Whose guns had poured the leaden rain And heard the trumpet's martial call By leaders who had freely bled In wars of mighty Louis, led Chiefs who on Steenkirk's plain had fought, And battle's heart at Landen sought. XII. De Nonville with an eye of skill And tents were pitched, by his command, Well guarded on the weaker flanks, Should call upon the host "to arm!" XIII. Their savage allies plumed for strife, Their sylvan lodge and watch-fire made, And stern Algonquin of the north, With blood and tears, were going forth To crush the conqueror, and leave No mourner for the slain to grieve, If vengeance could the task achieve. XIV. Nose, ear and neck, with jewels hung, Bore strange unlikeness to the dress, And discipline of soldiers, famed Whenever "warrior" is named: Whose charge had strewn the earth with dead While Luxemburgh and Vauban led, Or in the combat, man to man, Had seen with hardihood unshrinking The plume of Conde in the van, Where Death his reddest draught was drinking. XV. Tribes, who with Yonnondio came Hereditary wrongs to right, Abandoning pursuit of game Were under conduct of D'Lisle, A man of energy and wile; And priest of that strange order known In savage hut and lordly hall; Braved, to extend their mystic league, Sought with the vesper hymn and psalm Nor scrupled with the cross and sword, XVI. D'Lisle made use of subtle arts And robed his limbs in skin of beast, And sate, in joyous fellowship, With quivered warriors at the feast; And many hinted that his soul And that his broad and iron hand Could better clutch the heavy brand, The sacred vase or rosary. XVII. Night with her sombre shadows came, And on the waters dark and still, Was flung the ruddy light of flame, By beacon kindled on the hill; The muffled owl, foreboding bird, Complaining on her perch was heard; The wild beast caught the scent of men, And hurried to his brambly den; The whippoorwill beguiled the hours With tender lay in leafy bowers, Rejoicing that the time of dews Had blotted out the sunset hues, While stars, in absence of the sun, Shot forth in beauty, one by one, And bathed in rich, romantic sheen, The tops of pine and hemlock green, And gave a soft, transparent glow, To slumbering Ontario. XVIII. The sentry on his lonely post Moved to and fro with iron tramp; |