"If I come drest like a village maid, I am but as my fortunes are: I am a beggar born," she said, "And not the Lady Clare." Play me no tricks," said Lord Ronald, "For I am yours in word and in deed. Play me no tricks," said Lord Ronald, "Your riddle is hard to read." O and proudly stood she up! Her heart within her did not fail: She look'd into Lord Ronald's eyes, And told him all her nurse's tale. To 75 80 He laugh'd a laugh of merry scorn: He turn'd and kiss'd her where she stood: If you are not the heiress born, And I," said he, "the next in blood "If you are not the heiress born, And I," said he, "the lawful heir, We two will wed to-morrow morn, And you shall still be Lady Clare." 85 THE LORD OF BURLEIGH. In her ear he whispers gaily, "If my heart by signs can tell, Maiden, I have watch'd thee daily, And I think thou lov'st me well." 5 She replies, in accents fainter, 10 "There is none I love like thee." And they leave her father's roof. "I can make no marriage present; Little can I give my wife. Love will make our cottage pleasant, And I love thee more than life." They by parks and lodges going See the lordly castles stand: Summer woods, about them blowing, Made a murmur in the land. Lay betwixt his home and hers; Parks and order'd gardens great, Ancient homes of lord and lady, Built for pleasure and for state. All he shows her makes him dearer : Evermore she seems to gaze On that cottage growing nearer, 20 25 30 35 Where they twain will spend their days, O but she will love him truly! He shall have a cheerful home; She will order all things duly, When beneath his roof they come. 40 Thus her heart rejoices greatly, Till a gateway she discerns With armorial bearings stately, And beneath the gate she turns ; Sees a mansion more majestic Than all those she saw before: 45 50 Many a gallant gay domestic And, while now she wonders blindly, 5 Proudly turns he round and kindly, 60 Not a lord in all the county Is so great a lord as he. All at once the colour flushes Her sweet face from brow to chin: 65 Then her countenance all over 70 And he cheer'd her soul with love. Tho' at times her spirits sank: And a gentle consort made he, And her gentle mind was such That she grew a noble lady, And the people loved her much. But a trouble weigh'd upon her, And perplex'd her, night and morn, With the burthen of an honour Unto which she was not born. Faint she grew, and ever fainter, 75 80 As she murmur'd, "Oh, that he Were once more that landscape-painter, Which did win my heart from me!” So she droop'd and droop'd before him,& Fading slowly from his side: Three fair children first she bore him, Then before her time she died. Weeping, weeping late and early, Walking up and pacing down, Deeply mourn'd the Lord of Burleigh, Burleigh-house by Stamford-town. And he came to look upon her, 90 And he look'd at her and said, "Bring the dress and put it on her, 95 That she wore when she was wed." Then her people, softly treading, Bore to earth her body, drest In the dress that she was wed in, That her spirit might have rest. 100 |