While wisdom in the porch, their kind old host,
Smiles at nurse nature, and replies: The most,
The least that we can do for Beauty is
To love for love's sake and serve God for His.
But Conrad drove his lance in jest right through the ragamuffin's chest,
Because his creed was not as ours; and on we rode. I lost my zest.
To take Damascus was our plan, relying on a talisman.
I knew that this would not suffice, for I was still a fighting man.
It ended in repulse and shame. Saint Bernard proved we were to blame
For want of faith. Ah, some of us had had too much. We said the same