Poems By William Bell Scott. Ballads, Studies from Nature, Sonnets, etc. Illustrated by Seventeen Etchings by the Author and L. Alma Tadema |
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KRIEMHILD'S TRYSTE.
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7
KRIEMHILD'S TRYSTE.
I
Childe Eric from the Middle-sea
Rides on his homeward way,
To keep his tryste with fair Kriemhild,
His tryste of an early day.
Rides on his homeward way,
To keep his tryste with fair Kriemhild,
His tryste of an early day.
8
Childe Eric rides by the swift running beck,
Its sound fills all the air;
It is warm in the midsummer weather;
It is noon, he will rest him there.
Its sound fills all the air;
It is warm in the midsummer weather;
It is noon, he will rest him there.
He throws the rein of his good roan steed
On the bough of a sycamore,
And, dropping from brae to bank, he gains
The linn-pool's pebbly shore.
On the bough of a sycamore,
And, dropping from brae to bank, he gains
The linn-pool's pebbly shore.
He had travelled far from morn till noon,
The fresh stream danced and sang,
So to cast his surcoat and hose of mail
He did not question lang.
The fresh stream danced and sang,
So to cast his surcoat and hose of mail
He did not question lang.
Then caroll'd he loud as the water,
So bright, so fresh, so full;
His shapely waist and fair broad chest
Flashed in the quivering pool.
So bright, so fresh, so full;
His shapely waist and fair broad chest
Flashed in the quivering pool.
But scarcely had he stept three steps,
He heard a low shrill call,
And when he stept again there came
A laugh from the waterfall.
He heard a low shrill call,
And when he stept again there came
A laugh from the waterfall.
And he saw within the rainbow mist,
Within the shimmering vail,
A naked woman watching him,
Breathless and rosy-pale.
Within the shimmering vail,
A naked woman watching him,
Breathless and rosy-pale.
9
Two heavy sheaves of golden hair
About her round loins met,
Yet, for all the waters falling,
These thick locks were not wet.
About her round loins met,
Yet, for all the waters falling,
These thick locks were not wet.
Her great kind eyes, her wild sweet eyes,
They smiled and loved him so,
He shrank back in bewilderment,
Yet had no wish to go.
They smiled and loved him so,
He shrank back in bewilderment,
Yet had no wish to go.
But he felt sure that bonnie brown quean
Was none of Eve's true kin:
Naked and unabashed, straight and frank,
Harboured within the linn.
Was none of Eve's true kin:
Naked and unabashed, straight and frank,
Harboured within the linn.
Silenced, with wandering wits he stood,
His fair limbs but half hid,
Then stretched his hand from rock to rock,
And backward sloped and slid.
His fair limbs but half hid,
Then stretched his hand from rock to rock,
And backward sloped and slid.
But suddenly to the waist he sank,
And forward sprang the maid,
Round either side his tingling waist
Her arms a girdle made.
And forward sprang the maid,
Round either side his tingling waist
Her arms a girdle made.
Then breast to breast in the cool water
Was warmly, blindly pressed,
And heart to heart, as love is born,—
Her great clear eyes confessed
Was warmly, blindly pressed,
And heart to heart, as love is born,—
Her great clear eyes confessed
10
An innocence and a childish joy,
And hope's most flattering song,
That he, as was his wont with maids,
Was reassured and strong.
And hope's most flattering song,
That he, as was his wont with maids,
Was reassured and strong.
At once he kissed her eager mouth—
It was a quivering, wildering kiss—
Tighter she strained him in her arms,
And fixed devouring lips on his.
It was a quivering, wildering kiss—
Tighter she strained him in her arms,
And fixed devouring lips on his.
And owned that she had waited long
For him, Childe Eric, him alone;
But he must swear her troth, and be,
As Holy Writ says, bone of bone.
For him, Childe Eric, him alone;
But he must swear her troth, and be,
As Holy Writ says, bone of bone.
As she had heard the priest declare,
When she hid by the chapel door,
And he told them all of Adam and Eve—
The old priest of Felsenore.
When she hid by the chapel door,
And he told them all of Adam and Eve—
The old priest of Felsenore.
‘I'll bring you luck, you'll bring me grace,
And we'll be marrows, you and me;
A wife and a mother, my long hair coiffed,
Clad in long-lawn and cramoisie.’
