There gloom the dark, broad seas. My mari ners, Souls that have toiled, and wrought, and thought with me, That ever with a frolic welcome took The thunder and the sunshine, and opposed old; you and I are Old age hath yet his honor and his toil. Moans round with many voices. Come, my friends, 'Tis not too late to seek a newer world. Push off, and sitting well in order smite Moved earth and heaven, that which we are, we are, One equal temper of heroic hearts, Made weak by time and fate, but strong in will To strive, to seek, to find, and not to yield. Alfred Tennyson. THE DUEL, FROM "SOHRAB AND RUSTUM" He spoke, and Sohrab kindled at his taunts, And he, too, drew his sword; at once they rushed Together as two eagles on one prey Come rushing down together from the clouds, One from the East, one from the West; their shields Dash'd with a clang together, and a din In gloom they twain were wrapp'd, and they alone; For both the on-looking hosts on either hand eyes And laboring breath; first Rustum struck the shield Which Sohrab held stiff out; the steel-piked spear Rent the tough plates, but failed to reach the skin, And Rustum plucked it back with angry groan. Then Sohrab with his sword smote Rustum's helm, Nor clove its steel quite through; but all the crest He shore away, and that proud horsehair plume, Never till now defiled, sank to the dust; And Rustum bow'd his head; but then the gloom Grew blacker, thunder rumbled in the air, And lightnings rent the cloud; and Ruksh, the horse, Who stood at hand, utter'd a dreadful cry; No horse's cry was that, most like the roar And Oxus curdled as it crossed his stream. But Sohrab heard, and quail'd not, but rushed on, And struck again; and again Rustum bow'd eyes Glared, and he shook on high his menacing spear, And shouted: Rustum!-Sohrab heard that shout, And shrank amazed; back he recoiled one step, And scanned with blinking eyes the advancing form; And then he stood bewildered, and he dropp'd His covering shield, and the spear pierced his side. He reeled, and staggering back, sank to the ground. And then the gloom dispersed, and the wind fell, And the bright sun broke forth, and melted all Then, with a bitter smile, Rustum began:- move His heart to take a gift, and let thee go. And then that all the Tartar host would praise Fool, thou art slain, and by an unknown man! And, with a fearless mien, Sohrab replied: "Unknown thou art; yet thy fierce vaunt is vain. Thou dost not slay me, proud and boastful man! No! Rustum slays me, and this filial heart. For were I match'd with ten such men as thee, And I were that which till to-day I was, |