INWHICHTHESTORYOFTHECAPTIVEISCONTINUED
SONNET
"Blestsouls, that, fromthismortalhusksetfree,
Inguerdonofbravedeedsbeatified,
Abovethislowlyorbofoursabide
Madeheirsofheavenandimmortality,
Withnoblerageandardourglowingye
Yourstrength, whilestrengthwasyours, inbattleplied,
Andwithyourownbloodandthefoeman'sdyed
Thesandysoilandtheencirclingsea.
Itwastheebbinglife-bloodfirstthatfailed
Thewearyarms; thestoutheartsneverquailed.
Thoughvanquished, yetyeearnedthevictor'scrown:
Thoughmourned, yetstilltriumphantwasyourfall
Forthereyewon, betweentheswordandwall,
InHeavengloryandonearthrenown."
"Thatisitexactly, accordingtomyrecollection," saidthecaptive.
"Wellthen, thatonthefort," saidthegentleman, "ifmymemoryservesme, goesthus:
SONNET
"Upfromthiswastedsoil, thisshatteredshell,
Whosewallsandtowershereinruinlie,
Threethousandsoldiersoulstookwingonhigh,
Inthebrightmansionsoftheblesttodwell.
Theonslaughtofthefoemantorepel
Bymightofarmallvainlydidtheytry,
Andwhenatlength 'twasleftthembuttodie,
Weariedandfewthelastdefendersfell.
Andthissamearidsoilhatheverbeen
Ahauntofcountlessmournfulmemories,
Aswellinourdayasindaysofyore.
ButneveryettoHeavenitsent, Iween,
Fromitshardbosompurersoulsthanthese,
Orbraverbodiesonitssurfacebore."
Thesonnetswerenotdisliked, andthecaptivewasrejoicedatthetidingstheygavehimofhiscomrade, andcontinuinghistale, hewentontosay:
