Page:Battle-Pieces and Aspects of the War.djvu/118



of noble hearts,

To whom mysterious seas have been

In midnight watches, lonely calm and storm,

A stern, sad disciple,

And rooted out the false and vain,

And chastened them to aptness for

Devotion and the deeds of war,

And death which smiles and cheers in spite of pain.

Beyond the bar the land-wind dies,

The prows becharmed at anchor swim:

A summer night; the stars withdrawn look down—

Fair eve of battle grim.

The sentries pace, bonetas glide;

Below, the sleeping sailor swing,

And it their dreams to quarters spring,

Or cheer their flag, or breast a stormy tide.