A STORY OF DOOM

His blew His winds, and they were scattered.

‘ One soweth and another reapeth.’

Ay,

Too true, too true. One soweth — unaware

Cometh a reaper stealthily while he dreams —

Bindeth the golden sheaf, and in his bosom

As‘ t were between the dewfall and the dawn

Bears it away. Who other was to blame?

Is it I? Is it I?— No verily, not I,

‘ T was a good action, and I smart therefore;

Oblivion of a righteous enmity

Wrought me this wrong. I pay with my self ruth

That I had ruth toward mine enemy;

It needed not to slay mine enemy,

Only to let him lie and succourless

Drift to the foot o’ the Everlasting Throne;

Being mine enemy, he had not accused

One of my nation there of unkind deeds

Or ought the way of war forbids.

Let be!

I will not think upon it. Yet she was —

O, she was dear; my dutiful, dear child.

One soweth — Nay, but I will tell this out,

The first fyte was the best, I call it such

For now as some old song men think on it.

I dwell where England narrows running north;

And while our hay was cut came rumours up

Humming and swarming round our heads like bees:

‘ Drake from the bay of Cadiz hath come home,

And they are forth, the Spaniards with a force

Invincible.’

‘ The Prince of Parma, couched

At Dunkirk, e'en by torchlight makes to toil

His shipwright thousands — thousands in the ports

Of Flanders and Brabant. An hundred hendes

Transports to his great squadron adding, all

For our confusion.’

‘ England's great ally

Henry of France, by insurrection fallen,

Of him the said Prince Parma mocking cries,

He shall not help the Queen of England now

Not even with his tears, more needing them

To weep his own misfortune.’

Was that all

The truth? Not half, and yet it was enough

( Albeit not half that half was well believed ),

For all the land stirred in the half belief

As dreamers stir about to wake; and now

Comes the Queen's message, all her lieges bid

To rise,‘ lieftenants, and the better sort

Of gentlemen’ whereby the Queen's grace meant,

As it may seem the sort that willed to rise

And arm, and come to aid her.

Distance wrought

Safety for us, my neighbours and near friends,

The peril lay along our channel coast

And marked the city, undefended fair

Rich London. O to think of Spanish mail

Ringing — of riotous conquerors in her street,

Chasing and frighting ( would there were no more

To think on ) her fair wives and her fair maids.

— But hope is fain to deem them forth of her.

Then Spain to the sacking; then they tear away

Arras and carvèd work. O then they break

And toss, and mar her quaint orfèverie

Priceless — then split the wine kegs, spill the mead,

Trail out the pride of ages in the dust;

Turn over with pikes her silken merchandise,

Strip off the pictures of her kings, and spoil

Their palaces that nigh five hundred years

Have rued no alien footsteps on the floor,

And work — for the days of miracle are gone —

All unimaginable waste and woe.

Some cried,‘ But England hath the better cause;

We think not those good days indeed are done;

We look to Heaven for aid on England's side.’

Then other,‘ Nay, the harvest is above,

God comforts there His own, and ill men leaves

To run long scores up in this present world,

And pay in another.

Look not here for aid.

Latimer, poor old saint, died in the street

With nigh, men say, three hundred of his kind,

All bid to look for worse death after death,

Succourless, comfortless, unfriended, curst.

Mary, and Gardiner, and the Pope's man Pole

Died upon down, lulled in a silken shade,

Soothed with assurance of a waiting heaven,

And Peter peering through the golden gate,

With his gold key in‘ s hand to let them in.’

‘ Nay, leave,’ quoth I,‘ the martyrs to their heaven,

And all who live the better that they died.

But look you now, a nation hath no heaven,

A nation's life and work and wickedness

And punishment — or otherwise, I say

A nation's life and goodness and reward

Are here. And in my nation's righteous cause

I look for aid, and cry, SO HELP ME GOD

As I will help my righteous nation now

With all the best I have, and know, and am,

I trust Thou wilt not let her light be quenched;

I go to aid, and if I fall — I fall,

And, God of nations, leave my soul to Thee.’

Many did say like words, and all would give

Of gold, of weapons, and of horses that

They had to hand or on the spur o’ the time

Could gather. My fair dame did sell her rings,

So others. And they sent us well equipped

Who minded to be in the coming fray

Whether by land or sea; my hope the last,

For I of old therewith was conversant.

Then as we rode down southward all the land

Was at her harvesting. The oats were cut

Ere we were three days down, and then the wheat,

And the wide country spite of loathèd threat

Was busy. There was news to hearten us:

The Hollanders were coming roundly in

With sixty ships of war, all fierce, and full

Of spleen, for not alone our sake but theirs

Willing to brave encounter where they might.

