For they were fairies, and a mortal she. 
But ere they yielded, they made imposition
Of what then seemed to her a light condition. 
’Twas done in kindness, be it understood,
With fairy foresight for the maiden’s good. 
The elf-queen spoke for all:  “Dear Elfinhart,
We bind you to one promise ere we part. 
We fear naught from men’s malice; hate and wrath
And every evil thing will shun your path,
And sunshine will go with you when you move;
The only danger that we dread is love. 
If in the after days, when suitors woo you,
Your heart makes choice of one, as dearest to you,
Before you put your hand in his and own
The sacred trust reserved for him alone,
Let us make trial of him, and approve
His virtue, and his manhood, and his love. 
Send him to us; and if he bears the test,
And if we find him worthy to be blest
With love like yours, be sure we will befriend him;
And may a life-long happiness attend him! 
But if he prove a traitor, or faint-hearted,
Or if his love and he are lightly parted,
In the deep willow-woods he shall remain,
And never look upon your face again!”
The maiden, fancy-free, was well content,
And with light laughter gave her full consent;
For when maids think of love (as maidens do)
It seems a far-off thing; and well she knew
Her lover, if she loved, would be both brave and true! 
Not long thereafter came an errant band
Riding along the edge of Fairyland,—­
Stout men-at-arms, without reproach or spot,
And in the lead the bold Sir Launcelot. 
He, riding on ahead, silent, alone,
Was stopped by a beseeching ancient crone
Who hobbled to his side, as if in pain,
And clutched with palsied fingers at his rein. 
And there behind her, from the leafage green,
The sweetest eyes his eyes had ever seen
Were gazing at him with wide wonderment,
Nor bold nor fearful; innocence unshent
Shone from their blue depths, and old dreams awoke
In Launcelot’s breast, while thus the beldame spoke: 
“A boon, a boon, Sir Launcelot of the Lake! 
I Pray you of your courtesy to take
This damsel to the King.  Her enemies
Have spoiled her of her birthright, and she flees
An innocent outcast from her wasted lands,
To lay her life and fortune in his hands.” 
She spoke, and vanished in the woodland shade.

Then Launcelot, leaning over helped the maid
To mount behind and at an easy trot
They and the troop rode on to Camelot. 
He asked no questions for some fairy spell
Made light his heart, and told him all was well;
And as these two rode through the land together,
By dappled greenwood shade and sunlit heather,
Her soft voice in his ears, the innocent charm
Of her light, steady touch upon his arm,
Wrought magic in his soul.  That day, I ween,
Sir Launcelot well-nigh forgot his queen. 
And Elfinhart (you knew those eyes were hers!)
Laughed with the silvery jingle of his spurs,
And from her heart the new world’s rapture drove
All thought of Fairyland—­excepting love.