Classic Poem

As, to redeem the Holy Land,
King Barbarossa led his band,
He needs must, with his pious crew,
A barren mountain-tract pass through.
Among them soon a scarceness spread,
There's many a stone, but little bread;
And many a cavalier is forced
Awhile to be from drink divorced.
Each famished steed so droops and flags,
'Twere best the riders bore the nags!
A knight was there from Suabia's land,
Of giant frame and stalwart hand,
Whose horse so lean and weak had grown,
He by the bridle dragged him on.
He never would have left its side,
E'en though to save its life he died.
Soon had he dropped some little way
Behind the host's compact array,
When suddenly appeared in sight
Full fifty Turkish horsemen light.
At first from far their shafts they sent,
And hurled their darts with fell intent.
The gallant Suabian would not budge,
But onward marched with steady trudge,
Caught on his shield the arrowy shower,
And scanned them with disdainful lower;
Till one, who scorned to fight afar,
'Gan raise his crooked scimitar.
Then too the Suabian's blood waxed hot,
The Pagan's horse he fiercely smote;
The swaying sword so fiercely dropped,
The two fore-legs in twain were lopped;
And as the creature forward fell,
Again his sword he swung right well;
Full on the head it smote the foe,
Cleft downward to the saddle-bow,
The saddle next in twain did hack,
And wounded deep the horse's back.
His brother Turks saw earthward glide
Just half a Turk on either side.
Chill terror seized on all the rest,
Each fled where'er he deemed it best;
Each felt that sword, in shuddering fear,
Through head and trunk descending sheer.
A Christian troop came next in view,
Who by the way had lingered too;
They marked the cloven horse and Turk,
And marvelled at our hero's work.
The news reached Barbarossa's tent,
Who for the gallant Suabian sent,
And said — " Declare, my trusty knight,
Who taught thee such a stroke of might? "
At once the hero answered thus:
" Such strokes are common, Sire, with us;
Where'er the simple Suabian's found,
The " Suabian trick " is far renowned. "