THE VICTOR'S CROWN.
FROM MRS. HALE.
1. A CROWN for the victor! a crown of light!
From the land where the flowers ne'er feel a blight
Was gather'd the wreath that around it blows:
And he who o'ercometh his treacherous foes,
That fadeless crown shall gain.
A king went forth on the rebel array,
Intrench'd where a lovely hamlet lay:
He frown'd, and there's naught save ashes and blood,
And blackened bones, where that hamlet stood;
Yet his treacherous foes he hath not slain.
2. A crown for the victor! a crown of light!
Encircl'd with jewels so pure and bright.
Night never hath gloom'd where its luster flows:
And he who can conquer his proudest foes,
That glorious crown shall gain.
A hero came from the gory field,
And low at his feet the captives kneel'd;
In his might he hath trodden a nation down,
But he may not challenge that glorions crown,
For his proudest foes he hath not slain.
3. A crown for the victor! a crown of light!
Like the morning sun to the dazzl'd sight,
From the night of a dungeon rais'd, it glows;
And he who can slay his deadliest foes,
That shining crown shall gain.
With searching eye and stealthy tread,
The man of wrath sought his enemy's bed:
Like festering wounds are the wrongs he hath borne ;
And he takes the revenge his soul hath sworn ;
But his deadliest foe he hath not slain.
4. A crown for the victor! a crown of light!
To be worn with a robe whose spotless white
Makes darkness seem resting on Alpine snows;
And he who o'ercometh his mightiest foes,
That robe and crown shall gain.
With eye uprais'd, and forehead bare,
A pilgrim knelt down in holy prayer:
He hath wrestled with SELF, and with passion striven;
And to him hath the Sword of the Spirit been given ;—
Oh crown him! for his foes,-his sins,-
-are slain.