At length, no fancy but reality Distracts her. A rushing sound, and the feet Like a dumb statue, froze to stone with fear. The wretch approaches, crying: "The deed is done! Take this, and send it by whom thou wilt send; He's dead, and howling after me for blood! "Take this," he cried; and thrust into her arms They passed swift through the outer gate; the wretch, Howling, leaped o'er the wall into the moat, And heard a gloomy voice cry, "Is it done?" As the deer wounded, Ellen flew over Her maids await her; on her bed she falls, My lord was like a flower upon the brows Of lusty May! Ah, life as frail as flower! O ghastly Death! withdraw thy cruel hand! Seek'st thou that flower to deck thy horrid temples: "My lord was like a star in highest heaven "But he is darkened; like the summer's noon Thus having spoke, she raisèd up her head, Which in her arms she brought; and now, tenfold Her eyes were fixed; the bloody cloth unfolds, Of her dear lord, all ghastly pale, clotted "O Eleanor, behold thy husband's head, Who, sleeping on the stones of yonder tower, Was reft of life by the accursèd duke: A hired villain turned my sleep to death. "O Eleanor, beware the cursèd duke ; She sat with dead cold limbs, stiffened to stone, She took the gory head up in her arms; She kissed the pale lips; she had no tears to shed ; She hugged it to her breast, and groaned her last. D H° SONG. WOW sweet I roamed from field to field, Till I the Prince of Love beheld Who in the sunny beams did glide. He showed me lilies for my hair, With sweet May-dews my wings were wet, And Phoebus fired my vocal rage; He caught me in his silken net, And shut me in his golden cage. He loves to sit and hear me sing, Then laughing, sports and plays with me; Then stretches out my golden wing, And mocks my loss of liberty. SONG. MY silks and fine array, My smiles and languished air, By love are driven away ; And mournful lean Despair Brings me yew to deck my grave: Such end true lovers have. His face is fair as heaven His breast is love's all-worshipped tomb, Bring me an axe and spade, Let winds and tempests beat : |