Albeit never a word she saith —
"These shall never die for me – life-blood falls too heavily." —
Toll slowly.
"And if I die here apart, – o'er my dead and silent heart
They shall pass out safe and free.
"When the foe hath heard it said – 'Death holds Guy of Linteged,'" —
Toll slowly.
"That new corse new peace shall bring, and a blessed, blessed thing
Shall the stone be at its head.
"Then my friends shall pass out free, and shall bear my memory," —
Toll slowly.
"Then my foes shall sleek their pride, soothing fair my widowed bride
Whose sole sin was love of me.
"With their words all smooth and sweet, they will front her and entreat," —
Toll slowly.
"And their purple pall will spread underneath her fainting head
While her tears drop over it.
"She will weep her woman's tears, she will pray her woman's prayers," —
Toll slowly.
"But her heart is young in pain, and her hopes will spring again
By the suntime of her years.
"Ah, sweet May – ah, sweetest grief! – once I vowed thee my belief," —
Toll slowly.
"That thy name expressed thy sweetness, – May of poets, in completeness!
Now my May-day seemeth brief."
All these silent thoughts did swim o'er his eyes grown strange and dim, —
Toll slowly.
Till his true men in the place wished they stood there face to face
With the foe instead of him.
"One last oath, my friends that wear faithful hearts to do and dare!"
Toll slowly.
"Tower must fall, and bride be lost! – swear me service worth the cost!"
– Bold they stood around to swear.
"Each man clasp my hand and swear, by the deed we failed in there," —
Toll slowly.
"Not for vengeance, not for right, will ye strike one blow to-night!" —
Pale they stood around – to swear.
"One last boon, young Ralph and Clare! faithful hearts to do and dare!" —
Toll slowly.
"Bring that steed up from his stall, which she kissed before you all, —
Guide him up the turret-stair.
"Ye shall harness him aright, and lead upward to this height!" —
Toll slowly.
"Once in love and twice in war, hath he borne me strong and far,
He shall bear me far to-night."
Then his men looked to and fro, when they heard him speaking so. —
Toll slowly.
– "'Las! the noble heart," they thought, – "he in sooth is grief-distraught.
Would, we stood here with the foe!"
But a fire flashed from his eye, 'twixt their thought and their reply, —
Toll slowly.
"Have ye so much time to waste? We who ride here, must ride fast,
As we wish our foes to fly."
They have fetched the steed with care, in the harness he did wear, —
Toll slowly.
Past the court and through the doors, across the rushes of the floors,
But they goad him up the stair.
Then from out her bower chambère, did the Duchess May repair. —
Toll slowly.
"Tell me now what is your need," said the lady, "of this steed,
That ye goad him up the stair?"
Calm she stood; unbodkined through, fell her dark hair to her shoe, —
Toll slowly.
And the smile upon her face, ere she left the tiring-glass,
Had not time enough to go.
"Get thee back, sweet Duchess May! hope is gone like yesterday," —
Toll slowly.
"One half-hour completes the breach; and thy lord grows wild of speech, —
Get thee in, sweet lady, and pray.
"In the east tower, high'st of all, – loud he cries for steed from stall." —
Toll slowly.
"He would ride as far," quoth he, "as for love and victory,
Though he rides the castle-wall.
"And we fetch the steed from stall, up where never a hoof did fall." —
Toll slowly.
"Wifely prayer meets deathly need! may the sweet Heavens hear thee plead
If he rides the castle-wall."
Low she dropt her head, and lower, till her hair coiled on the floor, —
Toll slowly.
And tear after tear you heard, fall distinct as any word
Which you might be listening for.
"Get thee in, thou soft ladye! – here, is never a place for thee!" —
Toll slowly.
"Braid thine hair and clasp thy gown, that thy beauty in its moan
May find grace with Leigh of Leigh."
She stood up in bitter case, with a pale yet steady face,
Toll slowly.
Like a statue thunderstruck, which, though quivering, seems to look
Right against the thunder-place.
And her foot trod in, with pride, her own tears i' the stone beside, —
Toll slowly.
"Go to, faithful friends, go to! – Judge no more what ladies do, —
No, nor how their lords may ride!"
Then the good steed's rein she took, and his neck did kiss and stroke: —
Toll slowly.
Soft he neighed to answer her, and then followed up the stair,
For the love of her sweet look.
Oh, and steeply, steeply wound up the narrow stair around, —
Toll slowly.
Oh, and closely, closely speeding, step by step beside her treading, —
Did he follow, meek as hound.
On the east tower, high'st of all, – there, where never a hoof did fall, —
Toll slowly.
Out they swept, a