Shepherd's lament for the loss of his sweetheart/The Soldier's Return

THE SOLDIER’S RETURN.

When rous’d by the trumpet’s loud clangor to arms,
Reluctant I quitted Eliza’s bright charms;
Tho' honour commanded, yet love fill’d my mind,
Ah! how could I leave the dear charmer behind?
Yet the rage of the battle with courage I try’d,
Surviv’d, while the heroes fell fast on each side;
Love stood my protector in all the alarms,
While the silver-ton’d trumpet still sounded to arms.

Now olive-rob’d Peace kind advances again,
And her blessings dispenses wide over the plain;
Return’d to Eliza, we join in the throng,
Where is heard the soft pipe, or the heart-lifting song.
Each rural amusement with rapture we try,
While the beams of contentment are found in each eye;
Love stood my protector in all the alarms,
While the silver-ton’d trumpets still sounded to arms.

What mortal like me so transcendently blest,
When clasp’d by my charmer with joy to her breast;
The laurels of conquest I give to the wind,
’Tis nought without love and honour combin’d;
But when thus united, how noble the fame!
What envy must wait on so happy a name!
Love stood my protector in all the alarms,
While the silver-ton’d trumpet still sounded to arms.