From the Evening Public Ledger, June 18, 1915. By Dana Burnet.
“Call me my minstrel,” said the king,
“And let him sing a glee.
For I have won this summer day
A mighty victory.
“Between the tides of dawn and dusk
Upon a field I stood
And saw my gallant swords drink deep
Of body and of blood.
“So bid my merry minstrel in
With lute and silver thong,
And let him take my stained sword
And sheathe it in a song!”
The minstrel came, an ancient man,
And smote a silver string.
“Oh, gallant is the victory
And mighty is the king!
“At dawn he rode with all his knights
Into a virgin field.
At dusk the blood of honest men
Was stained upon his shield.
“And in the houses of his foes
A thousand leagues away,
The hearts of women bled and broke
Upon a summer’s day.”
“What song is this?” the monarch cried,
“What sorrow dost thou sing?”
“Why, only of the victory
That crowned my lord and king.”
The minstrel smiled a fleeting smile
And smote a splendid chord.
“Oh, gallant is the use of arms
And mighty is the sword!
“For on this day a greening field
Was won at crimson cost;
And what the gods of war have gained
The loves of men have lost.
“And many a heart of friend and foe
Has broken on this day,
And children starve and women weep
A thousand leagues away!
“Then cry the triumph to the stars
And let the heavens ring!
For gallant is the victory!
And mighty is the king!”