William Morris (1834-1896)
“The Defence of Guenevere” (1858)
Editorial Introduction
By Alexa Garcia
In 1858, William Morris published The Defence of Guenevere and Other Poems. The Arthurian poem provides a contrast to Lord Tennyson’s Arthurian epic, Idylls of the King, as it “manipulates the dramatic monologue form and plays upon typical Victorian expectations of medievalist discourse” (Harrison 249). By portraying Guenevere as both the hero and the victim, Morris challenges the Victorian ideal of manliness, which stems from “medieval codes of chivalry” (Harrison 250). In the Arthurian legend, Guenevere’s “adultery plays a crucial role because she weakens the fraternal bonds between the Knights of the Round Table,” yet Morris has no intention of attacking Guenevere but is more concerned with her “ideas of truth and testimony” (Alkalay-Gut 238). Although at the time of its publication, most readers found the poem to be radical and were unsure what to make of it. “Here Christian values are supplanted by erotic ones, chivalry is a fraud, and Christian ideals of virtue are displaced,” through Guenevere and her relationship with Lancelot (Harrison 251).
With themes of social expectations, virtue, and chivalry, the annotations provided will help guide readers in understanding why “The Defence of Guenevere questions the ideology of Victorian expectations for both men and women, especially since it drew from the “medieval codes of chivalry” (Harrison 250). These ideals reflect the Victorian perspective of men and women, and through Guenevere, readers may understand how the heroine uses her beauty as a means of resistance. She uses her seduction to prove to her accusers, including Sir Gauwaine, of their own sexual downfall that goes against the Arthurian code of conduct. As a woman, Guenevere illustrates how women can become a powerful presence, challenging the Victorian expectation that women should be obedient and dutiful to their husbands by asserting her own worth within the poem.
Works Cited in Editorial Introduction and annotations
- Alkalay-Gut, Karen. “Aesthetic and Decadent Poetry.” The Cambridge Companion to Victorian Poetry, edited by Bristow, Joseph, Cambridge University Press, 2000, 228-254.
- “Characters of Arthurian Legend Morgause.” King Arthur and the Knights of the Round Table, 2022.
- Cohen, Michele. “‘Manners’ Make the Man: Politeness, Chivalry, and the Construction of Masculinity, 1750-1830.”Journal of British Studies, vol. 44, no. 2, 2005, pp. 312-329.
- Harrison, Antony H. “Arthurian Poetry and Medievalism.” A Companion to Victorian Poetry, edited by Chapman, Alison, Cronin, Richard, & Harrison, Antony H., Blackwell Publishing, 2002, 246-261.
- Oxford English Dictionary. Oxford University Press, 2025.
- Silver, Carole G. “‘The Defence of Guenevere’: A Further Interpretation.” Studies in English Literature, 1500-1900, vol. 9, no. 4, 1969, pp. 695-702.
- Tarvers, Josephine K. “‘The Deep Still Land of Colours’: Color Imagery in ‘The Defence of Guenevere and Other Poems.’” Studies in Philology, vol. 84, no.2, 1987, pp.180-193.
- “The Defence of Guenevere An Arthurian Miscellany William Morris.” YouTube, uploaded by hats0fyou, 9 May 2016.
Resources and Annotations
Annotations are available for this poem. To learn how to view them, please see the How To View and Use Hypothesis Annotations help page.
An audio recording of the poem is available in this video; recording from LibriVox:
Figure of Guinevere, 1858, William Morris. Tate, presented by the Trustees of the Chantrey Bequest, 1940. Watercolour and graphite on paper. 1264 x 552 mm. Image ID #: N05221. Accession #: N05221. Photo: © Tate. Used with permission.
BUT, knowing now that they would have her speak,
She threw her wet hair backward from her brow,
Her hand close to her mouth touching her cheek,
As though she had had there a shameful blow,
And feeling it shameful to feel ought but shame
All through her heart, yet felt her cheek burned so,
She must a little touch it; like one lame
She walked away from Gauwaine, with her head
Still lifted up; and on her cheek of flame
The tears dried quick; she stopped at last and said:
O knights and lords, it seems but little skill
To talk of well-known things past now and dead.
