Classic Poem

THE Knight E RRANT .

( " Qu'est-ce que Sigismond et Ladislas ont dit? " )

THE ADVENTURER SETS OUT .

What was it Sigismond and Ladislaus said?

I know not if the rock, or tree o'erhead,
Had heard their speech; — but when the two spake low,
Among the trees, a shudder seemed to go
Through all their branches, just as if that way
A beast had passed to trouble and dismay.
Darker the shadow of the rock was seen,
And then a morsel of the shade, between
The sombre trees, took shape as it would seem
Some spectre walking in the sunset's gleam.

'Tis not a monster rising from its lair,
Nor phantom of the foliage and the air,
'Tis not a morsel of the granite's shade
That walks in deepest hollows of the glade.
'Tis not a vampire nor a spectre pale,
But living man in rugged coat of mail.
It is Alsatia's noble Chevalier,
Eviradnus the brave, that now is here.
The men who spoke he recognized the while
He rested in the thicket; words of guile
Most horrible were theirs as they passed on,
And to the ears of Eviradnus one —
One word had come which roused him. Well he knew
The land which lately he had journeyed through.

He down the valley went unto the inn
Where he had left his horse and page, Gasclin.
The horse had wanted drink, and lost a shoe:
And now, " Be quick! " he said, " with what you do,
For business calls me, I must not delay. "
He strides the saddle and he rides away.