Poetry Explorer- Classic Contemporary Poetry, SAINT LEGER, by CLINTON SCOLLARD


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Classic and Contemporary Poetry

SAINT LEGER, by                     Poet's Biography
First Line: From out of the north-land his leaguer he led
Last Line: Saint leger!
Subject(s): American Revolution; Oriskany, Battle Of (1777); Saint Leger, Barry (1737-1789)


FROM out of the North-land his leaguer he led,
Saint Leger, Saint Leger;
And the war-lust was strong in his heart as he sped;
Their courage, he cried, it shall die i' the throat
When they mark the proud standards that over us float --
See rover and ranger, redskin and redcoat!
Saint Leger, Saint Leger.

He hurried by water, he scurried by land,
Saint Leger, Saint Leger,
Till closely he cordoned the patriot band:
Surrender, he bade, or I tighten the net!
Surrender? they mocked him, we laugh at your threat!
By Heaven! he thundered, you'll live to regret
Saint Leger, Saint Leger!

He mounted his mortars, he smote with his shell,
Saint Leger, Saint Leger;
Then fumed in a fury that futile they fell;
But he counselled with rum till he chuckled, elate,
As he sat in his tent-door, Egad, we can wait,
For famine is famous to open a gate!
Saint Leger, Saint Leger.

But lo! as he waited, was borne to his ear --
Saint Leger, Saint Leger --
A whisper of dread and a murmur of fear!
They come, and as leaves are their numbers enrolled!
They come, and their onset may not be controlled,
For 't is Arnold who heads them, 't is Arnold the bold --
Saint Leger. Saint Leger!

Retreat! Was the word e'er more bitterly said,
Saint Leger, Saint Leger,
Than when to the North-land your leaguor you led?
Alas, for Burgoyne in his peril and pain --
Who lists in the night for the tramp of that train!
And alas, for the boasting, the vaunting, the vain
Saint Leger!





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