Acadiensis/Volume 2/Number 4/The Conqueror

The Conqueror.


I MET him where the river flows
'Twixt the scarlet rock and the scarlet rose.

He lighted down from his war-horse tall
And his steel flamed out with his battle-call.

He cursed me there in the rock-strewn way
Ere his great white sword wheeled up to slay;

Ere his long white sword rose up to kill
He cursed me for baulking his savage will,

And he cursed the day that I took you forth
And won from his castle in the North.

But your love was back of my fighting arm
And your love for me was a shield from harm.

I thought of your eyes and your dusky hair—
And a strength came into my battle there;

I thought of your lips and your bended head—
And my brand bit deep and my brand came red;

At the last was plain your lifted face
When we said good-by in our leafy place;

And when to my heart your face was plain
My blade smote true and my foe was slain.

I let him lie where I made him fall,
And I took his armour and war-horse tall.

Halifax, N. S. A. B. deMille.