HAD she come all the way for this,
To part at last without a kiss?
Yea, had she borne the dirt and rain
That her own eyes might see him slain
Beside the haystack in the floods?
Along the dripping leafless woods,
The stirrup touching either shoe,
These lines suggest that the woman has gone through great lengths, enduring dirt and rain, to witness a tragic event near a haystack in the floods. The vivid description of her journey, with her stirrup touching each shoe, emphasizes her determination and the sacrifices she has made. It conveys a sense of anticipation and raises questions about the outcome of the situation.
She rode astride as troopers do;
With kirtle kilted to her knee,
To which the mud splash’d wretchedly;
And the wet dripp’d from every tree
Upon her head and heavy hair,
And on her eyelids broad and fair;
The tears and rain ran down her face.
These lines suggest that the woman rode her horse like a trooper, with her skirt lifted up to her knee, getting splashed with mud. The rain dripped from every tree onto her head and heavy hair. Her fair eyelids were wet with both tears and rain, as they ran down her face. It portrays the physical discomfort and emotional turmoil she experiences during her journey.
By fits and starts they rode apace,
And very often was his place
Far off from her; he had to ride
Ahead, to see what might betide
When the roads cross’d; and sometimes, when
There rose a murmuring from his men,
Had to turn back with promises;
Ah me! she had but little ease;
These lines describe the intermittent and fast-paced nature of their journey. They often rode with sudden bursts of speed, and frequently, his position was far away from hers. He had to ride ahead to check the situation when the roads intersected, and sometimes, he had to turn back to reassure his men. Unfortunately, she had very little comfort or ease during this journey.
And often for pure doubt and dread
She sobb’d, made giddy in the head
By the swift riding; while, for cold,
Her slender fingers scarce could hold
The wet reins; yea, and scarcely, too,
She felt the foot within her shoe
Against the stirrup : all for this,
To part at last without a kiss
Beside the haystack in the floods.
These lines suggest that the woman went through a lot of physical discomfort and emotional turmoil during her journey. She sobbed and felt dizzy from the fast riding, and the cold made it hard for her to hold the reins. Her slender fingers struggled, and she could barely feel her foot in the stirrup. Despite enduring all of this, their meeting ends without even a kiss near the haystack in the floods. It’s quite a heartbreaking outcome.
For when they near’d that old soak’d hay,
They saw across the only way
That Judas, Godmar, and the three.
Red running lions dismally
Grinn’d from his pennon, under which,
In one straight line along the ditch,
They counted thirty heads.
These lines highlight a tense and ominous moment in the story. As they approached the old soaked hay, they saw Judas, Godmar, and the three, represented by red running lions on a flag. These lions had a grim and menacing expression. Underneath the flag, in a straight line along the ditch, they counted thirty heads. It creates a sense of danger and impending conflict.
So then,
While Robert turn’d round to his men,
She saw at once the wretched’end,
And, stooping down, tried hard to rend
Her coif the wrong way from her head,
And hid her eyes; while Robert said :
‘Nay, love, ’tis scarcely two to one,
At Poictiers where we made them run
So fast�why, sweet my love, good cheer,
The Gascon frontier is so near,
Nought after this,’
These lines emphasize the heartbreaking realization of the woman as she sees the tragic outcome approaching. She desperately tries to remove her coif, covering her eyes in an attempt to shield herself from the impending tragedy. Meanwhile, Robert, in an attempt to comfort her, reminds her that the odds are not overwhelmingly against them, referencing their victory at Poictiers. He reassures her that they are close to the Gascon frontier and that there should be no further hardships after this. It highlights the contrast between their optimism and the impending danger they face.
But, ‘0,’ she said,
‘My God! my God! I have to tread
The long way back without you; then
The court at Paris; those six men;
The gratings of the Chatelet;
The swift Seine on some rainy day
Like this, and people standing by,
And laughing, while my weak hands try
To recollect how strong men swim.
All this, or else a life with him,
For which I should be damned at last,
Would God that this next hour were past!’
