faithful
hearts to do and dare!
Elizabeth Browning
Now my May-day seemeth brief. "
LIII.
All these silent thoughts did swim o'er his eyes grown strange and
dim--
_Toll slowly. _
Till his true men, in the place, wished they stood there face to face
With the foe instead of him.
LIV.
"One last oath, my friends that wear faithful hearts to do and dare! "
_Toll slowly. _
"Tower must fall and bride be lost--swear me service worth the cost! "
Bold they stood around to swear.
LV.
"Each man clasp my hand and swear by the deed we failed in there"--
_Toll slowly. _
"Not for vengeance, not for right, will ye strike one blow to-night! "
Pale they stood around to swear.
LVI.
"One last boon, young Ralph and Clare!
faithful hearts to do and dare! "
_Toll slowly. _
"Bring that steed up from his stall, which she kissed before you all.
Guide him up the turret-stair.
LVII.
"Ye shall harness him aright, and lead upward to this height:"
_Toll slowly. _
"Once in love and twice in war hath he borne me strong and far:
He shall bear me far to-night. "
LVIII.
Then his men looked to and fro, when they heard him speaking so--
_Toll slowly. _
"'Las! the noble heart," they thought, "he in sooth is grief-
distraught:
Would we stood here with the foe! "
LIX.
But a fire flashed from his eye, 'twixt their thought and their reply--
_Toll slowly. _
"Have ye so much time to waste? We who ride here, must ride fast
As we wish our foes to fly. "
LX.
