Page:The Life of William Morris.djvu/117

96 sides poetry, a substance of visible beauty of one particular kind: to be poetry without any notion of being poetry, or effort, or aim at it." Four of them were included two years later in "The Defence of Guenevere," and require no further notice here; they are "Riding Together," "The Chapel in Lyonness," "Pray but One Prayer for Me" (there entitled "Summer Dawn"), and the Prince's Song in "Rapunzel," here printed separately under the title of "Hands." The fifth was omitted from that volume for some forgotten reason, perhaps because it was thought too like the famous "Riding Together." But to that poem it forms so perfect a pendant, and it is in itself of such strong and delicate beauty, that it claims rescue from oblivion. We rode together In the winter weather To the broad mead under the hill; Though the skies did shiver With the cold, the river Ran, and was never still.

No cloud did darken The night; we did hearken The hound's bark far away. It was solemn midnight In that dread, dread night, In the years that have pass'd for aye.

Two rode beside me, My banner did hide me, As it drooped adown from my lance; With its deep blue trapping, The mail over-lapping, My gallant horse did prance.

So ever together In the sparkling weather Moved my banner and lance; And its laurel trapping, The steel over-lapping, The stars saw quiver and dance.