Equinox I (04).pdf

Equinox I (04).pdf Equinox I (04).pdf

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58 XXI NOW doth Sir Palamede advance The lord of many a sword and lance. In merrie England’s summer sun Their shields and arms a-glittering glance And laugh upon the mossy mead. Now winds the horn of Palamede, As far upon the horizon He spies the Questing Beast a-feed. With loyal craft and honest guile They spread their ranks for many a mile. For when the Beast hath heard the horn He practiseth his ancient wile, And many a myriad beasts invade The stillness of that arméd glade. Now every knight to rest hath borne His lance, and given the accolade, And run upon a beast: but they Slip from the fatal point away And course about, confusing all That gallant concourse all the day,

SIR PALAMEDES, THE SARACEN KNIGHT Leading them ever to a vale With hugeous cry and monster wail. Then suddenly their voices fall, And in the park's resounding pale Only the clamour of the chase Is heard: oh! to the centre race The unsuspicious knights: but he The Questing Beast his former face Of unity resumes: the course Of warriors shocks with man and horse. In mutual madness swift to see They shatter with unbridled force One on another: down they go Swift in stupendous overthrow. Out sword! out lance! Curiass and helm Splinter beneath the knightly blow. They storm, they charge, they hack and hew, They rush and wheel the press athrough. The weight, the murder, over whelm One, two, and all. Nor silence knew His empire till Sir Palamede (The last) upon his fairy steed Struck down his brother; then at once Fell silence on the bloody mead, 59

58<br />

XXI<br />

NOW doth Sir Palamede advance<br />

The lord of many a sword and lance.<br />

In merrie England’s summer sun<br />

Their shields and arms a-glittering glance<br />

And laugh upon the mossy mead.<br />

Now winds the horn of Palamede,<br />

As far upon the horizon<br />

He spies the Questing Beast a-feed.<br />

With loyal craft and honest guile<br />

They spread their ranks for many a mile.<br />

For when the Beast hath heard the horn<br />

He practiseth his ancient wile,<br />

And many a myriad beasts invade<br />

The stillness of that arméd glade.<br />

Now every knight to rest hath borne<br />

His lance, and given the accolade,<br />

And run upon a beast: but they<br />

Slip from the fatal point away<br />

And course about, confusing all<br />

That gallant concourse all the day,

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