Black Beetles in Amber

It is the gallant Seventh—

It fyghteth faste and free!

God wot the where it fyghteth

I ne desyre to be.

The Gonfalon it flyeth,

Seeming a Flayme in Sky;

The Bugel loud yblowen is,

Which sayeth, Doe and dye!

And (O good Saints defende us

Agaynst the Woes of Warr)

Drawn Tongues are flashing deadly

To smyte the Foeman sore!

With divers kinds of Riddance

The smoaking Earth is wet,

And all aflowe to seaward goe

The Torrents wide of Sweat!

The Thunder of the Captens,

And eke the Shouting, mayketh

Such horrid Din the Soule within

The boddy of me quayketh!

Who fyghteth the bold Seventh?

What haughty Power defyes?

Their Colonel 'tis they drubben sore,

And dammen too his Eyes!