Poems, on sacred and other subjects and songs, humorous and sentimental: By the late William Watt. Third edition of the songs only--with additional songs |
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THE BATTLE OF VITTORIA. |
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 | Poems, on sacred and other subjects |  |
77
THE BATTLE OF VITTORIA.
On famed Vittoria's gory height,
Ere shades proclaim'd th' approach of night,
The sulph'rous tube and sabre bright
Swept thousands to eternity.
Ere shades proclaim'd th' approach of night,
The sulph'rous tube and sabre bright
Swept thousands to eternity.
The marshall'd ranks, in bright array,
Stood glittering in the blaze of day;
While drums and trumpets loud did bray
Along the azure canopy.
Stood glittering in the blaze of day;
While drums and trumpets loud did bray
Along the azure canopy.
As from the lightning's ebon shrine
The thunder bursts with voice sublime,
So cannons roar and armours chime
In contest for the mastery.
The thunder bursts with voice sublime,
So cannons roar and armours chime
In contest for the mastery.
Now dire confusion clouds the field,
With stubborn brows their swords they wield,
Till Gallia's sons are forced to yield
To British strength and bravery.
With stubborn brows their swords they wield,
Till Gallia's sons are forced to yield
To British strength and bravery.
Here lies, defaced by blood and scars,
The hero old, and skill'd in wars,
(Who lived a votary to Mars,)
Lamenting his hard destiny.
The hero old, and skill'd in wars,
(Who lived a votary to Mars,)
Lamenting his hard destiny.
There wreathes on the ensanguined plain
The soldier young, in horrid pain,
In life's gay morn untimely ta'en
By fate's delusive treachery.
The soldier young, in horrid pain,
In life's gay morn untimely ta'en
By fate's delusive treachery.
Beneath the willow's blood-stain'd leaf
Lies, parch'd with thirst, the wounded chief,
And not a hand to lend relief,
Or soothe his grevious misery:
Lies, parch'd with thirst, the wounded chief,
And not a hand to lend relief,
Or soothe his grevious misery:
The horseman, 'neath his hapless steed,
In anguish fell doth groaning bleed;
Aloof from help, in time of need,
He dies at point of victory:
In anguish fell doth groaning bleed;
Aloof from help, in time of need,
He dies at point of victory:
When loud the brazen trump of fame
Resounds for Wellington and Graham,
Who've gain'd themselves a deathless name,
While lasts the page of history.
Resounds for Wellington and Graham,
Who've gain'd themselves a deathless name,
While lasts the page of history.
| Poems, on sacred and other subjects | |