Aurora Author:A. A. Purchase of this book includes free trial access to www.million-books.com where you can read more than a million books for free. This is an OCR edition with typos. Excerpt from book: THE PHCENIX. One eve there rode an aged, grave-browed knight, To bid my son unto the morrow's fight; A charger he bestrode of chestnut-bay, Above... more » his mail there fell a tabard gay, His horse curvetting, proudly on he rode, Across the grass-grown pathway then he strode, Through the low wicket, striking on the door, With dagger-hilt of silver jewelled o'er, Then flung his bridle to his mounted train, Who laughed and chatted idly in the lane, Where each one sat as an armed statue sits, Whilst their steeds pawed, and champed their foaming bits. My son, who sick to death lay on his bed, Hearing these knockings loud, upraised his head, Asking what stir was that without the wall; Meantime the ancient knight was heard to call On my son's name, and strike upon the door, As one who grew impatient more and more. With trembling hand I opened to the knight, Who loomed gigantic 'gainst the sunset light. " Wherefore," quoth I, in anger, " striplings seek, Whose cheeks are smooth-as ny maiden's cheek? Thousands of bearded men of wolfish mind, Of hands both strong and cruel, thou canst find, Those who their neighbours seek to slay, not save, Such thou may'st fitly summon to thy grave, And Christ forgive thee for thy evil deeds, And bear thee quickly from these peaceful meads !" My son had heard each word where sick he lay, Had risen unaided, donned his hodden gray, His weakness putting from him like a shroud, And stood revealed like sunlight from a cloud, Fire in his eye, although his mien was meek, A rosy flush of pride upon his cheek. " He cometh of no race who spurs have won," I murmured, gazing on my yeoman-son ; " Return," I said, " demand not this sweet life, Bloodshe...« less