"And found myself outside the Hil "Left alone against my will, "To go now limping as before, "And never hear of that country more!" Alas, alas for Hamelin! XIV. There came into many a burgher's pate As the needle's eye takes a camel in ! Wherever it was men's lot to find him, Should think their records dated duly Where any one pla ng on pipe or tabor To shock with mirth a street so solemn ; They wrote the story on a column, And I must not omit to say That in Transylvania there's a tribe The outlandish ways and dress On which their neighbours lay such stress, Into which they were trepanned Out of Hamelin town in Brunswick land, XV. So, Willy, let you and me be wipers Of scores out with all men-especially pipers: And, whether they pipe us free, from rats or fróm mice, If we 've promised them aught, let us keep our promise. "HOW THEY BROUGHT THE GOOD NEWS FROM GHENT TO AIX." [16-] I. I SPRANG to the stirrup, and Joris, and he; I galloped, Dirck galloped, we galloped all three; "Good speed!" cried the watch, as the gate-bolts undrew ; "Speed!" echoed the wall to us galloping through; II. Not a word to each other; we kept the great pace I turned in my saddle and made its girths tight, III. 'Twas moonset at starting; but while we drew near And from Mecheln church-steeple we heard the half chime, So Joris broke silence with, "Yet there is time!" IV. At Aerschot, up leaped of a sudden the sun, And I saw my stout galloper Roland at last, V. And his low head and crest, just one sharp ear bent back For my voice, and the other pricked out on his track; And one eye's black intelligence,—ever that glance O'er its white edge at me, his own master, askance ! And the thick heavy spume-flakes which aye and anon His fierce lips shook upwards in galloping on. VI. By Hasselt, Dirck groaned; and cried Joris," Stay spur! "Your Roos galloped bravely, the fault's not in her, "We'll remember at Aix"-for one heard the quick wheeze Of her chest, saw the stretched neck and staggering knees, And sunk tail, and horrible heave of the flank, As down on her haunches she shuddered and sank. VII. So we were left galloping, Joris and I, Past Looz and past Tongres, no cloud in the sky; The broad sun above laughed a pitiless laugh, 'Neath our feet broke the brittle bright stubble like chaff; Till over by Dalhem a dome-spire sprang white, And "Gallop," gasped Joris, " for Aix is in sight!" VIII. "How they'll greet us!"—and all in a moment his roan Rolled neck and croup over, lay dead as a stone; And there was my Roland to bear the whole weight IX. Then I cast loose my buffcoat, each holster let fall, Called my Roland his pet-name, my horse without peer; good, Till at length into Aix Roland galloped and stood. X. And all I remember is, friends flocking round As I sate with his head 'twixt my knees on the ground, Was no more than his due who brought good news from Ghent. |