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The Poetical Works of Elizabeth Barrett Browning, Volume 2 — John Shaqi

The Poetical Works of Elizabeth Barrett Browning, Volume 2Browning, Elizabeth Barrett

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The Poetical Works of Elizabeth Barrett Browning, Volume 2

Name: The Poetical Works of Elizabeth Barrett Browning, Volume 2
Author: Browning, Elizabeth Barrett

Browning, Elizabeth Barrett

English poetry -- 19th century; Poetry, Modern -- 19th century

"She will weep her woman's tears, she will pray her woman's prayers"--
                        _Toll slowly._
    "But her heart is young in pain, and her hopes will spring again
                    By the suntime of her years.

    LII.

    "Ah, sweet May! ah, sweetest grief!--once I vowed thee my belief"--
                        _Toll slowly_--
    "That thy name expressed thy sweetness,--May of poets, in completeness!
                    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.

    They have fetched the steed with care, in the harness he did wear--
                        _Toll slowly._
    Past the court and through the doors, across the rushes of the floors,
                    But they goad him up the stair.

    LXI.

    Then from out her bower chambère did the Duchess May repair:
                        _Toll slowly._
    "Tell me now what is your need," said the lady, "of this steed,
                    That ye goad him up the stair?"

    LXII.

    Calm she stood; unbodkined through, fell her dark hair to her shoe:
                        _Toll slowly._
    And the smile upon her face, ere she left the tiring-glass,
                    Had not time enough to go.

    LXIII.

Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.

The Poetical Works of Elizabeth Barrett Browning, Volume 2

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