Sir Palamedes

104 Yet was his heart immeasurably sad, For that no questing in his ear he had. Nay! he saw all. He saw the Curse That wrapped in ruin the World primeval. He saw the unborn Universe, And all its gods coeval. He saw, and was, all things at once In Him that is ; he was the stars, The moons, the meteors, the suns, All in one net of triune bars; Inextricably one, inevitably one, Immeasurable, immutable, immense Beyond all the wonder that his soul had won By sense, in spite of sense, and beyond sense. “Praise God!” quoth Palamede, “ by this I attain the uttermost of bliss. . . . God’s wounds! but that I never sought. The Questing Beast I sware to attain And all this miracle is naught. Off on my travels once again ! I keep my youth regained to foil Old Time that took me in his toil. I keep my strength regained to chase The Beast that mocks me now as then Dear Christ! I pray Thee of Thy grace Take pity on the forlorn case Of Palamede the Saracen!”