30
SIR PALAMEDES, THE SARACEN KNIGHT
The monster from the oozy bed,
And bounded through the crashing glades.
—But now a staring savage head
Lurks at him through the forest shades.
This was a naked Indian,
Who led within the city gate
The fooled and disappointed man,
Already broken by his fate.
Here were the brazen towers, and here
The sculptured rocks, the marble shrine
Where to a tall black stone they rear
The altars due to the divine.
The God they deem in sensual joy
Absorbed, and silken dalliance:
To please his leisure hours a boy
Compels an elephant to dance.
So majesty to ridicule
Is turned. To other climes and men
Makes off that strong, persistent fool
Sir Palamede the Saracen.