So after five days we did sight the Sound,

And look on Plymouth harbour from the hill.

Then I full glad drew bridle, lighted straight,

Ran down and mingled with a waiting crowd.

Many stood gazing on the level deep

That scarce did tremble;‘ t was in hue as sloes

That hang till winter on a leafless bough,

So black bulged down upon it a great cloud

And probed it through and through with forkèd stabs

Incessant, and rolled on it thunder bursts

Till the dark water lowered as one afraid.

That was afar. The land and nearer sea

Lay sweltering in hot sunshine. The brown beach

Scarce whispered, for a soft incoming tide

Was gentle with it. Green the water lapped

And sparkled at all edges. The night-heavens

Are not more thickly speckled o'er with stars

Than that fair harbour with its fishing craft.

And crowds of galleys shooting to and fro

Did feed the ships of war with their stout crews,

And bear aboard fresh water, furniture

Of war, much lesser victual, sallets, fruit,

All manner equipment for the squadron, sails,

Long spars.

Also was chaffering on the Hoe,

Buying and bargaining, taking of leave

With tears and kisses, while on all hands pushed

Tall lusty men with baskets on their heads

Piled of fresh bread, and biscuit newly drawn.

Then shouts,‘ The captains!’

Raleigh, Hawkins, Drake,

Old Martin Frobisher, and many more;

Howard, the Lord High Admiral, headed them —

They coming leisurely from the bowling green,

Elbowed their way. For in their stoutness loth

To hurry when ill news first brake on them,

They playing a match ashore — ill news I say,

‘ The Spaniards are toward’ — while panic-struck

The people ran about them, Drake cries out,

Knowing their fear should make the danger worse,

‘ Spaniards, my masters! Let the Spaniards wait.

Fall not a-shouting for the boats; is time

To play the match out, ay to win, and then

To beat the Spaniards.’

So the rest gave way

At his insistance, playing that afternoon

The bravest match ( one saith ) was ever scored.

‘ T was no time lost; nay, not a moment lost;

For look you, when the winning cast was made,

The town was calm, the anchors were all up,

The boats were manned to row them each to his ship,

The lowering cloud in the offing had gone south

Against the wind, and all was work, stir, heed,

Nothing forgot, nor grudged, nor slurred, and most

Men easy at heart as those brave sailors seemed.

And specially the women had put by

On a sudden their deep dread; yon Cornish coast

Neared of his insolency by the foe,

With his high seacastles numerous, seaforts

Many, his galleys out of number, manned

Each by three hundred slaves chained to the oar;

All his strong fleet of lesser ships, but great

As any of ours — why that same Cornish coast

Might have lain farther than the far west land,

So had a few stout-hearted looks and words

Wasted the meaning, chilled the menace of

That frightful danger, imminent, hard at hand.

‘ The captains come, the captains!’ and I turned

As they drew on. I marked the urgency

Flashing in each man's eye: fain to be forth

But willing to be held at leisure. Then

Cried a fair woman of the better sort

To Howard, passing by her pannier'd ass,

‘ Apples, Lord Admiral, good captains all,

Look you, red apples sharp and sweet are these,’

Quoth he a little chafed,‘ Let be, let be,

No time is this for bargaining, good dame.

Let be;’ and pushing past,‘ Beshrew thy heart

( And mine that I should say it ), bargain! nay.

I meant not bargaining,’ she falters; crying,

‘ I brought them my poor gift. Pray you now take,

Pray you.’

He stops, and with a childlike smile

That makes the dame amend, stoops down to choose,

While I step up that love not many words,

‘ What should he do,’ quoth I,‘ to help this need

That hath a bag of money, and good will?’

‘ Charter a ship,’ he saith, nor e'er looks up,

‘ And put aboard her victual, tackle, shot,

Ought he can lay his hand on — look he give

Wide sea room to the Spanish hounds, make sail

For ships of ours, to ease of wounded men,

And succour with that freight he brings withal.’

His foot, yet speaking, was aboard his boat,

His comrades, each red apples in the hand,

Come after, and with blessings manifold

Cheering, and cries,‘ Good luck, good luck!’ they speed.

‘ T was three years three months past.

