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"It is three months gone to-day, since I gave mine hand away. Toll slowly.

Bring the gold and bring the gem, we will keep bride-state in them, While we keep the foe at bay.

"On your arms I loose my hair;comb it smooth and crown it fair, Toll slowly.

I would look in purple pall from this lattice down the wall,

And throw scorn to one that's there!"

Oh, the little birds sang east, and the little birds sang west, Toll slowly. On the tower the castle's lord leant in silence on his sword, With an anguish in his breast. With a spirit-laden weight, did he lean down passionate.

Toll slowly.

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bring; and a blessed, blessèd thing,

Shall the stone be at its head.

"Then my friends shall pass out free, and shall bear my memory, Toll slowly. Then my foes shall sleek their pride, soothing fair my widowed

bride

Whose sole sin was love of me.

"With their words all smooth and sweet, they will front her and entreat Toll slowly. And their purple pall will spread underneath her fainting head While her tears drop over it.

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And her foot trod in, with pride, her own tears i' the stone beside. Toll slowly. "Go to, faithful friends, go to!Judge no more what ladies do,

No, nor how their lords may ride!"

Then the good steed's rein she took, and his neck did kiss and stroke: Toll slowly. Soft he neighed to answer her; and then followed up the stair, For the love of her sweet look.

Oh, and steeply, steeply wound up the narrow stair around, Toll slowly. Oh, and closely speeding, step by step beside her treading, Did he follow, meek as hound.

On the east tower, high'st of all, there, where never a hoof did fall, Toll slowly. Out they swept, a vision steady, noble steed and lovely lady, Calm as if in bower or stall!

Down she knelt at her lord's knee, and she looked up silently,

Toll slowly. And he kissed her twice and thrice, for that look within her eyes Which he could not bear to see.

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"Fast I rode with new-made vows, from my angry kinsman's house! Toll slowly. What! and would you men should reck that I dared more for love's sake

As a bride than as a spouse?

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