"My hope, my heaven, my trust must be, My gentle guide, in following thee." He cross'd the threshold--and a clang Of angry steel that instant rang. To his bold brow his spirit rush'd, But soon for vain alarm he blush'd, When on the floor he saw display'd, Cause of the din, a naked blade Dropp'd from the sheath, that careless flung, Upon a stag's huge antlers swung; For all around, the walls to grace, Hung trophies of the fight or chase: A target[66] there, a bugle here, A battle-ax, a hunting spear, And broadswords, bows, and arrows store, With the tusk'd trophies of the boar. Here grins the wolf as when he died, And there the wild cat's brindled hide The frontlet of the elk adorns, Or mantles o'er the bison's horns; Pennons and flags defaced and stain'd, That blackening streaks of blood retain'd, And deerskins, dappled, dun, and white, With otter's fur and seal's unite, In rude and uncouth tapestry[67] all, To garnish forth the silvan hall. [66] Small shield. [67] Hangings used to decorate the walls of a room. XXVIII. The wondering stranger round him gazed, And next the fallen weapon raised:-- Few were the arms whose sinewy strength Sufficed to stretch it forth at length: And as the brand he poised and sway'd, "I never knew but one," he said, "Whose stalwart arm might brook[68] to wield A blade like this in battlefield." She sighed, then smiled and took the word: "You see the guardian champion's sword; As light it trembles in his hand, As in my grasp a hazel wand; My sire's tall form might grace the part Of Ferragus, or Ascabart;[69] But in the absent giant's hold Are women now, and menials old." [68] Endure. [69] Ferragus and Ascabart were two giants of romantic fable. The former appears in Ariosto's Orlando Furioso; the latter in the History of Bevis of Hampton. His effigy may be seen guarding the gate at Southampton. XXIX.