Sir Eliduc. A Lay of Marie

POEM DETAILS

Sir Eliduc.

A Lay of Marie.

By Delta.

“ He had a daughter of young age,
The shoon were gold upon her feet,
So white she was and fair of mood ;
So is the snow on red blood.
Whereto should I that maid descrive ?
She was the fairest thing on-live.”

Sir Bevis of Hamptoun.

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1.Touch ye the harp with tender
                                 
hand,
And gently let its music flow,
While softly, sadly the Minstrel  
sings
An olden tale of love and woe :—
Three hundred years have come and  
gone,
As dewdrops shine and disappear,
Since first ’twas sung by fair Marie
To Henry’s royal ear.

2.The stately knight, young Eliduc,
As alone in hall he sate,
Beheld the page of Elizabeth,
At eve, beside his gate.
“ Come hither—hither, thou page of  
court,
What would the King with me ?”
The boy held the love-gifts on his arm,
As he lowly bent on knee.

3.“ I bear this gay gold ring, Sir  
Knight,
And robe of miniver ;
Greets thee by these, my ladye  
bright,
And bids thee think of her.”
To and fro strode Eliduc,
To and fro he paced the floor,
Then put the gift-ring on his  
hand,
And the robe his shoulders o’er.

4.To and fro strode Eliduc ;
Anon with folded arms he stood ;
Then brush’d the hall with hurried  
step,
Like one in doubtful mood.
At length he bit his nether lip,
Breathed deep, with downcast  
head ;
For a moment paused in torturing  
thought,
To the boy then, sighing, said—

5.“ Go back—haste back, my little foot  
page,
To the palace straight repair,
And tell the Princess Elizabeth
That I will think of her.”
The little page knelt, the little page  
rose
From the rushes whereon he knelt.
And hied him thence,—but who may  
tell
What Eliduc then felt ?

6.Brave Eliduc is woe-begone,
A cloud o’erhangs his eyes,
And though in fame he hath rivals  
none,
By the wild sea-shore he sighs.
He stands upon the barren rock,
He listens to the shrieking mew,
Until the evening star is out,
And earth is moist with dew.

7.But the King hath sent, the Knight  
hath gone
Where he sat at chess in hall,
At the chequer-board play’d a stranger  
lord,
Behind stood his daughter tall.
“ Why, daughter, dove Elizabeth,
Greet ye not this noble knight ?
’Tis the same who hath our kingdom  
saved,
And quell’d our foes in fight.”

8.Elizabeth stretch’d forth her white  
soft hand,
And with Elidue down she stray’d
By the tapestried wall of that long-
arch’d hall,
While at board her father play’d.
In a window’d niche at length they  
stood,
The fair one and the brave—
Both sorrowful and in pensive mood,
Both silent as the grave ;—

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9.Till the ladye faltering spake— “ Sir  
Knight,
Words are ill befitting me,
But were the world at my behest,
I would wed no mate but thee.”—
“ Sweet princess fair,” said Eliduc,
As he dropp’d her proffer’d hand,
“ I am pledged by the oath of a leal  
true knight,
To return to my native land ;

10.“ And thou knowest, flower, that not  
with me
Canst thou leave this realm to roam,
For thou art the sole child of its  
crown,
Which thou must wear at home.”
“ ’Tis nay, ’tis nay, Sir Eliduc—
This heart is thine, this hand is  
free—
And if thou spurn’st me not away,
I will cross the waves with thee !”

11.She stood before him beautiful,
Like a lily pure by a lake ;
With deep-drawn sighs, and dovelike  
eyes ;
O, his heart was like to break !
“ My bird of beauty,” said Eliduc,
“ I am summon’d across the  
sea—
But blithely sing in thy father’s halls
Till I come back for thee.

12.“ O yes—O yes! my fair Princess,
In hopeful peace and pleasure  
rest.”
Then the love-sick heart of Eliza-
beth
Leapt for joy within its nest ;
And returning to her sire the king,
Sir Eliduc ’gan say—
“ To the shores of my native Brit-
tanie
I am summon’d hence away.

