Some thither bent their eager course

With car, and elephant, and horse,

And youthful captains on their feet

With longing sped their lord to meet,

As though the new-come prince had been

An exile for long years unseen.

Earth beaten in their frantic zeal

By clattering hoof and rumbling wheel,

Sent forth a deafening noise as loud

As heaven when black with many a cloud.