Captain Gold and French Janet
"Ha' ye searched in every convent-close,
And sought in every den?
Mistress o' man, or bride of Christ,
I'll have her back again!
"O Mantua's a bonny town,
And she's long been our ally;
But help Cometh none from Mantua town;
And sick at heart am I."
For thirty days and thirty nights
No news came to the camp ;
And the life waned old in Captain Gold,
As the oil wanes in a lamp.
The third moon swelled towards the full
When the third letter he wrote:
"What will ye take for Janet?
Red gold to fill your moat?
"Red wine to fill your fountains full?
Red blood to wash your streets?
Oh, send me Janet home, my Lord,
Or ye'll no die in your sheets!"
O Love, that makes strong towers to sway.
And captains' hearts to fall!
I feared they might have heard his sobs
Right out to Mantua-wall.
For thirteen days and thirteen nights
No messenger came back;
And when the morning rose again.
Our tents were hung with black.
The dead bell rang through all the camp;
But we rung it low and dim,
Lest the Lombard hounds in Mantua
Should know the end of him.
280
