 | Lays for the Dead |  |
1
DIRGE
ON THE DEATH OF MY RELATION, CAPTAIN CHARLES WILLIAM THOMPSON, OF THE 1ST GUARDS, WHO WAS KILLED NEAR BIDART, IN THE WINTER OF 1813.
Weep! though he died as heroes die,
The death that's courted by the brave!
Mourn, though he lies where warriors lie,
And valour envies such a grave.
The death that's courted by the brave!
Mourn, though he lies where warriors lie,
And valour envies such a grave.
For oh! with his capacious mind,
Where once the love of science reign'd,
He might have taught and bless'd mankind,
And sage or patriot's glories gain'd.
Where once the love of science reign'd,
He might have taught and bless'd mankind,
And sage or patriot's glories gain'd.
2
But soon the love of bold emprize,
Of martial honour, martial fame,
Inspir'd the wish, by arms to rise,
And gain a hero's glittering name.
Of martial honour, martial fame,
Inspir'd the wish, by arms to rise,
And gain a hero's glittering name.
For this he burnt the midnight oil,
And pored o'er lofty deeds untir'd,
Resolv'd like those he priz'd to toil,
And be the hero he admir'd.
And pored o'er lofty deeds untir'd,
Resolv'd like those he priz'd to toil,
And be the hero he admir'd.
Yet softer arts, yet gentler lore,
Could lure him to their tuneful page,
And Dante's dread-inspiring power,
And Petrarch's love his soul engage.
Could lure him to their tuneful page,
And Dante's dread-inspiring power,
And Petrarch's love his soul engage.
How sweetly from his accents flow'd
The Tuscan poet's magic strains!
But vainly heaven such gifts bestow'd;
He fought, he bled on Gallia's plains.
The Tuscan poet's magic strains!
But vainly heaven such gifts bestow'd;
He fought, he bled on Gallia's plains.
3
No mother's kiss, no sister's tear
Embalm'd the victim's fatal wound!
No father pray'd beside the bier,
No brother clasp'd his arms around!
Embalm'd the victim's fatal wound!
No father pray'd beside the bier,
No brother clasp'd his arms around!
Amidst the cannon's loud alarms
He fell, as valour's children fall!
His bier, his toil-worn comrades' arms;
And earth's green turf his funeral pall.
He fell, as valour's children fall!
His bier, his toil-worn comrades' arms;
And earth's green turf his funeral pall.
But, who is he, in arms array'd,
That bids the sacred turf unclose?
Who dares that dread-obscure invade?
Who breaks the soldier's deep repose?
That bids the sacred turf unclose?
Who dares that dread-obscure invade?
Who breaks the soldier's deep repose?
4
Though sacred be the buried dead,
Who could that act of love repel?
A brother comes, by fondness led,
To look a brother's last farewell.
Who could that act of love repel?
A brother comes, by fondness led,
To look a brother's last farewell.
See! round the grave his comrades crowd;
See the lov'd form restor'd to light!
But pale, worn, chang'd, in warrior shroud
It meets the shuddering brother's sight!
See the lov'd form restor'd to light!
But pale, worn, chang'd, in warrior shroud
It meets the shuddering brother's sight!
See! from the breast his hand removes
A gem the victim joy'd to wear;
The tender theft affection loves,
And holds the guiltless spoiler dear.
A gem the victim joy'd to wear;
The tender theft affection loves,
And holds the guiltless spoiler dear.
At length his long, last look he takes,
Then lets the turf for ever close!
His brother's grave he then forsakes,
To meet again his country's foes.
Then lets the turf for ever close!
5
To meet again his country's foes.
Alas! to think one christian soul,
At war's red shrine can worship still,
Nor heed, though seas of carnage roll,
Those awful words “Thou shalt not kill!”
At war's red shrine can worship still,
Nor heed, though seas of carnage roll,
Those awful words “Thou shalt not kill!”
Oh! Lord of all! and Prince of Peace,
Speed! speed the long predicted day,
When war throughout the world shall cease,
And love shall hold eternal sway.
Speed! speed the long predicted day,
When war throughout the world shall cease,
And love shall hold eternal sway.
Dread thought! ere that blest hour shall come,
How many suns must rise and wane!
How many leave their peaceful home,
To fall on battle's bloody plain!
How many suns must rise and wane!
How many leave their peaceful home,
To fall on battle's bloody plain!
To fall like him, my mournful theme,
Whose image glares upon my view,
Midst cannon's roar, midst falchion's gleam,
And I my requiem thus renew.
Whose image glares upon my view,
6
And I my requiem thus renew.
“Weep! though he died as heroes die,
The death that 's courted by the brave;
Mourn, though he lies where warriors lie,
And valour envies such a grave?”
The death that 's courted by the brave;
Mourn, though he lies where warriors lie,
And valour envies such a grave?”
Colonel T., the eldest brother of the deceased, who was with his regiment at some distance, hastened to the place where his brother fell, as soon as he heard what had happened, and obtained leave to have the grave opened, that he might see this tenderly beloved brother again; and general Bosville (afterwards Lord Macdonald) and others accompanied him to the spot.
| Lays for the Dead | |