Page:Battle-Pieces and Aspects of the War.djvu/82

74 Monks blessed the fraticidal lance,

And sisters scarfs could twine.

Do North and South the sin retain

Of Yorkist and Lancastrian?

But Rosecrans in the cedarn glade,

And, deep in denser cypress gloom,

Dark Breckenridge, shall fade away

Or thinly loom.

The pale throngs who in forest cowed

Before the spell of battle's pause,

Forefelt the stillness that shall dwell

On them and on their wars.

North and South shall join the train

Of Yorkist and Lancastrian.

But where the sword has plunged so deep,

And then been turned within the wound

By deadly Hate; where Climes contend

On vasty ground—

No warning Alps or seas between,

And small the curb of creed or law,

And blood is quick, and quick the brain;

Shall North and South their rage deplore,

And reunited thrive amain

Like Yorkist and Lancastrian?