Recaptured Rhymes Being a Batch of Political and Other Fugitives Arrested and Brought to Book. By H. D. Traill |
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AVE CÆSAR! MORTUI TE SALUTANT. |
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 | Recaptured Rhymes |  |
131
AVE CÆSAR! MORTUI TE SALUTANT.
(June 1879.)
“Yes, it is well to mourn him,” foes
Alike with friends can say;
That bright young life's pathetic close
Disarms all hates to-day.
Alike with friends can say;
That bright young life's pathetic close
Disarms all hates to-day.
None needs to grudge that there be flung
On that untimely grave
All flowers of pity for the young,
The innocent, the brave.
On that untimely grave
All flowers of pity for the young,
The innocent, the brave.
Not his the sins that marred his land,
Though they were sinned for him;
No war was kindled by his hand
Because his star grew dim.
Though they were sinned for him;
No war was kindled by his hand
Because his star grew dim.
132
And therefore it is well that now
The willing tear be shed
For the poor stripling Prince laid low
Among inglorious dead.
The willing tear be shed
For the poor stripling Prince laid low
Among inglorious dead.
But also well that we should mark
Hovering above the gate
Of death, the levelled hand, the dark
And awful brows of Fate;
Hovering above the gate
Of death, the levelled hand, the dark
And awful brows of Fate;
And hear what ghostly murmurs swell
Around the fatal spot,
From countless shades of those who fell
At Wörth and Gravelotte.
Around the fatal spot,
From countless shades of those who fell
At Wörth and Gravelotte.
“What robe of empire now clothes on
This body pierced and bare?
Where is the purple, Cæsar's son,
We died that you might wear?
This body pierced and bare?
Where is the purple, Cæsar's son,
We died that you might wear?
133
Was it for this we shed our blood,
For this poor naked prey
Of savage wile, this fated food
For Zulu assegai?
For this poor naked prey
Of savage wile, this fated food
For Zulu assegai?
Left we for this our children dear,
Sweet faces of our wives?
Caesar—if Death the dead can hear—
Give back to us our lives!”
Sweet faces of our wives?
Caesar—if Death the dead can hear—
Give back to us our lives!”
| Recaptured Rhymes | |