The Lay of Aotrou and Itroun

The lay of Aotrou and Itroun

In Britain's land beyond the seas

the wind blows ever through the trees;

in Britain's land beyond the waves

are stony shores and stony caves.

There stands a ruined toft now green

where lords and ladies once were seen,

where towers were piled above the trees

and watchmen scanned the sailing seas.

Of old a lord in arched hall

with standing stones yet grey and tall

there dwelt, till dark his doom befell,

as still the Briton harpers tell.

No child he had his house to cheer,

to fill his courts with laughter clear;

though wife he wooed and wed with ring,

who love to board and bed did bring,

his pride was empty, vain his hoard,

without an heir to land and sword.

Thus pondering oft at night awake

his darkened mind would visions make

of lonely age and death; his tomb

unkept, while strangers in his room

with other names and other shields

were masters of his halls and fields.

Thus counsel cold he took at last;

his hope from light to darkness passed.

A witch there was, who webs could weave

to snare the heart and wits to reave,

who span dark spells with spider-craft,

and as she span she softly laughed;

a drink she brewed of strength and dread

to bind the quick and stir the dead;

In a cave she housed where winging bats

their harbour sought, and owls and cats

from hunting came with mournful cries,

night-stalking near with needle-eyes.

In the homeless hills was her hollow dale,

black was its bowl, its brink was pale;

there silent on a seat of stone

before her cave she sat alone.

Dark was her door, and few there came,

whether man, or beast that man doth tame.

In Britain's land beyond the waves

are stony hills and stony caves;

the wind blows ever over hills

and hollow caves with wailing fills.

The sun was fallen low and red,

behind the hills the day was dead,

and in the valley formless lay

the misty shadows long and grey.

Alone between the dark and light

there rode into the mouth of night

the Briton lord, and creeping fear

about him closed. Dismounting near

he slowly then with lagging feet

went halting to the stony seat.

His words came faltering on the wind,

while silent sat the crone and grinned.

Few words he needed; for her eyes

were dark and piercing, filled with lies,

yet needle-keen all lies to probe.

He shuddered in his sable robe.

His name she knew, his need, his thought,

the hunger that thither him had brought;

while yet he spoke she laughed aloud,

and rose and nodded; head she bowed,'

and stooped into her darkening cave,

like ghost returning to the grave.

Thence swift she came. In his hand she laid

a phial of glass so fairly made

'twas wonder in that houseless place

to see its cold and gleaming grace;

and therewithin a philter lay

as pale as water thin and grey

that spills from stony fountains frore

in hollow pools in caverns hoar.

He thanked her, trembling, offering gold

to withered fingers shrunk and old.

The thanks she took not, nor the fee,

but laughing croaked: "Nay, we shall see!

Let thanks abide till thanks be earned!

Such potions oft, men say, have burned

the heart and brain, or else are nought,

only cold water dearly bought.

Such lies you shall not tell of me;

Till it is earned I'll have no fee.

But we shall meet again one day,

and rich reward then you shall pay,

whate'er I ask: it may be gold,

it may be other wealth you hold."

In Britain ways are wild and long,

and woods are dark with danger strong;

and sound of seas is in the leaves,

and wonder walks the forest-eaves.

The way was long, the woods were dark;

at last the lord beheld the spark

of living light from window high,

and knew his halls and towers were nigh.

At last he slept in weary sleep

beside his wife, and dreaming deep,

he walked with children yet unborn

in gardens fair, until the morn

came slowly through the windows tall,

and shadows moved across the wall.

Then sprang the day with weather fair,

for windy rain had washed the air,

and blue and cloudless, clean and high,

above the hills was arched the sky,

and foaming in the northern breeze

beneath the sky there shone the seas.

Arising then to greet the sun,

and day with a new thought begun,

that lord in guise of joy him clad,

and masked his mind in manner glad;

his mouth unwonted laughter used

and words of mirth. He oft had mused,

walking alone with furrowed brow;

a feast he bade prepare him now.

And "Itroun mine," he said, "my life,

'tis long that thou hast been my wife.

Too swiftly by in love do slip

our gentle years, and as a ship

returns to port, we soon shall find,

once more that day of spring we mind,

when we were wed, and bells were rung.

