212
RHYME OF THE DUCHESS MAY.
Down she knelt at her lord's knee, and she looked up silently,—
Toll slowly!
And he kissed her twice and thrice, for that look within her eyes,
Which he could not hear to see.
Toll slowly!
And he kissed her twice and thrice, for that look within her eyes,
Which he could not hear to see.
Quoth he, "Get thee from this strife,—and the sweet saints bless thy life!"—
Toll slowly!
"In this hour, I stand in need of my noble red-roan steed—
But not of my noble wife."
Toll slowly!
"In this hour, I stand in need of my noble red-roan steed—
But not of my noble wife."
Quoth she, "Meekly have I done all thy biddings under sun:"—
Toll slowly!
"But by all my womanhood,—which [is proved so, true and good,
I will never do this one.
Toll slowly!
"But by all my womanhood,—which [is proved so, true and good,
I will never do this one.
"Now by womanhood's degree, and by wifehood's verity,"—
Toll slowly!
"In this hour if thou hast need of thy noble red-roan steed,
Thou hast also need of me.
Toll slowly!
"In this hour if thou hast need of thy noble red-roan steed,
Thou hast also need of me.
"By this golden ring ye see on this lifted hand pardiè,"—
Toll slowly!
"If this hour, on castle-wall, can be room for steed from stall,
Shall be also room for me.
Toll slowly!
"If this hour, on castle-wall, can be room for steed from stall,
Shall be also room for me.
"So the sweet saints with me be" (did she utter solemnly),—-
Toll slowly!
'If a man, this eventide, on this castle-wall will ride,
He shall ride the same with me."
Toll slowly!
'If a man, this eventide, on this castle-wall will ride,
He shall ride the same with me."
Oh, he sprang up in the selle, and he laughed out bitter well,—
Toll slowly!
Toll slowly!
