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ROCHE (J Hamilton)

Waterloo: a herioc poem.

EDIN 1817

Entered at Stationers' Hall. SSSJatorlUio:

A

HEROIC POEM.

.BY

HAMILTON ROCHE, ESQ.

gutijor of THE HEROIC POEM ON “ FRANCE THE POEM ON “ SALAMANCA “ THE SUDBURIAD, OR POEMS FROM THE COTTAGE;” “ THE SUFFOLK TALE “ LETTERS FROM NORTH AMERICA tS'c. SfC. SfC.

Immortal Chief who firmly stood, Like Atlas, in a sea of blood, Dauntless and unabash’d ! Who smil’d where’er the thunder roar’d, Was every where, when torrents pour’d, Or when the lightnings flash’d ! " WATERLOO.”

—“ My heart is nearly broken for the loss of my friends and poor “ soldiers; and I shall not be satisfied if this victory does not ter- “ minate the conflict.”— VIDE LETTER FROM THE DUKE OF WELLINGTON.

PRINTED FOR THE PROPRIETOR, BY J. REGGIE, OLD ASSEMBLY CLOSE, 1817. V

To be had of the Author only,

Clje ntnti) Otttou

SALAMANCA: A HEROIC POEM.

By HAMILTON ROCHE, Esq. (Late a Captain of Light Infantry in the British Service.)

“ ’Twas here that Wellesley’s heroic soul was prov’d, “ Meeting the tyrant’s various hosts unmov’d : “ Through all his ranks, supporting them afar, “ He calmly view’d the scenes of bleeding war; u His holy eye the slaughter’d field survey’d, “ And sent to dying columns timely aid; “ Rallied repuls’d battalions to engage, “ And led where’er the soul of war should rage.”

—“ We shall close our critique upon this elegant poem, which “ the classic author must consider very favourable, as we deem “ ‘ Salamanca’ possessing all the powers of Poetry, descriptive, “ narrative, and epic; in competition to the ‘ Blenheim ’ of our “ illustrious Addison.” Vide the Reviews, and “ Town Talk,'> for December 1812. TO GENERAL,

$ts 3ao!)al $ts|)ness

THE HEREDITARY PRINCE OF ORANGE, G.C.R.

Sfc. S\'c.

ILLUSTRIOUS PRINCE,

The noble share of glory sustained

by your Royal Highness, and the brave Belgian Soldiers,

in the unparalleled achievement at “ Waterloo,” gives

me the honour to dedicate to your Royal Highness this re-

cord of the lustre of our immortal and beloved Welling-

ton, and the prowess of his Grace’s invincible Compa-

triots in arms.

I have the honour to remain,

With profound consideration,

Your Royal Highness’s

Grateful and obedient,

Humble servant,

H. Roche

“ The Cottage,” Sudbury, Suffolk. 1815. DEDICATED,

331) mission, To His Royal Highness the PRINCE REGENT, S^c. 8tc. &;ci

FRANCE:

A HEROIC POEM,

By HAMILTON ROCHE, Esq. Late a Captain of Light Infantry in the British Service.) AUTHOK OF “ SALAMANCA:” THE SUDBURIAD; or, POEMS FROM THE COTTAGE “LETTERS FROM NORTH AMERICA;” &c. &c. Sec.

“ We have perfect pleasure in congratulating a retired officer on the Illustrious Patronage which fosters his Muse. The subject glows with the “ enthusiasm of a Soldier, who, as he says in his Poem on ‘ Salamanca,’ “ is inspired by the theme of glory :— « Shall he, whose Godlike vict’ries far exceed “ The boasted glory of the Greek and Swede : « Who, more than Cjesar, with a brighter ray, “ Ascends, and shines Imperial France away; « Shall he, through ages spread his mighty name, “ Without a Muse to wait upon his fame ? « Has Britain lost her spirit, soul, and fire, « Has she no Patriot left to touch the lyre ? « Yes! while I live, such deeds shall loud resound, “ And claim just tribute from the world around. « What though I mingle with the peerless throng, « The least, most careless, of the sons of song; “ Thy Godlike deeds shall bid my soul to glow, “ My pulse to kindle, and my veins to flow; « Exalt my spirit, animate my line, , “ And aid my numbers with the strength of Nine. “ The Poem is beautifully descriptive, and highly complimentary to the “ Continental heroes. We particularly admire the Author’s elegant pane- “ gyric on the Illustrious Wellington.” Vide “ The Critical Review”/or September 1814. * * A few Copies of the third Edition of this Poem remain with the Author, at One Guinea each Copy. SUBSCRIBERS

Co m SutljoCs saaorfts.

