 | Impressions of Italy and Other Poems |  |
312
MOUNTAINEER'S BATTLE SONG.
Let their Battle-thunders roll!
Can they daunt the mountain soul?
A loftier sound is in our ears,
The storm's voice; and our hearts it cheers!
Who on the mountain's bosom dwells,
Where oft the glorious tempest swells,
Nor knows the kingly thunder's tone—
Its deafening crash—its lengthening groan—
That mighty anthem-harmony
Which shakes the earth and thrills the sky!
On the echoes soars the mountain soul—
Let their Battle-thunders roll!
Can they daunt the mountain soul?
A loftier sound is in our ears,
The storm's voice; and our hearts it cheers!
Who on the mountain's bosom dwells,
Where oft the glorious tempest swells,
Nor knows the kingly thunder's tone—
Its deafening crash—its lengthening groan—
That mighty anthem-harmony
Which shakes the earth and thrills the sky!
On the echoes soars the mountain soul—
Let their Battle-thunders roll!
Let their spears glance to the sun!
Nor these can daze—nor those can stun!
Our ears are armed! our watchful eyes
Are conversant with yon bright skies.
Like the Persians of old time,
The great hills are our shrines sublime!
We have lived 'mid scenes of dread,
We can die, when hope is dead!
Still unshrinking and unscared,
With our swords and bosoms bared!
Freedom's light is match'd by none—
Let their spears glance to the sun!
Nor these can daze—nor those can stun!
Our ears are armed! our watchful eyes
Are conversant with yon bright skies.
313
The great hills are our shrines sublime!
We have lived 'mid scenes of dread,
We can die, when hope is dead!
Still unshrinking and unscared,
With our swords and bosoms bared!
Freedom's light is match'd by none—
Let their spears glance to the sun!
Let their legions scale our heights;
Death—death—or freemen's rights!
From the mountains to the skies
'Tis but one proud step! Arise!
Meet the thousands of the foe,
Let their arms and numbers go!
They are Thousands—We are One,
Let their spears glance to the sun!
Let their Battle-thunders roll,
Can they shake the mountain soul?
For Religion and our Rights!
Let their squadrons scale the heights!
Death—death—or freemen's rights!
From the mountains to the skies
'Tis but one proud step! Arise!
Meet the thousands of the foe,
Let their arms and numbers go!
They are Thousands—We are One,
Let their spears glance to the sun!
Let their Battle-thunders roll,
Can they shake the mountain soul?
For Religion and our Rights!
Let their squadrons scale the heights!
| Impressions of Italy and Other Poems | |