Alfred An Heroic Poem, in Twenty-Four Books. By Joseph Cottle: 4th ed. |
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 | Alfred |  |
Amid th' exultant shout, all hearts alike,
With sword and dart, panted to meet the foe!—
Chiding old Time, so tardily evolved—
That stay'd the fight. They trusted in one field,
Conspicuous, sacred;—one illustrious field!
To furnish for th' historic annalist
Feats, grand and marvellous, such, that their sons,
Glowing with pride, and hanging on the tale—
Where valour swept the foe-men from their land,
Might cry exultant, while the big heart heaved,
‘These were my ancestors!’
With sword and dart, panted to meet the foe!—
Chiding old Time, so tardily evolved—
That stay'd the fight. They trusted in one field,
Conspicuous, sacred;—one illustrious field!
To furnish for th' historic annalist
Feats, grand and marvellous, such, that their sons,
Glowing with pride, and hanging on the tale—
Where valour swept the foe-men from their land,
Might cry exultant, while the big heart heaved,
‘These were my ancestors!’
| Alfred | |