Her Majesty Baron Strantz The Marquis Wellesley THE QUEEN The Hereditary Sovereign of The Marquis of Downshire the Netherlands Marquis of Lansdowne 'Their Royal Highnesses The Hereditary Prince of Marquis of Ely Princess Elizabeth Orange Marquis of Buckingham Princess Augusta Marquis of Lothian Princess Sophia Marquis of Anglesey, G. C. B. Princess Mary His Grace Marquis of Bute The Prince Regent The Princess of The The Right Honourable The Princess Charlotte of Wales The Duke of Marlborough The Duke of 1'ork The of The Duchess of York The Duke of Earl of Winchilsea The Duke of Clarence The The Duke of The The Duke of Cumberland The Duke of Dorset The The Earl Manners The The Earl Cowper His Imperial Majesty The Earl Guildford The Duke of Argyle Earl Stamford The Emperor of all the Russias The The Prince of Holstein The Earl of Eglington His Excellency The The Duke of Wellington Earl Paulet The Count Eleven The Duchess of Wellington Earl Moira Earl His most Christian Majesty Earl Percy Louis XVIII. The most Noble The Prince de Conde The Duke de Berri The Marquis of Exeter The Marquis of Bath His Majesty The Marquis of Blandford Earl Cholmondeley The King of Prussia The Marquis of Headfort Earl of Carysfort Prince William The Marquis of Hertford Prince Ferdinand The Marquis of Tavistock The Marquis of Stafford The Prince of Waterloo The Marquis Camden Prince Marshal Blucher The Marquis of Abercorn Count Nostisch Tlie Marquis of Huntley Earl of Bristol SUBSCRIBERS.

of Jersey Earl Clancarty Lord Butler Lord Byron Earl Sinclair Earl of Aylesbury Lord Carrington Earl Keith Lord Carysfort Earl of Fife Earl of Strathmore Lord Cawdor Earl of Lord Clifton Lord De Dunstanville Earl of Aberdeen Lord Dundas Earl of Earl of Cassilis Lord Eldon Earl of Scarborough Lord Erskine Earl of Beverley Lord Foley Earl of Londonderry Ttj'ght Honourable Lord Glastonbury Earl of Breadalbane Lord Gordon Earl of Mountjoy Lord Grantley Earl Digby Viscount Anson Lord Gwydir Earl of Charleville Viscount Curzon Lord Hawkd Lord Holland Earl Grosvenor Viscount Lake Lord Montagu Earl of Middleton Viscount Maynard Lord Rawdon Earl of Ashburnhairt Lord Rivers’ Earl Conynghani Viscount Dudley and Ward Lord Rodney Earl Compton Viscount Fenton Lord Saltersford Earl Kellie Viscount Kingsborough Lord Saye and Sele Viscount Middleton Lord Scarsdale Viscount Palmerston Earl of Arundel Lord Seaforth Earl of Aboyne Viscount Clive Lord Selsey Lord Sinclair Earl of Oxford Viscount, Castlereagh Lord Spencer Earl of Chatham Lord Suffield Viscount Eardley Earl Berkeley Lord Walsingham Viscount Morpeth Lord Yarborough Earl Fitzwilliam Lord Beresford Earl Harewood Lord Hill Lord William Russell Earl Harcourt Lord Andover Earl Hardwicke Lord Charles Fitzroy Right Honourable Earl of Buckinghamshire Lord William Fitzroy Earl of Delaware Lord Arden Lord Robert Manners Lord Bagot Lord Charles Manners Lord Bayning Lord Ossulston Earl of Doncaster Lord Beauchamp Lord Huntingfield Earl Mulgrave Lord Berwick Lord Pollington Lord Lord Rendlesham Earl Pomfret Lord Boringdon Lord Lowther Lord Boyle Lord Butler Lord Braybrooke Lord Lynedock Earl St. Vincent Lord Broderick Lord James Murray Earl of Ormond Lord Brownlow Lord Stewart SUBSCRIBERS.

