SELECTIONS IN ENGLISH POETRY
'Neath the ship*s travail they scarce might float,
But he rose and stood in the rocking boat.
Low the poor ship leaned on the tide:	125
O'er the naked keel as she best might slide,
The sister toiled to the brother's side.
He reached an oar to her from below,
And stiffened his arms to clutch her so.
But now from the ship some spied the boat,	130
And 'Saved!' was the cry from many a throat.
And down to the boat they leaped and fell:
It turned as a bucket turns in a well,
And nothing was there but the surge and swell.
The Prince that was and the King to come,	135
There is an instant gone to his doom,
Despite of all England's bended knee
And maugre the Norman fealty!
He was a Prince of lust and pride;
He showed no grace till the hour he died.	140
When he should be King, he oft would vow,
He'd yoke the peasant to his own plough.
O'er him the ships score their furrows now.
God only knows where his soul did wake,
But I saw him die for his sister's sake.	145
By none but me can the tale be told,
The butcher of Rouen, poor Berold.
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