RHYME OF THE DUCHESS MAY.
209
"Not for vengeance, not for right, will ye strike one blow tonight!"—
Pale they stood around—to swear.
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.
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."
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 speak¬ ing so,—
Toll slowly!
—"'Las! the noble heart," they thought,—"he in sooth is grief-distraught.—
Would, we stood here with the foe!"
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."
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.
Toll slowly!
Past the court and through the doors, across the rushes of the floors;
But they goad him up the stair.
