Page:Early poems of William Morris.djvu/263

 And in the night lay down together,

And hung above our heads the rood,

Or watch'd night-long in the dewy weather,

The while the moon did watch the wood.

Our spears stood bright and thick together,

Straight out the banners stream'd behind,

As we gallop'd on in the sunny weather,

With faces turn'd towards the wind.

Down sank our threescore spears together,

As thick we saw the pagans ride;

His eager face in the clear fresh weather,

Shone out that last time by my side.

Up the sweep of the bridge we dash'd together,

It rock'd to the crash of the meeting spears,

Down rain'd the buds of the dear spring weather,

The elm-tree flowers fell like tears.

There, as we roll'd and writhed together,

I threw my arms above my head,

For close by my side, in the lovely weather,

I saw him reel and fall back dead.

I and the slayer met together,

He waited the death-stroke there in his place,

With thoughts of death, in the lovely weather,

Gapingly mazed at my madden'd face.

Madly I fought as we fought together;

In vain: the little Christian band

The pagans drown'd, as in stormy weather,

The river drowns low-lying land.