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| SWORDS crossed,—but not in strife! | |
| The chiefs who drew them, parted by the space | |
| Of two proud countries’ quarrel, face to face | |
| Ne’er stood for death or life. | |
| |
| Swords crossed that never met | 5 |
| While nerve was in the hands that wielded them; | |
| Hands better destined a fair family stem | |
| On these free shores to set. | |
| |
| Kept crossed by gentlest bands! | |
| Emblems no more of battle, but of peace; | 10 |
| And proof how loves can grow and wars can cease, | |
| Their once stern symbol stands. | |
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| It smiled first on the array | |
| Of marshalled books and friendliest companies; | |
| And here a history among histories, | 15 |
| It still shall smile for aye. | |
| |
| See that thou memory keep | |
| Of him the firm commander; and that other, | |
| The stainless judge; and him our peerless brother,— | |
| All fallen now asleep. | 20 |
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| Yet more: a lesson teach, | |
| To cheer the patriot-soldier in his course, | |
| That Right shall triumph still o’er insolent Force: | |
| That be your silent speech. | |
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| Oh, be prophetic too! | 25 |
| And may those nations twain, as sign and seal | |
| Of endless amity, hang up their steel | |
| As we these weapons do! | |
| |
| The archives of the Past, | |
| So smeared with blots of hate and bloody wrong, | 30 |
| Pining for peace, and sick to wait so long, | |
| Hail this meek cross at last. | |
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