PIBROCH OF DONALD DHU. AIR-" Piobair of Donuil Dhuidh." 1 This is a very ancient pibroch belonging to Clan Mac- Piobaireachd Dhonuil Dhuidh, piobaireachd Dhonuil; The pipe-summons of Donald the Black, The pipe-summons of Donald the Black, The The war-pipe and the pennon are on the gathering-place at Inverlochy." PIBROCH of Donuil Dhu, Pibroch of Donuil, "The pibroch of Donald the Black." for Campbell's Albyn's Anthology, 1816. to music, in Thomson's Collection, 1830.] [This song was written It may also be seen, set 2 [Compare this with the gathering-song in the third canto of the Lady of the Lake, ante.] Continued thunders came! Each burgher held his breath, to bear What ghastly sights were thine to meet, And from each anguish-laden wain The blood-drops laid thy dust like rain!+ promised his army, in case of victory, twenty-four hours' plunder of the city of Brussels. '[MS." Harbingers."] 2 [MS.-" Streaming."] 3 [MS.-" Bloody plight." ["Within those walls there linger'd at that hour Many a brave soldier on the bed of pain, Whom aid of human art should ne'er restore "Others in waggons borne abroad I saw, Albeit recovering, still a mournful sight, "What had it been, then, in the recent days Of that great triumph, when the open wound Hour after hour was heard the incessant sourd How often in the distant drum Heard'st thou the fell Invader come, While maddening in his eager mood, X. "On! On!" was still his stern exclaim; My steel-clad cuirassiers, advance! "Hearts little to the melting mood inclined, Grew sick to see their sufferings; and the thought Of those sad days, when Belgian ears were taught SOUTHEY.] The characteristic obstinacy of Napoleon was never more fully displayed than in what we may be permitted to hope will prove the last of his fields. He would listen to no advice, and allow of Loud answer'd their acclaiming shout, no obstacles. An eyewitness has given the following account of his demeanour towards the end of the action :-- "It was near seven o'clock; Bonaparte, who till then had remained upon the ridge of the hill whence he could best behold what passed, contemplated with a stern countenance, the scene of this horrible slaughter. The more that obstacles seemed to multiply, the more his obstinacy seemed to increase. He became indignant at these unforeseen difficulties; and, far from fearing to push to extremities an army whose confidence in him was boundless, he ceased not to pour down fresh troops, and to give orders to march forward-to charge with the bayonet-to carry by storm. He was repeatedly informed, from different points, that the day went against him, and that the troops seemed to be disordered; to which he only replied,- En-avant! En-avant!" "One general sent to inform the Emperor that he was in a position which he could not maintain, because it was commanded by a battery, and requested to know, at the same time, in what way he should protect his division from the murderous fire of the English artillery. 'Let him storm the battery,' replied Bonaparte, and turned his back on the aid-de-camp who brought the message."-Relatione de la Bataille de Mont-St-Jean. Par un Témoin Oculaire. Paris, 1815, 8vo, p. 51. 1 It has been reported that Bonaparte charged at the head of his guards, at the last period of this dreadful conflict. This, however, is not accurate. He came down indeed to a hollow part of the high road, leading to Charleroi, within less than a quarter of a mile of the farm of La Haye Sainte, one of the points most fiercely disputed. Here he harangued the guards, and informed them that his preceding operations had destroyed the British infantry and But HE, his country's sword and shield, In action prompt, in sentence brief— cavalry, and that they had only to support the fire of the artillery, which they were to attack with the bayonet. This exhortation was received with shouts of Vive l'Empereur, which were heard over all our line, and led to an idea that Napoleon was charging in person. But the guards were led on by Ney; nor did Bonaparte approach nearer the scene of action than the spot already mentioned, which the rising banks on each side rendered secure from all such balls as did not come in a straight line. He witnessed the earlier part of the battle from places yet more remote, particularly from an observatory which had been placed there by the King of the Netherlands, some weeks before, for the purpose of surveying the country. It is not meant to infer from these particulars that Napoleon showed, on that memorable occasion, the least deficiency in personal courage, on the contrary, he evinced the greatest composure and presence of mind during the whole action. But it is no less true that report has erred in ascribing to him any desperate efforts of valour for recovery of the battle; and it is remarkable, that during the whole carnage, none of his suite were either killed or wounded, whereas scarcely one of the Duke of Wellington's personal attendants escaped unhurt. 1 In riding up to a regiment which was hard pressed, the Duke called to the men, "Soldiers, we must never be beat,-what will they say in England?" It is needless to say how this appeal was answered. 2 The mistakes concerning this observatory have been mutual. The English supposed it was erected for the use of Bonaparte; and a French writer affirms it was constructed by the Duke of Wellington |