The Standard-Bearer

I

"How can I tell," Sir Edmund said,
"Who has the right or the wrong o' this thing?
Cromwell stands for the people's cause,
Charles is crowned by the ancient laws;
English meadows are sopping red,
Englishmen striking each other dead,--
Times are black as a raven's wing.
Out of the ruck and the murk I see
Only one thing!
The King has trusted his banner to me,
And I must fight for the King."

II

Into the thick of the Edgehill fight
Sir Edmund rode with a shout; and the ring
Of grim-faced, hard-hitting Parliament men
Swallowed him up,--it was one against ten!
He fought for the standard with all his might,
Never again did he come to sight--
Victor, hid by the raven's wing!
After the battle had passed we found
Only one thing,--
The hand of Sir Edmund gripped around
The banner-staff of his King.