Lance, pike, and halbert, mingled there, The Austrian men-at-arms stood fast, "I have a virtuous wife at home, I leave them to my country's care,― "These nobles lay their spears right thick, And keep full firm array, Yet shall my charge their order break, He rush'd against the Austrian band, In desperate career, And with his body, breast, and hand, Four lances splinter'd on his crest, Still on the serried files he press'd- This patriot's self-devoted deed Right where his charge had made a lane, His valiant comrades burst, With sword, and axe, and partisan, And hack, and stab, and thrust. The daunted Lion 'gan to whine, And gored his sides again. Then lost was banner, spear, and shield, The cloister vaults at Konig'sfield It was the Archduke Leopold, But he came against the Switzer churls, The heifer said unto the bull, "One thrust of thine outrageous horn An Austrian noble left the stour, 1 A pun on the URUS, or wild-bull, which gives name to the Canton of Uri. He and his squire a fisher call'd, Their anxious call the fisher heard, And while against the tide and wind The fisher's back was to them turn'd, He 'whelm'd the boat, and as they strove "Two gilded fishes in the lake It was a messenger of woe "At Sempach, on the battle-field, His bloody corpse lies there.""Ah, gracious God!" the lady cried, "What tidings of despair!" Now would you know the minstrel wight, A merry man was he, I wot, The night he made the lay, Returning from the bloody spot, Where God had judged the day. I THE NOBLE MORINGER. I. O, WILL you hear a knightly tale of old Bohemian day, And said, "Now, lady of my heart, attend the words I say. II. "'Tis I have vow'd a pilgrimage unto a distant shrine, And I must seek Saint Thomas-land, and leave the land that's mine; Here shalt thou dwell the while in state, so thou wilt pledge thy fay, t That thou for my return wilt wait seven twelvemonths and a day." III. Then out and spoke that Lady bright, sore troubled in her cheer, ¢ "Now tell me true, thou noble knight, what order takest thou here; And who shall lead thy vassal band, and hold thy lordly sway, And be thy lady's guardian true when thou art far away?" |