God wot I ought to say, I have done ill,
And pray you all forgiveness heartily!
Because you must be right, such great lords; still
And pray you all forgiveness heartily!
Because you must be right, such great lords; still
Listen, suppose your time were come to die,
And you were quite alone and very weak;
Yea, laid a dying while very mightily
And you were quite alone and very weak;
Yea, laid a dying while very mightily
The wind was ruffling up the narrow streak
Of river through your broad lands running well:
Suppose a hush should come, then some one speak:
Of river through your broad lands running well:
Suppose a hush should come, then some one speak:
‘One of these cloths is heaven, and one is hell,
Now choose one cloth for ever; which they be,
I will not tell you, you must somehow tell
Now choose one cloth for ever; which they be,
I will not tell you, you must somehow tell
Of your own strength and mightiness; here, see!’
Yea, yea, my lord, and you to ope your eyes,
At foot of your familiar bed to see
Yea, yea, my lord, and you to ope your eyes,
At foot of your familiar bed to see
A great God’s angel standing, with such dyes,
Not known on earth, on his great wings, and hands,
Held out two ways, light from the inner skies
Not known on earth, on his great wings, and hands,
Held out two ways, light from the inner skies
Showing him well, and making his commands
Seem to be God’s commands, moreover, too,
Holding within his hands the cloths on wands;
Seem to be God’s commands, moreover, too,
Holding within his hands the cloths on wands;
And one of these strange choosing cloths was blue,
Wavy and long, and one cut short and red;
No man could tell the better of the two.
Wavy and long, and one cut short and red;
No man could tell the better of the two.
After a shivering half-hour you said:
‘God help! heaven’s colour, the blue;’ and he said, ‘hell.’
Perhaps you then would roll upon your bed,
‘God help! heaven’s colour, the blue;’ and he said, ‘hell.’
Perhaps you then would roll upon your bed,
And cry to all good men that loved you well,
‘Ah Christ! if only I had known, known, known;’
Launcelot went away, then I could tell,
‘Ah Christ! if only I had known, known, known;’
Launcelot went away, then I could tell,
Like wisest man how all things would be, moan,
And roll and hurt myself, and long to die,
And yet fear much to die for what was sown.
And roll and hurt myself, and long to die,
And yet fear much to die for what was sown.
Nevertheless you, O Sir Gauwaine, lie,
Whatever may have happened through these years,
God knows I speak truth, saying that you lie.
Whatever may have happened through these years,
God knows I speak truth, saying that you lie.
Her voice was low at first, being full of tears,
But as it cleared, it grew full loud and shrill,
Growing a windy shriek in all men’s ears,
But as it cleared, it grew full loud and shrill,
Growing a windy shriek in all men’s ears,
A ringing in their startled brains, until
She said that Gauwaine lied, then her voice sunk,
And her great eyes began again to fill,
She said that Gauwaine lied, then her voice sunk,
And her great eyes began again to fill,
Though still she stood right up, and never shrunk,
But spoke on bravely, glorious lady fair!
Whatever tears her full lips may have drunk,
But spoke on bravely, glorious lady fair!
Whatever tears her full lips may have drunk,
She stood, and seemed to think, and wrung her hair,
Spoke out at last with no more trace of shame,
With passionate twisting of her body there:
Spoke out at last with no more trace of shame,
With passionate twisting of her body there:
It chanced upon a day that Launcelot came
To dwell at Arthur’s court: at Christmas-time
This happened; when the heralds sung his name,
To dwell at Arthur’s court: at Christmas-time
This happened; when the heralds sung his name,
Son of King Ban of Benwick, seemed to chime
Along with all the bells that rang that day,
O’er the white roofs, with little change of rhyme.
