This I beheld, or dreamed it in a dream:- br There spread a cloud of dust along a plain; br And underneath the cloud, or in it, raged br A furious battle, and men yelled, and swords br Shocked upon swords and shields. A prince's banner br Wavered, then staggered backward, hemmed by foes. br A craven hung along the battle's edge, br And thought, 'Had I a sword of keener steel- br That blue blade that the king's son bears,- but this br Blunt thing-!' He snapped and flung it from his hand, br And lowering crept away and left the field. br Then came the king's son, wounded sore bested, br And weaponless, and saw the broken sword br Hilt-buried in the dry and trodden sand, br And ran and snatched it, and with battle-shout br Lifted afresh he hewed his enemy down br And saved a great cause that heroic day.