But still we love, and still are young:

A merry feast we'll make this year,

and there shall come no sigh nor tear;

and we will feign our love begun

in joy anew, anew to run

down happy paths–and yet, maybe,

we'll pray that this year we may see

our heart's desire more quick draw nigh

than yet we have seen it, thou and I;

for virtue is in hope and prayer."

So spake he gravely, seeming-fair.

In Britain's land across the seas

the spring is merry in the trees;

the birds in Britain's woodlands pair

when leaves are long and flowers are fair.

A merry feast that year they made,

when blossom white on bush was laid;

there minstrels sang and wine was poured,

as it were the marriage of a lord.

A cup of silver wrought he raised

and smiling on the lady gazed:

"I drink to thee for health and bliss,

fair love," he said, "and with this kiss

the pledge I pass. Come, drink it deep!

The wine is sweet, the cup is steep!"

The wine was red, the cup was grey;

but blended there a potion lay

as pale as water thin and frore

in hollow pools of caverns hoar.

She drank it, laughing with her eyes.

"Aotrou, lord and love" she cries,

all hail and life both long and sweet,

wherein desire at last to meet!"

Now days ran on in great delight

with hope at morn and mirth at night;

and in the garden of his dream

the lord would walk, and there would deem

he saw two children, boy and maid,

that fair as flowers danced and played

on lawns of sunlight without hedge

save a dark shadow at their edge.

Though spring and summer wear and fade,

though flowers fall and leaves are laid,

and winter winds his trumpet loud,

and snows both fell and forest shroud,

though roaring seas upon the shore

go long and white, and neath the door

the wind cries with houseless voice,

in fire and song yet men rejoice,

till as a ship returns to port

the spring comes back to field and court.

A song now falls from windows high,

like silver dropping from the sky,

soft in the early eve of spring.

"Why do they play? Why do they sing?"

"Light may she lie, our lady fair!

Too long hath been her cradle bare.

Yestreve there came as I passed by

the cry of babes from windows high.

Twin children, I am told there be.

Light may they lie and sleep, all three!"

"Would every prayer were answered twice!

the half or nought must oft suffice

for humbler men, who wear their knees

more bare than lords, as oft one sees."

"Not every lord wins such fair grace.

Come wish them speed with kinder face!

Light may she lie, my lady fair;

long live her lord her joy to share!"

A manchild and an infant maid

as fair as flowers in bed were laid.

Her joy was come, her pain was passed;

in mirth and ease Itroun at last

in her fair chamber softly lay

singing to her babes lullay.

Glad was her lord, as grave he stood

beside her bed of carven wood.

"Now full" he said, "is granted me

both hope and prayer, and what of thee?

Is 't not, fair love, most passing sweet

the heart's desire at last to meet?

Yet if thy heart still longing hold,

or lightest wish remain untold,

that will I find and bring to thee,

though I should ride both land and sea!"

"Aotrou mine," she said, " 'tis sweet

at last the heart's desire to meet,

thus after waiting, after prayer,

thus after hope and nigh despair.

I would not have, thee run nor ride

to-day nor ever from my side;

yet after sickness, after pain,

oft cometh hunger sharp again."

"Nay, love, if thirst or hunger strange

for bird or beast on earth that range,

for wine, or water from what well

in any secret fount or dell,

vex thee," he smiled, "now swift declare!

If more than gold or jewel rare,

from greenwood, haply, fallow deer,

or fowl that swims the shallow mere

thou cravest, I will bring it thee,

though I should hunt o'er land and lea.

No gold nor silk nor jewel bright

can match my gladness and delight,

the boy and maiden lily-fair

that here do lie and thou did'st bear."

"Aotrou, lord," she said, " 'tis, true,

a longing strong and sharp I knew

in dream for water cool and clear,

and venison of the greenwood deer

for waters crystal-clear and cold

and deer no earthly forests hold,

and still in waking comes unsought

the foolish wish to vex my thought.

But I would not have thee run nor ride

to-day nor ever from my side"

In Brittany beyond the seas

the wind blows ever through the trees;

in Brittany the forest pale

marches slow over hill and dale.

There seldom far the horns were wound,

and seldom hunted horse and hound.

