Part 42 (2/2)

(Chorus of all): Hurrah! for the bright blue steel!

Thurston (sings): Hurrah! for the sword of our ally bold, It has done good service to him; It has held its own on an open wold, When its edge was in keener trim.

It may baffle the plots of the wisest skull, It may slacken the strongest limb, Make the brains full of forethought void and null, And the eyes full of far-sight dim; And the hasty hands are content to wait, And the knees are compelled to kneel, Where it falls with the weight of a downstroke straight--

(Chorus of all): Hurrah! for the bright blue steel!

Thurston (sings): Hurrah! for the sword--I've one of my own; And I think I may safely say, Give my enemy his, let us stand alone, And our quarrel shall end one way; One way or the other--it matters not much, So the question be fairly tried.

Oh! peacemaker good, bringing peace with a touch, Thy clients will be satisfied.

As a judge, thou dost judge--as a witness, attest, And thou settest thy hand and seal, And the winner is blest, and the loser at rest--

(Chorus of all): Hurrah! for the bright blue steel!

[Hugo and Eric enter during the last verse of the song.]

Hugo: Boot and saddle, old friend, Their defiance they send; Time is short--make an end Of thy song.

Let the sword in this fight Strike as hard for the right As it once struck for might Leagued with wrong.

Ha! Rollo, thou champest Thy bridle and stampest, For the rush of the tempest Dost long?

Ho! the kites will grow fatter On the corpses we scatter, In the paths where we shatter Their throng.

Where Osric, the craven, Hath reared the black raven 'Gainst monks that are shaven And cowl'd: Where the Teuton and Hun sit, In the track of our onset, Will the wolves, ere the sunset, Have howl'd.

Retribution is good, They have revell'd in blood, Like the wolves of the wood They have prowl'd.

Birds of prey they have been, And of carrion unclean, And their own nests (I ween) They have foul'd.

Eric: Two messengers since Yestermorn have gone hence, And ere long will the Prince Bring relief.

Shall we pause?--they are ten To our one, but their men Are ill-arm'd, and scarce ken Their own chief; And for this we give thanks: Their disorderly ranks, If a.s.sail'd in the flanks, Will as lief Run as fight--loons and lords.

Hugo: Mount your steeds! draw your swords!

Take your places! My words Shall be brief: Ride round by the valley, Through pa.s.s and gorge sally-- The linden trees rally Beneath.

Then, Eric and Thurston, Their ranks while we burst on, Try which will be first on The heath.

(Aside) Look again, mother mine, Through the happy stars.h.i.+ne, For my sins dost thou pine?

With my breath, See! thy pangs are all done, For the life of thy son: Thou shalt never feel one For his death.

[They all go out but Hugo, who lingers to tighten his girths. Orion appears suddenly in the gateway.]

Orion: Stay, friend! I keep guard on Thy soul's gates; hold hard on Thy horse. Hope of pardon Hath fled!

Bethink once, I crave thee, Can recklessness save thee?

h.e.l.l sooner will have thee Instead.

Hugo: Back! My soul, tempest-toss'd, Hath her Rubicon cross'd, She shall fly--saved or lost!

Void of dread!

Sharper pang than the steel, Thou, oh, serpent! shalt feel, Should I set the bruised heel On thy head.

[He rides out.]

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