Читать книгу Battle-Pieces and Aspects of the War - Herman Melville - Страница 13

Some hearts there are of deeper sort,

Prophetic, sad,

Which yet for cause are trebly clad;

Known death they fly on:

This wizard-heart and heart-of-oak had Lyon.

"They are more than twenty thousand strong,

We less than five,

Too few with such a host to strive"

"Such counsel, fie on!

'Tis battle, or 'tis shame;" and firm stood Lyon.

"For help at need in van we wait—

Retreat or fight:

Retreat the foe would take for flight,

And each proud scion

Feel more elate; the end must come," said Lyon.

By candlelight he wrote the will,

And left his all

To Her for whom 'twas not enough to fall;

Loud neighed Orion

Without the tent; drums beat; we marched with Lyon.

The night-tramp done, we spied the Vale

With guard-fires lit;

Day broke, but trooping clouds made gloom of it:

"A field to die on"

Presaged in his unfaltering heart, brave Lyon.

We fought on the grass, we bled in the corn—

Fate seemed malign;

His horse the Leader led along the line—

Star-browed Orion;

Bitterly fearless, he rallied us there, brave Lyon.

There came a sound like the slitting of air

By a swift sharp sword—

A rush of the sound; and the sleek chest broad

Of black Orion

Heaved, and was fixed; the dead mane waved toward Lyon.

"General, you're hurt—this sleet of balls!"

He seemed half spent;

With moody and bloody brow, he lowly bent:

"The field to die on;

But not—not yet; the day is long," breathed Lyon.

For a time becharmed there fell a lull

In the heart of the fight;

The tree-tops nod, the slain sleep light;

Warm noon-winds sigh on,

And thoughts which he never spake had Lyon.

Texans and Indians trim for a charge:

"Stand ready, men!

Let them come close, right up, and then

After the lead, the iron;

Fire, and charge back!" So strength returned to Lyon.

The Iowa men who held the van,

Half drilled, were new

To battle: "Some one lead us, then we'll do"

Said Corporal Tryon:

"Men! I will lead," and a light glared in Lyon.

On they came: they yelped, and fired;

His spirit sped;

We leveled right in, and the half-breeds fled,

Nor stayed the iron,

Nor captured the crimson corse of Lyon.

This seer foresaw his soldier-doom,

Yet willed the fight.

He never turned; his only flight

Was up to Zion,

Where prophets now and armies greet brave Lyon.