The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1915-11-14
POEMS WORTH D


The Last Drean Il AttIa.
From the ~Nd Carpathian passes the wind
OF the dusk blow down.
And the woven leaves Of the oak trees, that
seemed as . crimson crown:
For the crcstward sweep Of the mountains
were tangled and tossed and swiried
TIL they burned like a second sunset o'er
the breadth OF the broodhns world.
And the wind Of the du~k made riurmur
round the palace doors Of the king.
All else held the seal Of silence Is tense
as a muted string.
For the monarch was sunk in slumber. and
woe to, the RECKLESS one
Who reused from his visions Of conquest
grim Attfla the Hun!
Then a voice cried out from q chamber
where the air hung heavy with
Then a voice cried out through the still
nees above tho wind Of the dusk:
Bring Wine Bring wine!" and u beaker
was trimmed with the juice OF the
And borne by the nrsfd 1ldico TO Auii~ the
Hun.
She was his latest handmade. supple and
fair Of face
As the bloom Of the oleander seen On the
vales Of Thrsce.
She was his latest handmade. and past the
cedarn doors.
Bottled with bronze. and over hceped rug
upon esrthen floors.
with the tread Of the fawn Of the forest.
she bore the beaker IN
To the scourge of Gods trembling nations
~sprawled on . leopard skin.
Brow that buiked like a ba.tion above
rolling eyes haH bleared.
sinewy hand. and hairy that ciutched At q
crawny beard.
Laps that were gross and nsccid. murmur-
ing. muttcrins:
Body Of Drawn relaxed. such was this
brute Of a king!
And he raised the swimming chalice. and
he drained II to tho lees.
while the liGht of mirth and malice faded
by slow degrees
From his turbulent. tawny features az
fades days dying glean,.
And he spske to the maid I'dsco out Of his
drunken dream:
II was the one appointed to scar with
saneulne scars;
was the one anointed. and sirt with
the sword OF Mars.
I ranged. with my CORY vangusrds. from
the volga to the Rhine.
And the rumor OF my ravage shook the
walls " Constantine
| was . tide Of terror from the Black to
the Baltic Sea.
And the tramp Of my hosts Of triumph
rocked the plains of Lombsrdy.
Aqui.eia and Concordis l ground into
ashes ana dust.
And the blood Of the Paduan people Ia
my wine press was az must.
But. howsoe'cr he may vanauish. mans
day will have its close,
And the darkness gather about him. the
night no mortal knows
! feel the clutch Of its shadows about
me coil and creep,
The folds OF u power supernal that shall
wrap me IN endless sleep.
But out Of the s,com there rises, INK. the
sun In the morning sky.
A king who shall come hereafter. one far
greater than !.
For where ! spared he shall slaughter.
and where I saved he shall Stay:
His deeds shall ktndle the darkness hts
doom shall biacken the day;
Bu, I shall share IN his glory. his name
shall be linked with mine.
And 60 down through all the ages a. a
symbol and a sign
Then the fair handmade. Ildico slipped
out as she slipped In,
Leaving the scourge Of the nation.
s~prawled on his leopard skin
Where, stark In leath, they found him
when the darkness had Withdrawn.
And down from the mountain passes stole
In the wind of the dawn.
Then there wAvered the sound Of wailing
far over moor and weald,
And they bore the bulk Of his body forth
on a massy shield:
And they shaped for his clay a casket Of
iron and silver and gold.
And they set in his clenchad fingers the
sword Of Mars to hold;
And for sepulture they fashioned q grave
that was deep and wide
H~aped with the sack OF cities, Of many
a kingdomside.
And score upon score Of captives they
slew. lest he alone
Fare into the outer vastnrs., into the
great unknown
And that was the end Of horror. aye. that
was the end Of dread!
Yet We to-day remember the prophecy of
the dead
There are wings as the wings of vultures
sweeping athwar, the sun.
And the world knows anew the menace Of
Attlla the Hun!
CLINTON acoiIARn