The Complete Works of James Whitcomb Riley in ten volumes |
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GENERAL LEW WALLACE |
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 | The Complete Works of James Whitcomb Riley |  |
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GENERAL LEW WALLACE
FEBRUARY 15, 1905
Nay, Death, thou mightiest of all
Dread conquerors—thou dreadest chief,—
Thy heavy hand can here but fall
Light as the Autumn leaf:
As vainly, too, its weight is laid
Upon the warrior's knightly sword;—
Still through the charge and cannonade
It flashes for the Lord.
Dread conquerors—thou dreadest chief,—
Thy heavy hand can here but fall
Light as the Autumn leaf:
As vainly, too, its weight is laid
Upon the warrior's knightly sword;—
Still through the charge and cannonade
It flashes for the Lord.
In forum—as in battle-field—
His voice rang for the truth—the right—
Keyed with the shibboleth that pealed
His Soul forth to the fight:
The inspiration of his pen
Glowed as a star, and lit anew
The faces and the hearts of men
Watching, the long night through.
His voice rang for the truth—the right—
Keyed with the shibboleth that pealed
His Soul forth to the fight:
The inspiration of his pen
Glowed as a star, and lit anew
The faces and the hearts of men
Watching, the long night through.
A destiny ordained—divine
It seemed to hosts of those who saw
His rise since youth and marked the line
Of his ascent with awe:—
From the now-storied little town
That gave him birth and worth, behold,
Unto this day of his renown,
His sword and word of gold.
It seemed to hosts of those who saw
His rise since youth and marked the line
Of his ascent with awe:—
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That gave him birth and worth, behold,
Unto this day of his renown,
His sword and word of gold.
Serving the Land he loved so well—
Hailed midsea or in foreign port,
Or in strange-bannered citadel
Or Oriental Court,—
He—honored for his Nation's sake,
And loved and honored for his own—
Hath seen his Flag in glory shake
Above the Pagan Throne.
Hailed midsea or in foreign port,
Or in strange-bannered citadel
Or Oriental Court,—
He—honored for his Nation's sake,
And loved and honored for his own—
Hath seen his Flag in glory shake
Above the Pagan Throne.
| The Complete Works of James Whitcomb Riley | |