Anne Evans: Poems and Music With Memorial Preface by Anne Thackeray Ritchie |
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| II. | PART II. |
 | Anne Evans: Poems and Music |  |
77
II. PART II.
O'er Whindon Heights and Broadwood glades
The summer waned away,
But thorough wood or over wold
Went never Ralph Duguay.
The summer waned away,
But thorough wood or over wold
Went never Ralph Duguay.
O'er Whindon Heights and Broadwood glades
A year went round and still
Sir Ralph Duguay at Warenstay
Was lodged against his will.
A year went round and still
Sir Ralph Duguay at Warenstay
Was lodged against his will.
The Countess to her daughter spoke
(And that high tower in sight),
“Sweet heart, no tidings come to us
Of yonder errant knight.
(And that high tower in sight),
“Sweet heart, no tidings come to us
Of yonder errant knight.
“Gay ladies plenty dwell in France:
Men are a fickle kind;
And truly she that's out of sight
Will soon be out of mind.
Men are a fickle kind;
And truly she that's out of sight
Will soon be out of mind.
78
“Reck nought of him recks nought of thee:
'Twere shame to stoop so low:
Hey, never mope for a false traitor,
But laugh and let him go!
'Twere shame to stoop so low:
Hey, never mope for a false traitor,
But laugh and let him go!
“Why here's the Duke, the king's cousin,
Will wed thee if he may:
Go to,” said she, “be ruled by me,
And never say him nay.”
Will wed thee if he may:
Go to,” said she, “be ruled by me,
And never say him nay.”
Fair Margaret's face waxed red apace:
“Sir Ralph Duguay his name
I have heard it spoken with little love,
But never, methinks, with blame.
“Sir Ralph Duguay his name
I have heard it spoken with little love,
But never, methinks, with blame.
“Never before, nor never more,
Dear mother, let it be;
But as you find me true to him,
Ay think him true to me.”
Dear mother, let it be;
But as you find me true to him,
Ay think him true to me.”
The Countess talked no more with her,
But on that self-same day,
Unto the Duke she writ boldly,
And promised her away.
But on that self-same day,
Unto the Duke she writ boldly,
And promised her away.
Within a se'nnight from that time,
All at the twilight hour,
Came she again to her young daughter,
A spinning in her bower.
All at the twilight hour,
Came she again to her young daughter,
A spinning in her bower.
79
“O here be news enow from France!
A battle late hath been,
And a woful price the winning on't
Hath cost our King, I ween!
A battle late hath been,
And a woful price the winning on't
Hath cost our King, I ween!
“For many a stout heart lieth cold,
Which never to none would yield;
And among the rest Sir Ralph Duguay
Was slain upon the field.
Which never to none would yield;
And among the rest Sir Ralph Duguay
Was slain upon the field.
“'Tis pity, yet he died the death
A soldier ay loves best:
Who falls in fight falls like a knight:
So let his memory rest!
A soldier ay loves best:
Who falls in fight falls like a knight:
So let his memory rest!
“But other knights are left on live,
Whereof the Duke is one:
Now art thou free as bird on tree,
And naysay shall he none.”
Whereof the Duke is one:
Now art thou free as bird on tree,
And naysay shall he none.”
“O what is this device, mother,”
Sad Margaret replied,
“To take a woful fresh widow,
And make of her a bride?”
Sad Margaret replied,
“To take a woful fresh widow,
And make of her a bride?”
Little thought fair Margaret,
A-mourning in her bower,
How safe and sound Sir Ralph was lodged
Anigh her in the tower.
A-mourning in her bower,
How safe and sound Sir Ralph was lodged
Anigh her in the tower.
80
Little thought Sir Ralph the while,
Within his prison dim,
How Margaret in her gay bower
Wept all alone for him.
Within his prison dim,
How Margaret in her gay bower
Wept all alone for him.
Sir Ralph looked forth at the narrow loophole,
And saw the jackdaws fly:
“Ay, tarry,” quoth he, “by the old tower:
You love it better than I.”
