WHO lives in suit of armour pent And hides himself behind a wall, For him is not the great event, The garland nor the Capitol. And is God's guerdon less than they? Nay, moral man, I tell thee Nay: Nor shall the flaming forts be won By sneaking negatives alone, By Lenten fast or Ramazàn; But by the challenge proudly thrown— @3Virtue is that becrowns a Man!@1 God, in His Palace resident Of Bliss, beheld our sinful ball, And charged His own Son innocent Us to redeem from Adam's fall. 'Yet must it be that men Thee slay.' 'Yea, tho' it must, must I obey,' Said Christ; and came, His royal Son, To die, and dying to atone For harlot, thief, and publican. Read on that rood He died upon— @3Virtue is that becrowns a Man!@1 Beneath that rood where He was bent I saw the world's great captains all Pass riding home from tournament Adown the road from Roncesvalles— Lord Charlemagne, in one array Lords Cæsar, Cyrus, Attila, Lord Alisaundre of Macedon... With flame on lance and habergeon They passed, and to the rataplan Of drums gave salutation— @3'Virtue is that becrowns a Man!'@1 Had tall Achilles lounged in tent For aye, and Xanthus neigh'd in stall, The towers of Troy had ne'er been shent, Nor stay'd the dance in Priam's hall. Bend o'er thy book till thou be grey, Read, mark, perpend, digest, survey, Instruct thee deep as Solomon, One only chapter thou shalt con, One lesson learn, one sentence scan, One title and one colophon— @3Virtue is that becrowns a Man!@1 High Virtue's hest is eloquent With spur and not with martingall: Swear not to her thou'rt continent: BE COURTEOUS, BRAVE, AND LIBERAL. God fashion'd thee of chosen clay For service, nor did ever say, 'Deny thee this,' 'Abstain from yon,' But to inure thee, thew and bone, To be confirmèd of the clan That made immortal Marathon— @3Virtue is that becrowns a Man!@1 ENVOY Young Knight, the lists are set to-day! Hereafter shall be time to pray In sepulture, with hands of stone. Ride, then! outride the bugle blown! And gaily dinging down the van Charge with a cheer—'@3Set on! Set on! Virtue is that becrowns a Man!'@1 | Discover our Poem Explanations and Poet Analyses!Other Poems of Interest...THE MOURNING GARMENT: THE DESCRIPTION OF THE SHEPHERD AND HIS WIFE by ROBERT GREENE KEATS; SONNET by HENRY WADSWORTH LONGFELLOW ONLY A YEAR' by HARRIET BEECHER STOWE SUMMER NIGHT, RIVERSIDE by SARA TEASDALE TOM O' BEDLAM'S SONG by FRANCIS BEAUMONT SONNET: AT MY WORD by LOUISA SARAH BEVINGTON VOICE FROM THE CHORUS by ALEXANDER (ALEKSANDR) ALEXANDROVICH BLOK |