"Farewell, brother," he said, "be not long after me. It is a darksome
road to travel so young."
"Fear not, Davie lad," said William Douglas, tenderly, "I will
overtake you ere you be through the first gate."
He turned a little aside that he might not see his brother die, and
even as he did so he saw the Lady Sybilla lean upon the balcony paler
than the dead.
Then when it came to his turn they offered the Earl William also the
heading cup filled with the rich wine of Touraine, his own fair
province that he was never to see.
He lifted the cup high in his right hand with a knightly and courtly
gesture. Looking towards the balcony whereon stood the Lady Sybilla,
he bowed to her.
"I drink to you, my lady and my love," he cried, in a voice loud and
clear.
Then, touching but the rim of the goblet with his lips, he poured out
the red wine upon the ground.
* * * * *
And thus passed the gallantest gentleman and truest lover in whom God
ever put heart of grace to live courteously and die greatly, keeping
his faith in his lady even against herself, and holding death itself
sweet because that in death she loved him.
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