Comes wintry-lock’d Gladstonius, game still the lists to try
Against whatever comer, erect, and gaunt of limb,
With glance exceeding fiery, and jaw exceeding grim;
His armour-bearer, also, is ready at his heel,
With breadth of bossy buckler, and length of shining steel;
Parnellius the Placid, with pallid cheek and cold,
With calm eye ever watchful, and chill front ever bold.
When these anon encounter in full and fiery tilt,
Be sure that steel shall splinter, and ruddy blood be spilt.
“Who—who in the aforetime had ever thought to see