THE ALARM-BELL OF ATRL 133 



Who, with uplifted head and eager eye, 

 Was tugging at the vines of briony. 

 " Domeneddio ! " cried the Syndic straight, 

 " This is the Knight of Atri's steed of state ! 

 He calls for justice, being sore distressed, 

 And pleads his cause as loudly as the best." 



8. Meanwhile from street and lane a noisy crowd 

 Had rolled together, like a summer cloud, 

 And told the story of the wretched beast 



In five-and-twenty different ways at least, 



With much gesticulation and appeal 



To heathen gods, in their excessive zeal. 



The Knight was called and questioned ; in reply 



Did not confess the fact, did not deny ; 



Treated the matter as a pleasant jest, 



And set at naught the Syndic and the rest, 



Maintaining, in an angry undertone, 



That he should do what pleased him with his own. 



9. And thereupon the Syndic gravely read 

 The proclamation of the King ; then said : 



" Pride goeth forth on horseback grand and gay, 

 But cometh back on foot, and begs its way ; 

 Fame is the perfume of heroic deeds, 

 Of flowers of chivalry and not of weeds ! 

 These are familiar proverbs ; but I fear 

 They never yet have reached your knightly ear. 

 What fair renown, what honor, what repute 

 Can come to you from starving this poor brute ( ( 

 He who serves well and speaks not merits more 

 Than they who clamor loudest at the door. 

 Therefore the law decrees, that as this steed 

 Served you in youth, henceforth you shall take heed 



