Page:Songs, Legends, and Ballads.djvu/306

292 And eyes awe-stricken saw the mystic Thing That soon would clothe another as their King! The midnight moon was high and white o'erhead, And threw a ghastly pallor round the dead That heightened still the savage pomp and state In which they stood expectant, as for Fate To move and mark with undisputed hand The one amongst them to the high command. And long they stood unanswered; each on each Had looked in vain for motion or for speech: Unmoved as ebon statues, grand and tall, They ringed the shadowy circle, silent all.

Then came a creeping tremor, as a breeze "With cooling rustle moves the summer trees Before the thunder crashes on the ear; The dense ranks turn expectant, as they hear A sound, at first afar, but nearing fast; The outer crowd divides, as waves are cast On either side a tall ship's cleaving bow, Or mould is parted by the fearless plough That leaves behind a passage clear and broad: