RHYME OF THE DUCHESS MAY.
207
"Five true friends lie for my sake—in the moat and in the brake,"—
Toll slowly!
"Thirteen warriors lie at rest, with a black wound in the breast,
And none of these will wake.
Toll slowly!
"Thirteen warriors lie at rest, with a black wound in the breast,
And none of these will wake.
"And no more of this shall be!—heart-blood weighs too heavily,"—
Toll slowly!
"And I could not sleep in grave, with the faithful and the brave
Heaped around and over me.
Toll slowly!
"And I could not sleep in grave, with the faithful and the brave
Heaped around and over me.
"Since young Clare a mother hath, and young Ralph a plighted faith,"—
Toll slowly!
"Since my pale young sister's cheeks blush like rose when Ronald speaks,
Though never a word she saith—
Toll slowly!
"Since my pale young sister's cheeks blush like rose when Ronald speaks,
Though 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.
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.
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.
Toll slowly!
"Then my foes shall sleek their pride, soothing fair my widowed bride,
Whose sole sin was love of me.
