Lynchburg daily Virginian. [volume] (Lynchburg [Va.]) 1852-1861, 1853-01-10
0bc DaiIp bireiniou.
sELEcTED FOR THE yIRGisIAN.
Arnold Won WinkcIried.
ny FREDERICK LAWRENCE

NhnCcu upon IuCtIHe WIN II large army On tne lJti
of July his advanced guard, consisting of the howe
of tho Austrian chivalry, came in sight of a bod
of Swiss. who occupied the heights by the Lake q
Sempnch, and in his impaticnee To engage the enc
my he cansed his horscmen to dismount and commence
the conflict The Swiss, of whom rude
armed with clubs and wooden shields, soon gavo wa
before their wellacooutred and welldiscipined oppo
nents, when extraordinary of vnlour and devo
lon the part of Arnold Van Winkelried, n Knigl
of UnterwaIden, (or the chvalry, il seems al
sde) turned the fortune of the duy This Incl
dent which in the sequel led the total discomftu
of the Austrian forcesorms the subject of the follow
ing poem (Ed.)
The banners wav'd ON the wood-crowned heights,
And the summer rode high;
From distant town and from village near,
The bells rang clear the listening enr,
As the Austrian spears drew nigh
On the fr-clad hills by the sempach's side
Were gathered gallant few
The chosen band of fatherand,
Whose have been ever true.
In the pomp and the pride and the might of w"r,
Tho Austrian Chief drew nigh;
For he henrd from his scout that rnb bic rout
Had taken their stand hard by.
"What, no my knights snid Leopold,
by our lady, It's bravely DONE
Wen prick these knaves if they do not turn,
Then, no! for the nmparts of fair Lucerne,
They are ours by the set of sun"
As he spnhe the words, from the gallant host,
joyous laugh rang out,
And hearty cheer rose loud aud clear
And ests were banded about.
And shading the sun from their ,lazzed light
As they looked for the promised foc,-
"On-on for Lucerne" the frantic cry,
"Wo'l force these rebels to fight ny
Since the madmen will have ii So"
But one, who grayer in yenrs and speech,
Looked doubling, and sad, aud cold;
"A truce he cried. 10 the bousts Of pride
And these speeches that sound bold
'Tis time shout when the day is won;
Aud to tell you my humble mind
Greatdeed better than words of might.
And patient vnor becomes the knight,
As boasting BELTS the hind
An angry glance and bitter est
We're the answers the leader give;
"Let the Baron, quoth he "of the hcart of Hare,
His advice refrain and his cautions srnre,
For in spite Of his looks grave,
will, with the aid of the blessed sninta,
Chastise To their hearts content
Yon shallow knnyes, with their clubs mud stayes,
On mischief and plunder bent"
In solemn array tho heroic band
Stood firm the vantage height,
They raised cry the host drew nigh,
And its pennons appeared in sight;
But they looked ON each other +" th anxious eyes,
And murmured in accents low,
'For the land of our freedom, our pride and love,
And our hope Of eternal bliss above,
Let strike determined blow"
Impatient for battle the Austrian chief
Is afoot with his valiant knights,
Their arms shine bright in the gay sunlight,
Az they scale the opposing heights.
A shout-anda pause-they hive joined in fight,
The Confederntes hold their ground;
But the huntsmans spear is Of small avail,
When tried with the lonce and the cont Of NAL.
And useless It's feared upon such field,
viii the peasants club and his modern shield
And his trusty dirk be found
Ia vain they rushed on the eveed spears,
Like the stream from mountain height,
when with furious shock the marble rock,
1t dashes with all its might.
No breaking the ranks Of the men at nrms,
No piercing the serried mass
Their chiefs fall fast, and their columns reel
Against the mperyious wall Of steel,
That they madly attempt to pass.
Their strength ssPent, and their spirits fail
The weakest taking fight
When 10 from his place in the battles face
Stood forth a true-hearted knight
A knight who was known for his patriot zeal,
And for many gentle Decd
Whose name will illumine the scroll of time,
While the record remains Of act sublime
Twas Arnold of Winkelred
"Brcthren aud friends, be it mine" he cried
In a voice of thunder tone,
"To open way on this bloody day
That shall make the field our own:
Let those who are stoutest of heart and limb
Press on, when they me full
NV children and wife, and the name bear,
give and bequenth to my country's care,
And the God who is over all ~
II 6 said and sprang with tigers bound
On the bristng spears of the foe
And gathering a sheaf in his giant grasp,
Heheld them firm to his latest gasp,
As the reapers hand on the harvest plain
uI. thart the stalka of tho uotd tdan