Lays and Legends (Second Series)

THE BALLAD OF SIR HUGH

The castle had been held in siege,
While thrice three weeks went past,
And still the foe no vantage gained
And still our men stood fast.

We held the castle for our king
Against our foes and his;
Stout was our heart, as man's must be
In such brave cause as this.

But Sir Hugh walked the castle wall,
And oh! his heart was sore,
For the foe held fast the only son
His dead wife ever bore.

The castle gates were firm and fast,
Strong was the castle wall,
Yet bore Sir Hugh an aching heart
For the thing that might befal.

He looked out to the pearly east,
Ere day began to break:
"God save my boy till evensong,"
He said, "for Mary's sake!"

He looked out on the western sky
When the sun sank, blood-red:
"God keep my son till morning light
For His son's sake," he said.

And morn and eve, and noon and night,
His heart one prayer did make:
"God keep my boy, my little one,
For his dear dead mother's sake!"

At last, worn out with bootless siege —
Our walls being tall and stout —
The rebel captain neared our gates
With a flag of truce held out.

"A word, Sir Hugh, a word with you,
Ere yet it be too late;
We have a prisoner and would know
What is to be his fate.

"Yield up your castle, or he dies!
'Tis thus the bargain stands:
His body in our hands we hold,
His life is in your hands!"

Sir Hugh looked down across the moat
And, in the sunlight fair,
He saw the child's blue, frightened eyes
And tangled golden hair.

He saw the little arms held out;
The little voice rang thin:
"O father dear, undo the gates!
O father – let me in!"

Sir Hugh leaned on the battlements;
His voice rang strong and true:
"My son – I cannot let thee in,
As my heart bids me do;

"If I should open and let thee in,
I let in, with thee, shame:
And that thing never shall be done
By one who bears our name!

"For honour and our king command
And we must needs obey;
So bear thee as a brave man's son,
As I will do this day."

The boy looked up, his shoulders squared,
Threw back his bright blond hair:
"Father, I will not be the one
To shame the name we bear.

"And, whatsoever they may do,
Whether I live or die,
I'll bear me as a brave man's son,
For that, thank God, am I!"

Then spake Sir Hugh unto the foe,
He spake full fierce and free:
"Ye cowards, deem ye, ye have affair
With cowards such as ye be?

"What? I must yield my castle up,
Or else my son be slain?
I trow ye never had to do
Till now with honest men!

"'Tis but by traitors such as you
That such foul deeds be done;
Not to betray his king and cause
Did I beget my son!

"My son was bred to wield the sword
And hew down knaves like you,
Or, at the least, die like a man,
As he this day shall do!

"And, since ye lack a weapon meet
To take so good a life
(For your coward steel would stain his blood),
Here – take his father's knife!"

With that he flung the long knife down
From off the castle wall,
It glimmered and gleamed in the brave sunlight,
Full in the sight of all.

Sir Hugh passed down the turret stair,
We held our breath in awe …
May my tongue wither ere it tell
The damnèd work we saw!

When all was done, a shout went up
From that accursèd crew,
And from the chapel's silence dim
Came forth in haste Sir Hugh.

"And what may mean this clamour and din?"
"Sir Hugh, thy son is dead!"
"I deemed the foe had entered in,
But God is good!" he said.

We stood upon the topmost tower,
Full in the setting sun;
Shamed silence grew in the traitor's camp
Now that foul deed was done.

See! on the hills the gleam of steel,
Hark! threatening clarions ring,
See! horse and foot and spear and shield
And the banner of the king!

And in the camp of those without,
Hot tumult and cold fear,
For the traitor only dares be brave,
Until his king be near!

We armed at speed, we sallied forth,
Sir Hugh was at our head;
He set his teeth and he marked his path
By a line of traitors, dead.

He hacked his way straight to the churl
Who did the boy to death,
He swung his sword in his two strong hands
And clove him to the teeth.

And while the blade was held in the bone,
The caitiffs round him pressed,
And he died, as one of his line should die,
With three blades in his breast.

And when they told the king these things,
He turned his head away,
And said: "A braver man than I
Has fallen for me this day!"