The bridegroom, who has hardly press'd The husband, whom through many a year Thou canst not name one tender tie, O! when thou see'st some mourner's veil The cause, but think on Waterloo! XXI. Period of honour as of woes, What bright careers 't was thine to close!- DE LANCEY change Love's bridal-wreath, [The Poet's friend, Colonel Sir William De Lancey, married the beautiful daughter of Sir James Hall, Bart., in April, 1815, and received his mortal wound on the 18th of June. See Captain B. Hall's affecting narrative in the first series of his "Fragments of Voyages and Travels," vol. ii. p. 369.] Saw'st gallant MILLER'S' failing eye XXII. Forgive, brave Dead, the imperfect lay! 1 [Colonel Miller, of the Guards-son to Sir Wm. Miller, Lord Glenlee. When mortally wounded in the attack on the Bois de Bossu, he desired to see the colours of the regiment once more ere he died. They were waved over his head, and the expiring officer declared himself satisfied.] ["Colonel Cameron, of Fassiefern, so often distinguished in Lord Wellington's despatches from Spain, fell in the action at Quatre Bras, (16th June, 1815,) while leading the 92d, or Gordon Highlanders, to charge a body of cavalry, supported by infantry."-Paul's Letters, p. 91.] [Colonel the Honourable Sir Alexander Gordon, brother to the Earl of Aberdeen, who has erected a pillar on the spot where he fell by the side of the Duke of Wellington.] To fill, before the sun was low, Till time shall cease to run; XXIII. Farewell, sad Field! whose blighted face With Thy shatter'd huts and trampled grain, every 1 ["Beyond these points the fight extended not, Its breadth scarce more, from eastern Popelot To where the groves of Hougomont on high "But wouldst thou tread this celebrated ground, From western Hougomont thy way begin; "So important Mr. Southey adds, in a note on these verses: a battle, perhaps, was never before fought within so small an extent of ground. I computed the distance between Hougomont and Popelot at three miles; in a straight line it might probably not exceed two and a half. "Our guide was very much displeased at the name which the battle had obtained in England,Why call it the battle of Yet though thy garden's green arcade But still in story and in song, Waterloo?' he said,—' Call it Hougomont, call it La Haye Sainte, call it Popelot,—any thing but Waterloo.'” — Pilgrimage to Waterloo.] V V CONCLUSION. STERN tide of human Time! that know'st not rest, Stern tide of Time! through what mysterious change Such fearful strife as that where we have striven, Until the awful term when Thou shalt cease to flow. Well hast thou stood, my Country!-the brave figi Hast well maintain'd through good report and ill; In thy just cause and in thy native might, And in Heaven's grace and justice constant still; Whether the banded prowess, strength, and skill Of half the world against thee stood array'd, Or when, with better views and freer will, Beside thee Europe's noblest drew the blade, Each emulous in arms the Ocean Queen to aid. |