The hours sad I left a maid A lingering farewell taking Whose sighs and tears my steps delayed I thought her heart was breaking In hurried words her name I blest I breathed the vows that bind me And to my heart in anguish pressed The girl I left behind me
Then to the east we bore away To win a name in story And there where dawns the sun of day There dawned our sun of glory The place in my sight When in the host assigned me I shared the glory of that fight Sweet girl I left behind me
Though many a name our banner bore Of former deeds of daring But they were of the day of yore In which we had no sharing But now our laurels freshly won With the old one shall entwine me Singing worthy of our size each son Sweet girl I left behind me
The hope of final victory Within my bosom burning Is mingling with sweet thoughts of thee And of my fond returning But should I n'eer return again Still with thy love i'll bind me Dishonors breath shall never stain The name I leave behind me