Page:Oxford Book of English Verse 1250-1918.djvu/1055

 ROBERT BRIDGES

Cloke her in ermine, for the night is cold, And wrap her warmly, for the night is long, In pious hands the flaming torches hold, While her attendants, chosen from among

Her faithful \irgm throng, May lay her in her cedar litter, Decking her coverlet with sprigb of gold, Roses, and hhcs white that best bent her.

Sound flute and tabor, that the bridal be Not without music, nor with thebe alone, But let the viol lead the melody, With lesser intervals, and plaintive moan

Of sinking semitone, And, all in choir, the virgin voices Rest not fiom singing in skill'd harmony The song that aye the bridegroom's ear rejoices*.

Let the priests go before, array'd in white, And let the dark-stoled minstrels follow slow, Next they that bear her, honour'd on this night, And then the maidens, in a double row,

Each singing soft and low, And each on high a torch upstaying Unto her lover lead her forth with light, With music, and with singing, and with praying.

'Twas at this sheltering hour he nightly came, And found her trusty window open wide, And knew the signal of the timorous flame, That long the restless curtain would not hide

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