13.“ Thy realm, great king, is now at rest ;
Thy foes are all o’ercome ;
While the jars and the wars of my own  
dear land
Call all her children home.
At the throne, where sign’d was my  
exile,
All the knaves who cross’d my way
Have own’d the shame of their per-
jured words,
And for my presence pray :

14.“ Well, well I knew the carpet knights
For their gentle selves should fear,
When o’er them gleam’d the Flanders  
axe,
“ And Brabant’s threatening spear.”
“ Sir Eliduc,” replied the King,
“ Thy worth may none gainsay ;
In the gloom of war thou camest to  
us,
And leavest us peace to-day.”

15.The King bade the royal galleys wait
At Totness, by the shore,
To the plains of France with sword  
and lance
To escort the brave Knight o’er.
With golden gleam the pennants  
stream’d ;
In foam the blue waves curl’d ;
On deck stood the bearded halber-
diers,
And the snow-white sails-unfurl’d.

16.From the echoing streets of Exeter
March’d a thousand men and  
more,
With banners, and unbeaver’d all,
Following Eliduc to the shore.
There is never a knight in Loegria
Can match with this strange  
knight,
At feat of courtly tournament,
Or on blood-red field of fight.

17.Elizabeth gazed from the turret high,
And she saw him, on the plain
Departing ’mid bright clumps of  
spears,
While pages held each rein ;
And toll the bells went, tant-a-roll ;
And she heard the trampling  
crowd,
And the trumpets’ bray, and the loud  
huzza,
And the neigh of a war-horse proud.

18.Passion and pride now lifted up
Her heart within her breast,
But doubt and fear anon drew near,
And down her spirit press’d ;
Then, turning, she sank upon her  
couch,
And wrung her hands, and sigh-
ed—
“ O, would that Sir Eliduc were  
back ;
To woo me for his bride !

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19.“ Like the rainbow to the clearing air,
Like the bird to the vernal tree,
Like spring’s first flowers ’mid wood-
land bowers
To the honey-thirsting bee ;
Like-Salem to the pilgrim’s sight,
When his feet are travel-sore,
Come the thoughts of thy return, dear  
love,
My longing spirit o’er !”

Fitte Second.

1.O, sad was-the song of Gildeluec
As she sate within her bower,
Beguiling, with her dulcimer,
The solitary hour.
“ Was it a voice ?”  she rose and cried,
“ Or what step comes here in  
quest ?”
The door flew wide—’twas Sir Eli-
duc,
And she fell upon his breast.

2.“ Welcome, welcome !  my husband  
dear !”
Aye she clasped his neck and cried ;
“ All heavy and drear have lage’d  
the hours
Since thou did’st sail the tide.
Bring wine and bread, let the board  
be spread,
Bid the silence of our halls re-
[joice !  ”
“ Heaven bless thee, fair Gildeluec !”
Quod the knight, with a low sad  
voice.

3.“ And comest thou hither with heart  
of grief,
My lord, my loved ?”  the lady said.
“ Thou know’st that our land is o’er-
run with foes,”
Sigh’d the knight, with downcast  
head.
“ Thou art weary, and here wilt rest  
to-night,
And at morning to the king ”— —
“ Nay,” answer’d he, “I must leave  
this roof
Ere the bells of vesper ring.”

4.“ When life was young, Gildeluec, 
To me thou gavest thy hand ;
There was no flower like thee, sweet  
love,
In all this blooming land.
And dost thou call me cruel now ?
Then surely am I changed ;
Deem’st thou that broken is my vow,
Or my heart from thine estran-
ged ?”

5.“ As the snow,” cried noble Gil-
deluec,
“ On the Alps, I know thee pure ;
Like the roots o’ the everlasting hills,
Thy faith is firm and sure ;
Then go—go—go to the battle-field,
’Tis thy country calls for thee,
When our foes have before thee fallen  
or fled,
Return to peace and me !”

6.His steed at the portal neighing  
paw’d ;
Sir Eliduc doun’d his mail,
His figured casque, with its morion  
black,
And steel-barr’d aventayle.
He clasp’d her form—he snatch’d  
kiss—
By their threshold cypress-tree ;
Bade all the saints his dame to bless, 
Then off through the woods rode  
he.

