rselves and play!
And thou Al--manzor, leave my sight, old man!
Away with Halban--leave me here alone."

He said, and turning by uncertain way,
He found his place, and sank into his chair.
Still threatening somewhat, stamping with his foot,
O'erturned the table with the wine and cups.
At last grown weaker, he inclined his head
Upon the chair-arm; soon his glance was quenched;
His quivering lips were covered o'er with foam.
He slept.

The knights awhile in fixed amazement stood:
They knew full well Konrad's unhappy custom;
How, when inflamed unto excess with wine,
Into wild transports and forgetfulness
He falls; but at a banquet, public shame!
Before the strangers, in such unheard rage!
Who thus inflamed him? Where that Wajdelote?
He vanished privately, none know of him.

Stories there were that Halban thus disguised
To Konrad that Litvanian song had sung,
To kindle by this means the zeal of Christians
To battle against heathenesse; but whence
A change so sudden in the Master? Wherefore
Did Witold show such angry wrath? What means
The Master's strange, wild ballad? With conjectures,
Each vainly tries to track the hidden secret.

V.

WAR.14

War now. For Konrad may no longer curb
The people's zeal, the council's fierce insistance:
The whole land calls for vengeance long delayed,
For Litwa's inroad, and for Witold's treason.

Witold, once suitor for the Order's grace,
To aid recovery of his capital,
After the banquet, on this new report
That the Crusading hosts will take the field,
Changed measures--traitor to his recent friendship,
And led his knights in secrecy away.

And in the Teuton castles on the road
He entered, by the Master's forged commands;
And then disarming all the garrison,
Annihilated all with fire and sword.
The Order, roused with burning rage and shame,
Against the heathens stirred up fierce Crusade;
The Pope sends forth a bull,--seas, land, o'erflow
At once with swarms of warriors numberless,
Princes with mighty following of vassals;
The Red Cross decks their armour. Each his life
Devotes to christen pagans,--or to die.

They went towards Litwa. What their actions there?
If thou wouldst know, gaze from the ramparts' heights,
Look towards Litwa, as the day declines.
Thou see'st a fiery blaze; the vault of heaven
O'er-deluged with a stream of bloody flame;
Behold the annals of invading war.
Few words relate their carnage, plunder, fire,
And blaze, which may rejoice t