152
RENA
"'Sir, I thank you for this warning,' said I, speaking low and clear,
'But the laughter of your ladies I must teach my heart to bear.
'But the laughter of your ladies I must teach my heart to bear.
"'For the rest—your son is noble—and my simple woman-hood
He will hold in loving honor, as a saint the holy rood!'
He will hold in loving honor, as a saint the holy rood!'
"Oh! then his stern face whitened, and a bitter laugh laughed he:
'Truly this my son is noble, and he shall not wed with thee.
'Truly this my son is noble, and he shall not wed with thee.
"'Hear my words now, and remember! for by this good sword I swear,
And by Michael standing yonder, watching us from upper air,
And by Michael standing yonder, watching us from upper air,
"'If he dares to place a wedding-ring upon your dowerless hand,
On his head shall fall a father's curseȔthe curse of Hildebrand!'
On his head shall fall a father's curseȔthe curse of Hildebrand!'
"O, my Volmar! Then the earth rocked, and I fell down in a swoon;
When I woke the room was silent; it was past the hour of noon;
When I woke the room was silent; it was past the hour of noon;
"And I waited for thy coming, as the captive waits for death,
With a mingled dread and longing, and a half-abated breath!"
With a mingled dread and longing, and a half-abated breath!"
Straight the young man bowed before her, as before a holy shrine:
"Never hand of high-born lady was more richly dowered than thine!
"Never hand of high-born lady was more richly dowered than thine!
