| |
| I SAW him on the battle-eve, | |
| When like a king he bore him,— | |
| Proud hosts in glittering helm and greave, | |
| And prouder chiefs before him; | |
| The warrior, and the warrior’s deeds, | 5 |
| The morrow, and the morrow’s meeds, | |
| No daunting thoughts came o’er him; | |
| He looked around him, and his eye | |
| Defiance flashed to earth and sky. | |
| |
| He looked on ocean,—its broad breast | 10 |
| Was covered with his fleet; | |
| On earth,—and saw from east to west | |
| His bannered millions meet; | |
| While rock and glen and cave and coast | |
| Shook with the war-cry of that host, | 15 |
| The thunder of their feet! | |
| He heard the imperial echoes ring,— | |
| He heard, and felt himself a king. | |
| |
| I saw him next alone: nor camp | |
| Nor chief his steps attended; | 20 |
| Nor banner blazed, nor courser’s tramp | |
| With war-cries proudly blended. | |
| He stood alone, whom fortune high | |
| So lately seemed to deify; | |
| He who with heaven contended | 25 |
| Fled like a fugitive and slave! | |
| Behind, the foe; before, the wave. | |
| |
| He stood—fleet, army, treasure, gone— | |
| Alone, and in despair! | |
| But wave and wind swept ruthless on, | 30 |
| For they were monarchs there; | |
| And Xerxes, in a single bark, | |
| Where late his thousand ships were dark, | |
| Must all their fury dare. | |
| What a revenge,—a trophy, this,— | 35 |
| For thee, immortal Salamis! | |
| |
