 | Poems by James Rhoades |  |
50
THE BALLAD OF SIR GUY.
Ride, ride, Sir Guy, for the night is late!
(Wellaway wind! what song shall be said?)
Six miles more to the castle-gate!
(The flower, the flower o' the world is dead!)
(Wellaway wind! what song shall be said?)
Six miles more to the castle-gate!
(The flower, the flower o' the world is dead!)
O stout Sir Guy rides fiery-fast:
(Wellaway wind! what song shall be said?)
But heard ye the wailing upon the blast?
(The flower, the flower o' the world is dead!)
(Wellaway wind! what song shall be said?)
But heard ye the wailing upon the blast?
(The flower, the flower o' the world is dead!)
Sir Guy draws bridle, but naught's to hear:
(Wellaway wind! what song shall be said?)
Now why does the good steed start and rear?
(The flower, the flower o' the world is dead!)
(Wellaway wind! what song shall be said?)
Now why does the good steed start and rear?
(The flower, the flower o' the world is dead!)
51
Oh! 'twas but the raven croaked anigh!
(Wellaway wind! what song shall be said?)
And a white owl from the wood went by:
(The flower, the flower o' the world is dead!)
(Wellaway wind! what song shall be said?)
And a white owl from the wood went by:
(The flower, the flower o' the world is dead!)
Sir Guy rides on past the gloomy mere:
(Wellaway wind! what song shall be said?)
But wherefore no light in the south chamber?
(The flower, the flower o' the world is dead!)
(Wellaway wind! what song shall be said?)
But wherefore no light in the south chamber?
(The flower, the flower o' the world is dead!)
“Sweet Alice, my wife, waits long for me.”
(Wellaway wind! what song shall be said?)
“By this she hath borne me a son perdie!”
(The flower, the flower o' the world is dead!)
(Wellaway wind! what song shall be said?)
“By this she hath borne me a son perdie!”
(The flower, the flower o' the world is dead!)
He has gain'd the bridge where the three streams meet:
(Wellaway wind! what song shall be said?)
But wherefore so dark is the west turret?
(The flower, the flower o' the world is dead!)
(Wellaway wind! what song shall be said?)
But wherefore so dark is the west turret?
(The flower, the flower o' the world is dead!)
52
He has thunder'd thorough the sleeping town:
(Wellaway wind! what song shall be said?)
Ho warder! and why is the drawbridge down?
(The flower, the flower o' the world is dead!)
(Wellaway wind! what song shall be said?)
Ho warder! and why is the drawbridge down?
(The flower, the flower o' the world is dead!)
Thy Lady Alice bade so, Sir Guy:
(Wellaway wind! what song shall be said?)
“For the sweet Saints may send him ere I die.”
(The flower, the flower o' the world is dead!)
(Wellaway wind! what song shall be said?)
“For the sweet Saints may send him ere I die.”
(The flower, the flower o' the world is dead!)
“Now tell me, where is my wife, Dame Joan?
(Wellaway wind! what song shall be said?)
“And where is the babe I may call my own?”
(The flower, the flower o' the world is dead!)
(Wellaway wind! what song shall be said?)
“And where is the babe I may call my own?”
(The flower, the flower o' the world is dead!)
The old nurse—never a word spake she,
(Wellaway wind! what song shall be said?)
But, “Here is thy son, Sir Guy, for thee!”
(The flower, the flower o' the world is dead!)
(Wellaway wind! what song shall be said?)
But, “Here is thy son, Sir Guy, for thee!”
(The flower, the flower o' the world is dead!)
| Poems by James Rhoades | |