod
Smite, sacrilegious smite the shrines of God!
And, dipt alas! in azure-tinctur'd flame
The red-cross tremble in the saint's abode;
And, in the cleansing basin's holy gleam
View'd with unchristian eyes, “the spirit of the stream!”
