 | Areytos or songs and ballads of the South |  |
98
LET THE BUGLE BLOW!
I.
Let the bugle blow along the mountain!Shrilly blow! shrilly blow!
We must leave each pleasant grove and fountain,
We must go to battle—we must go!
For the storm is raging on the highlands;
It has swept the valleys all below;
And, from fertile plains and sunny islands,
Pours the foe—the bloody, insolent foe!
Let the bugle blow—shrilly blow!
We must meet the foe—the hateful foe!
Blow, then, for battle, fiery battle, blow,
Thou mountain bugle, blow!
Blow! blow!
II.
See, as blows our bugle, how they gatherBugle blow—shrilly blow!
There rides up the old and grisly father,
And the son is spurring from below!
We must dye in purple this green heather,
We must free the country from the foe,
Though we ride abroad in fearful weather,
And o'er mountain summits clad in snow!
Let the bugle blow—shrilly blow!
Though we perish, we must meet the foe!
Blow for battle, mountain bugle, blow
Let each mountain echo feel ye blow—
Blow! blow!
99
III.
Let the bugle blow, from wild Autauga,Bugles blow—shrilly blow!
See the hunters come, of Canasauga,
Rifles ready shotted for the foe:
From far vales of Cumberland they gather,
And from slopes of green Saluda, lo!
Fiery son of speed, and fearless father,
Eager for the grapple with the foe!
Give them joyful welcome, bugle, blow!
Welcome for the champion—and the foe!
Blow for the coming battle, bugle, blow,
A peal of vengeance on the hateful foe!
We must meet and crush him at a blow.
Blow for the fight and triumph, bugle, blow!
Shrilly blow, thou mountain bugle, blow!
Blow! blow!
| Areytos or songs and ballads of the South | |