 | Erato, number II |  |
13
VII.
Again the vision changed.
Where dwells the iron-sinewed Muscovite,
In the far, icy North,
The legions of the Conqueror pitch'd their tents,
And dared the bearded Russian to the field—
The Russian, scourge of Kosciusko's land.
The ancient spirit of the Pole was rous'd;
And Warsaw's nobles join'd the Gallic hosts,
To combat 'gainst the oppressor of their race.
The Conqueror led his hosts, thus multiplied,
To battle; and the brave and hardy Russ
Receiv'd the onset, nor recoil'd one pace.
Where dwells the iron-sinewed Muscovite,
In the far, icy North,
The legions of the Conqueror pitch'd their tents,
And dared the bearded Russian to the field—
The Russian, scourge of Kosciusko's land.
The ancient spirit of the Pole was rous'd;
And Warsaw's nobles join'd the Gallic hosts,
To combat 'gainst the oppressor of their race.
The Conqueror led his hosts, thus multiplied,
To battle; and the brave and hardy Russ
Receiv'd the onset, nor recoil'd one pace.
The meeting was as if the East and West
Should send two hurricanes o'er the teeming earth—
Two hurricanes, charg'd with woe;
Furious they rush along,
Leaving destruction in their wake—
Dashing the scared and panting birds to earth;
Fright'ning the prowling panther from his prey;
And to their dens,
The rocky caverns of the mountainous land,
Driving the wildered beasts,
With terror almost overcome;
And striking man
With awe profound;
Then in some desert vast
They come together, sudden, furious,
Each from opposing points, of equal force!
Their roar of terror fills the ambient air—
Their roar of terror shakes the cavern'd earth—
The dreadful clashing of th' uprooted trees,
That interlock their branches, and ascend
In spiral columns to the dusky sky,
Howls loudly through the subterranean earth,
And by its dismal dens is bellowed back.
A furious moment pass'd, on the scathed earth,
Rent, and in terrible disorder piled,
Lies the tall forest's pride,
In desolation low,
To scorch and wither in the noonday sun!
Should send two hurricanes o'er the teeming earth—
Two hurricanes, charg'd with woe;
Furious they rush along,
Leaving destruction in their wake—
Dashing the scared and panting birds to earth;
Fright'ning the prowling panther from his prey;
And to their dens,
The rocky caverns of the mountainous land,
Driving the wildered beasts,
With terror almost overcome;
And striking man
With awe profound;
Then in some desert vast
They come together, sudden, furious,
Each from opposing points, of equal force!
Their roar of terror fills the ambient air—
Their roar of terror shakes the cavern'd earth—
The dreadful clashing of th' uprooted trees,
14
In spiral columns to the dusky sky,
Howls loudly through the subterranean earth,
And by its dismal dens is bellowed back.
A furious moment pass'd, on the scathed earth,
Rent, and in terrible disorder piled,
Lies the tall forest's pride,
In desolation low,
To scorch and wither in the noonday sun!
In such destructive fury met those hosts;
Thousands on either side were mown to earth;
And other thousands, rushing o'er the dead,
Fell as the first—hew'd down—corpse piled on corpse!
Thus fought they, from the dawn till close of day;
And when they ceased, each occupied the ground
As ere the strife began. And on the plain,
That lay between them, tens of thousands slept
The sleep eternal; other thousands pray'd,
And groan'd, and curs'd, unable to creep off,
And stretch'd their arms in agony severe,
Grasping the nearest corpse, and dying thus!
Victory belong'd to neither standard then,
Though claimed for both.—Time after time renew'd
Was the fierce contest; and the hosts of Gaul
Were laying waste the land, and thinning fast
Th' inferior numbers of the haughty Russ;
Until at length th' Imperial Autocrat
Ask'd peace, and granted terms which suited well
The ambitious spirit of the Conqueror.
Thousands on either side were mown to earth;
And other thousands, rushing o'er the dead,
Fell as the first—hew'd down—corpse piled on corpse!
Thus fought they, from the dawn till close of day;
And when they ceased, each occupied the ground
As ere the strife began. And on the plain,
That lay between them, tens of thousands slept
The sleep eternal; other thousands pray'd,
And groan'd, and curs'd, unable to creep off,
And stretch'd their arms in agony severe,
Grasping the nearest corpse, and dying thus!
Victory belong'd to neither standard then,
Though claimed for both.—Time after time renew'd
Was the fierce contest; and the hosts of Gaul
Were laying waste the land, and thinning fast
Th' inferior numbers of the haughty Russ;
Until at length th' Imperial Autocrat
Ask'd peace, and granted terms which suited well
The ambitious spirit of the Conqueror.
And now he stood upon the dazzling height
For which he long had labor'd. In his view,
The Gallic Eagle held the world in awe:
He deem'd the liberties of every land
Which would not do it homage, in his pow'r;
And took his seat upon his throne again,
In splendid loneliness—from all apart!
For which he long had labor'd. In his view,
The Gallic Eagle held the world in awe:
15
Which would not do it homage, in his pow'r;
And took his seat upon his throne again,
In splendid loneliness—from all apart!
| Erato, number II | |