{"collection":"Northern European Mythology","html_url":"https://unchartedknowledge.5gfusion.net/browse/neu/arthur/art198.htm","path":"neu/arthur/art198.htm","source_url":"https://sacred-texts.com/neu/arthur/art198.htm","text":"Sacred Texts\u00a0\n Legends/Sagas\u00a0\n England\u00a0\n Index\u00a0\n Previous\u00a0\n Next\u00a0\n \n \n An Arthurian Miscellany\n EXCALIBUR\n by\n JOHN GROSVENOR WILSON\n \n \"Thou art here, the Lord's Anointed, \n \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0King of men and knight of heaven, \n To the trust thou art appointed, \n \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0Unto thee the sword is given; \n As a sign for thee, a token\n \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0That the light again is breaking \n Thro' the gloom of time unspoken \n \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0To the dawn and to the waking. \n \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\n \"When the fields of heaven sounded\n \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0With the roar and shout of battle, \n And the whirling spears rebounded\n \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0From the shields with ring and rattle, \n This the sword that Michael wielded\n \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0With a fire and strength supernal, \n Till the rebel hosts, unshielded, \n \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0Fled from light to night eternal. \n \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\n \"Strong as Michael shalt thou fight them, \n \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0They that bow before the idols, \n And the blazing sword shall smite them \n \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0From the horses and the bridles; \n Yea, the heathen, stunned with terror, \n \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0Shall behold the blade advancing, \n With the flame that burneth error\n \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0From the hilt and jewels glancing. \n \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\n \"Lo, the weary world is weeping\n \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0In the toil of her transgression\n For the justice that is sleeping, \n \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0For the wrong and the oppression,\n For the nights that quake and quiver, \n \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0For the days that dawn in thunder, \n For the years that shrink and shiver\n \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0At the shame and at the wonder. \n \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\n \"But the guilty shalt thou scatter, \n \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0And the sword will bravely brighten\n As the standards sink and shatter, \n \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0And the foeman's face shall whiten\n At the sound and at the glitter\n \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0Of the brand above him flashing,\n Till the death-shriek, shrill and bitter, \n \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0Drown the din of armor clashing. \n \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\n \"So thy kingdom shall be founded, \n \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0And by justice thou shalt hold it, \n And its fame shall be unbounded\n \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0As the wide seas that enfold it; \n And the harvest hailing hither\n \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0Shall encamp on all the acres, \n And the noxious weeds shall wither\n \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0As the sea-foam on the breakers. \n \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\n \"Till the right grown wrong with surfeit \n \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0Shall uprise and challenge proudly, \n Then the peace shall all be forfeit, \n \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0And the trumpet-call sound loudly; \n Then the sword shall rouse the thunder, \n \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0And the echoes will awaken\n All along the sea, and under, \n \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0Where the mermaid rides the kraken. \n \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\n \"For the cycle will be ended, \n \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0And shall come the desolation, \n And the close shall be attended\n \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0With a noise of devastation; \n And the ruin will be utter, \n \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0For the foe shall overmaster, \n And the royal flag shall flutter\n \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0To defeat and to disaster. \n \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\n \"When from out the nether regions, \n \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0With a mighty thunder-rattle, \n Ride the clanging, shouting legions\n \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0Of the storm and of the battle, \n Then the solemn doom shall follow, \n \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0And the King shall bow before it; \n When the great sword striketh hollow, \n \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0To the great giver then restore it.\" \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n Next: Isolt at the Tomb of Tristram, by John Grosvenor Wilson [1886]","title":"Arthurian Miscellany: Excalibur, by John Grosvenor Wilson [1886]","type":"page"}