Britain ... - Blue-Lite

286 THE VARANGIAN. [Act T.
New mystic title's that? (is)
ivo.
It is a name
His wild crew give him, and it strikes mankind
With dread and horror. When from England fled
This doughty chief, he joined those savage bands
That guard the eastern Emperor, and are called
Varangian axe-men. 'Tis declared that they
Devour the flesh of men ! But well bethought
He, in despite of all the Norman knights
Kept to defend the Abbot of Peterborough,
Hath stormed the golden city. Long withstood
The strong walls of the abbey, till he set
Their gates on fire, and rushing through the flames,
The sacrilegious thief with impious hands
Bore off the holy vessels, crowns of gold,
With silver shrines, copes, cups, and gem-wrought robes,
And money-treasures which no man l6
may count !
( )
KING.
Hell-demon ! Thou hast set my soul on fire !
ivo.
IVe fuel yet wherewith to feed the flame.
Earl Guy, lord warden of the Lincoln marshes,
By him is slain, with all his valiant bands.
The fishermen who served his table, brought
This Hereward and his gang concealed in boats
With piles of straw, who, while amid their tents
Our Normans feasted, rushed upon th' unarmed,
And brained them with their axes to a man !
I deem my tales have been all deftly told,
In words most aptly chosen ;
and albeit
They wear an ugly visage, yet their dress
Hides their
deformity, as goodly garments