I WHEN Sir Gawain was led to his bridal-bed, By Arthur's knights in scorn God-sped: -- How think you he felt? O the bride within Was yellow and dry as a snake's old skin; Loathly as sin! Scarcely faceable, Quite unembraceable; With a hog's bristle on a hag's chin! -- Gentle Gawain felt as should we, Little of Love's soft fire knew he: But he was the Knight of Courtesy. II When that evil lady he lay beside Bade him turn to greet his bride, What think you he did? O, to spare her pain, And let not his loathing her loathliness vain Mirror too plain, Sadly, sighingly, Almost dyingly, Turned he and kissed her once and again. Like Sir Gawain, gentles, should we? @3Silent, all!@1 But for pattern agree There 's none like the Knight of Courtesy. III Sir Gawain sprang up amid laces and curls: Kisses are not wasted pearls: -- What clung in his arms? O, a maiden flower, Burning with blushes the sweet bride-bower, Beauty her dower! Breathing perfumingly; Shall I live bloomingly, Said she, by day, or the bridal hour? Thereat he clasped her, and whispered he, Thine, rare bride, the choice shall be. Said she, Twice blest is Courtesy! IV Of gentle Sir Gawain they had no sport, When it was morning in Arthur's court; What think you they cried? Now, life and eyes! This bride is the very Saint's dream of a prize, Fresh from the skies! See ye not, Courtesy Is the true Alchemy, Turning to gold all it touches and tries? Like the true knight, so may we Make the basest that there be Beautiful by Courtesy! | Discover our Poem Explanations and Poet Analyses!Other Poems of Interest...THE POPLAR by RICHARD HARRIS BARHAM PATIENCE TAUGHT BY NATURE by ELIZABETH BARRETT BROWNING THE PLAINT OF THE CAMEL by CHARLES EDWARD CARRYL THE LAST WORD OF A BLUEBIRD; AS TOLD TO A CHILD by ROBERT FROST RIDDLE: TEETH AND GUMS by MOTHER GOOSE SONNET: 35 by WILLIAM SHAKESPEARE EMPTYING ASHES by MAXWELL ANDERSON |