 | Songs and ballads by Samuel Lover |  |
THE FLAG IS HALF-MAST-HIGH.
A BALLAD OF THE WALMER WATCH.
[_]
Arthur, Field-Marshal the Duke of Wellington, died on the 14th of September, 1852, at Walmer Castle, where his body lay in state under a guard of honour.
A guard of honour kept its watch in Walmer's ancient hall,
And sad and silent was the ward beside the Marshal's pall,
The measur'd tread beside the dead thro' echoing space might tell
How solemnly the round was paced by lonely sentinel;
But in the guard-room, down below, a war-worn veteran gray
Recounted all The Hero's deeds, through many a glorious day,
How, 'neath the red-cross flag he made the foes of Britain fly—
“Though now, for him,” the veteran said, “that flag is half-mast-high!”
And sad and silent was the ward beside the Marshal's pall,
The measur'd tread beside the dead thro' echoing space might tell
How solemnly the round was paced by lonely sentinel;
But in the guard-room, down below, a war-worn veteran gray
Recounted all The Hero's deeds, through many a glorious day,
How, 'neath the red-cross flag he made the foes of Britain fly—
“Though now, for him,” the veteran said, “that flag is half-mast-high!”
43
“I mark one day, when far away the Duke on duty went,
That Soult came reconnoitering our front with fierce intent;
But when his ear caught up our cheer, the cause he did divine,
He could not doubt why that bold shout came ringing up the line;
He felt it was the Duke come back, his lads to reassure,
And our position, weak before, he felt was then secure,
He beat retreat, while we did beat advance, and made him fly
Before the conquering flag—that now—is drooping half-mast-high!”
That Soult came reconnoitering our front with fierce intent;
But when his ear caught up our cheer, the cause he did divine,
He could not doubt why that bold shout came ringing up the line;
He felt it was the Duke come back, his lads to reassure,
And our position, weak before, he felt was then secure,
He beat retreat, while we did beat advance, and made him fly
Before the conquering flag—that now—is drooping half-mast-high!”
And truly might the soldier say his presence ever gave
Assurance to the most assured, and bravery to the brave;
His prudence-tempered valour—his eagle-sighted skill,
And calm resolves, the measure of a hero went to fill.
Fair Fortune flew before him; 'twas conquest where he came—
For Victory wove her chaplet in the magic of his name:
But while his name thus gilds the past, the present wakes a sigh,
To see his flag of glory now—but drooping half-mast-high!
Assurance to the most assured, and bravery to the brave;
His prudence-tempered valour—his eagle-sighted skill,
And calm resolves, the measure of a hero went to fill.
Fair Fortune flew before him; 'twas conquest where he came—
For Victory wove her chaplet in the magic of his name:
But while his name thus gilds the past, the present wakes a sigh,
To see his flag of glory now—but drooping half-mast-high!
In many a by-gone battle, beneath an Indian sun,
That flag was borne in triumph o'er the sanguine plains he won;
Where'er that flag he planted impregnable became,
As Torres Vedras' heights have told in glittering steel and flame.
'Twas then to wild Ambition's Chief he flung the gaunlet down,
And from his iron grasp retrieved the ancient Spanish crown;
He drove him o'er the Pyrenees with Victory's swelling cry,
Before the red-cross flag—that now—is drooping half-mast-high!
That flag was borne in triumph o'er the sanguine plains he won;
Where'er that flag he planted impregnable became,
As Torres Vedras' heights have told in glittering steel and flame.
44
And from his iron grasp retrieved the ancient Spanish crown;
He drove him o'er the Pyrenees with Victory's swelling cry,
Before the red-cross flag—that now—is drooping half-mast-high!
And when once more from Elba's shore the Giant Chief broke loose,
And startled nations waken'd from the calm of hollow truce,
In foremost post the British host soon sprang to arms again,
And Fate in final balance held the world's two foremost men.
The Chieftains twain might ne'er again have need for aught to do,
So, once for all, we won the fall at glorious Waterloo—
The work was done, and Wellington his saviour-sword laid by,
And now, in grief, to mourn our Chief—the flag is half-mast-high!
And startled nations waken'd from the calm of hollow truce,
In foremost post the British host soon sprang to arms again,
And Fate in final balance held the world's two foremost men.
The Chieftains twain might ne'er again have need for aught to do,
So, once for all, we won the fall at glorious Waterloo—
The work was done, and Wellington his saviour-sword laid by,
And now, in grief, to mourn our Chief—the flag is half-mast-high!
| Songs and ballads by Samuel Lover | |