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Back he reined his steed back-thrown on the slippery

coping-stone,

Back the iron hoofs did grind on the battlement behind, Whence a hundred feet went down.

And his heel did press and goad on the quivering flank bestrode,

"Friends and brothers, save my wife! Pardon, sweet, in change for life,

But I ride alone to God."

Straight, as if the holy name had upbreathed her like a flame,

She upsprang, she rose upright, in his selle she sate in sight;

By her love she overcame.

And her head was on his breast, where she smiled as one at rest,

"Ring," she cried, "O vesper bell, in the beechwood's old chapelle!

But the passing bell rings best."

They have caught out at the rein, which Sir Guy threw loose, in vain,—

For the horse in stark despair, with his front hoofs poised in air,

On the last verge rears amain.

Now he hangs, he rocks between, and his nostrils curdle in,

And he shivers head and hoof, and the flakes of foam fall off;

And his face grows fierce and thin!

And a look of human woe from his staring eyes did go, And a sharp cry uttered he, in a foretold agony

Of the headlong death below.

And "Ring, ring! thou passing bell!" still she cried, "i' the old chapelle!"

Then back-toppling, crashing back-a dead weight flung out to wrack,

Horse and riders overfell!

Elizabeth Barrett Browning.

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