Volume I Part 32 (1/2)

III.

He said, ”My friends have wended forth With farewells smooth and kind; Mine oldest friend, my plighted bride, Ye need not stay behind: Friend, wed my fair bride for my sake, And let my lands ancestral make A dower for Rosalind.

IV.

”And when beside your wa.s.sail board Ye bless your social lot, I charge you that the giver be In all his gifts forgot, Or alone of all his words recall The last,--Lament me not.”

V.

She looked upon him silently With her large, doubting eyes, Like a child that never knew but love Whom words of wrath surprise, Till the rose did break from either cheek And the sudden tears did rise.

VI.

She looked upon him mournfully, While her large eyes were grown Yet larger with the steady tears, Till, all his purpose known, She turned slow, as she would go-- The tears were shaken down.

VII.

She turned slow, as she would go, Then quickly turned again, And gazing in his face to seek Some little touch of pain, ”I thought,” she said,--but shook her head,-- She tried that speech in vain.

VIII.

”I thought--but I am half a child And very sage art thou-- The teachings of the heaven and earth Should keep us soft and low: They have drawn _my_ tears in early years, Or ere I wept--as now.

IX.

”But now that in thy face I read Their cruel homily, Before their beauty I would fain Untouched, unsoftened be,-- If I indeed could look on even The senseless, loveless earth and heaven As thou canst look on me!

X.

”And couldest thou as coldly view Thy childhood's far abode, Where little feet kept time with thine Along the dewy sod, And thy mother's look from holy book Rose like a thought of G.o.d?

XI.

”O brother,--called so, ere her last Betrothing words were said!

O fellow-watcher in her room, With hushed voice and tread!

Rememberest thou how, hand in hand O friend, O lover, we did stand, And knew that she was dead?

XII.

”I will not live Sir Roland's bride, That dower I will not hold; I tread below my feet that go, These parchments bought and sold: The tears I weep are mine to keep, And worthier than thy gold.”