SONGS AND BALLADS
From gray Kimbolton's castle-gate
She rode, each summer's day,
And blithely led the greenwood chase
With hawk and hound away.
And ever handsome Montagu,
Her Master of the Horse,
To guard his mistress kept her pace
O'er heather, turf, and gorse.
O, who so brave as Montagu
To leap the hedges clear!
And who so fleet as he to find
The coverts of the deer!
And who so wild as Montagu,
To seek his sovereign's love!
More hopeless than a child, who craves
The brightest star above.
Day after day her presence fed
The fever at his heart;
Yet loyally the young knight scorned
To play a traitor's part.
Only, when at her palfrey's side
He bowed him by command,
Lightening her footfall to the earth,
He pressed her dainty hand;
A tender touch, as light as love,
Soft as his heart's desire;
But aye, in Katherine's artless blood,
It woke no answering fire.
King Hal to gray Kimbolton came
Erelong, and true love's sign,
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