Page:Early poems of William Morris.djvu/182

 Upright upon the green lawn grass;

And hope grew in her as she said:

"I have thrown off the white and red,

And pray God it may come to pass

"I meet him; if ten years go by

Before I meet him; if, indeed,

Meanwhile both soul and body bleed,

Yet there is end of misery,

"And I have hope. He could not come,

But I can go to him and show

These new things I have got to know,

And make him speak, who has been dumb."

O Jehane! the red morning sun

Changed her white feet to glowing gold,

Upon her smock, on crease and fold,

Changed that to gold which had been dun.

O Miles, and Giles, and Isabeau,

Fair Ellayne le Violet,

Mary, Constance fille de fay!

Where is Jehane du Castel beau?

O big Gervaise ride apace!

Down to the hard yellow sand,

Where the water meets the land,

This is Jehane by her face;

Why has she a broken sword?

Mary! she is slain outright;

Verily a piteous sight;

Take her up without a word!