Now, as between us both, let God, that brings This end and mystery of returning light After the thunder round us, and that sees Our spirits without mask and unexcused, Judge and have mercy. Tho’ peace be now ordained Between us both, yet from our realm for ever You are banished to your own lands whence you came, To Brittany beyond the seas. Alas! I never thought with such a word to close Our book of friendship, wherein men shall read How, many a time, Launcelot saved his King And brought this kingdom glory. It is not I That shall forget that friendship or those deeds. And truly, for your fault, do I commend you Where is that understanding of our hearts Which is beyond men’s fathom. God be with you. LAUNCELOT Now, must I speak That narrow word which, like a little spring Of water, swells to a dividing flood: _Farewell_. O royal Guenevere, farewell. Dear isle, sweet Britain, where I won renown-- All other lands are darkness to your light Which I must leave behind me. Keep my name As one that loved, as one that.... There’s no more! Launcelot passes from this fellowship, This the most noble fellowship of the world, For ever, and the little noise we made In the dull ear of Time so gloriously The streams of silence take. Lord Arthur, though all else be cancelled, yet I keep my oath of fealty; leave me that: And I shall never fail you, heart or hand, While breath is in me. Call me in your need, My sword, my life, are yours. [LAUNCELOT _passes out with his Knights. The_ KING’S _followers withdraw aside_. ARTHUR Do you not weep to have lost him, Guenevere? He did to me the wrong that least is pardoned, Yet almost I forget my manhood now. GUENEVERE I am past tears. All I have done and been, Been and endured, I see from far away, As if another in my shape were there Moving through storm and fire.--Have you no word, No reproach for me? ARTHUR All my thoughts are stript. As trees after the tempest, and life’s bare As winter to the homeless. GUENEVERE This my heart Did never forge sweet pardons for itself. There is no absolution among men: Give me leave, therefore, to renounce the world And choose the cloister. ARTHUR Will you take those vows? I doubt not you are guided where you go. What’s broken God may there amend, not we. GUENEVERE There is a nunnery at Amesbury: once I entered there, and found strange peace within. I did not know such peace could be on earth. Suffer me, my lord, to go to Amesbury. ARTHUR So be it. GUENEVERE Put remembrance under stone Where the dead lie and feet pass over them. She that so wronged you has no more a name. ARTHUR