Poetry Explorer- Classic Contemporary Poetry, SPEECH OF THE BISHOP OF PUY TO THE CRUSADERS, by ANONYMOUS


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Classic and Contemporary Poetry

SPEECH OF THE BISHOP OF PUY TO THE CRUSADERS, by                    
First Line: "at day's approach, dawn doth the darkness break"
Last Line: The battle thus commenced with victory
Subject(s): Crusades


AT day's approach, dawn doth the darkness break,
Their tents and huts the eager troops forsake;
First to be armed, the Norman duke may boast:
Then Flanders' Count, with all his valiant host,
Baudouin Cauderon in mail is seen;
His helm with emeralds decked, a falchion keen
Hung from his neck by thongs, his shield striped o'er,
And in his hand a well-proved spear he bore,
On which a silver-fastened flag was hung.
Ne'er using stirrup, on his horse he sprung;
To Flanders' Count he came and humbly bowed:
'Pardon! (for love of God, who all doth shroud)
In Arras, your rich city, when I fared,
Before all men too lightly I declared
That I the pagan foe would first assault.'
The Count heard what he said, nor found he fault,
But did aloud before the peers proclaim:
'Friend, so you shall; I swear by Mary's name,
Be yours the glory, theirs defeat and shame.'
This Baldwin heard, and blessed the Saviour's name,
Then sharply spurred his war-horse, shook his lance,
Cried out, 'Saint Sepulchre to aid, advance!'
All scale the hill, none linger nor delay,
Full fifteen thousand warriors in array;
Not one but has a horse in armour steeled,
A mighty spear, a sharpened sword to wield;
And all in presence of their comrades swear
The Saracens shall loss and torture share.
But when the French their sight to distance strain,
And see the Turkish hosts on hill and plain,
Wonder not momentary fear should strike
The hearts of cowards and of brave alike.
But to each Knight rushed tenfold courage back;
Each strove the first to mount, and first attack.
Then thus to all the Bishop spake of Puy:
'Hear what God promises to you by me:
That Lord has said, who hung upon the Cross,
His sons with their sharp swords must venge his loss,
Then upon Tabor's Mount doth scripture say,
Four trumps shall sound, yes, on the judgment day:
The world shall rise, all people re-appear.
Then shall our Saviour say--who sends you here--
Come here, my people who obey my call,
You saw me dead, and gave me burial;
You saw me naked, and with raiment clad,
Homeless, and with good shelter made me glad.--
There you Demetrius and St. George shall find,
And hundred thousands more to God assigned:
There are the Saracens, those slaves accurst;
Hear from their ranks what shouts and tumults burst.
To smite and slay let none be slack or tame--
Now take your shields, in the blest Spirit's name,
To kill, if wrong, I take on me the sin.
Whoever of you dies is sure to win
God's Paradise; his soul on high shall soar
To those blest mansions Christ prepared before.'
When Christians heard brave Aimer thus declare,
No coward but did instant valour share:
Then Baldwin foremost rushes to the van,
Him proudly met the son of Soliman,
A Saracen of Crete who Hident hight;
Then Baldwin struck him with such furious might,
The spear through shield and mail did passage gain,
And pierced his breast, and split his heart in twain:
The foe fell bleeding on the ground, and dead.--
Then sheared he with his sword another's head;
'Saint Sepulchre, Almighty God,' his cry--
The battle thus commenced with victory.





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