 | Poems |  |
74
THE VICTOR'S DIRGE.
“So should a hero pass to his repose.”
We bear him to his rest;—
From his last battle-field, the victor one,
With veilëd banner, and with drooping crest
Proudly we bear him on.
From his last battle-field, the victor one,
With veilëd banner, and with drooping crest
Proudly we bear him on.
Proudly, though never more
To the free winds that banner will be given,
Nor his bold war-cry through the echoing heaven,
Ring, as it rang of yore.
To the free winds that banner will be given,
Nor his bold war-cry through the echoing heaven,
Ring, as it rang of yore.
75
Upon his noble brow
Darkly and solemnly death's shadow lies;
Gone is the living lustre from those eyes,
All dim and rayless now.
Darkly and solemnly death's shadow lies;
Gone is the living lustre from those eyes,
All dim and rayless now.
Never again will blast
Of the shrill trumpet rouse him to the fight,
Never again his good sword's meteor light
Flash forth, as in the past.
Of the shrill trumpet rouse him to the fight,
Never again his good sword's meteor light
Flash forth, as in the past.
Yet, though his race be run,
A lofty fate is his—a glorious crown
Of deathless memories and of high renown,
By stainless valour won.
A lofty fate is his—a glorious crown
Of deathless memories and of high renown,
By stainless valour won.
Foremost in knightly fray,
Foremost to meet the invaders of the land,
Loyal and faithful, steadfast to withstand,
Stern tyranny's array.
Foremost to meet the invaders of the land,
Loyal and faithful, steadfast to withstand,
Stern tyranny's array.
76
Surely his name shall be
A watchword 'mong the nations when the slave
Casts off his fetters, and the true and brave
Are arm'd for liberty.
A watchword 'mong the nations when the slave
Casts off his fetters, and the true and brave
Are arm'd for liberty.
While like a star on high
Pouring its quenchless radiance on the night,
Our brother's fame shall shine—clear, cloudless, bright,
Never to sink or die!
Pouring its quenchless radiance on the night,
Our brother's fame shall shine—clear, cloudless, bright,
Never to sink or die!
And therefore to his rest
From his last battle-field, the victor one,
With veilëd banner, and with drooping crest,
Proudly we bear him on.
From his last battle-field, the victor one,
With veilëd banner, and with drooping crest,
Proudly we bear him on.
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