'B^Ui Ai >^1' THE LIBRARY OF THE UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIA LOS ANGELES /-' P It IC E ONE S HILLING. D E ON THE DEATH OF FIELD MARSH A L THE DUKE OF WELLINGTON. B Y J A ]\I E S R E I D BROW iV , I) . I) . MINISTER OF T 11 K MIDDLE PARISH, REE NOCK: T R M E R I. Y OF SWALLOW STREET CHI li C H, 1' I C C A U I L L Y. I> N D N : A R T II i; R HALL, V I R T U E, AN ]) C 0. . M D C C C L I I I. 3 9^(0 cr- PREFACE. The following verses were strung together iit brief irregular intervals, suatclied from the labours of a vocation demanding the Author's enth-e subserviency. How he came to engage in such a species of compo- sition — evidently foreign to his habits and faculties — is to himself a riddle : the mere insignificance of which, may Avell relieve him from the baffling effort of attempt- ing to explain it to others. Having no pretensions to poetic talent, and n^ puldii- claims to \\i(!\"dvj prestige^ he wrote and publishes this Ode (as an amateur 1082707 painter somctimos si-nds a j)ictiirc t<' the Kxliilii- tion,) perhaps uitli an over-iiklulgcnt cstiiiiaic <>( its merits. l>ut certainlv ^\•itll')ut any sanguine expectotions of suoeess. Still less does he ]»re- sume to plaee his rliynies in competition \\ith Mi-. Tennyson's poem on tlie same subject : and had he not been unaccountably inadvertent to the pro- bability of that gentleman's fame enriching itself and his country with the wreath of immortelles which he has so gracefully hung upon Wellington's toml), this ephemeral tribute would assuredly have never been hi existence. But, Avhile not imagining either that he was in- vading Mr. Tennyson's province, or presuming to emulate his genius — the writer of this humble elegy, thuu'di a feeling of self-distrust and other causes have heretofore retarded its issue fiom the press, had substantially completed it anterior to the Duke's funeral : a manuscript copy of it (less some trivial additions since made), having almost simultaneously with the publication of Mr. Tenny- son's Ode, been sent to an influential quarter cog- nizant of the fact. Should there appear to be any similarity in the topics adverted to by the Poet Laureate and by the present writer, (of which, however, he himself is not conscious,) this would only show the impressive noticeableness of the more salient points in the illustrious Duke's career — as well as the consen- taneous fidelity of his Minstrel-Limners, — from the highest, down to the humblest. T II !•: M A N .S E, G R H V. N O C K : .\t A II r II, M I) C C C L I I I. ODE ON THE DEATH OF AV E L L I N G T N ODE. LOAVLY and sadly the dirge-bell tolls Its solemn wail througli all the land : Elegiac chimes, but rarely rung, From high Cathedral towers, Each parish spire's responsive tongue Prolongs till vesper hours : Each rampart fires its minute guns, Eiach regiment beats its muffled drums, Each warrior-arm is deeply craped, Each naval flag droops half-mast high, Each civic hall is darkly draped, Each British heart now heaves a sigh : Slowly and sadly the dii'ge-bell tolls It?! solemn wail tliroudi all the land. 10 oi>K c»N nil: V. in: tidinirs \vlii(-Ii a Xation tliii^ o'crwhclm. Electric wires both last and far have specl- Tlie peerless l\'er of Iiiilain's n-ahii, V Great 'IVuilJlIgtOll is di^ao. V A miglity compound grief is this- Unparalleled in ages past : Fit theme for grave analysis "While crowns and kingdoms last. v^ Most wondrous Man I — of attributes sublime- In lone and lofty grandeur merging high- An Alpine summit in this vale of Time- Whose splendrous coronal — amassed Midst solstices of bloom and blast- Midst suns and snows of every clime- Commands the homage of each gazing eye, And has no image — save the jewelled sky. DEATH OF WELLINGTON. 