O yet methinks

I hear that thunder crash i’ the offing; hear

Their words who when the crowd melted away

Gathered together. Comrades we of old,

About to adventure us at Howard's best

On the unsafe sea. For he, a Catholic,

As is my wife, and therefore my one child,

Detested and defied th’ most Catholic King

Philip. He, trusted of her grace — and cause

She had, the nation following suit — he deemed,

‘ T was whisper'd, ay and Raleigh, and Francis Drake

No less, the event of battle doubtfuller

Than English tongue might own; the peril dread

As ought in this world ever can be deemed

That is not yet past praying for.

So far

So good. As birds awaked do stretch their wings

The ships did stretch forth sail, full clad they towered

And right into the sunset went, hull down

E'en with the sun.

To us in twilight left,

Glory being over, came despondent thought

That mocked men's eager act. From many a hill,

As if the land complained to Heaven, they sent

A towering shaft of murky incense high,

Livid with black despair in lieu of praise.

The green wood hissed at every beacon's edge

That widen'd fear. The smell of pitchpots fled

Far over the field, and tongues of fire leaped up,

Ay, till all England woke, and knew, and wailed.

But we i’ the night through that detested reek

Rode eastward. Every mariner's voice was given

‘ Gainst any fear for the western shires. The cry

Was all,‘ They sail for Calais roads, and thence,

The goal is London.’

Nought slept, man nor beast.

Ravens and rooks flew forth, and with black wings,

Affrighted, swept our eyes. Pale eddying moths

Came by in crowds and whirled them on the flames.

We rode till pierced those beacon fires the shafts

O’ the sun, and their red smouldering ashes dulled.

Beside them, scorched, smoke-blackened, weary, leaned

Men that had fed them, dropped their tired arms

And dozed.

And also through that day we rode,

Till reapers at their nooning sat awhile

On the shady side of corn-shocks: all the talk

Of high, of low, or them that went or stayed

Determined but unhopeful; desperate

To strike a blow for England ere she fell.

And ever loomed the Spaniard to our thought,

Still waxed the fame of that great Armament —

New horsemen joining, swelled it more and more —

Their bulky ship galleons having five decks,

Zabraes, pataches, galleys of Portugal,

Caravels rowed with oars, their galliasses

Vast, and complete with chapels, chambers, towers.

And in the said ships of free mariners

Eight thousand, and of slaves two thousand more,

An army twenty thousand strong. O then

Of culverin, of double culverin,

Ordnance and arms, all furniture of war,

Victual, and last their fierceness and great spleen,

Willing to founder, burn, split, wreck themselves,

But they would land, fight, overcome, and reign.

Then would we count up England. Set by theirs,

Her fleet as walnut shells. And a few pikes

Stored in the belfries, and a few brave men

For wielding them. But as the morning wore,

And we went ever eastward, ever on,

Poured forth, poured down, a marching multitude

With stir about the towns; and waggons rolled

With offerings for the army and the fleet.

Then to our hearts valour crept home again,

The loathèd name of Alva fanning it;

Alva who did convert from our old faith

With many a black deed done for a white cause

( So spake they erewhile to it dedicate )

Them whom not death could change, nor fire, nor sword,

To thirst for his undoing.

Ay, as I am a Christian man, our thirst

Was comparable with Queen Mary's. All

The talk was of confounding heretics,

The heretics the Spaniards. Yet methought,

‘ O their great multitude! Not harbour room

On our long coast for that great multitude.

They land — for who can let them — give us battle,

And after give us burial. Who but they,

For he that liveth shall be flying north

To bear off wife and child. Our very graves

Shall Spaniards dig, and in the daisied grass

Trample them down.’

Ay, whoso will be brave,

Let him be brave beforehand. After th’ event

If by good pleasure of God it go as then

He shall be brave an’ liketh him. I say

Was no man but that deadly peril feared.

Nights riding two. Scant rest. Days riding three,

Then Foulkstone. Need is none to tell all forth

The gathering stores and men, the charter'd ship

That I, with two, my friends, got ready for sea.

Ready she was, so many another, small

But nimble; and we sailing hugged the shore,

Scarce venturing out, so Drake had willed, a league,

And running westward aye as best we might,

When suddenly — behold them!

On they rocked,

Majestical, slow, sailing with the wind.

O such a sight! O such a sight, mine eyes,

Never shall you see more!

In crescent form,

A vasty crescent nigh two leagues across

From horn to horn, the lesser ships within,

The great without, they did bestride as‘ t were

And make a township on the narrow seas.

It was about the point of dawn: and light.

All grey the sea, and ghostly grey the ships;

And after in the offing rocked our fleet,

Having lain quiet in the summer dark.

O then methought,‘ Flash, blessed gold of dawn,

And touch the topsails of our Admiral,

That he may after guide an emulous flock,

Old England's innocent white bleating lambs.

