 | Lays of Leisure Hours |  |
142
THE LADYE AND THE WARRIOR.
The Ladye by the courser stood,
And checked all signs of grief and sorrow,
But lessoned to a lofty mood,
She cried, “Remember me to-morrow!
And checked all signs of grief and sorrow,
But lessoned to a lofty mood,
She cried, “Remember me to-morrow!
“Remember me when in the field
'Midst dangers and 'mongst foes thou'rt moving,
My prayer shall be a charmed shield,
If there is strength in woman's loving!
'Midst dangers and 'mongst foes thou'rt moving,
My prayer shall be a charmed shield,
If there is strength in woman's loving!
“Remember how my heart will glow
With dear reflection of thy glory,
How 'twill with rapturous joy o'erflow,
Hearkening thy triumph's gallant story.”
With dear reflection of thy glory,
How 'twill with rapturous joy o'erflow,
Hearkening thy triumph's gallant story.”
143
The Ladye thus with boldness spake,
With eye undimmed and brow undaunted,
Yet did her heart with anguish ache,
Her bosom with fond terrors panted.
With eye undimmed and brow undaunted,
Yet did her heart with anguish ache,
Her bosom with fond terrors panted.
And changed and clouded grew her mien,
Soon as her Warrior-love departed;
Of maidens true was she the Queen—
High souled—and Oh! Angelic hearted!
Soon as her Warrior-love departed;
Of maidens true was she the Queen—
High souled—and Oh! Angelic hearted!
That night by pure Madonna's shrine,
A wakeful suppliant, saw her kneeling,
The lamp that lit the face divine—
A face of death-white was revealing.
A wakeful suppliant, saw her kneeling,
The lamp that lit the face divine—
A face of death-white was revealing.
All deathly pale that brow appeared,
Her hair dishevelled, streamed neglected,
Where was that lofty mood she shared,
Where the bright courage she affected?
Her hair dishevelled, streamed neglected,
Where was that lofty mood she shared,
Where the bright courage she affected?
144
Woman! 'gainst Nature wilt thou strive
For the dear sake of him you cherish—
Nor outward signs of suffering give,
While inwardly ye pine and perish!
For the dear sake of him you cherish—
Nor outward signs of suffering give,
While inwardly ye pine and perish!
Courage—your Lover's risks to brave,
Must to your Soul be still a stranger—
Of fear and grief you're still the slave,
Whene'er to him there threatens danger.
Must to your Soul be still a stranger—
Of fear and grief you're still the slave,
Whene'er to him there threatens danger.
Then nobler is such generous show,
For his sake of a mood undaunted—
Such seeming victory o'er your woe,
Victory unvalued oft—unvaunted!
For his sake of a mood undaunted—
Such seeming victory o'er your woe,
Victory unvalued oft—unvaunted!
The night—the day passed slowly on,
No tidings heard she of her lover—
The field was nobly fought and won,
The trial and the triumph over—
No tidings heard she of her lover—
The field was nobly fought and won,
The trial and the triumph over—
145
Time passed, and o'er that fearful field
The Vulture, bird of darkness, hovered,
And yet that form was not revealed,
Her lover's corse was not discovered.
The Vulture, bird of darkness, hovered,
And yet that form was not revealed,
Her lover's corse was not discovered.
At length amid the thickest pile
Of dead 'twas found—all stiff and gory,
The pale lips wore a stern dark smile,
As they'd just caught one ray of glory!
Of dead 'twas found—all stiff and gory,
The pale lips wore a stern dark smile,
As they'd just caught one ray of glory!
Unto the Maid he loved the best
They brought that corse with grief and mourning!
Oh! meeting joyless and unblessed—
Alas! for that most sad returning!
They brought that corse with grief and mourning!
Oh! meeting joyless and unblessed—
Alas! for that most sad returning!
They found her kneeling mute and still—
Beside the sacred Altar kneeling—
There sought she for each earthly ill
The happiest help—the holiest healing.
Beside the sacred Altar kneeling—
There sought she for each earthly ill
The happiest help—the holiest healing.
146
They watched and waited for a while,
Bearing the pale corse of her lover—
That burial band—that funeral file—
Till the deep pray'rs were breathed and over!
Bearing the pale corse of her lover—
That burial band—that funeral file—
Till the deep pray'rs were breathed and over!
Vainly they waited—one moved near,
And stooping down, with horror started—
Look on that form—so soft, so dear,
Angelic still—but broken hearted!
And stooping down, with horror started—
Look on that form—so soft, so dear,
Angelic still—but broken hearted!
She wept and prayed, and praying died—
A gentle flower by Fate's blast shaken,
His Soul's long flight was scarcely tried,
Ere by her meek Soul 'twas o'ertaken!
A gentle flower by Fate's blast shaken,
His Soul's long flight was scarcely tried,
Ere by her meek Soul 'twas o'ertaken!
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