 | Poetical Trifles |  |
40
THE SOLDIER'S RETURN.
“Patrios longe post tempore fines aspicit.”
The yelling din of war had ceas'd,
Her cruel deeds were done;
And William, from his toil releas'd,
Came home a happy Son.
Her cruel deeds were done;
And William, from his toil releas'd,
Came home a happy Son.
Ten years were spent in foreign clime,
To fight his Country's foes;
In battle's rage he pass'd his time,
Endur'd a Soldier's woes.
To fight his Country's foes;
In battle's rage he pass'd his time,
Endur'd a Soldier's woes.
In each attack he valiant prov'd,
And shed his purple blood;
Through carnage thick he often rov'd,
Amid a gory flood.
And shed his purple blood;
Through carnage thick he often rov'd,
Amid a gory flood.
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His massy arm had wielded stout
The weapon of the brave;
The hostile foe he put to rout,
For many made a grave.
The weapon of the brave;
The hostile foe he put to rout,
For many made a grave.
His limbs some scars of honour bore,
Receiv'd in each campaign:
His bosom high a medal bore,
To grace his humble name.
Receiv'd in each campaign:
His bosom high a medal bore,
To grace his humble name.
From shoulders broad a knapsack hung,
That held his little all:
While in his hand a firelock swung,
That oft had hurl'd the ball.
That held his little all:
While in his hand a firelock swung,
That oft had hurl'd the ball.
What raptures swell'd his noble breast.
To think of vict'ries won!
Ah! who can tell a Warrior's rest,
Without becoming one.
To think of vict'ries won!
Ah! who can tell a Warrior's rest,
Without becoming one.
42
His own dear soil he felt he trod,
He stood on natal ground;
With grateful heart he prais'd that God,
Who spread such blessings round.
He stood on natal ground;
With grateful heart he prais'd that God,
Who spread such blessings round.
Ten dull years he had seen glide by,
Doom'd far away to roam;
Once more again, he felt were nigh
The peaceful joys of home.
Doom'd far away to roam;
Once more again, he felt were nigh
The peaceful joys of home.
The setting sun behind a hill,
Was peeping from a cloud;
All nature seem'd repos'd and still,
A pleasing calm allow'd.
Was peeping from a cloud;
All nature seem'd repos'd and still,
A pleasing calm allow'd.
While William now, upon a stile,
Close by his humble lot;
In busy thought, sat down awhile,
To view his woodbine cot.
Close by his humble lot;
In busy thought, sat down awhile,
To view his woodbine cot.
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The smoke from out the chimney curl'd
Unruffl'd in the air;
The curtain o'er the window furl'd,
Bespoke some inmate there.
Unruffl'd in the air;
The curtain o'er the window furl'd,
Bespoke some inmate there.
The moss-grown gate, which oft had ope'd
To let him in at eve;
He saw by clust'ring roses cop'd,
Did still a passage leave.
To let him in at eve;
He saw by clust'ring roses cop'd,
Did still a passage leave.
The arbor, where he frequent smok'd,
With pleasant whiff his pipe,
Where in a cheerful mood he jok'd,
Look'd gay with berries ripe.
With pleasant whiff his pipe,
Where in a cheerful mood he jok'd,
Look'd gay with berries ripe.
The well from which he often drew
Fresh draughts of water sweet,
Was clos'd around by hawthorns few,
Which kept off sultry heat.
Fresh draughts of water sweet,
Was clos'd around by hawthorns few,
Which kept off sultry heat.
44
But now he burn'd with filial zeal,
To hasten to the door:
To find his father blest with weal,
And ne'er to leave him more.
To hasten to the door:
To find his father blest with weal,
And ne'er to leave him more.
Quick from the stile, with joyous leap,
He quits his lonely seat;
And down the shady hillock's steep,
The oft-track'd path he beat.
He quits his lonely seat;
And down the shady hillock's steep,
The oft-track'd path he beat.
Oh! how his blood within him flow'd,
As each glad step he took;
His heart with warm affection glow'd,
And ev'ry feeling shook.
As each glad step he took;
His heart with warm affection glow'd,
And ev'ry feeling shook.
Soon at the garden gate arriv'd,
He lifted up the latch;
Unseen to gain the door he striv'd,
By Tray that kept the watch.
He lifted up the latch;
Unseen to gain the door he striv'd,
By Tray that kept the watch.
45
But Tray sagacious knew his face,
And gave the welcome sound;
The good old father left his place,
And wond'ring gaz'd around.
And gave the welcome sound;
The good old father left his place,
And wond'ring gaz'd around.
“Who's there,” he cried with scolding voice,
“That dares approach this spot?
A friend or foe? come, take thy choice,
Or enter not this cot.”
“That dares approach this spot?
A friend or foe? come, take thy choice,
Or enter not this cot.”
“Old man!” said William, “quell each fear
That does thy spirits try;
'Tis thy lost son, belov'd and dear,
That now approaches nigh.”
That does thy spirits try;
'Tis thy lost son, belov'd and dear,
That now approaches nigh.”
“My son! my son! and do I live
To greet thee home again!
Oh! would that I had words to give,
And speak my feelings plain!”—
To greet thee home again!
Oh! would that I had words to give,
And speak my feelings plain!”—
46
He ceas'd to utter all his joy,
For William to him flew;
In feeble arms he lock'd his boy,
Shed tears of rapture new.
For William to him flew;
In feeble arms he lock'd his boy,
Shed tears of rapture new.
Then, joyous both, they enter'd in,
And sat down side by side;
The Soldier did his wars begin,
And spoke with martial pride.
And sat down side by side;
The Soldier did his wars begin,
And spoke with martial pride.
With heart elate, he boasts of deeds
Of battle and renown:
Each tale of woe compassion pleads,
While tears come trickling down.
Of battle and renown:
Each tale of woe compassion pleads,
While tears come trickling down.
His battle scenes with ardent breast,
He tells his aged sire;
Then grateful both, they seek their rest,
To slumbers sweet retire.
He tells his aged sire;
Then grateful both, they seek their rest,
To slumbers sweet retire.
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