Poetry Explorer- Classic Contemporary Poetry, ROMANCE OF DUNOIS, by HORTENSE DE BEAUHARNAIS


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ROMANCE OF DUNOIS, by                
First Line: It was dunois, the young and brave, was bound for palestine
Last Line: Cried, 'honour'd be the bravest knight, beloved the fairest fair!'


IT was Dunois, the young and brave, was bound for Palestine,
But first he made his orisons before Saint Mary's shrine:
'And grant, immortal Queen of Heaven,' was still the soldier's prayer,
'That I may prove the bravest knight, and love the fairest fair.'

His oath of honour on the shrine he graved it with his sword,
And follow'd to the Holy Land the banner of his Lord;
Where, faithful to his noble vow, his war-cry fill'd the air,
'Be honour'd aye the bravest knight, beloved the fairest fair.'

They owed the conquest to his arm, and then his Liege-Lord said,
'The heart that has for honour beat by bliss must be repaid.
My daughter Isabel and thou shall be a wedded pair,
For thou art bravest of the brave, she fairest of the fair.'

And then they bound the holy knot before Saint Mary's shrine,
That makes a paradise on earth, if hearts and hands combine;
And every lord and lady bright, that were in chapel there,
Cried, 'Honour'd be the bravest knight, beloved the fairest fair!'





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