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lady Geraldine espies, 400

      And gave such welcome to the same,

      As might beseem so bright a dame!

      But when he heard the lady’s tale,

      And when she told her father’s name,

      Why waxed Sir Leoline so pale,

      Murmuring o’er the name again,

      Lord Roland de Vaux of Tryermaine?

      Alas! they had been friends in youth;

      But whispering tongues can poison truth;

      And constancy lives in realms above; 410

      And life is thorny; and youth is vain;

      And to be wroth with one we love

      Doth work like madness in the brain.

      And thus it chanced, as I divine,

      With Roland and Sir Leoline.

      Each spake words of high disdain

      And insult to his heart’s best brother:

      They parted — ne’er to meet again!

      But never either found another

      To free the hollow heart from paining — 420

      They stood aloof, the scars remaining,

      Like cliffs which had been rent asunder;

      A dreary sea now flows between; —

      But neither heat, nor frost, nor thunder,

      Shall wholly do away, I ween,

      The marks of that which once hath been.

      Sir Leoline, a moment’s space,

      Stood gazing on the damsel’s face:

      And the youthful Lord of Tryermaine

      Came back upon his heart again. 430

      O then the Baron forgot his age,

      His noble heart swelled high with rage;

      He swore by the wounds in Jesu’s side

      He would proclaim it far and wide,

      With trump and solemn heraldry,

      That they, who thus had wronged the dame,

      Were base as spotted infamy!

      “And if they dare deny the same,

      My herald shall appoint a week,

      And let the recreant traitors seek 440

      My tourney court — that there and then

      I may dislodge their reptile souls

      From the bodies and forms of men!”

      He spake: his eye in lighning rolls!

      For the lady was ruthlessly seized; and he kenned

      In the beautiful lady the child of his friend!

      And now the tears were on his face,

      And fondly in his arms he took

      Fair Geraldine, who met the embrace,

      Prolonging it with joyous look. 450

      Which when she viewed, a vision fell

      Upon the soul of Christabel,

      The vision of fear, the touch and pain!

      She shrunk and shuddered, and saw again —

      (Ah, woe is me! Was it for thee,

      Thou gentle maid! such sights to see?)

      Again she saw that bosom old,

      Again she felt that bosom cold,

      And drew in her breath with a hissing sound:

      Whereat the Knight turned wildly round, 460

      And nothing saw, but his own sweet maid

      With eyes upraised, as one that prayed.

      The touch, the sight, had passed away,

      And in its stead that vision blest,

      Which comforted her after-rest

      While in the lady’s arms she lay,

      Had put a rapture in her breast,

      And on her lips and o’er her eyes

      Spread smiles like light!

       With new surprise,

      “What ails then my belove’d child?” 470

      The Baron said — His daughter mild

      Made answer, “All will yet be well!”

      I ween, she had no power to tell

      Aught else: so mighty was the spell.

      Yet he, who saw this Geraldine,

      Had deemed her sure a thing divine:

      Such sorrow with such grace she blended,

      As if she feared she had offended

      Sweet Christabel, that gentle maid!

      And with such lowly tones she prayed 480

      She might be sent without delay

      Home to her father’s mansion.

       “Nay!

      Nay, by my soul!” said Leoline.

      “Ho! Bracy the bard, the charge be thine!

      Go thou, with music sweet and loud,

      And take two steeds with trappings proud,

      And take the youth whom thou lov’st best

      To bear thy harp, and learn thy song,

      And clothe you both in solemn vest,

      And over the mountains haste along, 490

      Lest wandering folk, that are abroad,

      Detain you on the valley road.

      And when he has crossed the Irthing flood,

      My merry bard! he hastes, he hastes

      Up Knorren Moor, through Halegarth Wood,

      And reaches soon that castle good

      Which stands and threatens Scotland’s wastes.”

      “Bard Bracy! bard Bracy! your horses are fleet,

      Ye must ride up the hall, your music so sweet,

      More loud than your horses’ echoing feet! 500

      And loud and loud to Lord Roland call,

      Thy daughter is safe in Langdale hall!

      Thy beautiful daughter is safe and free —

      Sir Leoline greets thee thus through me!

      He bids thee come without delay

      With all thy numerous array

      And take thy lovely daughter home:

      And he will meet thee on the way

      With all his numerous array

      White with their panting palfreys’ foam: 510

      And, by mine honour! I will say,

      That I repent me of the day

      When I spake words of fierce disdain

      To Roland de Vaux of Tryermaine! —

       — For since that evil hour hath flown,

      Many a summer’s sun hath shone;

      Yet ne’er found I a friend again

      Like Roland de Vaux of Tryermaine.”

      The lady fell, and clasped his knees,

      Her face upraised, her eyes o’erflowing; 520

      And Bracy replied,

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