 | The select poems of Dr. Thomas Dunn English (exclusive of the "Battle lyrics") |  |
166
THE ROBBER CHIEF.
Conrad, our mighty emperor,
High nobles gathered round,
Seated at board with meat and wine,
For trouble solace found.
“Let's feast,” he said, “since in our realm
Justice exists for all;
Throughout the land the weak are strong
When on the law they call.”
High nobles gathered round,
Seated at board with meat and wine,
For trouble solace found.
“Let's feast,” he said, “since in our realm
Justice exists for all;
Throughout the land the weak are strong
When on the law they call.”
Loud plaudits from the nobles broke;
But soon, in accents low,
Spake Rupert, Count of Ingelheim—
“Alas! my liege! not so.
Count Rauberstein this motto flaunts
Plain in the sight of all:
‘The strong may take, the strong may hold,
The weak go to the wall.’
But soon, in accents low,
Spake Rupert, Count of Ingelheim—
“Alas! my liege! not so.
Count Rauberstein this motto flaunts
Plain in the sight of all:
‘The strong may take, the strong may hold,
The weak go to the wall.’
“Well do his deeds agree with words,
As in his stronghold grey,
With men-at-arms and vassals stout,
He waits to grasp his prey.
Burgher or merchant, priest or clown,
Who journeys by the Rhine,
Must pay his toll of goods or gold
To Rolf of Rauberstein.
As in his stronghold grey,
With men-at-arms and vassals stout,
He waits to grasp his prey.
Burgher or merchant, priest or clown,
Who journeys by the Rhine,
Must pay his toll of goods or gold
To Rolf of Rauberstein.
“So for a twelvemonth has been done,
Your edict stern despite,
And none as yet has raised his arm
To do the wronged ones right.
The robber noble holds in scorn
The emperor's decree.”
Said Conrad, “Let us feast to-night;
To-morrow we shall see.”
Your edict stern despite,
And none as yet has raised his arm
To do the wronged ones right.
167
The emperor's decree.”
Said Conrad, “Let us feast to-night;
To-morrow we shall see.”
Next morn Count Rolf in castle sat
When came a vassal in—
“My lord, a train within the vale
Gives hope of spoils to win.
One knight at head in sable mail—”
Said Rolf, in humor grim:
“Strike at the train the men-at-arms,
And I'll attend to him.”
When came a vassal in—
“My lord, a train within the vale
Gives hope of spoils to win.
One knight at head in sable mail—”
Said Rolf, in humor grim:
“Strike at the train the men-at-arms,
And I'll attend to him.”
In haste they armed and out they poured
Of men-at-arms a score:
And vassals of the baser sort
More than as many more;
And down the rocks they hurried fast,
Then gazed the road upon
Where, headed by a tall Black Knight,
A train came slowly on.
Of men-at-arms a score:
And vassals of the baser sort
More than as many more;
And down the rocks they hurried fast,
Then gazed the road upon
Where, headed by a tall Black Knight,
A train came slowly on.
On palfreys, fifty hooded monks
Rode, each in friar's gown;
And after these stout burghers came,
All clad in jerkins brown;
And these led fifty sumpter mules,
That, doubtless, carried store;
And after these came men on foot
Who led as many more.
Rode, each in friar's gown;
And after these stout burghers came,
All clad in jerkins brown;
And these led fifty sumpter mules,
That, doubtless, carried store;
And after these came men on foot
Who led as many more.
“Here's store of plunder!” Rolf exclaimed;
“Assail them left and right!
Strike down the monks, should they resist;
I'll deal upon the knight!”
When, lo! the monks shed hoods and gowns,
And fifty knights there were;
The men in jerkins axes showed—
The wolves were in the snare!
“Assail them left and right!
Strike down the monks, should they resist;
I'll deal upon the knight!”
168
And fifty knights there were;
The men in jerkins axes showed—
The wolves were in the snare!
Shedding their covers from the mules,
Sprang men-at-arms to ground;
And stricken here, and stricken there,
The knaves no mercy found.
Count Rolf before the Black Knight's lance
Was borne to earth and slain—
Through bars and vizor there the point
Pierced to the felon's brain.
Sprang men-at-arms to ground;
And stricken here, and stricken there,
The knaves no mercy found.
Count Rolf before the Black Knight's lance
Was borne to earth and slain—
Through bars and vizor there the point
Pierced to the felon's brain.
The black-mailed emperor doffed his helm,
And there his will made known,
To raze the castle to the ground
From roof to corner-stone.
One portion there he bade them spare,
And write upon the wall—
“Throughout the land the weak are strong
When on the law they call.”
And there his will made known,
To raze the castle to the ground
From roof to corner-stone.
One portion there he bade them spare,
And write upon the wall—
“Throughout the land the weak are strong
When on the law they call.”
Conrad and all with him are dust;
Dead are the robber bands,
And there the hold of Rauberstein
A heap of ruins stands.
On crumbling stones the grey owl roosts,
The lizards crawl below;
But on the tower, untouched by time,
The carven letters show.
Dead are the robber bands,
And there the hold of Rauberstein
A heap of ruins stands.
On crumbling stones the grey owl roosts,
The lizards crawl below;
But on the tower, untouched by time,
The carven letters show.
| The select poems of Dr. Thomas Dunn English (exclusive of the "Battle lyrics") | |