All through the summer in the fierce campaign;

March, counter-march, gain, lose, and yet regain;

With battle reeks the desolated plain;

So felt his nature yielded to the strife

Of the contending good and ill of life.

But a whole year this penance he endured,

Nor even then would think that he was cured.

Once in a quarter, in the country lane,

He met his wife and paid his quarter’s gain;

To bring the children she besought in vain.