Alp turned him from the sickening sight:

Never had shaken his nerves in fight; 480

But he better could brook to behold the dying,

Deep in the tide of their warm blood lying,[pm] [359]

Scorched with the death-thirst, and writhing in vain,

Than the perishing dead who are past all pain.[pn] [360]

There is something of pride in the perilous hour,

Whate'er be the shape in which Death may lower;

For Fame is there to say who bleeds,

And Honour's eye on daring deeds![361]

But when all is past, it is humbling to tread[po]

O'er the weltering field of the tombless dead,[362] 490

And see worms of the earth, and fowls of the air,

Beasts of the forest, all gathering there;

All regarding man as their prey,

All rejoicing in his decay.[pp]