7.The nights they pass’d, and the days  
they pass’d,
Heavy and lone they fell,
As Gildeluec pined for the bugle  
blast
Which her lord’s return should  
tell.
Yet heard she how o’er vanquish’d  
foes,
Had his banner victorious flown,
While the fame of his name, like a  
sweet west wind,
Through his native land was blown.

8.Did the trumpet of battle arouse his  
[heart,
As it aroused in days of yore ?
Did he think of his mate, lone watch-
ing late,
For his coming, at her bower door ?
No more—no more the battle toils
Did Sir Eliduc’s bosom cheer ;
And if he thought of Gildeluec,
’Twas with grief, and shame, and  
fear.

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9.For o’er his soul, like an April gust,
To awaken the young flowers driven,
Came the thoughts of Elizabeth, sad  
and pale,
Like a seraph that pined for heaven.
He knew her lovely as May morning,
Pure, chaste, as the new-fallen snow :
And could he leave uncheer’d to break,
A heart that loved him so ?

10.To have told her of his wedded state,
When her heart and hopes were  
high ;
To have told her of his Bretagne mate
Were to have bidden her die.
He mused on her matchless loveliness,
On her bright, bold, artless mind ;
But alas !  his heart, like Noah’s dove,
No haven of rest could find !

Fitte Third.

1.The barque is launch’d—before the  
prow
The hissing billows of foam divide ;
And Sir Eliduc sails for Elizabeth,
Whatever fate betide.
Fresh blew the breeze—soon the waste  
wide seas
By that bounding barque were  
[cross’d,
And at Totness, with the purple dawn,
He lay beside the coast.

2.Beneath the sheltering rocks they  
moor’d,
In a wild lone woodland cove—
“ Now haste thy message, page,” he  
cried,
“ To the ladye of my love.
And tell her that for her we wait,
’Mid this forest by the sea ;
Linger till eve by the palace gate,
And hurry her thence with thee.”

3.Without stop or stay, the fleet page  
[away
O’er moor and o’er meadow ran,
Till he saw young Elizabeth, ’mid the  
shrubs
And flowers of the palace lawn.
And he hath knelt and whisper’d there,
And she hath heard and sigh’d,—
Lo !  he waits in the copse by the pos-
tern-gate
Till the grey of eventide.

4.When but one star shone like a torch
On departing daylight’s tomb,
To the wistful pade she comes—she  
came
Like an angel through the gloom.
With light quick step like a startled  
fawn,
She hasten’d her through the grove,
A short, warm mantle, with ermined  
fringe,
Thrown her splendid dress above.

5.With harness bright for the path be-
[dight,
The ready palfrey stood ;
The page seized hold of the silken  
[rein,
And away they hied through the  
wood.
’Neath the linden tree watch’d Eliduc,
Behind was moor’d his barque ;
But he leapt to his feet when Eliza-
beth
Came riding up through the dark !

6.“ Welcome, welcome, my love, my  
life
                                  !” —
In a moment, within his arms
Lay the heaving breast of the young  
princess,
In the bloom of her virgin charms.
“ To sea, to sea, my mariners !”
The white sails are unfurl’d ;
Behind the barque the land withdrew ;
Before the white waves curl’d.

7.Oh bliss of bliss—a lovely night !—
The winds breathed gently free,
The stars, a galaxy of light,
Shower’d fire upon the sea ;
And on and on, they bore and  
bore
The beauteous and the brave,
Till green Bretagne display’d its  
shore,
Like a cloud above the wave.

8.Sudden changed the sky—a tempest  
fierce
Fell brooding ;  and lo !  the gale,
Like an evil spirit from hell let loose,
Split the mast and rent the sail !
And the mountain waves rear’d their  
crested heads,
And the lightnings scorch’d the sky,
And the mariners on their patron  
saints
In supplication cry.

