We love the Lover who dares to love
High beauty by peril guarded;
Your fabled Dragon, whose jaws are rough
With serrate fangs below and above,
Or the proud sire's wrath — a sterner stuff !
Has spurr'd him, but not retarded.
We love the Beauty whose heart is true
To a Hero yet unlaureled,
The old affection, to kindred due,
Still dear, but holier yet the new
That buoys her up — and has borne her through,
Though rival empires quarreled!
Our hearts throb luminous as a star,
To gladden "Lord Ullin's Daughter;"
Like his steed they leap with "young Lochinvar,"
And exult as the Viking's keel afar
His foes' " black hulk," with a thunder-jar.
Drives down through the night-"black water."
But a better triumph earns the meed
Of his nobler praise, who, rather,
By the wise man's word, and the hero's deed,
Can twine with olive his Spartan reed,
And, led by Beauty, can conquer and feed
The Pride of an angry father!
Then give us one cheer for old Romance,
Wild riding with wilder chases.
One round for the victor's spur and lance;
But peals, redoubled to heaven's expanse,
With our Leader's name, till the white clouds dance ;
And a three-times-three for Jessie's!
Ah, Beauty's eye in its love-light hath
Some gleam of a gift prophetic;
She knew the valor that dared the wrath
Of Power and Honor, could find a path
To both, unawed by peril and scath,
Unallured by lights erratic.
By her own worth, which his worth could win,
She crowned him as very worthy;
And thy Hearts, oh, grateful Land! begin
To echo her voice, with a choral din,
With the old man's pride and her love mixed in
The shout that is pealing o'er thee!
Ah, never may gallant loves know shame :
True-heart the true heart blesses,
We hail the Lovers with glad acclaim,
Whose white love conquers untouched of blame —
Then a double cheer for our Leader's name!
And three times three for Jessie's!
Gallant Loves