A Troop of the Guard Author:Hermann Hagedorn Purchase of this book includes free trial access to www.million-books.com where you can read more than a million books for free. This is an OCR edition with typos. Excerpt from book: A TROOP OF THE GUARD HARVARD CLASS POEM v — , , . . . — There 's trampling of hoofs in the busy street, There's clanking of sabres on floor and stair, ... more »There's sound of restless, hurrying feet, Of voices that whisper, of lips that entreat, Will they live, will they die, will they strive, will they dare ? The houses are garlanded, flags flutter gay, For a Troop of the Guard rides forth to-day. Oh, the troopers will ride and their hearts will leap, When it's shoulder to shoulder and friend to friend — But it's some to the pinnacle, some to the deep, And some in the glow of their strength to sleep, And for all it's a fight to the tale's far end. And it's each to his goal, nor turn nor sway, When the Troop of the Guard rides forth to-day. (Read before the Graduating Class of Harvard College, June 21, 1907.) The dawn is upon us, the pale light speeds To the zenith with glamour and golden dart. On, up! Boot and saddle! Give spurs to your steeds! There's a city beleaguered that cries for men's deeds, With the pain of the world in its cavernous heart. Ours be the triumph ! Humanity calls! Life's not a dream in the clover! On to the walls, on to the walls, On to the walls, and over! The wine is spent, the tale is spun, The revelry of youth is done. The horses prance, the bridles clink, While maidens fair in bright array -! With us the last sweet goblet drink, Then bid us " Mount and ride away ! " Into the dawn, we ride, we ride, Fellow and fellow, side by side; Galloping over the field and hill, Over the marshland, stalwart still; Into the forest's shadowy hush, Where spectres walk in sunless day, I And in dark pools and branch and bush " The treacherous will-o'-the-wisp lights play. Out of the wood 'neath the risen sun, Weary we g...« less