The Saga of Eloise - act 2 of 3

Forward

The novel 'Princess Eloise' was first sketched out as a series of narrative verses. Now available on Kindle, Eloise has been out in the world for some time, but this is the first time that the saga has been made widely available.

I hope that fans of the novel will be entertained, and perhaps fans of the verse will be encouraged to seek out the novel so as to put the verse into a wider context.

Gardening ... Rosy Bower ... The Camomile Lawn ... The Herb Garden

Gardening

In each morning twilight

Before the blush of daylight

Gardeners assemble

At the Iron Gate

The Boy stood in their company

And slipped within silently

When one of their number

Was shamefully late

The Boy slipped in among their throng

Learned their trade and e'er long

Was counted member of the Staff

That daily walked the Garden Path

Quickly pass the days and weeks

The Boy resourceful as he seeks

Among the flowers and the trees

Encounters with Fair Eloise

In the Rosy Bower

A bright and happy hour

On the Lawn of Camomile

Oh to see her hidden smile

Then amid the Herbs

Conversation that disturbs

Finally today

A declaration to dismay

She kissed the Boy and cried

She wrung her hands and sighed

She clasped her hands as if to pray

Then sobbed and turned away

'Though you call me beautiful

Yet I must be dutiful

Though I love you come what may

Yet I must be Queen someday'

The Boy lay on his humble bed

Recalling misery and joy

What brave dreams had filled the head

Of our lowly foundling Boy

Rosy Bower

The Boy was drawn to the Iron Bower

In summer thereupon a shower

Of roses blooming soft and sweet

Within whom should he chance to meet

But Eloise pausing there

Evening sunlight in her hair

She did not notice him until

He summoned up the nerve and will

And greeted her - 'Your Royal Grace'

And there at once across her face

Recollection of a kindness

Rendered in the Wilderness

Her cheek was washed by a pastel blush

There within the evening hush

What began in the Forest Grim

Continued between Her and Him

They lingered for a precious hour

Within the scented Rosy Bower

When Eloise recalled this meeting

And remembered her heart beating

She realised - in the Bower

In that golden sunlit hour

Was when the light of love first dawned

Within her heart and it was warmed

As the golden sun drew dim

Eloise was summoned in

The Boy sat for an hour more

Adding to his cherished store

Tender tinted memories

Of his beloved Eloise

The Camomile Lawn

Eloise walked barefoot

Toes among the Camomile

A cotton-clouded blue sky shone

On her lips a secret smile

Remembering the roses

Remembering the Boy

A newfound lightness of the heart

She supposed it must be joy

And now to make the day complete

Away there by the edge

The Boy with shears in his hand

Clipping at the hedge

Eloise seats herself

On the bench of stone

The Boy works ever closer

'Till she is not alone

'I love you Eloise' said he

In between the clips

'I love you too' she whispered

Through barely opened lips

'Would that we could climb the walls

Would that we could run away'

She whispered to the air and trees

'Oh for such a day'

But now the Prince - her brother

Takes note of the pair

'Away you stinking peasant

What do you do there'

The Boy bows low and takes his leave

Her words are ringing in his ears

And for the first time in his life

His hopes exceed his fears

The Herb Garden

The Boy was tired - homeward bound

Ruffled by the evening breeze

The gloom of twilight stifled sound

His feet were dragging in the leaves

Oblivious to all around

A figure moved among the trees

On a shadowed quest profound

Secretive - Eloise

He found her in the old Herb Garden

Paused a moment to be certain

That no other was inside

Then slipped within and stood beside

'My love what are you doing here?'

Eloise concealed a tear

Then in shaking whispered words

Shared her knowledge of the Herbs

'Flowers are such pretty things

Yet with petals oft' come stings

And prettiness may often hide

The secret by which one hath died

'Lycotonum Oleander

Adonis and Belladonna

All within my garden grow

And all their morbid use I know

'When one the other amplifies

Quick the death that one dies

When one the other mitigates

Against the odds we cheat the fates

'Don't lose sleep over me

My precious Boy - can't you see

Whatever the extremity

My Garden holds the remedy'

Silence falls and soft he feels

Her lips on his in tender kiss

Upon his cheek a tingling

Left by gentle finger tips

Then an emptiness for she

Has fled with silent tread

And a weight lays on his heart

Rememb'ring what was said

end of act 2 ...