Let Spain within a pike's length hear them bleat,

Delivering of their pretty talk in a tongue

Whose meaning cries not for interpreter.’

And while I spoke, their topsails, friend and foe,

Glittered — and there was noise of guns; pale smoke

Lagged after, curdling on the sun-fleck'd main.

And after that? What after that, my soul?

Who ever saw weakling white butterflies

Chasing of gallant swans, and charging them,

And spitting at them long red streaks of flame?

We saw the ships of England even so

As in my vaunting wish that mocked itself

With‘ Fool, O fool, to brag at the edge of loss.’

We saw the ships of England even so

Run at the Spaniards on a wind, lay to,

Bespatter them with hail of battle, then

Take their prerogative of nimble steerage,

Fly off, and ere the enemy, heavy in hand,

Delivered his reply to the wasteful wave

That made its grave of foam, race out of range,

Then tack and crowd all sail, and after them

Again.

So harassed they that mighty foe,

Moving in all its bravery to the east.

And some were fine with pictures of the saints,

Angels with flying hair and peakèd wings,

And high red crosses wrought upon their sails;

From every mast brave flag or ensign flew,

And their long silken pennons serpented

Loose to the morning. And the galley slaves,

Albeit their chains did clink, sang at the oar.

The sea was striped e'en like a tiger skin

With wide ship wakes.

And many cried, amazed,

‘ What means their patience?’

‘ Lo you,’ others said,

‘ They pay with fear for their great costliness.

Some of their costliest needs must other guard;

Once guarded and in port look to yourselves,

They count one hundred and fifty. It behoves

Better they suffer this long running fight —

Better for them than that they give us battle,

And so delay the shelter of their roads.

‘ Two of their caravels we sank, and one

( Fouled with her consort in the rigging ) took

Ere she could catch the wind when she rode free.

And we have riddled many a sail, and split

Of spars a score or two. What then? To-morrow

They look to straddle across the strait, and hold

Having aye Calais for a shelter — hold

Our ships in fight. To-morrow shall give account

For our to-day. They will not we pass north

To meddle with Parma's flotilla; their hope

Being Parma, and a convoy they would be

For his flat boats that bode invasion to us;

And if he reach to London — ruin, defeat.’

Three fleets the sun went down on, theirs of fame

Th’ Armada. After space old England's few;

And after that our dancing cockle-shells,

The volunteers. They took some pride in us,

For we were nimble, and we brought them powder,

Shot, weapons. They were short of these. Ill found,

Ill found. The bitter fruit of evil thrift.

But while obsequious, darting here and there,

We took their messages from ship to ship,

From ship to shore, the moving majesties

Made Calais Roads, cast anchor, all their less

In the middle ward; their greater ships outside

Impregnable castles fearing not assault.

So did we read their thought, and read it wrong,

While after the running fight we rode at ease,

For many ( as is the way of Englishmen )

Having made light of our stout deeds, and light

O’ the effects proceeding, saw these spread

To view. The Spanish Admiral's mighty host,

Albeit not broken, harass'd.

Some did tow

Others that we had plagued, disabled, rent;

Many full heavily damaged made their berths.

Then did the English anchor out of range.

To close was not their wisdom with such foe,

Rather to chase him, following in the rear.

Ay, truly they were giants in our eyes

And in our own. They took scant heed of us,

And we looked on, and knew not what to think,

Only that we were lost men, a lost Isle,

In every Spaniard's mind, both great and small.

But no such thought had place in Howard's soul,

And when‘ t was dark, and all their sails were furled,

When the wind veered a few points to the west,

And the tide turned ruffling along the roads,

He sent eight fireships forging down to them.

Terrible! Terrible!

Blood-red pillars of reek

They looked on that vast host and troubled it,

As on th’ Egyptian host One looked of old.

Then all the heavens were rent with a great cry,

The red avengers went right on, right on,

For none could let them; then was ruin, reek, flame;

Against th’ unwieldy huge leviathans

They drave, they fell upon them as wild beasts,

And all together they did plunge and grind,

Their reefed sails set a-blazing, these flew loose

And forth like banners of destruction sped.

It was to look on as the body of hell

Seething; and some, their cables cut, ran foul

Of one the other, while the ruddy fire

Sped on aloft. One ship was stranded. One

Foundered, and went down burning; all the sea

Red as an angry sunset was made fell

With smoke and blazing spars that rode upright,

For as the fireships burst they scattered forth

Full dangerous wreckage. All the sky they scored

With flying sails and rocking masts, and yards

Licked of long flames. And flitting tinder sank

In eddies on the plagued mixed mob of ships

That cared no more for harbour, and were fain

At any hazard to be forth, and leave

Their berths in the blood-red haze.