11 M ^ERIT and meed, in focal brilliance blending- Vast aggregate of Gifts, ne'er blent before ! The least of which-alone-transcending What gave an envied Fame of yore- He stands before the world, a grand Concrete, An Incarnation of phenomena new ; An Army in himself, — without defeat. From proud Assaye to glorious Waterloo ; A Parliament concentrate — wise and free- The proxied voice and vote of Peers- The hand a nation's helm that steers- A high Philosophy, eclipsing book- writ lore- A gorgeous Epic Poem was He- t^ An Iliad personified, and more ; Surpassing far, in varied feat, What Homer's master fancy drew. 1l* n|>K «»N nil: VL noi( i; Cluiucflli'i" ••rUxtoril'^ classic wiiUs, Wlioiv iron'rous yoiitli, ul" IultIi jialiiciaii line, WraiiLMi' I'tT iKiiiuurs in \wr K-ttcri'd lialls- In higher «>rl»it>, all the uiun.' to shine ! Under whose pennon, couhl their striplin^i,^ lists So well be niarslial'd, and no well maintained, As under His — whose breast with glory glists, In cumj), in council, and in senate gained ? As dial prompt, at Sabbath dawn, 'Twas good to see his aged wariior l(.trni- Once agile as the bounding Fawn, Once Lion-bold in siege and storm- Now of nuirtial pom]) divest ; With time-blanched head And feeble tread, And ]irideles5 vinmf'dalli"ncd breast, DEATH OF WELLINGTON. i To curtained pew his slow way wending, O'er holy writ his soul now bending ; To lessons, liturgy and psalter, Whispering a deep accord : Anon, at Eucharistic altar. Vowing fealty to his saviour lord. With banquets which Belshazzar's self might sate,- Wlth flagons which the pampered gust might cloy- Ne'er known was he with wine elate- No lenten fare more plain than His : While Ducal splendour graced his Halls, And lit thein up with chastened joy, His chief and cherished aim was this- Though second still to higher pieties- Entire devotion to his country's calls : Exemplar meet, for Tutor and ftr Tauglit, Witli ri])('ncd wortli and wisdom, admii'alily friniglit. 14 ol'K CN I UK ^x' n lliLili-Liiiiloimiit ut ilmt aiiciL'iit I'ort, At Loiult»u'> gates, hv Norman William l)uilt— Tho luilwark uf a ship-thronged port, The State duresse for Traitor guilt : Thoudi somcwhile stained with bad renown Fur pure and prineely blood there s})ilt- Still gunned and girt for nobler feats, If e'er approached by hostile fleets- The proud custodier of Old England's Crowu ! Of her Regalia rutilant In taper-lighted cell- And of her thunders jubilant When days red-lettered fell, AYhat trusty Commandant like He, Whose baton's sway, In foreign fray, Kept Britain fenced and free ? DEATH OF WELLINGTON. • 15 'reat Marshal-chief of Europe's allied arms- The conqueror of Europe's direst foe- Whose blood-gorged eagles, with their conscript swarms, Did, for a time, old Dynasties o'erthrow- Perching a low-born vampire kin On thrones usurped — whose crown-reft heirs. Soon righted were, 'midst battle din, With voUied shouts and votive prayers. Champion of order — His victorious sword To pillaged kingdoms gave their due redress ; Nor — when he France's Eoyal line restored- Did he befriend lier liberties the less. Degraded nation ! paradox most strange- Tocsins and Tyrants her alternate choice- Steady to nothing but incessant change, Fickle and faithless in her mob-roar'd voice. ^ 16 oDi: ON Tin: ^ Dt'uMM'K'tl n:iti'»ii I t'.'ii.l of servile I'liaiiis, Self-torgOil, self-tixed anumd her venal neck ; Teaching tlie lessons slie lierself disdiiins- Of wliini. tlie prey — of freedom trne, tlie wreek- Evokiui: future Wellingtons her mad eareer to elu ck. J^RiZLD Master of that cliartered Board Whose lights and pilotage and alms, Like a blest Trinity, afford In time of need, their boons and l>alnis : Buoying each ([uicksand shoal, Lamping the starless Deep, Vigiling each peril'd soul When bertliM in midnight sleep ! DEATH OF WELLINGTON. 