Poems, on sacred and other subjects and songs, humorous and sentimental: By the late William Watt. Third edition of the songs only--with additional songs |
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 | Poems, on sacred and other subjects |  |
IV.
Darius, quite impatient grown,
Impetuous, led his army on,
In glitt'ring arms of gold;
Far follow'd a protracted train,
Which 'lumined round all Issus' plain,
As they to battle roll'd:
Impetuous, led his army on,
In glitt'ring arms of gold;
Far follow'd a protracted train,
Which 'lumined round all Issus' plain,
As they to battle roll'd:
Their gorgeous show and ardent mien
Might shake the coward's heart,
But Macedonia's sons, I ween,
Fear'd not their glare nor art.
Might shake the coward's heart,
But Macedonia's sons, I ween,
Fear'd not their glare nor art.
Now, van to van, the signal given,
As gleams the fatal light of heaven,
So darts the flash of arms!
As thunder 'mong the hills doth rattle,
So rung the clangour of the battle,
And echo's ear alarms!
As gleams the fatal light of heaven,
So darts the flash of arms!
As thunder 'mong the hills doth rattle,
So rung the clangour of the battle,
And echo's ear alarms!
In clouds th' volleying javelins fly,
And grate on helm and shield,
And oft, death-fraught, make heroes lie
Upon the blood-stain'd field.
And grate on helm and shield,
And oft, death-fraught, make heroes lie
Upon the blood-stain'd field.
Dire was the conflict of the day,
Till Persia's hope-flush'd front gave way,
And back in haste recoil'd;
Then rose aloud the Grecian shout,
“They fly! they fly! they're put to rout!
Their utmost effort 's foil'd.”
Till Persia's hope-flush'd front gave way,
And back in haste recoil'd;
Then rose aloud the Grecian shout,
“They fly! they fly! they're put to rout!
Their utmost effort 's foil'd.”
Hark! hark! the hideous jarring roar
Which runs throughout the host;
The shrieks of thousands, bathed in gore,
On point of sabres toss'd!
Which runs throughout the host;
The shrieks of thousands, bathed in gore,
On point of sabres toss'd!
324
Poor Persia's monarch push'd along
Throughout the terror-smitten throng,
Unmindful of their fate;
To Ecbatana safe he fled,
While for his cause an army bled—
Heart-thrilling to relate!
Throughout the terror-smitten throng,
Unmindful of their fate;
To Ecbatana safe he fled,
While for his cause an army bled—
Heart-thrilling to relate!
A sumptuous spoil lies now exposed
At Alexander's will;
Such riches never Greece disclosed,
The envious breast to fill.
At Alexander's will;
Such riches never Greece disclosed,
The envious breast to fill.
But, mark! the mild Pellean youth
Here stray'd not from the path of truth,
Nor brake stern virtue's law;
By no unruly passion driven,
He acted as if conscious heaven
His conduct's chart did draw:
Here stray'd not from the path of truth,
Nor brake stern virtue's law;
By no unruly passion driven,
He acted as if conscious heaven
His conduct's chart did draw:
And had he still this path pursued
Through all his after life,
With glory had his steps been strew'd,
And shunn'd much toil and strife.
Through all his after life,
With glory had his steps been strew'd,
And shunn'd much toil and strife.
The captive ladies, pale with fear,
Heaved many a sigh, dropp'd many a tear,
For this, their hapless lot;
But, when the conq'ror's conduct shone
With chaste protection, all anon
The dread of harm forgot.
Heaved many a sigh, dropp'd many a tear,
For this, their hapless lot;
But, when the conq'ror's conduct shone
With chaste protection, all anon
The dread of harm forgot.
| Poems, on sacred and other subjects | |