LXXVIII

AFTER BLENHEIM

It was a summer evening,

Old Kaspar's work was done, And he before his cottage door

Was sitting in the sun;

And by him sported on the green
His little grandchild Wilhelmine.

She saw her brother Peterkin
Roll something large and round,
Which he beside the rivulet

In playing there had found;

He came to ask what he had found,

That was so large, and smooth, and round.

Old Kaspar took it from the boy,

Who stood expectant by ;

And then the old man shook his head,

And with a natural sigh—

""Tis some poor fellow's skull," said he, "Who fell in the great victory.

"I find them in the garden,

For there's many here about; And often when I go to plough

The ploughshare turns them out.

For many a thousand men," said he, "Were slain in that great victory."

"Now tell us what 'twas all about," Young Peterkin he cries : And little Wilhelmine looks up With wonder-waiting eyes; "Now tell us all about the war, And what they fought each other for."

"It was the English," Kaspar cried,
"Who put the French to rout;
But what they killed each other for
I could not well make out.
But everybody said," quoth he,
"That 'twas a famous victory.

"My father lived at Blenheim then,

Yon little stream hard by;

They burned his dwelling to the ground, And he was forced to fly:

So with his wife and child he fled;

Nor had he where to rest his head.

"With fire and sword the country round

Was wasted far and wide,

And many a childing mother then

And new-born baby died;

But things like that, you know, must be, At every famous victory.

"They say it was a shocking sight After the field was won,

For many thousand bodies there

Lay rotting in the sun;

But things like that, you know, must be
After a famous victory.

"Great praise the Duke of Marlbro' won,

66

And our good Prince Eugene."

Why, 'twas a very wicked thing!"

Said little Wilhelmine.

"Nay, nay, my little girl," quoth he,
"It was a famous victory.

"And everybody praised the Duke,
Who such a fight did win."
"But what good came of it at last ?”
Quoth little Peterkin.

66 Why, that I cannot tell," said he,
"But 'twas a famous victory."

LXXIX

SIR HILARY.

(CHARADE.)

Sir Hilary charged at Agincourt-
Sooth, 'twas an awful day!

And though in that old age of sport
The rufflers of the camp and court

Had little time to pray

SOUTHEY.

'Tis said Sir Hilary muttered there
Two syllables by way of prayer.

My First to all the brave and proud
Who see to-morrow's sun;

My Next with her cold and quiet cloud
To those who find their dewy shroud
Before to-day's be done;

And both together to all blue eyes

That weep when a warrior nobly dies.

PRAED.

LXXX

THE BATTLE OF FLODDEN.

A.D. 1513.

A moment then Lord Marmion staid,
And breathed his steed, his men arrayed,
Then forward moved his band,
Until, Lord Surrey's rear-guard won,
He halted by a Cross of Stone,
That, on a hillock standing lone,

Did all the field command.

Hence might they see the full array

Of either host, for deadly fray :

Their marshalled lines stretched east and west

And fronted north and south,

And distant salutation passed

From the loud cannon mouth;

Not in the close successive rattle,

That breathes the voice of modern battle,
But slow and far between-

The hillock gain'd Lord Marmion staid :
"Here by this cross," he gently said,
"You well may view the scene.
Here shalt thou tarry, lovely Clare:
O! think of Marmion in thy prayer !—
Thou wilt not-well,-no less my care
Shall, watchful, for thy weal prepare.-
You Blount and Eustace, are her guard,
With ten picked archers of my train ;
With England if the day go hard,
To Berwick speed amain.—
But if we conquer, cruel maid!
My spoils shall at your feet be laid,
When here we meet again."

He waited not for answer there,

And would not mark the maid's despair,
Nor heed the discontented look
From either squire; but spurred amain,
And dashing through the battle plain,
His way to Surrey took.

Blount and Fitz-Eustace rested still
With Lady Clare upon the hill;
On which (for far the day was spent,)
The western sunbeams now were bent.
The cry they heard, its meaning knew,—
Could plain their distant comrades view :

P