It was at twelve

O’ the clock when this fell out, for as the eight

Were towed, and left upon the friendly tide

To stalk like evil angels over the deep

And stare upon the Spaniards, we did hear

Their midnight bells. It was at morning dawn

After our mariners thus had harried them

I looked my last upon their fleet,— and all,

That night had cut their cables, put to sea,

And scattering wide towards the Flemish coast

Did seem to make for Greveline.

As for us,

The captains told us off to wait on them,

Bearers of wounded enemies and friends,

Bearers of messages, bearers of store.

We saw not ought, but heard enough: we heard

( And God be thanked ) of that long scattering chase

And driving of Sidonia from his hope,

Parma, who could not ought without his ships

And looked for them to break the Dutch blockade,

He meanwhile chafing lion-like in his lair.

We heard — and he — for all one summer day,

Fenning and Drake and Raynor, Fenton, Cross,

And more, by Greveline, where they once again

Did get the wind o’ the Spaniards, noise of guns.

For coming with the wind, wielding themselves

Which way they listed ( while in close array

The Spaniards stood but on defence ), our own

Went at them, charged them high and charged them sore,

And gave them broadside after broadside. Ay,

Till all the shot was spent both great and small.

It failed; and in regard of that same want

They thought it not convenient to pursue

Their vessels farther.

They were huge withal,

And might not be encountered one to one,

But close conjoined they fought, and poured great store

Of ordnance at our ships, though many of theirs,

Shot thorow and thorow, scarce might keep afloat.

Many were captured fighting, many sank.

This news they brought returned perforce, and left

The Spaniards forging north. Themselves did watch

The river mouth, till Howard, his new store

Gathered, encounter coveting, once more

Made after them with Drake.

And lo! the wind

Got up to help us. He yet flying north

( Their doughty Admiral ) made all his wake

To smoke, and would not end to fight, but strewed

The ocean with his wreckage. And the wind

Drave him before it, and the storm was fell,

And he went up to th’ uncouth northern sea.

There did our mariners leave him. Then did joy

Run like a sunbeam over the land, and joy

Rule in the stout heart of a regnant Queen.

But now the counsel came,‘ Every man home,

For after Scotland rounded, when he curves

Southward, and all the batter'd armament,

What hinders on our undefended coast

To land where'er he listeth? Every man

Home.’

And we mounted and did open forth

Like a great fan, to east, to north, to west,

And rumour met us flying, filtering

Down through the border. News of wicked joy,

The wreckers rich in the Faroes, and the Isles

Orkney, and all the clansmen full of gear

Gathered from helpless mariners tempted in

To their undoing; while a treacherous crew

Let the storm work upon their lives its will,

Spoiled them and gathered all their riches up.

Then did they meet like fate from Irish kernes,

Who dealt with them according to their wont.

In a great storm of wind that tore green leaves

And dashed them wet upon me, came I home.

Then greeted me my dame, and Rosamund,

Our one dear child, the heir of these my fields —

That I should sigh to think it! There, no more.

Being right weary I betook me straight

To longed-for sleep, and I did dream and dream

Through all that dolourous storm; though noise of guns

Daunted the country in the moonless night,

Yet sank I deep and deeper in the dream

And took my fill of rest.

A voice, a touch,

‘ Wake.’ Lo! my wife beside me, her wet hair

She wrung with her wet hands, and cried,‘ A ship!

I have been down the beach. O pitiful!

A Spanish ship ashore between the rocks,

And none to guide our people. Wake.’

Then I

Raised on mine elbow looked; it was high day;

In the windy pother seas came in like smoke

That blew among the trees as fine small rain,

And then the broken water sun-besprent

Glitter'd, fell back and showed her high and fast

A caravel, a pinnace that methought

To some great ship had longed; her hap alone

Of all that multitude it was to drive

Between this land of England her right foe,

And that most cruel, where ( for all their faith

Was one ) no drop of water mote they drink

For love of God nor love of gold.

I rose

And hasted; I was soon among the folk,

But late for work. The crew, spent, faint, and bruised

Saved for the most part of our men, lay prone

In grass, and women served them bread and mead,

Other the sea laid decently alone

Ready for burial. And a litter stood

In shade. Upon it lying a goodly man,

The govourner or the captain as it seemed,

Dead in his stiff gold-broider'd bravery,

And epaulet and sword. They must have loved

That man, for many had died to bring him in,

Their boats stove in were stranded here and there.

