Page:Early poems of William Morris.djvu/242



Had she come all the way for this,

To part at last without a kiss?

Yea, had she borne the dirt and rain

That her own eyes might see him slain

Beside the haystack in the floods?

Along the dripping leafless woods,

The stirrup touching either shoe,

She rode astride as troopers do;

With kirtle kilted to her knee,

To which the mud splash'd wretchedly;

And the wet dripp'd 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

Ahead, to see what might betide

When the roads cross'd; and sometimes, when

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 sobb'd, made giddy in the head

By the swift riding; while, for cold,

Her slender fingers scarce could hold 170