To the belfry, one by one, went the ringers from the sun,
And the oldest ringer said, 'Ours is music for the Dead,
When the Rebecks are all done.'

Six abeles i' the churchyard grow on the northside in a row,
And the shadows of their tops rock across the little slopes

On the south side and the west, a small river runs in haste,
And between the river flowing and the fair green trees a growing

On the east I sate that day, up against a willow gray:

Through the rain of willow-branches, I could see the low hill-ranges,

There I sate beneath the tree, and the bell tolled solemnly,
While the trees and river's voices flowed between the solemn noises,-
Yet death seemed more loud to me.

There, I read this ancient rhyme, while the bell did all the time
And the solemn knell fell in with the tale of life and sin,

THE RHYME.

Broad the forest stood (I read) on the hills of Linteged

And three hundred years had stood mute adown each hoary wood,

And the little birds sang east, and the little birds sang west,
And but little thought was theirs, of the silent antique years,

Down the sun dropt large and red, on the towers of Linteged,-
Lance and spear upon the height, bristling strange in fiery light,
While the castle stood in shade.

There, the castle stood up black, with the red sun at its back,—
Like a sullen smouldering pyre, with a top that flickers fire,
When the wind is on its track.

Toll slowly.

And five hundred archers tall did besiege the castle wall,
And castle, seethed in blood, fourteen days and nights had stood,
And to-night was near its fall

Toll slowly.

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

Toll slowly.

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,-
Oh, a bride of cordial mouth,-where the untired smile of youth
Did light outward its own sighs.

Toll slowly.

'Twas a Duke's fair orphan-girl, and her uncle's ward, the Earl Who betrothed her, twelve years old, for the sake of dowry gold, To his son Lord Leigh, the churl.

Toll slowly,

But what time she had made good all her years of womanhood,
Unto both those Lords of Leigh, spake she out right sovranly,
My will runneth as my blood.

Toll slowly.

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

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

--

Toll slowly.

The old Earl he smiled 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, and she loathed, Let the life come or the death.

Toll slowly.

Up she rose with scornful eyes, as her father's child might rise, "Thy hound's blood, my Lord of Leigh, stains thy knightly heel,' quoth she, 'And he moans not where he lies,

Toll slowly.

'But a woman's will dies hard, in the hall or on the sward!-
'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.
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 roce amain:
Hard the steeds of lord and serf struck their hoofs out on the turf,

In the pauses of the rain.

Toll slowly.

Toll slowly.

Fast and fain the kinsmen's train along the storm pursued amain-
Steed on steed-track, dashing off-thickening, doubling hoof on hoof,
In the pauses of the rain.

Toll slowly.

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,— Headlong bounds, and rocking flanks,-down he staggered-down the banks, To the towers of Linteged.

Toll slowly.

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 dropt 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,
When five hundred archers tall stand beside the castle wall,

Toll slowly.

To recapture Duchess May.

Toll slowly.

And the castle standeth black, with the red sun at its back,-
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 gray of blee,

Toll slowly.

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,

"Twill 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 vengeance oath,

And the other may come round.

Ha! thy will is brave to dare, and thy new love past compare,— Yet thine old love's falchion brave is as strong a thing to have,

Toll slowly.

As the will of lady fair.

Peck on blindly, netted dove!—if a wife's name thee behove,
Thou shalt wear the same to-morrow, ere the grave has hid the sorrow.
Of thy last ill-mated love.

Toll slowly

Toll slowly

'O'er his fixed and silent mouth, thou and I will call back troth, He shall altar be and priest,—and he will not cry at least

I forbid you, I am loath!'

'I will wring my fingers pale in the gauntlet of my mail, Little hand and muckle gold' close shall lie within my hold, As the sword did to prevail.'

O the little birds sang east, and the little birds sang west,
O, and laughed the Duchess May, and her soul did put away
All his boasting, for a jest.

Toll slowl

Toll slowl

In her chamber did she sit, laughing low to think of it,-
⚫Tower is strong and will is free-thou canst boast, my Lord of Leigh,
But thou boasteth little wit.'

Toll slowly.

In her tire-glass gazed she, and she blushed right womanly.
She blushed half from her disdain-half, her beauty was so plain,
-'Oath for oath, my Lord of Leigh!'

Toll slowly.

Straight she called her maidens in- Since ye gave me blame herein,

Toll slowly.

That a bridal such as mine should lack gauds to make it fine,
Come and shrive me from that sin.

It is three months gone to-day, since I gave mine hand away.
Bring the gold and bring the gem, we will keep bride state in them,
While we keep the foe at bay.

Toll slowly.

On your arms I loose my hair ;-comb it smooth and crown it fair,

Toll slowly.

I would look in purple-pall from this lattice down the wall,
And throw scorn to one that's there!'

O, the little birds sang east, and the little birds sang west,
On the tower the castle's lord leant in silence on his sword,
With an anguish in his breast.

Toll slowly.

Toll slowly.

With a spirit-laden weight, did he lean down passionate.
They have almost sapped the wall,-they will enter there withal,
With no knocking at the gate.

Then the sword he leant upon, shivered-snapped upon the stone,

'Sword,' he thought, with inward laugh, 'ill thou servest for a staff When thy nobler use is done!

Toll slowly.

Sword, thy nobler use is done !-tower is lost, and shame begun ;

Toll slowly.

If we met them in the breach, hilt to hilt or speech to speech,
We should die there, each for one.

'If we met them at the wall, we should singly, vainly fall,But if I die here alone,-then I die, who am but one,

Toll slowly.

And die nobly for them all.

'Five true friends lie for my sake-in the moat and in the brake,—

Toll slowly.

Thirteen warriors lie at rest, with a black wound in the breast,

And not one of these will wake.

And no more of this shall be !-heart-blood weighs too heavily-
And I could not sleep in grave, with the faithful and the brave

Toll slowly.

Heaped around and over me.

'Since young Clare a mother hath, and young Ralph a plighted faith,

Toll slowly.

Since my pale young sister's cheeks blush like rose when Ronald speaks,
Albeit never a word she saith-

'These shall never die for me-life-blood falls too heavily: And if I die here apart,-o'er my dead and silent heart

Toll slowly.

They shall pass out safe and free.

When the foe hath heard it said-' Death holds Guy of Linteged,'—

Toll slowly.

'That new corse new peace shall bring; and a blessed, blessed thing, Shall the stone be at its head.

Then my friends shall pass out free, and shall bear my memory,

Toll slowly.

Then my foes shall sleek their pride, soothing fair my widowed bride
Whose sole sin was love of me.

'With their words all smooth and sweet, they will front her and entreat And their purple pall will spread underneath her fainting head

Toll slowly.

While her tears drop over it.