Page:Poems Dorr.djvu/172

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152
RENA
"'Sir, I thank you for this warning,' said I, speaking low and clear,
'But the laughter of your ladies I must teach my heart to bear.

"'For the rest—your son is noble—and my simple woman-hood
He will hold in loving honor, as a saint the holy rood!'

"Oh! then his stern face whitened, and a bitter laugh laughed he:
'Truly this my son is noble, and he shall not wed with thee.

"'Hear my words now, and remember! for by this good sword I swear,
And by Michael standing yonder, watching us from upper air,

"'If he dares to place a wedding-ring upon your dowerless hand,
On his head shall fall a father's curseȔthe curse of Hildebrand!'

"O, my Volmar! Then the earth rocked, and I fell down in a swoon;
When I woke the room was silent; it was past the hour of noon;

"And I waited for thy coming, as the captive waits for death,
With a mingled dread and longing, and a half-abated breath!"

Straight the young man bowed before her, as before a holy shrine:
"Never hand of high-born lady was more richly dowered than thine!