Page:The Poets and Poetry of the West.djvu/69

 1820-30.] JULIA L. DUMONT, 53 Their glorious path, for not in fear Turned they from the foeman's plains ; And still they met his hovering spear, With a might that mocked at chains. But lingering want and toil have power To tame the strong man's soul. And a surer work than the conflict's hour Hath suiFering's slow control. Those men who thrilled at the trumpet's blast. The fearless and the true. Grew warm and haggard as they passed The desert's perils through. O'er vast and trackless mountain snows, Mid precipices wound. On the river's bed was the path of those For home and freedom bound. Yet on, still on, they sternly pressed ; How might he sink to die. Who must give his dust to earth's dark breast. Beneath a Persian sky ? But while the still and gathered soul The pui'pose strong sustained, The eye grew tame that had flashed control. And the haughty strength was drained ; And the war-like cheer was heard no more, Through all the long array. Though many a province trodden o'er In lengthening distance lay. ous, it appeared to Xenophon that it nnist be something of very great moment. Mounting his horse, therefore, and taking with him Lycius and the cavalry, he hastened forward to give aid, when presently they heard the soldiers shouting, " The sea, the sea !" and cheering on one anoth- er. They then all began to run, the rear-guard as well as the rest, and the baggage-cattle and horses were put to their speed ; and when they had all arrived at the top, the men embraced one another, and their generals and cap- tains, with tears in their eyes. Suddenly, whoever it was that suggested it, the soldiers brought stones, and raised a large mound, on which they laid a number of new ox- hides, staves, and shields taken from the enemy. Xeno- puon's Anabasis. Bohn's Classical Library, pages 137-8 Their step had lost the warrior's pride, Yet on they moved — still on ; And their way now threads a mountain's side. Whose steeps the skies had won. Slowly, with weak and weary limbs, They reach that mountain brow, And their glance is turned, though with sadness dim. To the distant vales below. Fair gleamed those vales of smiling peace, Through summer's shiniug haze, Outstretching far ; but was it these That fixed their straining gaze ? The hollow cheek grows strangely flushed ! The sunken eye has light ! With some strong thought their souls seem- ed hushed — Does mirage mock their sight ? Beyond those valleys still away, A line of glittering sheen Told where the blue -^gean lay, With its isles of living green. " The sea ! the sea ! " the stormy sound broke — Their souls shook off the doubt ; And the startled rocks of the mountain woke With the loud and thrilling shout. There, there, beneath that same fair sky. Did the fires of their altars burn ; And the homes where love with fading eye Kept watch for their return. All tender thoughts and feelings high, All memories of the free, Found utterance in that long, wild cry, " The sea ! the sea ! the sea ! " As of meeting waves, the uplifted sound Deepened in gathering might ; From rank to rank the shout profound Swelled o'er the mountain height.