Page:Early poems of William Morris.djvu/90

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54
Sir Peter Harpdon's End

John Curzon

So please you, sir, concerning your estate,
He has good will to talk with you.

Sir Peter

Outside,
I'll talk with him, close by the gate St. Ives.
Is he unarm'd?

John Curzon

Yea, sir, in a long gown.

Sir Peter

Then bid them bring me hither my furr'd gown
With the long sleeves, and under it I'll wear,
By Lambert's leave, a secret coat of mail;
And will you lend me, John, your little axe?
I mean the one with Paul wrought on the blade?
And I will carry it inside my sleeve,
Good to be ready always—you, John, go
And bid them set up many suits of arms,
Bows, archgays, lances, in the base-court, and
Yourself, from the south postern setting out,
With twenty men, be ready to break through
Their unguarded rear when I cry out "St. George!"

John Curzon

How, sir! will you attack him unawares,
And slay him unarm'd?

Sir Peter

Trust me, John, I know
The reason why he comes here with sleeved gown,

Fit to hide axes up. So, let us go.
[They go.