Menelus and the Thousand

Clear and gaily tolled the bells
Of arid Wrdwain's halls
When Menelus rode from the dells
And Deephold's lofty walls.

A thousand strong rode at his side,
And burnished was their armor;
Their brilliant blades like silver shone,
And filled all with righteous ardor.

His banners soared both proud and high;
His stars and stripes they bore,
The people thronged to see it fly,
And raised a great exultant roar.

"Menelus has come at last!"
Was the cry heard in the street;
The town again to hope held fast
And every heart emboldened beat.

And all the guard of Wrdwain cheered
As the thousand lance drew nigh,
And as their gleam the horizon cleared,
It seemed two suns dawned the sky.

Up to the keep that proud train rode;
The streets rolled with its thunder.
To its head Wrdwain's king strode,
To behold Menelus in wonder.

And the tyrant quailed at the sight
Of this freedom force arrayed
And the city without a fight
Their former despot swift betrayed.

And into this host of flawless knights
The men of Wrdwain fell.
Though battered and bloodied from flight,
They bore their tattered banners well.

And from the pinnacle of the keep
Did the valiant host outpour
With a cry so bold and deep
The mountains echoed with its roar.

Down through the city that great host poured
all the people were in wonder,
And made way with cheers and hearts that soared,
And threw the ivory gates asunder.

From the gates burst Wrdwain's guard;
The plains trembled with their power
As man and horse rose upon the sward
Like the blooming of some bright flower.

Gallant Menelus rode at the van;
His sword split the dawning sun,
And not in all the host did a man
Think to lay down his arms to run.

And headlong into the foe clove
The thousand like a spear,
And before them like a tide of gold
Drove those dark ranks back in fear.

The valiant fight was fierce and long
And furious was the fray,
But the guard and thousand at last held strong
To shine in dawn's last ray.

And Menelus' flags still proudly soared;
His thousand gleamed upon the plain.
But where was the man whom all adored?
Alas, fair Menelus was slain!