And we'll be marrows, you and me;
A wife and a mother, my long hair coiffed,
Clad in long-lawn and cramoisie.’
Yes, yes, his troth—as he had done
In eastern lands before,
To dark eyes and brown jewelled ears—
He pledged it o'er and o'er.
In eastern lands before,
To dark eyes and brown jewelled ears—
He pledged it o'er and o'er.
11
‘Oh, then baptise me, Childe Delight!
Madonna Mary, christen me!’—
The water now wet her sheaves of hair,
And he laughed at her pietiè.
Madonna Mary, christen me!’—
The water now wet her sheaves of hair,
And he laughed at her pietiè.
For he trusted in magic, and had come
Through Rome, that evil vale,
Where with the false pope Archimed
He had quaffed from the Holy Graal.
Through Rome, that evil vale,
Where with the false pope Archimed
He had quaffed from the Holy Graal.
He laughed—but is not that his hound's
Long howl above the brae?
And is not that his good roan steed—
What maketh it stamp and neigh?
Long howl above the brae?
And is not that his good roan steed—
What maketh it stamp and neigh?
Oh, she was lissom and fond and strong,
Guileless and wild and free;
Nor had she even a thought uncouth
Lying under the rowan tree.
Guileless and wild and free;
Nor had she even a thought uncouth
Lying under the rowan tree.
He was Eric the tall, from Mickle-garth,
Her husband and paramour;
And she was a wife now, body and soul,
So thoughtful and demure.
Her husband and paramour;
And she was a wife now, body and soul,
So thoughtful and demure.
The manyfold kisses, and new sweet speech,
That four lips feel like fire;
The thirsting heart and the hungry eyes,
Why must they ever tire?
That four lips feel like fire;
The thirsting heart and the hungry eyes,
Why must they ever tire?
12
But all things else, all fair things else,
The sun and his fruits also,
The birds and leaves, the flowers and sheaves,
They change, and they may go.
The sun and his fruits also,
The birds and leaves, the flowers and sheaves,
They change, and they may go.
Into that warm nest, filled with song
By the lark and the murmuring linn,
Nought living came; but the pensive eye
Of a white doe once looked in.
By the lark and the murmuring linn,
Nought living came; but the pensive eye
Of a white doe once looked in.
They slept, I think, till all at once
He rose with a start and stare,
Like a man who knew not where he was,
Nor how he had come there,
And climbed the bank and found his steed
Had cropped all round it bare.
He rose with a start and stare,
Like a man who knew not where he was,
Nor how he had come there,
And climbed the bank and found his steed
Had cropped all round it bare.
Sadly it turned its proud arched neck,
And tried to lick his hand,
So he mounted in haste, and gallop'd away
To the lady Kriemhild's land.
And tried to lick his hand,
So he mounted in haste, and gallop'd away
To the lady Kriemhild's land.
But he had sworn he would return,
Return to the May, had he,
With a ring, and a necklace, and girdle-gold,
And long-lawn and cramoisie.
Return to the May, had he,
With a ring, and a necklace, and girdle-gold,
And long-lawn and cramoisie.
13
II
Beyond the sound of the widening beck
He rode to the river strand,
And at her bower-door on the island
He saw the good Kriemhild stand.
He rode to the river strand,
And at her bower-door on the island
He saw the good Kriemhild stand.
Behind her too, on either side,
Her bower-maids, a sister pair,
Clad both the same in sea-green serge,
Trimmed with the minnevair.
Her bower-maids, a sister pair,
Clad both the same in sea-green serge,
Trimmed with the minnevair.
But her long waist was in white say,
Looped up with knops of gold;
For she was the heiress of the land,
And towns with garth and wold.
Looped up with knops of gold;
For she was the heiress of the land,
And towns with garth and wold.
Along yon further shore you see
Her castle walls and tower;
But she had planned the tryste to be
Within her island-bower.
Her castle walls and tower;
But she had planned the tryste to be
Within her island-bower.
So these green-kirtled serving-maids,
They ferried him o'er the tide;—
As he leaned and looked in the tangled deep,
What was it he descried?
They ferried him o'er the tide;—
As he leaned and looked in the tangled deep,
What was it he descried?
14
What was it? for he backward shrank,
And made the light bark sway,
Till it grated against the landing steps,—
He seemed to have lost his way.
And made the light bark sway,
Till it grated against the landing steps,—
He seemed to have lost his way.
