Thy voice is heard thro' rolling drums, And gives the battle to his hands: And strikes him dead for thine and thee. So Lilia sang: we thought her half-possess'd, Half turning to the broken statue, said, 'Sir Ralph has got your colours: if I prove Your knight, and fight your battle, what for me?' It chanced, her empty glove upon the tomb She took it and she flung it. Fight' she said, T. Now, scarce three paces measured from the mound, We stumbled on a stationary voice, And 'Stand, who goes?' Two from the palace' I. The second two: they wait,' he said, 'pass on; His Highness wakes:' and one, that clash'd in arms, By glimmering lanes and walls of canvas, led Threading the soldier-city, till we heard The drowsy folds of our great ensign shake Entering, the sudden light Dazed me half-blind: I stood and seem'd to hear, As in a poplar grove when a light wind wakes A lisping of the innumerous leaf and dies, Each hissing in his neighbour's ear; and then A strangled titter, out of which there brake On all sides, clamouring etiquette to death The fresh young captains flash'd their glittering teeth, At length my Sire, his rough cheek wet with tears, Panted from weary sides 'King, you are free! We did but keep you surety for our son, If this be he, or a draggled mawkin, thou, That tends her bristled grunters in the sludge :' For I was drench'd with ooze, and torn with briers, More crumpled than a poppy from the sheath, And all one rag, disprinced from head to heel. Roar'd) make yourself a man to fight with men. Go: Cyril told us all.' As boys that slink From ferule and the trespass-chiding eye, Leapt from the dewy shoulders of the Earth, We twain, with mutual pardon ask'd and given But will not speak, nor stir.' He show'd a tent A stone-shot off: we enter'd in, and there |