"I pierced the forest till a pool I reach'd, 31 Ne'er mark'd before--a dark yet lucid wave; High from a blasted oak the night-owl screech'd, An otter crept from out its water-cave, The owl grew silent when it heard my tread-- The otter mark'd my shadow, and it fled. "This all I saw, and all I heard."--"Rejoice" 32 The enchanter cried, "for thee the omens smile; On thee propitious Fate hath fix'd the choice; And thou the comrade in the glorious toil. In death the poet only music heard; But death gave way when life's firm soldier stirr'd. "Forth ride, a dauntless champion, with the morn; 33 But let the night the champion nerve with prayer; Higher and higher from the heron borne, Wheels thy brave falcon to the heavenliest air, Poises his wings, far towering o'er the foe, And hangs aloft, before he swoops below; "Man let the falcon teach thee!--Now, from land 34 To land thy guide, receive this chrystal ring; See, in the chrystal moves a fairy hand, Still, where it moveth, moves the wandering King-- Or east, or north, or south, or west, where'er Points the sure hand, thy onward path be there! "Thine hour comes soon, young Gawaine! to the port 35 The light heart boundeth o'er the stormiest wave; And thou, fair favourite[4] in the Fairy court, To whom its King a realm in fancy gave; Fear not from glory exiled long to be, What toil to others, Nature brings to thee." Thus with kind word, well chosen, unto each 36 Spoke the benign enchanter; and the twain, Less favour'd, heart and comfort from his speech Hopeful conceived; the prophet up the plain, Gathering weird simples, pass'd--to Carduel they; And song escapes to Arthur's lonely way. On towards the ocean-shore (for thus the seer 37 Enjoin'd) the royal knight, deep musing, rode; Winding green margins, till more near and near Unto the main the exulting river flow'd. Here too a guide, when reach'd the mightier wave, The heedful promise of the prophet gave. Where the sea flashes on the argent sands, 38 Soars from a lonely rock a snow-white dove: No bird more beauteous to immortal lands Bore Psyche rescued side by side with Love. Ev'n as some thought which, pure of earthly taint, Springs from the chaste heart of a virgin saint. It hovers in the heaven:--and from its wings 39 Shakes the clear dewdrops of unsullying seas; Then circling gently in slow-measured rings, Nearer and nearer to its goal it flees, And drooping, fearless, on that noble breast, Murmuring low joy, it coos itself to rest.