THE FALL OF ARTHUR - J.R.R. TOLKIEN

The Fall of Arthur - The Poem in Arthurian Tradition - Pg 101

Most nobelyst Crysten realme, whom I have loved aboven all other realmys! And in the I have gotyn a grete parte of my worshyp [honour], and now that I shall departe in thys wyse, truly me repentis that ever I cam in thys realme, that I shulde be thus shamefully banysshyd, undeserved and causeles! But fortune is so varyaunte, and the wheele so mutable, that there ys no constaunte abydynge.

The Fall of Arthur - The Poem in Arthurian Tradition - Pg 100

This was to no avail, and a great battle arose at Joyous Garde, in which Lancelot went so far in his refusal to return the attempted blows of King Arthur, who was 'ever about sir Launcelot to have slain him', that he raised him up when he had been unhorsed by Sir Bors de Ganis and set him on his horse again.

The Fall of Arthur - The Poem in Arthurian Tradition - Pg 85

He landed at Sandwich on the coast of Kent, and 'whan quene Guenyvere herde of his commynge she mette with hym at London'.

The Fall of Arthur - Pg 57

Death lay between  dark before himere the way were won  or the world conquered.

The Fall of Arthur - Pg 55

At his land he looked  and longed sorelyon the grass again  there green swaying,to walk at his will,  while the world lasted;the sweet to savour  of salt mingledwith wine-scented  waft of cloverover sunlit turf  seaward leaning

The Fall of Arthur - Pg 54

Fate yet waited.Tide was turning.  Timbers broken,dead men and drowned,  a dark jetsam,were left to lie  on the long beaches;rocks robed with red  rose from water.

The Fall of Arthur - Pg 52

Beak met bulwark.  Burst were timbers.There was clang of iron  and crash of axes;sparked and splintered  spears and helmets;the smiths of battle  on smitten anvilsthere dinned and hammered  deadly forgingwrath and ruin.

The Fall of Arthur - Pg 48

In his bosom there burned  under black shadow
a smouldering fire  whose smoke choked him; 
his mind wavered  in a maze walking
between fear and fury.

The Fall of Arthur - Pg 47

Fair wind came foaming  over flecked water,on gleaming shingle  green and silverthe waves were washing  on walls of chalk.

The Fall of Arthur - Pg 45

Night fell behind.  The noise of hooveswas lost in silence  in a land of shadow.

The Fall of Arthur - Pg 22

Fear clutched their souls,waiting watchful  in a world of shadowfor woe they knew not,  no word speaking.

The Fall of Arthur - Pg 21

'Ride, forth to war,ye hosts of ruin,  hate proclaiming!Foes we fear not,  nor fell shadowsof the dark mountains  demon-haunted!Hear now ye hills  and hoar forest,ye awful thrones  of olden godshuge and hopeless,  hear and tremble!From the West comes war  that no wind daunteth,might and purpose  that no mist stayeth;lord of legions,  light in darkness,east rides Arthur!' Echoes were wakened.The wind was stilled.  The walls of rock'Arthur' answered.

The Fall of Arthur - Pg 20

Steel no longer,gold nor silver  nor gleaming shieldlight reflected  lost in darkness,while phantom foes  with fell voicesin the gloom gathered. 

The Fall of Arthur - Pg 20

Cold blew the wind,  keen and wintry,in rising wrath  from the rolling forestamong roaring leaves.  Rain came darkly,and the sun was swallowed  in sudden tempest.

The Fall of Arthur - Pg 19

Foes before them,  flames behind them,ever east and onward  eager rode they,and folk fled them  as the face of God,till earth was empty,  and no eyes saw them,and no ears heard them  in the endless hills,save bird and beast  baleful hauntingthe lonely lands.

The Fall of Arthur - Pg 17

As when the earth dwindles  in autumn daysand soon to its setting  the sun is waningunder mournful mist,  then a man will lustfor work and wandering,  while yet warm flowethblood sun-kindled,  so burned his soulafter long glory  for a last assayof pride and prowess,  to the proof settingwill unyielding  in war with fate.

The Fall of Arthur - Pg 17

Thus the tides of time  to turn backwardand the heathen to humble,  his hope urged him