Along with all the bells that rang that day,
O’er the white roofs, with little change of rhyme.
Christmas and whitened winter passed away,
And over me the April sunshine came,
Made very awful with black hail-clouds, yea
And over me the April sunshine came,
Made very awful with black hail-clouds, yea
And in the Summer I grew white with flame,
And bowed my head down: Autumn, and the sick
Sure knowledge things would never be the same,
And bowed my head down: Autumn, and the sick
Sure knowledge things would never be the same,
However often Spring might be most thick
Of blossoms and buds, smote on me, and I grew
Careless of most things, let the clock tick, tick,
Of blossoms and buds, smote on me, and I grew
Careless of most things, let the clock tick, tick,
To my unhappy pulse, that beat right through
My eager body; while I laughed out loud,
And let my lips curl up at false or true,
My eager body; while I laughed out loud,
And let my lips curl up at false or true,
Seemed cold and shallow without any cloud.
Behold my judges, then the cloths were brought;
While I was dizzied thus, old thoughts would crowd,
Behold my judges, then the cloths were brought;
While I was dizzied thus, old thoughts would crowd,
Belonging to the time ere I was bought
By Arthur’s great name and his little love;
Must I give up for ever then, I thought,
By Arthur’s great name and his little love;
Must I give up for ever then, I thought,
That which I deemed would ever round me move
Glorifying all things; for a little word,
Scarce ever meant at all, must I now prove
Glorifying all things; for a little word,
Scarce ever meant at all, must I now prove
Stone-cold for ever? Pray you, does the Lord
Will that all folks should be quite happy and good?
I love God now a little, if this cord
Will that all folks should be quite happy and good?
I love God now a little, if this cord
Were broken, once for all what striving could
Make me love anything in earth or heaven?
So day by day it grew, as if one should
Make me love anything in earth or heaven?
So day by day it grew, as if one should
Slip slowly down some path worn smooth and even,
Down to a cool sea on a summer day;
Yet still in slipping there was some small leaven
Down to a cool sea on a summer day;
Yet still in slipping there was some small leaven
Of stretched hands catching small stones by the way,
Until one surely reached the sea at last,
And felt strange new joy as the worn head lay
Until one surely reached the sea at last,
And felt strange new joy as the worn head lay
Back, with the hair like sea-weed; yea all past
Sweat of the forehead, dryness of the lips,
Washed utterly out by the dear waves o’ercast,
Sweat of the forehead, dryness of the lips,
Washed utterly out by the dear waves o’ercast,
In the lone sea, far off from any ships!
Do I not know now of a day in Spring?
No minute of that wild day ever slips
Do I not know now of a day in Spring?
No minute of that wild day ever slips
From out my memory; I hear thrushes sing,
And wheresoever I may be, straightway
Thoughts of it all come up with most fresh sting:
And wheresoever I may be, straightway
Thoughts of it all come up with most fresh sting:
I was half mad with beauty on that day,
And went without my ladies all alone,
In a quiet garden walled round every way;
And went without my ladies all alone,
In a quiet garden walled round every way;
I was right joyful of that wall of stone,
That shut the flowers and trees up with the sky,
And trebled all the beauty: to the bone,
That shut the flowers and trees up with the sky,
And trebled all the beauty: to the bone,
Yea right through to my heart, grown very shy
With weary thoughts, it pierced, and made me glad;
Exceedingly glad, and I knew verily,
With weary thoughts, it pierced, and made me glad;
Exceedingly glad, and I knew verily,
A little thing just then had made me mad;
I dared not think, as I was wont to do,
Sometimes, upon my beauty; If I had
I dared not think, as I was wont to do,
Sometimes, upon my beauty; If I had
Held out my long hand up against the blue,
And, looking on the tenderly darken’d fingers,
Thought that by rights one ought to see quite through,
And, looking on the tenderly darken’d fingers,
Thought that by rights one ought to see quite through,
There, see you, where the soft still light yet lingers,
Round by the edges; what should I have done,
If this had joined with yellow spotted singers,
Round by the edges; what should I have done,
If this had joined with yellow spotted singers,
And startling green drawn upward by the sun?
