Sword Song

"GLAIVE, that lightenest by my side,
"What may mean, thy bright sheen?
Glaive, that lightenest by my side,
Wouldst thou woo me, as a bride,
To the red battle-ground,
Hurrah!
Where the thunders of the cannon resound?
Hurrah!
Where the thunders of the cannon resound?"

-" Gallant master! Valiant knight!
I rejoice in thy voice!
Gallant master! Valiant knight!
I so shine, so lighten bright,
I, thy bride and thy glaive,
Hurrah!
Because wedded to a hero so brave,
Hurrah!
Because wedded to a hero so brave!"

— " True! my joyous brilliant steel,
I am brave, am no slave!
True! my joyous brilliant steel!
And to-day, for woe or weal,
Here I plight thee my troth,
Hurrah!
It is, Victory or Death for us both!
Hurrah!
It is, Victory or Death for us both!"

— " O! thy bride delights to hear
That glad shout thus rung out!
O! thy bride delights to hear
That proud peal, so clarion-clear!
When, O, when, dawns the day,
Hurrah!
"When thou bearest thy Beloved away,
Hurrah!
When thou bearest thy Beloved away?"

— " When the drums beat loud to arms
Then is born that bright morn!
When the drums beat loud to arms,
When the thrilling bugle warms
The quick blood in all veins,
Hurrah!
Then I bear thee to the red battle-plains,
Hurrah!
Then I bear thee to the red battle-plains!"

— " O! that glorious day of days,
May its noon shine out soon,
Shine out soon with blood-red rays!
O! that glorious day of days!
May it dawn and expire,
Hurrah!
Amid trumpet-blasts and thunder and fire,
Hurrah!
Amid trumpet-blasts and thunder and fire!"

-" Why so restless, bride of mine?
Why just now startedst thou?
Why so restless, bride of mine,
In that iron room of thine?
Thou art restless and wild,
Hurrah!
Thou art wild in thy delight as a child,
Hurrah!
Thou art wild in thy delight as a child!"

-" Wild I am in my delight-
Wild and glad, wild and mad!
Wild I am in my delight —
Thirsting, burning for the fight,
When the glaive and the gun,
Hurrah!
Blend the lightning and the earthquake in one,
Hurrah!
Blend the lightning and the earthquake in one!"

-" Quiet thee, my hope, my heart!
Bear the gloom of thy room!
Quiet thee, my hope, my heart!
Bide a season where thou art,
Thou shalt soon be released,
Hurrah!
And shalt banquet at the great battle-feast,
Hurrah!
And shalt banquet at the great battle-feast! "

— " I must forth! O I let us rove,
Hand in hand, o'er the land!
I must forth! I burn to rove
Through the gardens of my love,
Where the roses, blood-red,
Hurrah!
Bloom in brilliantest array o'er the Dead,
Hurrah!
Bloom in brilliantest array o'er the Dead!"

— " As thou wilt, then, Faithful One!
South or north, we'll go forth!
As thou wilt, then, Faithful One!
Let us follow Fortune on,
Over hill, dell, and heath,
Hurrah!
Till I deck thee with my first laurel-wreath,
Hurrah!
Till I deck thee with my first laurel-wreath!"

— " Oi joy! joy! Lead on! O, lead!
Now are we truly free!
O, joy! joy! Lead on! O, lead!
Onward, forward, will we speed
To the broad nuptial-plain,
Hurrah!
Where we'll wed amid the tempest and red rain,
Hurrah!
Where we'll wed amid the tempest and red rain!" —

So spake out, in joy and pride,
On their way to the fray,
So spake out, in joy and pride
One young bridegroom and his bride —
Up, then, youth of the land!
Hurrah!
Up and proffer your Beloved the hand!
Hurrah!
Up, and proffer your Beloved the hand!

Let her not hang down her head,
Her, your bride, by your side!
Let her not hang down her head
By your side, as one half-dead —
Let her feel your embrace,
Hurrah!
Let her glory shed its rays on your face,
Hurrah!
Let her glory shed its rays on your face!

Press her bright mouth unto yours!
Cold it seems, but its beams
Are the brave man's warmest lures!
Press her bright mouth unto yours!
She should not be denied,
Hurrah!
Curst is he who basely turns from the bride,
Hurrah!
Curst is he who basely turns from the bride!

Brothers, look! The morning breaks —
Up! Arise! for time flies —
Brothers, look! The morning breaks,
The sky reddens, the earth shakes,
Are you true men and good?
Hurrah!
Then be foremost at the Bridal of Blood!
Hurrah!
Stand up foremost at the Bridal of Blood!