V

But no:  they let me laugh, and sing
        My birthday song quite through, adjust
The last rose in my garland, fling
        A last look on the mirror, trust
My arms to each an arm of theirs,
And so descend the castle-stairs—­ 30

VI

And come out on the morning-troop
        Of merry friends who kissed my cheek,
And called me queen, and made me stoop
        Under the canopy—­a streak
That pierced it, of the outside sun,
Powdered with gold its gloom’s soft dun—­

VII

And they could let me take my state
        And foolish throne amid applause
Of all come there to celebrate
        My queen’s-day—­Oh I think the cause 40
Of much was, they forgot no crowd
Makes up for parents in their shroud!

VIII

However that be, all eyes were bent
        Upon me, when my cousins cast
Theirs down; ’twas time I should present
        The victor’s crown, but . . . there, ’twill last
No long time . . . the old mist again
Blinds me as then it did.  How vain!

IX

See!  Gismond’s at the gate, in talk
        With his two boys:  I can proceed. 50
Well, at that moment, who should stalk
        Forth boldly—­to my face, indeed—­
But Gauthier, and he thundered “Stay!”
And all stayed.  “Bring no crowns, I say!”

X

“Bring torches!  Wind the penance-sheet
        About her!  Let her shun the chaste,
Or lay herself before their feet! 
        Shall she whose body I embraced
A night long, queen it in the day? 
For honour’s sake no crowns, I say!” 60

XI

I?  What I answered?  As I live,
        I never fancied such a thing
As answer possible to give. 
        What says the body when they spring
Some monstrous torture-engine’s whole
Strength on it?  No more says the soul.

XII

Till out strode Gismond; then I knew
        That I was saved.  I never met
His face before, but, at first view,
        I felt quite sure that God had set 70
Himself to Satan; who would spend
A minute’s mistrust on the end?

XIII

He strode to Gauthier, in his throat
        Gave him the lie, then struck his mouth
With one back-handed blow that wrote
        In blood men’s verdict there.  North, South,
East, West, I looked.  The lie was dead,
And damned, and truth stood up instead.