Page:Battle-Pieces and Aspects of the War.djvu/64

 At tokens of his onset grim:

You marked the sunk ship's flag-staff slim,

Lit by her burning sister's heart;

You marked, and mused: "Day brings the trial:

Then be it proved if I have part

With men whose manhood never took denial."

A prayer went up—a champion's. Morning

Beheld you in the Turret walled

by adamant, where a spirit forewarning

And all-deriding called:

"Man, darest thou—desperate, unappalled—

Be first to lock thee in the armored tower?

I have thee now; and what the battle-hour

To me shall bring—heed well—thou'lt share;

This plot-work, planned to be the foeman's terror,

To thee may prove a goblin-snare;

Its very strength and cunning—monstrous error!"

"Stand up, my heart; be strong; what matter

If here thou seest thy welded tomb?

And let huge Og with thunders batter—

Duty be still my doom,

Though drowning come in liquid gloom;