C.—THE BATTLE FIELD.
BRYANT.
1. Once this soft turf, this rivulet’s sands,
Were trampled by a hurrying crowd,
And fiery hearts and arméd hands
Encountered in the battle-cloud.
2. Ah, never shall the land forget
How gushed the life-blood of her brave,—
Gushed, warm with hope and valor yet,
Upon the soil they fought to save.
3. Now all is calm, and fresh, and still;
Alone the chirp of flitting bird,
And talk of children on the hill,
And bell of wandering kine,[624] are heard.
4. No solemn host goes trailing by
The black-mouthed gun and staggering wain;[625]
Men start not at the battle-cry;—
O, be it never heard again!
5. Soon rested those who fought; but thou,
Who minglest in the harder strife
For truths which men receive not now,—
Thy warfare only ends with life.
6. A friendless warfare! lingering long
Through weary day and weary year;
A wild and many-weaponed throng
Hang on thy front, and flank, and rear.
7. Yet nerve thy spirit to the proof,
And blench not at thy chosen lot!
The timid good may stand aloof,
The sage may frown—yet faint thou not!
8. Nor heed the shaft too surely cast,
The hissing, stinging bolt of scorn,
For with thy side shall dwell at last
The victory of endurance born.
9. Truth, crushed to earth, shall rise again;
The eternal years of God are hers;
But Error, wounded, writhes with pain,
And dies among his worshipers.
10. Yea, though thou lie upon the dust,
When those who helped thee flee in fear,—
Die full of hope and manly trust,
Like those who fell in battle here.
11. Another hand thy sword shall wield,[626]
Another hand the standard wave,
Till from the trumpet’s mouth is pealed[627]
The blast of triumph o’er thy grave!
[624] Kine, cows.
[625] Wain, a wagon.
[626] Wield, use with the hand; handle.
[627] Pealˊ-ed, rung; resounded; sounded loudly.