 | Under Cross and Crescent |  |
II
Patient and meek, with head abased,
And weary steps that lag and strain,
He follows, sad and solemn-faced,
A captive, led by noose and chain.
And weary steps that lag and strain,
He follows, sad and solemn-faced,
A captive, led by noose and chain.
His eyes are humbled to the dust,
He scarcely seems to see or hear;
He takes no heed of shove or thrust,
Of playful gibe or cruel jeer.
He scarcely seems to see or hear;
He takes no heed of shove or thrust,
Of playful gibe or cruel jeer.
He dreams, maybe, of forest-home,
This victim of an adverse fate;
Of fruited bough, and honeycomb,
And sportive young, and tender mate.
This victim of an adverse fate;
Of fruited bough, and honeycomb,
And sportive young, and tender mate.
127
“How long? How long?” he seems to sigh;
“Oh, weary while since this began!
My feet are sore, my throat is dry!”
(This is the bear, and not the man.)
“Oh, weary while since this began!
My feet are sore, my throat is dry!”
(This is the bear, and not the man.)
As thus along the village street
They pass, this uncongenial pair,
I think, “Which would I rather meet
Alone, the leader or the bear?”
They pass, this uncongenial pair,
I think, “Which would I rather meet
Alone, the leader or the bear?”
| Under Cross and Crescent | |