EXCELSIOR. THE shades of night were falling fast, His brow was sad; his eye beneath, Flashed like a faulchion from its sheath, And like a silver clarion rung The accents of that unknown tongue, 9 Excelsior! In happy homes he saw the light Of household fires gleam warm and bright; Above, the spectral glaciers shone, And from his lips escaped a groan, Excelsior! Try not the Pass!" the old man said; "Dark lowers the tempest overhead, The roaring torrent is deep and wide!" And loud that clarion voice replied Excelsior! "O stay," the maiden said, "and rest "Beware the pine-tree's withered branch! Beware the awful avalanche ! " This was the peasant's last Good-night, A voice replied, far up the height, Excelsior! At break of day, as heavenward A voice cried through the startled air A traveller, by the faithful hound, Still grasping in his hand of ice That banner with the strange device There in the twilight cold and gray, Lifeless, but beautiful, he lay, And from the sky, serene and far, Excelsior! END. #M |