Sonnets—Unrealities IV

Thou in whose swordgreat story shine the deeds
of history her heroes,sounds the tread
of those vast armies of the marching dead,
with standards and the neighing of great steeds
moving to war across the smiling meads;
thou by whose page we break the precious bread
of dear communion with the past,and wed
to valor,battle with heroic breeds;

thou,Froissart,for that thou didst love the pen
while others wrote in steel,accept all praise
of after ages,and of hungering days
for whom the old glories move, the old trumpets cry;
who gavest as one of those immortal men
his life that his fair city might not die.