And full as oft came Edward to my side,

With purple falchion, painted to the hilt

In blood of those that had encounter’d him:

And when the hardiest warriors did retire,

15 Richard cried, ‘Charge! and give no foot of ground!’

[♦] And cried, ‘A crown, or else a glorious tomb!

A sceptre, or an earthly sepulchre!’

With this, we charged again: but, out, alas!

[♦] We bodged again; as I have seen a swan

20 With bootless labour swim against the tide