The Poetical Works of Elizabeth Barrett Browning Volume II Part 13

XVI.

Unto each she bowed her head and swept past with lofty tread.

_Toll slowly._ Ere the midnight-bell had ceased, in the chapel had the priest Blessed her, bride of Linteged.

XVII.

Fast and fain the bridal train along the night-storm rode amain-- _Toll slowly._ Hard the steeds of lord and serf struck their hoofs out on the turf, In the pauses of the rain.

XVIII.

Fast and fain the kinsmen's train along the storm pursued amain-- _Toll slowly._ Steed on steed-track, das.h.i.+ng off,--thickening, doubling, hoof on hoof, In the pauses of the rain.

XIX.

And the bridegroom led the flight on his red-roan steed of might-- _Toll slowly._ And the bride lay on his arm, still, as if she feared no harm, Smiling out into the night.

XX.

"Dost thou fear?" he said at last. "Nay," she answered him in haste,-- _Toll slowly._ "Not such death as we could find--only life with one behind.

Ride on fast as fear, ride fast!"

XXI.

Up the mountain wheeled the steed--girth to ground, and fetlocks spread-- _Toll slowly._ Headlong bounds, and rocking flanks,--down he staggered, down the banks, To the towers of Linteged.

XXII.

High and low the serfs looked out, red the flambeaus tossed about-- _Toll slowly._ In the courtyard rose the cry, "Live the d.u.c.h.ess and Sir Guy!"

But she never heard them shout.

XXIII.

On the steed she dropped her cheek, kissed his mane and kissed his neck-- _Toll slowly._ "I had happier died by thee than lived on, a Lady Leigh,"

Were the first words she did speak.

XXIV.

But a three months' joyaunce lay 'twixt that moment and to-day-- _Toll slowly._ When five hundred archers tall stand beside the castle wall To recapture d.u.c.h.ess May.

XXV.

And the castle standeth black with the red sun at its back-- _Toll slowly._ And a fortnight's siege is done, and, except the d.u.c.h.ess, none Can mis...o...b.. the coming wrack.

XXVI.

Then the captain, young Lord Leigh, with his eyes so grey of blee-- _Toll slowly._ And thin lips that scarcely sheath the cold white gnas.h.i.+ng of his teeth, Gnashed in smiling, absently,--

XXVII.

Cried aloud, "So goes the day, bridegroom fair of d.u.c.h.ess May!"

_Toll slowly._ "Look thy last upon that sun! if thou seest to-morrow's one 'T will be through a foot of clay.

XXVIII.

"Ha, fair bride! dost hear no sound save that moaning of the hound?"

_Toll slowly._ "Thou and I have parted troth, yet I keep my vengeance-oath, And the other may come round.

XXIX.

"Ha! thy will is brave to dare, and thy new love past compare"-- _Toll slowly._ "Yet thine old love's falchion brave is as strong a thing to have, As the will of lady fair.

x.x.x.

"Peck on blindly, netted dove! If a wife's name thee behove"-- _Toll slowly_-- "Thou shalt wear the same to-morrow, ere the grave has hid the sorrow Of thy last ill-mated love.

x.x.xI.

"O'er his fixed and silent mouth, thou and I will call back troth": _Toll slowly._ "He shall altar be and priest,--and he will not cry at least 'I forbid you, I am loth!'

x.x.xII.

"I will wring thy fingers pale in the gauntlet of my mail": _Toll slowly._ "'Little hand and muckle gold' close shall lie within my hold, As the sword did, to prevail."

x.x.xIII.

Oh, the little birds sang east, and the little birds sang west-- _Toll slowly._ Oh, and laughed the d.u.c.h.ess May, and her soul did put away All his boasting, for a jest.

x.x.xIV.

In her chamber did she sit, laughing low to think of it,-- _Toll slowly._ "Tower is strong and will is free: thou canst boast, my lord of Leigh, But thou boastest little wit."

x.x.xV.

In her tire-gla.s.s gazed she, and she blushed right womanly-- _Toll slowly._ She blushed half from her disdain, half her beauty was so plain, --"Oath for oath, my lord of Leigh!"

x.x.xVI.

Straight she called her maidens in--"Since ye gave me blame herein"-- _Toll slowly_-- "That a bridal such as mine should lack gauds to make it fine, Come and shrive me from that sin.

x.x.xVII.

"It is three months gone to-day since I gave mine hand away": _Toll slowly._ "Bring the gold and bring the gem, we will keep bride-state in them, While we keep the foe at bay.

x.x.xVIII.

"On your arms I loose mine hair; comb it smooth and crown it fair": _Toll slowly._ "I would look in purple pall from this lattice down the wall, And throw scorn to one that's there!"

x.x.xIX.