But shouting, loosed out, see now! all my hair,
And trancedly stood watching the west wind run
But shouting, loosed out, see now! all my hair,
And trancedly stood watching the west wind run
With faintest half-heard breathing sound; why there
I lose my head e’en now in doing this;
But shortly listen: In that garden fair
I lose my head e’en now in doing this;
But shortly listen: In that garden fair
Came Launcelot walking; this is true, the kiss
Wherewith we kissed in meeting that spring day,
Wherewith we kissed in meeting that spring day,
I scarce dare talk of the remember’d bliss,
When both our mouths went wandering in one way,
And aching sorely, met among the leaves;
Our hands being left behind strained far away.
When both our mouths went wandering in one way,
And aching sorely, met among the leaves;
Our hands being left behind strained far away.
Never within a yard of my bright sleeves
Had Launcelot come before: and now, so nigh!
After that day why is it Guenevere grieves?
Had Launcelot come before: and now, so nigh!
After that day why is it Guenevere grieves?
Nevertheless you, O Sir Gauwaine, lie,
Whatever happened on through all those years,
God knows I speak truth, saying that you lie.
Whatever happened on through all those years,
God knows I speak truth, saying that you lie.
Being such a lady could I weep these tears
If this were true? A great queen such as I
Having sinn’d this way, straight her conscience sears;
If this were true? A great queen such as I
Having sinn’d this way, straight her conscience sears;
And afterwards she liveth hatefully,
Slaying and poisoning, certes never weeps:
Gauwaine be friends now, speak me lovingly.
Slaying and poisoning, certes never weeps:
Gauwaine be friends now, speak me lovingly.
Do I not see how God’s dear pity creeps
All through your frame, and trembles in your mouth?
Remember in what grave your mother sleeps,
All through your frame, and trembles in your mouth?
Remember in what grave your mother sleeps,
Buried in some place far down in the south,
Men are forgetting as I speak to you;
By her head sever’d in that awful drouth
Men are forgetting as I speak to you;
By her head sever’d in that awful drouth
Of pity that drew Agravaine’s fell blow,
I pray your pity! let me not scream out
For ever after, when the shrill winds blow
I pray your pity! let me not scream out
For ever after, when the shrill winds blow
Through half your castle-locks! let me not shout
For ever after in the winter night
When you ride out alone! in battle-rout
For ever after in the winter night
When you ride out alone! in battle-rout
Let not my rusting tears make your sword light!
Ah! God of mercy, how he turns away!
So, ever must I dress me to the fight,
Ah! God of mercy, how he turns away!
So, ever must I dress me to the fight,
So: let God’s justice work! Gauwaine, I say,
See me hew down your proofs: yea all men know
Even as you said how Mellyagraunce one day,
See me hew down your proofs: yea all men know
Even as you said how Mellyagraunce one day,
One bitter day in la Fausse Garde, for so
All good knights held it after, saw:
Yea, sirs, by cursed unknightly outrage; though
You, Gauwaine, held his word without a flaw,
This Mellyagraunce saw blood upon my bed:
Whose blood then pray you? is there any law
All good knights held it after, saw:
Yea, sirs, by cursed unknightly outrage; though
You, Gauwaine, held his word without a flaw,
This Mellyagraunce saw blood upon my bed:
Whose blood then pray you? is there any law
To make a queen say why some spots of red
Lie on her coverlet? or will you say:
Your hands are white, lady, as when you wed,
Lie on her coverlet? or will you say:
Your hands are white, lady, as when you wed,
Where did you bleed? and must I stammer out, Nay,
I blush indeed, fair lord, only to rend
My sleeve up to my shoulder, where there lay
I blush indeed, fair lord, only to rend
My sleeve up to my shoulder, where there lay
A knife-point last night: so must I defend
The honour of the Lady Guenevere?
