TRADITION OF CONQUEST.
His Grace of Marlborough, legends say,
Though battle-lightnings proved his worth,
Was scathed like others, in his day,
By fiercer fires at his own hearth.
Though battle-lightnings proved his worth,
Was scathed like others, in his day,
By fiercer fires at his own hearth.
The patient chief, thus sadly tried—
Madam, the Duchess, was so fair—
In Blenheim's honours felt less pride
Than in the lady's lovely hair.
Madam, the Duchess, was so fair—
In Blenheim's honours felt less pride
Than in the lady's lovely hair.
Once, (shorn, she had coiled it there to wound
Her lord when he should pass, 'tis said,)
Shining across his path he found
The glory of the woman's head.
Her lord when he should pass, 'tis said,)
Shining across his path he found
The glory of the woman's head.
No sudden word, nor sullen look,
In all his after days, confessed
He missed the charm whose absence took
A scar's pale shape within his breast.
In all his after days, confessed
He missed the charm whose absence took
A scar's pale shape within his breast.
