Poetry Explorer- Classic Contemporary Poetry, MARY MURRAY OF MURRAY HILL, by ARTHUR GUITERMAN


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Classic and Contemporary Poetry

MARY MURRAY OF MURRAY HILL, by                     Poet's Biography
First Line: The lady of belmont looked out to the east
Last Line: "kind hostess, thy bounty hath cost us too dear!"
Subject(s): Army Life; Murray Hill, New York; New York City - Revolutionary Period; Drills & Minor Tactics


THE Lady of Belmont looked out to the east:
The smoke of the battle was wafted aside;
The shattering roar of the cannon had ceased;
The British flotilla swept over the tide.

And on came the gallant battalions in red
With glimmer of steel and victorious cheers;
The hills of Manhattan re-echoed their tread --
The conquering march of the King's Grenadiers.

The Lady of Belmont looked south to the sea;
Manhattan's green valleys were spread to her ken;
"And whose may that column of riflemen be
Now plain on the hillside, now hid in the glen?"

"'Tis Putnam's! Gray Putnam, to dangers anew
He carries the scars of the Indian fights!
But where may the doughty old hero with through
To Washington's army encamped on the Heights?

"For, barring his path, moves the army of Howe --
Then Howe must be halted whatever the cost!
No valor can save the old general now;
'Tis Howe must be halted, or Putnam is lost!"

The Lady of Belmont came down from her tower
As Howe at her gateway his battle-steed reined.
"Now rest thee, Sir William," she cried, "for an hour!
Thy warfare is over, the laurel is gained.

"And since thou hast conquered my friends with the sword,
The meed of a victor must fall to thy share;
Then sit, if thou wilt, at a true rebel's board
And taste, if thou wilt, of our good rebel fare."

Then light laughed Sir William and leaped to the ground
(And still, at his word, stood the glittering ranks);
He bowed to the lady in homage profound,
In phrases right courtly he spake her true thanks.

And long had he tarried her bounty to taste,
For rich was her larder and merry was she,
When up rode an orderly spurring in haste:
"Ill tidings, ill tidings, Sir William!" cried he.

"For Putnam hath slipped through the gap in our line!
He snapped at our vanguard, the crafty old fox,
And, flaunting his flag with its evergreen pine,
Is off to the rebels encamped on the rocks!"

Oh, wroth was Sir William, but sweetly he smiled,
And murmured, full knightly, "Fair Lady, I fear
The fox stole away as the hounds were beguiled.
Kind hostess, thy bounty hath cost us too dear!"





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