W CCXIV THEN I have borne in memory what has tamed Great nations; how ennobling thoughts depart When men change swords for ledgers, and desert The student's bower for gold, some fears unnamed I had, my Country! -am I to be blamed? Of those unfilial fears I am ashamed. For dearly must we prize thee; we who find What wonder if a Poet now and then, W. Wordsworth CCXV HOHENLINDEN N Linden, when the sun was low, rodden snow; And dark as winter was the flow But Linden saw another sight, When the drum beat at dead of night The darkness of her scenery. By torch and trumpet fast array'd To join the dreadful revelry. Then shook the hills with thunder riven; But redder yet that light shall glow 'Tis morn; but scarce yon level sun Can pierce the war-clouds, rolling dun, Where furious Frank and fiery Hun Shout in their sulphurous canopy. The combat deepens. On, ye Brave And charge with all thy chivalry! Few, few shall part, where many meet! Shall be a soldier's sepulchre. T. Campbell CCXVI AFTER BLENHEIM T was a summer evening, summe done, And he before his cottage door And by him sported on the green She saw her brother Peterkin In playing there had found; He came to ask what he had found Old Kaspar took it from the boy Who stood expectant by ; And then the old man shook his head, And with a natural sigh "T is some poor fellow's skull,' said he, 'Who fell in the great victory.' 'I find them in the garden, For there's many here about; And often when I go to plough The ploughshare turns them out. For many thousand men,' said he, 'Were slain in that great victory.' 'Now tell us what 't was all about,' Young Peterkin he cries; And little Wilhelmine looks up 'Now tell us all about the war, 'It was the English,' Kaspar cried, 'My father lived at Blenheim then, They burnt his dwelling to the ground, So with his wife and child he fled, Nor had he where to rest his head. 'With fire and sword the country round Was wasted far and wide, And many a childing mother then And new-born baby died: But things like that, you know, must be At every famous victory. "They say it was a shocking sight After the field was won; For many thousand bodies here Lay rotting in the sun : But things like that, you know, must be After a famous victory. 'Great praise the Duke of Marlbro' won And our good Prince Eugene ;' 'Why 't was a very wicked thing!' Said little Wilhelmine; 'Nay.. nay.. my little girl,' quoth he, 'And every body praised the Duke 'Why that I cannot tell,' said he, 'But 't was a famous victory.' R. Southey W CCXVII PRO PATRIA MORI HEN he who adores thee has left but the name O! say wilt thou weep, when they darken the fame Yes, weep, and however my foes may condemn, For, Heaven can witness, though guilty to them, With thee were the dreams of my earliest love; O blest are the lovers and friends who shall live But the next dearest blessing that Heaven can give T. Moore |