Author: Robert Browning Source: How They Brought the Good News from Ghent to Aix

I sprang to the stirrup, and Joris, and he; Meaning: The speaker quickly mounted his horse, and so did his companions Joris and Dirck.

I galloped, Dirck galloped, we galloped all three; Meaning: All three riders began galloping together at full speed.

"Good speed!" cried the watch, as the gate-bolts undrew; Meaning: The gatekeeper wished them good luck as he unbolted the gates.

"Speed!" echoed the wall to us galloping through; Meaning: The wall echoed the word 'Speed' as they rode through.

Behind shut the postern, the lights sank to rest, Meaning: The small gate closed behind them, and the town's lights faded.

And into the midnight we galloped abreast. Meaning: They galloped side by side into the darkness of midnight.

Not a word to each other; we kept the great pace Meaning: They rode in silence, maintaining a fast, steady pace.

Neck by neck, stride by stride, never changing our place; Meaning: Their horses ran neck and neck, stride for stride, without changing positions.

I turned in my saddle and made its girths tight, Meaning: The speaker tightened his saddle's girths while riding.

Then shortened each stirrup, and set the pique right, Meaning: He adjusted his stirrups and set his riding crop correctly.

Rebuckled the cheek-strap, chained slacker the bit, Meaning: He rebuckled the cheek-strap and loosened the bit slightly.

Nor galloped less steadily Roland a whit. Meaning: His horse Roland kept galloping steadily without slowing down.

'Twas moonset at starting; but while we drew near Meaning: The moon was setting when they started, but as they neared Lokeren, roosters crowed and dawn broke.

Lokeren, the cocks crew and twilight dawned clear: Meaning: At Boom, a bright star appeared in the sky.

At Boom, a great yellow star came out to see; Meaning: At Düffeld, it was fully morning.

At Düffeld, 'twas morning as plain as could be; Meaning: From Mecheln's church tower, they heard the half-hour chime.

And from Mecheln church-steeple we heard the half-chime, Meaning: Joris broke the silence, saying there was still time.

So, Joris broke silence with, "Yet there is time!" Meaning: At Aershot, the sun suddenly rose, casting long shadows.

At Aershot up leaped of a sudden the sun, Meaning: The cattle stood black against the sun, staring at them.

And against him the cattle stood black every one, Meaning: The speaker finally saw his horse Roland clearly.

To stare through the mist at us galloping past, Meaning: Roland's shoulders were resolute, pushing through the mist.

And I saw my stout galloper Roland, at last, Meaning: He pushed through the haze like a river headland cuts through spray.

With resolute shoulders, each butting away Meaning: Roland's head was low, with one ear bent back listening for commands.

The haze, as some bluff river headland its spray: Meaning: The other ear was pricked forward, alert on the path.

And his low head and crest, just one sharp ear bent back Meaning: One of Roland's eyes showed black intelligence, glancing sideways at the speaker.

For my voice, and the other pricked out on his track; Meaning: The eye looked at him, his master, with a knowing glance.

And one eye's black intelligence,--ever that glance Meaning: Thick flakes of foam flew from Roland's lips as he galloped.

O'er its white edge at me, his own master, askance! Meaning: The foam shook upwards from his fierce lips during the gallop.

And the thick heavy spume-flakes which aye and anon Meaning: At Hasselt, Dirck groaned, and Joris told him to stop spurring.

His fierce lips shook upwards in galloping on. Meaning: Joris said Dirck's horse Roos had galloped bravely, the fault wasn't hers.

By Hasselt, Dirck groaned; and cried Joris, "Stay spur! Meaning: They would remember her at Aix, as they heard her labored breathing.

Your Roos galloped bravely, the fault's not in her, Meaning: They saw her stretched neck, staggering knees, and sunken tail.

We'll remember at Aix"--for one heard the quick wheeze Meaning: Her flank heaved horribly as she shuddered and sank onto her haunches.

Of her chest, saw the stretched neck and staggering knees, Meaning: So only Joris and the speaker continued galloping.

And sunk tail, and horrible heave of the flank, Meaning: They passed Looz and Tongres under a clear sky.

As down on her haunches she shuddered and sank. Meaning: The broad sun laughed pitilessly above them.

So, we were left galloping, Joris and I, Meaning: Brittle stubble broke under their horses' hooves like chaff.

Past Looz and past Tongres, no cloud in the sky; Meaning: Near Dalhem, a white dome-spire appeared.

The broad sun above laughed a pitiless laugh, Meaning: Joris gasped that Aix was in sight and urged them to gallop.

'Neath our feet broke the brittle bright stubble like chaff; Meaning: He wondered how they'd be greeted, but then his horse collapsed and died.

Till over by Dalhem a dome-spire sprang white, Meaning: The roan horse rolled over, dead as a stone.

And "Gallop," gasped Joris, "for Aix is in sight!" Meaning: Now Roland had to carry the entire weight of the news.

"How they'll greet us!"--and all in a moment his roan Meaning: The news alone could save Aix from its fate.

Rolled neck and croup over, lay dead as a stone; Meaning: Roland's nostrils were full of blood, like pits.

And there was my Roland to bear the whole weight Meaning: His eye sockets were rimmed with red circles.

Of the news which alone could save Aix from her fate, Meaning: The speaker shed his buff-coat and dropped his holsters.

With his nostrils like pits full of blood to the brim, Meaning: He took off his jack-boots and let go of his belt.

And with circles of red for his eye-sockets' rim. Meaning: He stood in the stirrups, leaned forward, and patted Roland's ear.

Then I cast loose my buff-coat, each holster let fall, Meaning: He called Roland by his pet name, his peerless horse.

Shook off both my jack-boots, let go belt and all, Meaning: He clapped, laughed, and sang, making any noise.

Stood up in the stirrup, leaned, patted his ear, Meaning: Until Roland galloped into Aix and stopped.

Called my Roland his pet-name, my horse without peer; Meaning: All he remembers is friends gathering around.

Clapped my hands, laughed and sang, any noise, bad or good, Meaning: He sat with Roland's head between his knees on the ground.

Till at length, into Aix Roland galloped and stood. Meaning: Everyone praised Roland.

And all I remember is,--friends flocking round Meaning: He poured their last measure of wine down Roland's throat.

As I sat with his head 'twixt my knees on the ground; Meaning: The townspeople agreed it was no more than his due.

And no voice but was praising this Roland of mine, Meaning: Roland deserved it for bringing the good news from Ghent.

As I poured down his throat our last measure of wine, Meaning: For Graduation+ readers, this line develops the poem's image or idea: "As I poured down his throat our last measure of wine,".

Which (the burgesses voted by common consent) Meaning: For Graduation+ readers, this line develops the poem's image or idea: "Which (the burgesses voted by common consent)".

Was no more than his due who brought good news from Ghent. Meaning: For Graduation+ readers, this line develops the poem's image or idea: "Was no more than his due who brought good news from Ghent.".