 | Poems of "Frank Forester" (Henry William Herbert) |  |
138
THE SURPRISE OF TRENTON.
Eighteen hundred years had passed,
Lacking only twenty-four,
Since the Saviour, one-begotten,
Meek the Virgin Mother bore;
Shepherds on that very night
In the fields their watch did keep,
While the busy world around
Silent lay, and bathed in sleep;
Lacking only twenty-four,
Since the Saviour, one-begotten,
Meek the Virgin Mother bore;
Shepherds on that very night
In the fields their watch did keep,
While the busy world around
Silent lay, and bathed in sleep;
When the angel of the Lord
Came upon them, and a light
Great and glorious shone about
Through the gloom of the wintry night;
And the heavenly host was heard
Singing loud o'er field and fen,
“Glory be to God in the highest,
Peace on earth, good-will to men.”
Came upon them, and a light
Great and glorious shone about
Through the gloom of the wintry night;
And the heavenly host was heard
Singing loud o'er field and fen,
“Glory be to God in the highest,
Peace on earth, good-will to men.”
Lowly in his cradle-manger
Then the infant Saviour slept,
While the maiden mother o'er him
Tears of humble gladness wept;
And the Magi found him there,
Who had followed from afar,
When they saw it in the East,
The Redeemer's holy star;
Then the infant Saviour slept,
While the maiden mother o'er him
Tears of humble gladness wept;
And the Magi found him there,
Who had followed from afar,
When they saw it in the East,
The Redeemer's holy star;
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For the star it went before them,
And the wise ones followed on,
Till it stood above the spot,
And their joyous goal was won;
Humbly then they bowed the knee,
Humbly did their gifts unfold,
Gifts of ivory and aloes,
Myrrh and frankincense and gold.
And the wise ones followed on,
Till it stood above the spot,
And their joyous goal was won;
Humbly then they bowed the knee,
Humbly did their gifts unfold,
Gifts of ivory and aloes,
Myrrh and frankincense and gold.
Eighteen hundred years had passed,
Eighteen hundred years and eight,
Since the Saviour, one-begotten,
Bowed him to a felon's fate;
Nailed upon the cursèd free
Suffered then our God and Lord:
Peace to man he came to leave;
“Peace he left not, but a sword.”
Eighteen hundred years and eight,
Since the Saviour, one-begotten,
Bowed him to a felon's fate;
Nailed upon the cursèd free
Suffered then our God and Lord:
Peace to man he came to leave;
“Peace he left not, but a sword.”
Noon it was of Christmas night
On the wintry Delaware;
Sullenly the falling snow
Floated through the murky air;
Sullenly the flooded river
Moaned the whitening shores along;
Sullenly the drifting ice
Groaned and tossed i' the current strong.
On the wintry Delaware;
Sullenly the falling snow
Floated through the murky air;
Sullenly the flooded river
Moaned the whitening shores along;
Sullenly the drifting ice
Groaned and tossed i' the current strong.
Not a star was in the sky,
Not a sound was on the breeze,
Not a voice or stir there was
In the thickly-feathered trees;
Only through the heavy gloom
Muttered low the mournful rushing
Of the deep and dismal stream,
Through its icy fetters gushing.
Not a sound was on the breeze,
Not a voice or stir there was
In the thickly-feathered trees;
Only through the heavy gloom
Muttered low the mournful rushing
Of the deep and dismal stream,
Through its icy fetters gushing.
140
Lonely were the streets of Trenton,
Trenton town by the Delaware;
Quartered there were the British horse,
Quartered the bearded Hessians there.
Deep the snow on the roofs above,
Deep i' the trackless roads below;
Hark to the bell! 'twas midnight chime;
Oh, but the strokes were stern and slow!
Trenton town by the Delaware;
Quartered there were the British horse,
Quartered the bearded Hessians there.
Deep the snow on the roofs above,
Deep i' the trackless roads below;
Hark to the bell! 'twas midnight chime;
Oh, but the strokes were stern and slow!
Not a guard was on his post;
Not a round its circuit made;
What the risk in such a storm?
Where the foe that should invade?
Far beyond the flooded stream,
Pennsylvania wilds among.
For the patriot army lay,
Frail, disjointed, and unstrung;
Not a round its circuit made;
What the risk in such a storm?
Where the foe that should invade?
Far beyond the flooded stream,
Pennsylvania wilds among.
For the patriot army lay,
Frail, disjointed, and unstrung;
Washington, who late so glorious,
Braved in equal arms his king,
Sees the boasted bird victorious
Sadly droop its baffled wing.
“Soldiers, spread the Christmas feast;
Soldiers, fill the bumper fair;
Pass the bottle, pile the hearth,
Cutting cold is the wintry air!
Braved in equal arms his king,
Sees the boasted bird victorious
Sadly droop its baffled wing.
“Soldiers, spread the Christmas feast;
Soldiers, fill the bumper fair;
Pass the bottle, pile the hearth,
Cutting cold is the wintry air!
