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NOW entertain conjecture of a time, | |
| When creeping murmur, and the poring dark, | |
| Fills the wide vessel of the universe. | |
| From camp to camp, through the foul womb of Night, | |
| The hum of either army stilly sounds, | 5 |
| That the fix’d sentinels almost receive | |
| The secret whispers of each other’s watch; | |
| Fire answers fire, and through their paly flames | |
| Each battle sees the other’s umber’d face; | |
| Steed threatens steed, in high and boastful neighs | 10 |
| Piercing the Night’s dull ear; and from the tents, | |
| The armourers, accomplishing the knights, | |
| With busy hammers closing rivets up, | |
| Give dreadful note of preparation: | |
| The country cocks do crow, the clocks do toll, | 15 |
| And the third hour of drowsy morning name. | |
| Proud of their numbers, and secure in soul, | |
| The confident and over-lusty French | |
| Do the low-rated English play at dice; | |
| And chide the cripple tardy-gaited Night, | 20 |
| Who, like a foul and ugly witch, doth limp | |
| So tediously away. The poor condemned English, | |
| Like sacrifices, by their watchful fires | |
| Sit patiently, and inly ruminate | |
| The morning’s danger; and their gestures sad, | 25 |
| Investing lank-lean cheeks and war-worn coats, | |
| Presenteth them unto the gazing moon | |
| So many horrid ghosts. O, now, who will behold | |
| The royal captain of this ruin’d band, | |
| Walking from watch to watch, from tent to tent, | 30 |
| Let him cry, Praise and glory on his head! | |
| For forth he goes, and visits all his host; | |
| Bids them good morrow, with a modest smile; | |
| And calls them brothers, friends, and countrymen. | |
| Upon his royal face there is no note | 35 |
| How dread an army hath enrounded him, | |
| Nor doth he dedicate one jot of color | |
| Unto the weary and all-watched night; | |
| But freshly looks, and over-bears attaint | |
| With cheerful semblance and sweet majesty; | 40 |
| That every wretch, pining and pale before, | |
| Beholding him, plucks comfort from his looks. | |
| A largess universal, like the sun, | |
| His liberal eye doth give to every one, | |
| Thawing cold fear. | 45 |
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