Glimpses of Antiquity Being a collection of metrical sketches, in the form of ballads, lyrics, &c., with main reference to mediaeval times or classical subjects. By George F. Preston [i.e. J. B. L. Warren] |
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THE OLD CRUSADER. |
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 | Glimpses of Antiquity |  |
62
THE OLD CRUSADER.
I take thee down good sword at need,
Damascus shalt thou see again;
I whisper to my trusty steed
That we must cross the main.
Damascus shalt thou see again;
I whisper to my trusty steed
That we must cross the main.
Go, Seneschal, and tell from me
Each liegeman tried that owns my sway,
That he who lists may sail with me,
And he who lists may stay.
Each liegeman tried that owns my sway,
That he who lists may sail with me,
And he who lists may stay.
Careless of life—a master stern,—
I still will take but willing men;
For whether one of us return
Is past all mortal ken.
I still will take but willing men;
For whether one of us return
Is past all mortal ken.
63
I ween my stalwart spears who fought
In ancient days at Antioch's sack,
Would falter now in eastern drought
With harness at their back.
In ancient days at Antioch's sack,
Would falter now in eastern drought
With harness at their back.
Their crippled limbs are all unmeet
For panoplies of glancing mail,
And tho' I keep a lusty heart
At times my sinews fail.
For panoplies of glancing mail,
And tho' I keep a lusty heart
At times my sinews fail.
The ampler night is verging near,
To broaden towards the ampler day.
My silent life is grey and drear
And wherefore should I stay?
To broaden towards the ampler day.
My silent life is grey and drear
And wherefore should I stay?
'Twere nobler if my scanted hours
Ran out, where gleaming fights are won;
Why sit among my ruined towers
And watch the rounding Sun?
Ran out, where gleaming fights are won;
Why sit among my ruined towers
And watch the rounding Sun?
My veterans stricken year by year
Fade out, and only yestermorn
The bell has tolled another dear
Old comrade graveward borne.
Fade out, and only yestermorn
The bell has tolled another dear
Old comrade graveward borne.
64
I'd liever lay these rusting bones
In fields where blessed footsteps trod,
Than in this Castle's tumbling stones
Await the hand of God.
In fields where blessed footsteps trod,
Than in this Castle's tumbling stones
Await the hand of God.
Our Kaiser's eagle ensigns wave,
And beckon for the holy plain;
Goes clustering towards the Saviour's grave
The youth of Allemagne.
And beckon for the holy plain;
Goes clustering towards the Saviour's grave
The youth of Allemagne.
Those generous hearts shall be my peers,
Their genial energies shall warm
The winter of my frosty years,
The numbness of my arm.
Their genial energies shall warm
The winter of my frosty years,
The numbness of my arm.
I'll watch their prowess, now, most glad
Yet wincing now, a touch of pain,
To think how many a gallant lad
Old caitiff Death has slain,—
Yet wincing now, a touch of pain,
To think how many a gallant lad
Old caitiff Death has slain,—
Has slain them all, and passed me by,
Great spirits pure of shame,
But drifts me here to rot and die,
And strikes the nobler game.
Great spirits pure of shame,
But drifts me here to rot and die,
And strikes the nobler game.
65
I will not die ere yet I feel
The breath of battle on my cheek;
Again, where fronted armies reel
My clarion's tongue shall speak.
The breath of battle on my cheek;
Again, where fronted armies reel
My clarion's tongue shall speak.
Ye blessed fields of Galilee,
My wearied spirit's utmost goal;
Oh, there, as broken paynims flee
May Christ accept my soul.
My wearied spirit's utmost goal;
Oh, there, as broken paynims flee
May Christ accept my soul.
| Glimpses of Antiquity | |