last boon, young Ralph and Clare! faithful hearts to do and dare!"
_Toll slowly._
"Bring that steed up from his stall, which she kissed before you all.
Guide him up the turret-stair.

LVII.

"Ye shall harness him aright, and lead upward to this height:"
_Toll slowly._
"Once in love and twice in war hath he borne me strong and far:
He shall bear me far to-night."

LVIII.

Then his men looked to and fro, when they heard him speaking so--
_Toll slowly._
"'Las! the noble heart," they thought, "he in sooth is grief-
distraught:
Would we stood here with the foe!"

LIX.

But a fire flashed from his eye, 'twixt their thought and their reply--
_Toll slowly._
"Have ye so much time to waste? We who ride here, must ride fast
As we wish our foes to fly."

LX.

They have fetched the steed with care, in the harness he did wear--
_Toll slowly._
Past the court and through the doors, across the rushes of the floors,
But they goad him up the stair.

LXI.

Then from out her bower chambere did the Duchess May repair:
_Toll slowly._
"Tell me now what is your need," said the lady, "of this steed,
That ye goad him up the stair?"

LXII.

Calm she stood; unbodkined through, fell her dark hair to her shoe:
_Toll slowly._
And the smile upon her face, ere she left the tiring-glass,
Had not time enough to go.

LXIII.

"Get thee back, sweet Duchess May! hope is gone like yesterday":
_Toll slowly._
One half-hour completes the breach; and thy lord grows wild of speech--
Get thee in, sweet lady, and pray!

LXIV.

"In the east tower, high'st of all, loud he cries for steed from
stall":
_Toll slowly._
"'He would ride as far,' quoth he, 'as for love and victory,
Though he rides the castle-wall.'

LXV.

"And we fetch the steed from stall, up where never a hoof did fall"--
_Toll slowly._
"Wifely prayer meets deathly need: may the sweet Heavens hear thee
plead
If