354
WATERLOO.
As if to light your troops to victory.
Reflected lustre from the bayonet streams,
And crested helms give back the level beams.
As, rising oft in far Arabia's land,
Whirl the red columns of collected sand,
Ting'd by the setting sun's dilated fire,
Proud to the skies the pillar'd flames aspire,
And sweep tremendous o'er the ravag'd plain,
While the pale pilgrim strives to fly in vain:
So nobly dread, so formidably bright
Mov'd England's host in all the pomp of light.
Strong as from peace, and fresh as from repose,
Now—now she rushes on her yielding foes.
The clearing smoke their hurrying rout reveals;
All France gives way—a throne—an empire reels!
Wildly they fly, or bend the suppliant knee,
England is victor, and the world is free!
Distracted Uproar lords it o'er the plain:
Where bleed the wounded, or where sink the slain,
Onward they drive, pursuers, and pursued,
Nor check their footsteps deep in blood embrued.
Rout and Confusion, Fear, and Death are there,
And the pale form of pitiless Despair.
Reflected lustre from the bayonet streams,
And crested helms give back the level beams.
As, rising oft in far Arabia's land,
Whirl the red columns of collected sand,
Ting'd by the setting sun's dilated fire,
Proud to the skies the pillar'd flames aspire,
And sweep tremendous o'er the ravag'd plain,
While the pale pilgrim strives to fly in vain:
So nobly dread, so formidably bright
Mov'd England's host in all the pomp of light.
Strong as from peace, and fresh as from repose,
Now—now she rushes on her yielding foes.
The clearing smoke their hurrying rout reveals;
All France gives way—a throne—an empire reels!
Wildly they fly, or bend the suppliant knee,
England is victor, and the world is free!
Distracted Uproar lords it o'er the plain:
Where bleed the wounded, or where sink the slain,
Onward they drive, pursuers, and pursued,
Nor check their footsteps deep in blood embrued.
Rout and Confusion, Fear, and Death are there,
And the pale form of pitiless Despair.
Oh yet exult not, as ye swift recede,
That the tir'd Briton checks his panting steed!
That the tir'd Briton checks his panting steed!
