THE TRUE HERO by Edward Rowland Sill

Pacific Press Publishing Company · Oakland, California · Apr 14, 1898

FromSigns of the Times, Vol. 24, No. 15.

THE TRUE HERO.

By Edward Rowland Sill

This I beheld—or dreamed it in a dream: There spread a cloud of dust along a plain; And underneath a cloud, or in it, raged A furious battle, and men yelled, and swords Shocked upon swords and shields. A prince’s banner Wavered, then staggered backward, hemmed by foes.

A craven hung along the battle’s edge, And thought, “Had I a sword of keener steel,— That blue blade that the king’s son bears,—but this Blunt thing!”—he snapt and flung it from his hand, And lowering crept away and left the field.

Then came the king’s son, wounded, sore bestead, And weaponless, and saw the broken sword, Hilt-buried in the dry and trodden sand, And ran and snatched it, and, with battle-shout Lifted afresh, he hewed his enemy down, And saved a great cause that heroic day.

—Edward Rowland Sill.