"George Bidder - Merlin's Youth" - читать интересную книгу автора (Bidder George)

To foil our marriage; foilщd spells we well may thank!"

Cold stood she, white and tall. From out the fight
Our men were rallying back upon the right.
She spake: "Take up thy spear and lead the men,
Nor think of spells or love. Sweep back yon foe,
Or never word thine ear from me shall know:
When they are conquered, ask me further then."

22

Dizzy I turned me, and with waving spear
Called on my men and fell into the press;
Naught knew I but to long for her caress,
And for her safety to be sick with fear:
Still with skilled arm I thrust, and thrust again,
And into the hot foe we fought out way amain.

And as the sun was setting, down the hill
We pressed them; and my wing the more and more
Forced them, retreating, to the river shore,
Until they turned to flee, and we to kill:
But where my cousins stood, stubborn and loud,
The battle waged like thunder in a thundercloud.

At length there too the foe broke; turned and fled,
Scattering toward the river, and we ran
To slay; but my huge cousin, once began
The cloud to break, turned back among the dead,
And I cried wrathful words; but there they stood,
While half stricken foe escaped into the flood.

23

We slew till all were fled, or bound, or slain,
Then turned triumphing to the tower again.
The women busily sped to and fro
Helping the wounded; or with bitter wail
Pressed lip to cheek that sundown-light left pale;
Or vainly, sadly, searched their dead to know.

I was unwounded. Youth, and skill of fence,
And fearless coolness, and a delicate sense
Of where a man was weakest, kept my head;
And so, afront of all my lagging men,
I mounted lightly from the bloody glen,
And walked to meet my love among the dead.

A dark group stood within our earthen mound;
A body, and my cousins pressing round;