“Let the toast our country be,
From whatever country we:
Sons of German Fatherland,
Britons ever bold and free.
Comrades, troll the jolly stave;
Pass the bottle, fear no wrong!
For the rebel hosts are weak,
And the wintry river strong!
From whatever country we:
Sons of German Fatherland,
Britons ever bold and free.
Comrades, troll the jolly stave;
Pass the bottle, fear no wrong!
For the rebel hosts are weak,
And the wintry river strong!
141
“Tush, they dare not! We who drove them,
Weak and weary, faint and few;
Tracked them, weaponless and wounded,
O'er the roads by the bloody dew,
Which to every painful print
Trickled from their shoeless feet—
Tush! the craven dove as soon
Shall the fearless falcon meet!”
Weak and weary, faint and few;
Tracked them, weaponless and wounded,
O'er the roads by the bloody dew,
Which to every painful print
Trickled from their shoeless feet—
Tush! the craven dove as soon
Shall the fearless falcon meet!”
Madly raged the jovial rout,
Loud the bursts of loyal song
Rang amid the drifting storm,
Rang the snowy fields along!
Little deemed the roistering crew,
As their revelry they plied,
What avengers stern and sure
Gathered on the icy tide;
Loud the bursts of loyal song
Rang amid the drifting storm,
Rang the snowy fields along!
Little deemed the roistering crew,
As their revelry they plied,
What avengers stern and sure
Gathered on the icy tide;
Gathered, soon their glee to mar,
Hearts afire and hands on hilt:
Redder liquor far than wine
Long ere morning shall be spilt;
Hark the deep and solemn hum,
Louder than the river's flow,
Rising heavier through the night,
Nearer through the drifting snow.
Hearts afire and hands on hilt:
Redder liquor far than wine
Long ere morning shall be spilt;
Hark the deep and solemn hum,
Louder than the river's flow,
Rising heavier through the night,
Nearer through the drifting snow.
'Tis the hum of mustered men;
Barges with their burthen brave
Painfully and long are tossing
On the fierce and freezing wave;
Horse and foot and guns are there,
Struggling through the awful gloom;
Soon their din shall rouse the foe,
Rouse him like the trump of doom!
Barges with their burthen brave
Painfully and long are tossing
On the fierce and freezing wave;
Horse and foot and guns are there,
Struggling through the awful gloom;
Soon their din shall rouse the foe,
Rouse him like the trump of doom!
142
Firm as some gigantic oak
Stood their chief on the hither shore,
Marking how his comrades true
Prospered with the laboring oar;
Marking how each barge and boat
Slowly battled to the strand,
Marking how the serried lines
Mustered as they came to land!
Stood their chief on the hither shore,
Marking how his comrades true
Prospered with the laboring oar;
Marking how each barge and boat
Slowly battled to the strand,
Marking how the serried lines
Mustered as they came to land!
Calm his high and noble port,
Calm his mighty face severe;
None had seen it change with doubt,
None had seen it pale with fear;
And it showed as grandly now,
In that wild and perilous hour,
Fraught with wisdom half divine,
Fraught with more than mortal power.
Calm his mighty face severe;
None had seen it change with doubt,
None had seen it pale with fear;
And it showed as grandly now,
In that wild and perilous hour,
Fraught with wisdom half divine,
Fraught with more than mortal power.
Steadily he stood and gazed,
Not a cloud upon his brow;
Calmer in the banquet-hall
Never had he been than now.
Yet his fate was on the cast,
Life and fame and country all.
Sterner game was never played;
Death or Freedom—win or fall!
Not a cloud upon his brow;
Calmer in the banquet-hall
Never had he been than now.
Yet his fate was on the cast,
Life and fame and country all.
Sterner game was never played;
Death or Freedom—win or fall!
Fall he—and his country's hope
Sets, a sun no more to rise!
Win he—and her dawning light
Yet may fill the unfathomed skies!
Fall he—and his name must wane,
Rebel chief of a rebel band;
Win he—it shall live forever,
Father of his native land!
Sets, a sun no more to rise!
Win he—and her dawning light
Yet may fill the unfathomed skies!
Fall he—and his name must wane,
Rebel chief of a rebel band;
Win he—it shall live forever,
Father of his native land!
143
Silent stood he, grave and mute,
Listening now the distant roar
From the half-heard town, and now
Gazing on the crowded shore,
Crowded with his patriot host,
Burning for the vengeful fray,
Ear and eye and heart erect,
Waiting for the trumpet's bray.
Listening now the distant roar
From the half-heard town, and now
Gazing on the crowded shore,
Crowded with his patriot host,
Burning for the vengeful fray,
Ear and eye and heart erect,
Waiting for the trumpet's bray.
Silent, till the latest boat
Safe had stemmed the wheeling tide,
Till the latest troop was banded,
Heart to heart, and side by side,
Then he turned his eyes aloft,
Moved his lips for a little space;
Mighty though he was, he bowed him
Meekly to the throne of grace:
Safe had stemmed the wheeling tide,
Till the latest troop was banded,
Heart to heart, and side by side,
Then he turned his eyes aloft,
Moved his lips for a little space;
Mighty though he was, he bowed him
Meekly to the throne of grace:
“God of battles, Lord of might,
Let my country but be free,
To thy mercies I commend me;
Glory to thy Son and Thee!”
