A MEDLEY.
95
Each hissing in his neighbour's ear; and then
A strangled titter, out of which outbrake
On all sides, clamouring etiquette to death
Unmeasured mirth; while now the two old kings
Began to wag their baldness up and down,
The fresh young captains flash'd their glittering teeth,
The huge bush-bearded Barons heaved and blew,
And slain with laughter roll'd the gilded Squire.
A strangled titter, out of which outbrake
On all sides, clamouring etiquette to death
Unmeasured mirth; while now the two old kings
Began to wag their baldness up and down,
The fresh young captains flash'd their glittering teeth,
The huge bush-bearded Barons heaved and blew,
And slain with laughter roll'd the gilded Squire.
At length my Sire, his rough cheek wet with tears,
Panted from weary sides 'You are free, O King!
We did but keep you surety for our son,
If this be he,—or a draggled mawkin, thou,
That tends her bristled grunters in the sludge:'
For I was drench'd with ooze, and torn with briers,
More crumpled than a poppy from the sheath,
And all one rag, disprinced from head to heel:
'But hence' he said 'indue yourselves like men.
Your Cyril told us all'
Panted from weary sides 'You are free, O King!
We did but keep you surety for our son,
If this be he,—or a draggled mawkin, thou,
That tends her bristled grunters in the sludge:'
For I was drench'd with ooze, and torn with briers,
More crumpled than a poppy from the sheath,
And all one rag, disprinced from head to heel:
'But hence' he said 'indue yourselves like men.
Your Cyril told us all'
As boys that slink
