And one draws nigh, but two are afar." "Look, look, do you know them who they are, "But he says, till you take back your ban, Little brother?" Sister Helen, (0 Mother, Mary Mother, His soul would pass, yet never can. be, between Hell and "Nay then, shall I slay a living man, Little brother?"

Who should they
Heaven?)

"Oh, it's Keith of Eastholm rides so fast, Sister Helen,

For I know the white mane on the blast." "The hour has come, has come at last,

Little brother!'

70

(0 Mother, Mary Mother, Her hour at last, between Hell and Heaven!)

"He has made a sign and called Halloo!

Sister Helen,

110

And he says that he would speak with you." 80"Here's Keith of Westholm riding fast,
"Oh tell him I fear the frozen dew,
Sister Helen,

Why laughs she
Heaven?)

Little brother.'' For I know the white plume on the blast." (0 Mother, Mary Mother," The hour, the sweet hour I forecast, thus, between Hell and

"The wind is loud, but I hear him cry,
Sister Helen,
That Keith of Ewern's like to die."
"And he and thou, and thou and I,

Little brother."
(0 Mother, Mary Mother,
And they and we, between Hell and Heaven!)

"Three days ago, on his marriage-morn, Sister Helen,

130

Little brother!'' (0 Mother, Mary Mother, Is the hour sweet, between Hell and Heaven?)

"He stops to speak, and he stills his horse, Sister Helen;

But his words are drowned in the wind's
""
course.

90Nay hear, nay hear, you must hear perforce,
Little brother!''

(0 Mother, Mary Mother,

If he have prayed, between Hell and Heaven!) And bids you mind the banks of Boyne.' 150

"What else he broke will he ever join,

Little brother?'' (0 Mother, Mary Mother, No, never joined, between Hell and Heaven!)

"He yields you these and craves full fain, Sister Helen,

You pardon him in his mortal pain.” "What else he took will he give again,

Little brother?"

(0 Mother, Mary Mother, 160 Not twice to give, between Hell and Heaven!)

"He calls your name in an agony, Sister Helen, That even dead Love must weep to see. "Hate, born of Love, is blind as he,

Little brother!"

(0 Mother, Mary Mother, What more to see, between Hell and Heaven?) 210

"Her hood falls back, and the moon shines
fair,
Sister Helen,

On the Lady of Ewern's golden hair."

(0 Mother, Mary Mother, "Blest hour of my power and her despair,

Love turned to hate, between Hell and
Heaven!)

Hour blest and
Heaven!)

Little brother!"' (0 Mother, Mary Mother, banned, between Hell and

"Oh he prays you, as his heart would rive, 190 Her woe's dumb

Sister Helen,

To save his dear son's soul alive."
"Fire cannot slay it, it shall thrive,

Little brother!''
(0 Mother, Mary Mother,
Alas, alas, between Hell and Heaven!)

He cries to you, kneeling in the road,
Sister Helen,

Heaven!)

bow,

(0 Mother, Mary Mother, cry, between Hell and

"They've caught her to Westholm's saddle

And her moonlit hair gleams white in its flow."
"Let it turn whiter than winter snow,
Little brother!''
(0 Mother, Mary Mother,
Woe-withered gold, between Hell and Heaven!)

So this wing'd hour is dropt to us from above.
Oh! clasp we to our hearts, for deathless dower,

To one dead deathless hour. Look that it be, This close-companioned inarticulate hour