Not so, fair lords, even if the world should end
The honour of the Lady Guenevere?
Not so, fair lords, even if the world should end
This very day, and you were judges here
Instead of God. Did you see Mellyagraunce
When Launcelot stood by him? what white fear
Instead of God. Did you see Mellyagraunce
When Launcelot stood by him? what white fear
Curdled his blood, and how his teeth did dance,
His side sink in? as my knight cried and said:
Slayer of unarm’d men, here is a chance!
Setter of traps, I pray you guard your head,
By God I am so glad to fight with you,
Stripper of ladies, that my hand feels lead
His side sink in? as my knight cried and said:
Slayer of unarm’d men, here is a chance!
Setter of traps, I pray you guard your head,
By God I am so glad to fight with you,
Stripper of ladies, that my hand feels lead
For driving weight; hurrah now! draw and do,
For all my wounds are moving in my breast,
And I am getting mad with waiting so.
For all my wounds are moving in my breast,
And I am getting mad with waiting so.
He struck his hands together o’er the beast,
Who fell down flat, and grovell’d at his feet,
And groan’d at being slain so young: At least,
Who fell down flat, and grovell’d at his feet,
And groan’d at being slain so young: At least,
My knight said, rise you, sir, who are so fleet
At catching ladies, half-arm’d will I fight,
My left side all uncovered! then I weet,
At catching ladies, half-arm’d will I fight,
My left side all uncovered! then I weet,
Up sprang Sir Mellyagraunce with great delight
Upon his knave’s face; not until just then
Did I quite hate him, as I saw my knight
Upon his knave’s face; not until just then
Did I quite hate him, as I saw my knight
Along the lists look to my stake and pen
With such a joyous smile, it made me sigh
From agony beneath my waist-chain, when
The fight began, and to me they drew nigh;
Ever Sir Launcelot kept him on the right,
And traversed warily, and ever high
With such a joyous smile, it made me sigh
From agony beneath my waist-chain, when
The fight began, and to me they drew nigh;
Ever Sir Launcelot kept him on the right,
And traversed warily, and ever high
And fast leapt caitiff’s sword, until my knight
Sudden threw up his sword to his left hand,
Caught it, and swung it; that was all the fight,
Sudden threw up his sword to his left hand,
Caught it, and swung it; that was all the fight,
Except a spout of blood on the hot land;
For it was hottest summer; and I know
I wonder’d how the fire, while I should stand,
For it was hottest summer; and I know
I wonder’d how the fire, while I should stand,
And burn, against the heat, would quiver so,
Yards above my head; thus these matters went;
Which things were only warnings of the woe
Yards above my head; thus these matters went;
Which things were only warnings of the woe
That fell on me. Yet Mellyagraunce was shent,
For Mellyagraunce had fought against the Lord;
Therefore, my lords, take heed lest you be blent
For Mellyagraunce had fought against the Lord;
Therefore, my lords, take heed lest you be blent
With all this wickedness; say no rash word
Against me, being so beautiful; my eyes,
Wept all away to grey, may bring some sword
Against me, being so beautiful; my eyes,
Wept all away to grey, may bring some sword
To drown you in your blood; see my breast rise,
Like waves of purple sea, as here I stand;
And how my arms are moved in wonderful wise,
Like waves of purple sea, as here I stand;
And how my arms are moved in wonderful wise,
Yea also at my full heart’s strong command,
See through my long throat how the words go up
In ripples to my mouth; how in my hand
See through my long throat how the words go up
In ripples to my mouth; how in my hand
The shadow lies like wine within a cup
Of marvellously colour’d gold; yea now
This little wind is rising, look you up,
Of marvellously colour’d gold; yea now
This little wind is rising, look you up,
And wonder how the light is falling so
Within my moving tresses: will you dare,
When you have looked a little on my brow,
Within my moving tresses: will you dare,
When you have looked a little on my brow,
To say this thing is vile? or will you care
For any plausible lies of cunning woof,
When you can see my face with no lie there
