And hence the custom and law began,

That still at dawn the sacristan,

Who duly pulls the heavy bell,

Five and forty beads must tell
Between each stroke-a warning knell,

Which not a soul can choose but hear

From Bratha Head to Wyn'dermere.

Saith Bracy the bard, So let it knell!
And let the drowsy sacristan
Still count as slowly as he can!
There is no lack of such, I ween

As well fill up the space between.
In Langdale Pike and Witch's Lair,
And Dungeon-ghyll so foully rent,

With

ropes of rock and bells of air Three sinful sextons' ghosts are pent, Who all give back, one after t'other, The death-note to their living brother;

And oft too, by the knell offended,

Just as their one! two! three! is ended,
The devil mocks the doleful tale
With a merry peal from Borrowdale.

The air is still! thro' mist and cloud
That merry peal comes ringing loud;
And Geraldine shakes off her dread,
And rises lightly from the bed ;
Puts on her silken vestments white,
And tricks her hair in lovely plight,
And nothing doubting of her spell
Awakens the lady Christabel.

Sleep you, sweet lady Christabel?

"I trust that you have rested well."

And Christabel awoke and spied

The same who lay down by her side

O rather say, the same whom she

Rais'd up beneath the old oak tree!

Nay, fairer yet! and yet more fair!

For she belike hath drunken deep
Of all the blessedness of sleep!

And while she spake, her looks, her air
Such gentle thankfulness declare,
That (so it seem'd) her girded vests
Grew tight beneath her heaving breasts.
"Sure I have sinn'd!" said Christabel,
"Now heaven be prais'd if all be well!"
And in low faltering tones, yet sweet,
Did she the lofty lady greet

With such perplexity of mind

As dreams too lively leave behind.

So quickly she rose, and quickly array'd Her maiden limbs, and having pray'd

That He, who on the cross did groan, Might wash away her sins unknown, She forthwith led fair Geraldine

To meet her sire, Sir Leoline.

The lovely maid and the lady tall
Are pacing both into the hall,

And pacing on thro' page and groom
Enter the Baron's presence room.

The Baron rose, and while he prest His gentle daughter to his breast, With cheerful wonder in his eyes The lady Geraldine espies,

And gave such welcome to the same, As might beseem so bright a dame!

But when he heard the lady's tale, And when she told her father's name,

Why wax'd Sir Leoline so pale,
Murmuring o'er the name again,
Lord Roland de Vaux of Tryermaine?

Alas! they had been friends in youth ;
But whispering tongues can poison truth;
And constancy lives in realms above;

And life is thorny; and youth is vain ;
And to be wroth with one we love,
Doth work like madness in the brain.

And thus it chanc'd, as I divine,

With Roland and Sir Leoline.

Each spake words of high disdain

And insult to his heart's best brother:

They parted-ne'er to meet again!

But never either found another

To free the hollow heart from painingThey stood aloof, the scars remaining,

Like cliffs which had been rent asunder;