wars of great kings and clash of armouries , whose swords no man could tell , whose spears were numerous as a wheatfield 's ears , rolled over all the great lands ; and the seas were loud with navies ; their devouring fires behind the armies burned both fields and towns ; and sacked and crumbled or to flaming pyres were cities made , where treasuries and crowns , kings and their folk , their wives and tender maids were all consumed .