Again she saw that bosom old,

Again she felt that bosom cold,

And drew in her breath with a hissing sound: Whereat the Knight turn'd wildly round, And nothing saw, but his own sweet maid With eyes uprais'd, as one that pray'd.

The touch, the sight, had pass'd 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 beloved child?"
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 deem'd her sure a thing divine,
Such sorrow with such grace she blended,
As if she fear'd, she had offended
Sweet Christabel, that gentle maid!
And with such lowly tones she pray'd,

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,

"Lest wand'ring folk, that are abroad,

"Detain you on the valley road.

"And when he has cross'd the Irthing flood, 'My merry bard! he hastes, he hastes

Up Knorren Moor, thro' 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!

"And loud and loud to Lord Roland call,

66

Thy daughter is safe in Langdale hall!

Thy beautiful daughter is safe and free

"Sir Leoline greets thee thus thro' 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,

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 have shone ; "Yet ne'er found I a friend again

"Like Roland de Vaux of Tryermaine."

The lady fell, and clasped his knees,
Her face uprais'd, her eyes o'erflowing;
And Bracy replied, with faltering voice,
His gracious hail on all bestowing:-
Thy words, thou sire of Christabel,
Are sweeter than my harp can tell ;

Yet might I gain a boon of thee,

This day my journey should not be,

So strange a dream hath come to me :
That I had vow'd with music loud

To clear yon wood from thing unblest,
Warn'd by a vision in my rest!

For in my sleep I saw that dove,

That gentle bird, whom thou dost love,

And call'st by thy own daughter's name

Sir Leoline! I saw the same,

Fluttering, and uttering fearful moan,

Among the green herbs in the forest alone.

Which when I saw and when I heard,

I wonder❜d what might ail the bird :

For nothing near it could I see,

Save the grass and green herbs underneath the

old tree.

And in my dream, methought, I went

To search out what might there be found ;