The poetical works of John Nicholson ... Carefully edited from the original editions, with additional notes and a sketch of his life and writings. By W. G. Hird |
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 | The poetical works of John Nicholson |  |
But when these hordes arrived on Craven's height,
The sons of Gargrave met them in the fight;
Percy and Garri made a noble stand,
And fought their threefold numbers hand to hand.
His well-tried sword brave Garri whirled around,
And brought three Scottish leaders to the ground;
The blade of Percy bore the fray so well,
Beneath his arm five Northern warriors fell,
Their helms he cleft with many a mighty stroke,—
His tempered weapon bent—but never broke.
No banner waved, no trumpets sounded clear,
T' inspire their breasts—'twas silent conflict there!
The brackens green, where the hot battle burned,
To crimson with the warriors' gore were turned;
But soon of Percy's band but ten remained,
The mountain stream with streaks of blood was stained;
The deep-dyed waters crept, meandering slow,
As loth to tell the tragic tale below;
There many a wounded youth, oppressed with pain,
Laid on the earth—their pillows were the slain.
The sons of Gargrave met them in the fight;
Percy and Garri made a noble stand,
And fought their threefold numbers hand to hand.
His well-tried sword brave Garri whirled around,
And brought three Scottish leaders to the ground;
The blade of Percy bore the fray so well,
Beneath his arm five Northern warriors fell,
Their helms he cleft with many a mighty stroke,—
His tempered weapon bent—but never broke.
No banner waved, no trumpets sounded clear,
T' inspire their breasts—'twas silent conflict there!
The brackens green, where the hot battle burned,
To crimson with the warriors' gore were turned;
5
The mountain stream with streaks of blood was stained;
The deep-dyed waters crept, meandering slow,
As loth to tell the tragic tale below;
There many a wounded youth, oppressed with pain,
Laid on the earth—their pillows were the slain.
| The poetical works of John Nicholson | |