These then he caught up, quivering with So looks not one who deems himself but
Though, slackening once, she turned her To keep the double prize, and strenuously Sped o'er the course, and little doubt had she 635 To win the day, though now but scanty space
But then she cried aloud and faster fled Than e'er before, and all men deemed him dead.
Was left betwixt him and the winningplace.
Short was the way unto such wingèd feet; Quickly she gained upon him, till at last
He turned about her eager eyes to meet, And from his hand the third fair apple
She spreads her arms abroad some stay to find,
Else must she fall, indeed, and findeth this, A strong man's arms about her body twined. 654 Nor may she shudder now to feel his kiss, So wrapped she is in new unbroken bliss; Made happy that the foe the prize hath
To which the mud splashed wretchedly; 10 And the wet dripped from every tree Upon her head and heavy hair, And on her eyelids broad and fair; The tears and rain ran down her face.
By fits and starts they rode apace, And very often was his place Far off from her; he had to ride
She weeps glad tears for all her glory done. Ahead, to see what might betide
When the roads crossed; and sometimes,
There rose a murmuring from his men, Had to turn back with promises; Ah me! she had but little ease; And often for pure doubt and dread She sobbed, made giddy in the head By the swift riding; while, for cold, Her slender fingers scarce could hold The wet reins; yea, and scarcely, too, She felt the foot within her shoe Against the stirrup: all for this, To part at last without a kiss Beside the haystack in the floods.
For when they neared that old soaked hay, They saw across the only way
That Judas, Godmar, and the three Red running lions dismally Grinned from his pennon, under which In one straight line along the ditch, They counted thirty heads.
So then, While Robert turned round to his men, She saw at once the wretched end, And, stooping down, tried hard to rend Her coif the wrong way from her head, And hid her eyes; while Robert said: "Nay, love, 'tis scarcely two to one; At Poictiers where we made them run So fast-why, sweet my love, good cheer, The Gascon frontier is so near, Nought after us."
"My God! my God! I have to tread The long way back without you; then The court at Paris; those six men; The gratings of the Chatelet; The swift Seine on some rainy day Like this, and people standing by, And laughing, while my weak hands try 55 To recollect how strong men swim.
Sir Robert, or I slay you now."
Nay, keep your tongue from gibe and scoff, And fell asleep: and while she slept,
She laid her hand upon her brow, Then gazed upon the palm, as though She thought her forehead bled, and- "No,"
She said, and turned her head away, As there were nothing else to say, And everything were settled: red Grew Godmar's face from chin to head: "Jehane, on yonder hill there stands. My castle, guarding well my lands: What hinders me from taking you, And doing that I list to do To your fair wilful body, while Your knight lies dead?"
Wrinkled her face, her lips grew thin, A long way out she thrust her chin: "You know that I should strangle you While you were sleeping; or bite through Your throat, by God's help-ah!" she said, "Lord Jesus, pity your poor maid! For in such wise they hem me in, I cannot choose but sin and sin, Whatever happens: yet I think They could not make me eat or drink, And so should I just reach my rest.' "Nay, if you do not my behest, O Jehane! though I love you well," Said Godmar, "would I fail to tell All that I know?" "Foul lies," she said.
Up Godmar rose, thrust them apart; From Robert's throat he loosed the bands Of silk and mail; with empty hands Held out, she stood and gazed, and saw, 140 The long bright blade without a flaw Glide out from Godmar's sheath, his hand In Robert's hair; she saw him bend Back Robert's head; she saw him send The thin steel down; the blow told well, 145 Right backward the knight Robert fell, And moaned as dogs do, being half dead, Unwitting, as I deem: so then Godmar turned grinning to his men, Who ran, some five or six, and beat His head to pieces at their feet.
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