THE COMING OF ARTHUR. LEODOGRAN, the King of Cameliard, Had one fair daughter, and none other child; For many a petty king ere Arthur came And still from time to time the heathen host And after him King Uther fought and died, And thus the land of Cameliard was waste, Thick with wet woods, and many a beast therein, Till, straighten'd, they grew up to wolf-like men, Worse than the wolves: and King Leodogran Groan'd for the Roman legions here again, And Cæsar's eagle: then his brother king, Rience, assail'd him: last a heathen horde, Reddening the sun with smoke and earth with blood, And on the spike that split the mother's heart Spitting the child, brake on him, till, amazed, He knew not whither he should turn for aid. But for he heard of Arthur newly crown'd, Tho' not without an uproar made by those Who cried, "He is not Uther's son" Sent to him, saying, " Arise, and help us thou! And Arthur yet had done no deed of arms, But heard the call, and came: and Guinevere Stood by the castle walls to watch him pass; But since he neither wore on helm or shield The golden symbol of his kinglihood, |