The moon is behind, and at the full ; The lovely lady, Christabel, Whom her father loves so well, What makes her in the wood so late, A furlong from the castle gate ? And she in the midnight wood will pray She stole along, she nothing spoke, The lady sprang up suddenly, Of the huge, broad-breasted, old oak tree. The night is chill; the forest bare ; Hush, beating heart of Christabel ! She folded her arms beneath her cloak, There she sees a damsel bright, That shadowy in the moonlight shone : The gems entangled in her hair. I guess, 'twas frightful there to see A lady so richly clad as she-- Beautiful exceedingly ! Mary mother, save me now!” (Said Christabel), " And who art thou?" The lady strange made answer meet, And her voice was faint and sweet :"Have pity on my sore distress, I scarce can speak for weariness : Stretch forth thy hand, and have no fear!' Said Christabel, "How camest thou here?" And the lady, whose voice was faint and sweet, Did thus pursue her answer meet :— "My sire is of a noble line, Me, even me, a maid forlorn : They choked my cries with force and fright, And tied me on a palfrey white. The palfrey was as fleet as wind, And they rode furiously behind. They spurred amain, their steeds were white; And once we cross'd the shade of night. As sure as Heaven shall rescue me, I have no thought what men they be ; Since one, the tallest of the five, Some mutter'd words his comrades spoke : I thought I heard, some minutes past, Stretch forth thy hand" (thus ended she,) "And help a wretched maid to flee." Then Christabel stretch'd forth her hand "O well, bright dame! may you command The service of Sir Leoline; And gladly our stout chivalry Will he send forth and friends withal She rose and forth with steps they pass'd And thus spake on sweet Christabel : |