In one — but how I know not — brought they him,

And he was laid upon a folded flag,

Many times doubled for his greater ease,

That was our thought — and we made signs to them

He should have sepulture. But when they knew

They must needs leave him, for some marched them off

For more safe custody, they made great moan.

After, with two my neighbours drawing nigh,

One of them touched the Spaniard's hand and said,

‘ Dead is he but not cold;’ the other then,

‘ Nay in good truth methinks he be not dead.’

Again the first,‘ An’ if he breatheth yet

He lies at his last gasp.’ And this went off,

And left us two, that by the litter stayed,

Looking on one another, and we looked

( For neither willed to speak ), and yet looked on.

Then would he have me know the meet was fixed

For nine o’ the clock, and to be brief with you

He left me. And I had the Spaniard home.

What other could be done? I had him home.

Men on his litter bare him, set him down

In a fair chamber that was nigh the hall.

And yet he waked not from his deathly swoon,

Albeit my wife did try her skill, and now

Bad lay him on a bed, when lo the folds

Of that great ensign covered store of gold,

Rich Spanish ducats, raiment, Moorish blades

Chased in right goodly wise, and missals rare,

And other gear. I locked it for my part

Into an armoury, and that fair flag

( While we did talk full low till he should end )

Spread over him. Methought, the man shall die

Under his country's colours; he was brave,

His deadly wound to that doth testify.

And when‘ t was seemly order'd, Rosamund,

My daughter, who had looked not yet on death,

Came in, a face all marvel, pity, and dread —

Lying against her shoulder sword-long flowers,

White hollyhocks to cross upon his breast.

Slowly she turned as of that sight afeard,

But while with daunted heart she moved anigh,

His eyelids quiver'd, quiver'd then the lip,

And he, reviving, with a sob looked up

And set on her the midnight of his eyes.

Then she, in act to place the burial gift

Bending above him, and her flaxen hair

Fall'n to her hand, drew back and stood upright

Comely and tall, her innocent fair face

Cover'd with blushes more of joy than shame.

‘ Father,’ she cried,‘ O father, I am glad.

Look you! the enemy liveth.’‘'T is enough,

My maiden,’ quoth her mother,‘ thou may'st forth,

But say an Avè first for him with me.’

Then they with hands upright at foot o’ his bed

Knelt, his dark dying eyes at gaze on them,

Till as I think for wonder at them, more

Than for his proper strength, he could not die.

So in obedient wise my daughter risen,

And going, let a smile of comforting cheer

Lift her sweet lip, and that was all of her

For many a night and day that he beheld.

And then withal my dame, a leech of skill,

Tended the Spaniard fain to heal his wound,

Her women aiding at their best. And he

‘ Twixt life and death awaken'd in the night

Full oft in his own tongue would make his moan,

And when he whisper'd any word I knew,

If I was present, for to pleasure him,

Then made I repetition of the same.

‘ Cordova,’ quoth he faintly,‘ Cordova,’

‘ T was the first word he mutter'd.‘ Ay, we know,’

Quoth I,‘ the stoutness of that fight ye made

Against the Moors and their Mahometry,

And dispossess'd the men of fame, the fierce

Khalifs of Cordova — thy home belike,

Thy city. A fair city Cordova.’

Then after many days, while his wound healed,

He with abundant seemly sign set forth

His thanks, but as for language had we none,

And oft he strove and failed to let us know

Some wish he had, but could not, so a week,

Two weeks went by. Then Rosamund my girl,

Hearing her mother plain on this, she saith,

‘ So please you, madam, show the enemy

A Psalter in our English tongue, and fetch

And give him that same book my father found

Wrapped in the ensign. Are they not the same

Those holy words? The Spaniard being devout,

He needs must know them.’

‘ Peace, thou pretty fool!

Is this a time to teach an alien tongue?’

Her mother made for answer.‘ He is sick,

The Spaniard.’‘ Cry you mercy,’ quoth my girl,

‘ But I did think‘ t were easy to let show

How both the Psalters are of meaning like;

If he know Latin, and‘ t is like he doth,

So might he choose a verse to tell his thought.’

Then said I ( ay, I did! )‘ The girl shall try,’

And straight I took her to the Spaniard's side,

And he, admiring at her, all his face

Changed to a joy that almost showed as fear,

So innocent holy she did look, so grave

Her pitiful eyes.

