Page images
PDF
EPUB

[FROM THE FRENCH.]

"All wept, but particularly Savary, and a Polish officer who had been exalted from the ranks by Bonaparte. He clung to his master's knees; wrote a letter to Lord Keith, entreating permission to accompany him, even in the most menial capacity, which could not be admitted."

1.

Must thou go, my glorious Chief,
Sever'd from thy faithful few?
Who can tell thy warrior's grief,
Maddening o'er that long adieu?
Woman's love, and friendship's zeal,

Dear as both have been to me-
What are they to all I feel,

With a soldier's faith for thee?

2.

Idol of the soldier's soul!

First in fight, but mightiest now:

Many could a world control;

Thee alone no doom can bow.

By thy side for years I dared

Death; and envied those who fell, When their dying shout was heard,

Blessing him they served so well. (8)

3.

Would that I were cold with those,
Since this hour I live to see;

When the doubts of coward foes

Scarce dare trust a man with thee,

Dreading each should set thee free.

Oh! although in dungeons pent, All their chains were light to me, Gazing on thy soul unbent.

4.

Would the sycophants of him

Now so deaf to duty's prayer,
Were his borrow'd glories dim,
In his native darkness share?
Were that world this hour his own,
All thou calmly dost resign,

Could he purchase with that throne

Hearts like those which still are thine?

5.

My chief, my king, my friend, adieu!

Never did I droop before;

Never to my sovereign sue,

As his foes I now implore: All I ask is to divide

Every peril he must brave; Sharing by the hero's side

His fall, his exile, and his

grave.

ON THE STAR OF "THE LEGION OF HONOUR."

[FROM THE FRENCH.]

1.

STAR of the brave!-whose beam hath shed

Such glory o'er the quick and dead—

Thou radiant and adored deceit!

Which millions rush'd in arms to greet,—

Wild meteor of immortal birth!

Why rise in Heaven to set on Earth?

2.

Souls of slain heroes form'd thy rays;
Eternity flash'd through thy blaze;
The music of thy martial sphere
Was fame on high and honour here;
And thy light broke on human eyes,
Like a Volcano of the skies.

3.

Like lava roll'd thy stream of blood, And swept down empires with its flood; Earth rock'd beneath thee to her base, As thou didst lighten through all space; And the shorn Sun grew dim in air, And set while thou wert dwelling there.

4.

Before thee rose, and with thee grew,
A rainbow of the loveliest hue

Of three bright colours, (9) each divine,

And fit for that celestial sign;

For Freedom's hand had blended them, Like tints in an immortal gem.

5.

One tint was of the sunbeam's dyes;
One, the blue depth of Seraph's eyes;

One, the pure Spirit's veil of white
Had robed in radiance of its light:
The three so mingled did beseem

The texture of a heavenly dream.

« PreviousContinue »