"This very day, and you were judges here Instead of God. Did you see Mellyagraunce When Launcelot stood by him? what white fear Curdled his blood, and how his teeth did dance, His side sink in? as my knight cried and said: 'Slayer of unarm'd men, here is a chance! Setter of traps, I pray you guard your head, By God I am so glad to fight with you, Stripper of ladies, that my hand feels lead "For driving weight; hurrah now! draw and do, For all my wounds are moving in my breast, And I am getting mad with waiting so.' "He struck his hands together o'er the beast, Who fell down flat, and grovell'd at his feet, And groan'd at being slain so young: At least,' "My knight said, 'Rise you, sir, who are so fleet At catching ladies, half-arm'd will I fight, My left side all uncovered!' then I weet, "Up sprang Sir Mellyagraunce with great delight Upon his knave's face; not until just then Did I quite hate him, as I saw my knight 66 My maids were all about me, and my head On Launcelot's breast was being soothed away From its white chattering, until Launcelot said: ... "By God! I will not tell you more today, Judge any way you will: what matters it? You know quite well the story of that fray, "How Launcelot still'd their bawling, the mad fit That caught up Gauwaine, all, all, verily, But just that which would save me; these things flit. "Nevertheless you, O Sir Gauwaine, lie. Whatever may have happen'd these long Although my spear in splinters flew. From John's steel-coat, my eye was true; I wheel'd about, and cried for you. Hah! hah! la belle jaune giroflée. Yea, do not doubt my heart was good, Though my sword flew like rotten wood, To shout, although I scarcely stood, Hah! hah! la belle jaune giroflée. My hand was steady too, to take When I stood in my tent again, Hah! hah! la belle juune giroflée To hear: Honneur aux fils des preux! Hah! hah' la belle jaune giroflée. The Sieur Guillaume against me came, His tabard bore three points of flame From a red heart; with little blame, Hah! hah! la belle jaune giroflée,— Our tough spears crackled up like straw; But I felt weaker than a maid, Hah! hah! la belle jaune giroflée, Hah! hah! la belle jaune giroflée. Crash! how the swords met: giroflée! The fierce tune in my helm would play, La belle! la belle! jaune giroflée! Hah! hah! la belle jaune giroflée. Once more the great swords met again: "La belle! la belle!" but who fell then? Le Sieur Guillaume, who struck down ten; Hah! hah! la belle jaune giroflée. And as with mazed and unarm'd face, Toward my own crown and the Queen's place, SHAMEFUL DEATH THERE were four of us about that bed; He did not die in the night, He did not die in the day, But in the morning twilight His spirit pass'd away, When neither sun nor moon was bright, He was not slain with the sword, I cut away the cord From the neck of my brother dear. He did not strike one blow, For the recreants came behind, They lighted a great torch then, I am threescore and ten, And my hair is all turn'd gray, But I met Sir John of the Fen Long ago on a summer day, And am glad to think of the moment when I took his life away. GOLD on her head, and gold on her feet, And gold where the hems of her kirtle meet, And a golden girdle round my sweet; Ah! qu'elle est belle La Marguerite. Margaret's maids are fair to see, Freshly dress'd and pleasantly; Margaret's hair falls down to her knee; Ah! qu'elle est belle La Marguerite. If I were rich I would kiss her feet; I would kiss the place where the gold hems meet, And the golden kirtle round my'sweet: Ah! qu'elle est belle La Marguerite. Ah me! I have never touch'd her hand; When the arrière-ban goes through the For, look you, my horse is good to prance A right fair measure in this war-dance Before the eyes of Philip of France; Ah! qu'elle est belle La Marguerite, And sometime it may hap, perdie, While my new towers stand up three and three, And my hall gets painted fair to see Ah! qu'elle est belle La Marguerite That folks may say: Times change, by the rood, For Lambert, banneret of the wood, Ah! qu'elle est belle La Marguerite. Ah! qu'elle est belle La Marguerite. 1858. Sir Miles said, while the sails hung down, When the Sword went out to sea, "O, Ursula! while I see the town, What shall I bring for thee?" "Dear knight, bring back a falcon brown: " The Sword went out to Sea. But my Roland, no word he said When the Sword went out to sea, But only turn'd away his head; A quick shriek came from me: "Come back, dear lord, to your white maid!" The Sword went out to sea. The hot sun bit the garden-beds When the Sword came back from sea; Beneath an apple-tree our heads Stretched out toward the sea; Gray gleamed the thirsty castle-leads, When the Sword came back from sea. Lord Robert brought a ruby red, When the Sword came back from sea; He kissed Alicia on the head: "I am come back to thee; 'Tis time, sweet love, that we were wed, Now the Sword is back from sea!” Sir Miles he bore a falcon brown, When the Sword came back from sea; His arms went round tall Ursula's gown: "What joy, O love, but thee? Let us be wed in the good town, Now the Sword is back from sea!” My heart grew sick, no more afraid, When the Sword came back from sea; Upon the deck a tall white maid Sat on Lord Roland's knee; His chin was press'd upon her head, When the Sword came back from sea! 1858. LADY LOUISE Sister, let the measure swell And ever the chevron overhead LADY ALICE Alice the Queen, and Louise the Queen, Once every year on Christmas-eve, They float on in a happy stream; Float from the open'd lips of Louise : But, alas! the sea-salt oozes through The chinks of the tiles of the Closet Blue; And ever the great bell overhead THEY SING ALL TOGETHER How long ago was it, how long ago, He came to this tower with hands full of snow? "Kneel down, O love Louise, kneel down!" he said, And sprinkled the dusty snow over my head. He watch'd the snow melting, it ran through my hair, Ran over my shoulders, white shoulders and bare. "I cannot weep for thee, poor love Louise, For my tears are all hidden deep under the seas; |