Me who promise, if positions change and mine the chance should be,

Not to imitate your friend and waive advantage !"

Twenty-five

Years ago this matter happened and 't is certain,' added

Clive,

184

'Never, to my knowledge, did Sir Cocky have a single breath Breathed against him; lips were closed throughout his life, or since his death,

For if he be dead or living I can tell no more than you. All I know is-Cocky had one chance more; how he used it,-grew

Out of such unlucky habits, or relapsed, and back again 189 Brought the late-ejected devil with a score more in his train,That's for you to judge. Reprieval I procured, at any rate. Ugh- the memory of that minute's fear makes gooseflesh rise! Why prate

Longer? You've my story, there's your instance: fear I did, you see!'

'Well I hardly kept from laughing--if I see it, thanks must be

Wholly to your lordship's candour. Not that-in a common

case-

195

When a bully caught at cheating thrusts a pistol in one's face,

I should underrate, believe me, such a trial to the nerve! 'T is no joke, at one-and-twenty, for a youth to stand nor

swerve.

Fear I naturally look for-unless, of all men alive,

199

I am forced to make exception when I come to Robert Clive, Since at Arcot, Plassy, elsewhere, he and death--the whole world knows—

Came to somewhat closer quarters.'

Quarters? Had we come to blows, Clive and I, you had not wondered-up he sprang so, out he

rapped

Such a round of oaths-no matter! I'll endeavour to adapt To our modern usage words he—well, 't was friendly license -flung

205

At me like so many fire-balls, fast as he could wag his tongue.

'You-a soldier? You-at Plassy? Yours the faculty to

nick

Instantaneously occasion when your foe, if lightning quick, At his mercy, at his malice, has you, through some stupid inch

Undefended in your bulwark? Thus laid open,

flinch

not to

210

That needs courage you'll concede me. Then, look here!

Suppose the man,

Checking his advance, his weapon still extended, not a span Distant from my temple,-curse him!-quietly had bade me "There!

Keep your life, calumniator!--worthless life I freely spare: Mine you freely would have taken-murdered me and my good fame

215

Both at once-and all the better! Go, and thank your own bad aim

Which permits me to forgive you !" What if, with such words as these,

He had cast away his weapon? How should I have borne

me, please?

Nay, I'll spare you pains and tell you. This, and only this,

remained—

219

Pick his weapon up and use it on myself. I so had gained Sleep the earlier, leaving England probably to pay on still Rent and taxes for half India, tenant at the Frenchman's will.'

'Such the turn,' said I, 'the matter takes with you? Then I abate

No, by not one jot nor tittle,-of your act my estimate.
Fear-I wish I could detect there: courage fronts me, plain

enough

225

Call it desperation, madness-never mind! for here 's in rough

Why, had mine been such a trial, fear had overcome disgrace. True, disgrace were hard to bear; but such rush against God's face

None of that for me, Lord Plassy, since I go to church at times,

Say the creed my mother taught me! Many years in foreign

climes

230

Rub some marks away—not all, though! We poor sinners reach life's brink,

Overlook what rolls beneath it, recklessly enough, but think There's advantage in what 's left us-ground to stand on, time to call

"Lord, have mercy!" ere we topple over-do not leap, that's all!'

234

Oh, he made no answer, re-absorbed into his cloud. I caught Something like 'Yes-courage: only fools will call it fear.'

If aught

Comfort you, my great unhappy hero Clive, in that I heard Next week, how your own hand dealt you doom, and uttered just the word

'Fearfully courageous !'-this, be sure, and nothing else I

groaned.

I'm no Clive, nor parson either: Clive's worst deed—we'll

hope condoned.

240

'HOW THEY BROUGHT THE GOOD

NEWS FROM GHENT TO AIX.'

[16-]

I.

I SPRANG to the stirrup, and Joris, and he;

I galloped, Dirck galloped, we galloped all three; 'Good speed!' cried the watch, as the gate-bolts undrew; 'Speed!' echoed the wall to us galloping through; Behind shut the postern, the lights sank to rest, And into the midnight we galloped abreast.

II.

Not a word to each other; we kept the great pace
Neck by neck, stride by stride, never changing our place;
I turned in my saddle and made its girths tight,
Then shortened each stirrup, and set the pique right,
Rebuckled the cheek-strap, chained slacker the bit,
Nor galloped less steadily Roland a whit.

III.

'T was moonset at starting; but while we drew near
Lokeren, the cocks crew and twilight dawned clear;
At Boom, a great yellow star came out to see;
At Düffeld, 't was morning as plain as could be;
And from Mecheln church-steeple we heard the half chime,
So Joris broke silence with, 'Yet there is time!'

5

ΙΟ

15

IV.

At Aerschot, up leaped of a sudden the sun,
And against him the cattle stood black every one,
To stare thro' the mist at us galloping past,
And I saw my stout galloper Roland at last,
With resolute shoulders, each butting away
The haze, as some bluff river headland its spray:

20

V.

And his low head and crest, just one sharp ear bent back 25
For my voice, and the other pricked out on his track;
And one eye's black intelligence,—ever that glance
O'er its white edge at me, his own master, askance !
And the thick heavy spume-flakes which aye and anon
His fierce lips shook upwards in galloping on.

30

VI.

By Hasselt, Dirck groaned; and cried Joris 'Stay spur!
Your Roos galloped bravely, the fault 's not in her,
We'll remember at Aix'-for one heard the quick wheeze
Of her chest, saw the stretched neck and staggering knees,
And sunk tail, and horrible heave of the flank,

As down on her haunches she shuddered and sank.

35

VII.

So we were left galloping, Joris and I,

Past Looz and past Tongres, no cloud in the sky;

The broad sun above laughed a pitiless laugh,

'Neath our feet broke the brittle bright stubble like chaff; 40 Till over by Dalhem a dome-spire sprang white,

And 'Gallop,' gasped Joris, 'for Aix is in sight!