_
And a sharp cry uttered he, in a foretold agony
Of the headlong death below,--
XCV.
And a sharp cry uttered he, in a foretold agony
Of the headlong death below,--
XCV.
Elizabeth Browning
_
"Friends and brothers, save my wife! Pardon, sweet, in change for
life,--
But I ride alone to God. "
XC.
Straight as if the Holy name had upbreathed her like a flame--
_Toll slowly. _
She upsprang, she rose upright, in his selle she sate in sight,
By her love she overcame.
XCI.
And her head was on his breast where she smiled as one at rest--
_Toll slowly. _
"Ring," she cried, "O vesper-bell in the beechwood's old chapelle--
But the passing-bell rings best! "
XCII.
They have caught out at the rein which Sir Guy threw loose--in vain--
_Toll slowly. _
For the horse in stark despair, with his front hoofs poised in air,
On the last verge rears amain.
XCIII.
Now he hangs, he rocks between, and his nostrils curdle in--
_Toll slowly. _
Now he shivers head and hoof and the flakes of foam fall off,
And his face grows fierce and thin:
XCIV.
And a look of human woe from his staring eyes did go:
_Toll slowly.
_
And a sharp cry uttered he, in a foretold agony
Of the headlong death below,--
XCV.
And, "Ring, ring, thou passing-bell," still she cried, "i' the old
chapelle! "
_Toll slowly. _
Then, back-toppling, crashing back--a dead weight flung out to wrack,
Horse and riders overfell.
* * * * *
Oh, the little birds sang east, and the little birds sang west--
_Toll slowly. _
And I read this ancient Rhyme, in the churchyard, while the chime
Slowly tolled for one at rest.
II.
The abeles moved in the sun, and the river smooth did run--
_Toll slowly. _
And the ancient Rhyme rang strange, with its passion and its change,
Here, where all done lay undone.
III.
And beneath a willow tree I a little grave did see--
_Toll slowly_--
Where was graved--HERE, UNDEFILED, LIETH MAUD, A THREE-YEAR CHILD,
EIGHTEEN HUNDRED FORTY-THREE.
IV.
Then O spirits, did I say, ye who rode so fast that day--
_Toll slowly. _
Did star-wheels and angel wings with their holy winnowings
Keep beside you all the way?
V.
Though in passion ye would dash, with a blind and heavy crash--
_Toll slowly_--
Up against the thick-bossed shield of God's judgment in the field,--
Though your heart and brain were rash,--
VI.
"Friends and brothers, save my wife! Pardon, sweet, in change for
life,--
But I ride alone to God. "
XC.
Straight as if the Holy name had upbreathed her like a flame--
_Toll slowly. _
She upsprang, she rose upright, in his selle she sate in sight,
By her love she overcame.
XCI.
And her head was on his breast where she smiled as one at rest--
_Toll slowly. _
"Ring," she cried, "O vesper-bell in the beechwood's old chapelle--
But the passing-bell rings best! "
XCII.
They have caught out at the rein which Sir Guy threw loose--in vain--
_Toll slowly. _
For the horse in stark despair, with his front hoofs poised in air,
On the last verge rears amain.
XCIII.
Now he hangs, he rocks between, and his nostrils curdle in--
_Toll slowly. _
Now he shivers head and hoof and the flakes of foam fall off,
And his face grows fierce and thin:
XCIV.
And a look of human woe from his staring eyes did go:
_Toll slowly.
_
And a sharp cry uttered he, in a foretold agony
Of the headlong death below,--
XCV.
And, "Ring, ring, thou passing-bell," still she cried, "i' the old
chapelle! "
_Toll slowly. _
Then, back-toppling, crashing back--a dead weight flung out to wrack,
Horse and riders overfell.
* * * * *
Oh, the little birds sang east, and the little birds sang west--
_Toll slowly. _
And I read this ancient Rhyme, in the churchyard, while the chime
Slowly tolled for one at rest.
II.
The abeles moved in the sun, and the river smooth did run--
_Toll slowly. _
And the ancient Rhyme rang strange, with its passion and its change,
Here, where all done lay undone.
III.
And beneath a willow tree I a little grave did see--
_Toll slowly_--
Where was graved--HERE, UNDEFILED, LIETH MAUD, A THREE-YEAR CHILD,
EIGHTEEN HUNDRED FORTY-THREE.
IV.
Then O spirits, did I say, ye who rode so fast that day--
_Toll slowly. _
Did star-wheels and angel wings with their holy winnowings
Keep beside you all the way?
V.
Though in passion ye would dash, with a blind and heavy crash--
_Toll slowly_--
Up against the thick-bossed shield of God's judgment in the field,--
Though your heart and brain were rash,--
VI.
