1——我在中年时降临Archduches邪恶的事情s Anne: She looked outside her wedding-ring Upon a princely man. II Count Louis was for horse and arms; And if its beacon waved, For love; but ladies had not charms To match a danger braved. III On battlefields he was the bow Bestrung to fly the shaft: In idle hours his heart would flow As winds on currents waft. IV His blood was of those warrior tribes That streamed from morning's fire, Whom now with traps and now with bribes The wily Council wire. V Archduchess Anne the Council ruled, Count Louis his great dame; And woe to both when one had cooled! Little was she to blame. VI Among her chiefs who spun their plots, Old Kraken stood the sword: As sharp his wits for cutting knots Of babble he abhorred. VII He reverenced her name and line, Nor other merit had Save soldierwise to wait her sign, And do the deed she bade. VIII He saw her hand jump at her side Ere royally she smiled On Louis and his fair young bride Where courtly ranks defiled. IX That was a moment when a shock Through the procession ran, And thrilled the plumes, and stayed the clock, Yet smiled Archduchess Anne. X No touch gave she to hound in leash, No wink to sword in sheath: She seemed a woman scarce of flesh; Above it, or beneath. XI Old Kraken spied with kennelled snarl, His Lady deemed disgraced. He footed as on burning marl, When out of Hall he paced. XII 'Twas seen he hammered striding legs, And stopped, and strode again. Now Vengeance has a brood of eggs, But Patience must be hen. XIII Too slow are they for wrath to hatch, Too hot for time to rear. Old Kraken kept unwinding watch; He marked his day appear. XIV He neighed a laugh, though moods were rough With standards in revolt: His nostrils took the news for snuff, His smacking lips for salt. XV Count Louis' wavy cock's plumes led His troops of black-haired manes, A rebel; and old Kraken sped To front him on the plains. XVI Then camp opposed to camp did they Fret earth with panther claws For signal of a bloody day, Each reading from the Laws. XVII 'Forefend it, heaven!' Count Louis cried, 'And let the righteous plead: My country is a willing bride, Was never slave decreed. XVIII 'Not we for thirst of blood appeal To sword and slaughter curst; We have God's blessing on our steel, Do we our pleading first.' XIX Count Louis, soul of chivalry, Put trust in plighted word; By starlight on the broad brown lea, To bar the strife he spurred. XX Across his breast a crimson spot, That in a quiver glowed, The ruddy crested camp-fires shot, As he to darkness rode. XXI He rode while omens called, beware Old Kraken's pledge of faith! A smile and waving hand in air, And outward flew the wraith. XXII Before pale morn had mixed with gold, His army roared, and chilled, As men who have a woe foretold, And see it red fulfilled. XXIII Away and to his young wife speed, And say that Honour's dead! Another word she will not need To bow a widow's head. XXIV Old Kraken roped his white moustache Right, left, for savage glee: - To swing him in his soldier's sash Were kind for such as he! XXV Old Kraken's look hard Winter wears When sweeps the wild snow-blast: He had the hug of Arctic bears For captives he held fast. 2--I Archduchess Anne sat carved in frost, Shut off from priest and spouse. Her lips were locked, her arms were crossed, Her eyes were in her brows. II One hand enclosed a paper scroll, Held as a strangled asp. So may we see the woman's soul In her dire tempter's grasp. III Along that scroll Count Louis' doom Throbbed till the letters flamed. She saw him in his scornful bloom, She saw him chained and shamed. IV Around that scroll Count Louis' fate Was acted to her stare, And hate in love and love in hate Fought fell to smite or spare. V Between the day that struck her old, And this black star of days, Her heart swung like a storm-bell tolled Above a town ablaze. VI His beauty pressed to intercede, His beauty served him ill. - Not Vengeance, 'tis his rebel's deed, 'Tis Justice, not our will! VII Yet who had sprung to life's full force A breast that loveless dried? But who had sapped it at the source, With scarlet to her pride! VIII He brought her waning heart as 'twere New message from the skies. And he betrayed, and l