She sat upon her palfrey white,
That damsel fair and young,
And from the jewelled belt she wore,
Her trusty rapier hung;
And chieftains bold, and warriors proud,
Around her formed a gallant crowd.
A helmet clasped her forehead fair,
A shield was by her side;
The helmet was of polished steel,
The shield of bison's hide;
And as she spoke, the evening air
Disported with her raven hair.
'From girlhood, I have shunned the sports
In which our sex delight,
And learnt instead to use the sword,
And wield the falchion bright;
To meet the tigress turned to bay,
And guide the war-horse in the fray.
'From girlhood, I have vowed a vow
Our honour to redeem,
And make my noble father's name
Of every song the theme;
To rescue Thoda from the slave
Who lives to fill a coward's grave.
'And till my life-blood's purple flow
Stand stagnant in my veins,
That early vow to see fulfilled
I'll spare nor strength nor pains:
To those who join me in the war
I'll be a radiant beacon star!
'My hand—'tis his who foremost scales
The ramparts of the foe,
And to the wicked Lilla deals
The dread avenging blow;
Go, warriors—these alone decide
The man who wins me as his bride.'