Untitled

WINE WAS SPILLED.'
where all are brave and true. Drink, Mr sir, to mr
Dame Guinevere, and to me also, if so it please TOD."
Lancelot took the cap, and tuning his dark and
troubled face first to one and then the other, he mattered
hoarsely: "I drink to my king and to his queen," and
nified the cup to his lips; but whether it was that his hand
shook, or that the cup was over-full, or that the boy had so
contrived it, before it reached his lips it turned, and all
the wine was spilled upon the ground. A sort of horror
fell
upon the court, and even the king looked aghast,
while Lancelot, never moving or speaking, stood with
the empty drinking-horn in his hand, and his eyes
jioodily downcast, while the boy chanted mockingly:
- Brhold the knight who never pfejed coward's put.
Bat jet is tzutor is kis iunast bait 1 "
- My Lancelot a traitor ! " cried Arthur indignantly.
- Xay, boy, now thou dost indeed exceed thy license ;
and
well can we all see that thou art but a juggling rascal.
Lancelot du Lac coward or traitor !
Xever, while the
sun shines, or the seas roll, or thou. Guinevere, art fair
and true!
Here, give me the horn, for I do believe that
it is so fashioned that no man may drink from it.
Let
not the boy touch it, but, Lancelot, do thou fill and bear it
tome."
Without reply the knight obeyed, filled the cup again
from the same flagon, and, still with his eyes fixed mood*
ily upon die floor, carried it and gave it to the king,