Bliss Carman, et al., eds. The World’s Best Poetry.
Volume VIII. National Spirit. 1904. | | | | III. War | | The Cavalier’s Song | | William Motherwell (1797–1835) |
| | | A STEED! a steed of matchlesse speed, | |
| A sword of metal keene! | |
| All else to noble heartes is drosse, | |
| All else on earth is meane. | |
| The neighyinge of the war-horse prowde, | 5 |
| The rowlinge of the drum, | |
| The clangor of the trumpet lowde, | |
| Be soundes from heaven that come; | |
| And oh! the thundering presse of knightes, | |
| Whenas their war-cryes swell, | 10 |
| May tole from heaven an angel bright, | |
| And rouse a fiend from hell. | |
| |
| Then mounte! then mounte, brave gallants all, | |
| And don your helmes amaine; | |
| Deathe’s couriers, fame and honor, call | 15 |
| Us to the field againe. | |
| No shrewish feares shall fill our eye | |
| When the sword-hilt ’s in our hand— | |
| Heart-whole we ’ll part, and no whit sighe | |
| For the fayrest of the land; | 20 |
| Let piping swaine, and craven wight, | |
| Thus weepe and puling crye; | |
| Our business is like men to fight, | |
| And hero-like to die! | | | | |
|
|
