The Defence of Guenevere and Other Poems Part 25

Father John, you have got a son, Seven feet high when his helm is on Pennon of Roland, banner of John, Star of Mary, march well on.

SIR GILES' WAR-SONG

_Ho! is there any will ride with me, Sir Giles, le bon des barrieres?_

The clink of arms is good to hear, The flap of pennons fair to see; _Ho! is there any will ride with me, Sir Giles, le bon des barrieres?_

The leopards and lilies are fair to see; St. George Guienne! right good to hear: _Ho! is there any will ride with me, Sir Giles, le bon des barrieres?_

I stood by the barrier, My coat being blazon'd fair to see; _Ho! is there any will ride with me, Sir Giles, le bon des barrieres?_

Clisson put out his head to see, And lifted his basnet up to hear; I pull'd him through the bars to ME, _Sir Giles; le bon des barrieres._

NEAR AVALON

A s.h.i.+p with s.h.i.+elds before the sun, Six maidens round the mast, A red-gold crown on every one, A green gown on the last.

The fluttering green banners there Are wrought with ladies' heads most fair, And a portraiture of Guenevere The middle of each sail doth bear.

A s.h.i.+p which sails before the wind, And round the helm six knights, Their heaumes are on, whereby, half blind, They pa.s.s by many sights.

The tatter'd scarlet banners there, Right soon will leave the spear-heads bare.

Those six knights sorrowfully bear, In all their heaumes some yellow hair.

PRAISE OF MY LADY

My lady seems of ivory Forehead, straight nose, and cheeks that be Hollow'd a little mournfully.

_Beata mea Domina!_

Her forehead, overshadow'd much By bows of hair, has a wave such As G.o.d was good to make for me.

_Beata mea Domina!_

Not greatly long my lady's hair, Nor yet with yellow colour fair, But thick and crisped wonderfully: _Beata mea Domina!_

Heavy to make the pale face sad, And dark, but dead as though it had Been forged by G.o.d most wonderfully _Beata mea Domina!_

Of some strange metal, thread by thread, To stand out from my lady's head, Not moving much to tangle me.

_Beata mea Domina!_

Beneath her brows the lids fall slow.

The lashes a clear shadow throw Where I would wish my lips to be.

_Beata mea Domina!_

Her great eyes, standing far apart, Draw up some memory from her heart, And gaze out very mournfully; _Beata mea Domina!_

So beautiful and kind they are, But most times looking out afar, Waiting for something, not for me.

_Beata mea Domina!_

I wonder if the lashes long Are those that do her bright eyes wrong, For always half tears seem to be _Beata mea Domina!_

Lurking below the underlid, Darkening the place where they lie hid: If they should rise and flow for me!

_Beata mea Domina!_

Her full lips being made to kiss, Curl'd up and pensive each one is; This makes me faint to stand and see.

_Beata mea Domina!_

Her lips are not contented now, Because the hours pa.s.s so slow Towards a sweet time: (pray for me), _Beata mea Domina!_

Nay, hold thy peace! for who can tell?

But this at least I know full well, Her lips are parted longingly, _Beata mea Domina!_

So pa.s.sionate and swift to move, To pluck at any flying love, That I grow faint to stand and see.

_Beata mea Domina_!

Yea! there beneath them is her chin, So fine and round, it were a sin To feel no weaker when I see _Beata mea Domina_!

G.o.d's dealings; for with so much care And troublous, faint lines wrought in there, He finishes her face for me.

_Beata mea Domina_!

Of her long neck what shall I say?

What things about her body's sway, Like a knight's pennon or slim tree _Beata mea Domina_!

Set gently waving in the wind; Or her long hands that I may find On some day sweet to move o'er me?

_Beata mea Domina!_

G.o.d pity me though, if I miss'd The telling, how along her wrist The veins creep, dying languidly _Beata mea Domina!_

Inside her tender palm and thin.

Now give me pardon, dear, wherein My voice is weak and vexes thee.

_Beata mea Domina!_

All men that see her any time, I charge you straightly in this rhyme, What, and wherever you may be, _Beata mea Domina!_

To kneel before her; as for me, I choke and grow quite faint to see My lady moving graciously.

_Beata mea Domina!_