Military Glory. N what foundation stands the warrior's pride; How just his hopes, let Swedish A frame of adamant, a soul of fire, O'er love, o'er fear extends his wide domain, Behold surrounding kings their powers combine, And one capitulate and one resign; Peace courts his hand, but spreads her charms in vain : The march begins in military state, [Speaking of the great DOCTOR, Bishop Gleig justly observes :-" Without claiming for him the highest place among his contemporaries in any single department of literature, we may use one of his own expressions, that he brought more mind to every subject, and had a greater variety of knowledge ready for all occasions, than almost any other man!" This holds true of his poetry, which is majestic and sonorous in flow, and moral in purpose. The publication of his "London" paved the way to Johnson's success.] He comes, nor want nor cold his course delay : THE BATTLE OF WATERLOO. 125 But did not chance at length her error mend? Or hostile millions press him to the ground? His fall was destined to a barren strand, A petty fortress and a dubious hand; He left the name, at which the world grew pale, DR. JOHNSON. [From "The Vanity of Human Wishes."] T The Battle of Waterloo. HERE was a sound of revelry by night, men : A thousand hearts beat happily; and when Soft eyes look'd love to eyes which spake again, But hush, hark!-a deep sound strikes like a rising knell. Did ye not hear it? No-'twas but the wind, 126 THE BATTLE OF WATERLOO. On with the dance! let joy be unconfined! No sleep till morn, when youth and pleasure meet, To chase the glowing hours with flying feet. But hark! that heavy sound breaks in once more, As if the clouds its echo would repeat; And nearer, clearer, deadlier than before ! Arm! arm! it is it is the cannon's op'ning roar! Within a window'd niche of that high hall And caught its tone, with death's prophetic ear; He rush'd into the field, and foremost, fighting-fell. Ah! then and there was hurrying to and fro, And there was mounting in hot haste: the steed, THE BATTLE OF WATERLOO. 127 Went pouring forward with impetuous speed, While throng'd the citizens, with terror dumb, Or whisp'ring with white lips- "The foe! they come! And wild and high "the Cam'rons' gath'ring" rose! With the fierce native daring, which instils The stirring mem'ry of a thousand years; And Evan's, Donald's fame rings in each clansman's ears ! In its next verdure; when this fiery mass And burning with high hope, shall moulder cold and low. Last noon beheld them full of lusty life- Last eve, in beauty's circle, proudly gay; ७ |