ROMANCE OF BRITOMARTE 



I was with them all the way on the brown — 

 '' Guy to the rescue ! " "God and the king! " 

 We were just in time, for the doors were 

 down, 

 And didn't our sword blades rasp and ring ! 

 And didn't we hew, and didn't we hack ! 



The sport scarce lasted us minutes ten — 



(Aye, those were the days when my beard was 



black : 



I like to remember them now and then). 



Though they fought like fiends, we were four 



to one, 

 And we captured those that refused to run. 



We have not forgotten it, Cuthbert, boy ! 



That supper scene when the lamps were lit ; 

 How the women (some of them) sobb'd for joy, 



How the soldiers drank the deeper for it ; 

 How the Dame did honours, and Gwendoline, 



How grandly she glided into the hall. 

 How she stoop'd with the grace of a girlish 

 queen 



And kiss'd me gravely before them all, 

 And the stern Lord Guy, how gaily he laugh'd, 

 Till more of his cup was spilt than quaff'd. 

 i8 273 



