With what wonder and admiration did I gaze at the sleek prancing steeds, the steel morions, the plumed hats of the officers, the scarfs and bandoliers.

Never, I thought, had such a gallant company assembled, and I clapped my hands and cried out in my delight.

My father smiled gravely, and took me from my mother's arms.
'Nay, lad,' he said, 'thou art a soldier's son, and should have more judgment than to commend such a rabble as this.

Canst thou not, child as thou art, see that their arms are ill-found, their stirrup-irons rusted, and their ranks without order or cohesion?
Neither have they thrown out a troop in advance, as should even in times of peace be done, and their rear is straggling from here to Bedhampton.

Yea,' he continued, suddenly shaking his long arm at the troopers, and calling out to them, 'ye are corn ripe for the sickle and waiting only for the reapers!' Several of them reined up at this sudden out-flame.