ROMANCE OF BRITOMARTE 



I have read her romances of dame and 

 knight — 

 She was my princess, my pride, my pet. 

 There was then this proverb us twain between, 

 For the glory of God and of GwendoHne. 



She had grown to a maiden wonderful fair, 



But for years I had scarcely seen her face. 

 Now, with troopers Holdsworth, Huntly and 

 Clare, 



Old Miles kept guard at St. Hubert's-chase, 

 And the chatelaine was a Mistress Ruth, 



Sir Hugh's half-sister, an ancient dame. 

 But a mettlesome soul had she forsooth. 



As she show'd when the time of her trial 

 came. 

 I bore despatches to Miles and to her, 

 To warn them against the bands of Kerr. 



And mine would have been a perilous ride 

 With the rebel horsemen — we knew not 

 where 



They were scatter'd over that country side, — 

 If it had not been for my brave brown 



mare — 



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