THE LAST RHYME OF TRUE THOMAS True Thomas smiled above his harp, And turned his face to the naked sky, Where, blown before the wastrel wind, The thistle-down she floated by. 'I ha' vowed my vow in another place, I ha' watched my arms the lee-long night, 'My lance is tipped o' the hammered flame, 'And what should I make wi' a horse o' pride, And what should I make wi' a sword so brown, But spill the rings o' the Gentle Folk And flyte my kin in the Fairy Town? 'And what should I make wi' blazon and belt, 'For I send east and I send west, And I send far as my will may flee, 'They come wi' news of the groanin' earth, The King he bit his nether lip, And smote his hand upon his knee: 'By the faith o' my soul, True Thomas,' he said, 'Ye waste no wit in courtesie! 'As I desire, unto my pride, Can I make Earls by three and three, To run before and ride behind And serve the sons o' my body.' 'And what care I for your row-foot earls, 'For I make Honour wi' muckle mouth, 'And some they give me the good red gold, 'And the song I sing for the counted gold The King cast down a silver groat, 'If I come wi' a poor man's dole,' he said, THE LAST RHYME OF TRUE THOMAS 'Whenas I harp to the children small, They press me close on either hand. And who are you,' True Thomas said, "That you should ride while they must stand? 'Light down, light down from your horse o' pride, I trow ye talk too loud and hie, And I will make you a triple word, And syne, if ye dare, ye shall 'noble me.' He has lighted down from his horse o' pride, 'Now guard you well,' True Thomas said, True Thomas played upon his harp, The fairy harp that couldna lee, And the first least word the proud King heard, 'Oh, I see the love that I lost long syne, 'The sun is lost at noon-at noon! 'Twas bent beneath and blue above- 'Lie down, lie down,' True Thomas said. True Thomas played upon his harp, 'Oh, I hear the tread o' the fighting-men, That flies so low and sings so clear! 'Advance my standards to that war, 'Twas bent beneath and blue above, The eyass stooped upon the pye. True Thomas sighed above his harp, And turned the song on the midmost string; And the last least word True Thomas made, He harpit his dead youth back to the King. 'Now I am prince, and I do well To love my love withouten fear; To walk wi' man in fellowship, And breathe my horse behind the deer. THE LAST RHYME OF TRUE THOMAS 'My hounds they bay unto the death, The buck has couched beyond the burn, 'For that I live am I content (Oh! I have seen my true love's eyes) To stand wi' Adam in Eden-glade, And run in the woods o' Paradise!' 'Twas naked sky and nodding grass, True Thomas laid his harp away, And louted low at the saddle-side; 'Sleep ye or wake,' True Thomas said, 'I ha' harpit a shadow out o' the sun 'I ha' harpit ye up to the throne o' God, |