XXXIX.
A maddened moment’s deed! And when the storm
Was past, the King in calm the wreck surveyed
Of his own making. Towering o’er the form
Prostrate and purple, holding still the blade
Wet with her life, he stood as sore dismayed,
Muttering: “Visage! Visage!” still the word
Beat inward on his ’wildered brain, nor stayed
Till that grim truth, long hid, to sight restored,
Burst on his mind. He turned, still clasping tight the sword.
XL.
Three steps beyond the portal of the room
Where lay the maid, he stopped and cast a look
Backward,—a look portentous of dark doom
To all beneath its ban. Aloft he shook
The bleeding blade; then cried, till every nook,
E’en to the farthest of the farthest halls,
Trembled; and, as he called, his way he took
Down corridors that held his foot’s swift falls
Till cry and footfall blent without the castle walls.
XLI.
The cry was: “Visage! Visage! Death and blood
To what has wrought the ruin of yon maid,—
That hideous habitant of Rory’s flood
Who plies—mayhap not long—his secret trade;
And mine ambition that such depths essayed
As strained the strength of me. Yet, not for nought
The fiend was found, tho’ fled I sore dismayed:
Some lesson yet is there, tho’ anguish-taught;
Some profit yet remains, tho’ it in blood be bought.
XLII.
One falleth—that foul spirit: then is past
Temptation of ambition; but, perchance
Mine arm may fail: sobeit, then is cast
Away the secret.” On did he advance.
And one who saw his eyeballs’ lightning glance,
And marked his mood and manner, thro’ the crowd
Spread rumouring words, keen, swift as strong-threwn lance,
That drew them forth, a multitude, all browed
With wonderment that grew with each swift stride, till, loud
XLIII.
And deep before them, Rory swells and swings.
Behold! the King nor pauses, nor aside
Turns in his track.—Not mine to tell of things
Run riot in those minds that edged the tide,
Where late the billows did King Fergus hide,
Nor gave of him a token, save the swell
Of giant strivings in the waters wide,
And one wild wave that, as from heart of Hell,
Leaped for the shore and ’mong the wondering warriors fell.