And in the blast and bray of the long horn 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 wildbeast 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 'Our land invaded, life and soul! himself What know I of these things? but, life and soul ! Swear by St. something-I forget her name— Her that talk'd down the fifty wisest men ; I lagg'd in answer loth to render up And fingering at the hair about his lip, To prick us on to combat Like to like! claim : The woman's garment hid the woman's heart.' And sharp I answer'd, touch'd upon the point Then spake the third 'But three to three? no more? No more, and in our noble sister's cause? More, more, for honour: every captain waits More, more, some fifty on a side, that each May breathe himself, and quick! by overthrow Of these or those, the question settled die.' 'Yea' answered I for this wild wreath of air, This flake of rainbow flying on the highest Foam of men's deeds-this honour, if ye will. It needs must be for honour if at all: Since, what decision? if we fail, we fail, And if we win, we fail: she would not keep Her compact.' Life! 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: He thrice had sent a herald to the gates, To learn if Ida yet would cede our claim, With her own people's life: three times he went : They made him wild: not less one glance he caught When storm is on the heights, and right and left Suck'd from the dark heart of the long hills roll |