There the castle stood up black with the red sun at its

Like a sullen smouldering pyre with a top that flickers fire When the wind is on its track.

And five hundred archers tall did besiege the castle wall, Toll slowly.

And the castle, seethed in blood, fourteen days and nights had stood

And to-night was near its fall.

Yet thereunto, blind to doom, three months since, a bride

One who proudly trod the floors and softly whispered in the doors,

May good angels bless our home."

Oh, a bride of queenly eyes, with a front of constancies, Toll slowly.

Oh, a bride of cordial mouth where the untired smile of youth

Did light outward its own sighs!

'T was a Duke's fair orphan-girl, and her uncle's ward—

Who betrothed her twelve years old, for the sake of dowry gold,

To his son Lord Leigh the churl.

But what time she had made good all her years of

womanhood,

Toll slowly.

Unto both these Lords of Leigh spake she out right sovranly,

"My will runneth as my blood.

"And while this same blood makes red this same right hand's veins," she said,

Toll slowly.

"T is my will as lady free, not to wed a Lord of Leigh, But Sir Guy of Linteged."

The old Earl he smilëd smooth, then he sighed for wilful youth,

Toll slowly.

"Good my niece, that hand withal looketh somewhat soft and small

For so large a will, in sooth."

She too smiled by that same sign, but her smile was cold and fine,—

Toll slowly.

"Little hand clasps muckle gold, or it were not worth the hold

Of thy son, good uncle mine!"

Then the young lord jerked his breath, and sware thickly in his teeth,

Toll slowly.

"He would wed his own betrothed, an she loved him an she loathed,

Let the life come or the death."

Up she rose with scornful eyes, as her father's child might rise,

Toll slowly.

"Thy hound's blood, my Lord of Leigh, stains thy knightly heel,” quoth she,

"And he moans not where he lies:

"But a woman's will dies hard, in the hall or on the

sward

Toll slowly.

By that grave, my lords, which made me orphaned girl and dowered lady,

I deny you wife and ward!"

Unto each she bowed her head and swept past with lofty tread.

Toll slowly.

Ere the midnight-bell had ceased, in the chapel had the priest

Blessed her, Bride of Linteged.

Fast and fain the bridal train along the night-storm rode

amain :

Toll slowly.

Hard the steeds of lord and serf struck their hoofs out on the turf,

In the pauses of the rain.

Fast and fain the kinsmen's train along the storm pursued amain,

Toll slowly.

Steed on steed-track, dashing off,-thickening, doubling hoof on hoof,

In the pauses of the rain.

And the bridegroom led the flight on his red-roan steed of might,

Toll slowly.

And the bride lay on his arm, still, as if she feared no harm,

Smiling out into the night.

"Dost thou fear?" he said at last: "Nay," she answered him in haste,

Toll slowly.

"Not such death as we could find-only life with one behind.

Ride on fast as fear, ride fast!"

Up the mountain wheeled the steed-girth to ground, and fetlocks spread,

Toll slowly.

Headlong bounds, and rocking flanks,-down he staggered, down the banks,

To the towers of Linteged.

High and low the serfs looked out, red the flambeaus tossed about,

Toll slowly.

In the courtyard rose the cry, "Live the Duchess and Sir Guy!"

But she never heard them shout.

On the steed she dropped her cheek, kissed his mane and kissed his neck,

Toll slowly.

"I had happier died by thee than lived on, a Lady Leigh," Were the first words she did speak.

But a three months' joyaunce lay 'twixt that moment and to-day,

Toll slowly.

When five hundred archers tall stand beside the castle

wall

To recapture Duchess May.

And the castle standeth black with the red sun at its

back,

Toll slowly.

And a fortnight's siege is done, and, except the Duchess,

none

Can misdoubt the coming wrack.

Then the captain, young Lord Leigh, with his eyes so

And thin lips that scarcely sheath the cold white gnashing of his teeth,

Gnashed in smiling, absently,

Cried aloud, "So goes the day, bridegroom fair of Duchess May !

Toll slowly.

Look thy last upon that sun! if thou seest to-morrow's one,

'T will be through a foot of clay.

"Ha, fair bride! dost hear no sound save that moaning of the hound?

Toll slowly.

Thou and I have parted troth, yet I keep my vengeanceoath,

And the other may come round.

"Ha! thy will is brave to dare, and thy new love past

Yet thine old love's faulchion brave is as strong a thing to have,

As the will of lady fair.

"Peck on blindly, netted dove! If a wife's name thee

behove,

Toll slowly.

Thou shalt wear the same to-morrow, ere the grave has hid the sorrow

Of thy last ill-mated love.

"O'er his fixed and silent mouth, thou and I will call back

He shall altar be and priest,-and he will not cry at

least

'I forbid you, I am loth!'