FREE BOOKS

Author's List




PREV.   NEXT  
|<   133   134   135   136   137   138   139   140   141   142   143   144   145   146   147   148   149   150   151   152   153   154   155   156   157  
158   159   160   161   162   163   164   165   166   167   168   169   170   171   172   173   174   175   176   177   178   179   180   181   182   >>   >|  
h rich in fee, 12 Of any earthly loss, But lighting, on his bended knee, Said, Father, here I take from thee The sign of the Holy Cross. I have a wife, to me more dear 13 Then is my own heart's blood; I have a child, (a starting tear, Which soon he dried, of love sincere, On his stern eyelid stood); To them farewell! O God above, 14 Thine is the fate of war; But oh! reward Gwenlhian's[135] love, And may my son a comfort prove, When I am distant far! Farewell, my harp!--away, away! 15 To the field of death I go; Welcome the trumpet's blast, the neigh Of my bold and barbed steed of gray, And the clang of the steel crossbow! Gwenlhian sat in the hall at night, 16 Counting the heavy hours; She saw the moon, with tranquil light, Shine on the circling mountain's height, And the dim castle towers. Deep stillness was on hill and glen, 17 When she heard a bugle blow; A trump from the watch-tower answered then, And the tramp of steeds, and the voice of men, Were heard in the court below. The watch-dog started at the noise, 18 Then crouched at his master's feet; He knew his step, he heard his voice; But who can now like her rejoice, Who flies her own lord to greet? And soon her arms his neck enfold: 19 But whence that altered mien! O say, then, is thy love grown cold, Or hast thou been hurt by the robbers bold, That won in the forest of Dean? Oh no, he cried, the God above, 20 Who all my soul can see, Knows my sincere, my fervent love; If aught my stern resolve could move, It were one tear from thee. But I have sworn, in the Holy Land,-- 21 Need I the sequel speak; Too well, she cried, I understand! Then grasped in agony his hand, And hid her face on his cheek. My loved Gwenlhian, weep not so, 22 From the lid that tear I kiss; Though to the wars far off I go, Betide me weal, betide me woe, We yet may
PREV.   NEXT  
|<   133   134   135   136   137   138   139   140   141   142   143   144   145   146   147   148   149   150   151   152   153   154   155   156   157  
158   159   160   161   162   163   164   165   166   167   168   169   170   171   172   173   174   175   176   177   178   179   180   181   182   >>   >|  



Top keywords:
Gwenlhian
 

sincere

 

altered

 
enfold
 

rejoice

 

crouched

 

master

 

started


robbers

 

Betide

 

grasped

 
sequel
 

Though

 
understand
 
betide
 

forest


resolve

 

fervent

 

farewell

 

eyelid

 

distant

 

Farewell

 

reward

 

comfort


starting

 
lighting
 

bended

 

earthly

 

Father

 

towers

 

stillness

 

castle


circling
 

mountain

 

height

 

answered

 

steeds

 

tranquil

 

crossbow

 

barbed


Welcome
 
trumpet
 

Counting