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At length, no fancy but reality

Distracts her. A rushing sound, and the feet
Of one that fled, approaches.-Ellen stood,

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;
It is my life-send it to Eleanor :-

He's dead, and howling after me for blood!

"Take this," he cried; and thrust into her arms
A wet napkin, wrapt about; then rushed
Past, howling. She received into her arms
Pale death, and followed on the wings of fear.

They passed swift through the outer gate; the wretch,

Howling, leaped o'er the wall into the moat,
Stifling in mud. Fair Ellen passed the bridge,

And heard a gloomy voice cry, "Is it done?"

As the deer wounded, Ellen flew over
The pathless plain; as the arrows that fly
By night, destruction flies, and strikes in darkness.
She fled from fear, till at her house arrived.

Her maids await her; on her bed she falls,
That bed of joy where erst her lord hath pressed.
“Ah, woman's fear!" she cried, "ah, cursed duke!
Ah, my dear lord! ah, wretched Eleanor !

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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
Drawn down to earth by spells and wickedness;
My lord was like the opening eyes of Day,
When western winds creep softly o'er the flowers

"But he is darkened; like the summer's noon
Clouded; fall'n like the stately tree, cut down;
The breath of heaven dwelt among his leaves.
O Eleanor, weak woman, filled with woe!"

Thus having spoke, she raisèd up her head,
And saw the bloody napkin by her side,

Which in her arms she brought; and now, tenfold
More terrified, saw it unfold itself.

Her eyes were fixed; the bloody cloth unfolds,
Disclosing to her sight the murdered head

Of her dear lord, all ghastly pale, clotted
With gory blood; it groaned, and thus it spake :

"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 ;
Oh, give not him thy hand, now I am dead.
He seeks thy love; who, coward, in the night,
Hired a villain to bereave my life.”

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

SONG.

WOW sweet I roamed from field to field,
And tasted all the summer's pride,

Till I the Prince of Love beheld

Who in the sunny beams did glide.

He showed me lilies for my hair,
And blushing roses for my brow :
He led me through his gardens fair
Where all his golden pleasures grow.

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
When springing buds unfold;
Oh, why to him was't given,
Whose heart is wintry cold?

His breast is love's all-worshipped tomb,
Where all love's pilgrims come.

Bring me an axe and spade,
Bring me a winding-sheet ;
When I my grave have made,

Let winds and tempests beat :
Then down I'll lie, as cold as clay.
True love doth pass away!

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