And saw the jackdaws fly:
“Ay, tarry,” quoth he, “by the old tower:
You love it better than I.”
O strong, strong is the thick freestone
And strong is the iron gray;
But stronger still is the steadfast will,
And wears them both away.
And strong is the iron gray;
But stronger still is the steadfast will,
And wears them both away.
He wrought by day, he wrought by night,
He wrought with might and main:
When he had wrought a year and a week
He went at large again.
He wrought with might and main:
When he had wrought a year and a week
He went at large again.
Abroad amid the gay morning
The daws flew to and fro;
And Ralph Duguay as well as they
Was free to come and go.
The daws flew to and fro;
And Ralph Duguay as well as they
Was free to come and go.
He wandered down upon the shore:
“My limbs are something stiff,
Else would I fain go swim again,
And double Whindon Cliff.”
“My limbs are something stiff,
Else would I fain go swim again,
And double Whindon Cliff.”
81
Anon he looked across the land,
A-doubting of his way;
And a voice came by with a heavy sigh,
“Farewell, Sir Ralph Duguay!”
A-doubting of his way;
And a voice came by with a heavy sigh,
“Farewell, Sir Ralph Duguay!”
Then he was ware of a sad lady
Sate weeping by the sea.
“Now of all the knights that ever wore spurs,
What makes her light on me?
Sate weeping by the sea.
“Now of all the knights that ever wore spurs,
What makes her light on me?
“Of all the knights in broad England,
Fair lady, tell me true,
Why call you on this Ralph Duguay,
Who calleth not on you?”
Fair lady, tell me true,
Why call you on this Ralph Duguay,
Who calleth not on you?”
She never rose, nor turned her head,
But her voice came like a moan:
“It is no blame to speak that name
Which should have been mine own.
But her voice came like a moan:
“It is no blame to speak that name
Which should have been mine own.
“When he was living, as now he is dead,
I looked to be his wife:
He won me on my father's word,
By saving of my life.”
I looked to be his wife:
He won me on my father's word,
By saving of my life.”
Quoth he, “There be more bars than one
This marriage well may let;
But certes Ralph his death is none,
For that he liveth yet.”
This marriage well may let;
But certes Ralph his death is none,
For that he liveth yet.”
82
She rose and looked him in the face:
O wan she was that day!—
“In very sooth, do you know aught
Of this Sir Ralph Duguay?”
O wan she was that day!—
“In very sooth, do you know aught
Of this Sir Ralph Duguay?”
Said he, “In very sooth I do:
I've known him many's the year,
And every word I listen to,
I warrant he shall hear.”
I've known him many's the year,
And every word I listen to,
I warrant he shall hear.”
She drew a ring from her fair finger:
“If this be so,” said she,
“As you would help one in distress,
Give him this ring from me.
“If this be so,” said she,
“As you would help one in distress,
Give him this ring from me.
“And tell him here at Warenstay
They count him to be dead;
And they would marry me forthwith
Unto the Duke instead.”
They count him to be dead;
And they would marry me forthwith
Unto the Duke instead.”
He took the ring of wreathen gold:
He knew it well enow;
And still he shook the tangled hair
The thicker o'er his brow.
He knew it well enow;
And still he shook the tangled hair
The thicker o'er his brow.
“Yet ponder well, fair damosel,
And make this choice aright:
Is not the one a princely duke,
And the other only a knight?”
And make this choice aright:
Is not the one a princely duke,
And the other only a knight?”
83
“Were the knight a simple squire,” she said,
“And the Duke a crownéd King,
The heart were due to the promise true,
And the hand unto the ring.”
“And the Duke a crownéd King,
The heart were due to the promise true,
And the hand unto the ring.”
“Take back the ring, thou rare lady!
Take back the ring, I say!
And take therewith my love and troth,
For I'm that Ralph Duguay.
Take back the ring, I say!
And take therewith my love and troth,
For I'm that Ralph Duguay.
“I thought whilere of ladies fair
Things bitter and untrue;
But from my very heart this day
Those ill thoughts do I rue.”
Things bitter and untrue;
But from my very heart this day
Those ill thoughts do I rue.”
