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143
WELLINGTON.
(ON A PICTURE BY SIR THOMAS LAWRENCE.)
I.
The dense smoke's volumes, rolling pitchy gloom
Across the darkened sky—the vivid play
Of levelled flashes, glancing bright dismay—
The winged Artillery's loud exulting boom,
With fierce joy bellowing forth a nation's doom—
These, and the bounding thrill, the rapture-rife
Intense intoxication of the strife,
The deadly revelry making Earth a Tomb—
Across the darkened sky—the vivid play
Of levelled flashes, glancing bright dismay—
The winged Artillery's loud exulting boom,
With fierce joy bellowing forth a nation's doom—
These, and the bounding thrill, the rapture-rife
Intense intoxication of the strife,
The deadly revelry making Earth a Tomb—
Declare the War-delirium at its height!—
Meanwhile, in all the uproar of the scene,
Curbing his pawing steed—unmoved—serene—
Sits Wellington! but not the stern delight
That fires the common warrior, can excite
His features' hardy calm—wherein exprest
Most visibly, looks forth the Mind, at Rest
In riotous Amaze—in wild Affright
Composed—whose home is on the Battle-field—
The Petrel of the War-storm—in repose
Where grappling in the death-gripe thousands close!
In calmest consciousness of Strength, self-steeled,
Behold in him the Master-mind revealed!
The cloudless brow—the clear well-opened eye—
The half-smile on the lips—all foes defy—
His very Quiet is a People's shield!
Meanwhile, in all the uproar of the scene,
Curbing his pawing steed—unmoved—serene—
Sits Wellington! but not the stern delight
That fires the common warrior, can excite
His features' hardy calm—wherein exprest
Most visibly, looks forth the Mind, at Rest
In riotous Amaze—in wild Affright
144
The Petrel of the War-storm—in repose
Where grappling in the death-gripe thousands close!
In calmest consciousness of Strength, self-steeled,
Behold in him the Master-mind revealed!
The cloudless brow—the clear well-opened eye—
The half-smile on the lips—all foes defy—
His very Quiet is a People's shield!
So, proudly rising in the hushed profound
Of vacant purple, soars some Alpine Peak,
Smiling in sunny calm—while, surging round
Its base, wide foaming Mist-waves boil and break!
Of vacant purple, soars some Alpine Peak,
Smiling in sunny calm—while, surging round
Its base, wide foaming Mist-waves boil and break!
II.
The mildness of his mien might seem to mock
The Hosts together flung with Earthquake shock!
The cheerful ease of his confiding air,
But ill betrays his all-Importance there!
For through those lips what few short words transpire,
Are Giants to upheave an Army's ire!
That calm glance shoots the lightning of its ken
O'er many a sulphur-clouded mass of men!
The reins of Rage are guided by his hands,
He wields the wrath of myriad warrior-bands!
Proud-seated Cities bow before his breath—
He waves Destruction—nods Despair and Death!
The Hosts together flung with Earthquake shock!
The cheerful ease of his confiding air,
But ill betrays his all-Importance there!
For through those lips what few short words transpire,
Are Giants to upheave an Army's ire!
That calm glance shoots the lightning of its ken
O'er many a sulphur-clouded mass of men!
The reins of Rage are guided by his hands,
He wields the wrath of myriad warrior-bands!
Proud-seated Cities bow before his breath—
He waves Destruction—nods Despair and Death!
145
Leagued Nations nerve him, in the awful hour
Of red Revenge, with strength condensed, to smite;
The gathered energies of Empires glow
In him—the Vehicle of all their Power,
The Focus of their concentrated Might,
Flashing its death-glare on the dazzled Foe!
Of red Revenge, with strength condensed, to smite;
The gathered energies of Empires glow
In him—the Vehicle of all their Power,
The Focus of their concentrated Might,
Flashing its death-glare on the dazzled Foe!
By Genius throned, on Self-Possession's height,
Unmoved he scans the Chaos spread below—
A still Moon shining through the Combat's night
Bidding its Tides of Fury ebb and flow—
A Sun, whose high behests serenely guide
The fierce Monsoons of Battle to and fro;
After whose path of calm commanding Pride
Etesian war-winds wildly hurrying go—
A Battle-Pharos, beaming steady light
Far o'er the raging Sea of fluctuating Fight!
Unmoved he scans the Chaos spread below—
A still Moon shining through the Combat's night
Bidding its Tides of Fury ebb and flow—
A Sun, whose high behests serenely guide
The fierce Monsoons of Battle to and fro;
After whose path of calm commanding Pride
Etesian war-winds wildly hurrying go—
A Battle-Pharos, beaming steady light
Far o'er the raging Sea of fluctuating Fight!
The peculiar calmness, amounting almost to dejection, which was the predominating expression of Napoleon's features during the battle of Austerlitz, is recorded by Savary, and strikingly preserved in the celebrated picture by Gerard.
March 12, 1832.
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