> the sudden trumpet sounded as in a dream > to ears but half-awaked, then one low roll > of autumn thunder, and the jousts began; > and ever the wind blew, and yellowing leaf, > and gloom and gleam, and shower and shorn plume > went down it. sighing weariedly, as one > who sits and gazes on a faded fire, > when all the goodlier guests are past away, > sat their great umpire looking o'er the lists. > he saw the laws that ruled the tournament > broken, but spake not; once, a knight cast down > before his throne of arbitration cursed > the dead babe and the follies of the king; > and once the laces of a helmet crack'd, > and show'd him, like a vermin in its hole, > modred, a narrow face. anon he heard > the voice that billow'd round the barriers roar > an ocean-sounding welcome to one knight, > but newly-enter'd, taller than the rest, > and armor'd all in forest green, whereon > there tript a hundred tiny silver deer, > and wearing but a holly-spray for crest, > with ever-scattering berries, and on shield > a spear, a harp, a bugle - tristram - late > from over-seas in brittany return'd > and marriage with a princess of that realm > isolt the white - sir tristram of the woods -  > whom lancelot knew, had held sometime with pain > his own against him, and now yearn'd to shake > the burthen off his heart in one full shock > with tristram even to death. his strong hands gript > and dinted the gilt dragons right and left, > until he groan'd for wrath - so many of those > that ware their ladies' colors on the casque > drew from before sir tristram to the bounds, > and there with gibes and flickering mockeries > stood, while he mutter'd, "craven crests! o shame! > what faith have these in whom they sware to love? > the glory of our round table is no more."
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