These lines highlight the woman’s anguish and despair as she contemplates the difficult journey she will have to make without her loved one. She mentions the court at Paris, the six men, the gratings of the Chatelet, and the swift Seine on a rainy day. She imagines people standing by and laughing as she struggles to remember how strong men swim. She weighs the options of enduring all of this or choosing a life with him, even if it means damnation in the end. She expresses her desire for the next hour to pass quickly, hoping to escape the pain and uncertainty she faces. It’s a deeply emotional and conflicted moment for her.
He answer’d not, but cried his cry,
‘St. George for Marny!’ cheerily;
And laid his hand upon her rein.
Alas! no man of all his train
Gave back that cheery cry again;
And, while for rage his thumb beat fast
Upon his sword-hilts, some one cast
About his neck a kerchief long,
And bound him.
These lines suggest a moment of betrayal and capture for the man. As he cries out his rallying cry of “St. George for Marny!” with enthusiasm, hoping for a response from his companions, none of them echo his cheer. Instead, as his anger rises and he beats his thumb upon his sword-hilts, someone swiftly wraps a long kerchief around his neck and binds him, effectively subduing him. It highlights the sudden shift from camaraderie to betrayal and the man’s realization that he is now at the mercy of his captors.
Then they went along
To Godmar; who said: ‘Now, Jehane,
Your lover’s life is on the wane
So fast, that, if this very hour
You yield not as my paramour,
He will not see the rain leave off�
Nay, keep your tongue from gibe and scoff,
Sir Robert, or I slay you now.’
She laid her hand upon her brow,
Then gazed upon the palm, as though
She thought her forehead bled, and — ‘No.’
This line describes Jehane’s reaction to Godmar’s ultimatum. She places her hand on her forehead and looks at her palm, as if she believes her forehead is bleeding. In response to Godmar’s demand for her to yield as his paramour to spare her lover’s life, she firmly refuses with a resolute “No.” It portrays Jehane’s strength and defiance in the face of a difficult choice, as she stands by her love and refuses to compromise her integrity.
She said, and turn’d her head away,
As there were nothing else to say, Eo
And everything were settled: red
Grew Godmar’s face from chin to head:
‘Jehane, on yonder hill there stands
My castle, guarding well my lands :
What hinders me from taking you,
And doing that I list to do
To your fair wilful body, while
Your knight lies dead?’
These lines suggest that Godmar, angered by Jehane’s refusal, becomes more aggressive in his intentions. He points to his castle on the hill, claiming that nothing is stopping him from taking her by force and doing whatever he pleases with her while her knight is dead. It reveals Godmar’s cruel and predatory nature, as he uses his power and position to threaten and manipulate Jehane.
A wicked smile
Wrinkled her face, her lips grew thin,
A long way out she thrust her chin: go
‘You know that I should strangle you
While you were sleeping; or bite through
Your throat, by God’s help ah!’ she said,
‘Lord Jesus, pity your poor maid!
For in such wise they hem me in,
I cannot choose but sin and sin,
Whatever happens : yet I think
They could not make me eat or drink,
And so should I just reach my rest.’
These lines describe Jehane’s defiant response to Godmar’s threats. Despite the wicked smile on her face and the thinning of her lips, she thrusts her chin forward, displaying her determination. She acknowledges that in her current circumstances, she feels trapped and compelled to sin. However, she expresses her belief that even in the face of such pressure, she would never allow herself to be forced to eat or drink against her will. She sees death as a release from her struggles and prays for the mercy of the Lord Jesus. It showcases Jehane’s resilience and her refusal to surrender her autonomy, even in the face of danger.
Nay, if you do not my behest,
O Jehane! though I love you well,’
Said Godmar, ‘would I fail to tell
All that I know.’ ‘Foul lies,’ she said.
‘Eh? lies my Jehane? by God’s head,
At Paris folks would deem them true!
Do you know, Jehane, they cry for you,
“Jehane the brown! Jehane the brown!
Give us Jehane to bum or drown!” —
Eh — gag me Robert! — sweet my friend,
This were indeed a piteous end no
For those long fingers, and long feet,
And long neck, and smooth shoulders sweet;
An end that few men would forget
That saw it — So, an hour yet:
Consider, Jehane, which to take
Of life or death!’
