Page:The Queens Court Manuscript with Other Ancient Bohemian Poems, 1852, Cambridge edition.djvu/47

 And now towards God’s Mother’s hill
 * They backwards force their way.

“Up, brethren, up!” doth Vneslaw cry,
 * While on his silver shield

His sword he strikes, and o’er his head
 * The banner high doth wield.

All courage take, and all themselves
 * Upon the Tatars throw,

And in one body, as when flame
 * From the black earth doth flow,

So from th’ outnumb’ring Tatar host
 * Towards the hill they go.

With backward steps the hill they climb,
 * And ’neath its woody crown

Extend themselves, while underneath
 * A sharp peak pointeth down.

And right and left themselves with shields
 * They cover for the fight,

And on each other’s shoulders lay
 * The spears so sharp and bright.

On shoulder of the front-rank man
 * The second laid his spear,

And those of the third rank in turn
 * Upon the second were.

And down upon the Tatar hordes
 * Rain arrows from the hill;—

3em