Page:Songs before sunrise (IA beforesunrisongs00swinrich).pdf/62

 Should flee from the foot of the lion, Lion-like, forth of his den.

As the answering of thunder to thunder Is the storm-beaten sound of her past; As the calling of sea unto sea Is the noise of her years yet to be; For this ye knew not is she, Whose bonds are broken in sunder; This is she at the last.

So spake we aloud, high-minded, Full of our will; and behold, The speech that was halfway spoken Breaks, as a pledge that is broken, As a king’s pledge, leaving in token Grief only for high hopes blinded, New grief grafted on old.

We halt by the walls of the city, Within sound of the clash of her chain. Hearing, we know that in there The lioness chafes in her lair, Shakes the storm of her hair, Struggles in hands without pity, Roars to the lion in vain.