William Winter

Lester Wallack

With a glimmer of plumes and a sparkle of lances,
  With blare of the trumpets and neigh of the steed,
At morning they rode where the bright river glances,
  And the sweet summer wind ripples over the mead;
The green sod beneath them was ermined with daisies,
  Smiling up to green boughs tossing wild in their glee,
While a thousand glad hearts sang their honors and praises,
  While the Knights of the Mountain rode down to the sea.

One rode 'neath the banner whose face was the fairest,
  Made royal with deeds that his manhood had done,
And the halo of blessing fell richest and rarest
  On his armor that splintered the shafts of the sun;
So moves o'er the waters the cygnet sedately,
  So waits the strong eagle to mount on the wing,
Serene and puissant and simple and stately,
  So shines among princes the form of the King.

With a gay bugle-note when the daylight's last glimmer
  Smites crimson and gold on the snow of his crest,
At evening he rides through the shades growing dimmer,
  While the banners of sunset stream red in the West;
His comrades of morning are scattered and parted,
  The clouds hanging low and the winds making moan,
But smiling and dauntless and brave and true-hearted,
  All proudly he rides down the valley alone.

Sweet gales of the woodland embrace and caress him,
  White wings of renown be his comfort and light,
Pale dews of the starbeam encompass and bless him,
  With the peace and the balm and the glory of night;
And, Oh! while he wends to the verge of that ocean,
  Where the years like a garland shall fall from his brow,
May his glad heart exult in the tender devotion,
  The love that encircles and hallows him now.