ROMANCE OF BRITOMARTE 



And they shouted, " Cross him and cut him off," 

 '' Surround him," *' Seize him," " Capture 

 the clown 

 Or kill him," '' Shall he escape to scoff 

 In your faces ? " " Shoot him or cut him 

 down." 

 And their bullets whistled on every side : 

 Many were near us and more were wide. 



Not a bullet told upon Britomarte — 



Suddenly snorting, she launched along — 

 So the osprey dives where the seagulls dart, 



So the falcon swoops where the kestrels 

 throng ; 

 And full in my front one pistol flash'd. 



And right in my path their sergeant got. 

 How our jack boots jarr'd, how our stirrups 

 clash'd, 



While the mare like a meteor past him shot ; 

 But I clove his skull with a backstroke clean, 

 For the glory of God and of Gwendoline. 



And as one whom the fierce wind storms in 

 the face 



With spikes of hail and with splinters of rain, 



269 