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9.But from the helm, with upraised  
arm
An old man leapt, and said—
“ On St Clement and St Nicolas,  
sirs,
In vain ye call for aid,—
On Mary Mother in vain ye call—
All, Sir Eliduc, for thee
Hath the wrath of Heaven o’ertaken  
us ;
Throw thy paramour in the sea,—

10.“ And return, return to thy wedded  
wife !”  
“ Wedded wife !”  pale Elizabeth  
cried,
With a shriek gave up her startled life, 
And fell dead by his side.
He held her wrist her lips he kiss’d—
No word his fate deplored ;
But Sir Eliduc seized the old man’s  
waist
And toss’d him overboard.

11.'Twas silence all ;— the wild winds fell,
And the clouds dispersed away :
All the stars grew pale, save the morn-
ing star
That heralded the day :—
With a bubbling groan the old man  
sank ;
The mariners sat with in-drawn  
breath ;
To Bretagne’s shore the vessel bore—
’Twas like a ship of death.

12.’Twas silence all :  the brightening  
east
Proclaim’d the coming day ;
With many a shriek, from crag and  
creek
The seamews skimm’d the bay,
While sad and silent they glide along
Till the beetling shore they reach,
Then, with dead Elizabeth in his  
arms,
Strode Eliduc from the beach.

Fitte Fourth

1.“ Why mournest thou thus, Sir Eli-
duc ?
What is thy cause of woe ?
Why these stifled sighs and heavy  
eyes ?
Sure of yore it wont not so ;
And why so often, Sir Eliduc,
Dost thou thread the woods alone ?”
The knight look’d up on Gildeluec,
But answering word spake none.

2.The knight was a gallant knight, the  
first
In battle field or festive hall ;
The knight is an alter’d man ;  he hangs
His cuirass on the wall :
Within its kennel yells the hound ;
The prison’d falcon pines away ;
The steed neighs from his stall, as if
To chide his lord’s delay.

3.At peep of morn, ’mid thick green  
woods,
Sir Eliduc to stray hath gone ;
There is no music in human voice ;
He loves to be alone.
At fall of eve, neath the rising moon,
Through the tangled walks he  
strays ;
The heart of Gildeluec almost broke
To behold his alter’d ways.

4.“ Betide me weal, betide me woe,”—
To her page the ladye said,—
“ Thou must after thy sorrowing mas-
ster go,
And track him through the glade.”
The page he went, the page he came ;
By her bower the ladye stood—
“ What news, what news, my faithful  
lad,
Bringest thou from dark green-
[wood ?”

5.“ From turn toturn,” replied the page,
“ I lurk’d Sir Eliduc’s path to see ;
And at length he enter’d th hermit’s  
cell,
Beneath the chestnut tree ;
And while he mourn’d that cell within,
I listen’d the door beside,
And heard him say— ‘ O, murder’d  
[love,
Would for thee that I had died !

6.“ To me thou gavest thy love ;  for me
Did’st leave thy father’s land ;
And I have given thee but a grave
Upon this foreign strand !
And oh !  and oh !  had’st thou but  
seen,
And loved some worthier mate ;
And oh !  for thy hapless death, and  
oh !
My miserable fate !’ ”

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7.Sir Eliduc came home—he sate
With his elbow leant on knee ;
He spoke not a word of wail, nor  
sigh’d,
Though bow’d to earth was he—
“ Oh tell me why, Sir Eliduc,
Thou peak’st, and pin’st, and roam’st  
astray ?” —
Ask the tree, by the forky lightnings  
scathed,
Why wither its boughs away !

8.“ Ask the forest oak why down it falls
Beneath the woodman’s stroke ;
Ask life, when death the tyrant calls,
Why it yields to such a yoke.” —
Through the wood, in morning’s soli-
tude,
Gildeluec roam’d alone,
And knock’d at the door of the her-
mitage,
But answer back came none.

9.With a beating heart, and trembling  
hand,
The wicket latch she raised,
And in as she went, with timid eyes,
Through its twilight gloom she  
gazed.
Why starts she back ?  She sees a couch
With coverlet of snow ;
She lifted it up in her wonderment,
And a lady slept below !

