France hath twice too well been taught The "moral lesson" dearly bought— Her safety sits not on a throne, With CAPET or NAPOLEON!
But in equal rights and laws,
Hearts and hands in one great cause-- Freedom, such as God hath given Unto all beneath his heaven,
With their breath, and from their birth, Though Guilt would sweep it from the earth; With a fierce and lavish hand
Scattering nations' wealth like sand;
Pouring nations' blood like water, In imperial seas of slaughter!
But the heart and the mind, And the voice of mankind,
Shall arise in communion-
And who shall resist that proud union? The time is past when swords subdued— Man may die-the soul's renew'd:
Even in this low world of care
Freedom ne'er shall want an heir; Millions breathe but to inherit Her for ever bounding spirit- When once more her hosts assemble, Tyrants shall believe and tremble- Smile they at this idle threat? Crimson tears will follow yet.
"All wept, but particularly Savary, and a Polish officer who had been exalted from the ranks by Buonaparte. 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."
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?
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)
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.
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?
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."
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?
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.
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.
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.
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.
Star of the brave! thy ray is pale, And darkness must again prevail! But, oh thou Rainbow of the free! Our tears and blood must flow for thee. When thy bright promise fades away, Our life is but a load of clay.
And Freedom hallows with her tread
The silent cities of the dead; For beautiful in death are they Who proudly fall in her array; And soon, oh Goddess! may we be For evermore with them or thee! .
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