Lord Combermere Sir G. Chetwynd, Bart. General Tarleton, M. P. Lord Graves Sir I. Simeon, Bart. M. P, General the Hon. II. St John Lord Fitzroy Somerset Sir Walter Farquhar Gen. Sir Eyre Coote, Bart. M. P Lord Kenyon Sir David H. Blair, Bart. Gen. the Hon. E. Finch, M. P. Lord C. Townsend, M. P. Sir J. Mackintosh, Bart. M. P. General Vyse Lord Carteret Sir , Bart. M.P. Gen. the Hon. E. Phipps, M, P, Lord Saltoun Sir Thomas Hesilridge, Bart. General Bland Lord Morpeth, M. P. Sir William Grant, Knt. General Cartwright Lord Teynham Sir D. Wedderburn, Bart. M. P. General Floyd Lord Dormer Sir H. Dash wood, Bart. M. P. General Crawford Lord John Thynne, M. P. Sir Richard Bediugfield, Bart. General Wilford Lord Napier Gen. Sir J. F. Cradock, Bart. Lord Amherst Gen. Sir Wm. Stewart, M. P. Lord Lascelles, M. P. Generals. Hon. Gen. Wm. Gordon, M. P. Lord Muncaster Sir S. Auchmuty, Bart. General H. Wynyard Lord Ashburton Sir Charles Asgill, Bart. General Hugonin Sir John Doyle, Bart. General Thornton, M. P. J. T. H. Elwes Gen. the Hon. J. Abercromby Sir J. W. Jerningham, Bart. Sir William Keppel, Bart. Col. H. Cadogan Sir Patrick Blake, Bart. Sir Jas. Leith, G. C. B. Captain E. Chinery Sir J. C. Hippislev, Bart. M. P. Sir G. L. Cole, M. P. Colonel G. Dennis Sir William Rowley, Bart. M. P. Sir David Dundas, Bart. Major-General H. Torrens Sir Charles Bunbury, Bart. H. Fitzpatrick, M. P. Colonel M. Edgar Sir Jacob Astley, Bart. M. P. Sir William Congrieve, Bart. Colonel Herries Sir Thomas Gage, Bart. Sir Hildebrand Oakes, Bart. Colonel G. Johnson, r*3d Regt. Sir Thomas Turton, Bart. Honourable G. Anson Colonel Macleod Sir Francis Burdett, Bart. M. P. Sir John Stuart, K. M. General K. D. Blake Sir James Graham, Bart. M. P. Sir George Osborne, Bart. Colonel Francis Blake Sir Robert Harland, Bart. George Don General G. Rochford Sir Charles Price, Bart. Baron Linsengen Sir Brent Spencer, Bart. Sir Charles Morgan, Bart. M. P. Sir Charles Green, Bart. Sir David Baird, Bart. Sir Felix Agar, Knt. J. Robertson General Taylor Sir Thos. Plumer, Vice Chancellor P. K. Roche, (Spanish Service') The Honourable Sir E. Paget, Sir M. B. Folkes, Bart. M. P. Colin Campbell Bart. G.C.B. M. P. Sir James Affleck, Bart, R. Ferguson, M. P. Lt.-Col. Drummond, 101th Foot Sir John Gordon, Bart. O. Delaney Sir Home Popham General Bloomfield Sir J. B. Warren General M‘Mahon Their Excellencies Sir Francis Blake, Bart. The Honourable H. Grey Sir William Adams : Sir G. Hewett, Bart. The French Ambassador Sir John Caldwell, Bart. ' Monsieur Comte D’Artois The Spanish Ambassador Sir Wm. Scott, M. P. Marshal M armont The Portuguese Ambassador Sir William Domville, Bart. General A. Hay The Russian Ambassador Sir Sydney Smith, G. C. B. General Sir G. Nugent, Bart. The Dutch Ambassador Sir H. B. Neale, Bart. M. P. G C. B. The Swedish Ambassador Sir Thomas Lawrence Gen. Sir P. A. E. Irving, Bart. The Austrian Ambassador Sir Thomas Baring, Bart. M. P. General Sir Hudson Lowe, The Prussian Ambassador'' Sir J. Anstruther, Bart. M. P. K. C. B. The Hanoverian Ambassador */

SUBSCRIBERS.

