The Meeker herald. [volume] (Meeker, Colo.) 1885-current, 1900-05-26


tOld Tavoritc Series.)
lat the time OF the SECOND burial of
Napoleon the following poem appeared
In the Maple ,.eaf. IA Canadian pubhca-
tion of that day. II has been popular
ever since. and can be found in many col
eections of poetry credited to an anony-
nous writer. 1t was written by Sir John
II. Hagarty. ate Chief Justice of the
Province of Ostario. then u young law
yer In Toronto.l
Cold and brilliant streams the sunlight
on the wintry banks of Seine.
Gloriously tho imperial city rears her
pride of tower and fame
solemnly with deep voice pealetn. Notrs
Dame. thine ancient chime.
Minute-guns the death-bell answer In the
same deep. measured time.
On the unwonted stiffness gather sounds
of an advancing host
As the rising tempest chafeth on ST. Hell
ems far-off coast:
Nearer rolls q mighty observation-disclosures
swells the funeral strain.
From the barrier arch of Neuilly pours
the giant burial train.
Dark with eagles is the sunlight-darkly
on the golden air
FLAP the folds of faded standards. elo-
Quently mourning there
Ger the pomp of glittering thousands
like battle-phantom fits
Tatter'd fig of Jena. Friedland. Arcola
and Austeriitz.
Eagle-crowned and garland-circled. slow
ly moves the stately car.
Md the sea of plumes and horsemen-
ell the burial pomp OF war
Riderh 's war-worn charger follows his
dead masters bier
Long since battle-trumpet reused him
he but lived to follow here.
From his grave, mid oceans dirges.
moaning surge and sparkling foam,
Lo. the Imperial Dead returneth: 10. the
Hero-dust comes home!
He hath left the Atlantic island. lonely
vale and willow tree.
Meath the Invalides to slumber. mid the
Gallo chivalry.
Glorious tomb DER glorious sleepers! gal
liant fellowship to share
Paladin and Peer and Marshal-France.
thy noblest dust Is there!
Names that light thy battle annals
names that shook the heart Of earth!
Stars in crimson Wars horizon-syno-
nyms for martial WORTH
Room within that shrine of heroes! place.
pale spectres of the past!
your mightiest comes at last!
Was his course the Woe out-thundered
from prophetic trumpct's lips?
Was his type the ghostly horseman sha-
lowed in the Apocalypse?
Gray-haircd soldiers gather round him.
relics of An age of war.
Followers of the Victor Eagle. when his
flight WAS wild and far:
Men who painted in the death strife on
Rodrigo's bloody ridge.
Hearts that sickened at the death-shriek
from the Russians shattered bridge:
Men who heard the immortal war-cry of
the wild Egyptian fight
Forty centuries o'erlook us from yon
Pyramids gray height!'
They who heard the means OF Jaffa, and
the breach of Acre knew
They who rushed their foaming war;
steeds on the squares of Waterloo
They who loved him-they who feared
him-they who In his dark hour
fed
Round the mighty burial gather. SPELL
bound by the awful Dead!
Churchmen = Princes = statesmer-War-
riors-all Kingdoms chief array.
And the Fox stands-crowned mourner-
by the Eagles hero-clay!
nut Inc last h,Sh rite II paln MIN, anu
the last deep knell is rung-
And the cannon's iron voices have their
thunder requiem sung
And. mid banners Idly dropping. silent
gloom and Wondering state.
Shall the Trampler of the world upon the
Judgment-trumpet walt.
Yet his ancient foes had given him nobler
monumental pile,
Where the overlapping dirges moaned
around the burial isle
Pyramid upheaved by Ocean In his lone
Hest wilds afar.
For the war-King thunder stricken from
his fiery battle-car!