204
RHYME OF THE DUCHESS MAY.
And the castle standeth black, with the red sun at its back,—
Toll slowly!
And a fortnight's siege is done—and, except the Duchess, none
Can misdoubt the coming wrack.
Toll slowly!
And a fortnight's siege is done—and, except the Duchess, none
Can misdoubt the coming wrack.
Then the captain, young Lord Leigh, with his eye so grey of blee,—
Toll slowly!
And thin lips, that scarcely sheathe the cold white gnashing of his teeth,
Gnashed in smiling, absently,—
Toll slowly!
And thin lips, that scarcely sheathe the cold white gnashing of his teeth,
Gnashed in smiling, absently,—
Cried aloud—"So goes the day, bridegroom fair of Duchess May!"—
Toll slowly!
"Look thy last upon that sun. If thou seest to-morrow's one,
'Twill be through a foot of clay.
Toll slowly!
"Look thy last upon that sun. If thou seest to-morrow's one,
'Twill be through a foot of clay.
"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.
Toll slowly!
"Thou and I have parted troth,—yet I keep my vengeance- oath,
And the other may come round.
"Ha! thy will is brave to dare, and thy new love past compare,"—
Toll slowly!
"Yet thine old love's faulchion brave, is as strong a thing to have,
As the will of lady fair.
Toll slowly!
"Yet thine old love's faulchion brave, is as strong a thing to have,
As the will of lady fair.
"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.
Toll slowly!
"Thou shalt wear the same to-morrow, ere the grave has hid the sorrow
Of thy last ill-mated love.
