Page:The poetical works of William Blake; a new and verbatim text from the manuscript engraved and letterpress originals (1905).djvu/74

 Dagw. Here on the fields of Cressy we are settled

'Till Philip springs the tim'rous covey again.

The Wolf is hunted down by causeless fear;

The Lion flees, and fear usurps his heart,

Startled, astonish'd at the clam'rous Cock;

The Eagle, that doth gaze upon the sun,

Fears the small fire that plays about the fen.

If, at this moment of their idle fear,

The Dog doth seize the Wolf, the Forester the Lion,

The Negro in the crevice of the rock

Doth seize the soaring Eagle; undone by flight,

They tame submit: such the effect flight has

On noble souls. Now hear its opposite.

The tim'rous Stag starts from the thicket wild.

The fearful Crane springs from the splashy fen,

The shining Snake glides o'er the bending grass,

The Stag turns head and bays the crying Hounds,

The Crane o'ertaken fighteth with the Hawk,

The Snake doth turn, and bite the padding foot. And if your Majesty's afraid of Philip,

You are more like a Lion than a Crane:

Therefore I beg I may return to England.

King. Sir Thomas, now I understand your mirth,

Which often plays with Wisdom for its pastime,

And brings good counsel from the breast of laughter.

I hope you'll stay, and see us fight this battle,

And reap rich harvest in the fields of Cressy;

Then go to England, tell them how we fight,

And set all hearts on fire to be with us.

Philip is plum'd, and thinks we flee from him,

Else he would never dare to attack us. Now,

Now the quarry's set! and Death doth sport

In the bright sunshine of this fatal day.

Dagw. Now my heart dances, and I am as light

As the young bridegroom going to be married.

Now must I to my soldiers, get them ready,

Furbish our armours bright, new plume our helms.

And we will sing like the young housewives busied

In the dairy: my feet are wing'd, but not

For flight, an please your grace.

King. If all my soldiers are as pleas'd as you,

'Twill be a gallant thing to fight or die;

Then I can never be afraid of Philip.

Dagw. A raw-bon'd fellow t'other day pass'd by me;

I told him to put off his hungry looks —

He answer'd me, 'I hunger for another battle.'

I saw a little Welchman with a fiery face;

I told him he look'd like a candle half

Burn'd out; he answer'd, he was 'pig enough

To light another pattle.' Last night, beneath