No More Learning

"Ha, fair bride! dost hear no sound save that moaning of the hound? "
_Toll slowly. _
"Thou and I have parted troth, yet I keep my vengeance-oath,
And the other may come round.

XXIX.

"Ha! thy will is brave to dare, and thy new love past compare"--
_Toll slowly. _
"Yet thine old love's falchion brave is as strong a thing to have,
As the will of lady fair.

XXX.

"Peck on blindly, netted dove! If a wife's name thee behove"--
_Toll slowly_--
"Thou shalt wear the same to-morrow, ere the grave has hid the sorrow
Of thy last ill-mated love.

XXXI.

"O'er his fixed and silent mouth, thou and I will call back troth":
_Toll slowly. _
"He shall altar be and priest,--and he will not cry at least
'I forbid you, I am loth! '

XXXII.
"I will wring thy fingers pale in the gauntlet of my mail":
_Toll slowly. _
"'Little hand and muckle gold' close shall lie within my hold,
As the sword did, to prevail. "

XXXIII.

Oh, the little birds sang east, and the little birds sang west--
_Toll slowly. _
Oh, and laughed the Duchess May, and her soul did put away
All his boasting, for a jest.

XXXIV.

In her chamber did she sit, laughing low to think of it,--
_Toll slowly. _
"Tower is strong and will is free: thou canst boast, my lord of Leigh,
But thou boastest little wit. "

XXXV.

In her tire-glass gazed she, and she blushed right womanly--
_Toll slowly. _
She blushed half from her disdain, half her beauty was so plain,
--"Oath for oath, my lord of Leigh! "

XXXVI.

Straight she called her maidens in--"Since ye gave me blame herein"--
_Toll slowly_--
"That a bridal such as mine should lack gauds to make it fine,
Come and shrive me from that sin.

XXXVII.

"It is three months gone to-day since I gave mine hand away":
_Toll slowly. _
"Bring the gold and bring the gem, we will keep bride-state in them,
While we keep the foe at bay.