Part 2 — THERMOPYLÆ.
Reading edition
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BY MRS. MARY G. HORSFORD.
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’Twas night; the gleaming starlight fell
On helmets flashing high;
The glancing spears and torrent swell
Of armed men sweeping by.
No clarion’s voice was on the breeze,
No trumpet’s stormy blast;
The hollow moan of distant seas
Was echoed as they past.
With measured step and stealthy tread,
In stern and proud array,
They sought the camp in silence dread
Where the slumb’ring Persian lay.
Then long and loud the battle-shout
Rung on the startled air,
There was fitful torch-light flashing out
And sudden arming there.
The shriek of death and wild despair,
And hasting to and fro,
When like the lion from his lair
The Spartan charged the foe.
Then hand to hand and spear to spear
The hostile armies stood;
The tempest’s note rung loud and clear
And shook the solitude.
And ’mid the fearful tide of fight,
Where thousands met to die,
The lances gleamed athwart the night
Like lightning in the sky.
On! on they swept their land to bless,
And fast around their way
The Persians gathered numberless
As leaves in summer’s day.
Morn dawned upon that battle-field,
And shivered spear and lance,
And banner torn and broken shield
Reflected every glance.
But where were they—those patriots bold,
Of bright and fearless eye?
Each noble heart in death was cold,
Each spirit in the sky.
Fair Greece! of glorious deeds the clime
By dauntless valor wrought;
Of daring minds, and souls sublime,
The pioneers of thought!
No marvel that thy skies should boast
A fairer, sunnier blue—
Departed day illumes the west
With many a radiant hue.