The sudden snow, which that one day appeared,
By Boreas blown into the temperate Spring,
Ere from earth's mould it vanished and was cleared,
For miles was strown by sparks and gledes burning
Shot down the wind: far o'er the crudded white
Cinder and sooty ash span blackening;
And streams of dust and smoke, careering light
Reached even to the wood below the hill,
What time Duke Richard came thereof in sight
Then startling horror did Duke Richard fill,
And harder galloped he the wood beside,
The while his piercing spurs his courser thrill
Foremost was he of all who there did ride,
Who came with him to stay that deadly doom:
Alas, too late, as Fortune bade betide!
For he, whenas to Rouen he came home,
Was met by Robert with that history
Of Mano's kinship, from his father come
And in his mind of gentle chivachie
Otherwise wrought it than in him to raise
Mere unbelief: believe it well did he
And knowing Mano's nobleness and praise,
Forthwith from Rouen fast he gan to ride
With all his knights along the woodland ways
But when he reached the pile, and stood beside,
He found it fallen in a smouldering heap,
And all who were around away gan glide.
They would have gone their feast in hall to keep;
But he bade all stand round, and question made,
Whereof he did a bitter vintage reap
He heard both Mano and Diantha paid,
And how that Mano saved them both from pain
By art from Gerbert learned, and magic aid,
For nought seemed they to smart, it was certain:
But when this thing began to be so said,
Sir Eustace no more silent did remain:
But like a shadow pale, with bending head,
And weeping bitterly, the true tale told,
How for Diantha was Joanna dead,
How Mano sped her with the ring of gold,
And how himself the same from her conveyed.
To him, from whom she had it first to hold.
Then, when the love of this unhappy maid
Was manifested to his princely mind,
And all their tragedy abroad displayed,
Loud wept Duke Richard: neither might he find
A way to ease the sorrow of his heart,
But saved their relics from the scattering wind
He bade them gather all, and in good part
To bury them even where that death they died,
Ere from the fatal place he would depart.
And there a chantry fair he edified,
And his dead brother did with lands endow
Which with him living he could not divide.
There by the darksome forest stands it now,
And in it is a monument of praise,
Where Mano and Joanna lie in row.
Such sepulchre did good Duke Richard raise.