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Constance De Castile

A Poem, in Ten Cantos. By William Sotheby
Sotheby, William (1757-1833)

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CONSTANCE DE CASTILE.
 I. 
CANTO I.
 II. 
CANTO II.
 III. 
CANTO III.
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CANTO IV.
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CANTO V.
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CANTO VI.
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CANTO VII.
 I. 
I.
 II. 
II.
 III. 
III.
 IV. 
IV.
 V. 
V.
 VI. 
VI.
 VII. 
VII.
 VIII. 
VIII.
 IX. 
IX.
 X. 
X.
 XI. 
XI.
 XII. 
XII.
 XIII. 
XIII.
 XIV. 
XIV.
 XV. 
XV.
 XVI. 
XVI.
 XVII. 
XVII.
 XVIII. 
XVIII.
 XIX. 
XIX.
 XX. 
XX.
 XXI. 
XXI.
 XXII. 
XXII.
 XXIII. 
XXIII.
 XXIV. 
XXIV.
 XXV. 
XXV.
 XXVI. 
XXVI.
 XXVII. 
XXVII.
 XXVIII. 
XXVIII.
 XXIX. 
XXIX.
 XXX. 
XXX.
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CANTO VIII.
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CANTO IX.
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CANTO X.

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109

XIV.

Led by the harp, and choral strain,
First, Arthur's pageant fill'd the plain.

Arthur's pageant is composed from the old romances of Lancelot du Lac, and the Morte Arthur, and to those, passim, I must refer the reader for a more intimate acquaintance with the fair but frail Guinever, the gigantic Ryence, the enchanter Merlin, and Sir Gawain, and Sir Lyonel, and Sir Galahad, and the renowned knights of the round table.


High on a throne of golden hue,
Towr'd Guinever, in jewell'd sheen:
Twelve monarchs chain'd her chariot drew,
Gigantic Ryence at their head,
His stole with beard of kings o'erspread.
There, Merlin, the enchanter, seen,
With quaint device, and subtile sleight,
Shifting his shapes before the sight.
Whatever form the juggler wore,
Fell from his lip prophetic lore,
And many a wild and wondrous lay
Accompanied his changeful way.
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