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23. In Equal Sacrifice

THUS of old the Douglas did:

He left his land as he was bid

With the royal heart of Robert the Bruce

In a golden case with a golden lid,

To carry the same to the Holy Land; 5

By which we see and understand

That that was the place to carry a heart

At loyalty and love’s command,

And that was the case to carry it in.

The Douglas had not far to win 10

Before he came to the land of Spain,

Where long a holy war had been

Against the too-victorious Moor;

And there his courage could not endure

Not to strike a blow for God 15

Before he made his errand sure.

And ever it was intended so,

That a man for God should strike a blow,

No matter the heart he has in charge

For the Holy Land where hearts should go. 20

The Douglas found him sore beset,

With only strength of the fighting arm

For one more battle passage yet—

And that as vain to save the day 25

As bring his body safe away—

Only a signal deed to do

And a last sounding word to say.

The heart he wore in a golden chain

He swung and flung forth into the plain, 30

And followed it crying ‘Heart or death!’

And fighting over it perished fain.

So may another do of right,

Give a heart to the hopeless fight,

The more of right the more he loves; 35

So may another redouble might

For a few swift gleams of the angry brand,

Scorning greatly not to demand

In equal sacrifice with his

The heart he bore to the Holy Land. 40

Итак, старый Дуглас был чудак:

Он мир покинул не за так,

За Брюса Роберта судьбу

Лежал он в золотом гробу.

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