SLAUGHTER WITH DANGER, what were more serious and brave? Their love of air, of strength, of wildness, afford us an inkling Of the delight of beasts, with whom they might innocently Boast a fellow-feeling, summoning them forth to the combat. Nay dream not so quickly to see her ladyship expell'd. Those prowling Līons of stony Kabylia, whose roar Frights from sleep the huddled herdsmen, soon as the sudden night Falls on Mount Atlas, those grave uxorious outlaws 150 Wandering in the Somali desert or waste Kalahari, Sound a challenge that amid summer-idling London is answer'd Haply in Old Bond Street, where some fashionably attired youth Daintily stands poising the weapon foredoom'd to appay them: Or[v]he mentally sighteth a tiger of India, that low Crouches among the river jungles, or hunts desolating Grassy Tarâi, 'neath lofty Himálya, or far southward Outacamund, Mysore's residency, the Nilgherry mountains By Malabar; yea, and ere-long shall sight him in earnest, Stalked as a deer, surprised where hē lay slumbering at noon Under a rock full-gorged, or deep in reedy covert hid 160 By the trackers disturbed: Two grand eyes shall for a moment Glare upon either side the muzzle. Woe then to the hunter, If hē blench! That fury beclouded in invisible speed What marksman could arrest? what mortal abide his arrachement? Standing above the immense carcase hē gratefully praiseth God for a man-eater so fine, so worthy the slaying. See him again; 'tis war: one hill-rock strongly defended Checks advance, to be stormed at cost of half the assailants. Gaily away they go, Highlanders, English, or Irish, 170 Or swart Ghoorkas against the leaden hail, climbing, ascending, Lost in a smoke, scattering, creeping, here there, ever upwards: Till some change cometh o'er confusion. Who winneth? ah! see! Ours have arrived, and he who led their bravery is there. None that heard will ever forget that far-echoing cheer: Such heard Nelson, above the crashings & thundering of guns: At Marathon 'twas heard and all time's story remembers. See him again, when at home visiting[v]his episcopal uncle: That good priest contrast with this good captain, assay them: Find a common-measure equating their rival emotions; 180 Ēvaporate the rubbish, the degrading pestiferous fuss Of stuck-up importance, the palatial coterie, weigh out Then the solids: whose life would claim the award of an umpire For greatest happiness? High-priest or soldier? Adjudge it By their books: Let a child give sentence. Ev'n as a magnet Turns and points to the north, so children's obstinate insight Flies to the tale of war, hairbreadth scapes, daring achievements, Discoveries, conquests, the romance of history: these things