Page:Songs, Legends, and Ballads.djvu/323

309 And true to ancient trust in warning fell, While o'er them rang the fierce revolters' yell. Then midst the dead uprose the King in scorn, Like some strong, hunted thing that stands at bay To win a brief but desperate delay. A moment thus, and those within the ring 'Gan backward press from their unarmed King, Who swept his hand as though he bade them fly, And brave no more the anger of his eye. The heaving crowd grew still before that face, And watched him take the ancient carven case, And ope it there, and take the Pearl and stand As once before he stood, with upraised hand And upturned eyes of inward worshipping.

Awe-struck and dumb, once more they owned him King, And humbly crouched before him; when a sound, A whirring sound that thrilled them, passed o'er-head. And with a spring they rose: a spear had sped