Ode to the Duke of Wellington, and other poems by Robert Charles Dallas ... Written between the ages of eleven and thirteen years |
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Scene III.—
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 | Ode to the Duke of Wellington, and other poems |  |
Scene III.—
Cæsario's Dying Speech.Enter Cæsario, in haste.
Cæ.—
Fight! fight, my men! one gallant effort more! [Exit and Returns.
All! all is lost! now, human aid is vain
My lost, my vanquish'd fortunes to retrieve!
The die is cast—the fatal hour is come,
When the dread-fierce Cæsario's self must sink,
Wrapt in the cold, the icy grasp of death!
'Tis true I've fall'n—but still, despising odds,
E'en fortune's self I dar'd, untam'd, oppose:
Strove spite of fate to stem the torrent's tide;
And dar'd be valiant, while I dar'd be free!
'Tis all in vain! 'tis the decree of Heav'n,
The threaten'd vengeance of my former crimes!
Yet, though 'tis so—no trampling foe shall lay
With pompous boast my honours in the dust.
Mine own rough arm shall close my bright career,
Myself exulting, as myself I slay!
Yes, though each pow'r to crush me now combine,
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In death itself my noble birth will prove,
A splendid victim of ambition—love:
Destruction's verge, and dark abyss defy,
And once a conq'ror, still unconquer'd die!
Yes, my bright course of radiant glory run,
I'll face my end like India's tropic sun;
Give one bright blaze of fierce and bloody light,
Then sink, wide flaming, in eternal night.
And though thus conscious of approaching fate,
I now must perish, yet will perish great:
And future ages shall through time admire,
This last bright flashing of heroic fire!
[Stabs himself, and falls.
Alarum.
Hark! hark! the rout's began! Oh, for my strength!
My wonted strength!—one hour of vigour—No!—
The gushing blood denies it!—still once more
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Thus sink my fortunes!—Off, base weakness!—oh!
[Dies.
| Ode to the Duke of Wellington, and other poems | |