University of Virginia Library

LINES ON A STONE FROM THE FIELD OF WATERLOO.

[1823.]

Sermons there are in stones, the poet said,
With more than poet's truth; then surely THIS
May preach most movingly. Thou stone of slaughter,
Midway between the warring hosts, who met
On that dire battle-field, where blood was poured
Like water! Belgian, Briton, German, Gaul,
In one commingling current, the mad throng
In mutual rush who trod thee under foot,
A slighted pebble—where and what are THEY?
Erst God's erect and animated works,
But yet survived and vaunted over now,
By such a thing as thou art! Thou hast taught
One awful lesson—will the world be learners?—
How small the gain to liberty, when man
Attempts to counteract unlicensed power
By power alike unlicensed! Crush one head,
While a seven-headed hydra in its room
Still revels in its brutal banqueting
Upon the flesh of nations! What a cheat
To human hope! Could stones indeed cry out,
O thou mute witness! what a testimony
Were thine! But thou art cold and still, as they
Who lately pressed above thee, when thy surface
Was slippery with the gore of gallant hearts
Soon pressed in turn beneath thee! But be dumb!
Would that no eye had seen nor ear had heard,
Nor heart of man conceived it!