Poetry Explorer- Classic Contemporary Poetry, THE NORMAN HORSE-SHOE, by WALTER SCOTT


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THE NORMAN HORSE-SHOE, by                 Poet Analysis     Poet's Biography
First Line: Red glows the forge in stirguil's bounds
Last Line: Save of the fairies' emerald ring.
Subject(s): Cavalry; Horseshoes; Wales; Welshmen; Welshwomen


AIR -- The War-song of the Men of Glamorgan.

I.

RED glows the forge in Striguil's bounds,
And hammers din, and anvil sounds,
And armorers, with iron toil,
Barb many a steed for battle's broil.
Foul fall the hand which bends the steel
Around the courser's thundering heel,
That e'er shall dint a sable wound
On fair Glamorgan's velvet ground!

II.

From Chepstow's towers, ere dawn of morn,
Was heard afar the bugle-horn;
And forth in banded pomp and pride,
Stout Clare and fiery Neville ride.
They swore their banners broad should gleam,
In crimson light, on Rymny's stream;
They vowed, Caerphili's sod should feel
The Norman charger's spurning heel.

III.

And sooth they swore -- the sun arose,
And Rymny's wave with crimson glows;
For Clare's red banner, floating wide,
Rolled down the stream to Severn's tide!
And sooth they vowed -- the trampled green
Showed where hot Neville's charge had been:
In every sable hoof-tramp stood
A Norman horseman's curdling blood!

IV.

Old Chepstow's brides may curse the toil,
That armed stout Clare for Cambrian broil;
Their orphans long the art may rue,
For Neville's war-horse forged the shoe.
No more the stamp of armed steed
Shall dint Glamorgan's velvet mead;
Nor trace be there, in early spring,
Save of the Fairies' emerald ring.





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