Great bearded fellows—were at her call,
And felt themselves paid if their mistress smiled.
“One night—sharp—sudden—resistless broke
The storm upon us: from every den
The lawless rabble came howling forth,
And we—ah, blind! not to learn till then,
That in all that city we loved so well,
There was but one handful of loyal men!
“For life, for honor we fought, and still
Our foes increased as the tumult spread,