The Sacrilege A Ballad-Tragedy

RT I'I have a Love I love too

Where Dunkery frowns on Exon Moor;

I have a Love I love too well,      To whom, ere she was mine,"Such is my love for you," I said,"That you shall have to hood your headA silken kerchief crimson-red,      Wove finest of the fine."'And since this Love, for one mad moon,

On Exon Wild by Dunkery Tor,

Since this my Love for one mad moon      Did clasp me as her king,

I snatched a silk-piece red and

From off a stall at Priddy Fair,

For handkerchief to hood her hair      When we went gallanting.'Full soon the four weeks neared their

Where Dunkery frowns on Exon Moor;

And when the four weeks neared their end,      And their swift sweets outwore,

I said, "What shall I do to

Those beauties bright as tulips blown,

And keep you here with me alone      As mine for evermore?"'And as she drowsed within my

On Exon Wild by Dunkery Tor —And as she drowsed within my van,      And dawning turned to day,

She heavily raised her sloe-black

And murmured back in softest wise,"One more thing. and the charms you prize      Are yours henceforth for aye.'"And swear I will I'll never

While Dunkery frowns on Exon

To meet the Cornish Wrestler Joe      For dance and dallyings.

If you'll to yon cathedral shrine,

And finger from the chest

Treasure to buy me ear-drops fine,      And richly jewelled rings."'I said: "I am one who has gathered

From Marlbury Downs to Dunkery Tor,

Who has gathered gear for many a year      From mansion, mart and fair;

But at God's house I've stayed my hand,

Hearing within me some command —Curbed by a law not of the land      From doing damage there."'Whereat she pouts, this Love of mine,

As Dunkery frowns on Exon Moor,

And still she pouts, this Love of mine,      So cityward I go.

But ere I start to do the thing,

And speed my souls

One who is my ravishing      And all the joy I know,'I come to lay this charge on thee —On Exon Wild by Dunkery Tor —I come to lay this charge on thee      With solemn speech and sign:

Should things go ill, and my life

For botchery in this rash assay,

You are to take hers likewise — yea,      The month the law takes mine.'For should my rival,

Wrestler Joe,

Where Dunkery frowns on Exon Moor —My reckless rival,

Wrestler Joe,      My Love's possessor be,

My tortured spirit would not rest,

But wander weary and

Throughout the world in wild protest:      The thought nigh maddens

RT

Thus did he speak — this brother of mine —On Exon Wild by Dunkery Tor,

Born at my birth of mother of mine,      And forthwith went his

To dare the deed some coming night….

I kept the watch with shaking sight,

The moon at moments breaking bright,      At others glooming gray.

Three full days I heard no

Where Dunkery frowns on Exon Moor,

I heard no sound at all around      Whether his fay prevailed,

Or one malign the master were,

Till some afoot did tidings

How that, for all his practised care,      He had been caught and jailed.

They had heard a crash when twelve had

By Mendip east of Dunkery Tor,

When twelve had chimed and moonlight climbed;      They watched, and he was

By arch and aisle and saint and

Of sculptured stonework sheeted

In the cathedral's ghostly light,      And captured in the act.

Yes; for this Love he loved too

Where Dunkery sights the Severn shore,

All for this Love he loved too well      He burst the holy bars,

Seized golden vessels from the

To buy her ornaments of the best,

At her ill-witchery's request      And lure of eyes like stars….

When blustering March confused the

In Toneborough Town by Exon Moor,

When blustering March confused the sky      They stretched him; and he died.

Down in the crowd where I, to

The end of him, stood silently,

With a set face he lipped to me —      'Remember.' 'Ay!' I cried.

By night and day I shadowed

From Toneborough Deane to Dunkery Tor,

I shadowed her asleep, astir,      And yet I could not bear —Till Wrestler Joe anon

To figure as her chosen man,

And took her to his shining van —      To doom a form so fair!

He made it handsome for her sake —And Dunkery smiled to Exon Moor —He made it handsome for her sake,      Painting it out and in;

And on the door of apple-greenA bright brass knocker soon was seen,

And window-curtains white and clean      For her to sit within.

And all could see she clave to

As cleaves a cloud to Dunkery Tor,

Yea, all could see she clave to him,      And every day I said,'A pity it seems to part those

That hourly grow to love more true:

Yet she's the wanton woman who      Sent one to swing till dead!'That blew to blazing all my hate,

While Dunkery frowned on Exon Moor,

And when the river swelled, her fate      Came to her pitilessly….

I dogged her, crying: 'Across that

They use as bridge to reach yon bankA coat and hat lie limp and dank;      Your goodman's, can they be?'She paled, and went,

I close behind —And Exon frowned to Dunkery Tor,

She went, and I came up behind      And tipped the plank that

Her, fleetly flitting across to

What such might bode.

She slid awry;

And from the current came a cry,      A gurgle; and no more.

How that befell no mortal

From Marlbury Downs to Exon Moor;

No mortal knew that deed undue      But he who schemed the crime,

Which night still covers….

But in

Those ropes of hair upon the

He sees, and he will hear that scream      Until his judgment-time.