Page:Tristram of Lyonesse and other poems (IA tristramoflyonesswinrich).pdf/93



watched her last moon burn and fade with May While the days deepened toward a bridal day. And on her snowbright hand the ring was set While in the maiden's ear the song's word yet Hovered, that hailed as love's own queen by name Iseult: and in her heart the word was flame; A pulse of light, a breath of tender fire, Too dear for doubt, too driftless for desire. Between her father's hand and brother's led From hall to shrine, from shrine to marriage-bed, She saw not how by hap at home-coming Fell from her new lord's hand a royal ring, Whereon he looked, and felt the pulse astart Speak passion in his faith-forsaken heart. For this was given him of the hand wherein That heart's pledge lay for ever: so the sin That should be done if truly he should take This maid to wife for strange love's faithless sake