The Conquered Banner.

FURL that banner, for 'tis weary;
Round its staff 'tis drooping dreary.

Furl it-fold it: it is best;

For there's not a man to wave it,
And there's not a sword to save it;
There's not one left to lave it
In the blood that heroes gave it;

And its foes now scorn and brave it!
Furl it-fold it; let it rest!

Take that banner down! 'Tis tattered!
Broken is its staff and shattered;
And the valiant hosts are scattered,

Over whom it floated high.

Oh! 'tis hard for us to fold it—

Hard to think there's none to hold it!
And that those, who once unrolled it,
Now must furl it with a sigh!

Furl that banner! Furl it sadly!
Once, six millions hailed it gladly,
And ten thousands wildly, madly,

Swore it should forever wave!

Swore that foeman's sword should never
Hearts entwined like theirs dissever-
And, upheld by brave endeavor,
That dear flag should float forever

O'er their freedom or their grave.

Furl it! For the hands that grasped it,
And the hearts that fondly clasped it,
Cold and dead are lying low:

And that banner prone is trailing,
While around it sounds the wailing
Of its people in their woe!

For, though conquered, they adore it;
Love the cold, dead hands that bore it:
Weep for those who fell before it-

Pardon those who trailed and tore it—
And, oh! wildly they deplore it,

Now to furl and fold it so!

Furl that banner! True, 'tis gory;
Yet 'tis wreathed around with glory,

And 'twill live in song and story,

Though now prostrate in the dust!

For its fame, on brightest pages
Penned by poets and by sages,
Shall go sounding down the ages,

Furl its folds though now we must!

Furl that banner! sadly-slowly!
Treat it gently-it is holy,

For it waves above the dead.

Touch it not-unfurl it never!
Let it lie there, furled forever—

For its people's hopes are dead!

NOTES.