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ECCLESIASTICAL SONNETS

XXXV. RICHARD I

ECCLESIASTICAL SONNETS


REDOUBTED King, of courage leonine, I mark thee, Richard! urgent to equip Thy warlike person with the staff and scrip; I watch thee sailing o’er the midland brine; In conquered Cyprus see thy Bride decline Her blushing cheek, love-vows upon her lip, And see love-emblems streaming from thy ship, As thence she holds her way to Palestine. My Song, a fearless homager, would attend Thy thundering battle-axe as it cleaves the press 10 Of war, but duty summons her away To tell–how, finding in the rash distress Of those Enthusiasts a subservient friend, To giddier heights hath clomb the Papal sway.