17 Such, under GoD benign, was He ; His country's stay and star ; The brightest beacon of our sea ; In Peace — the nation's tutelar, As once he was, in War. JXIeet Warden-Lord of Wahner's Tower, Famed watch-keep of the Channel sea- More famed as scene of Wellington's last hour, Than for its annals past, or yet to be ! There, — 'ncath a flag ne'er struck to foe,- 'Neath turret-guns ne'er vanquished,- The trophied duke, without a throe. His mortal coil relinquished. 18 o\n: ON Tin: 1/jko victor KiiiLilit iVoin hattlo \'uh\, Disi'imilu'iH-d .if liis iimil, lie ivstfth nil his pillow-shield As one serenely tln-aniin*:, Till woke again by trumpet peal : His DEATH — his life beseemiii'f. \y lt^lILE yet he lived, his grateful Country gave Her best requitals to his veteran years : And now^ when dead, she bears him to a Grave Worthy alike his triumphs and her tears. Tlis dust, -with fragrant memories embalmed, In deep and lasting reverence enslirined- When o'er his bier Britannia's grief hath calnied- To her Cathedral Heart is now consigned. DEATU OF WELLINGTON. 19 Shades of the immortal dead, Whose storied monuments declare The deeds which have entombed ye there ! Shades of the immortal dead, Whose cenotaphs yom* sponsors are, Although your dust repose afar ! Shade of Abercromby brave ! Shade of philanthropic Howard ! Shade of Johnson, wise and grave ! Shade of i&lontl— flag-embowered Neath the burnished cross and ball- Of ocean chiefs — the chief of all ! shades of the immortal dead. Living still in sculptured marble, Living in historic page, Living ill poetic wiu-ble, Living, living on — from age to age ! 20 oDi. ON Tilt: luvi'ivo into y<»m- gniml l^unthcon, Wirli a hi.L'-li exultant pa^m, One whose sliriin' to yoiir's will lirni;^: Tilt' reverence <»t'a pilgrim throng ; One whose Name's so dear to Fame, That, pansing in her azure llight, Its well-earned glory to prolong, She plucked a pinion from her w ing Ant (It'sccnd'mg, Clioir and organ softly blending In the sluw recitative Set in deepest minor note Congenial to the hearts that grieve- Through the vast and vibrant dome The soul-throbbed accents float, Like sighing winds through forest gloom, In a wild iEolian vein : The troubled echoes catch the strain And louden it to rolling thunder- While crowds without, Give pensive shout- And the deafening cannon roar, Now that the DuKE is evermore Neath the tessel'd pavement under. DEATH OF WELLINGTON. 23 1, AUGUST the tribute, Justice thus hath paid ! Ne'er seen before, was such Funereal throng : The brightest Lights of England's Bench and Bar, The noblest of her Runnymedean Peers, Her bravest Heroes gemmed with maim and scar, The Royal Consort with Victoria's tears, The lordly Mitre and the Commons' Mace, Scarfed Deputies from Foreign Crowns, And Learnhig's Academic gOAvns, In stately train — themselves to grace- The Duke, witli pious obsequies, have laid Side by side With Britain's Naval Pride, Midst chaptral chaunts, and Laureate's plaintive song. 24 (U»K i»N \vi.i.lin(;ton. 4^ ^v^^^^l.ow LY and >;u\\y tlu' (liri:t'-)>(.'ll tolls Its soK'imi wail thnnii:!! all tin- land : Elegiac cliinios, but rarely run«:-, From lii^Ldi Cathedral towers, Each parish spire's responsive tongue Prolongs till vesper In mi's : Each rampart lires its minute guns, Each regiment beats its nniflled (b-ums, Each Avarri(ii--ai'm is deeply craped, Each naval flag droops half-mast high, Each civic hall is (hirkly draped, Each ]>iitish lieai't now heaves a sigh : Slowly and sadly the dirge-bell tolls Its solemn wail through all the land. 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