1255

1256

before that deep array;

to earth they sprang, their swords they drew,
and lifted high their shields, and flew

to win the narrow way.

T. B. MACAULAY

BUT

THE WIDOW OF GLENCOE

UT I will not wrong thee, husband,
with my unavailing cries,

whilst thy cold and mangled body,
stricken by the traitor, lies;
whilst he counts the gold and glory
that this hideous night has won,
and his heart is big with triumph
at the murder he has done.
Other eyes than mine shall glisten,
other hearts be rent in twain,
ere the heathbells on thy hillock
wither in the autumn rain.

Then I'll seek thee where thou sleepest,
and I'll veil my weary head,
praying for a place beside thee,

dearer than my bridal-bed:

and I'll give thee tears, my husband!
if the tears remain to me,

when the widows of the foemen

cry the coronach for thee!

W. S. AYTOUN

MORTE D'ARTHUR

BUT, as he walked, King Arthur panted hard one that feels a nightmare on his bed

when all the house is mute. So sighed the King, muttering and murmuring at his ear 'Quick, quick! I fear it is too late, and I shall die.'

But the other quickly strode from ridge to ridge clothed with his breath, and looking, as he walked, larger than human on the frozen hills.

He heard the deep behind him, and a cry

before. His own thought drove him like a goad. Dry clashed his harness in the icy caves

and barren chasms, and all to left and right

the bare black cliff clanged round him, as he based
his feet on juts of slippery crag that rang
sharp-smitten with the dint of arméd heels-
and on a sudden, lo! the level lake,

and the long glories of the winter moon. 1257 Then saw they how there hove a dusky barge, dark as a funeral scarf from stem to stern, beneath them; and descending they were ware that all the decks were dense with stately forms black-stoled, black-hooded, like a dream-by these three Queens with crowns of gold-and from them rose a cry that shivered to the tingling stars,

and, as it were one voice, an agony

of lamentation, like a wind, that shrills

all night in a waste land, where no one comes,
or hath come, since the making of the world.

1258 Then murmur'd Arthur, 'Place me in the barge,' and to the barge they came. There those three Queens

put forth their hands, and took the King and wept. But she, that rose the tallest of them all

and fairest, laid his head upon her lap,

and loosed the shatter'd casque, and chafed his

hands,

and call'd him by his name, complaining loud,

and dropping bitter tears against his brow

striped with dark blood: for all his face was white
and colourless, and like the wither'd moon
smote by the fresh beam of the springing east:
and all his greaves and cuisses dash'd with drops
of onset; and the light and lustrous curls—
that made his forehead like a rising sun

high from the däis-throne-were parch'd with dust;
or, clotted into points and hanging loose,

mix'd with the knightly growth that fringed his lips.
So like a shatter'd column lay the King;
not like that Arthur who, with lance in rest,
from spur to plume a star of tournament,
shot thro' the lists at Camelot, and charged
before the eyes of ladies and of kings.

A. TENNYSON

1259 THE GOTHIC chief higelAC PREPARES TO AID

THE DANISH KING HROTHGAR AGAINST THE

GRENDEL

HEY sought the bark; a wary pilot first,

THE

well in his sea-craft skilled, each landmark taught. And now the chief delayed not, for their vessel was on the waters; by the sea-girt cliffs she floated, while the ready warriors plied near the tide-beaten sands the well-poised oar.Deep in her hold all the bright gear of war, armour and arms, were stowed, as fitted best the willing purpose of their way.—And now by favouring winds propelled, e'en as a bird she cut the waves that foamed around her prow. Thus ere the second day had closed upon themso swift they swept the deep-the eager host saw the bright cliffs and lengthened headlands rise, and knew in that steep shore their destined port. Soon on the beach the men of Northern sires descending, blessed the power that sped their way, and moored their bark, and donned their glittering mail. 1260 Nor was it long, ere he who held in charge to guard each inlet of the rocky coast, the Scylding's warden, from his tower descried the prompt and well-trained band in fair array bearing their bright shields onwards. Then arose care in his heart, and question, who might be that stranger host; and straight he flew to horse and sought the shore, and high uplifted shook his herald staff, and thus in solemn guise bespoke them: 'Whence and what ye are, declare, who thus in arms o'er ocean's watery path have urged to Denmark's coasts your rapid keel. 'Tis mine, the warden of the seas, to hold with loyal care these outposts for the Dane, lest pirate force assail them. Speak ye then, ere yet your further march explore our realm, or friend or foe your names and kindred speak.' 1261 'In peace and truth we come to seek thy prince, Halfdane's illustrious son, with proffered aid

to shield his people. Thou hast judged us falsely; for matters of high import have we sought

(nor would conceal our quest) the royal Dane.
Thyself mayst judge, since haply thou hast known
for true or false, the traveller's sad report:
men tell us that some foul and fiendish foe
at nightfall wages in the Scylding's bower
uncooth and horrible war. In this his need
with no unfriendly purpose have we come,
if aught perchance we may devise of skill
or force to aid thy loved and honoured lord,
should he return whose baleful outrage calls
for swift and sure revenge. So may the care
that ceaseless racks thy master's breast he stilled,
and (that oppressor's malice timely crushed)
the festal mansion of thy nobles stand
once more secure in peaceful majesty.'

J. J. CONYBEARE

1262

PRINCE ARTHUR'S DEFEAT OF MALEGER

H'

E then remembred well, that had bene sayd, how th' Earth his mother was, and first him bore;

she eke, so often as his life decayd,

did life with usury to him restore,

and reysd him up much stronger then before,
so soone as he unto her wombe did fall:

therefore to grownd he would him cast no more,
ne him committ to grave terrestriall,

but beare him farre from hope of succour usuall.

Tho up he caught him twixt his puissant hands,
and having scruzd out of his carrion corse
the lothfull life, now loosd from sinfull bands,
upon his shoulders carried him perforce
above three furlongs, taking his full course,
until he came unto a standing lake;
him thereinto he threw without remorse,
ne stird, till hope of life did him forsake:

so end of that carles dayes and his owne paynes

did make.

E. SPENSER

1263

1264

THOU

TO THE RIVER AVON

HOU soft-flowing Avon, by thy silver stream
of things more than mortal sweet Shakspeare
would dream;

the fairies by moon-light dance round his green bed,
for hallowed the turf is which pillowed his head.
The love-stricken maiden, the soft-sighing swain,
here rove without danger, and sigh without pain:
the sweet bud of beauty no blight shall here dread,
for hallowed the turf is which pillowed his head.
Here youth shall be famed for their love and their
truth,

and cheerful old age feel the spirit of youth;
for the raptures of fancy here poets shall tread,
for hallowed the turf is that pillowed his head.
Flow on, silver Avon, in song ever flow,

be the swans on thy borders still whiter than snow;
ever full be thy stream, like his fame may it spread,
and the turf ever hallowed which pillowed his head.

N

D. GARRICK

DISASTERS COME NOT SINGLY

EVER stoops the soaring vulture
on his quarry in the desert,

on the sick or wounded bison,
but another vulture watching
from his high äerial look out,

sees the downward plunge and follows;
and a third pursues the second,
coming from the invisible ether,
first a speck and then a vulture,
till the air is dark with pinions.
So disasters come not singly,
but as if they watched and waited,
scanning one another's motions,
when the first descends, the others
follow, follow, gathering flock-wise
round their victim, sick and wounded,
first a shadow, then a sorrow,
till the air is dark with anguish.

H. W. LONGFELLOW