Fair Margaret stepped two paces back:
She scanned him o'er and o'er:
“O sorely art thou changed, my knight!
I had known thee else before.”
She scanned him o'er and o'er:
“O sorely art thou changed, my knight!
I had known thee else before.”
He swept aside the tangled hair
From off his cheek and brow:
“O sorely art thou changed, my knight
But well I know thee now.”
From off his cheek and brow:
“O sorely art thou changed, my knight
But well I know thee now.”
Earl Peregrine was set in state
Within his hall that day,
And around him all, both great and small,
In festival array.
Within his hall that day,
And around him all, both great and small,
In festival array.
84
And next beside him sate the Duke:
As richly dight was he
As it had been his wedding day:
He thought it so to be.
As richly dight was he
As it had been his wedding day:
He thought it so to be.
In there walked Sir Ralph Duguay,
Unshorn, unkempt, unclean;
A-leading lovely Margaret,
Apparelled like a queen.
Unshorn, unkempt, unclean;
A-leading lovely Margaret,
Apparelled like a queen.
Uprose the Duke in stark amaze:
“I fain would understand
How dares yon strange unsightly man
To touch my lady's hand?”
“I fain would understand
How dares yon strange unsightly man
To touch my lady's hand?”
Straight replied fair Margaret:
Her voice was low and clear:
“No lady am I of yours, Lord Duke,
But his which standeth here.”
Her voice was low and clear:
“No lady am I of yours, Lord Duke,
But his which standeth here.”
O, then the Duke laid hand on sword
“My lord, I fain would know,
Is this some mime to pass the time,
Or may the truth be so?”
“My lord, I fain would know,
Is this some mime to pass the time,
Or may the truth be so?”
The Earl sate silent whilst he spoke,
And eke when he had done:
He gazed upon him dolefully,
But answer made he none.
And eke when he had done:
He gazed upon him dolefully,
But answer made he none.
85
Then laughed Sir Ralph a little laugh:
Said, “Lords and ladies gay,
And all the rest, hear now a geste
Upon this merry day.”
Said, “Lords and ladies gay,
And all the rest, hear now a geste
Upon this merry day.”
So presently before them all
He told his own true tale:
The Earl did quake whereas he sate
Beside his Countess pale.
He told his own true tale:
The Earl did quake whereas he sate
Beside his Countess pale.
The Duke stood still and heard him through,
Then laughed so loud and free,
Stepped forth and shook him by the hand,
And spoke out heartily.
Then laughed so loud and free,
Stepped forth and shook him by the hand,
And spoke out heartily.
“Gramercy for this merry geste,
This rare new geste of thine,
And I wish thee joy of thy wedding-day,
Though I thought it had been mine.
This rare new geste of thine,
And I wish thee joy of thy wedding-day,
Though I thought it had been mine.
“For I would not part a lady's hand
From her own true love his ring,
For all the breadth of the broad acres
That lady ever should bring.
From her own true love his ring,
For all the breadth of the broad acres
That lady ever should bring.
“I wish you joy of your wedding-day,
Sir Ralph Duguay,” he cried:
“Have you for me the mother-in-law,
And the father-in-law beside.
Sir Ralph Duguay,” he cried:
“Have you for me the mother-in-law,
And the father-in-law beside.
86
“For I would not call them mine,” said he,
“As they sit there this day,
For the bravest bride in all England
Was ever given away.
“As they sit there this day,
For the bravest bride in all England
Was ever given away.
“To horse, to horse, and home again!
Mine errand here is done.”
With that he flung him forth straightway,
And his following every one.
Mine errand here is done.”
With that he flung him forth straightway,
And his following every one.
Then, like a hunted hind at bay,
Uprose that Countess bold:
“Is this our thanks, to be defied,
In our own house and hold?”
Uprose that Countess bold:
“Is this our thanks, to be defied,
In our own house and hold?”
Outspoke Sir Ralph: “Of thanks, Madame
You have earned you double meed:
His friend that's gone you were in will,
And mine you were in deed.
