Sir Palamedes

106 That crouch like jackals. Stress and shock Move Palamede no more. Like Fate He moves with silent speed. They flock, The Gods, to watch him. Now abate His pulses ; he threads through the vale, And turns him to the mighty gate, The glacier. Oh, the flowers that scale Those sun-kissed heights! The snows that crown The quartz ravines! The clouds that veil The awful slopes! Dear God! look down And see this petty man move on, Relentless as Thine own renown, Careless of praise or orison, Simply determined. Wilt Thou launch (This knight's presumptuous head upon) The devastating avalanche? He knows too much, and cares too little! His wound is more than Death can staunch. He can avoid, though by one tittle, Thy surest shaft! And now the knight, Breasting the crags, may laugh and whittle Away the demon-club whose might Threatened him. Now he leaves the spur; And eager, with a boy’s delight,