214
RHYME OF THE DUCHESS MAY.
Evermore the foemen pour through the crash of window and door,—
Toll slowly!
And the shouts of Leigh and Leigh, and the shrieks of "kill!" and "flee!"
Strike up clear the general roar.
Toll slowly!
And the shouts of Leigh and Leigh, and the shrieks of "kill!" and "flee!"
Strike up clear the general roar.
Thrice he wrung her hands in twain,—but they closed and clung again,—
Toll slowly!
Wild she clung, as one, withstood, clasps a Christ upon the rood,
In a spasm of deathly pain.
Toll slowly!
Wild she clung, as one, withstood, clasps a Christ upon the rood,
In a spasm of deathly pain.
She clung wild and she clung mute,—with her shuddering lips half-shut,—
Toll slowly!
Her head fallen as in swound,—hair and knee swept on the ground,—
She clung wild to stirrup and foot.
Toll slowly!
Her head fallen as in swound,—hair and knee swept on the ground,—
She clung wild to stirrup and foot.
Back he reined his steed, back-thrown on the slippery coping- stone,—
Toll slowly!
Back the iron hoofs did grind, on the battlement behind,
Whence a hundred feet went down.
Toll slowly!
Back the iron hoofs did grind, on the battlement behind,
Whence a hundred feet went down.
And his heel did press and goad on the quivering flank bestrode,
Toll slowly!
"Friends, and brothers! save my wife!—Pardon, sweet, in change for life,—
But I ride alone to God!"
Toll slowly!
"Friends, and brothers! save my wife!—Pardon, sweet, in change for life,—
But I ride alone to God!"
Straight as if the Holy name did upbreathe her as a flame,—
Toll slowly!
She upsprang, she rose upright!—in his selle she sate in sight;
By her love she overcame.
Toll slowly!
She upsprang, she rose upright!—in his selle she sate in sight;
By her love she overcame.
