"OH, MORE OR LESS THAN MAN, IN HIGH OR LOW, BATTLING WITH NATIONS, FLYING FROM THE FIELD,-(LORD BYRON) AN EMPIRE THOU COULDST CRUSH, COMMAND, REBUILD, JOHN GIBSON LOCKHART. His silent thoughts I could not scan, A trembling hand had partly covered The old man's weeping countenance, That spake of War and France; Said I, "Perchance this faded hand, Perchance hath kindled this old cheek; He hath been with him young and old; His soul was as a sword, to leap He knew no other lord. As if it were but yesternight, This man remembers dark Eylau ;+ * Referring to the great battle of the Bridge of Lodi, where Napoleon defeated a superior force of Austrians, May 10, 1796. The battle of Eylau, in Prussia, where, on February 7 and 8, 1807, the French, under Napoleon, defeated the Russians, after a most sanguinary struggle. The victors lost 15,000 men; the Russians, in killed alone, 20,000. BUT GOVERN NOT THY PETTIEST PASSION."-lord Byron. NOW MAKING MONARCHS' NECKS THY FOOTSTOOLS, NOW MORE THAN THY MEANEST SOLDIER TAUGHT TO YIELD."-BYRON. "THINE EVIL DEEDS ARE WRIT IN GORE, NOR WRITTEN THUS IN VAIN,-LORD BYRON) THE TRIUMPH AND THE VANITY, THE RAPTURE OF THE STRIFE, THE VOICE OF VICTORY TO THEE THE BREATH OF LIFE."-BYRON. 263 THY TRUMPETS TELL OF FAME NO MORE, OR DEEPEN EVERY STAIN."-LORD BYRON. "TO THINK THAT GOD'S FAIR WORLD HATH BEEN THE FOOTSTOOL OF A THING SO MEAN!"-BYRON. 264 IN THE BALANCE, HERO DUST IS VILE AS VULGAR CLAY."-BYRON. JOHN GIBSON LOCKHART. I entered, and I saw him lie To dead Napoleon. He was not shrouded in a shroud,— The sword he liked the best. A solemn smile was on his lips, Ye would have said some sainted sprite Some man, whose prayer at morn and night What thoughts had calmed his dying breast No sculptured pile our hands shall rear; From Buonaparte's bier. ["These majestically solemn lines alone would have for ever stamped their author a poet of a high order.”—Dr. D. M. Moir.] 66 THOU, MORTALITY, ART JUST TO ALL THAT PASS AWAY."-BYRON. "OH, NE'ER MAY TYRANT LEAVE BEHIND A BRIGHTER NAME TO LURE MANKIND!"-LORD BYRON. SPEED thee well, nOBLE SOUL, GALLANT HEART, THE DAUPHIN. 265 Hon. Robert Lytton. (THE Hon. Edward Robert Bulwer Lytton, the only son of Lord Lytton, was born on the 8th of November 1831. He was educated at Harrow, and afterwards completed his curriculum at Bonn. He entered the diplomatic service in 1849, and has several times been employed upon special missions. His first work, "Clytemnestra," produced under the nom de plume of "Owen Meredith," appeared in 1855. Then came "The Wanderer; or, a Collection of Poems," in 1859; "Lucille," a novel in verse, 1860; "The King of Amasis," 1863; and "Chronicles and Characters," in 1868. His characteristics are, a remarkable fluency of versification, much grace and richness of fancy, and a cultivated taste.] SPEED THEE WELL, WHERESOEVER THOU ART, IN THE RANKS OF THE ARMIES OF LIFE, (ROBERT LYTTON) WHO DOST BATTLE FOR GOOD TO THE DEATH, IN THAT BATTLE WHICH NEVER SHALL CEASE."-R. LYTTON. THE DAUPHIN. [Louis XVII., son of Louis XVI. and of Marie Antoinette, died in prison, June 8, 1795.] PALACE here, a People there, For the rain is raining heavily, Broidered of satin, as best befits, WHO UNSCARED GOES FORTH TO THE STRIFE; "OF WHAT MIGHTY ENDEAVOURS BEGUN WHAT RESULTS INSUFFICIENT REMAIN,-(ROBERT LYTTON) "LO, HOW LITTLE EARTH SAVES AT THE most-roBERT LYTTON) 266 HON. ROBERT LYTTON. For the childhood of this child is heir The late Sunbeam, now sinking in his hair For, since thou, O child, didst flee, Hearest thou the sounds outside? OF THE LIFE OF HER BRAVEST AND BEST."-HON. ROBERT LYTTON. AND OF HOW MANY VICTORIES WON HALF THE SPOILS HAVE BEEN TAKEN AGAIN!"-R. LYTTON. |