Then he waved his arm aloft
With a martial gesture proud;
“Let your march,” he said, “be silent,
Till your cannon speak aloud.”
Let my country but be free,
To thy mercies I commend me;
Glory to thy Son and Thee!”
Then he waved his arm aloft
With a martial gesture proud;
“Let your march,” he said, “be silent,
Till your cannon speak aloud.”
Silent was their rapid march
Through the mist of rain and sleet,
For the deep and drifted snow
Gave no sound beneath their feet;
Clashed no musket, beat no drum,
As they fleeted through the gloom,
Liker far than living men
To the phantoms of the tomb.
Through the mist of rain and sleet,
For the deep and drifted snow
Gave no sound beneath their feet;
Clashed no musket, beat no drum,
As they fleeted through the gloom,
Liker far than living men
To the phantoms of the tomb.
144
Morn was near, but overcast
In the dim and rayless sky;
Not a gleam foreshowed his coming,
Yet the pallid sun was nigh;
Morn was near, but not a guard
Heard their march or saw them come;
Lo! they form: the very dogs
In the fated town were dumb.
In the dim and rayless sky;
Not a gleam foreshowed his coming,
Yet the pallid sun was nigh;
Morn was near, but not a guard
Heard their march or saw them come;
Lo! they form: the very dogs
In the fated town were dumb.
Hark! the bell! the bugle's blast!
Hark! the loud and long alarms!
Beat the drums—but all too late—
All too late they beat to arms!
Forth they rush in disarray,
Forming fast with fearful din:
Open now, ye mouths of flame;
Pour your crashing volleys in!”
Hark! the loud and long alarms!
Beat the drums—but all too late—
All too late they beat to arms!
Forth they rush in disarray,
Forming fast with fearful din:
Open now, ye mouths of flame;
Pour your crashing volleys in!”
See, the sharp and running flash!
Hark, the long and rattling roll!
There the western muskets blaze,
Every shot a mortal soul.
Vain was then the Hessian's yager,
Vain the English horseman's steel;
Vain the German's hardihood,
Vain the Briton's loyal zeal.
Hark, the long and rattling roll!
There the western muskets blaze,
Every shot a mortal soul.
Vain was then the Hessian's yager,
Vain the English horseman's steel;
Vain the German's hardihood,
Vain the Briton's loyal zeal.
Fast they fell, the best and bravest,
Unavenged and helpless fall:
Rallying their men dismayed,
Campbell bold and gallant Rahl.
Then before that murderous hail,
Thick, incessant, sure as death,
Reel the shattered columns back:
Gasp the dying chiefs for breath.
Unavenged and helpless fall:
Rallying their men dismayed,
Campbell bold and gallant Rahl.
Then before that murderous hail,
Thick, incessant, sure as death,
Reel the shattered columns back:
Gasp the dying chiefs for breath.
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Lo, 'tis o'er! their arms they ground:
All that brave men can, did they;
Fought, while fight they could, then yielded.
What avails the hopeless fray?
What avails the horse's might
Though his neck be clothed in thunder?
What the cannon's fiery breath
Riving rock-built forts asunder?
All that brave men can, did they;
Fought, while fight they could, then yielded.
What avails the hopeless fray?
What avails the horse's might
Though his neck be clothed in thunder?
What the cannon's fiery breath
Riving rock-built forts asunder?
What avails the speed of navies,
Rocking on the subject tide?
Nothing, when the Lord of Hosts
Battles on the righteous side.
He who giveth not the race
To the swift, nor to the strong
War's red honor, but alway
Strengthens those who suffer long,—
Rocking on the subject tide?
Nothing, when the Lord of Hosts
Battles on the righteous side.
He who giveth not the race
To the swift, nor to the strong
War's red honor, but alway
Strengthens those who suffer long,—
Surely He on Trenton's night
Steeled our mighty champion's heart;
Gave him wisdom, gave him power,
So to play his destined part.
Beat the fiercest down before him,
Turned the bravest back to fly;
Covered aye his head in battle
That no hair of it should die.
Steeled our mighty champion's heart;
Gave him wisdom, gave him power,
So to play his destined part.
Beat the fiercest down before him,
Turned the bravest back to fly;
Covered aye his head in battle
That no hair of it should die.
Held him steadfast in the right
Till his glorious task was o'er,
And no hostile banner waved
On Columbia's hallowed shore;
Till his name was spread abroad,
For a nation's freedom won,
All-honored, from the setting
To the rising of the sun.
Till his glorious task was o'er,
And no hostile banner waved
On Columbia's hallowed shore;
Till his name was spread abroad,
For a nation's freedom won,
All-honored, from the setting
To the rising of the sun.
| Poems of "Frank Forester" (Henry William Herbert) | |