Originally Posted by
rock lobster
Once there came a vision glorious
Mystic, dreadful, wondrous fare;
Burned itself into his spirit
And abode for ever there!
Never more-from that sweet moment-
Gazed he on womankind;
He was dumb to love and wooing
And to all their graces blind.
Full of love for that sweet vision,
Brave and pure he took the field;
With his blood he stained the letters
A. N. B. upon his shield.
Lumen caeli, sancta Rosa!
Shouting on the foe he fell,
And like thunder rang his war-cry
O'er the cowering infidel.
Then within his distant castle,
Home returned, he dreamed his days-
Silent, sad, - and when death took him
He was mad, the legend says.
O