The Brides of Dinan; A Tale of the Barons' War. in Six Cantos (Paperback)

This historic book may have numerous typos and missing text. Purchasers can download a free scanned copy of the original book (without typos) from the publisher. Not indexed. Not illustrated.1888 Excerpt: ... CANTO V. The Battle Of Evesham. PRINCE EDWARD'S tents at eventide Were struck, and all his host rode forth, And Walter with them, toward the north, Misleading scouts who them espied. But when arose the round full moon, And burnish'd with a silvery gleam The playful ripple on the stream, Their feigned course was alter'd soon, And the proud standards did invade The depth of Feckenham forest's shade. All night rode on the men of war Among the trunks of oak-trees hoar, And often mark'd through thicket peer The branching antlers of the deer, That, when the shining arms they saw, Snuffd at the gale, and toss'd the head, And to more distant copsewood fled; And oft was heard the surly swine, Whetting his tusk against an oak; And rush of herd of milk-white kine That through the bushes broke. But when more sparsely grew the trees, And freshly blew the morning breeze, And eastern sky was streak'd with light, The army halted on a height; From whence they saw some white tents gleam, Beside a town and winding stream, Before an Abbey grey, That 'mid the valley's soft repose Like to a lofty rock arose, Awaiting dawn of day. "Yonder," said Edward, "on that plain, Stand Evesham Abbey, town, and fane, And Montfort's tents spread their array; But we will on that hill take post That lies betwixt us and his host, And bar his northward way." Sir Walter said, "They may retire, And not advance to face our ire;" So Edward to Sir Walter spake, And did a wise precaution take. He bade his soldiers to bring forth The flags they took at Kenilworth, And raise them up before his van, That Montfort might their blazon scan, And knowing not they had been lost, Conceive they waved before the host Of his bold son, and not retreat, But forward march the foe to meet. And then he sent two hundred ...