THE PROGRESS TO CALAIS OF KING HENRI, RIDING HIS CHARGER

Who is that Perseus flying high in the air
    on Pegasus, his spirited, winged steed?

That's Henri, our king, making haste
    to claim his conquered Calais.

And does he brandish aloft the severed head
    of a Gorgon as his bloody trophy?

Not quite: his trophy is what he has snatched from the English . . .
    unless, of course, we call them the Medusa.

And who is that flying at his side, splendid in purple
    miter and purple robes?

We could say that he is Mercury, whose hat was not dissimilar
    and whose regalia was, in its way, ecclesiastic.

But this Mercury, has he give Perseus his sharp sword
    and offered divinely wise advice?

Why not? For his brother, Guise, was Henri's sword,
    and the Cardinal's words in counsel are always wise and even divine.