With little wings and lantern eyes,
As though he sank through the under-skies;
But down and down he went.
As though he sank through the under-skies;
But down and down he went.
As he went down to the river-hut
He went as one that fell;
Seeing the high forest domes and spars
Dim green or torn with golden scars,
As the proud look up at the evil stars,
In the red heavens of hell.
He went as one that fell;
Seeing the high forest domes and spars
Dim green or torn with golden scars,
As the proud look up at the evil stars,
In the red heavens of hell.
For he must meet by the river-hut
Them he had bidden to arm,
Mark from the towers of Italy
And Colan of the Sacred Tree,
And Eldred who beside the sea
Held heavily his farm.
Them he had bidden to arm,
Mark from the towers of Italy
And Colan of the Sacred Tree,
And Eldred who beside the sea
Held heavily his farm.
The roof leaned gaping to the grass,
As a monstrous mushroom lies;
Echoing and empty seemed the place;
But opened in a little space
A great grey woman, with scarred face
And strong and humbled eyes.
As a monstrous mushroom lies;
Echoing and empty seemed the place;
But opened in a little space
A great grey woman, with scarred face
And strong and humbled eyes.
King Alfred was but a meagre man,
Bright eyed, but lean and pale;
Bright eyed, but lean and pale;
53
