impressions, and against my will.
At last despair of winning me compelled
Him to the oath he swore: He would not kill,
But take me living and would make my life
A living death. No man should make me wife.

XXVIII.

The war, that now consumes us, did, indeed,
Give him occasion.--I had not been warned,
When down he came against me in the lead
Of his marauders. With thy help I scorned
His mad attacks two days. I would not plead
Nor parley with him, who came hoofed and horned,
Like Satan's self in soul, and, with his aid,
Took this strong house and kept the oath he made.

XXIX.

"Months passed. Alas! it needs not here to tell
What often thou hast heard--Of how he led
His troopers here now there; nor what befell
Me of dishonor. Oft I wished me dead,
Loathing my life, than which the nether hell
Hath less of horror ... So we fought or fled
From place to place until a year had passed,
And Parliament forces hemmed us in at last.

XXX.

"Yea, I had only lived for this--to right
With death my wrongs sometime. And love and hate
Contended in my bosom when, that night
Before the fight that should decide our fate,
I entered where he slept. There was no light
Save of the stars to see by. Long and late
I leaned above him there, yet could not kill--
Hate raised the dagger but love held it still.

XXXI.

"The woman in me conquered. What a slave
To our emotions are we! To relent
At this long-waited moment!--Wave on wave
Of pitying weakness swept me, and I bent
And kissed his face. Then prayed to God; and gave
My trust to God; and left to God th' event.--
I never looked on Rupert's face again,
For in that morning's combat--he was slain.

XXXII.

"Out of defeat escaped some scant three score
Of all his followers. And night and day
They fled; and while the Roundheads pressed them sore,
And in their road, good as a fortress, lay
The Moated Manse, where their three score or more
Might well hold out, I pointed them the way.
And they are come, amid its wrecks to end
The crime begun here.--Thou must go, my friend!

XXXIII.

"Go quickly! For the time approaches when
Destruction must arrive.--Oh, well I know
All thou wouldst say to me.--What boots it then?--
I tell thee thou must go, that thou must go!--
Yea, dost thou think I'd have thee die 'mi