Far through the world his merits were renown'd, In various virtue kingly, as in birth, He made his office honour'd through the earth. This Tartar without peer, this valiant king, He had, besides, the youngest of the three, Whose full idea Rhetoric must impart It chanced, since first Cambuscan bore the sway, When twenty winters now had pass'd away, (As was, I deem, his custom every year) He caused, through Sarra's streets, in accent clear, A feast to be proclaim'd, whose lawful mirth Might fitly celebrate his day of birth; The appointed time, the last of March's ides. Sol now, his station changed, with Mars resides, Mounted in Aries, from whose angry sign His burning beams with stronger influence shine. Changed by his warmth, the temperate gales impart Forgotten rapture to the cheerless heart: And as the verdant hues more vivid grow, Or cloudless skies the coming Season show, With shrillest melody the quires of air, On wing, the abundance of their joy declare. As if protections they had now obtain'd, Nor fear'd his tyranny, though Winter reign'd, : 1 Presiding at the feast, Cambuscan bore His crown aloft, and royal vestments wore, Seen through the hall, at its exalted part, It sure would occupy a summer's day. I to the narrative shall close adhere. And so it chanced that while, the tables clear, : 1 1 King, queen, and lords, in order due, salutes; And his expression so his subject suits, That did old Gawain* come at our command, And leave his residence in Fairy land, His courteous fancy could not mend a word. But the mere matter of the harangue to impart. " Which, with strange power, transports its living " load, * Nephew of King Arthur, and esteemed a model of knightly courtesy. " Where'er commanded, in a day and night, " And safe through showers directs its rapid flight. " He, a sure safeguard in the realms of air, "Unharm'd will carry you through foul and fair : "Or should you wish your airy course to change, " And lofty regions, wing'd by eagles, range, "Not less securely would you cleave the skies, "(Though stealing Sleep o'ercame your watchfull "eyes) "While, when you chose, and rightly moved a pin, "Your journey back would, undelay'd, begin. " This shining mirror, which my hand sustains, "Gives the rare privilege, with little pains, "To see, reflected by its surface true, "Each ill impending o'er your state and you; "Reveal'd to see your real friend and foe, "Nor less in love the turns of fortune know. " If some bright lady of your court has borne " Its tender pains, her lover late forsworn, "This will detect, howe'er conceal'd it be, " His fickle soul's dissembling subtlety. |