Page:The collected poems, lyrical and narrative, of A. Mary F. Robinson.djvu/297

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The Duke of Gueldres' Wedding



"O where's the Duke of Gueldres?
O where's the groom so gay?
My master sends a wedding-glove
To grace the wedding-day.

"O where's the Duke of Gueldres
Upon his wedding night:
That I may cast this iron glove
And challenge him to fight?"

Gueldres is a gallant knight,
Gallant and good to see;
So swift he bends to raise the glove,
Lifting it courteously.

His coat is of the white velvet.
His cap is of the black,
A cloak of gold and silver work
Hangs streaming at his back.

He's ta'en the cloak from his shoulders
As gallant as may be:
"Take this, take this. Sir Messenger,
You've ridden far for me!

"Now speed you back to Limburg
As quickly as you may,
I'll meet your lord to-morrow morn,
To-day's my wedding-day."

The morrow Mary Harcourt
Is standing at the door:
"I let him go with an angry word,
And I'll see him never more.

"Mickle I wept to leave my kin,
Mickle I wept to stay
Alone in foreign Gueldres, when
My ladies rode away.

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