And show if Richard's afeared; "I will plant my flag amidst this camp As a token seen of all; Nor Austria's lance, nor the frown of France, Shall make its splendour fall." So the sultry breezes of Ascalon Saluted the lions three, And Austria frowned from his camping ground, And cursed right bitterly. "Shall this bastard son of a bastard sire Boast he o'erruleth me? By the Holy Cross, be it living loss, This shame shall never be." So he planted his banner firm and fast, And it floated high and free, On the selfsame mound in the Christian ground Flew eagle and lions three. Word they brought to Richard the King Where in his tent he lay, "Lo, Austria's hand on the lion's land Has loosed the eagle," said they. Richard arose and strode in haste —Oh the banners floated free— "Ill eagles fare in the lion's lair, Take down your banner," quoth he. But word for word the Archduke gave. He answered, "Eagles fly; Let the lion keep to the fields and sheep, To the eagle leave the sky." "Do you give me words?" cried Richard the King; "Ho, now, at your words I laugh." And he tore the flag like a worthless rag, And he wrenched and splintered the staff, And he set his foot on the silken flag, His foot on Austria's fame; With a swordless hip, yet a smiling lip, He mocked the eagle's shame. (Oh, Richard the Lion, woe is me For the sorrow your deed shall bring, For the dungeon walls, and the gloom that falls On the heart of Richard the King; For the long despair of the prison dark, And the traffic in lordly things, When the Austrian sold for an Emperor's gold The son of the English kings.) But Richard laughed in the noonday sun That beats on Palestine. And Leopold turned, while in hate he burned Against Plantagenet's line; He trusted not in his own right arm, But justice cried from France, And France spake fair, but he did not dare Withstand King Richard's glance. Sullenly Austria turned from the Kings And back to his tents went he; And the lions of gold above Richard the bold Floated alone and free.
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