The Siege of Valencia; The Last Constantine: with Other Poems/The Chieftain's Son
THE CHIEFTAIN'S SON.
Yes, it is ours!—the field is won,
A dark and evil field!
Lift from the ground my noble son,
And bear him homewards on his bloody shield!
Let me not hear your trumpets ring,
Swell not the battle-horn!
Thoughts far too sad those notes will bring,
When to the grave my glorious flower is borne!
Speak not of victory!—in the name
There is too much of woe!
Hush'd be the empty voice of Fame—
Call me back his whose graceful head is low.
Speak not of victory!—-from my halls
The sunny hour is gone!
The ancient banner on my walls
Must sink ere long—I had but him—but one!
Within the dwelling of my sires
The hearths will soon be cold,
With me must die the beacon-fires
That stream'd at midnight from the mountain-hold.
And let them fade, since this must be,
My lovely and my brave!
Was thy bright blood pour'd forth for me,
And is there but for stately youth a grave?
Speak to me once again, my boy!
Wilt thou not hear my call?
Thou wert so full of life and joy,
I had not dreamt of this—that thou couldst fall!
Thy mother watches from the steep
For thy returning plume;
How shall I tell her that thy sleep
Is of the silent house, th' untimely tomb?
Thou didst not seem as one to die,
With all thy young renown!
—Ye saw his falchion's flash on high,
In the mid-fight, when spears and crests went down!
Slow be your march!—the field is won!
A dark and evil field!
Lift from the ground my noble son,
And bear him homewards on his bloody shield.