La Nation Boutiquière, and Other Poems to Which Is Added Points of War, by F Lushington

This historic book may have numerous typos and missing text. Purchasers can download a free scanned copy of the original book (without typos) from the publisher. Not indexed. Not illustrated. 1855 Excerpt: ... ANDANTE. They are gone from their own green shore! Onr armies sally forth to the East and to the North By the Lion of Gibraltar and the steep of Elsinore; And the long line of sail on the verge is low and pale, And the dun smoke-track fades amid the cloudy wrack; And we fade, as they look toward the shore. Many will come back no more. Whether they shall sleep twenty fathom deep 'Neath the Black Sea's surge or the Baltic's icy floor, Or whether they shall lie with their faces to the sky, Till the mound upon the plain is heaped above the slain; Many shall come back no more. Did you scan those steady faces o'er 1 Which of all the troop, that cheered from prow and poop, As the signal to weigh anchor flew aloft at the fore--When the sudden trumpet blares through the squadrons and the squares, Shall be stricken by the breath of the messenger of death 1 Which are they that shall come home no more? Did you mark what a frank air they wore, The sea's hardy sons, that will stand beside their guns, 'Spite of batteries afloat and of bristling forts ashore 1 Stript bare to the waist, with their strong loins braced, As fearless and as frank they will tread the ruddy plank, Where the boarder slips to rise no more. Hush, brothers, cheer no more!--Let the low prayer rise in witness to the skies Of our hope and our trust in His hand that rules the War; And the self-willed man, who has forced us to the van, --On his head be all the guilt of the blood that shall bo spilt Of the many that come home no more. By the blood of those who come no more!--At the sword's point and edge we will seize a heavy pledge, (Let us swear an oath and keep it in our true hearts' core) We will baulk his avid eyes, and win back the stolen prize, And the ransom he shall yield is the world's peace, se...