Page:The Forest Sanctuary.pdf/149

This page has been proofread, but needs to be validated.
LAYS OF MANY LANDS.
143


"Hunter! leave the mountain-chase!
Take the falchion from its place!
Let the wolf go free to-day,
Leave him for a nobler prey!
Let the deer ungall'd sweep by,—
Arm thee! Britain's foes are nigh!"


And the hunter arm'd ere the chase was done,
And the bended Bow and the voice pass'd on.

"Chieftain! quit the joyous feast!
Stay not till the song hath ceas'd:
Though the mead be foaming bright,
Though the fires give ruddy light,
Leave the hearth and leave the hall—
Arm thee! Britain's foes must fall."


And the chieftain arm'd, and the horn was blown,
And the bended Bow and the voice pass'd on.

"Prince! thy father's deeds are told,

In the bower and in the hold!
This article is issued from Wikisource. The text is available under Creative Commons Attribution-Share Alike 4.0 unless otherwise noted. Additional terms may apply for the media files.