The lord his lance of ashwood caught,

the wine was to his stirrup brought;

with bow and horn he rode alone,

and iron smote the fire from stone,

as his horse bore him o'er the land

to the green boughs of Broceliande,

to the green dales where listening deer

seldom a mortal hunter hear:

there startling now they stare and stand,

as his horn winds in Broceliande.

Beneath the woodland's hanging eaves

a white doe startled under leaves;

strangely she glistered in the sun

as she leaped forth and turned to run.

Then reckless after her he spurred;

dim laughter in the woods he heard,

but heeded not, a longing strange

for deer that fair and fearless range

vexed him, for venison of the beast

whereon no mortal hunt shall feast,

for waters crystal-clear and cold

that never in holy fountain rolled.

He hunted her from the forest-eaves

into the twilight under leaves;

the earth was shaken under hoof,

till the boughs were bent into a roof,

and the sun was woven in a snare;

and laughter still was on the air.

The sun was falling. In the dell

deep in the forest silence fell.

No sight nor slot of doe he found

but roots of trees upon the ground,

and trees like shadows waiting stood

for night to come upon the wood.

The sun was lost, all green was grey.

There twinkled the fountain of the fay,

before a cave, on silver sand,

under dark boughs in Broceliande.

Soft was the grass and clear the pool;

he laved his face in water cool.

He saw her then, on silver chair

before her cavern, pale her hair,

slow was her smile, and white her hand

beckoning in Broceliande.

The moonlight falling clear and cold

her long hair lit; through comb of gold

she drew each lock, and down it fell

like the fountain falling in the dell.

He heard her voice, and it was cold

as echo from the world of old,

ere fire was found or iron hewn,

when young was mountain under moon.

He heard her voice like water falling

or wind upon a long shore calling,

yet sweet the words: "We meet again

here after waiting, after pain!

Aotrou! Lo! thou hast returned–

perchance some kindness I have earned?

What hast thou, lord, to give to me

whom thou hast come thus far to see,"

"I know thee not, I know thee not,

nor ever saw thy darkling grot.

O Corrigan! 'twas not for thee

I hither came a-hunting free!"

"How darest, then, my water wan

to trouble thus, or look me on?

For this of least I claim my fee,

if ever thou wouldst wander free.

With love thou shall me here requite,

for here to long and sweet the night;

in druery dear thou here shall deal,

in bliss more deep than mortals feel."

"I gave no love. My love is wed;

my wife now lieth in child-bed,

and I curse the beast that cheated me

and drew me to this dell to thee."

Her smiling ceased, and slow she said:

"Forget thy wife; for thou shall wed

anew with me, or stand as stone

and wither lifeless and alone,

as stone beside the fountain stand

forgotten in Broceliande."

"I will not stand here turned to stone;

but I will leave thee cold, alone,

and I will ride to mine own home

and the waters blest of Christendome."

"But three days then and thou shall die;

In three days on thy bier lie!"

"In three days I shall live at ease,

and die but when it God doth please

in eld, or in some time to come

in the brave wars of Christendom."

In Britain's land beyond the waves

are forests dim and secret caves;

in Britain's land the breezes bear

the sound of bells along the air

to mingle with the sound of seas

for ever moving in the trees.

The wandering way was long and wild;

and hastening home to wife and child

at last the hunter heard the knell

at morning of the sacring-bell;

escaped from thicket and from fen

at last he saw the tilth of men;

the hoar and houseless hills he passed,

and weary at his gates him cast.

"Good steward, if thou love me well,

bid make my bed! My heart doth swell;

my limbs are numb with heavy sleep,

and drowsy poisons in them creep.

All night, as in a fevered maze,

I have ridden dark and winding ways."

To bed they brought him and to sleep:

in sunless thickets tangled deep

he dreamed, and wandering found no more

the garden green, but on the shore

the seas, were moaning in the wind;

a face before him leered and grinned:

"Now it is earned, come bring to me

my fee," a voice said, "bring my feel"

Beside a fountain falling cold

the Corrigan now shrunk and old

was sitting singing; in her claw

a comb of bony teeth he saw,

with which she raked her tresses grey,

but in her other hand there lay

a phial of glass with water filled

that from the bitter fountain spilled.

