ADIEU, adieu, my only life, My honour calls me from thee; Remember thou'rt a soldier's wife— Those tears but ill become thee; What though by duty I am called, Where thundering cannons rattle, Where valour's self might stand appalled, When on the wings of thy dear love, To heaven above Thy fervent orisons are flown? The tender prayer Thou put'st up there Shall call a guardian angel down To watch me in the battle. My safety thy fair truth shall be, As sword and buckler serving; My life shall be more dear to me, Because of thy preserving; Let peril come, let horror threat, Let thund'ring cannons rattle, I'll fearless seek the conflict's heat, Assured when on the wings of love To heaven above Thy fervent orisons are flown; The tender prayer thou put'st up there Shall call a guardian angel down To watch me in the battle. Enough—with that benignant smile Some kindred god inspired thee, Who knew thy bosom void of guile, Who wondered and admired thee. I go assured, my life, adieu! Though thund'ring cannons rattle, Though murd'ring carnage stalk in view, When on the wings of thy true love To heaven above Thy fervent orisons are flown; The tender prayer thou put'st up there Shall call a guardian angel down To watch me in the battle. | Discover our Poem Explanations and Poet Analyses!Other Poems of Interest...SONNETS FROM THE PORTUGUESE: 18 by ELIZABETH BARRETT BROWNING TO A SKYLARK by PERCY BYSSHE SHELLEY THE CORAL INSECT by LYDIA HUNTLEY SIGOURNEY PEARLS OF THE FAITH: 86. AL-JAMI'H by EDWIN ARNOLD HERMAN; OR, THE BROKEN SPEAR by RICHARD HARRIS BARHAM SONNETS OF MANHOOD: 27. ENGLAND by GEORGE BARLOW (1847-1913) |