Page:New poems and variant readings, Stevenson, 1918.djvu/31

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THE VANQUISHED KNIGHT
11

THE VANQUISHED KNIGHT

I have left all upon the shameful field,
Honour and Hope, my God, and all but life;
Spurless, with sword reversed and dinted shield,
Degraded and disgraced, I leave the strife.


From him that hath not, shall there not be taken
E'en that he hath, when he deserts the strife?
Life left by all life's benefits forsaken,
O keep the promise, Lord, and take the life

TO THE COMMISSIONERS OF NORTHERN LIGHTS

I send to you, commissioners,
A paper that may please ye, sirs
(For troth they say it might be worse
An' I believe't)
And on your business lay my curse
Before I leav't.


I thocht I'd serve wi' you, sirs, yince
But I've thocht better of it since;
The maitter I will nowise mince,
But tell ye true:
I'll service wi' some ither prince,
An' no wi' you.