Le Morte Arthur (lines 728-759)

And then one day theKing set forth

      To hunt with all hisknights;

They rode to the forestfor the chase,

     The sport and its delights.

But Lancelot planned tosee the Queen

     And so lay long in bed,

They went to meet herin her room,

     And gracious greetingsaid.

 First he kissed hercourteously,

     That lady full ofgrace,

And then her maidswhose joy ran down

     In tears on every face.

‘Ah, Lancelot,’ said the Queen, ‘that ever

     Iset myeyes on you!

Alas that it is gonefor ever,

     The love that we onceknew!

‘Alas, Sir Lancelot duLake,    

     Who have my heart inhold,

That you have taken theEarl’s daughter,

     Of Ascolot as I’m told!

Now for her sake youcease to be

     A warrior daring-bold,

And I must wake andweep in woe

     Till clay shall claspme cold.

 

‘But Lancelot, I beg younow,

     Since it must needs beso,

Never to tell a singlesoul

     Of the love we used toknow,

And never to let yourlove for her

     Enfeeble your knightlyfame,

For though my fate iswoe, I wish

     To hear you winacclaim.

Trans.Brian Stone, King Arthur's Death and Le Morte D'Arthur.  London, Penguin,1988.

Illustrations:

1. AlexKatz,  Blue Umbrella, 1979-80.

2. AlexKatz, Self-Portrait at Cheat Lake, 1969.

3. AlexKatz,  Pas de Deux,Vicki Hudspeth and Wally Turbeville, 1994.

4. AlexKatz, Pas de Deux, Red Grooms and Lizzy Ross, 1994.

5. Alex Katz, Black Scarf, 1996.