Contents -BIBLIOGRAPHIC RECORD

Arthur Quiller-Couch, comp. The Oxford Book of Victorian Verse. 1922.

Elegy: On a Lady, Whom Grief for the Death of Her Betrothed Killed

Robert Bridges (1844–1930)

ASSEMBLE, all ye maidens, at the door,

And all ye loves, assemble; far and wide

Proclaim the bridal, that proclaim’d before

Has been deferr’d to this late eventide:

For on this night the bride,

The days of her betrothal over,

Leaves the parental hearth for evermore;

To-night the bride goes forth to meet her lover.

Reach down the wedding vesture, that has lain

Yet all unvisited, the silken gown:

Bring out the bracelets, and the golden chain

Her dearer friends provided: sere and brown

Bring out the festal crown,

And set it on her forehead lightly:

Though it be wither’d, twine no wreath again;

This only is the crown she can wear rightly.

Cloke her in ermine, for the night is cold,

And wrap her warmly, for the night is long,

In pious hands the flaming torches hold,

While her attendants, chosen from among

Her faithful virgin throng,

May lay her in her cedar litter,

Decking her coverlet with sprigs of gold,

Roses, and lilies white that best befit her.

Sound flute and tabor, that the bridal be

Not without music, nor with these alone;

But let the viol lead the melody,

With lesser intervals, and plaintive moan

Of sinking semitone;

And, all in choir, the virgin voices

Rest not from singing in skill’d harmony

The song that aye the bridegroom’s ear rejoices.

Let the priests go before, array’d in white,

And let the dark-stoled minstrels follow slow,

Next they that bear her, honour’d on this night,

And then the maidens, in a double row,

Each singing soft and low,

And each on high a torch upstaying:

Unto her lover lead her forth with light,

With music, and with singing, and with praying.

’Twas at this sheltering hour he nightly came,

And found her trusty window open wide,

And knew the signal of the timorous flame,

That long the restless curtain would not hide

Her form that stood beside;

As scarce she dared to be delighted,

Listening to that sweet tale, that is no shame

To faithful lovers, that their hearts have plighted.

But now for many days the dewy grass

Has shown no markings of his feet at morn:

And watching she has seen no shadow pass

The moonlit walk, and heard no music borne

Upon her ear forlorn.

In vain has she looked out to greet him;

He has not come, he will not come, alas!

So let us bear her out where she must meet him.

Now to the river bank the priests are come:

The bark is ready to receive its freight:

Let some prepare her place therein, and some

Embark the litter with its slender weight:

The rest stand by in state,

And sing her a safe passage over;

While she is oar’d across to her new home,

Into the arms of her expectant lover.

And thou, O lover, that art on the watch,

Where, on the banks of the forgetful streams,

The pale indifferent ghosts wander, and snatch

The sweeter moments of their broken dreams,—

Thou, when the torchlight gleams,

When thou shalt see the slow procession,

And when thine ears the fitful music catch,

Rejoice, for thou art near to thy possession.