The Desolation of Eyam The Emigrant, a Tale of the American Woods: and other poems. By William and Mary Howitt |
 |
 |
|
THE ISLAND PATRIOTS. |
 | The Desolation of Eyam |  |
312
THE ISLAND PATRIOTS.
Mid the profound repose
Of peace a call was heard;
And, like heaven's voice, arose
The thunder-winged word!
“Come forth each noble one;
Each brave man seize his brand;
And, patriot hearts, rush boldly on
For God and your own land!”
Of peace a call was heard;
And, like heaven's voice, arose
The thunder-winged word!
“Come forth each noble one;
Each brave man seize his brand;
And, patriot hearts, rush boldly on
For God and your own land!”
313
As comes the mighty tide,
Wave following fast on wave,
So marshalled, side by side,
Rushed on the island-brave.
And 'twas a glorious sight
That patriot host to see,
A firm, proud phalanx, in its might,
Go forth to victory.
Wave following fast on wave,
So marshalled, side by side,
Rushed on the island-brave.
And 'twas a glorious sight
That patriot host to see,
A firm, proud phalanx, in its might,
Go forth to victory.
One only banner spread
Above them to the breeze;
One banner, torn and red,
From former victories.
To the trumpet's thrilling clang
Those sons of freedom came;
And the grey and silent mountains rang
With the people's wild acclaim.
Above them to the breeze;
One banner, torn and red,
From former victories.
To the trumpet's thrilling clang
Those sons of freedom came;
And the grey and silent mountains rang
With the people's wild acclaim.
314
They cried “Ye brave, go forth,
God conquers by your sword;
We loved you on the hearth;
You pledged us at the board.
For you glows redder wine,
And a nobler feast is spread,
Who make each holy home a shrine
Where freedom's flame is fed.
God conquers by your sword;
We loved you on the hearth;
You pledged us at the board.
For you glows redder wine,
And a nobler feast is spread,
Who make each holy home a shrine
Where freedom's flame is fed.
“Your names, like names of old,
Shall rouse, as words of fire,
The fearful and the cold—
The warrior-heart inspire.
We all, a Christian band,
At one altar bent the knee;
And God will bare his red right hand,
For you in victory.”
Shall rouse, as words of fire,
The fearful and the cold—
The warrior-heart inspire.
We all, a Christian band,
At one altar bent the knee;
And God will bare his red right hand,
For you in victory.”
315
No soldier spoke a word;
Thus was his answer given:—
One hand upon his sword,
The other raised to heaven.
A moment's death-like pause—
Then the gallant men moved on,
Amid the thunder of applause
And the shrill trumpet's tone.
Thus was his answer given:—
One hand upon his sword,
The other raised to heaven.
A moment's death-like pause—
Then the gallant men moved on,
Amid the thunder of applause
And the shrill trumpet's tone.
They went in patriot might,
A faithful, valiant band,
Sworn to defend the right
Of God and their own land.
Like brethren firm they stood,
No man essayed to flee;
In the eye of Heaven their cause was good,
And theirs was the victory.
A faithful, valiant band,
Sworn to defend the right
Of God and their own land.
Like brethren firm they stood,
No man essayed to flee;
In the eye of Heaven their cause was good,
And theirs was the victory.
| The Desolation of Eyam | |