I sprand to the stirrup, and Joris, and he; I galloped, Dirck galloped, we galloped all three; "God speed!" cried the watch, as the gate-bolts undrew; "Speed!" echoed the wall to us galloping through; Behind shut the postern, the lights sank to rest, And into the midnight we galloped abreast.
Not a word to each other; we kept the great pace Neck by neck, stride by stride, never changing our place; I turned inmy saddle and made its girths tight, Then shortened each stirrup, and set the pique right, Rebuckled the cheek-strap, chained slacker the bit, nor galloped less steadily Roland a whit.
"Twas moonest at starring; but while we drew near Lokeren, the cocks crew and twilight dawned clear; At Boom, a great yellow star came out to see; At Duffeld, 'twas morning as plain as could be; And from Mecheln church-steeple we heard the half-chime, So Joris broke silence with, "Yet there is time!"
At Aerschot, up leaped of a sudden the sun, And against him the cattle stood black every one, To stare thro' the mist at us galloping past, And I saw my stout galloper Roland at last, With resolute shoulders, each butting away The haze, as some bluff river headland its spray:
And his low head and crest, just one sharp ear bent back For my voice, and the other pricked out on his track; And one eye's black intelligence,-- ever that glance O'er its white edge at me, his own master, askance! And the thick heavy spume-flakes which aye and anon His fierce lips shook upward in galloping on.
By Hasselt, Dirk groaned; and cried Joris, "Stay spur! Your Roos galloped bravely, the fault's not in her, We'll remember at Aix"--for one heard the quick wheeze Of her chest, saw the streched neck and staggering knees, And down on her haunches she shuddered and sank.
So, we were left galloping, Joris and I, Past Looze and past Tongres, no cloud in the sky; The broad sun above laughed a pitless laugh, 'Neath our feet broke the brittle bright stubble like chaff; Till over by Dalhem a dome-spire sprang white, And "Gallop," gasped Joris, "for Aix is in sight!"
"How they'll greet us!" --and all in a moment his roan Rolled neck and croup over, lay dead as stone; And there was my Roland to bear the whole weight Of the news whigh alone could save Aix, from her fate, With the nostrils like pits full of blood to the brim, And with circles of red for his eye- sockets' rim.
Then I cast loose my buff-coat, each holster let fall, Shook off my jack-boot, let go belt and all, Stood up in the stirrup, patted his ear, Called my Roland his pet-name, my horse without peer; Clapped my hands, laughed and sang, any noise, good or bad, Till at length into Aix Roland galloped and stood.
And all I remember is,--friends flocking around As I sat with his head 'twixt my knees on the ground; And no voice but was praising this Roland of mine, As I poured down his throat our last measure of wine, Which (the burgesses voted by common consent)Was no more than his due who brought good news from Ghent.
