<> Conary Linen Hall Library 1880 Linen Hall Library Saturday, March 12, 2016 TIFF Ferg010 Manuscript Chariots, Blood, Sanctuary English https://www.niliteraryarchive.com/content/ferg010 Linen Hall Library Linen Hall Library Attribution-NonCommercial-ShareAlike CC BY-NC-SA https://www.niliteraryarchive.com/sites/default/files/Ferg010_2.jpg LHL Archive I saw, drawn up at every guarded door. Full seventeen chariots ; and, between the spokes, Spying, I saw, to rings of iron tied. At end and side wall, thrice a hundred steeds Groom'd sleek, ear-active, eating corn and hay." " What means this concourse, think'st thou, Ferra- gon ? " " I know not if it be not that a host Resorting, it may be, to games or fair At Tara or at Taltin, rest to-night In the great guest-house, 'Twill be heavier cost Of blows and blood to win it than it seem'd." " A guest-house, whether many within or few, Is as the travellers' temple, and esteemed In every civil land a sanctuary. 'Twere woe to sack the inn," said Lomna Druth. " Lomna," said Ingcel, " when we swore our oaths We made not reservation of the inn : And, for their numbers, fear not, Ferragon ; The more, the more the spoil. Say on, and tell What heard'st thou ? " " Through the open doors I heard A hum as of a crowd of feasting men. Princely the murmur, as when voices strong Of far-heard captains on the front of war Sink low and sweet in company of queens." Text