He fought for his soul, and the stubborn fighting Tried hard his strength. "One needs seven souls for this long requiting," He said at length. "Six times have I come where my first hope jeered me And laughed me to scorn; But now I fear as I never feared me To fall forsworn. "God! when they fight upright and at me I give them back Even such blows as theirs that combat me; But now, alack! "They fight with the wiles of fiends escaping And underhand. Six times, O God, and my wounds are gaping! I -- reel to stand. "Six battles' span! By this gasping breath No pantomime. 'Tis all that I can. I am sick unto death. And -- a seventh time? "This is beyond all battles' soreness!" Then his wonder cried; For Laughter, with shield and steely harness, Stood up at his side! | Discover our Poem Explanations and Poet Analyses!Other Poems of Interest...TO THE FRINGED GENTIAN by WILLIAM CULLEN BRYANT MARY'S GIRLHOOD (FOR A PICTURE): 1 by DANTE GABRIEL ROSSETTI THE PLACE OF THE DAMNED by JONATHAN SWIFT PUCK'S SWEETHEART by WILLIAM ROSE BENET KATE'S MOTHER by ROBERT SEYMOUR BRIDGES WARNING AND REPLY by EMILY JANE BRONTE THE WANDERER: 2. IN FRANCE: AU CAFE *** by EDWARD ROBERT BULWER-LYTTON |