VII. MAGDEBURG BEFORE THE SIEGE. Short time ago, and as he passes through Thronged thoroughfares, full warehouses, rich shops, To gaze on all they show. Here, two by two, On high days, all the trades, in doublets new, Each with its badge, marched by, while belfry-tops Shook with their chimes. Here, reared on massive props, Pillared and arched, to just proportion true, Bulwark of freedom! rose the stately halls Of audience, council-chambers, courts of law, Where native genius, taught by her own light, Grouped her creations. On those smouldering walls The old cathedral struck the mind with awe There Luther's Column marked a century's flight. VIII. THE SAME AFTER. What see you now? Great God! the very stones Of some poor lingering wretch! The eye to greet Almost excludes the light; the putrid air IX. THE BATTLE OF LEIPZIG. 'Tis sunrise in September. Hark! the boom Of the League's cannon. "On! my own true Swedes- Think of the wolves that wrought the bloody doom Flashes his sword. On! valiant hearts! he leads It was a grave digger's, where cross and bones Most ominously hung a wounded man 'Tis rout and ruin; mixed with a few groans, He faltered forth, "I've felt as if God's ban Was on my soul to-day"-thus Tilly died!! X. RICHELIEU DISCLOSES HIS THOUGHTS TO FATHER JOSEPH. 66 "By our Lady, Father Joseph, 'tis not well This Swedish bravo should make havoc thus Of half our creed-he'll show his teeth at us Ere long. What if our heretics rebel? This oak, we'll work with the invisible strokes Of policy supply Bavaria's king Through Spanish channels; mould the coming shock Appal the Saxon. Thou the leading-string Of all, meek pilgrim, in thy friar's frock!" XI. THE EMPEROR SOLICITS WALLENSTEIN TO RESUME THE COMMAND. Courier on courier from the Danube's bank To Zsnain there's nought but hurrying to and fro. To be his subject's subject. "There will flow In danger's hour to fawn upon the man Thus was I treated. 'Tis my present plan XII. WALLENSTEIN MARCHES TO BLOCKADE NUREMBURG. On, Wallenstein-roll on the deafening din Of war wide-wasting; for thy cannon's wheel From trembling peasants. If Bavaria win Thy tardy aid, her master has a sin Still unatoned for; and he soon shall feel Its pretext, can inflict. His faithful Swedes; the citizen, with joy, We'll share with him." Outside, the foe endures Like famine. Who starves longest will destroy XIII. BOTH ARMIES BREAK OFF. On, on! ye rival hosts-all Europe's eyes But still how different. One-brave, good, and wise: The King of Bavaria was a principal agent in constraining the Emperor to dismiss Wallenstein from his first command. The other, who can paint-what wing can rise High as his thoughts-what plummet bottom get For ever. XIV. BATTLE OF LUTZEN-VIEW IN THE BEGINNING. The high road parts both armies. Wallenstein, Their flank. All cowards infamy shall lash Upon the recreant backs they turn-who'll spare His life, or doubt the event, where Wallenstein leads?" XV. SAME, AT A MORE ADVANCED PERIOD. "Sire, the left wing is driven across the road, 66 Regiment of Steinbock, it is thou I choose He's at the post of danger; with a cheer Rallies the broken-all resources tries. "Yon 's no mean trooper-let thy aim be nice," Says a gefreyter* to a musqueteer. "The King's struck !" through the ranks, soul-harrowing, flies. XVI. DEATH OF GUSTAVUS ADOLPHUS. "Brother, we'll take a circuit to the right, This bleeding arm I wish not to be seen The sight disheartens." He thus called had been An Imperialist: deserted on some slight, A gefreyter with the Imperialists held a rank similar to that of a corporal in our army. And changed religions-changed again, to plight So often false, what he this day did mean XVII. CONCLUSION OF THE BATTLE. "Who cares for life when Sweden's sun is set? Our glory is departed: we live now Only for vengeance!" Thus the Swedes avow Despair and desperation. With cheeks wet With tears they charge. How could such charge be met By serfs and hirelings? But behold! the brow Of Wallenstein brightens. Pappenheim's troopers bow O'er outstretched necks, o'er clattering hoofs that threat The ear, ere seen. But see! as on they come, A hedge of pikes starts up. They cannot shake That serried mass, to all impressions numb As adamant, that to no odds will yield: All's carnage-quarter neither give nor take. At length night falls, and both, defiant, quit the field. XVIII. MOURNING AT WEISSENFELLS. Enough for rage-enough's for vengeance done : Indifferent to them. But soon draws near Eleonora, for the last time, feeds That grief an angel soon will sooth above, On what lies there pale, silent, cold, and still! XIX. PAPPENHEIM. On Pappenheim's forehead Nature's hand had drawn And those two sanguine strokes, marked out from its dawn Flames and convulsions. Oft did he rejoice To lead the hope forlorn, the first to hoise His flag upon the ramparts. Though to fawn On princes he disdained, in faith firm-set, He deemed Heaven served by all the blood he spill'd. Had almost reached him, when his death-blow met XX. OXENSTIERN. Alas! that spirit is no more that swayed All counsels, bent all wills, and awed all minds. Of a great fame and will that bends and binds Of few besides by moral strength made strong. In a poor noble-poor, though charged with much. XXI. DEATH OF WALLENSTEIN. Night falls in Egra: in its castle hall The few friends left to that still towering man, Great, though so fallen! marked out for death, outran In revel their few sands. He, far from all, No voices hears, save one-the still, the small, That whispers, "Thou'rt a traitor." He would scan From this remorseful spirit to disenthral His thoughts, when th' old man croaked "The Fates that spin 66 On your natal star." My friend, 'twill soon be sped." Another hour! and crash! the door falls in. Rush on the breast he shows two halberdiers! XXII. BERNARD, DUKE OF SAXE WEIMAR. 66 "Courage, Father Joseph, Breysach will be ours- Of injured right-of love that owns no powers The Cardinal urged him to a marriage suit 66 My niece is worth a duchy." All would fail," To reconcile me to your stolen fruit." *Seni was the name of the astrologer to whose skill in the "occult science" Wallenstein so much trusted. |