"Only the birds, whose dusty coats
Show dark in the green,—whose throbbing throats
Turn joy to music and love to notes_.
"Lean your body against the tree,
Lifting your red lips up to me,
Mélite, and kiss, with no man to see!
"And let us laugh for a little:—Yea,
Let love and laughter herald the day
When laughter and love will be put away.
"Then you will remember the willow-tree
And this very hour, and remember me,
Mélite,—whose face you will no more see!
"So swift, so swift the glad time goes,
And Eld and Death with their countless woes
Draw near, and the end thereof no man knows,
"Lean your body against the tree,
Lifting your red lips up to me,
Mélite, and kiss, with no man to see!"_
Mélite smiled as she sang; for this was a song that Adhelmar had made for her upon a May morning at Nointel, before he was a knight, when both were very young. So now she smiled to remember the making of the verses which she sang while the October rain was beating about Puysange.
5. Night-work
It was not long before they came upon d'Andreghen and his men camped about a great oak, with One-eyed Peire a-swing over their heads for a lamentable banner. A shrill sentinel, somewhere in the dark, demanded the newcomers' business, but without receiving any adequate answer, for at that moment Adhelmar gave the word to charge.
Then it was as if all the devils in Pandemonium had chosen Normandy for their playground; and what took place in the night no man saw for the darkness, so that I cannot tell you of it. Let it suffice that Adhelmar rode away before d'Andreghen had rubbed sleep well out of his eyes; and with Adhelmar were Hugues d'Arques and some half of Adhelmar's men. The rest were dead, and Adhelmar was badly hurt, for he had burst open his old wound and it was bleeding under his armor. Of this he said nothing.