Page:Early poems of William Morris.djvu/201

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The Gilliflower of Gold
141

Crash! how the swords met, "giroflée!"
The fierce tune in my helm would play,
"La belle! la belle! jaune giroflée!"
Hah! hah! la belle jaune giroflée.


Once more the great swords met again,
"La belle! la belle!" but who fell then?
Le Sieur Guillaume, who struck down ten;—
Hah! hah! la belle jaune giroflée.


And as with mazed and unarm'd face,
Toward my own crown and the Queen's place,
They led me at a gentle pace—
Hah! hah! la belle jaune giroflée.


I almost saw your quiet head
Bow'd o'er the gilliflower bed,
The yellow flowers stain'd with red—
Hah! hah! la belle jaune giroflée.