Praise is deeper than the lips: France remains your debtor still. Ask to heart's content and have! or my name's not Damfreville." 113 Then a beam of fun outbroke And from Malo Roads to Croisic Point, what is it but a run?— Since 't is ask and have, I may— Since the others go ashore Come! A good whole holiday! Leave to go and see my wife, whom I call the Belle Aurore!" That he asked and that he got,-nothing more. 125 Name and deed alike are lost: Not a pillar nor a post In his Croisic keeps alive the feat as it befell; Not a head in white and black On a single fishing-smack. In memory of the man but for whom had gone to wrack All that France saved from the fight whence England bore the bell. Go to Paris: rank on rank Search the heroes flung pell-mell On the Louvre, face and flank! You shall look long enough ere you come to Hervé Riel. So, for better and for worse, Hervé Riel, accept my verse! In my verse, Hervé Riel, do thou once more Save the squadron, honor France, love thy wife. the Belle Aurore! 140 1871. Robert Browning. THE BATTLE OF OTTERBURN It fell about the Lammas tide, When the muir-men win their hay, He chose the Gordons and the Graemes, And he has burned the dales of Tyne, And three good towers on Reidswire felis, He left them all on fire. And he marched up to Newcastle, And rode it round about; “O wha's the lord of this castle, But up spake proud Lord Percy, then, "I am the lord of this castle, 5 10 15 20 |