Classic and Contemporary Poetry
THE CRUSADER, by LETITIA ELIZABETH LANDON Poet Analysis Poet's Biography First Line: He is come from the land of the sword and shrine Last Line: He found it -- that warrior has died with the brave! Alternate Author Name(s): L. E. L.; Maclean, Letitia | ||||||||
HE is come from the land of the sword and shrine, From the sainted battles of Palestine; The snow plumes wave o'er his victor crest, Like a glory the red cross hangs at his breast; His courser is black as black can be, Save the brow star white as the foam of the sea, And he wears a scarf of broidery rare, The last love-gift of his lady fair; It bore for device a cross and a dove, And the words, "I am vow'd to my God and my love!" He comes not back the same that he went, For his sword has been tried, and his strength has been spent; His golden hair has a deeper brown, And his brow has caught a darker frown, And his lip hath lost its boyish red, And the shade of the south o'er his cheek is spread; But stately his step, and his bearing high, And wild the light of his fiery eye; And proud in the lists were the maiden bright Who might claim the Knight of the Cross for her knight. But he rides for the home he has pined to see In the court, in the camp, in captivity. He reach'd the castle, -- the gate was thrown Open and wide, but he stood there alone; He enter'd the door, -- his own step was all That echo'd within the deserted hall; He stood on the roof of the ancient tower; And for banner there waved one pale wall-flower; And for sound of the trumpet and sound of the horn, Came the scream of the owl on the night-wind borne; And the turrets were falling, the vassals were flown, And the bat ruled the halls he had thought his own. His heart throbb'd high: oh! never again Might he soothe with sweet thoughts his spirit's pain; He never might think on his boyish years Till his eyes grew dim with those sweet warm tears Which Hope and Memory shed when they meet. The grave of his kindred was at his feet: He stood alone, the last of his race, With the cold, wide world for his dwelling-place. The home of his fathers gone to decay, -- All but their memory was pass'd away; No one to welcome, no one to share, The laurel he no more was proud to wear: He came in the pride of his war success, But to weep over very desolateness. They pointed him to a barren plain Where his father, his brothers, his kinsmen, were slain; They show'd him the lowly grave, where slept The maiden whose scarf he so truly had kept; But they could not show him one living thing To which his wither'd heart could cling.... Amid the warriors of Palestine Is one, the first in the battle-line; It is not for glory he seeks the field, For a blasted tree is upon his sheld, And the motto he bears is, "I fight for a grave:" He found it -- that warrior has died with the brave! | Discover our Poem Explanations and Poet Analyses!Other Poems of Interest...FELICIA HEMANS by LETITIA ELIZABETH LANDON THE CASTLE OF CHILLON by LETITIA ELIZABETH LANDON THE FACTORY; 'TIS AN ACCURSED THING! by LETITIA ELIZABETH LANDON THE FEMALE CONVICT by LETITIA ELIZABETH LANDON THE MARRIAGE VOW by LETITIA ELIZABETH LANDON A CHILD SCREENING A DOVE FROM A HAWK, BY STEWARDSON by LETITIA ELIZABETH LANDON A COMPARISON by LETITIA ELIZABETH LANDON A GIRL AT HER DEVOTIONS, BY NEWTON by LETITIA ELIZABETH LANDON A HISTORY OF THE LYRE by LETITIA ELIZABETH LANDON A LADY'S BEAUTY by LETITIA ELIZABETH LANDON |
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