You have earned you double meed:
His friend that's gone you were in will,
And mine you were in deed.
“For had you asked my mind herein
That day I won your daughter,
I had given her up as readily
As another might have sought her.
That day I won your daughter,
I had given her up as readily
As another might have sought her.
“And had you not this trial shaped,
And done my doubts away,
I might have lived a bachelor
Up to my dying day.
And done my doubts away,
I might have lived a bachelor
Up to my dying day.
87
“My heart is full of gay joyance:
Let anger go!” said he;
“And here's my hand for all present
Will give their hands to me.”
Let anger go!” said he;
“And here's my hand for all present
Will give their hands to me.”
Forthwith uprose Earl Peregrine,
In answer to that call:
Stepped lightly past his proud Countess:
“Now hear me, one and all!
In answer to that call:
Stepped lightly past his proud Countess:
“Now hear me, one and all!
“I have given way this many a day
To wicked woman-craft;
But I'll be master henceforward.”
The saucy squire he laughed.
To wicked woman-craft;
But I'll be master henceforward.”
The saucy squire he laughed.
“The tide is turned,” quoth the proud Countess,
“And all the work undone:
I had liefer sewn my daughter's shroud
Than call Duguay my son.
“And all the work undone:
I had liefer sewn my daughter's shroud
Than call Duguay my son.
“But yet, if better may not be,
Why battle any more?
Have here my hand, Sir Ralph,” she said,
“And let our strife be o'er.”
Why battle any more?
Have here my hand, Sir Ralph,” she said,
“And let our strife be o'er.”
Then rose a shout amid the hall,
And rang from side to side:
“Now happy live the true bridegroom,
And happy live the bride!”
And rang from side to side:
“Now happy live the true bridegroom,
And happy live the bride!”
88
“An uncouth bridegroom,” quoth Sir Ralph:
I'll mend him if I can:
Let me go seek a coat to wear,
And bid mine own best man.”
I'll mend him if I can:
Let me go seek a coat to wear,
And bid mine own best man.”
They set him on a swift courser,
And home he rode full fain:
A joyful wight was young Walter
To look on him again.
And home he rode full fain:
A joyful wight was young Walter
To look on him again.
And “Dearly welcome home, brother,
And welcome home to me;
But O thou comest home at last
In sorry plight,” said he.
And welcome home to me;
But O thou comest home at last
In sorry plight,” said he.
“No coat upon thy back, brother,
No hat upon thy head:
I doubt it hath gone hard with thee
In France, dear Ralph,” he said.
No hat upon thy head:
I doubt it hath gone hard with thee
In France, dear Ralph,” he said.
“I have not been in France, Walter,
Nor I have not been in Spain;
But on English ground, where I have found
Small choice but to remain.”
Nor I have not been in Spain;
But on English ground, where I have found
Small choice but to remain.”
“If I speak wide now, brother Ralph,
I speak but after thee,
And after that same fair letter
Which thou didst write to me.”
I speak but after thee,
And after that same fair letter
Which thou didst write to me.”
89
“O fair may yet be false, Walter,
And well methinks I wot
Who writ this fair and false letter,
Which I myself writ not.”
And well methinks I wot
Who writ this fair and false letter,
Which I myself writ not.”
Then 'gan he shout, “Ho, Forester,
To greet me in time past
Wast wont to be the foremost ay,
Art now, my hound, the last?”
To greet me in time past
Wast wont to be the foremost ay,
Art now, my hound, the last?”
“Nay cease thy calling, brother Ralph,
Or call some other hound;
For Forester is dead and gone:
His bones lie under ground.
Or call some other hound;
For Forester is dead and gone:
His bones lie under ground.
“He sought thee far and wide, brother,
And so he pined away:
We found his carcase on the Heights:
We buried it where it lay.”
And so he pined away:
We found his carcase on the Heights:
We buried it where it lay.”
Sir Ralph thereto made answer none;
But only from his eye
A tear dropped down on the broad hearthstone
Where the hound had used to lie.
But only from his eye
A tear dropped down on the broad hearthstone
Where the hound had used to lie.
