LEN0R2. 



45 



" O mother, mother, wliat is hell ? 



mother, what salvation ? 

 Without my William all is hell, 

 And with him but salvation. 

 Go out, for ever out, my light. 



Die down, die down in dark and 



night ; 

 Without him here for ever 

 Saved can I be never."— 



Despair in blood and brain had will, 

 Madness her senses routed ; 



1 he maiden raved and raged until 

 God's providence she doubted ; 



She beat her breast, her hands she 



wrung. 

 Till Eve her darkening shadows flung, 

 And till the gold stars sweetly 

 Came into heaven fleetly. 



When came a sound of hoofs, trap, 



trap. 

 Now rising and now sinking ; 

 Below a knight was heard to rap, 

 His sword and armour clinking ; 

 And hark, and hark, the bell doth 



ring 

 All loosely, lightly, kling-ling-ling ; 

 And then were echoed straightway 

 These words beside the gateway : 



"Hollo, hollo ! get up my child, 



O wakest thou or sleepest ? 



Maiden, how are thy thoughts be- 

 guiled ? 



laughest thou or weepest ? " 



"William, is't thou ? —So late by 

 night? — 



In tears I've watched though dark 

 and light ; 



My heart doth ache with yearning, 



Love, why so long returning ? " 



" I've ridden since the dawning light, 

 Me well my steed doth carry ; 

 Quick with me mount, though 'tis 



midnight, 

 There is no time to tarry." 

 " Go not ; come in, come, William 



mine, 

 The wind doth through the hawthorn 



whine ; 

 Come to my breast to warm thee. 

 Beloved, here nought can harm thee." 



" Though th' hawthorn whines the 



breeze indeed, 

 Tree, dear, the night-wind's chiding; 

 Clinketh the spear; paweth the steed; 

 For me is no abiding. 

 Come, quick, and up behind me 



spring, 



And let thine aims around me cling, 

 A hundred miles we number 

 Ere on bride-bed we slumber. 



" Wilt thou a hundi'ed miles ere 



mom 

 Me to my bride-bed carry ? 

 Night's mid hour fi-om yon clock is 



borne. 

 This is no time to marry." 

 " Look here ! Look there ! The moon 



shines bright, 

 We and the dead ride fast to-night ; 

 To bride-bed thou art taken 

 Ere dawn's sweet light doth waken." 



" Where is my nuptial-couch, say 



where ? 

 Of marriage-guests what number ?" 

 "Six boards and two long planks, 



my fairj 

 Will form thy bed of slumber." 

 "Hast room for me ? — " Eor thee and 



me, 

 Come, love, mount quick, not tardy 



be; 

 The guests do wait to meet us 

 With festal song to greet us." 



Nimbly she on the good steed springs. 



No more the lady lingers ; 



Around her trae knight's breast she 



clings 

 With clasping lily fingers ; 

 Hun-ah, hurrah, the steed doth 



champ, 

 And galloping hoofs sound tramp, 



tramp, tramp, 

 For knight and barb on bounded 

 Till road and rock resounded. 



On left and right i'the lonely night 

 1 hey passed the mountain ridges ; 

 And wood and field flew out of sight. 

 Behind them rang the bridges. 

 "Dost fear, my love ? — the moon 



shines bright ; 

 Hurrah, the dead ride fast to-night ; 

 Dost feai' the dead, my darling ?" 

 " No. - \\ hy the dead, my darling ?" 



What voiceful sounds are borne along? 



Is this place raven-haunted ? 



The slow bell list ! List the dirge 



song ! 

 " Dust unto dust " is chaunted 

 A mouraful funeral band draws near 

 With coffin and with dark-draped 



bier ; 

 With voices sad and lowly 

 They sing a requiem holy. 



