Classic Poem

He pass'd unquestion'd through the camp;
Their heads the soldiers bent
In silent reverence, or begg'd
A blessing as he went;
And so the Hermit pass'd along,
And reached the royal tent.

King Henry sat in his tent alone;
The map before him lay;
Fresh conquests he was planning there
To grace the future day.

King Henry lifted up his eyes
The intruder to behold;
With reverence he the hermit saw;
For the holy man was old;
His look was gentle as a Saint's,
And yet his eye was bold.

" Repent thee, Henry, of the wrongs
Which thou hast done this land!
O King, repent in time, for know
The judgment is at hand.

" I have pass'd forty years of peace
Beside the river Blaise;
But what a weight of woe hast thou
Laid on my latter days!

" I used to see along the stream
The white sail gliding down,
That wafted food, in better times,
To yonder peaceful town.

" Henry! I never now behold
The white sail gliding down;
Famine, Disease, and Death, and Thou
Destroy that wretched town.

" I used to hear the traveller's voice
As here he pass'd along,
Or maiden, as she loiter'd home
Singing her even-song.

" No traveller's voice may now be heard;
In fear he hastens by;
But I have heard the village maid
In vain for succor cry.

" I used to see the youths row down,
And watch the dripping oar,
As pleasantly their viol's tones
Came soften'd to the shore.

" King Henry, many a blacken'd corpse
I now see floating down!
Thou man of blood! repent in time,
And leave this leaguer'd town. "

" I shall go on, " King Henry cried,
" And conquer this good land;
Seest thou not, Hermit, that the Lord
Hath given it to my hand? "

The Hermit heard King Henry speak,
And angrily look'd down; —
His face was gentle, and for that
More solemn was his frown.

" What if no miracle from Heaven
The murderer's arm control;
Think you for that the weight of blood
Lies lighter on his soul?

" Thou conqueror King, repent in time,
Or dread the coming woe!
For, Henry, thou hast heard the threat,
And soon shalt feel the blow! "

King Henry forced a careless smile,
As the hermit went his way;
But Henry soon remember'd him
Upon his dying day.