And loud and loud to Lord Roland call 'Thy daughter is safe in Langdale Hall! Thy beautiful daughter is safe and free-- Sir Leoline greets thee thus through me. He bids thee come without delay With all thy numerous array, And take thy lovely daughter home: And he will meet thee on the way With all his numerous array White with their panting palfreys' foam: And, by mine honour! I will say That I repent me of the day When I spake words of fierce disdain To Roland de Vaux of Tryermaine! For since that evil hour hath flown, Many a summer sun hath shone; Yet ne'er found I a friend again Like Roland de Vaux of Tryermaine." The lady fell, and clasp'd his knees, Her face upraised, her eyes o'erflowing; And Bracy replied with faltering voice, His gracious hail on all bestowing;-- "Thy words, thou sire of Christabel, Are sweeter than my harp can tell; Yet might I gain a boon of thee, This day my journey should not be; So strange a dream hath come to me; That I had vow'd with music loud To clear yon wood from thing unblest, Warn'd by a vision in my rest! For in my sleep I saw that dove, That gentle bird, whom thou dost love, And call'st by thy own daughter's name-- Sir Leoline! I saw the same, Fluttering, and uttering fearful moan, Among the green herbs in the forest alone. Which when I saw and when I heard, I wonder'd what might ail the bird; For nothing near it could I see, Save the grass and green herbs underneath the old tree. "And in my dream methought I went To search out what might there be found; And what the sweet bird's trouble meant, That thus lay fluttering on the ground. I went and peer'd, and could descry No cause for her distressful cry; But yet for her dear lady's sake I stoop'd, methought, the dove to take, When lo! I saw a bright green snake Coil'd around its wings and neck. Green as the herbs on which it couch'd, Close by the dove's its head it crouch'd; And with the dove it heaves and stirs, Swelling its neck as she swell'd hers! I woke; it was the midnight hour, The clock was echoing in the tower; But though my slumber was gone by. This dream it would not pass away-- It seems to live upon my eye! And thence I vow'd this self-same day, With music strong and saintly song, To wander through the forest bare, Lest aught unholy loiter there." Thus Bracy said: the Baron, the while Half-listening, heard him with a smile; Then turned to Lady Geraldine, His eyes made up of wonder and love; And said in courtly accents fine, "Sweet maid, Lord Roland's beauteotis dove, With arms more strong than harp or song, Thy sire and I will crush the snake!" He kiss'd her forehead as he spake, And Geraldine, in maiden wise, Casting down her large bright eyes, With blushing cheek and courtesy fine, She turn'd her from Sir Leoline; Softly gathering up her train, That o'er her right arm fell again; And folded her arms across her chest, And crouched her head upon her breast,