University of Virginia Library

NAPOLEON'S PROPHECY.

It is said by Dr. O'Meara, in his “Voice from St. Helena,” (page 160,) that Napoleon conversed much upon the probability of a Revolution in France. “Ere twenty years have elapsed when I am dead and buried,” said he, “you will witness another Revolution in France. It is impossible that twenty nine millions of Frenchmen can live contented under the yoke of sovereigns imposed upon them by foreigners, and against whom they have fought and bled for nearly thirty years. Can you blame the French for not being willing to submit to the yoke of such animals as Monchenu.”

Without conceding much of the wizard spirit to Napoleon, on the present occasion, the inference being fairly deducible from the circumstances attending the restoration of the Bourbon Dynasty, we must nevertheless

regard this prediction, now that it has been so fully verified in every respect, with much and devout attention. On the part of Napoleon, it betrays a great degree of familiarity with the French character, and leads us to remark another cause of the wonderful influence which he maintained over that people; an influence, indeed, which has identified his name with the nation, and which, though his living influence be no longer felt, still maintains for him an undying record in the memorials of its glory.

And deem'st thou that France, in her free shining vallies,
And the people so gallant in peace and in war,
Shall slumber supinely when liberty rallies,
And waves her proud ensign of triumph afar;—
Content in her chains, and unconscious of glory,
Untroubled by shame, and unfit to be free,
Shall the nation, already immortal in story,
To the tyrants they've fought with so long, bend the knee.
Believe it not stranger—though now they dissemble,
Since weaken'd by fight, and by fraud overthrown;
They will rise in their strength, and the tyrants shall tremble,
Who for thirty long years they have fought with alone:
Then, who shall resist the fierce strength of that power,
When her millions of freemen, in might shall advance,
With one spirit endued, at the same glorious hour,
To strike for the honour and freedom of France!
Believe not, that long, 'neath the shroud of dishonor,
Her national spirit will slumber in shame;
Already, the day-star is bursting upon her,
And guiding her feet back to glory and fame;
No spot on her shield and no stain on her story,
No chain on her wrist and no cloud on her brow,
Through the mists of the future, I beacon her glory,
As bright and as perfect as if it were now.
She will blush for her shame—she will rise with the terror,
The wrath and the power of freedom, alike;
And dearly the Tyrant shall pay for his error,
And firmly and fairly shall Liberty strike:—
No lip shall reprove them, no power subdue them,
No folly mislead them, but firm as the shore,
They shall rise for their rights, and the nations shall view them
Asserting their freedom, and taking no more.