Sometimes he could not well withstand
The yearning fairly to behold
Her face and know what it foretold
Of dim calamity ; or still
Within him grew some weaker will
To visit now and see how fared
His lands, and whether any cared
For what was his, and if perchance,
Saved from the evil governance

Of plotters vile, the king were tumeil
Again to him so wrongly spurned.
Meanwhile it had but come to pass.
His king,— sore grieved, finding, alas.
How, with deep traitorous intent.
Those false reviling ones had bent

His mind to a wrath all unjust

Against one worthiest of all trust ;
And further, for that he was pressed
Right hotly now in lands possessed

Upon a border, by hard foes ; —

He sent an embassy of those



DolizodbyGoOgle



THE LA Y OF ELIDUC,

His noblest, who the most were dear
To Ehduc ; and bade them bear

A royal word of full regret

Praying him wholly to forget
His wrong and exile, and to bring
His unmatched sword back to his king.
But lo, no sooner had he heard
Than he was glad of every word.
Yet was he troubled other way;

And held his heart still day by day
From seeking such a bitter thing
As his free parting from that king

Who had so soodied his hard exile

With perfect favour of his smile ;
But, more than all, for the feir sake
Of Guilliadun, and fear to break

The very life within her heart

At the first seeking to depart ;
For this, full many a bitter thought
Most deeply in his bosom wrought,

Stirring the love within him straight ;

And all the tenderness that late



D,a,l,zt!dbvG00gIf



THE LAY OF ELIDUC.
