Chant Royal of High Virtue

Who lives in suit of armor pent,
And hides himself behind a wall,
For him is not the great event,
The garland, nor the Capitol.
And is God's guerdon less than they?
Nay, moral man, I tell thee Nay:
Nor shall the flaming forts be won
By sneaking negatives alone,
By Lenten fast or Ramazan,
But by the challenge proudly thrown —
Virtue is that beseems a Man!

God, in his Palace resident
Of Bliss, beheld our sinful ball,
And charged His own Son innocent
Us to redeem from Adam's fall.
— "Yet must it be that men Thee slay."
— "Yea, though it must, must I obey,"
Said Christ, — and came. His royal Son,
To die, and dying to atone
For harlot and for publican.
Read on that rood He died upon —
Virtue is that beseems a Man!

And by that rood where He was bent
I saw the world's great captains all
Go riding to the tournament,
Cyrus the Great and Hannibal,
Caesar of Rome and Attila,
Lord Charlemagne and his array,
Lord Alisaundre of Macedon —
With flaming lance and habergeon
They passed, and to the rataplan
Of drums gave salutation —
Virtue is that beseems a Man!

Had tall Achilles lounged in tent
For aye, and Xanthus neighed in stall,
The towers of Troy had ne'er been shent,
Nor stayed the dance in Priam's hall.
Bend o'er thy book till thou be gray,
Read, mark, perpend, digest, survey —
Instruct thee deep as Solomon —
One only chapter thou shalt con,
One lesson learn, one sentence scan,
One title and one colophon —
Virtue is that beseems a Man!

High Virtue's hest is eloquent
With spur and not with martingall:
Sufficeth not thou'rt continent:
Be courteous, brave, and liberal.
God fashioned thee of chosen clay
For service, nor did ever say
"Deny thee this," "Abstain from yon,"
Save to inure thee, thew and bone,
To be confirmed of the clan
That made immortal Marathon —
Virtue is that beseems a Man!

ENVOY

Young Knight, the lists are set to-day:
Hereafter shall be long to pray
In sepulture with hands of stone.
Ride, then! outride the bugle blown!
And gaily flinging down the van
Charge with a cheer — Set on! Set on!
Virtue is that beseems a Man!