How we cite our quotes: (Line)
Quote #7
‘But I was first of all the kings who drew
The knighthood-errant of this realm and all
The realms together under me, their Head,
In that fair Order of my Table Round,
A glorious company, the flower of men,
To serve as model for the mighty world,
And be the fair beginning of a time.’
(“Guinevere,” 456-463)
In an attempt to make Guinevere understand what she's destroyed, Arthur looks back upon his plan for the Order he created. He wanted the Round Table to be the pinnacle of human potential, “the flower of men” that would serve as a model for the rest of the world to imitate. He also hoped this Order would mark the beginning of a new era, but that hope has now been destroyed.
Quote #8
‘Perchance, and so thy purify thy soul,
And so thou lean on our fair father Christ,
Hereafter in that world where all are pure
We two may meet before high God, and thou
Wilt spring to me, and claim me thine, and know
I am thine husband—not a smaller soul,
Nor Lancelot, nor another. Leave me that,
I charge thee, my last hope.’
(“Guinevere,” 558-565)
True to his belief that humans have an infinite capacity for self-improvement, Arthur holds out hope that Guinevere will truly repent and recognize him as her husband in heaven. He does not give Guinevere a chance to speak, perhaps fearing that what she says will ruin this “last hope.” That detail gives us a bit of suspense, too.
Quote #9
‘What else? what hope? I think there was a hope,
Except he mock’d me when he spake of hope;
His hope he call’d it; but he never mocks,
for mockery is the fume of little hearts.
And blessed be the King, who hath forgiven
My wickedness to him, and left me hope
That in mine own heart I can live down sin
And be his mate hereafter in the heavens.’
(“Guinevere,” 625-632)
Arthur’s hope for Guinevere’s reformation at first feels like mockery to her, since she's so bummed and hurt already. But she finally sees Arthur clearly and realizes that he would not mock her. She quickly embraces his hope for herself as her own. This unity of will between husband and wife is exactly what Arthur hoped for when he married Guinevere, but it came too late.