The Middlebury people's press. [volume] (Middlebury, Vt.) 1841-1843, 1842-04-05
MISCELLANEOUS.
THE FIELD OF WATERLOO.
BY WASHINGTON IRVING.

bf mASHlNGTON lRNING.
! have spoken heretofore with some levty
+ on the contrast that exists between The Englisl
and French character, but il deserves more sc.
rious consideration. They are ,he two great
nations OF modern times most Numerically
/ opposed, and most worthy of each others riv-
airy: essentially distinct in their Characters. ex.
ceiling in opposite qualities, and rejecting us.
tire OF each other by their very opposition. Ia
nothing is this contrast mole strikinaly evin-
ced than in their military conduct. For ages
have they been coniending, and for ages have
they crnwded each orheI' S history with acts OF
splendid hero;sm.
Take the battle of Waterloo. for INSTANCE,
the last and mos memorable trial of their rival
proves. Nothing could surpass the brilliant
daring on one side, and the sieadiast endur-
ance on the other. The French cavalry broke
like waves on The compact squares Of thcEng-
infantry. They were galloping around those
seriied walls of men,seekng in vain for an en-
trance, tossing their arms in the cir in the heat
of their enthusiasm, and Drawing the whole
front of the battle. The British troops, on the
other hand hand forbidden 10 move or fire,
stood firm and enduring. Their columns were
ripped up by caDGonrv;whole rows we're swept
down al a shot; the survivors closed their ranks
ana stood through the petlng of the IRON tenn
pest wthou. firing sho', without any action
TO stir their blood or exercise their Spirits
Death ;hinned their ranks, but could not shake
their souls.
A beautiful instance of the quick and gen.
erous impulse 10 which the French are prone,
is given in the case of FrJnch chivalicr, in
the hottest Of the action, charging furiously
upon Br iiish officer, but perceIvirg in the
moment of the assault that his adversary hal
lost his sword arm, dropping the point OF his
sabre and courteously rode on. Peace be with
that generous warrior, whatever were his fate.
If he went down in the storm of battle, with
the laundering fortunes Of his chieftain, may
the turf of Waterloo grow green above hi
grave; and happier far would be the fate ui
snch a spirit 10 sink amidst the tempest, and
uncor scious of defeat, than 10 survive and
mourn over the blighted laurcls ofhis country.
In this way The two armies fought through
a long and bloody day-,hc French with en-.
lhusiasic valor, the English with cold inhex-
bic courage; until fate, as if 10 leave the ques-
ZION Of superiority still undecided between two
such advcrsaries, brought up the Prussians to
decide the fortunes of the field.
II was several years aferward that visited
the field of Waterloo. Ire pouglishare had
been busy with its oblvious abors, and the fire.
quent harvest had nearly oblilerated the vesta-
gcs Of war. Still the blackened ruins of the
llu9umont stood. a monumental pile 10 mark
the violence Of this vehement struggle. Its
broken walls, pierced by bullets and shattered
by explosions, showed the deadly strife iha,
had taken place within. when Gaul and Briton
hemmed in between narrow walls, hand TO
hand and foot TO foot FOUGHT from garden to
court yard, from courtyard 10 chamber. with
intense and concentrated rivaiShip. Columns
Of smoke fumed from this vortex of battle as
from volcano. 1T was" SAID my guide, "a
hell on earth" Mt far of. Two or three broad
spots of rank unwhoIesome green still marked
the places where these rival warriors after their
fierce and fiIful struggle, slept quietly in the
lap of their mother earth. Over all the rest Of
the field peace had resumed lis SWAY. The
ihoughtlcss whistle of the peasant foated in
the air, instead of the trumpel's clangor the
team slowly Iabored up the side once shaken
BY the hoofs Of rushing sguadrons; and wide
fields Of corn waved peacefully over the SOL
diers graves. as summer seas dimple over The
place where many a tall ship lies buried.