The lady then came stepping down
Towards him in surprise;
Sudden he seized her two white hands,
And bowed to hide his eyes.
Towards him in surprise;
Sudden he seized her two white hands,
And bowed to hide his eyes.
With that the distant warder blew
A note from the highest tower;
Startled, he kissed her two white hands,
And they passed within the bower.
A note from the highest tower;
Startled, he kissed her two white hands,
And they passed within the bower.
‘I wonder much,’ quoth fair Joanne
To her sister Claribee,
‘What made him wince when that great fish
Swam up so bonnily?’
To her sister Claribee,
‘What made him wince when that great fish
Swam up so bonnily?’
Each side the door then sat they down,
With lutes of cedar wood;
Joan sang this song, and Claribee,
She made the refrain good.
Quoth the wanderer, I have journeyed far,
With lutes of cedar wood;
Joan sang this song, and Claribee,
She made the refrain good.
Oh, give me wine and bread!
Is the popinjay merry?
15
I prithee now make my bed;
The heart is as cold as stone.
For, alas! I am wounded deep and sore,
And you must salve my wound:
Is the popinjay merry?
With her balsam sweet that lady-leech
She made him whole and sound.
The heart is as cold as stone.
Anon, when again he was whole and well,
He said she must marry him;
Is the popinjay merry?
And so it fell out that she called the priest,
All in the twilight dim.
The heart is as cold as stone.
But when the wedding-ring touched her hand,
I must leave you, love, quoth he;
Is the popinjay merry?
For I have a wife in a far-off town,
Across the weary sea.
The heart is as cold as stone.
But she would not now by wind or wave
That he should go away;
Is the popinjay merry?
So she made Sir Merlin weave a spell,
He could not choose but stay.
The heart is as cold as stone.
16
Though he strove with might and main;
Is the popinjay merry?
The wife he had left in the far-off land
He never would see again.
The heart is as cold as stone.
Scarce ended they, a quivering flame
Winnowed the sultry air,
And a surf running up as from sea-wind
Lapped the green margin there.
The damsels laughed at the silvery foam
That ran back again as fast;
Then tightened the cords of their gitterns,
And sang against the blast:
But as they sang a darkness fell,
And hail-stones rattled past.
HÆC.
Rest ye now from all your pain,
My heart's delight, my found-again.
ILLE.
Found again, but full of pyne
Thou art also, mistress mine.
HÆC.
Yea, but now we'll make amend;
The years of tears have reached their end.
17
Tears and years—oh, many a one
Since my wand'rings were begun!
HÆC.
Wanderings here and there away,
Never done at close of day.
ILLE.
Never done, but hankering still
For the old days of wild freewill.
HÆC.
Childish days when, ages gone,
We foster-children lived alone.
ILLE.
Lived and loved, for then we knew
Where the sweetest apple grew.
HÆC.
But once, alas! you plucked it down,
And wrapt it in my guiltless gown.
ILLE.
Plucked and shared it, rind and core;
Yet the sun set as before.
18
The sun set, but it rose no more;
It went down, and life shut the door.
ILLE.
Shut, but we shall entrance gain;—
Behold! the sun wakes up again.
HÆC.
Another sweet apple upon the tree—
Lovers in dead years, can they see?
ILLE.
See and pluck, rind, core, and pips,
Part and share with hungry lips.
HÆC.
Part and share, but alas! it drips—
Drips with blood,—My heart's delight!
Our hearts are torn in mirk midnight.
III
Therewith a cry shot over them,
As it came from out the sea—
The cry of a woman in sharp despite,
Crying, ‘Aï, woe is me!’
As it came from out the sea—
The cry of a woman in sharp despite,
Crying, ‘Aï, woe is me!’
19
The hail it flashed on bench and board,
By a loud wind borne along;
The singers fled within the bower,
And thrust the bolt so strong.
By a loud wind borne along;
The singers fled within the bower,
And thrust the bolt so strong.
And there the lady Kriemhild sat,
Childe Eric by her side,—
Together sat they hand in hand,
But their eyes were turned aside.
Childe Eric by her side,—
Together sat they hand in hand,
But their eyes were turned aside.
And the damsels knew as she sat so still,
With never a welcome word,
Their ditty had shorn between them
As it had been a sword.
With never a welcome word,
Their ditty had shorn between them
As it had been a sword.
