The spirit of democracy. [volume] (Woodsfield, Ohio) 1844-1994, 1846-12-12
..PoETRY.
SIR WILLIAM OF NoRMANDIE.

n 4
4 He bears on bis banner a blopd-red star, r :.
Hehas fought for the cross in the holy war. n,
Y And there is not baron on land or sea, '4~''
: More famed thsn Sir William of Normandie--
More famed or feared, for his sea-buiIt tower .f
Defes the assault Of hostile power, y i ~.
And he lives alone with his faithful hand, ~
Nor plights his faith to the king of the land.It ts
y The king has assembled his barons bold,
And stands in the midst, ia his robes Of gold,
And signs the cross on his breast and brow, b q
} And swears by that sign solemn vow, 4, "a
That the knight who shall bring him alive OF dead.
Sir Williams self, or Sir William head, la =
May ask the boon he values most, bGh n7Ua e3
And that boon he shall have, whate'er II cost. =
Oh! many valiant knight was fhere,i p aC 3d
Who had fought for honor or ladye fair, & sf. b
But the heart beat quick OF the bravest knight
When he thought of Sir Williams matchless might
And among them there was only one, u}iat695t
Who did not wish the task to shun; -4yys ,g ga,1,
"I never ye: feared man, quoth he, .-r
"Why begin with Sir William of Normande?"
",But, stranger knight, thou art young and fair,
And the bloom of spring is In thy air;
IswouId not have thee risk thy life, ehhh9 C
Ere its summer come, in such hopeless strife." {
The young knight smiled, and his dark blue eye
Cleaned round the hall trumphantly;
~'When greybeards tremble, time, good sooth,
Toput your trust in the sword of youth .''r-9ai1
Now, by st. Louis you speak me fair; .5eif2
Tell me the name and the arms you bear; aaEbui
ForI think there is moi in all broad France, ,s,,5,
A warrior who wields brayer lance.
st Although unknown as yet at the holy shrine,
You perchance have heard Of Sir Leaine, 3Gsd
And my arms are the eagle and fieur,de-lys, :, e,
Which I'll blazon with Williams of Normandie. !"
Seven long weeks have passed away, .,--.
Seven long weeks all except day;
But there is not priest 10 the land deandivine 81
The fate of the good knight Leoline. adi .9arh
The king has assembled his barons bold, .
And stands In the midst, IN his robes Of gold,
And he looks to the east, in hopesto see ts9ssoQ
The traitor Sir William of Normandie.s ID .s8t9
.srTis he! It's The rides amain, nyi1a q lnsdi
And twenty horsemen are in his train, 9d a7inFt
And the foremost of all is our Iebelfoe, sff nee
For his milk-white plumes full well know;
And Sir Leoline waves his trusty sword, i1i1 ~
And points with asmile to the vanquished lord
He stops and falls at his sovereigns knee, m ,,,e,
And with him Sir w illiam Of Normandie.
9W .ifEG 2ti9F 23tiIE 30 nNi 1Nl JHi
q Now Christ thee save Sir Leoline, 19h1go9
Thou hast brought me this deadiest foe Of mine,
And ask for the boon thou valuest most
That boon thou shall have, whats'ef it cost: y O. q
For signed the cross on my breast and brow, ?
And swore by that sign solemn VOW
And never may vow 80 signed be broken,
Solongas we worship the sacred token" Slgt 10
The knight uncovered. his visored cheek,
But what does its mantIing blush bespeak' aii1ls
The knight cast off his buckler of steel, n "a, 81
But what do the robes beneath reveal?
A female form-the king only child
Who looked on her royal father and smiled
"The boon thou must give, my liege,'. said she,
oIs Isapardon, both for thy Adele on 20 t'2lag
And her husband, Sir William Of Norinande. "H