Poetry Explorer- Classic Contemporary Poetry, THE KNIGHT'S PLEDGE, by JANE FRANCESCA WILDE


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Classic and Contemporary Poetry

THE KNIGHT'S PLEDGE, by                     Poet's Biography
First Line: The tedious night at length hath pass'd
Last Line: And conquer, though we die!
Alternate Author Name(s): Speranza; Elgee, Jane Francesca; Wilde, William Robert Wills, Mrs.
Subject(s): Knights & Knighthood


THE tedious night at length hath pass'd;
To horse! to horse! we'll ride as fast
As ever bird did fly.
Ha! but the morning air is chill;
Frau Wirthin, one last goblet fill,
We'll drain it ere we die!

Thou youthful grass, why look'st so green?
Soon dyed in blood of mine I ween,
With damask rose thou'lt vie.
The goblet here! with sword in hand
I pledge thee first, my Fatherland,
Oh! blessed for thee to die!

Again our mailed hands raise the cup:
Freedom, to thee we drink it up.
Low may that coward lie
Who fails to pledge, with heart and hand,
The freedom of our glorious Land --
Her Freedom, ere we die!

Our wives -- but, ah! the glass is clear,
The cannon thunders -- grasp the spear,
We'll pledge them in a sigh.
Now, on the Foe like thunder crash!
We'll scathe them as a lightning flash,
And conquer, though we die!






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