The Ride from Ghent to Aix.
Not a word to each other; we kept the great pace Neck by neck, stride for stride, never changing our place. I turned in my saddle and made its girths tight, Then shortened each stirrup, and set the pique right, Rebuckled the cheek-strap, chained slacker the bit, Nor galloped less steadily Roland a whit.
’Twas moonset at starting; but while we drew near Lokeren, the cocks crew and twilight dawned clear; At Boom, a great yellow star came out to see; At Düffield, ’twas morning, as plain as could be; And from Mecheln church-steeple we heard the half-chime, So Joris broke the silence with, “Yet there is time!”
