POETRY. 981 



False bard ! and slanderous song ! Were such thy though!* 



Of woman, when thy youthful lays were heard 



In Heilyn's hall ? . . But at that name his heart 



Leaped, and his cheek with sudden flush was fired. 



In Heilyn's hall, quoth he, I learned the song. 



There was a maid, who dwelt among the hills 



Of Arvon, and to one of humljlcr birth 



Had pledged her troth ; not rashly, nor beguiletl, . i 



They had been playmates in their infancy, 



And she in all his thoughts had borne a part, 



And all his joys. The moon and all th« stars 



Witnessed their mutual vows ; and lor her sake 



The song was framed ; for in the face of day 



She broke them . . But her name ? Goervyl cried. 



Qnoth he, The poet loved her still too well. 



To couple it with shame. 



O fate unjust 

 Of woman-kind ! she cried, our virtues bloom. 

 Like violets, in shade and solitude, 

 While evil eyes hunt all our failings out, 

 For evil tongues to bruit abroad in jest, 

 And song of obloquy ! . . I kaew a maid, 

 And she too dwelt in Arvon, and she too 

 Loved one of lowly birth, who ill repaid 

 Her spotless faith ; for he to ill reports, 

 And tales of falsehood cunningly devised. 

 Lent a light ear, and to his rival left 

 The loathing maid. The wedding-day arrived, 

 The harpers and the gleemen, far and near, 

 Came to the wedding-feast ; the wedding guests 

 Were come, the altar dressed, the bridemaids met; 

 The father, and the bridegroom and the priest 

 Wait for the bride. But she the while did off 

 Her bridal robes, and dipt her golden locks, 

 And put on boy's attire, through wood and wild 

 To seek her own true love ; and over-sea, 

 Forsaking all for him, she followed him. 

 Nor hoping nor deserving fate so fair ; 

 And at his side she stood, and heard him wrong 

 Her faith with slanderous tales ; and his dull eye, 

 As it had learnt his heart's forgetfulness. 

 Knew not the trembling one, who even now 

 Yearns to forgive him all ! 



He turned, he knew 

 The blue-cycd maid, who fell upon his breast. ' 



3 R3 