Right Honourable G. Canning, B. West, Esq. (President of the Sir H. D. Hamilton, Bart. M. P. M.P. Royal Academy) The Right Hon, B. P. Blachford, T. W. Coke, Esq. M. P. Baron Jacobi M. P. Colonel Houblon, M. P. Prince Metternich Hon. Dudley North, M. P. C. C. Western, Esq. M. P. Reverend J. Smiruove, (Chaplain Andrew Strahan, Esq. M. P. T. S. Good), Esq. M. P. to the Russian embassy) Col. the Hon. J. B. O’Neill, M. P. The Hon. F. T. H. Foster, M.P. Professor Rehbera: Major-General Sir D. Pack George Moore, Esq. (Banker) Peter Dennis, Esq. Captain Moss G. Browne, Esq. (Banker) Captain Hill, R. N, I. Barnardiston, Esq. J. C. .Tennyngs, Esq. Captain James Roche, 14th Foot, Long Wellesley, Esq. M. P. R. H. Davies, Esq. M.P.(brother ( Banker) to the Author) Edward Holland, Esq. 11. A. Crickitt, Esq. M. P. Admiral Wilson H. H. Henley, Esq. ( Banker) Admiral Harvey Baron Humboldt John Round, Esq. M.P. (Banker) Admiral Smith William Beckford, Esq. M. P. -David Pryer, Esq. Captain A. Todd C. W. Forrester, Esq. M. P. Charles Greenwood, Esq. Captain Sir P. B. V. Broke, Bart. H. F. Howard Molineux, Esq. J. Ray, Esq. (Banker) Colonel Cocksedge M. P. Colonel Rigby G. Elmer, Esq. Edmund Boehm, Esq. William Strutt, Esq. (Mayor of Colonel Bunbury James Dawkins, Esq. M. P. Sudbury) Thomas Coutts, Esq. (Banker) Charles Grant, Esq. M. P. S. Brise, Esq. Francis Pym, Esq. M. P. William Astell, Esq. M. P. John Pytches, Esq. Doctor Drake Hon. G. Abercromby, M P. Captain Hay William Pearson, Esq. Hon. H. C. Lowther, M. P. Captain the Hon. J Percy, M. P Wilmot Parker, Esq. J. Stanniforth, Esq. M. P. G. H. Rose, Esq. M. P. J. J. Angerstein, Esq. R. Latouche, Esq. M. P. Right Hon. G. Rose, M. P. Colonel J. Macleod Colonel the Hon. J. Brand Major-General Sir F. Adam, 21st Captain Parker, (Royal Scots) H. Brougham, Esq. M. P. Foot Captain Harvey, (ditto) .T. Ramsbottom, Esq. M. P, Ely Crump, Esq. ( Surgeon to the Reverend T. Baines Thomas Thornhill, Esq. Forces) Hon. C. C. Jenkinson, M. P. Colonel Gore JLangton, M. P. Reverend C. Holden Hon. C. M. Sutton, M. P. J. Penn, Esq. Reverend L. Newman Colonel Beaumont, M. P. Colonel Christie Right Hon. R. Ryder, M. P. Captain A. Armstrong, 104th Foot M. Barne, Esq. M, P. Honourable T. Wyndham, M. P. Colonel Matthews Major Tyrwhitt Drake, M. P. Right Hon. C. Yorke, M. P. E. W. Bootle, Esq. M. P. J. C. Tyrrell, Esq. Honourable C. Paget, M. P. Captain Ingersol G. Ponsonb}7, Esq. M. P. Honourable B. Paget, M. P. W. Wilberforce, Esq. M. P. Mons. Gerard, (Painter to the Honourable F. G. Elphinstone R. Moore, Esq. King of France) Right Hon. Warren Hastings Capt. Kingsley, (Waggon Train) Right Hon. G. A. Pelham, M.P. Right Hon. N. Vansittart, M. P. The Bibliotheque Royal at Count Munster J. H. Cole, Esq. Paris, 12 copies Count Jennison T. T. Berney, Esq. The Royal Academy at Doctor Herschel Wm. Merry, Esq. Berlin, 6 copies WATERLOO,

A HEROIC POEM.

Let every Muse erect a victor-crown. Entwin’d by many a deathless flow’r, For Him who beat Napoleon’s Eagles down, And circumscrib’d his pow’r.

Wapoleon, musing on the gory feast,

Ignobly fled from Elba’s rocky breast;

And, rousing his red thund’ring pow’rs to war,

Again inflam’d the Dragons of his car :

No laws can bind the guilty treach’rous soul.

Whose breach of law is known thro’ every pole!

