War Lyrics dedicated to the friends of the dead. By A. and L. Shore. Second edition, with additions |
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TO A FRENCH GENERAL. |
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TO A FRENCH GENERAL.
Gentle, generous, and brave heart!
I may call thee so,
Though I know not who thou art,
And shall never know.
I may call thee so,
Though I know not who thou art,
And shall never know.
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In a rapture of amaze,
O'er a tale so sweet,
All my soul its homage pays,
Kneeling at thy feet.
O'er a tale so sweet,
All my soul its homage pays,
Kneeling at thy feet.
Like a warrior-saint of old,
With transcendant might,
As past legends oft have told,
Flashing on the fight—
With transcendant might,
As past legends oft have told,
Flashing on the fight—
To our soldier on the ground,
Bleeding and in danger,
Came with swift approaching sound
The majestic stranger.
Bleeding and in danger,
Came with swift approaching sound
The majestic stranger.
Bending down to him thou saws't,
Singly, matched by five,
Thou didst snatch him on thy horse
From the field alive.
Singly, matched by five,
Thou didst snatch him on thy horse
From the field alive.
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Soldier of our own the one,
A French chief the other,
Each when the brave deed was done
Recognised a brother.
A French chief the other,
Each when the brave deed was done
Recognised a brother.
And a truer brotherhood
Could not words express,
Than the kiss, thy head was bowed
On his hand to press.
Could not words express,
Than the kiss, thy head was bowed
On his hand to press.
Vanishing with lightning speed,
As thou first didst come—
Who shall tell us if thy steed
Brought its master home?
As thou first didst come—
Who shall tell us if thy steed
Brought its master home?
Oh, but if thy life be charmed
From the ceaseless ball,
Evermore to ride unharmed
Where thy brethren fall,
From the ceaseless ball,
Evermore to ride unharmed
Where thy brethren fall,
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Happy might the loveliest be
Of our English land,
To repay that kiss to thee
On thy hero-hand.
Of our English land,
To repay that kiss to thee
On thy hero-hand.
L. December, 1854.
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