Fear fell on all, save only the King! 
  Uprose Arthur, unbarred his helmet; shone confessed the countenance chaste. 
  Then, for so the Spirit inspired him, set the youth on the Perilous Seat;
  Brake as he pressed it a Peal of thunder and paled the firelight, paled
    the lamps,
  Such a sudden stream of splendour flooded the Feast with miraculous light;
  Whilst, O Wonder! round the Table swathed in samite, dazzling bright,
  Passed the Presence, mystical, shadowy, ghostly gliding—­the Holy Grail,
  Passed, though none could its shape discover, nay, not even the Virgin
    Knight,
  Passed, passed with strains seraphic, incense odours, rainbow hues—­
  Passed, passed, and where it entered, suddenly melted out of sight.

ASK WHAT THOU WILT

  Thy blood was spilt
    From death to set us free;
  Ask what Thou wilt,
    ’Tis consecrate to Thee! 
  Thy hands and feet
    For us the nails went through. 
  What is most meet,
    Bid ours for Thee to do. 
          Ask what Thou wilt.

  All round Thy Brows
    The Throne of Heavenly thought,
  Divine Wisdom’s house—­
    For us the thorns were wrought;
  Therefore, though dust
    In balance with Thy pains,
  Take Thou, in trust,
    The travail of our brains! 
          Ask what Thou wilt.

  Thy Heart of Love
    With all its human aches,
  By the spear’s proof,
    Was broken for our sakes;
  Our hearts, therefore,
    And all we love and own
  Are ours no more,
    But Thine and Thine alone. 
          Ask what Thou wilt.

  Though homes be riven,
    At Thy supreme behest,
  Yea! the sword driven
    Through many a mother’s breast;
  Thy blood was spilt
    From death to set us free;
  Ask what Thou wilt
    ’Tis consecrate to Thee. 
          Ask what Thou wilt.

Printed at the Complete Press
West Norwood
London