THE MISERIES OF WAR.
"After the brightest conquest, what appears
Of all the glories? For the vanquished, chains!—
For the proud victors, what? alas, to reign
O'er desolated nations!"—Hannah Moore.
Of all the glories? For the vanquished, chains!—
For the proud victors, what? alas, to reign
O'er desolated nations!"—Hannah Moore.
Dark was the battle-field—dark with the carnage,
Red with the blood of the wounded and slain;
Low plaintive meanings broke on the night winds—
Meanings of anguish, meanings of pain.
Red with the blood of the wounded and slain;
Low plaintive meanings broke on the night winds—
Meanings of anguish, meanings of pain.
Tale gleamed the moonlight o'er the dead warriors;
Sad looked the stars on that desolate sight:
Proud forms had perished that day in the battle;
Fond hopes had died 'mid the thickest of fight.
Sad looked the stars on that desolate sight:
Proud forms had perished that day in the battle;
Fond hopes had died 'mid the thickest of fight.
Hoof-trodden, scarred by the sword and the saber,
All showed the place where the foemen had striven;
Mournfully mingled the laurel and cypress,
Broken hearts wept for the ties that were riven.
All showed the place where the foemen had striven;
Mournfully mingled the laurel and cypress,
Broken hearts wept for the ties that were riven.
Sad sighed the Wind Spirit 'mid the lone branches,
Sad as a requiem or dirge for the slain;
Pale watchers looked from their lone far-off dwellings,
Dreaming of loved ones they'd meet not again.
Sad as a requiem or dirge for the slain;
Pale watchers looked from their lone far-off dwellings,
Dreaming of loved ones they'd meet not again.
Paused I a moment beside a bold warrior;
Slowly his spirit was passing away,
Grasped in his hand was the standard of battle,
Bravely he'd fought for his country that day.
Slowly his spirit was passing away,
Grasped in his hand was the standard of battle,
Bravely he'd fought for his country that day.
"Scenes of my childhood," he murmured, in sadness,
"Wife of my bosom, and children, adieu!
Farewell, my country! I fought for your freedom,—
There are tears for my loved ones, but glory for you."
"Wife of my bosom, and children, adieu!
Farewell, my country! I fought for your freedom,—
There are tears for my loved ones, but glory for you."