The last of the legs as tenderly
Followed the rest: or never

Or now is the time!

His knife in reach, And his right-hand loose-how clever!

For this can stab up the stomach's soft,
While the left hand grasps the pastern.
A rise on the elbow, and-now's the time
Or never: this turn's the last turn!

I shall dare to place myself by God

Who scanned-for He does-each feature
Of the face thrown up in appeal to Him
By the agonizing creature.

Nay, I hear plain words: 'Thy gift brings this!'
Up he sprang, back he staggered,

Over he fell, and with him our friend
-At following game no laggard.

Yet he was not dead when they picked next day From the gully's depth the wreck of him; His fall had been stayed by the stag beneath Who cushioned and saved the neck of him.

But the rest of his body-why, doctors said,
Whatever could break was broken;

Legs, arms, ribs, all of him looked like a toast
In a tumbler of port-wine soaken.

'That your life is left you, thank the stag!'
Said they when the slow cure ended—
They opened the hospital-door, and thence
-Strapped, spliced, main fractures mended,

And minor damage left wisely alone,-
Like an old shoe clouted and cobbled,
Out-what went in a Goliath wellnigh,-
Some half of a David hobbled.

ROBERT BROWNING

BOOT AND SADDLE

BOOT, saddle, to horse, and away!
Rescue my castle before the hot day
Brightens to blue from its silver gray,
Chorus.

Boot, saddle, to horse, and away!

Ride past the suburbs, asleep as you'd say; Many's the friend there, will listen and pray 'God's luck to gallants that strike up the layChorus.

Boot, saddle, to horse, and away!'

Forty miles off, like a roebuck at bay,

Flouts Castle Brancepeth the Roundheads' array: Who laughs, 'Good fellows ere this, by my fay, Chorus.

Boot, saddle, to horse, and away!'

Who? My wife Gertrude; that, honest and gay, Laughs when you talk of surrendering, 'Nay. I've better counsellors; what counsel they?

Chorus.

"Boot, saddle, to horse, and away!"

ROBERT BROWNING

RIDING DOWN

OH, did you see him riding down,
And riding down, while all the town
Came out to see, came out to see,
And all the bells rang mad with glee?

Oh, did you hear those bells ring out,
The bells ring out, the people shout,
And did you hear that cheer on cheer
That over all the bells rang clear?

And did you see the waving flags,
The fluttering flags, the tattered flags,

Red, white, and blue, shot through and through,
Baptized with battle's deadly dew?

And did you hear the drums' gay beat,
The drums' gay beat, the bugles sweet,
The cymbals' clash, the cannons' crash,
That rent the sky with sound and flash?

And did you see me waiting there,
Just waiting there and watching there,
One little lass, amid the mass
That pressed to see the hero pass?

And did you see him smiling down,
And smiling down, as riding down
With slowest pace, with stately grace,
He caught the vision of a face-

My face uplifted red and white,
Turned red and white with sheer delight,
To meet the eyes, the smiling eyes,
Outflashing in their swift surprise?

Oh, did you see how swift it came,
How swift it came, like sudden flame,
That smile to me, to only me,

The little lass who blushed to see?

NORA PERRY

LORD MARMION'S ESCAPE

THE train from out the castle drew,

But Marmion stopped to bid adieu:

'Though something I might plain,' he said, 'Of cold respect to stranger guest,

Sent hither by your king's behest,

While in Tantallon's towers I stayed,

Part we in friendship from your land,
And, noble earl, receive my hand.'-
But Douglas round him drew his cloak,
Folded his arms, and thus he spoke :-
'My manors, halls, and bowers shall still
Be open at my sovereign's will

To each one whom he lists, howe'er
Unmeet to be the owner's peer.

My castles are my king's alone,
From turret to foundation-stone-
The hand of Douglas is his own,
And never shall in friendly grasp
The hand of such as Marmion clasp.'

Burned Marmion's swarthy cheek like fire
And shook his very frame for ire,

And This to me!' he said,
'An't were not for thy hoary beard,
Such hand as Marmion's had not spared
To cleave the Douglas' head!
And first I tell thee, haughty peer,
He who does England's message here,
Although the meanest in her state,
May well, proud Angus, be thy mate;
And, Douglas, more I tell thee here,
Even in thy pitch of pride,

Here in thy hold, thy vassals near,-
Nay, never look upon your lord,

And lay your hands upon your sword,—
I tell thee, thou'rt defied!