Men of old in shining armor,
Brand their swords and ride like thunder,
Cities quake; behold their tremor!
Xerxes turns toward Greece.

Men and women and starving children,
Run like fire and ne’er turn back,
Cities burn; behold their splendor!
Xerxes gives the word.

At his word those men in armor,
Take their torches, flaming archers,
Cities fall; behold their grandeur!
Falls in fire and stone.

Men of Greece in flight and flounder,
Who will stand for home and country?
Cities drop; behold their outpour!
Of men and cattle alike.

Darkness looms like silken powder,
“Greece will soon be gone, ” they mutter,
Cities flood; “behold their horror! ”
Xerxes plows ahead.

But then! Oh glory, glory!
Between two cliffs of stone,
Three-hundred men; behold their souls!
Are holding fast their own!