SIR PALAMEDES, THE SARACEN KNIGHT
Touched the extreme, the giant goal!
Yea! all things in that hour transcended,
All power in his sublime control,
All felt, all thought, all comprehended—
“ How is it, then, the quest ” (he saith)
“Ts not—at last |!—achieved and ended?
Why taste I not the Bounteous Breath,
Receive the Goodly Gift of Grace?
Now, kind king-eagle (by God’s death !),
Restore me to mine ancient place!
I am advantaged nothing then!”
Then swooped he from the Byss of Space,
And set the knight amid the fen.
“God!” quoth Sir Palamede, “that I
Who have won nine should fail at ten!
I set my all upon the die:
There is no further trick to try.
Call thrice accurséd above men
Sir Palamede the Saracen!”