They too were foster-children once,
Their love too had been strong,—
Can what hath passed return again
Like the burden of a song?
Their love too had been strong,—
Can what hath passed return again
Like the burden of a song?
For Love descends with a great surprise,
An angel on our cold floor;
And he never should leave us, never again,
For we're colder than before.
An angel on our cold floor;
And he never should leave us, never again,
For we're colder than before.
Was this the boy she played with once
Come from the great war's game,
More learned too than a priest, 'twas said,—
While she remained the same?
Come from the great war's game,
More learned too than a priest, 'twas said,—
While she remained the same?
20
It seemed as she sat, long miles away
Some wedding-bells rang out;
But whether for her or for some other bride,
She mazed herself in doubt.
Some wedding-bells rang out;
But whether for her or for some other bride,
She mazed herself in doubt.
Whose were they if they were not hers?
Some dream she would recall;
But the gathering thunder swept them out,
And shook the wainscot wall.
Some dream she would recall;
But the gathering thunder swept them out,
And shook the wainscot wall.
Then again that wild lamenting cry,
‘Aï, oh, woe is me!’
Severed the air like a fiery lance;—
Nor could she choose but see
It went right through him like his doom,—
‘Aï, oh, woe is me!’
‘Aï, oh, woe is me!’
Severed the air like a fiery lance;—
Nor could she choose but see
It went right through him like his doom,—
‘Aï, oh, woe is me!’
And with it rolled a surge of waves
All round the bower outside;
A knocking smote the bolted door,
The voice behind it cried:—
All round the bower outside;
A knocking smote the bolted door,
The voice behind it cried:—
‘Come back to me, Eric! I am now
A woman with love in store;—
Why went you while I slept?—my hair
Is not now as heretofore.
A woman with love in store;—
Why went you while I slept?—my hair
Is not now as heretofore.
‘It clings so heavy and cold and wet,
Oh, hasten, and bring with thee
The ring and the necklace and girdle-gold,
The long-lawn and cramoisie!
Oh, hasten, and bring with thee
The ring and the necklace and girdle-gold,
The long-lawn and cramoisie!
21
‘My guardian and my husband sworn,
Return again to me,
And these sea-waters will go back,
Back safe into the sea.
Return again to me,
And these sea-waters will go back,
Back safe into the sea.
‘The rain it runs down breast and thigh,—
For thee I am so brave:
I would not that mine ancient kin
Shall make the floods thy grave!’
For thee I am so brave:
I would not that mine ancient kin
Shall make the floods thy grave!’
The gentle Kriemhild and her maids
Together stood quite still,
Stood altogether listening
To the voice so wild and shrill.
Together stood quite still,
Stood altogether listening
To the voice so wild and shrill.
‘Childe Eric, oh my long-betrothed,
Who is this calling so?’
‘Alas! I know not nor can tell,
And you must never know.’
Who is this calling so?’
‘Alas! I know not nor can tell,
And you must never know.’
‘My sweet bower-maidens, tell me true,
Who is it calleth him?’
‘I see,’ quoth Joan, ‘by the window-pane
A brown sea-serpent swim—’
Who is it calleth him?’
‘I see,’ quoth Joan, ‘by the window-pane
A brown sea-serpent swim—’
‘But we must mount the topmost steps,
The flood-waves rise so high,’—
‘I cannot move,’ Childe Eric cries;
‘I must remain to die.’
The flood-waves rise so high,’—
‘I cannot move,’ Childe Eric cries;
‘I must remain to die.’
22
With that she fell upon his neck,
She would not leave him there;
But her damsels raised her in their arms,
And clomb the higher stair.
She would not leave him there;
But her damsels raised her in their arms,
And clomb the higher stair.
And as they climbed they heard below
The door wide open fly;
Then all at once the darkness broke
Across the rending sky,
The door wide open fly;
Then all at once the darkness broke
Across the rending sky,
And struggling strongly out, they saw,
Amidst the coiling spray,
A long-haired woman's shining arms,
Wherein Childe Eric lay!
Amidst the coiling spray,
A long-haired woman's shining arms,
Wherein Childe Eric lay!
And faintly came again that cry,
‘Aï, oh, woe is me!
Where is the ring and the girdle-gold,
The long-lawn and cramoisie?’
‘Aï, oh, woe is me!
Where is the ring and the girdle-gold,
The long-lawn and cramoisie?’
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