“Now, Walter, put thy sad suit off,
And lightly don thy best;
For a wedding is to do this day,
And thou must be a guest.”
And lightly don thy best;
For a wedding is to do this day,
And thou must be a guest.”
90
Right speedily they clad them both
In seemly rich array,
And so they rode forth side by side,
And up to Warenstay.
In seemly rich array,
And so they rode forth side by side,
And up to Warenstay.
As they two rode amid the throng,
Quoth one, “Whoe'er they be,
These are the comeliest gentlemen
Of all the company.”
Quoth one, “Whoe'er they be,
These are the comeliest gentlemen
Of all the company.”
When they two stepped into the hall,
Young Walter spoke aside:
“I see no groom save one, brother,
To match with yonder bride:
Young Walter spoke aside:
“I see no groom save one, brother,
To match with yonder bride:
“No king but one for yonder queen
Throughout the banquet-hall;
And he's the King of the Bachelors,
Will crown no Queen at all.”
Throughout the banquet-hall;
And he's the King of the Bachelors,
Will crown no Queen at all.”
“Hey, live and learn, my boy Walter:
I have lived and learned herein;
For yonder bride is mine, Walter,
And let them laugh who win.”
I have lived and learned herein;
For yonder bride is mine, Walter,
And let them laugh who win.”
“O am I waking, brother Ralph,
Or dreaming where I stand?
If yon fair Queen my sister is,
Then let me kiss her hand.
Or dreaming where I stand?
If yon fair Queen my sister is,
Then let me kiss her hand.
91
So into chapel presently
They passed in order due;
And there Sir Ralph Duguay espoused
That lady tried and true.
They passed in order due;
And there Sir Ralph Duguay espoused
That lady tried and true.
“A heart that's fast I have won at last,
Even in mine own despite:
With wit, and wealth, and high degree,
And beauty passing bright!”
Even in mine own despite:
With wit, and wealth, and high degree,
And beauty passing bright!”
When Ralph Duguay rode home again,
His courser carried double,
And home rode he right merrily,
Forgetting care and trouble.
His courser carried double,
And home rode he right merrily,
Forgetting care and trouble.
O earthly joy doth come and go,
But nowhere may abide:
Grief o'er his shoulder ever peers,
And thrusts him soon aside.
But nowhere may abide:
Grief o'er his shoulder ever peers,
And thrusts him soon aside.
Sir Ralph unto his lady spoke,
Upon a summer's day;
“What is it ails our young brother,
To fade and fall away?”
Upon a summer's day;
“What is it ails our young brother,
To fade and fall away?”
Young Walter stood in green Broadwood,
With his back against a tree:
He took his viol in his hand,
And sweetly carolled he:
With his back against a tree:
He took his viol in his hand,
And sweetly carolled he:
92
“Upon a time, methought that I,
Of all birds in the air,
Would fainest be the Ger-falcon
On lady's fist so fair.
Of all birds in the air,
Would fainest be the Ger-falcon
On lady's fist so fair.
“Methought there flew no bird so blest
As he, by wold or wood;
But now I'm in another mind:
I'll none of jess nor hood.
As he, by wold or wood;
But now I'm in another mind:
I'll none of jess nor hood.
“I had liefer be the little Lark,
Which soareth up so high:
The Falcon he is well at home,
But the Lark more free doth fly.
Which soareth up so high:
The Falcon he is well at home,
But the Lark more free doth fly.
“O happy, happy little Lark
Which soarest up so high!
The earth shows wondrous beautiful,
But brighter is the sky!”
Which soarest up so high!
The earth shows wondrous beautiful,
But brighter is the sky!”
Young Walter he grew very sick
Ere harvesting began;
But when All-hallowmas came round
He lay a dying man.
Ere harvesting began;
But when All-hallowmas came round
He lay a dying man.
At dawn of that All-hallowmas
He sang surpassing well:
At noon of that All-hallowmas
They tolled young Walter's knell.
He sang surpassing well:
At noon of that All-hallowmas
They tolled young Walter's knell.
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