Volume II Part 13 (2/2)
Cried aloud, ”So goes the day, bridegroom fair of d.u.c.h.ess May!”
_Toll slowly._ ”Look thy last upon that sun! if thou seest to-morrow's one 'T will be through a foot of clay.
XXVIII.
”Ha, fair bride! dost hear no sound save that moaning of the hound?”
_Toll slowly._ ”Thou and I have parted troth, yet I keep my vengeance-oath, And the other may come round.
XXIX.
”Ha! thy will is brave to dare, and thy new love past compare”-- _Toll slowly._ ”Yet thine old love's falchion brave is as strong a thing to have, As the will of lady fair.
x.x.x.
”Peck on blindly, netted dove! If a wife's name thee behove”-- _Toll slowly_-- ”Thou shalt wear the same to-morrow, ere the grave has hid the sorrow Of thy last ill-mated love.
x.x.xI.
”O'er his fixed and silent mouth, thou and I will call back troth”: _Toll slowly._ ”He shall altar be and priest,--and he will not cry at least 'I forbid you, I am loth!'
x.x.xII.
”I will wring thy fingers pale in the gauntlet of my mail”: _Toll slowly._ ”'Little hand and muckle gold' close shall lie within my hold, As the sword did, to prevail.”
x.x.xIII.
Oh, the little birds sang east, and the little birds sang west-- _Toll slowly._ Oh, and laughed the d.u.c.h.ess May, and her soul did put away All his boasting, for a jest.
x.x.xIV.
In her chamber did she sit, laughing low to think of it,-- _Toll slowly._ ”Tower is strong and will is free: thou canst boast, my lord of Leigh, But thou boastest little wit.”
x.x.xV.
In her tire-gla.s.s gazed she, and she blushed right womanly-- _Toll slowly._ She blushed half from her disdain, half her beauty was so plain, --”Oath for oath, my lord of Leigh!”
x.x.xVI.
Straight she called her maidens in--”Since ye gave me blame herein”-- _Toll slowly_-- ”That a bridal such as mine should lack gauds to make it fine, Come and shrive me from that sin.
x.x.xVII.
”It is three months gone to-day since I gave mine hand away”: _Toll slowly._ ”Bring the gold and bring the gem, we will keep bride-state in them, While we keep the foe at bay.
x.x.xVIII.
”On your arms I loose mine hair; comb it smooth and crown it fair”: _Toll slowly._ ”I would look in purple pall from this lattice down the wall, And throw scorn to one that's there!”
x.x.xIX.
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