Classic Poem

I

" How can I tell, " Sir Edmund said,
" Who has the right or the wrong o' this thing?
Cromwell stands for the people's cause,
Charles is crowned by the ancient laws;
English meadows are sopping red,
Englishmen striking each other dead, —
Times are black as a raven's wing.
Out of the ruck and the murk I see
Only one thing!
The King has trusted his banner to me,
And I must fight for the King. "

II

Into the thick of the Edgehill fight
Sir Edmund rode with a shout; and the ring
Of grim-faced, hard-hitting Parliament men
Swallowed him up, — it was one against ten!
He fought for the standard with all his might,
Never again did he come to sight —
Victor, hid by the raven's wing!
After the battle had passed we found
Only one thing, —
The hand of Sir Edmund gripped around
The banner-staff of his King.