| |
| “WHAT’S that that hirples at my side?” | |
| The foe that you must fight, my lord. | |
| “That rides as fast as I can ride?” | |
| The shadow of your might, my lord. | |
| |
| “Then wheel my horse against the foe!” | 5 |
| He’s down and overpast, my lord. | |
| You war against the sunset-glow, | |
| The judgment follows fast, my lord! | |
| |
| “Oh who will stay the sun’s descent?” | |
| King Joshua he is dead, my lord. | 10 |
| “I need an hour to repent!” | |
| ’Tis what our sister said, my lord. | |
| |
| “Oh do not slay me in my sins!” | |
| You’re safe awhile with us, my lord. | |
| “Nay, kill me ere my fear begins!” | 15 |
| We would not serve you thus, my lord. | |
| |
| “Where is the doom that I must face?” | |
| Three little leagues away, my lord. | |
| “Then mend the horses’ laggard pace!” | |
| We need them for next day, my lord. | 20 |
| |
| “Next day—next day! Unloose my cords!” | |
| Our sister needed none, my lord. | |
| You had no mind to face our swords, | |
| And—where can cowards run, my lord? | |
| |
| “You would not kill the soul alive?” | 25 |
| ’Twas thus our sister cried, my lord. | |
| “I dare not die with none to shrive.” | |
| But so our sister died, my lord. | |
| |
| “Then wipe the sweat from brow and cheek.” | |
| It runnels forth afresh, my lord. | 30 |
| “Uphold me—for the flesh is weak.” | |
| You ’ve finished with the Flesh, my lord! | |
| |
