Felicia Hemans's 'The Captive Knight' — A Poignant Tale of Freedom and Confinement 🦅

The prisoned thrush may brook the cage, <br />The captive eagle dies for rage. <br />Lady of the Lake. <br /> <br /> <br />'Twas a trumpet's pealing sound! <br />And the knight look'd down from the Paynim's tower, <br />And a Christian host, in its pride and power, <br />Thro' the pass beneath him wound. <br />Cease awhile, clarion! Clarion, wild and shrill, <br />Cease! let them hear the captive's voice–be still! <br />'I knew 'twas a trumpet's note! <br />And I see my brethren's lances gleam, <br />And their pennons wave by the mountain stream, <br />And their plumes to the glad wind float! <br />Cease awhile, clarion! Clarion, wild and shrill, <br />Cease! let them hear the captive's voice–be still! <br /> <br />'I am here, with my heavy chain! <br />And I look on a torrent sweeping by, <br />And an eagle rushing to the sky, <br />And a host, to its battle-plain! <br />Cease awhile, clarion! Clarion, wild and shrill, <br />Cease! let them hear the captive's voice–be still! <br /> <br />'Must I pine in my fetters here? <br />With the wild wave's foam, and the free bird's flight, <br />And the tall spears glancing on my sight, <br />And the trumpet in mine ear? <br />Cease awhile, clarion! Clarion, wild and shrill, <br />Cease! let them hear the captive's voice–be still! <br /> <br />'They are gone! they have all pass'd by! <br />They in whose wars I had borne my part, <br />They that I lov'd with a brother's heart, <br />They have left me here to die! <br />Sound again, clarion! Clarion, pour thy blast! <br />Sound! for the captive's dream of hope is past.'<br /><br />Felicia Dorothea Hemans<br /><br />http://www.poemhunter.com/poem/the-captive-knight/