Belmont chronicle. [volume] (St. Clairsville, Ohio) 1855-1973, 1863-01-29
The Marseillaise.


.Strasburg, whose peerless spire is reflect
ed IN the Rhine, which alone divided us
from the enemy, was boiling caldron OF
war, youth, joy, pleasure, balls, reviews,
where the clash Of instruments Of combat
necessarily mingled with the music of
reyeby.
From Strasburg, through one gate of
which the volunteers entered, there went
out by another gate the soldiers who were
deemed in fighting condition ; their friends
met, shook hapds, bid farewell, their sisters
wept, mothers prayed, fathers said,
go, die for France |"
AL this, to the ring of bells, and the
reyerberations Of cannon, thDse two bronze
voices speaking TO heaven, one to invoke its
mercifulnsss, the other its justice
On one Of these departures, more solem n
than the others, becanse the most consider
able, the Mayor of Strasburg, Dietrich, a
worthy and excellent patriot, invited the
brave young men 20 come to his house to
fraternze in banquet with the officers OF
the garrison. IN xxx.
The Mayors two daughters, with twelve
or fifteen of their companions--fair, noble
daughters Of Alsaee, who might have
been taken, by their golden tresses, for
nymphs Of Ceres--were, if not to preside,
at least, like so many boquets Of flowers, to
embellish the feast. -.
Among the number Of guests, an habitual
yisistor to Detfch's house. friend Of the
family, was young, high-spirited native Of
Franc Comtois, named Ronget de lIsle.
i've knew bin in after years, and he him
self, while We recorded - with our hand
from his mouth, related us the birth Of
that noble flower Of wal; at the springing
UP of which the reader is to be a witness.
Rouget de Isle was then of the age OF
twenty, and, as an engineer officer, was in
garrison at Strasburg., .,..
A poet and musician, his piano was one
Of the instruments to be heard in immense
concerts his voice, one of those which re-
sound above the strongest and most patriotic
Never was banquet more French, more
national, illumed Dy more ardent June
sun.
No one spoke of himscIf+-all spoke for
France.
Death was there. it is true, a. in antique
festivals; but smiling death, not grasping
in his hand the hidcous scythe and mourn
ful hour glass. bW sword in one hand, in
the other palm'branch
They wore puzzled what they should sing,
the old Ca ira" was Song of wrath and
civil war; they wanted a patriotic and
brotherly outburst, ami yet menacing to the
foreigners. ,.-~..r,
Who was to be the modern Tyrtaeus who
would hurl, amid cannon smoke, the whist.
ling Of bullets and balls, the hymn of France
to the enemy2 -. - -. -
To this demand, Rouget de rIsle, en-
thuslastic, amorous, patriotic, answered:
ut is !"
He left the saloon.
In half an Hour, while his absence was
hardly causing any uneasiness, all was form
ed, words and music; all was east at one
gush of metal, fashioned in the mould like
a gods statue.
Rouget de 'Isle entered, his hair tossed
back, his forehead beaded with sweat, breath
less with the consent he had wrestled with
the two sisters-Music and Poetry.
'.Listen-harken to me, all of you ~
he was sure of his muse, the noble young
man.
At his voice everybody turned, some hold.
ing their glasses in their hands, others
holding hand in theirs.
Rouget de rIsle commenced:
Awake. sons of dear France, awake,
The day of glory dawns full fair,
Agan. you now doth tyranny
lis bloody standard nigh uprear.
Do you moi hear how, in our fields
liz skuthess soldiers fercely cheer?
They've come 10 slhy cen IN our arms,
Our children, all we love so dear
10 arms citizens Your balsion. lorm
Until the beams of peace succeed the sorIn!r
On this opening verse an electrical shud
der overran the entire audience.
Two or three shouts of enthusiasm burst
forth but the greedy voices of the rest
cried instantly: r-ft.
Hush hush let US hear 70
Rouget continued, with gesture Of deep
Indignation .ail-2i gii-art
"What do they want this horde OF slaves,
OF iraitrous monarchs, ploiiing kings!
For whom have they had uieir fetiers wrought!
For whom meant these iron rings!
For Frenehmen-us! Oh, such outrage!
All sons OF France this mast upraise
Do they dare dream Of binding US
| In slavery OF other days!
| To arms, citizens -
This time Rouget de lIsle did not have
to sign the chorus himself; single cry
came from every bosom: -
Your battalion>( M.
March on! tnSsch on
oninl the beams OF peace succeed the storm. r.I
Then he proceeded amid glowing enthusi
asm: 't fs - tt r->.. nu
z "what shall We to foreign cohorts. 90 ~. 90
Withou. blow struck, irepbiing bow 4.t-
Shall we confess that our soldiers
| Cannot base nireliags overthrow!
| Great God! is il on hands enchsincd .t..
We are, yoke weighed 10 rest our brow'
Shall we be serfs OF despots ever, i'
| Totss like cattle, at the poushm
A hundred heaving breasts we're waiting,
and when the last line was uttered, the
final question put, they cried:
mo, no, no
Then, with the peal Of trumpet, the
mighty chorus resounded:
TO arms, citizens your batinlions form!
| March on march on!
Unth the beams OF peace succeed the sloun.n
| This time, there was such commotior
among all the auditors that Rouget de Isle
before singing fourth verse, was obliged
to beg silence. p -'fl II; s..t.t
He was listened to fsverishly.
| The indignant voice became meDacing:
| "Tremble, tyran,s. with your allies,
Whom all hate with enc acsord- ID
Tremble. for your iiurd'rsus projects
Are fated soon to gan rewsrd. Ifr
II our heroes shonld fail hauling--, f-s.
| Fate has many sad thingsim store,
All our soldiers TO fight 'gaiist ye!
| Our country shall have more, ana more"
'Ay, ay |" cried the voice.
!Snd fathers pushed forward their sons
who could walk, while mothers held up in
their arms those who still had to be carried.
This made the bard perceive that ther G
was one verse missing the song Of the