For any plausible lies of cunning woof,
When you can see my face with no lie there
For ever? am I not a gracious proof:
But in your chamber Launcelot was found:
Is there a good knight then would stand aloof,
But in your chamber Launcelot was found:
Is there a good knight then would stand aloof,
When a queen says with gentle queenly sound:
O true as steel come now and talk with me,
I love to see your step upon the ground
O true as steel come now and talk with me,
I love to see your step upon the ground
Unwavering, also well I love to see
That gracious smile light up your face, and hear
Your wonderful words, that all mean verily
That gracious smile light up your face, and hear
Your wonderful words, that all mean verily
The thing they seem to mean: good friend, so dear
To me in everything, come here to-night,
Or else the hours will pass most dull and drear;
To me in everything, come here to-night,
Or else the hours will pass most dull and drear;
If you come not, I fear this time I might
Get thinking over much of times gone by,
When I was young, and green hope was in sight:
Get thinking over much of times gone by,
When I was young, and green hope was in sight:
For no man cares now to know why I sigh;
And no man comes to sing me pleasant songs,
Nor any brings me the sweet flowers that lie
And no man comes to sing me pleasant songs,
Nor any brings me the sweet flowers that lie
So thick in the gardens; therefore one so longs
To see you, Launcelot; that we may be
Like children once again, free from all wrongs
Just for one night. Did he not come to me?
What thing could keep true Launcelot away
If I said, Come? there was one less than three
To see you, Launcelot; that we may be
Like children once again, free from all wrongs
Just for one night. Did he not come to me?
What thing could keep true Launcelot away
If I said, Come? there was one less than three
In my quiet room that night, and we were gay;
Till sudden I rose up, weak, pale, and sick,
Because a bawling broke our dream up, yea
Till sudden I rose up, weak, pale, and sick,
Because a bawling broke our dream up, yea
I looked at Launcelot’s face and could not speak,
For he looked helpless too, for a little while;
Then I remember how I tried to shriek,
For he looked helpless too, for a little while;
Then I remember how I tried to shriek,
And could not, but fell down; from tile to tile
The stones they threw up rattled o’er my head
And made me dizzier; till within a while
The stones they threw up rattled o’er my head
And made me dizzier; till within a while
My maids were all about me, and my head
On Launcelot’s breast was being soothed away
From its white chattering, until Launcelot said:
On Launcelot’s breast was being soothed away
From its white chattering, until Launcelot said:
By God! I will not tell you more to-day,
Judge any way you will: what matters it?
You know quite well the story of that fray,
How Launcelot still’d their bawling, the mad fit
That caught up Gauwaine: all, all, verily,
But just that which would save me; these things flit.
Judge any way you will: what matters it?
You know quite well the story of that fray,
How Launcelot still’d their bawling, the mad fit
That caught up Gauwaine: all, all, verily,
But just that which would save me; these things flit.
Nevertheless you, O Sir Gauwaine, lie,
Whatever may have happen’d these long years,
God knows I speak truth, saying that you lie!
Whatever may have happen’d these long years,
God knows I speak truth, saying that you lie!
All I have said is truth, by Christ’s dear tears.
She would not speak another word, but stood
Turn’d sideways; listening, like a man who hears
She would not speak another word, but stood
Turn’d sideways; listening, like a man who hears
His brother’s trumpet sounding through the wood
Of his foes’ lances. She lean’d eagerly,
And gave a slight spring sometimes, as she could
Of his foes’ lances. She lean’d eagerly,
And gave a slight spring sometimes, as she could
At last hear something really; joyfully
Her cheek grew crimson, as the headlong speed
Of the roan charger drew all men to see,
The knight who came was Launcelot at good need.
Her cheek grew crimson, as the headlong speed
Of the roan charger drew all men to see,
The knight who came was Launcelot at good need.
