King Francis was a hearty king, and loved a royal sport, <br />And one day as his lions fought, sat looking on the court; <br />The nobles filled the benches, and the ladies in their pride, <br />And 'mongst them sat the Count de Lorge, with one for whom he sighed: <br />And truly 'twas a gallant thing to see that crowning show, <br />Valour and love, and a king above, and the royal beasts below. <br /> <br />Ramped and roared the lions, with horrid laughing jaws; <br />They bit, they glared, gave blows like beams, a wind went with their paws; <br />With wallowing might and stifled roar they rolled on one another; <br />Till all the pit with sand and mane was in a thunderous smother; <br />The bloody foam above the bars came whisking through the air; <br />Said Francis then, "Faith, gentlemen, we're better here than there." <br /> <br />De Lorge's love o'erheard the King, a beauteous lively dame <br />With smiling lips and sharp bright eyes, which always seemed the same; <br />She thought, the Count my lover is brave as brave can be; <br />He surely would do wondrous things to show his love of me; <br />King, ladies, lovers, all look on; the occasion is divine; <br />I'll drop my glove, to prove his love; great glory will be mine. <br /> <br />She dropped her glove, to prove his love, then looked at him and smiled; <br />He bowed, and in a moment leaped among the lions wild: <br />The leap was quick, return was quick, he has regained his place, <br />Then threw the glove, but not with love, right in the lady's face. <br />"By God!" said Francis, "rightly done!" and he rose from where he sat: <br />"No love," quoth he, "but vanity, sets love a task like that."<br /><br />James Henry Leigh Hunt<br /><br />http://www.poemhunter.com/poem/the-glove-and-the-lions/
