The boulders lie along the downs; br The turf is hard between; br The Channel waves are low this dawn, br And turf and wave are green. br br Now three come down from out the wood, br And cross the verdant span; br And two have swords and one a rose— br A man, a maid, a man. br br Beside the sea the turf is flat, br With space for one to spring br To right or left, and in or out, br With steel upraised to sting. br br 'Have at thee, Carew!' cries the one: br 'Defend thyself!' it came. br The blades against the rising sun br Make sudden wands of flame. br br Now let the timid curlew fly br And let the gull veer past, br For point is set to truceless point br And doubt shall end at last. br br And long below a windy sky br The dancing rapiers blaze— br The grating edge, the slender death br That seeks an hundred ways. br br And neither hath the vantage yet, br Nor do the Fates decide br Above those lists where pride and youth br Encounter youth and pride. br br Then sudden on the breast of one br There lies a scarlet stain. br 'Tis but a touch, yet at the sight br The maiden cries, 'Duane!' br br And in that voice, for all to know, br Are love and bitter fear; br And neither knew, until she cried, br Which one to her was dear. br br And at that voice the one she named br Stands dazed, for instant weal, br Till in that heart where joy is crowned br Slips the dethroning steel. br br He had not struck had he but known br How bliss strikes unawares; br Now she is on her knees at last, br With unavailing pray'rs. br br Upon the breast of him that fell br Her red rose laid she then; br And unto him whose blade was red br She never spoke again.