No More Learning

_
While the trees' and river's voices flowed between the solemn noises,--
Yet death seemed more loud to me.

VI.

There I read this ancient rhyme while the bell did all the time
_Toll slowly. _
And the solemn knell fell in with the tale of life and sin,
Like a rhythmic fate sublime.


THE RHYME.


I.

Broad the forests stood (I read) on the hills of Linteged,
_Toll slowly. _
And three hundred years had stood mute adown each hoary wood,
Like a full heart having prayed.

II.

And the little birds sang east, and the little birds sang west,
_Toll slowly. _
And but little thought was theirs of the silent antique years,
In the building of their nest.

III.

Down the sun dropt large and red on the towers of Linteged,--
_Toll slowly. _
Lance and spear upon the height, bristling strange in fiery light,
While the castle stood in shade.

IV.
There the castle stood up black with the red sun at its back--
_Toll slowly_--
Like a sullen smouldering pyre with a top that flickers fire
When the wind is on its track.

V.

And five hundred archers tall did besiege the castle wall--
_Toll slowly. _
And the castle, seethed in blood, fourteen days and nights had stood
And to-night was near its fall.

VI.

Yet thereunto, blind to doom, three months since, a bride did come--
_Toll slowly. _
One who proudly trod the floors and softly whispered in the doors,
"May good angels bless our home. "

VII.

Oh, a bride of queenly eyes, with a front of constancies:
_Toll slowly. _
Oh, a bride of cordial mouth where the untired smile of youth
Did light outward its own sighs!

VIII.

'T was a Duke's fair orphan-girl, and her uncle's ward--the Earl--
_Toll slowly. _
Who betrothed her twelve years old, for the sake of dowry gold,
To his son Lord Leigh the churl.

IX.

But what time she had made good all her years of womanhood--
_Toll slowly. _
Unto both these lords of Leigh spake she out right sovranly,
"My will runneth as my blood.