Explore "Tales of a Wayside Inn" by Henry Wadsworth Longfellow on Textopian. Read with annotations and highlights.
Olger the Dane and Desiderio, / King of the Lombards, on a lofty tower / Stood gazing northward o'er the rolling plains, / League after league of harvests, to the foot / Of the snow-crested Alps, and saw approach / A mighty army, thronging all the roads / That led into the city. And the King / Said unto Olger, who had passed his youth / As hostage at the court of France, and knew / The Emperor's form and face "Is Charlemagne / Among that host? " And Olger answered: "No."
And still the innumerable multitude / Flowed onward and increased, until the King / Cried in amazement: "Surely Charlemagne / Is coming in the midst of all these knights! " / And Olger answered slowly: "No; not yet; / He will not come so soon. " Then much disturbed / King Desiderio asked: "What shall we do, / if he approach with a still greater army! " / And Olger answered: "When he shall appear, / You will behold what manner of man he is; / But what will then befall us I know not."