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Shoe the
steed with silver
That bore him to the fray,
When
he heard the guns at dawning -
Miles away;
When
he heard them calling, calling -
Mount! nor stay;
Quick, or all is lost;
They've surprised and stormed
the post,
They push your routed host; -
Gallop!
retrieve the day!
House the horse in ermine -
For
the foam-flake blew
White through the red October;
They thundered into view;
They cheered him in the
looming;
Horseman and horse they knew.
The turn of
the tide began,
The rally of bugles ran,
He swung
his hat in the van;
The electric hoof-spark flew.
Wreathe the steed and lead him -
For the charge he
led
Touched and turned the cypress
Into amaranths
for the head
Of Philip, king of riders,
Who raised
them from the dead.
The camp (at dawning lost)
By
eve recovered -forced -
Rang with laughter of the
host
As belated Early fled.
Shroud the horse in
sable -
For the mounds they heap!
There is firing
in the Valley,
And yet no strife they keep;
It is
the parting volley,
It is the pathos deep.
There
is glory for the brave
Who lead, and nobly save,
But no knowledge in the grave
Where the nameless
followers sleep.
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