Like burning Etna, when her flames she bursts,

Blazing with rage for human blood he thirsts!

Within the tempest of his hellish ire,

His eyes drink gore as human souls expire: 12 WATERLOO,

Where Slaughter moving with a daring hand,

Of late sustain’d his hell-wrought perjur’d band ;

While thro’ the skies the sickly lambient star

Of Desolation, swept the clouds afar ;

Till Wellesley’s flaming meteor rush’d along,

And dash’d from earth the tyrant’s vanquish’d throng ^

Bestrew’d the fields with heaps of Gallic bones,

Made the skies tremble with departing groans;

Drove the dark spirit from his vile pursuit,

And bade him shroud Ins form, his dying tongue be mute,

Awake, my harp ! and let thy numbers float

O’er Wellesley’s fame! and hush the rebel note;

A chaplet weave, encircled by Ins glory,

Amid the heroes of the splendid story!

Resound his praise, who thro’ the battle hurl’d,

The Captive Desolator of the world!

Who, wing’d of late with rage of fire and steel,

Disdain’d his Country’s Peace, or Cause, to feel: A HEROIC POEM. 13

Let every Muse entwine a victor-crown,

For Him, who beat Napoleon’s Eagles down.

And in each front erect a diamond rare,

A star that will to endless ages glare;

Pluck’d by Our Wellesley from Napoleon’s ,

A light to fire the future warrior’s breast.

May its bright rays illume th’ historic page,

And blaze thro’ many a vice-engender’d age ?

So shall his Name like glorious Marlborough’s last.

When heroes yet unborn have bloom’d and past

Life’s irksome vale, to moulder in the tomb,

’Mid barb’rous times, and superstitious gloom!

Then, touch, my Lyre! the soul-inspiring chord,

And sing the praises of the battle’s sov’reign Lord !

O’er Belgium’s plains, now fam’d for war,

Observe the winged light’nings play :

Hell’s Cohorts, ’neath the thund’ring star,

O’er ravag’d fields direct their way ! D 14 WATERLOO,

Once beauteous fields ! now scenes of bleeding strife,

Where Princes meet in righteous anger rife;

And mad Contention late ’mid gore did rush,

The brave to dare, and innocents to crush!

Hark ! the red-battle God’s seraphic voice,

Thrills o’er the red-illumin’d space ;

As Gallia’s chiefs in perjury’s choice,

Of late their nation’s name disgrace !

See Murder, stalking thro’ the tainted gore.

Wave her blue torch to light Ambition’s car 5

While trampled souls their admonitions pour,

To the dark monster of inglorious war !—

Here the foul visag’d fiend can view,

High seated on his misty throne,

Hell’s thirsting Cavaliers pursue

His mad ambition thro’ their slain!

Deaf to the sad disastrous moan

Of bleeding victims o’er the plain !— A HEROIC POEM. 15

His bugles call his conscript hosts to see,

The reeking meads, where bleeding limbs abound,

Where trumpets clang, and villages around

Blaze, midst the cries of—ii Death or Victory I’*

Oh ! that ’twere mine to paint the fire,

Which flow’d in heroic Britons’ veins!

Or, that my hand could wake the lyre.

To sing the soul enchanting strains!

Then, mounting on Pindaric wing, I’d laud Britannia’s Chief, and pow’r;

Beyond the midnight clouds would sing,

And with the sympathetic string

Elude the tort’ring hour !

E’en hoary Time should halt to hear,

The loud stupendous song;

Proud Milton from his tow’ring sphere,

List with enthusiastic ear,

And bid me still the notes prolong 16 WATERLOO,

But, hark! the sounds from Belgium's shore

Disturb the undulating gale ;

Again the battle’s changeful roar

Bids Peace depart, and War prevail!

Mercy in vain to Heav’n prefers her pray’rs,

Around the ghastly scene Destruction glares!

In vain she calls, in vain she sighs—

Still driving o’er her ravish’d charms,

Advance! the dread Usurper cries.

Fierce on the foe!—to arms ! to arms 1

Quick, the battle’s fiercely raging,

Clouds of smoke deface the sky!

The Curassiers the van engaging,

Swell the mighty conflict high !

Mangled corses shroud the plain,

On every side the chieftains fall!

Sweeping in vengeance o’er the slain,

Behold the ruthless soul of Gaul!— /

A HEROIC POEM. 17

But see, where Death, behind him smiling,

Stalks across the smoking scene,

Surveys the troops their comrades piling

Over half the clotted green.

