Page images
PDF
EPUB

And bravely scorn to turn their backs,

Upon the defp'ratest attacks.

At this the knight grew resolute

As Ironfide, or Hardiknute;
His fortitude began to rally,

And out he cry'd aloud, to sally ;
But she befought him to convey
His courage rather out o’th' way,
And lodge in ambush on the floor,
Or fortify'd behind a door,

That, if the enemy should enter,

He might relieve her in th' adventure.

1085

1090

Meanwhile they knock'd against the door,

As fierce as at the gate before ;
Which made the renegado knight
Relapse again t' his former fright.
He thought it desperate to stay
Till th' enemy had forc'd his way,

1100

But rather poft himself, to ferve

The lady for a fresh reserve.

His duty was not to dispute,
But what she'd order'd execute;
Which he refolv'd in hafte t' obey,
And therefore ftoutly march'd away,
And all h' encounter'd fell upon,
Tho' in the dark, and all alone;
Till fear, that braver feats performs
Than ever courage dar'd in arms,
Had drawn him up before a pass,
To stand upon his guard, and face;
This he courageously invaded,
And, having enter'd, barricado'd;
Enfconc'd himself as formidable

As could be, underneath a table ;
Where he lay down in ambush clofe,
T'expect th' arrival of his foes.

1105

1110

1115

Few minutes he had lain perdue,
To guard his desp’rate avenue,
Before he heard a dreadful fhout,
As loud as putting to the rout,
With which impatiently alarm'd,
He fancy'd th' enemy had storm'd,
And after entʼring, Sidrophel
Was fall'n upon the guards pellmell ;
He therefore fent out all his fenfes
To bring him in intelligences,
Which vulgars, out of ignorance,
Mistake for falling in a trance;
But those that trade in geomancy,
Affirm to be the strength of fancy;
In which the Lapland Magi deal,
And things incredible reveal.

1120

1125

1130

Mean while the foe beat up his quarters, 1135 And storm'd the outworks of his fortress;

And as another of the fame

Degree and party, in arms and fame,
That in the fame caufe had engag'd,
And war with equal conduct wag'd,

By vent'ring only but to thrust
His head a span beyond his post,
B'a gen'ral of the cavaliers

Was dragg'd thro' a window by the ears:
So he was ferv'd in his redoubt,

And by the other end pull'd out.

Soon as they had him at their mercy,
They put him to the cudgel fiercely,
As if they scorn'd to trade and barter,
By giving, or by taking quarter:
They ftoutly on his quarters laid,
Until his fcouts came in t' his aid:
For when a man is past his sense,
There's no way to reduce him thence,

1140

1145

1150

But twinging him by th' ears or nofe,
Or laying on of heavy blows :
And if that will not do the deed,
To burning with hot irons proceed.

No fooner was he come t' himself,
But on his neck a sturdy elf
Clapp'd in a trice his cloven hoof,
And thus attack'd him with reproof:

Mortal, thou art betray'd to us

B' our friend, thy evil genius,
Who for thy horrid perjuries,

Thy breach of faith, and turning lies,
The brethren's privilege, against
The wicked, on themselves, the faints,
Has here thy wretched carcass sent,
For just revenge and punishment ;
Which thou haft now no way to lessen,
But by an open, free confession :

1155

1160

1165

1170

« PreviousContinue »