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242
CHILD POEMS.
He cut and thrust all round about,
At neither sight nor sound,
Until a dastard knight they saw
Lie dead upon the ground.
" The pledge is broken ! " cried the king.
" Not so," the knight replied ;
"It was my meaner self I slew, —
I live, though it has died."
Again the paladin rode forth,
And this time seemed to seek
Some traitor that eluded him —
The little king must speak :
"Where is the foe, Sir knight, on whom
You would your vengeance wreak ? "
"It was a falsehood," said the knight,
"They uttered of my friend ;
I tracked it down, and hunted it,
And thus its life doth end ! "
Once more the paladin rode forth —
Beneath his horse's feet
There seemed to be an enemy
