Her maids await her; on her bed she falls, 37
That bed of joy, where erst her lord hath press'd:
'Ah, woman's fear! ' she cry'd; ' Ah, cursed duke!
Ah, my dear lord! ah, wretched Elenor!
'My lord was like a flower upon the brows 41
Of lusty May! Ah, life as frail as flower!
O ghastly death! withdraw thy cruel hand,
Seek'st thou that flow'r to deck thy horrid temples?
'My lord was like a star in highest heav'n 45
Drawn down to earth by spells and wickedness;
My lord was like the opening eyes of day
When western winds creep softly o'er the flowers;
'But he is darken'd; like the summer's noon 49
Clouded; fall'n like the stately tree, cut down;
The breath of heaven dwelt among his leaves.
O Elenor, weak woman, fill'd with woe! '
Thus having spoke, she raised up her head, 53
And saw the bloody napkin by her side,
Which in her arms she brought; and now, tenfold
More terrified, saw it unfold itself.
Her eyes were fix'd; the bloody cloth unfolds, 57
Disclosing to her sight the murder'd head
Of her dear lord, all ghastly pale, clotted
With gory blood; it groan'd, and thus it spake:
'0 Elenor, I am thy husband's head, 61
Who, sleeping on the stones of yonder tower,
Was 'reft of life by the accursed duke!
A hired villain turn'd my sleep to death!
'O Elenor, beware the cursed duke; 65
O give not him thy hand, now I am dead;
He seeks thy love; who, coward, in the night,
Hired a villain to bereave my life.'
47 eyes] eye Swinb.49 summer's] summer Swinb.61 I am] behold all edd.68 Hired . . . life.] This line is repeated by Blake
