This I beheld or dreamed it in a dream,
There spread a cloud of dust along the plain
And underneath the cloud or in it raged
A furious battle, and men yelled; and swords
Shocked upon swords and shields.
A princes 's banner wavered, then staggered backward,
Hemmed in by foes.
A craven hung along the battle's edge and thought,
"Had I a sword of keener steel--
That blue blade that the King's son bears--
Not this blunt thing."
He snapped it and flung it from his hand.
And lowering crept away and left the field.
Then came the king's son wounded sore,
And weaponless, and saw the broken sword,
Hilt buried in the dry and trodden sand,
And ran and snatched it - and with a battle shout
Lifted a fresh, he hewed the enemy down;
And saved a great cause that heroic day.