With tear-drop glittering to a smile, "Hip! Florian, hip! To horse, to horse! Go, bring the palfrey out. 'My Julian's out with all his clan, And, bonny boy, you wis, Lord Julian is a hasty man, Who comes late, comes amiss." Now Florian was a stripling squire, But blush'd to hold her train. The huntress is in her dress of green,- The squire no younger e'er was seen— And had not Ellen stay'd the race, It chanced that up the covert lane, A neighbour knight prick'd on to join And with him must Lord Julian go, In vain he sought, twixt shame and pride, He bit his lip, he wrung his glove, But pretext none could find or frame! It grieves me sore to think, to say, That names so seldom meet with Love, Yet Love wants courage without a name! Straight from the forest's skirt the trees From underneath its leafy screen, And from the twilight shade, You pass at once into a green, A green and lightsome glade. And there Lord Julian sate on steed; Stood knight and squire, and menial train ; When up the alley green, Sir Hugh And mute, without a word, did he Fall in behind his lord. Lord Julian turn'd his steed half round."What! doth not Alice deign To accept your loving convoy, knight? With stifled tones the knight replied, 66 Nay, let the hunt proceed!— The Lady's message that I bear, I guess would scantly please your ear, "You sent betimes. Not yet unbarr'd I found the middle door ; Two stirrers only met my eyes, Fair Alice, and one more "I came unlook'd for: and, it seem'd, In an unwelcome hour; And found the daughter of Du Clos Within the lattic'd bower. "But hush! the rest may wait. If lost, No great loss, I divine; And idle words will better suit A fair maid's lips than mine." "God's wrath! speak out, man," Julian cried, O'ermaster'd by the sudden smart ;— And feigning wrath, sharp, blunt, and rude, The knight his subtle shift pursued.— "Scowl not at me; command my skill, To lure your hawk back, if you will, But not a woman's heart. "Go! (said she) tell him,-slow is sure; I follow here a stronger lure, "The game, pardie, was full in sight, That then did, if I saw aright, The fair dame's eyes engage; For turning, as I took my ways, The last word of the traitor knight A youth, that ill his steed can guide ; As answering to a voice, That seems at once to laugh and chide- With sudden bound, beyond the boy, That regal front! those cheeks aglow! Thou lovely child of old Du Clos ! Dark as a dream Lord Julian stood, With fatal aim, and frantic force, The shaft was hurl'd! —a lifeless corse, Fair Alice from her vaulting horse, Lies bleeding on the glade. THE KNIGHT'S TOMB. WHERE is the grave of Sir Arthur O'Kellyn? |