Page:Poems, Household Edition, Emerson, 1904.djvu/297

 IN MEMORIAM

E. B. E.

upon this battle-field,

But not for those who perished here.

Behold the river-bank

Whither the angry farmers came,

In sloven dress and broken rank,

Nor thought of fame.

Their deed of blood

All mankind praise;

Even the serene Reason says,

It was well done.

The wise and simple have one glance

To greet yon stern head-stone,

Which more of pride than pity gave

To mark the Briton's friendless grave.

Yet it is a stately tomb;

The grand return

Of eve and morn,

The year's fresh bloom,

The silver cloud,

Might grace the dust that is most proud.