Out flew the web and floated wide; IV In the stormy east-wind straining, Over tower'd Camelot; Down she came and found a boat And round about the prow she wrote And down the river's dim expanse Did she look to Camelot. And at the closing of the day She loosed the chain, and down she lay; The broad stream bore her far away, The Lady of Shalott. Lying, robed in snowy white That loosely flew to left and right- She floated down to Camelot. Heard a carol, mournful, holy, Under tower and balcony, Out upon the wharfs they came, Who is this? and what is here? And they cross'd themselves for fear, 66 Alfred, Lord Tennyson T THOMAS THE RHYMER RUE Thomas lay on Huntlie bank; And there he saw a ladye bright Come riding down by the Eildon Tree. Her skirt was o' the grass-green silk, At ilka tett o' her horse's mane, True Thomas he pu'd aff his cap, "O no, O no, Thomas," she said, "That name does not belang to me; I'm but the Queen o' fair Elfland, That am hither come to visit thee. "Harp and carp, Thomas," she said; Harp and carp along wi' me; 66 And if ye dare to kiss my lips "Betide me weal, betide me woe, "Now ye maun go wi' me," she said, And ye maun serve me seven years, She's mounted on her milk-white steed, O they rade on, and farther on, The steed gaed swifter than the wind; "Light down, light down now, true Thomas, And I will show you ferlies three. "O see ye not yon narrow road, So thick beset wi' thorns and briers? "And see ye not yon braid, braid road, "And see ye not yon bonny road That winds about the fernie brae? That is the Road to fair Elfland, Where you and I this night maun gae. "But, Thomas, ye sall haud your tongue, Whatever ye may hear or see; For speak ye word in Elflyn-land, Ye'll ne'er win back to your ain countrie." O, they rade on, and farther on, And they waded rivers abune the knee; It was mirk, mirk night, there was nae starlight, Syne they came to a garden green, It will give thee the tongue that can never lee." "My tongue is my ain," true Thomas he said; "A gudely gift ye wad gie to me! I neither dought to buy or sell At fair or tryst where I might be. "I dought neither speak to prince or peer, Nor ask of grace from fair ladye!" "Now haud thy peace, Thomas," she said, For as I say, so must it be." 66 He has gotten a coat of the even cloth, Anonymous LA BELLE DAME SANS MERCI WHAT can ail thee, knight-at-arms, The sedge has wither'd from the lake, O what can ail thee, knight-at-arms, The squirrel's granary is full, And the harvest's done. I see a lily on thy brow With anguish moist and fever dew, Fast withereth too. I met a lady in the meads. Full beautiful a faery's child, Her hair was long, her foot was light, And her eyes were wild. |