Still the hoofs of note quick rattle,

Fierce and low ring grows the fight j

Around the plain the light’ning battle,

Sweeps the brave to endless night!

Hark l from yonder flaming field,

The shrieks of trampled warriors rise !

The dauntless Prussian’s forc’d to yield,

Before the crafty Vet’ran’s shield,

And close his bleeding eyes!

For many a league the battle howls.

The blood-stain’d foe in madness scowls -

And all the air’s on fire!

The red artillery o’er the plain,

From right to left now pours again,

Its aggregated ire!

E 18 WATERLOO,

Again, the clarions send a mortal sound,

And prancing coursers shake the trembling ground :

The surly drums beat terrible afar,

With all the dreadful music of the war,

From whetted swords effulgent flames arise,

Flash o’er the plains and lighten to the skies;

The heav’n above, the fields and floods beneath,

Glare formidably bright, and shine with death!

In fiery storms descends the murd’rous show’r.

And light’nings flash, and fierce the thunders roar;

Death shakes aloft his dart, and o’er his prey,

Gigantic stalking, marks his crimson’d way;

Thousands of heroes slain deform the ground,

The shape of man half buried in the wound!

The shade of death o’erspreads their bleeding eyes.

And heroes’ souls flee to their native skies!—

Here let me pause! and, oh! my Muse, retrace

The deeds of those who swell the charnel place;

Amid the strife, where Europe pale beheld

Her mighty chiefs repelling and repell’d ; A HEROIC POEM. 19

Here let me paint, on thought’s sublimest wing,

The fire of Paget, and his glories sing !

When righteous anger wounded Britain’s rest,

Indignant courage fir’d his manly breast;

Where danger blaz’d, the gallant chief was found,

Like angry Jove, hurling destruction round!

Unknown to fear, but danger well he knew,

And where Heath thunder’d, there he thunder’d too;

In battle dreadful, burning with desire,

For Europe’s holy Prize, he dash’d ’midst fire. To grasp the foe! who, pale and trembling, stood,

And view’d his gore flow in a copious flood!

Thus Paget bled ! *—and Picton nobly died !

And Wellesley’s bands united shocks defied!

While many a chief, Iris country’s rights to save,

Found on that bleeding day an early grave.

The Marquis of Anglesey was severely wounded, in a noble attempt to make Buonaparte his prisoner, and has since suffered amputation of a leg. £0 WATERLOO,

But Howard ! thou, in life’s serenest bloom,

Was call’d to blossom in an early—tomb!

Lamented Chief! a high command was giv’n

To bear thee home in Vict’ry’s arms to heav’n !

Thy soul ennobled, flew from whence it came,

And liv’d to die ! but died to live again!—

Thus Carlisle’s son pass’d to his bless’d abode,-

And lives in peace with an eternal God !—

Still dark Ambition drove along,

While Madness wove a funeral song

O’er twenty thousand graves !

For many a mile the yielding air

Shook with the moans of rack’d despair,

’Mid Disappointment’s slaves!

The Giant of the western world

Saw England’s conq’ring flag unfurl’d

And led by Wellesley’s fame;

Trembling he saw the glitt’ring band

Rush o’er the blood polluted land,

And sound their leader’s name! A HEROIC POEM. 21

Swift as a whirling star, the sound

Rush’d thro’ the darken’d realms of air;

And starting from her sleep profound,

Brave Belgium saw the meteor glare !

She saw, and hail’d the glorious day,

When free from each contending sway,

Her sons did nobly rise;

She felt her patriot bosom warm,

Her Prince upon the light’ning storm

Unbolt the howling skies

While o’er her immolated soil,

His arm did waste the robber’s spoil,

Where once Ambition fed !

Beheld him guide with bleeding arm,

The stallions of the battle storm.

And strew the fields with dead!

E’en fell Destruction weeping hears

His thunders roll in rapid flood ;

And faint with Sorrow’s genuine tears,

Sees rivers flow from vet’ran blood !—

E

U-t.T.- {y $ :s 40' WATERLOO,

Where golden harvests wav’d, nought now remains,

Rut piles of men, and blood polluted plains!

Nor tree, nor lowly shrub uprears its head,

Such havoc reign’d, as Nature’s self were dead !

