English

As in the City's streets I wander'd late,
Bitter with God because my wrongs seem'd great,
Chiller at heart than the bleak winds that flew
Under the star-strewn voids of steel-bright blue,
Sick at the silence of the Snow, and dead
To the white Earth beneath and Heaven o'erhead,
I heard a voice sound feebly at my side
In hollow human accents, and it cried
" For God's sake, mortal, let me lean on thee!"
And as I turn'd in mute amaze to see
Who spake, there flew a whirlwind overhead
In which the lights of Heaven were darkened,

Father on Earth, for whom I wept bereaven,
Father more dear than any Father in Heaven,
Flesh of my flesh, heart of this heart of mine,
Still quick, though dead, in me, true son of thine,
I draw the gravecloth from thy dear dead face,
I kiss thee gently sleeping, while I place
This wreath of Song upon thy holy head.

For since I live, I know thou art quick not dead,
And since thou art quick, yet drawest no living breath,
I know, dear Father, that there is Life in Death.

This, too, my Soul hath found — that if there were

. .A peak, that from the sea
Shoots upward like a spire, —
The clouds far down around it lie,
And ever as the sun climbs high,
Glow like a belt of fire.

And where, upon the sands below,
The waters come and fleet,
A youth lies stretched, so near the waves
They almost kiss his feet.

A boat stands beached upon the sand;
'Tis calm, and yet her sail
Is wet and torn, as if but now

— A little cottage stands
Half hid in climbing green;
Spreading along the jagged eaves
And o'er the roof 'tis seen.

Before it are a few meek flowers,
Yet garden there is none;
But grass with flowers, — as Art at first
His toil had there begun;

Then shamed by Nature, fled, and left
These flowrets to her hand,
That hence to wild flowers changing seem,

CCLXXXI

When Thierry well had seen it that the fight he soon must wage,
He gave unto the Emperor his right-hand glove for gage.
And pledges for his warrant the Emperor gave o'er.
And at the word of Charlemagne they brought in benches four;
And thereon did they seat them who were to fight the fight.
In the eyes of all men present is the trial meet and right —
Ogier it was of Denmark that for all this took heed.
And now each champion shouted for his armor and his steed.

CCLXI

A gallant man was Charles of France, the lovely land and dear.
In no way did the Amiral feel any doubt or fear.
And either of the heroes lifted up the naked glaive.
On the shield each to the other the dreadful buffets gave.
And they cut through the two-fold wood and through the folds of hide.
Flew the nails, and into pieces fell the buckles far and wide.
Then smiting on the hauberks breast against breast they came.
Out of the fiery helmets flew up the sparks of flame.

CCXLI

But when the Emperor Charlemagne the Amiral surveyed,
And the Dragon and the ensign and the standard there displayed,
And the soldiers of Arabia whereof such store came on —
All the quarters of the country their host had overrun,
Save that where with his army did the Emperor abide —
The King of France right loudly lifted up his voice and cried:
" Lords of France a-many stricken fights have ye fought, and ye are brave.

CCXXI

With Charlemagne already three lines of battle stand.
And then the fourth Duke Neimes got ready to his hand
From a host of gallant barons that had great chivalry.
Germans they were, or gathered from the March of Germany.
Twenty thousand was their number by that all men did say.
Well armed were they and splendid were the steeds of their array.
They flee no fight for fear of death, and Herman doth them lead,
The Duke of Thrace, who will perish e'er he doth a coward's deed.

CCI

And thereon the embassadors got them upon the steed,
And forth out of the city they issued with all speed.
To their Emir they went in fear and gave to him amain
The keys of Saragossa. Spake the King unto the twain:
" What have ye found! And Marsile that I summoned, where is he? "
And Clariens gave answer:
" He is wounded mortally.
Within the mountain passes was the Emperor yesterday.

CLXXXI

King Charlemagne thereafter let all his trumpets blow.
Then forth with all the line of war did the great Emperor go.
Upon the traces of the foe then did the army fall.
In the hard chase of the Paynims they hastened one and all.
But when that night was coming on King Charlemagne had seen,
He alighted in a meadow upon the grasses green.
He bowed to earth. He prayed to God that the sun's course He would stay,
That the night still might tarry and yet remain the day.