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VI.

As rose Sir Earndolf from his knee,

The benediction fell

From Father Oswald tremblingly,

Out rang the marriage-bell;

The bride, still kneeling, pray'd amain;

While thus, still wilder, ran that strain :—

Away, away to the banquet gay,

For there's store of wassail spread;

Oh, this is Sir Earndolf's marriage-day,
And I've deck'd his bridal bed!

The cup is bright with the red, red wine;
But the cypress round it grows:

It shall not glow with a tear of mine, Though my eye like a streamlet flows— Though my eye like a streamlet flows !".

VII.

The quick chaunt ceased, and swiftly fled

That singer strange and wild;

The bride was to the banquet led,

But there she scarcely smiled:

Her eye grew dim, her cheek grew pale,
Her ear had caught the wrong'd one's wail:-

"O sister, sister dear,

Wherefore so fearful?

Is not the bridegroom near,
Wherefore so tearful?—

He was not false to thee !-
Though he was vow'd to me,
Thine until death he'll be-

Thine, only thine!—

Though he was false to me,

Thine until death he'll be→

Thine, only thine!"

VIII.

Sir Earndolf raised the love-cup high
And gaily pledged the bride,
Then drain'd it in a moment dry,

With glance that fate defied;

A moment more, he gasp'd and fell!

Still rose that chaunt, like some dark spell:

IX.

Up rose the guests in wild amaze,

With horror swoon'd the bride; But there was one, whose steady gaze Seem'd bent in fearful pride

Adown upon that scene so dread,

And thus she chaunted o'er the dead :

"Bring hither, bring hither

His shroud and his bier,

Ere the fresh blossoms wither
I've gather'd in fear!—

Bring hither, bring hither
His armour so bright;
For he goeth from Earndolf
With phantoms to fight—

With phantoms to fight!”

X.

They sought to grasp the robe of white
That flutt'ring past them sped;

But swiftly, as the arrow's flight,

Its frantic wearer fled,

And, singing still, was seen to float,

Next moment, on the castle moat :

"Haste hither, haste hither

I'm bound for the deep!...

Hie thither, hie thither!...

My bridal to keep !

I'll gem my dark hair with the opal and pearl; And Earndolf shall treasure its tiniest curl !—

Haste hither, haste hither—

I'm gliding away !.....

Oh, whither ?...Oh, whither ?...

Oh, whither away—

Oh, whither away ?"...