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"It shall be as thou wishest," said the dame: "All cates and dainties shall be stored there Quickly on this feast-night: by the tambour frame

Her own lute thou wilt see: no time to spare,
For I am slow and feeble, and scarce dare
On such a catering trust my dizzy head. 177
Wait here, my child, with patience; kneel
in prayer

The while. Ah! thou must needs the lady wed,

Or may I never leave my grave among the dead."

180

So saying, she hobbled off with busy fear. The lover's endless minutes slowly pass'd; The dame return'd, and whisper'd in his ear

1 bell rung when one is dying 2 lamenting 3 Merlin the Magician, of Arthurian romance, was deceived and bespelled by Vivien, his mistress, cf. Tennyson's Merlin and Vivien. 4 delicacies

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Thy beauty's shield, heart-shaped and vermeil dyed?

Ah, silver shrine, here will I take my rest After so many hours of toil and quest,

A famished pilgrim,-sav'd by miracle. 339 Though I have found, I will not rob thy nest Saving of thy sweet self; if thou think'st well

To trust, fair Madeline, to no rude infidel.

"Hark! 'tis an elfin-storm from fairy land, Of haggard seeming, but a boon indeed: 344 Arise arise! the morning is at hand; The bloated wassailers will never heed: Let us away, my love, with happy speed; There are no ears to hear, or eyes to see, Drown'd all in Rhenish and the sleepy mead: Awake! arise! my love, and fearless be, 350 For o'er the southern moors I have a home for thee."

She hurried at his words, beset with fears, For there were sleeping dragons all around, At glaring watch, perhaps, with ready

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In all the house was heard no human sound. A chain-drooped lamp was flickering by each door;

The arras, rich with horseman, hawk, and hound, 358 Flutter'd in the besieging wind's uproar; And the long carpets rose along the gusty floor.

They glide, like phantoms, into the wide hall;

Like phantoms, to the iron porch they glide;
Where lay the Porter, in uneasy sprawl,
With a huge empty flagon by his side:
The wakeful bloodhound rose, and shook
his hide,

365

:

But his sagacious eye an inmate owns:
By one, and one, the bolts full easy slide:
The chains lie silent on the footworn
stones;-

The key turns, and the door upon its hinges groans.

And they are gone: ay, ages long ago 370
These lovers fled away into the storm.
That night the Baron dreamt of many a woe,
And all his warrior-guests, with shade and
form

Of witch, and demon, and large coffin-worm,
Were long be-nightmar'd. Angela the old

Died palsy-twitch'd, with meagre face deform;

376 The Beadsman, after thousand avès told, For aye unsought for slept among his ashes cold.

WALTER SAVAGE LANDOR (1775-1864)

ÆSOP AND RHODOPÈ

SECOND CONVERSATION

Esop. And so, our fellow-slaves are given to contention on the score of dignity?

Rhodope. I do not believe they are much addicted to contention: for, whenever the good Xanthus hears a signal of such misbehaviour, he either brings a scourge into the midst of them or sends our lady to scold them smartly for it.

Esop. Admirable evidence against their propensity!

Rhodope. I will not have you find them out so, nor laugh at them.

Esop. Seeing that the good Xanthus and our lady are equally fond of thee, and always visit thee both together, the girls, however envious, cannot well or safely be arrogant, but must of necessity yield the first place to thee.

Rhodope. They indeed are observant of the kindness thus bestowed upon me: yet they afflict me by taunting me continually with what I am unable to deny.

Esop. If it is true, it ought little to trouble thee; if untrue, less. I know, for I have looked into nothing else of late, no evil can thy heart have admitted: a sigh of thine before the gods would remove the heaviest that could fall on it. Pray tell me what it may be. Come, be courageous; be cheerful. I can easily pardon a smile if thou impleadest me of curiosity.

Rhodope. They remark to me that enemies or robbers took them forcibly from their parents . . . and that . . . and that . . .

Esop. Likely enough: what then? Why desist from speaking? why cover thy face with thy hair and and hands? Rhodope! Rhodope! dost thou weep moreover?

Rhodope. It is so sure!
Æsop. Was the fault thine?
Rhodopè. O that it were! .

any.

if there was

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