Page:Poetical sketches reprint (1868).djvu/33

Rh Her eyes were fix'd; the bloody cloth unfolds, Disclosing to her sight the murder'd head Of her dear lord, all ghastly pale, clotted With gory blood; it groan'd, and thus it spake:

"O Eleanor, behold thy husband's head "Who, sleeping on the stones of yonder tower, "Was 'reft of life by the accursed duke! "A hired villain turn'd my sleep to death!

"O Eleanor, beware the cursed duke, "O give not him thy hand, now I am dead; "He seeks thy love; who, coward, in the night, "Hired a villain to bereave my life."

She sat with dead cold limbs, stiflen'd to stone; She took the gory head up in her arms; She kiss'd the pale lips; she had no tears to shed; She hugg'd it to her breast, and groan'd her last.