Sixteen short howls, not over loud; Is the night chilly and dark? The lovely lady, Christabel, Whom her father loves so well, What makes her in the wood so late, A furlong from the castle gate? And she in the midnight wood will pray She stole along, she nothing spoke, The lady sprang up suddenly, The lovely lady, Christabel ! It moaned as near, as near can be, Of the huge, broad-breasted, old oak tree. The night is chill; the forest bare; Hush, beating heart of Christabel ! Jesu, Maria, shield her well! She folded her arms beneath her cloak, There she sees a damsel bright, That shadowy in the moonlight shone: The gems entangled in her hair. I guess, 'twas frightful there to see A lady so richly clad as she Beautiful exceedingly! Mary mother, save me now! (Said Christabel,) And who art thou? The lady strange made answer meet, I scarce can speak for weariness: Stretch forth thy hand, and have no fear! My sire is of a noble line, And my name is Geraldine: Five warriors seized me yestermorn, Me, even me, a maid forlorn : They choked my cries with force and fright, And tied me on a palfrey white. The palfrey was as fleet as wind, And they rode furiously behind. They spurred amain, their steeds were white: And once we crossed the shade of night. As sure as Heaven shall rescue me, I have no thought what men they be; (For I have lain entranced I wis) Some muttered words his comrades spoke: I thought I heard, some minutes past, Stretch forth thy hand (thus ended she), Then Christabel stretched forth her hand O well, bright dame! may you command And gladly our stout chivalry Will he send forth and friends withal To guide and guard you safe and free She rose and forth with steps they passed Sir Leoline is weak in health, But we will move as if in stealth, And I beseech your courtesy, This night, to share your couch with me They crossed the moat, and Christabel All in the middle of the gate; The gate that was ironed within and without, And Christabel with might and main Over the threshold of the gate: And moved, as she were not in pain. · So free from danger, free from fear, To the Lady by her side; Praise we the Virgin all divine Who hath rescued thee from thy distress! Alas, alas! said Geraldine, I cannot speak for weariness. So free from danger, free from fear, They crossed the court: right glad they were. Outside her kennel the mastiff old Lay fast asleep, in moonshine cold. |