On the day my Lord came I was lying in bed
With my wife by my side and my pillow propped underhead
He crested the hill with the sun at his back
But all I could ask was for more time in the sack
On four elephants resting ensconced he appeared
Dressed in glorious drapes hanging great pearly tears
And him enwrapt in a coat of the finest horse hairs:—
I got out of my bed, wearing nothing but airs
I left my love slowly as dew from a leaf
In the morning is reft by dawnbeams come thief
Through blueing air. Then espied from my tent the
Strength of the crew that there arrayed against me
Men not fewer than stars in the celestial dome
I saw out on the field, the hills overrun;
Then he called out to me as the moon and the sun
Do announce to the skies to depart from the gloam:
Traitor Nayan! ye base scurvy dog,
(called he from his tower)
I approach ye now but through fortunate fog
of war which shrouded my men, and horses,
and train and safely covered my forces
as I brought them to bear on your ill-omened camp—
Which explanation (astronomical chance)
is all I dare venture for such my ease
of approach. Much faith in your men to seize
today victry have ye, else surely ye by swift power
had repulsed me with haste,
Herefore stand and be ready: the day now benights ye;
enough now with talking, I bút wish to fight ye.
He spoke as my men into battle array
Did throw themselves ready, against his line faced
And the brass sounded thunder, or worse, before drums
Picked up, and
I wish I could make a pretty song of it
And say that, as the heavy, warm raindrops
Of summer freight the air, arrowshafts fell
And blood rose from a field of bodies such
As I had never seen in all the world.