"While I revolve what this salute may mean,106
They rush once more upon the poor balæna,
Clutch—rend—gnaw—bolt the blubber; but the lean
Reject as drying to the duodena!
This done,—my broil they aid me to obtain,
And, while I eat—the noses go again!
"My tale is closed—the grateful Pigmies lead107
Myself and hound across the ice defiles;
Regain their people and recite my deed,
Describe the monsters and display the spoils;
With royal rank my feats the dwarfs repay,
And build the palace which you now survey!
"The vanquish'd bears are trophied on the wall;108
The oil you scent once floated in the whale;
I had a vision to illume the hall
With lights less fragrant,—human hopes are frail!
With cares ingenious from the bruins' fat,
I made some candles,—which the ladies ate!
"'Tis now your turn to tell the tale, Sir King,—109
And by the way our comrade, Lancelot?
I hope he found a raven in the ring!
Monstrum horrendum!—Sire, I question not
That in your justice you have heard enough
When we get home—to crucify that chough!"
"Gawaine," said Arthur, with his sunny smile,110
"Methinks thy heart will soon absolve the raven,
Thy friend had perish'd in this icy isle
But for thy voyage to the Viking's haven,
In every ill which gives thee such offence,
Thou seest the raven, I the Providence!"
The Knight reluctant shook his learned head;111
"So please you, Sire, you cannot find a thief
Who picks our pouch, but Providence hath led
His steps to pick it;—yet, to my belief,
There's not a judge who'd scruple to exhibit
That proof of Providence upon a gibbet!
"The chough was sent by Providence:—Agreed:112
We send the chough to Providence, in turn!
Yet in the hound and not the chough, indeed,
Your friendly sight should Providence discern;
For had the hound been just a whit less nimble,
Thanks to the chough, your friend had been a symbol!"
"Thy logic," answer'd Arthur, "is unsound,113
But for the chough thou never had'st been married;
But for the wife thou ne'er hadst seen the hound;—
The Ab initio to the chough is carried:
The hound is but the effect—the chough the cause,"
The generous Gawaine murmur'd his applause.
"Do veniam Corvo! Sire, the chough's acquitted!"114
"For Lancelot next," quoth Arthur, "be at ease,
The task fulfill'd to which he was permitted,
The ring veer'd home—I left him on the seas.
Ere this, be sure he hails the Cymrian shore,
And gives to Carduel one great bulwark more."
Then Arthur told of fair Genevra flying115
From the scorn'd nuptials of the heathen fane;
Her Runic bark to his emprise supplying
The steed that bore him to the Northern main;
While she, with cheeks that blush'd and looks that fell,
Implored a Christian's home in Carduel.