Britain ... - Blue-Lite

Scene I.] THE VARANGIAN. 263
They'll in the slave-mart yield a better price
Than the most dainty bird.
OSMOND.
Enter Palamon.
What, ho ! my page.
Thou, Palamon, shalt one day be a squire,
My body-squire, my banner-man, and give
The watch-word in my battles. Thou dost learn
Thine exercises aptly, child of honour.
Thou mayst, in time, attain the envied rank
Of sacred knighthood, win thy golden spurs,
Thy belt and crimson mantle, and become
Chief of a thousand lancemen.
PALAMON.
Already o'er your war-horse ;
Why
I can vault
run a mile,
Nor stop
to gather breath, ay, and ascend
A ladder set against the battlements,
Nor touch it with my feet. Then I can climb
The steepest rocks, and dash into the flood,
Nor heed, however strong, the eddying current ;
And for a trench, by the bright peacock bird
And our blest Lady ! I can clear the moat,
Which circles yon great keep-tower, at a bound !
OSMOND.
Thou dost improve betimes, my goodly child,
In stature, strength, and grace.
PALAMON.
O how, my lord,
I long to be a man ! that for the love
Of ladies I may tilt it in the ring.
Ah, well know I there is a lady, who
4
( )