For Home But little he'll reck, if they let him sleep on and Country But half of our heavy task was done, When the clock struck the hour for retiring; And we heard the distant and random gun That the foe was sullenly firing. Slowly and sadly we laid him down, From the field of his fame fresh and gory; We carved not a line, and we raised not a stoneBut we left him alone in his glory. CHARLES WOLFE. Soldier, Rest! Soldier, rest! thy warfare o'er, Sleep the sleep that knows not breaking; Dream of battle-fields no more, Days of danger, nights of waking. In our isle's enchanted hall, Hands unseen thy couch are strewing; Every sense in slumber dewing. No rude sound shall reach thine ear, Armor's clang, or war-steed's champing; Trump nor pibroch summon here, Mustering clan, or squadron tramping. Yet the lark's shrill fife may come, At the day-break, from the fallow, Booming from the sedgy shallow. Recessional God of our fathers, known of old- Dominion over palm and pineLord God of Hosts, be with us yet, Lest we forget-lest we forget! The tumult and the shouting dies- An humble and a contrite heart. For Home and Country For Lord God of Hosts, be with us yet, Home Lest we forget-lest we forget! and Country Far-called our navies melt away— On dune and headland sinks the fire- Is one with Nineveh and Tyre! If, drunk with sight of power, we loose Wild tongues that have not Thee in awe- Or lesser breeds without the Law- For heathen heart that puts her trust And guarding calls not Thee to guard- The Fatherland Where is the true man's fatherland? In such scant borders to be spanned? Is it alone where freedom is, Where God is God and man is man? Where'er a human heart doth wear Joy's myrtle-wreath or sorrow's gyves, Where'er a single slave doth pine, Where'er one man may help another,- JAMES RUSSELL LOWELL. |