Thrice the sun rose, and thrice withdrew his light,

Still many a victim gasp’d beneath the fight;

Wrung with dire anguish, call’d on welcome death,

To ease his pain, and stop his ling’ring breath.—

Come, and behold ! ye who in war delight,

Tins dreadful scene, winch strikes the shudd’ring sight:

A dying hero, and a widow’d wife,

Seeking a last embrace from parting life !

Upon her breast a boy, now orphan, lies,

To gain Ins wonted food he vainly tries ;

While milk and blood, one intermingled tide,

Stain her soft bosom, and her iv’ry side !—

As eve began her veil to spread,

The troops of Trance look’d dark and dread j A HEROIC POEM. 23

From right to left a wondrous chain

Of bastions cross’d the battle plain ;

Still eager for the toils of fight,

The harrass’d foe being yet in sight,

Brave Wellesley sought the field ;

As God display’d his arm, and cried:—

Britain ! thy sons have bravely died !

And never shalt thou yield :

Look up ! the Monarch of the sky

Surveys thee with enraptur’d eye;

And still advance ! thy troops shall tell

How Gallia’s perjur’d Conscripts fell!

Within their breasts thy swords shall deeply glow,

As from their dying eyes red drops of anguish flow !

And, now the Battle-god bestrides the plain,

Dashing triumphant ’midst the piles of slain !

In meek-eyed pity views the slaughter’d field,

And saw the boasting tyrant’s legions yield !—. 24 WATERLOO,

Immortal Chief ! who firmly stood,

Like Atlas, in a sea of blood,

Dauntless and unabash'd !

He smil’d where’er the thunder roar’d,

Was every where—when torrents pour’d,

Or when the light’nings flash’d !

Calm ’mid the battle’s roar, he mov’d or stood;

And check’d or urg’d the lavish waste of blood !

But, hark, impatient Victory cries :

Lead on the van ; the coward flies !

With furious speed pursue his flight.

And hurl his slaves to endless night:

Then warriors rush with slaught’ring zeal,

Brandish the gore-incrusted steel;

D rive on the foe, nor stop till death,—

In noxious fumes, pollutes the zephyr’s breath !

Across the ebon shade of night,

A vivid flash of sulph’rous light

Afar was seen to fly ;

From Waterloo a sheet of fire,

Burst thro’ the welkin dark and dire,

Swift tow’ring to the sky l A HEROIC POEM. 25

Peal after peal incessant came,

And ever and anon the flame

Broke on the ravish’d view ;

The Godlike Chief and his brave men,

The rear engage—attack again,

And flying legions slew!

O, ’twas a furious scene of death,

Sublime to hear the trumpet’s breath

From line to line reply ?

He follow’d up his mighty chase,

’Till th’ Imperials, face to face,

Lay stretch’d beneath his eye!

His charger neigh’d applause, and rush’d

O’er those its sov’reign Lord had crush’d,

And bath’d his hoofs in gore!

Then listen’d with enraptur’d ears,

As from the distant battle tiers

The bursting mortars roar!

G 26 WATERLOO,

Soft, their spirits blood-besmear’d,

Curse the dark tempestuous hour,

When th’ red star of War appear’d,

Hurrying from his rocky tow’r :

When with death-denouncing glance,

Napoleon rush’d on Belgium’s plain,

Evok’d the pow’r of vaunting France,

And Flushing’s toW’rs sought to gain.

Yes ! they curse the toilsome battle—

Mourn their humbled country’s wrong,

While the red artillery’s rattle,

Raises hecatombs among !

’Till Wellesley in his high career,

Forebore to strike the victim down;

And granting mercy—Pity’s ear,

Compassion glitter’d on his brow ;

He made the foe a godlike vengeance feel,

Who fought to save, and only strikes to heal !•—- A HEROIC POEM. 27

Mercy ! thou lovely, heav’n-descended form,

Whose voice can sooth the desolating storm !

O’er the wide wreck of human nature pause—

Of injur’d virtue, and insulted laws :

Stretch far abroad thy mighty hand, and save

The sons of peace from slaughter and the grave;

Picture the rivers of compatriot blood,

That war has mingled in a mighty flood !

