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Camelford

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An Arthurian Miscellany

Camelford

By

Douglas B. W. Sladan

Camelford--Camelot

I.

Not Camelot the towered--the goodly town

Upon the shining rive, whither passed

The Lady of Shalott, when fallen at last

A victim to her spell, slow-wafted down!

Not Camelot the towered, the glittering crown

Of all King Arthur's cities! Yet thou hast

Thy legend of the King--how Modred massed

His traitor legions, where the waters brown

Run neath the Bridge of Slaughter, how the King,

With Launcelot dishonoured, Tristram slain

And half of his Round-table following

Dead or apostate--triumphed; then was ta'en;

Stricken to death, by bold Sir Bedivere

To Dozmary and passed upon the mere.

Camelford--Slaughter Bridge

Ii.

In the soft prelude of an August night

We sallied forth from Camelford in quest

Of where his last great battle in the west

Brought death to Athur. Grey the gloaming light

Ere we were in the valley of the fight,

A spot by Nature framed for fierce contest,

With ridge commanding ridge, and crest on crest,

On either side a little river, bright

With waving sedge and darting trout. The bridge

Was wreathed with blackhaired spleenwort and wild flowers,

And the rank grass beneath the lowest bridge

Guarded a stone, in characters not ours,

Claimed by the country-folk with wondering eyes

To tell that Arthur underneath it lies.
page title writing| the key of jacob boehme
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