The moon is behind, and at the full; The lovely lady, Christabel, A furlong from the castle gate? And she in the midnight wood will pray She stole along, she nothing spoke, The sighs she heaved were soft and low, And naught was green upon the oak, But moss and rarest mistletoe : She kneels beneath the huge oak tree, And in silence prayeth she. The lady sprang up suddenly, The lovely lady, Christabel ! The night is chill; the forest bare; Is it the wind that moaneth bleak? Hush, beating heart of Christabel! She folded her arms beneath her cloak, There she sees a damsel bright, That shadowy in the moonlight shown: I guess, 'twas frightful there to see A lady so richly clad as sheBeautiful exceedingly! Mary mother, save me now! (Said Christabel,) And who art thou? The lady strange made answer meet, And her voice was faint and sweet :Have pity on my sore distress, I scarce can speak for weariness: Stretch forth thy hand, and have no fear! And the lady, whose voice was faint and sweet, Did thus pursue her answer meet:— 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, They spurred amain, their steeds were white: I have no thought what men they be; Some muttered words his comrades spoke : He placed me underneath this oak ; Whither they went I cannot tell 1 I thought I heard, some minutes past, Stretch forth thy hand (thus ended she,) Then Christabel stretched forth her hand And comforted fair Geraldine: 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 That strove to be, and were not, fast. Her gracious stars the lady blest, And thus spake on sweet Christabel : All our household are at rest, The hall as silent as the cell: Sir Leoline is weak in health, And may not well awakened be, 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 Took the key that fitted well; A little door she opened straight, All in the middle of the gate; The gate that was ironed within and without, Where an army in battle array had marched out. The lady sank, belike through pain, And moved, as she were not in pain. So free from danger, free from fear, They crossed the court: right glad they were. And Christabel devoutly cried 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 For what can ail the mastiff bitch? |