The hills of slain, that tow’ring to the sky,

Delight stern Havoc’s terror-blazing eye ;

Towns left to Death’s inexorable horde,

Whose crest is—Desolation and the Sword ;—

Who knowT no right but such as Vict’ry claims,

Amidst confusion, tyranny, and flames,

Where dark rebellion, with devouring brand,

Leads her gaunt blood-hounds thro’ the trembling land :

These, Mercy! picture, and, if aught can stay,

The low’ring horrors of the damned affray, 28 WATERLOO,

It is the music of thy angel tongue,

The mighty magic of thy heav’nly song !—

And thou, fell tyrant! whose insatiate mind,

No crimes can stagger, and no oaths can bind ;

Whose dire ambition feasts on war’s alarms,

And joys to see surrounding worlds in arms ;

Think’st thou to shun the fate so justly due,

To crimes like thine, which wear so dark a hue ?

Or that the throne which murder help’d to raise,

Could rest secure upon its impious base F

Presumptuous man ! the dreadful hour is come,

Wing’d with the mandate that has seal’d thy doom ;

Perchance you now can feel the awful nod,

That speeds the vengeance of an angry God !

What then, vain man ! can all thy pomp avail,

When Conscience strikes, thy sinking spirits fail ?

When life’s gay scenes shall swim before thine eyes,

And all thy crimes in dreadful order rise > A HEROIC POEM. 29

When angry phantoms scream around thy bed,

Denouncing curses on thy guilty head:

Then wilt thou beg, o’ercome with wild affright,

That heav’n would plunge thee in eternal night!

Then wilt thou call the mountains to thine aid,

And midnight caves to hide thee in their shade;

’Till fate, in mercy, stops thy lab’ring breath,

And gives thee frantic to the arms of death!

No sorrowing friend, low bending o’er thy bier,

Shall then embalm thee with affection's tear;

Nor love to trace in mem’ry’s sacred lore,

The toils and pleasures which with thee he bore;

But unlamented shaft thou reach the tomb,

No ray of hope to cheer its frightful gloom ;

Whilst fiends of darkness howl thy fun’ral dirge,

Who liv’d and died the world’s detested scourge

She ceas’d, and straight her purple pinions spread,

Which o’er the gales delicious perfumes shed ;

ii 30 WATERLOO,

Then, slowly rising, sail’d along the skies,

To where fam’d Albion’s chalky cliffs arise :

Albion, bless’d soil! to whom are largely giv’n,

The choicest blessings of indulgent heav’n!

Albion, dear envied spot! thou Queen of Isles!

Where Justice governs, and where Plenty smiles!

No hateful tyrant rules with iron hand,

The free-born spirits of thy happy land ;

But with mild sceptre o’er thy fertile plains,

Rever’d, ador’d, a virtuous Monarch reigns:

And, while fell Discord hurls her torch afar,

O’er whelming nations in the flames of war ;

Secure we rest amidst the dread alarms,

Free from the shocks of nature and of arms:

O’er trackless waves our fleets triumphant ride,

And bring vast treasures on th’ refluent tide;

To burning climes their waving streamers fly,

Nor shun the rigors of a polar sky: A HEROIC POEM.

While Commerce joyful views their glorious toils,

And, smiling, crowns them with her richest spoils;

Oh may’st thou long, blest land! these gifts retain,

Pride of the earth, and mistress of the main !

May no rude Gaul invade thy peaceful bow’rs.

Range o’er thy fields, or pluck thy native flow’rs;

But, fir’d with envy, should they madly dare,

These matchless blessings with thy sons to share,

Back to the waves with vengeful fury driv’n,

Their dying cries should rend the vault of heav’n!

Eor ill that breast which mad ambition fires,

Can stem the force which liberty inspires!

Hail then, dear land! my much lov’d country, hail!

Thus o’er their foes may Albion’s sons prevail;

Thus may their brows with fadeless wreaths be crown In deeds of war, and peaceful arts renown’d!

So shall thy shores! blest Isle ! unmov’d remain,

’Midst the proud billows of the stormy main l 2% WATERLOO.

While wond’ring nations tremble and admire,

Nor dare to rouse the mighty Albion’s ire!

id r;oiIi-

Thus may’st thou flourish ’till that awful day,

When time shall cease, and kingdoms melt away;

’Till heav’n’s dread thunders, o’er this fabric hurl’d,

Once more to chaos shall consign the world;

’Till suns and stars in dire combustion fall,

And one vast ruin crush the tott’ring ball!

Printed by J. Keggte, Old Assembly Close, .Edinburgh. > :}’ ■ ' . .f

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