"We sent before you called us, Elfinhart, For love lent keener magic to our art, And warned us of the thoughts that in your breast Awoke new rapture, trembling unconfessed." And Elfinhart moved closer to her knees And hid her face in the white draperies That veiled the fairy form, till, nestling there, Her heart recovered from that blank despair, And whispered her that whatsoe'er befell Love ruled the world, and all would yet be well. And the good fairy stroked the maiden's head And kissed her tear-starred eyes, and smiling said: "Fie on you women's hearts! Consistency Hides her shamed head where mortal women be! True love breeds faith and trust, it makes hearts strong; The heart's anointed king can do no wrong! And yet you weep as if you feared to prove him;-- Upon my word, I don't believe you love him!" And Elfinhart replied: "Laugh if you will, My queen, but let me be a woman still. You fairies love where love is wise and just; We mortal women love because we must: And if I feared to prove him, I confess I fear I still must love him none the less." She paused, for once again her eyes grew dim: "Think you I love his virtues? I love him! But yet you judged me wrongly, for believe me, (And then laugh once again, and so forgive me), If at the first I feared what you might do, My doubts were not of Gawayne, but of you!" And so both laughed, and for a little space Folded each other in a glad embrace; (For fairies, bathed the whole year round in bliss, May yet be gladdened by a fair maid's kiss); And Elfinhart spoke on: "Do what you will, I trust you with my all, and fear no ill. But oh, my friend, to wait the long, long year,-- To keep my heart in silence, not to hear The words my whole soul hungers for, nor say One syllable to brighten his dark day! Must it be so, my queen? And how shall I School eyes and lips to act this year-long lie? From the dear teacher-guardian of my youth The only ways I learned were ways of truth! I tried my skill this night, and learned to know That there are deeps below the deeps of woe; Hearts may be bruised and broken, yet still live;-- The wounds that kill us are the wounds we give!" And so these two talked on, until the night Began to shiver with the gray dawn's light, And in the deep-dyed casement they might see New life flush through old dreams of chivalry. And then they parted. What the queen had said I know not, but the lady, comforted, Bade farewell with calm voice and tranquil eyes, And saw with new-born strength the new sun rise. Perhaps in Fairyland there chanced to be For them that grieve some sovereign alchemy To turn the worst to best, and the good queen Applied this soothing balm. Such things have been; But yet I doubt if any fairy art Was needed in the case of Elfinhart; The medicine that charmed away her dole Nature had planted in her own sweet soul. Of all sure things, this thing I'm surest of,-- That the best cure for love's own ills is love. CANTO III GAWAYNE CANTO III GAWAYNE