Part stumbled mixt with floundering horses. Down From those two bulks at Arac's side, and down From Arac's arm, as from a giant's flail, The large blows rain'd, as here and everywhere He rode the mellay, lord of the ringing lists, And all the plain,-brand, mace, and shaft, and shield Shock'd, like an iron-clanging anvil bang'd With hammers; till I thought, can this be he And Cyril, one. Yea, let me make my dream All that I would. But that large-moulded man, His visage all agrin as at a wake, Made at me thro' the press, and, staggering back With stroke on stroke the horse and horseman, came As comes a pillar of electric cloud, Flaying the roofs and sucking up the drains, And twists the grain with such a roar that Earth That loved me closer than his own right eye, hand, And sword to sword, and horse to horse we hung, Till I struck out and shouted; the blade glanced, I did but shear a feather, and dream and truth Flow'd from me; darkness closed me; and I fell. Home they brought her warrior dead : She nor swoon'd, nor utter'd cry: All her maidens, watching, said, "She must weep or she will die." Then they praised him, soft and low, Call'd him worthy to be loved, Truest friend and noblest foe; Yet she neither spoke nor moved. Stole a maiden from her place, Yet she neither moved nor wept. Rose a nurse of ninety years, Set his child upon her kneeLike summer tempest came her tears "Sweet my child, I live for thee." VI. Y dream had never died or lived again. Seeing I saw not, hearing not I heard: For so it seem'd, or so they said to me, That all things grew more tragic and more strange; That when our side was vanquish'd and my cause For ever lost, there went up a great cry, The Prince is slain. My father heard and ran And grovell'd on my body, and after him. |