VI Days passed adown the mountain roads Of household gods and gear; the men The women nursed their babes, and prayed, In such a motley caravan, Was never seen before by man! VII And so she left us, and her way Back through ravines where terrors lay She took. My heart went with the sweet And faithful maiden, who could meet All dangers rather than desert Her loved and loving ones; the hurt VIII One day the bugles blew, and we It would have made him proud to hear! The Hapsburg eagles led us then. IX In many a fight our trumpets rang: The Bashi-Bazouk from his lair Looked down, with dull and frightened stare, Upon our columns as they wound Among the rocks; then on his round Of massacre and rapine sped. X We chanced upon a mountain side To desolate each Christian home! XI Lord God! my heart felt agony ! In market-place what did I see When strife was over? As I breathe- We laid the saint upon a bier, And now and here I swear my heart died on that day! PRINCE LAZARUS. (A SERVIAN LEGEND.) I PRINCE Lazarus among his chieftains stood Around them warriors and prophets good To-morrow,' quoth the prince: but, as he spoke, A mighty light upon the heavens broke. II A falcon with a swallow in his claw Came swooping down the sky : And when the priests the birds approaching saw, They whispered, "Tis some new revealed law The saints deign to supply. For see the prince as in a vision gropes, And for supernal revelation hopes !' III The falcon and the swallow vanished quite : The prince fell on his knees: And great Elijah, saintly, noble, white, Appeared all shining with celestial light. 'Rise up! and be at ease,' He said; 'Receive thy message from above; And give attention meekly and in love. IV 'No swallow bring I in my hand to thee; A letter writ in golden lines, to be Ere thou dost march against the armèd horde V Prince Lazarus the letter took, and read, He seemed to hear the voices of the dead ; And in his heart he felt a deadly pang, While near his tent the martial trumpets rang. |