She sat beside his bed,

He covered with the ensign yet; and took

And showed the Psalters both, and she did speak

Her English words, but gazing was enough

For him at her sweet dimple, her blue eyes

That shone, her English blushes. Rosamund,

My beautiful dear child. He did but gaze,

And not perceive her meaning till she touched

His hand, and in her Psalter showed the word.

Then was all light to him; he laughed for joy,

And took the Latin Missal. O full soon,

Alas, how soon, one read the other's thought!

Before she left him, she had learned his name

Alonzo, told him hers, and found the care

Made night and day uneasy — Cordova,

There dwelt his father, there his kin, nor knew

Whether he lived or died, whether in thrall

To the Islanders for lack of ransom pined

Or rued the galling yoke of slavery.

So did he cast him on our kindness. I —

And care not who may know it — I was kind,

And for that our stout Queen did think foul scorn

To kill the Spanish prisoners, and to guard

So many could not, liefer being to rid

Our country of them than to spite their own,

I made him as I might that matter learn,

Eking scant Latin with my daughter's wit,

And told him men let forth and driven forth

Did crowd our harbours for the ports of Spain,

By one of whom, he, with good aid of mine,

Should let his tidings go, and I plucked forth

His ducats that a meet reward might be.

Then he, the water standing in his eyes,

Made old King David's words due thanks convey.

Then Rosamund, this all made plain, arose

And curtsey'd to the Spaniard. Ah, methinks

I yet behold her, gracious, innocent,

And flaxen-haired, and blushing maidenly,

When turning she retired, and his black eyes,

That hunger'd after her, did follow on;

And I bethought me,‘ Thou shalt see no more,

Thou goodly enemy, my one ewe lamb.’

O, I would make short work of this. The wound

Healed, and the Spaniard rose, then could he stand,

And then about his chamber walk at ease.

Now we had counsell'd how to have him home,

And that same trading vessel beating up

The Irish Channel at my will, that same

I charter'd for to serve me in the war,

Next was I minded should mine enemy

Deliver to his father, and his land.

Daily we looked for her, till in our cove,

Upon that morn when first the Spaniard walked,

Behold her rocking; and I hasted down

And left him waiting in the house.

Woe‘ s me!

All being ready speed I home, and lo

My Rosamund, that by the Spaniard sat

Upon a cushion'd settle, book in hand.

I needs must think how in the deep alcove

Thick chequer'd shadows of the window-glass

Did fall across her kirtle and her locks,

For I did see her thus no more.

She held

Her Psalter, and he his, and slowly read

Till he would stop her at the needed word.

‘ O well is thee,’ she read, my Rosamund,

‘ O well is thee, and happy shalt thou be.

Thy wife —’ and there he stopped her, and he took

And kissed her hand, and show'd in‘ s own a ring,

Taking no heed of me, no heed at all.

Then I burst forth, the choler red i’ my face

When I did see her blush, and put it on.

‘ Give me,’ quoth I, and Rosamund, afraid,

Gave me the ring. I set my heel on it,

Crushed it, and sent the rubies scattering forth,

And did in righteous anger storm at him.

‘ What! what!’ quoth I,‘ before her father's eyes,

Thou universal villain, thou ingrate,

Thou enemy whom I shelter'd, fed, restored,

Most basest of mankind!’ And Rosamund,

Arisen, her forehead pressed against mine arm,

And‘ Father,’ cries she,‘ father.’

And I stormed

At him, while in his Spanish he replied

As one would speak me fair.‘ Thou Spanish hound!’

‘ Father,’ she pleaded.‘ Alien vile,’ quoth I,

‘ Plucked from the death, wilt thou repay me thus?

It is but three times thou hast set thine eyes

On this my daughter.’‘ Father,’ moans my girl;

And I, not willing to be so withstood,

Spoke roughly to her. Then the Spaniard's eyes

Blazed — then he stormed at me in his own tongue,

And all his Spanish arrogance and pride

Broke witless on my wrathful English. Then

He let me know, for I perceived it well,

He reckon'd him mine equal, thought foul scorn

Of my displeasure, and was wroth with me

As I with him.‘ Father,’ sighed Rosamund.

‘ Go, get thee to thy mother, girl,’ quoth I.

And slowly, slowly, she betook herself

Down the long hall; in lowly wise she went

And made her moans.

But when my girl was gone

I stood at fault, th’ occasion master'd me;

Belike it master'd him, for both felt mute.

I calmed me, and he calmed him as he might.

For I bethought me I was yet an host,

And he bethought him on the worthiness

Of my first deeds.

So made I sign to him.

