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The Wild Knight and Other Poems
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Sir, you are fortunate.
REDFEATHER
Most fortunate
In finding, sword on thigh and ready, one
Who is a villain and a gentleman.
LORD ORM [picks up the flagon].
Empty, I see.
REDFEATHER
Oh sir, you never drink.
You dread to lose yourself before the stars —
Do you not dread to sleep?
LORD ORM [violently].
What would you here?
REDFEATHER
Receive from you the title-deeds you hold.
LORD ORM
You entertain me.
REDFEATHER
With a bout at foils?
LORD ORM
I will not fight.
REDFEATHER
I know you better, then.
I have seen men grow mangier than the beasts,
Eat bread with blood upon their fingers, grin
While women burned: but one last law they served.
When I say 'Coward,' is the law awake?
LORD ORM
Hear me, then, too: I have seen robbers rule,
And thieves go clad in gold – age after age —
Because, though sordid, ragged, rude, and mean,
They saw, like gods, no law above their heads.
But when they fell – then for this cause they fell,
This last mean cobweb of the fairy tales
Of good and ill: that they must stand and fight
When a man bade, though they had chose to stand
And fight not. I am stronger than the world.
[Folds his arms.]
REDFEATHER [lifts his hand].
If in your body be the blood of man,
[Strikes him.]
Now let it rush to the face —
God! Have you sunk
Lower than anger?
LORD ORM
How I triumph now.
REDFEATHER [stamps wildly].
Damned, whimpering dog! vile, snivelling, sick poltroon!
Are you alive?
LORD ORM
Evil, be thou my good;
Let the sun blacken and the moon be blood:
I have said the words.
REDFEATHER [studying him].
And if I struck you dead,
You would turn to daisies!
LORD ORM
And you do not strike.
REDFEATHER [dreamily].
Indeed, poor soul, such magic would be kind
And full of pity as a fairy-tale:
One touch of this bright wand [Lifts his sword]
and down would drop
REDFEATHER
Most fortunate
In finding, sword on thigh and ready, one
Who is a villain and a gentleman.
LORD ORM [picks up the flagon].
Empty, I see.
REDFEATHER
Oh sir, you never drink.
You dread to lose yourself before the stars —
Do you not dread to sleep?
LORD ORM [violently].
What would you here?
REDFEATHER
Receive from you the title-deeds you hold.
LORD ORM
You entertain me.
REDFEATHER
With a bout at foils?
LORD ORM
I will not fight.
REDFEATHER
I know you better, then.
I have seen men grow mangier than the beasts,
Eat bread with blood upon their fingers, grin
While women burned: but one last law they served.
When I say 'Coward,' is the law awake?
LORD ORM
Hear me, then, too: I have seen robbers rule,
And thieves go clad in gold – age after age —
Because, though sordid, ragged, rude, and mean,
They saw, like gods, no law above their heads.
But when they fell – then for this cause they fell,
This last mean cobweb of the fairy tales
Of good and ill: that they must stand and fight
When a man bade, though they had chose to stand
And fight not. I am stronger than the world.
[Folds his arms.]
REDFEATHER [lifts his hand].
If in your body be the blood of man,
[Strikes him.]
Now let it rush to the face —
God! Have you sunk
Lower than anger?
LORD ORM
How I triumph now.
REDFEATHER [stamps wildly].
Damned, whimpering dog! vile, snivelling, sick poltroon!
Are you alive?
LORD ORM
Evil, be thou my good;
Let the sun blacken and the moon be blood:
I have said the words.
REDFEATHER [studying him].
And if I struck you dead,
You would turn to daisies!
LORD ORM
And you do not strike.
REDFEATHER [dreamily].
Indeed, poor soul, such magic would be kind
And full of pity as a fairy-tale:
One touch of this bright wand [Lifts his sword]
and down would drop
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