At eve he waked and murmured: "Ringing

of bells within my ears, and singing,

a singing is beneath the moon.

Grieve not my wife! Grieve not Itroun!

My death is near–but do not tell,

though I am wounded with a spell!

But two days more, and then I die–

and I would have had her sweetly lie

and sweet arise; and live yet long,

and see our children hale and strong."

His words they little understood,

but cursed the fevers of the wood,

and to their lady no word spoke.

Ere second morn was old she woke,

and to her women standing near

gave greeting with a merry cheer:

"Good people, lo! the morn is bright!

Say, did my lord return ere night,

and tarries now with hunting worn?"

"Nay, lady, he came not with the morn;

but ere men candles set on board,

thou wilt have tidings of thy lord;

or hear his feet to thee returning,

ere candles in the eve are burning."

Ere the third morn was wide she woke,

and eager greeted them, and spoke:

"Behold the morn is cold and grey,

and why is my lord so long away?

I do not hear his feet returning

neither at evening nor at morning"

"We do not know, we cannot say"

they answered and they turned away.

Her gentle babes in swaddling white,

now seven days had seen the light,

and she arose and left her bed,

and called her maidens and she said:

"My lord must soon return. Come, bring

my fairest raiment, stone on ring,

and pearl on thread; for him 'twill please

to see his wife abroad at ease."

She looked from window tall and high,

and felt a breeze go coldly by;

she saw it pass from tree to tree;

the clouds were laid from hill to sea.

She heard no horn and heard no hoof,

but rain came pattering on the roof;

in Brittany she heard the waves

on sounding shore in hollow caves.

The day wore on till it was old;

she heard the bells that slowly tolled.

"Good folk, why do they mourning make?

In tower I hear the slow bells shake,

and Dirige the white priests sing.

Whom to the churchyard do they bring?"

"A man unhappy here there came

a while agone. His horse was lame;

sickness was on him, and he fell

before our gates, or so they tell.

Here he was harboured, but to-day

he died, and passeth now the way

we all must go, to church to lie

on bier before the altar high."

She looked upon them, dark and deep,

and saw them in the shadows weep.

"Then tall, and fair, and brave was he,

or tale of sorrow there must be

concerning him, that still ye keep,

if for a stranger thus ye weep!

What know ye more? Ah, say! ah, say!"

They answered not, and turned away.

"Ah me," she said, "that I could sleep

this night, or least that I could weep!"

But all night long she tossed and turned,.

and in her limbs a fever burned:

and yet when sudden under sun

a fairer morning was begun,

"Good folk, to church I wend," she said.

"My raiment choose, or robe of red,

or robe of blue, or white and fair,

silver and gold–I do not care."

"Nay, lady," said they, "none of these.

The custom used, as now one sees,

for women that to churching go

is robe of black and walking slow."

In robe of black and walking bent

the lady to her churching went,

in hand a candle small and white,

her face so pale, her hair so bright.

They passed beneath the western door;

there dark within on stony floor

a bier was covered with a pall,

and by it yellow candles tall.

The watchful tapers still and bright

upon his blazon cast their light:

the arms and banner of her lord;

his pride was ended, vain his hoard.

To bed they brought her, swift to sleep

for ever cold, though there might weep

her women by her dark bedside,

or babes in cradle waked and cried.

There was singing slow at dead of night,

and many feet, arid taper-light.

At morn there rang the sacring knell;

and far men heard a single bell

toll, while the sun lay on the land;

while deep in dim Broceliande

a silver fountain flowed and fell

within a darkly woven dell,

and in the homeless hills a dale

was filled with laughter cold and pale.

Beside her lord at last she lay

in their long home beneath the clay;

and if their children lived yet long,

or played in garden hale and strong,

they saw it not, nor found it sweet

their heart's desire at last to meet

In Brittany beyond the waves

are sounding shores and hollow caves;

in Brittany beyond the seas

the wind blows ever through the trees.

Of lord and lady all is said:

God rest their souls, who now are dead!

Sad is the note and sad the lay,

but mirth we meet not every day.

God keep us all in hope and prayer

from evil rede and from despair,

by waters blest of Christendom

to dwell, until at last we come

to joy of Heaven where is queen

the maiden Mary pure and clean.