94-95. Is the transition here from the prelude to the story abrupt, or
do the preceding lines lead up to it appropriately? Just why does Sir
Launfal now remember his vow? Do these lines introduce the "theme"
that the musing organist has finally found in dreamland, or the
symbolic illustration of his theme?
97. Richest mail: The knight's coat of mail was usually of polished
steel, often richly decorated with inlaid patterns of gold and jewels.
To serve his high purpose, Sir Launfal brings forth his most precious
treasures.
99. Holy Grail: According to medieval legend, the Sangreal was the
cup or chalice, made of emerald, which was used by Christ, at the last
supper, and in which Joseph of Arimathea caught the last drops of
Christ's blood when he was taken down from the cross. The quest of the
Grail is the central theme of the Arthurian Romances. Tennyson's _Holy
Grail_ should be read, and the student should also be made familiar
with the beautiful versions of the legend in Abbey's series of mural
paintings in the Boston Public Library, and in Wagner's _Parsifal_.
103. On the rushes: In ancient halls and castles the floors were
commonly strewn with rushes. In _Taming of the Shrew_, when preparing
for the home-coming of Petruchio and his bride, Grumio says: "Is
supper ready, the house trimmed, rushes strewed, cobwebs swept?"
109. The crows flapped, etc.: Suggestive of the quiet, heavy flight
of the crow in a warm day. The beginning and the end of the stanza
suggest drowsy quiet. The vision begins in this stanza. The nature
pictures are continued, but with new symbolical meaning.
114. Like an outpost of winter: The cold, gloomy castle stands in
strong contrast to the surrounding landscape filled with the joyous
sunshine of summer. So the proud knight's heart is still inaccessible
to true charity and warm human sympathy. So aristocracy in its power
and pride stands aloof from democracy with its humility and aspiration
for human brotherhood. This stanza is especially figurative. The poet
is unfolding the main theme, the underlying moral purpose, of the
whole poem, but it is still kept in vague, dreamy symbolism.
116. North Countree: The north of England, the home of the border
ballads. This form of the word "countree," with accent on the last
syllable, is common in the old ballads. Here it gives a flavor of
antiquity in keeping with the story.
122. Pavilions tall: The trees, as in line 125, the broad green tents.
Note how the military figure, beginning with "outposts," in line 115,
is continued and developed throughout the stanza, and reverted to in
the word "siege" in the next stanza.
130. Maiden knight: A young, untried, unpracticed knight. The
expression occurs in Tennyson's _Sir Galahad_. So "maiden mail" below.
137. As a locust-leaf: The small delicate leaflets of the compound
locust-leaf seem always in a "lightsome" movement.