 | The battle of Niagara |  |
And then, the glitter of each eye,
That kindled at his minstrelsy—
That lightened, when the echoing blast
Far o'er the hills in triumph past;
That varied with the varying note
Upon the eddying air afloat—
Would with that varying note decay
And melt so peacefully away,
That each who saw his neighbour's cheek
The tumult of his soul bespeak—
And saw the maddening lustre die,
There reddening like an angry sky—
And saw each upright youthful form
Awake like genii of the storm,
With lifted brow and threatening air,
While pealed the battle anthem there—
And saw it, as that anthem died,
Lose all its stateliness and pride;
With yielding port and fading eye—
And heard his furious shouting die:—
Would wonder that himself had been
So undisturbed!—and so serene!
And this would be—while yet he stood
In that delicious solitude
When youthful hearts feel all alone—
Alone amid the world!
When Phrensy leaves her radiant throne,
And all her singing troops have flown:
And all their wings are furled!
That kindled at his minstrelsy—
That lightened, when the echoing blast
Far o'er the hills in triumph past;
That varied with the varying note
Upon the eddying air afloat—
Would with that varying note decay
And melt so peacefully away,
That each who saw his neighbour's cheek
The tumult of his soul bespeak—
And saw the maddening lustre die,
There reddening like an angry sky—
And saw each upright youthful form
Awake like genii of the storm,
With lifted brow and threatening air,
While pealed the battle anthem there—
186
Lose all its stateliness and pride;
With yielding port and fading eye—
And heard his furious shouting die:—
Would wonder that himself had been
So undisturbed!—and so serene!
And this would be—while yet he stood
In that delicious solitude
When youthful hearts feel all alone—
Alone amid the world!
When Phrensy leaves her radiant throne,
And all her singing troops have flown:
And all their wings are furled!
| The battle of Niagara | |