Part 10 (1/2)

Sir Aimand sang but s.n.a.t.c.hes to the jingle of scabbard and harness, but this was the poem at length:--

THE WHYTE LADYE.

I.

Sir Bors went riding past a shrine, And there a mayd her griefe did tyne.

_O sweet Marye!_ A lilye maid with cheekes all pale, And garments whyte, and snowy veil, Shee bitterly did weepe and wail.

_O dear Marye!_

II.

Sir Bors beheld, and straight hys brest For pitye 'gainst his hauberke prest.

_O sweet Marye!_ 'Ladye,' quod hee, 'I love thee soe, That I toe Deth wold gladlye goe, If I might ease thy cruel woe!'

_O dear Marye!_

III.

Shee answered, 'In a robber's hold Lies chained a comlye knight and bold.'

_O sweet Marye!_ 'Mine herte is fulle of dysmal dred Lest hee be foully done to dedde, For I have promised him to wedde!'

_O dear Marye!_

IV.

Then grew Sir Bors as white as shee, And never answer answered hee.

_O sweet Marye!_ A cruel stound didde pierce his brest, Yet soothly laid hee lance in rest, And parted instant on his quest.

_O dear Marye!_

V.

And whilom found the robber's hold, And freed the comlye knight and bold.

_O sweet Marye!_ And sette him on his own good steed (Though inwardly his wounds did bleed), And stript his hauberke for his need, That he might be in knight-like weed.

_O dear Marye!_

VI.

And ran before him in the mire, That hee might fitlye have a squire.

_O sweet Marye!_ Then when they reacht the lilye maid, 'Behold thy comlye knight!' he said, And saw her chaunge from white to redde, Then, smiling, at her feet fell dedde.

_O dear Marye!_

As Sir Aimand hummed his song, a secret joy came to his heart, for he felt that although his plight was sad, being distasteful to his lady for his country's sake, at least no 'comlye knight and bold' of any other nation, Saxon or Breton, had forestalled him in her regard; of that he felt doubly a.s.sured, for, in the first place, if it had been so, he felt convinced that Eadgyth would have frankly avowed it, when he begged her permission to show himself at the tourney as her knight; and secondly, the expression he had surprised on her face when he had refused to take the prize bracelet.

Suddenly these dreams were interrupted.

The soldier banished the lover.