A book of English poetry; ed. by T. Shorter

882 POmfll 0., CWlRAC'UB, UD KISCltLt..uODOVS.

To wiD fair Engla.nd'• glMiO'IZS crown,

Duke lVillie.m ·rode that morn,

With bat11le-ue, and spear, and d!U't,

Wit.h B•l>nndlng d.l'um And boru,

Nor long nor weary wuthe way

They maarch'd ere ran of night,

When, bl· t'he brave King HArold led,

Came lhe rival host in eight I

Then apalte the Dub of Nornumdy:

<i Speedl, lauald, bold and free,

To the lender of yon martial hoet,

This ehallez~ge btar frotu llllt-

ID single combat to decide

Our etE•m and mortal feud ;

Thus bl0<1•d of th0118anda may be apand

Iteither falls sub<lued,w

One moment, In the monarch's eight

The feuleae hetald stood,

And galta.utly the challenge gave

To sp~re the waste of blood.

Sct~o~ o~r~eathed the word, ere on him lowcr'd

Full m1~ny a dark'ning glance-

A. hundred warriors struck the shield,

And gr:up'd the ponderous lance I

Straight 'IDSwer marle th~ wratht'v.l king:

"&turn thou to the duke;

To meet bia chin.lrous desire

Would rouse our chiefs' rebuke:

Unto the Go:! of arms we leo.ve

The clumoee of the tight;

And wear his brow the victory

Whose sword ia in the right!"

With banquet-eon~ and revelry~

Within tbe Britieh teu.•,

The bourn from duak.y eve~

To twilight dawn were spent.

Not thus withiu the Norman C&mPt-

.A. cllife1~ent soene shone \here-

Hands clEasp'd in deep solemnity,

.Kneee ltowly bent w prayert.