Soldier and maker swiftly I
Seized with my hand the spear and spoke:
"Fall on the beast of the world beyond
And strike the eagle-wingèd lion!"
Before me with God's grace, I saw
Soulless the griffin seven-souled,
Blood spurting from a hole hell-like
And scorching with its heat the grass!
And then restored with calm, I saw
The savage strife like a day's dawn;
And the destroyer, I, became
A maker; and with this same hand,
I carve on ivory the man
Who slew the beast and make him deathless.
_1896._