The tide was up, and soon I had him forth,

Delivered him his goods, commended him

To the captain o’ the vessel, then plucked off

My hat, in seemly fashion taking leave,

And he was not outdone, but every way

Gave me respect, and on the deck we two

Parted, as I did hope, to meet no more.

Alas! my Rosamund, my Rosamund!

She did not weep, no. Plain upon me, no.

Her eyes mote well have lost the trick of tears:

As new-washed flowers shake off the down-dropt rain,

And make denial of it, yet more blue

And fair of favour afterward, so they.

The wild woodrose was not more fresh of blee

Than her soft dimpled cheek: but I beheld,

Come home, a token hung about her neck,

Sparkling upon her bosom for his sake,

Her love, the Spaniard, she denied it not,

All unaware, good sooth, such love was bale.

And all that day went like another day,

Ay, all the next; then was I glad at heart;

Methought,‘ I am glad thou wilt not waste thy youth

Upon an alien man, mine enemy,

Thy nation's enemy. In truth, in truth,

This likes me very well. My most dear child,

Forget yon grave dark mariner. The Lord

Everlasting,’ I besought,‘ bring it to pass.’

Stealeth a darker day within my hall,

A winter day of wind and driving foam.

They tell me that my girl is sick — and yet

Not very sick. I may not hour by hour,

More than one watching of a moon that wanes,

Make chronicle of change. A parlous change

When he looks back to that same moon at full.

Ah! ah! methought,‘ t will pass. It did not pass,

Though never she made moan. I saw the rings

Drop from her small white wasted hand. And I,

Her father, tamed of grief, I would have given

My land, my name to have her as of old.

Ay, Rosamund I speak of with the small

White face. Ay, Rosamund. O near as white,

And mournfuller by much, her mother dear

Drooped by her couch; and while of hope and fear

Lifted or left, as by a changeful tide,

We thought‘ The girl is better,’ or we thought

‘ The girl will die,’ that jewel from her neck

She drew, and prayed me send it to her love;

A token she was true e'en to the end.

What matter'd now? But whom to send, and how

To reach the man? I found an old poor priest,

Some peril‘ t was for him and me, she writ

My pretty Rosamund her heart's farewell,

She kissed the letter, and that old poor priest,

Who had eaten of my bread, and shelter'd him

Under my roof in troublous times, he took,

And to content her on this errand went,

While she as done with earth did wait the end.

Mankind bemoan them on the bitterness

Of death. Nay, rather let them chide the grief

Of living, chide the waste of mother-love

For babes that joy to get away to God;

The waste of work and moil and thought and thrift

And father-love for sons that heed it not,

And daughters lost and gone. Ay, let them chide

These. Yet I chide not. That which I have done

Was rightly done; and what thereon befell

Could make no right a wrong, e'en were‘ t to do

Again.

I will be brief. The days drag on,

My soul forebodes her death, my lonely age.

Once I despondent in the moaning wood

Look out, and lo a caravel at sea,

A man that climbs the rock, and presently

The Spaniard!

I did greet him, proud no more.

He had braved durance, as I knew, ay death,

To land on th’ Island soil. In broken words

Of English he did ask me how she fared.

Quoth I,‘ She is dying, Spaniard; Rosamund

My girl will die;’ but he is fain, saith he,

To talk with her, and all his mind to speak;

I answer,‘ Ay, my whilome enemy,

But she is dying.’‘ Nay, now nay,’ quoth he,

‘ So be she liveth,’ and he moved me yet

For answer; then quoth I,‘ Come life, come death,

What thou wilt, say.’

Soon made we Rosamund

Aware, she lying on the settle, wan

As a lily in the shade, and while she not

Believed for marvelling, comes he roundly in,

The tall grave Spaniard, and with but one smile,

One look of ruth upon her small pale face,

All slowly as with unaccustom'd mouth,

Betakes him to that English he hath conned,

Setting the words out plain:

‘ Child! Rosamund!

Love! An so please thee, I would be thy man.

By all the saints will I be good to thee.

Come.’

Come! what think you, would she come? Ay, ay.

They love us, but our love is not their life.

For the dark mariner's love lived Rosamund.

Soon for his kiss she bloomed, smiled for his smile.

( The Spaniard reaped e'en as th’ Evangel saith,

And bore in‘ s bosom forth my golden sheaf. )

She loved her father and her mother well,

But loved the Spaniard better. It was sad

To part, but she did part; and it was far

To go, but she did go. The priest was brought,

The ring was bless'd that bound my Rosamund,

She sailed, and I shall never see her more.

One soweth and another reapeth. Ay,

Too true! too true!