Henry Wadsworth Longfellow, ed. Poems of Places: An Anthology in 31 Volumes.
Germany: Vols. XVII–XVIII. 1876–79.

Miscellaneous

Fragment of the Song of Louis the Third

By From the German

Translated by W. Taylor

THEN took he shield and spear,

And quickly forward rode;

Willing to wreak revenge

Against his gathering foes.

Erelong he saw from far

The Norman force approach:

“Thank God!” said he aloud;

He saw what he desired.

The king rode bravely on,

And sang a Frankish hymn,

And all his people joined:

“Kyrie eleison.”

The song was sung;

The fight begun:

The blood shone in the cheeks

Of the merry Franks:

But no blade of them all

Fought so bravely as Ludovic.