Galahad in the Castle of the Maidens (by Sara Teasdale)
(To the maiden with the hidden face in Abbey's painting)
The other maidens raised their eyes to him
Who stumbled in before them when the fight
Had left him victor, with a victor's right.
I think his eyes with quick hot tears grew dim;
He scarcely saw her swaying white and slim,
And trembling slightly, dreaming of his might,
Nor knew he touched her hand, as strangely light
As a wan wraith's beside a river's rim.
The other maidens raised their eyes to see
And only she has hid her face away,
And yet I ween she loved him more than they,
And very fairly fashioned was her face.
Yet for Love's shame and sweet humility,
She dared not meet him with their queenlike grace.
Сара Тисдейл. Галахед в Замке Дев
(К деве упрятавшей лик на росписи Аббатства)
Другие девы смотрят на него,
Ломавшего сражений жернова,
Познал он победителя права,
За дымкой слёз не видя ничего;
Едва узрит её, среди снегов
Плывущую, в мечтах о силе льва,
Рука её, как странный луч, жива,
Как бледный призрак подле берегов.
Другие девы взоры устремят,
И лишь она, упрятавшая лик,
Чья страсть намного жарче, чем у них,
Чей образ явно ярче модных лиц,
За стыд Любви, смиренья сладкий яд
Ему откажет в милости цариц.