142
miscellaneous poems.
Oh! he who could gaze, undismayed, on their gleam,
Was a warrior in feeling and bearing, I deem.
Was a warrior in feeling and bearing, I deem.
Then answered the knight:—"So help me, St. Bride!
Whilst my lance, still unbroken, I bear by my side;
My helmet and shield to no foe will I yield,
Whilst my heart breathes a gasp on the bloodstained field."
Whilst my lance, still unbroken, I bear by my side;
My helmet and shield to no foe will I yield,
Whilst my heart breathes a gasp on the bloodstained field."
The warrior hath spoken, and calmly he gazed,
While the sable-clothed horseman his hand slowly raised;
"Not low on the gory-stained field thou wilt lie;
Oh, warrior, prepare thee! this moment thou'lt die."
While the sable-clothed horseman his hand slowly raised;
"Not low on the gory-stained field thou wilt lie;
Oh, warrior, prepare thee! this moment thou'lt die."
"And must it be so, then? Death, art thou so near?
I shun thee not—phantoms the coward may fear;
I shun thee not—phantoms the coward may fear;