These lines highlight Godmar’s manipulative and threatening nature towards Jehane. He tries to convince her that if she doesn’t comply with his demands, he would reveal damaging information about her. He dismisses her accusation of lies and claims that even in Paris, people would believe his words. He cruelly describes the potential consequences for Jehane, with people calling for her harm. Godmar continues to pressure Jehane, emphasizing the choice she must make between life and death. It showcases the emotional manipulation and coercion that Godmar employs in an attempt to control Jehane.
So, scarce awake,
Dismounting, did she leave that place,
And totter some yards : with her face
Turn’d upward to the sky she lay,
Her head on a wet heap of hay, 120
And fell asleep: and while she slept,
And did not dream, the minutes crept
Round to the twelve again; but she,
Being waked at last, sigh’d quietly,
And strangely childlike came, and said:
‘I will not.’ Straightway Godmar’s head,
As though it hung on strong wires, turn’d
Most sharply round, and his face burn’d.
These lines describe Jehane’s physical and emotional exhaustion after leaving the place. She stumbles a few yards away and collapses, her face turned towards the sky, resting her head on a pile of wet hay. She falls into a deep sleep, unaware of the passing time. When she finally wakes up, she sighs quietly and approaches Godmar with a childlike demeanor. Her refusal to comply with his demands causes a sudden and intense reaction from Godmar, as if his head is being forcefully turned and his face becomes flushed with anger or frustration. It illustrates Jehane’s vulnerability and Godmar’s volatile temperament.
For Robert — both his eyes were dry,
He could not weep, but gloomily 130
He seem’d to watch the rain; yea, too,
His lips were firm; he tried once more
To touch her lips; she reach’d out, sore
And vain desire so tortured them,
The poor grey lips, and now the hem
Of his sleeve brush’d them.
These lines highlight Robert’s emotional state as he watches the rain, unable to shed tears. Despite his somber demeanor, he attempts to touch Jehane’s lips. Both of them long for physical connection, but their desires are frustrated. The mention of the poor grey lips and the brush of his sleeve against them emphasizes their longing and the barriers that prevent them from fully expressing their affection.
With a start
Up Godmar rose, thrust them apart;
From Robert’s throat he loosed the bands
Of silk and mail; with empty hands
Held out, she stood and gazed, and saw,
The long bright blade without a flaw
Glide out from Godmar’s sheath, his hand
In Robert’s hair; she saw him bend
Back Robert’s head; she saw him send
The thin steel down; the blow told well,
These lines suggest a sudden and violent confrontation between Godmar and Robert. Godmar forcefully separates them and removes the silk and mail bands from Robert’s throat. Jehane watches in horror as Godmar draws his flawless, shining blade and grips Robert’s hair, tilting his head back. She witnesses the swift and decisive strike of the thin steel, the blow landing with deadly accuracy. The lines imply a tragic and brutal act of violence, leaving the outcome uncertain.
Right backward the knight Robert fell,
And moan’d as dogs do, being half dead,
Unwitting, as I deem : so then
Godmar turn’d grinning to his men,
Who ran, some five or six, and beat
His head to pieces at their feet.
The lines emphasize the brutal and merciless nature of the attack. After Robert falls backward, wounded and in pain, he moans like a wounded dog, seemingly unaware of his surroundings. In a cruel and heartless manner, Godmar turns to his men with a sinister grin, and they proceed to violently beat Robert’s head to pieces at their feet. The lines depict a gruesome and savage act, highlighting the ruthlessness and lack of compassion displayed by Godmar and his men.
Then Godmar turn’d again and said:
‘So, Jehane, the first fitte is read!
Take note, my lady, that your way
Lies backward to the Chatelet!’
She shook her head and gazed awhile
At her cold hands with a rueful smile,
As though this thing had made her mad.
This was the parting that they had
Beside the haystack in the floods.
These lines suggest that Godmar, after the violent act, addresses Jehane and informs her that her path now leads back to the Chatelet. Jehane, however, shakes her head and looks at her cold hands with a sorrowful smile, as if this situation has driven her to madness. The lines indicate that this is the final parting between Godmar and Jehane, which takes place beside a haystack in the floods. The lines convey a sense of resignation, sadness, and the realization that their paths are diverging.
