"Your gracious pardon grant, my liege, I pray;He has atonement madeFor all he's done:And nature's last great debt will soon be paid;His life may even set with yonder sun!""Lead on, Sir Knight, I'd see him, ere he pass away."
"Farewell," King Richard said, "Heaven's peace be thine!And you, Sir Harold, kneel!Hand me your sword!Now rise, for valiant deeds and service leal,Of Hastyngs' lands and Normanhurst the Lord!Till on young Eric's heels the spurs of knighthood shine!"
Once more old Ragnor's rocks resound with cries,Of grief? Nay—joy and pride!For on the sea,A noble, full-rigged ship doth stately ride—The Orient Pearl—her white cross streaming free;Whose captain Mike and crew now laugh at frowning skies!
Hearts bound so late by love's sweet hallowed chainBy war's fierce edicts rent,Lie bleeding sore;And scan with eyes from weeping well-nigh spent,Love's waning signals till they see no more.Heaven grant them soon to see those signals once again!
By Bertram's arrow pierced with fatal aim,The Lion-heart was torn.Beside him lay,Of strength, by pain and bleeding torn,One Eric whom the king had dubbed that dayA knight—no worthier yet—adorned the roll of fame!
******
Once more on Ragnor's brow the beacons blaze,The Orient Pearl to greet,On her return.Two brides wait mid a throng of friends to meetTheir war-proof knights. The shades of rank they spurn;They'd vowed for each a sister's love for aye and aye.
Sweet harpings break the stilly night's repose.The seamen list once more,As from her bower,There fall those witching sounds they've heard before,In days long gone, from Ragnor's lofty tower.When hearts with voices blend what heavenly music flows!
Breathe fair, ye winds, breathe fair;My true love's on the sea.God, hear the lone one's prayer,And bring him back to me!God guide the helm, God fill the sailsAnd waft him with propitious gales!
Breathe fair, ye winds, breathe fair,And bear my true love home!Love's bonds shall hold him there,No more, no more to roam.God guide the helm, God fill the sails,And speed him home propitious gales!
She flies the holy crossThat talisman divineShall shield from loss and harm.Her faithful knight and mine."O Christ, bid thou the storm to ceaseAnd fill our hearts with joy and peace!"
They light the beacon fires the hills around.All eyes are eager bentAcross the sea,To cheer the night, a hundred voices blentTo chase the gloomy hours with mirthful glee;Till shouts of "ship ahoy!" made every heart rebound.
******
And now for many days round Ragnor's Towers,Life flowed in mirth away."Let feast and song,"Sir Harold said, "have free unbounded sway;For grief and gloom have lorded here too long.Let joy now rule the day and strew her path with flowers!"
And yet a year, the joy-bells ring again;For sons are born to siresOf knightly fame.Once more the swains, light up the beacon fires;Old Hastyngs flashed to Normanhurst the flame;For Harold had to Eric given Ruth's hand and Ralph's domain.
VALE!