He seems a gracious and a gallant Prince,
I would he had our daughter. For the rest,
Our own detention, why, the causes weigh'd,
Fatherly fears you used us courteously
We would do much to gratify your Prince-
We pardon it; and for your ingress here
Upon the skirt and fringe of our fair land,

You did but come as goblins in the night,
Nor in the furrow broke the ploughman's head,
Nor burnt the grange, nor buss'd the milking-maid,
Nor robb'd the farmer of his bowl of cream.

But let Prince
your
He comes back safe -

And speak with Arac.

our royal word upon it,

- ride with us to our lines,

Arac's word is thrice

As ours with Ida; something may be done

I know not what — and ours shall see us friends.

You, likewise, our late guests, if so you will,

Follow us. Who knows? we four may

plan

Foursquare to opposition.'

build some

Here he reach'd

White hands of farewell to my sire, who growl'd

An answer which, half-muffled in his beard,

Let so much out as gave us leave to go.

Then rode we with the old king across the

lawns

Beneath huge trees, a thousand rings of Spring
In every bole, a song on every spray

Of birds that piped their Valentines, and woke
Desire in me to infuse my tale of love

In the old king's ears, who promised help, and oozed

All o'er with honey'd answer as we rode;
And blossom-fragrant slipt the heavy dews
Gather'd by night and peace, with each light air
On our mail'd heads. But other thoughts than peace
Burnt in us, when we saw the embattled squares
And squadrons of the Prince, trampling the flowers
With clamor; for among them rose a cry

As if to greet the king; they made a halt;

The horses yell'd; they clash'd their arms; the

drum

Beat; merrily-blowing shrill'd the martial fife;

And in the blast and bray of the long horn

And serpent-throated bugle, undulated

The banner. Anon to meet us lightly pranced

Three captains out; nor ever had I seen

Such thews of men. The midmost and the highest Was Arac; all about his motion clung

The shadow of his sister, as the beam

Of the East, that play'd upon them, made them

glance

Like those three stars of the airy Giant's zone,

That glitter burnish'd by the frosty dark;

And as the fiery Sirius alters hue,

And bickers into red and emerald, shone

Their morions, wash'd with morning, as they came.

And I that prated peace, when first I heard War-music, felt the blind wild-beast of force, Whose home is in the sinews of a man,

Stir in me as to strike.

Then took the king

His three broad sons; with now a wandering hand And now a pointed finger, told them all.

A common light of smiles at our disguise

Broke from their lips, and, ere the windy jest
Had labor'd down within his ample lungs,
The genial giant, Arac, roll'd himself

Thrice in the saddle, then burst out in words:

'Our land invaded, 'sdeath! and he himself Your captive, yet my father wills not war! And, 'sdeath! myself, what care I, war or no? But then this question of your troth remains; And there's a downright honest meaning in her. She flies too high, she flies too high! and yet She ask'd but space and fair-play for her scheme; She prest and prest it on me - I myself,

What know I of these things? but, life and

soul!

I thought her half-right talking of her wrongs;
I say she flies too high, 'sdeath! what of that?
I take her for the flower of womankind,

And so I often told her, right or wrong;

And, Prince, she can be sweet to those she loves,
And, right or wrong, I care not; this is all,
I stand upon her side; she made me swear it

'Sdeath! — and with solemn rites by candle-light
Swear by Saint something I forget her name-
Her that talk'd down the fifty wisest men;
She was a princess too; and so I swore.
Come, this is all; she will not; waive your claim.
If not, the foughten field, what else, at once
Decides it, 'sdeath! against my father's will.'

I lagg'd in answer, loth to render up My precontract, and loth by brainless war To cleave the rift of difference deeper yet; Till one of those two brothers, half aside And fingering at the hair about his lip, To prick us on to combat, Like to like! The woman's garment hid the woman's heart.' A taunt that clench'd his purpose like a blow! For fiery-short was Cyril's counter-scoff, And sharp I answer'd, touch'd upon the point Where idle boys are cowards to their shame, 'Decide it here; why not? we are three to three.'

Then spake the third: But three to three? no more?

No more, and in our noble sister's cause?
More, more, for honor! every captain waits
Hungry for honor, angry for his king.

More, more, some fifty on a side, that each
May breathe himself, and quick! by overthrow
Of these or those, the question settled die.'

Foam of men's deeds this honor, if ye will.

It needs must be for honor if at all;

Since, what decision? if we fail we fail,

And if we win we fail; she would not keep

Her compact.' 'Sdeath! but we will send to her,’ Said Arac, worthy reasons why she should

Bide by this issue; let our missive thro',

And you shall have her answer by the word.'

'Boys!' shriek'd the old king, but vainlier than a hen

To her false daughters in the pool; for none
Regarded; neither seem'd there more to say.
Back rode we to my father's camp, and found
He thrice had sent a herald to the gates,
To learn if Ida yet would cede our claim,
Or by denial flush her babbling wells
With her own people's life; three times he went.
The first, he blew and blew, but none appear'd;
He batter'd at the doors, none came; the next,
An awful voice within had warn'd him thence;
The third, and those eight daughters of the plough
Came sallying thro' the gates, and caught his hair,
And so belabor'd him on rib and cheek

They made him wild. Not less one glance he caught

Thro' open doors of Ida station'd there