10.She slept—but ’twas the sleep of death,
Ah !  nothing could compare
With the sparkling of her jewell’d  
robes,
And the pearls in her raven hair,
Saye her form—and that was quite  
divine !
She look’d as of heaven she dream’d,
While the lustre of her loveliness,
Like a halo round her stream’d.

11.But waned from her lip was the cherry  
red ;
Her silk robe was her swathing  
shroud ;
And her eyes were closed in dim  
eclipse,
Like stars behind a cloud.
Was nought on earth so beautiful !
Gildeluec sigh’d— “ Ah me !
No wonder, seeing what thou hast  
been,
My lord’s heart turn’d to thee !

12.“ Then farewell love—and farewell  
ye,
The vanities of life :
Oh would, fair light, that thou had’st  
lived,
To shine his peerless wife :—
As it is, I’ll love the sun no more,
Let to others his beams be given ;
I’ll seal mine ears to the sounds of  
earth,
And give my heart to heaven !”

13.The cloister hath another nun,
The gentlest, purest, holiest there ;
Before the crucifix, morn and eve,
She kneels in fervent prayer :
Her thoughts are of the things  
above,
Her dreams have all a blest abode,
Where, ’midst the bowers of Para-
dise,
White angels walk abroad.

14.Sir Eliduc sits in a lonely home,
He hath built a marble tomb,
And within it laid the foreign maid
In the wild wood’s central gloom :
With railings of gold he hath railed it  
round,
Beside the hermit’s mossy cell ;
He hath lock’d it with a silver  
key,
And bidden a last farewell.

15.’Twas a lone sequester’d place ;  through  
boughs
The sky o’erhead was seen ;
And wild vines ran the stems about,
And festooning ivy green ;
’Twas a favourite haunt for nightin-
gales
Singing-the moonlight through ;
And by day the living emerald shade
Echo’d the stock-dove’s coo.

16.“ Twas one of Nature’s shrines—the  
birds
And beasts eame flocking there :
The golden pheasant, and vocal  
lark,
And squirrel, and hart, and hare ;
But scarce a footstep breaks the  
gloom,
The long still season lone ;
Rains, winds, and sunbeams kiss the  
tomb—
But Sir Eliduc is gone !

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17.The war-steed neighs—but not from  
stall—
Caparison’d by the gate ;
The cuirass hangs not on the wall,
As it hath hung of late :
His own keen hands have wiped  
away
The red rust from his sword,
Which again sends out a silvery  
gleam,
As if it knew its lord.

18.’Twas a glorious, glowing September  
eve,
As the knight rode down the dale ;
The broad low sun shone along the  
land,
And kiss’d his burnish’d mail :
Hawk, hound, and horse roam master-
less—
His serving-men grow grey—
His roofs are moss’d ;— ’tis twenty years
Since the warrior went away !

19.A thousand friends had Sir Eliduc—
The brave, the noble, and the wise ;
And each asks each—but of his fate
No answering tongue replies.
Arm’d cap-a-pie went Eliduc,
From his proud ancestral towers alone ;
But whither he went, or where he died,
By man was never known !

METADATA

Metadata

Sir Eliduc. A Lay of Marie

Poet(s)

Moir, David Macbeth (pseudonym Delta, ∆)
Pseudonym:
Delta

Credits

Markup Editor

Kaitlyn Fralick

Metadata research and editing

DVPP Project Team

Source

Blackwood’s Edinburgh Magazine 47:296, 786–792, June 1840.

First line

Touch ye the harp with tender hand,

Authorship

Pseudonymous

DVPP id

Numeric id of this poem in the DVPP collection: 11474

XML

TEI XML source

Line-groups or stanzas:	4
Poetic lines:	480
Speeches (verse drama):	0
Length in words:	3089
Average word length:	4.2
End rhymes:	264
Masculine rhymes:	234
Feminine rhymes:	4
Dactylic rhymes:	0
Half rhymes:	22
Eye rhymes:	4
Identical rhymes:	0
Syllabic rhymes:	0
Cross-stanza rhymes:	76
Internal rhyme:	20
Anaphora:	35
Epistrophe:	0
Refrain:	0
Sonic device variant:	0